@article{34d2e06475a640d79a3bd0346768f000,
title = "Theoretical Perspectives of the Baltimore Ecosystem Study: Conceptual Evolution in a Social-Ecological Research Project",
abstract = "The Earth's population will become more than 80% urban during this century. This threshold is often regarded as sufficient justification for pursuing urban ecology. However, pursuit has primarily focused on building empirical richness, and urban ecology theory is rarely discussed. The Baltimore Ecosystem Study (BES) has been grounded in theory since its inception and its two decades of data collection have stimulated progress toward comprehensive urban theory. Emerging urban ecology theory integrates biology, physical sciences, social sciences, and urban design, probes interdisciplinary frontiers while being founded on textbook disciplinary theories, and accommodates surprising empirical results. Theoretical growth in urban ecology has relied on refined frameworks, increased disciplinary scope, and longevity of interdisciplinary interactions. We describe the theories used by BES initially, and trace ongoing theoretical development that increasingly reflects the hybrid biological-physical-social nature of the Baltimore ecosystem. The specific mix of theories used in Baltimore likely will require modification when applied to other urban areas, but the developmental process, and the key results, will continue to benefit other urban social-ecological research projects.",
keywords = "framework, social-ecological system, theory development, urban ecology, urban ecosystem",
author = "Pickett, {Steward T.A.} and Cadenasso, {Mary L.} and Baker, {Matthew E.} and Band, {Lawrence E.} and Boone, {Christopher G.} and Buckley, {Geoffrey L.} and Groffman, {Peter M.} and Grove, {J. Morgan} and Irwin, {Elena G.} and Kaushal, {Sujay S.} and Ladeau, {Shannon L.} and Miller, {Andrew J.} and Nilon, {Charles H.} and Michele Romolini and Rosi, {Emma J.} and Swan, {Christopher M.} and Katalin Szlavecz",
note = "Funding Information: There have been many people over the 20-year history of the Baltimore Ecosystem Study who have helped apply centripetal force in this diverse and distributed project. In the present article, we call out two for their extraordinary contributions. We thank Jonathan Walsh for two decades of dedication to BES information management, including data base construction and curation, construction, and maintenance of the project website and technological advice and assistance for live and virtual project meetings. We also thank Holly Beyar for her many years as administrative project facilitator. Her efficiency and selflessness were an inspiration to us all. We thank Josh Ginsberg for useful comments on a draft of the manuscript. Most recently the research was supported by NSF grant DEB no. 1637661 and DEB no. 1855277 and by continued in kind support of the USDA Forest Service. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Institute of Biological Sciences.",
year = "2020",
month = apr,
day = "1",
doi = "10.1093/biosci/biz166",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "70",
pages = "297--314",
journal = "BioScience",
issn = "0006-3568",
publisher = "American Institute of Biological Sciences",
number = "4",
}