New Directions in Literary and Urban Ecology
Exploring the intersection of literary analysis and urban ecological science in understanding human-nature relationships
What happens when a tree falls in a city? A biologist might measure its impact on local temperature and air quality. A sociologist might note it's more likely to happen in a low-income neighborhood. A writer might craft a story about the childhood memories attached to that tree. Ecocriticism is the field that asks: what if we considered all these perspectives together?
This interdisciplinary approach represents a revolutionary remapping of how we understand the relationship between literature, human societies, and the environment. Once confined to celebrating wilderness in nature writing, ecocriticism has dramatically expanded its horizons. It now embraces the complex ecological realities of our urbanized planet, where over half the world's population lives in cities and the boundaries between "natural" and "built" environments have irrevocably blurred 1 8 . This article explores how the marriage of literary analysis with urban ecological science is creating powerful new tools for understanding—and improving—our relationship with the living world.
Ecocriticism bridges the gap between scientific analysis and humanistic interpretation, offering a holistic approach to environmental understanding.
Ecocriticism began as a way to examine how nature was represented in literature, particularly in nonfiction genres like the natural history essay and pastoral poetry that idealized rural landscapes 5 . Traditional nature writing, from Henry David Thoreau's Walden to Annie Dillard's pilgrimages, filtered "experience through an individual sensibility" while often contrasting pure wilderness against corrupted civilization 5 .
"The focus has shifted from purely celebratory nature writing to works that express 'lament, to anger, and to the expression of dread' about environmental degradation." 5
| Period | Primary Focus | Key Works | Environmental Approach |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s and Earlier | Nature writing, pastoral traditions, wilderness appreciation | Thoreau's Walden, natural history essays | Celebration of pristine nature, separation of human and natural worlds |
| 1980s-1990s | Environmental awareness, conservation ethics | Edward Abbey's The Monkey Wrench Gang, Wendell Berry's agrarian essays | Defense of wilderness, stewardship ethics, growing political engagement |
| 2000s-Present | Urban environments, environmental justice, global perspectives | Toni Morrison's Jazz, Terry Tempest Williams's Refuge, speculative fiction | Interconnectedness, urban-rural continuum, focus on marginalized communities |
Contemporary ecocriticism examines the intersection of environmental degradation and social inequality through works by authors like Toni Morrison, Gloria Naylor, and Native American writers 5 .
Writers like Ursula K. Le Guin and Octavia Butler create "ecological parables" that use futuristic scenarios to comment on real-world environmental crises and choices 5 .
Recent scholarship has challenged Northern-dominated assumptions, recognizing that cities in developing nations may represent "alternative stable states" 8 .
While ecocriticism has been expanding its literary territory, the science of ecology has undergone a parallel transformation. Urban ecology has evolved from a theoretical and empirical study to an applied and transdisciplinary field that recognizes cities as social-ecological systems 1 . This perspective integrates biological, built, and social components, studying everything from invasive species and urban metabolism to air pollution and disaster management 1 .
The field recognizes that urbanization creates complex challenges—deteriorating air quality, the urban heat island effect, groundwater scarcity, and loss of water bodies—but has also spurred innovations aimed at reducing these effects, such as water harvesting systems, energy-efficient homes, and green space planning 1 .
This approach studies urban areas as integrated systems where biological, built, and social components interact 1 . Research examines how factors like urban form, infrastructure, and human decision-making shape ecological processes.
This perspective focuses on ecosystem forms within urban environments, treating them as "analogues of their nonurban counterparts" 1 . Studies might examine how specific green spaces function similarly to natural ecosystems.
This rapidly growing area focuses on the ecological sustainability of cities, developing frameworks for assessing and improving urban resilience 1 .
Research reveals that urbanization patterns in sub-Saharan Africa challenge conventional definitions, with "rural areas becoming the new urban" as migration patterns create complex urban-rural continuums 8 .
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced millions to stay home, it created an unprecedented natural experiment in urban ecology. Researchers from the Urban Ecology Research Lab seized this opportunity to investigate a surprising phenomenon: how "panic gardening" might alter urban water systems 6 .
The pandemic created unique conditions to study how human behavior changes impact urban ecosystems.
The research followed a systematic approach characteristic of the scientific method in ecology 3 :
Researchers noted widespread reports of increased food gardening and seed shortages during early pandemic lockdowns. This led to a central research question: How were these behavioral changes affecting urban vegetation patterns and hydrology?
