ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the evolution of ecological thought as it relates to the study of cities and urban systems and how it has been deeply influenced by closer interaction with the social sciences. It makes the case that such interactions need to be deepened if issues of ethics are to be tackled more effectively. The chapter summarizes the evolving definitions of the urban within ecological thought. Ecology is a discipline that has produced a robust body of knowledge on the interactions between organisms and their environments. It is primarily concerned with questions such as how species interact or whether altering a community will impact the population structure of the associated habitats. The roots of urban ecology lay in an ancient insight that our social and built landscapes are inextricably connected to the nonhuman world. As the case of the Ballona wetlands illustrates, the science of urban ecology can provide guidance on the options for managing urban social-ecological systems.
