Urban greening and bluish as efficiently regulators of avian-mediated trophic cascades

Trophic relationships are one particular type of species interactions that play a main role in ecosystem functioning. Humans can largely impact relevant trophic relationships. This study focuses on bird predation and insect herbivory and explores how urban microclimates, influenced by impervious surfaces and green/blue infrastructure, affect these interactions. A year-long field experiment in Amsterdam will investigate the role of human population density, vegetation, and water cover on trophic cascades. By using plasticine caterpillars and leaf scans, this research aims to stablish the basis for explaining the thermal mechanism that regulate bird predation and insect herbivory in urban areas.