The team hypothesized that if pandemic conditions increased food gardening in residential yards, then this would intensify irrigation patterns with measurable impacts on urban water cycles.
The study combined multiple approaches across three contrasting U.S. cities (Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, and Tallahassee):
By correlating behavioral data with physical measurements, researchers could quantify the relationship between gardening practices and hydrological changes.
Results were published and shared with the scientific community and water management authorities, contributing to our understanding of urban ecohydrology 6 .
The research revealed intricate connections between human behavior and urban ecosystems. The surge in gardening activities during pandemic lockdowns significantly altered hydrological cycles in cities, as increased irrigation changed patterns of water movement from land to atmosphere 6 .
These findings highlight the profound ways human decisions—from what we plant in our yards to how much we water—cascade through urban ecosystems. Such insights are crucial for designing sustainable cities resilient to both environmental and social disruptions.
| City | Pre-Pandemic Irrigation Patterns | Documented COVID-19 Changes | Potential Hydrological Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City, UT | Heavy irrigation due to semi-arid climate | Significant increase in food gardening; changes in watering practices | Substantial increase in evapotranspiration; potential aquifer recharge implications |
| Los Angeles, CA | Declining irrigation due to drought policies | Increased vegetation cover despite water restrictions | Complex effects on local humidity and temperature regulation |
| Tallahassee, FL | Minimal irrigation due to high rainfall | Expansion of gardening activities; high participation in household surveys | Enhanced evapotranspiration in already humid environment |
| Research Stage | Application in Pandemic Gardening Study | Broader Scientific Principle |
|---|---|---|
| Observation | Noted reports of seed shortages and increased gardening interest | Empirical approach: gaining knowledge through direct observation and experience |
| Hypothesis | Proposed that behavioral changes would alter irrigation and hydrology | Forming an educated guess about relationship between variables 3 |
| Testing | Combined satellite data with household surveys | Using multiple methods to triangulate results; ensuring reproducible data collection 6 |
| Analysis | Correlated vegetation changes with water flux measurements | Statistical analysis to determine significance of findings |
| Communication | Shared results with scientific community and water managers | Contributing to collective knowledge base; informing policy decisions 6 |
Increased residential gardening during lockdowns led to measurable changes in urban water cycles, with significant variation based on regional climate and pre-existing water use patterns.
Urban ecologists employ diverse methods to unravel the complexities of city environments. These tools bridge scientific analysis and human dimensions:
| Tool or Method | Primary Function | Application Example |
|---|---|---|
| Remote Sensing & Satellite Imagery | Measures changes in vegetation cover, land surface temperature, and urban heat islands | Tracking evapotranspiration changes using ECOSTRESS sensor from International Space Station 6 |
| Social Surveys & Behavioral Research | Documents human perceptions, practices, and decision-making | Household surveys on gardening practices during COVID-19 6 |
| Field Measurements & Biodiversity Assessment | Quantifies species distribution, abundance, and community composition | Studying how urbanization disrupts oak tree microbiomes 2 |
| Geographic Information Systems (GIS) | Analyzes spatial patterns of ecological and social data | Mapping tree inequity in informal settlements across sub-Saharan Africa 2 |
| Metabolic Analysis & Material Flows | Tracks energy, water, and resource flows through urban systems | Studying nitrogen pollution pathways in stormwater systems 6 |
The remapping of ecocriticism through urban ecology represents more than an academic shift—it reflects our evolving relationship with a planet that is increasingly urban yet profoundly interconnected. By bringing together the analytical tools of science with the interpretive power of literature, we gain a more complete understanding of our place in complex social-ecological systems.
This integrated perspective offers hope: if our cities are problems they are also solutions. As research continues to reveal the intricate connections between built environments, ecological processes, and human wellbeing, writers and scientists together can help reimagine our urban spaces as places where both people and nature thrive. The emerging dialogue between literary scholars and urban ecologists reminds us that the stories we tell about nature—including urban nature—shape how we value, manage, and coexist with the living world.
As we confront the challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and rapid urbanization, this interdisciplinary approach provides essential tools for creating more sustainable and equitable cities. The remapping of ecocriticism isn't just an academic exercise—it's a vital reorientation toward a future where ecological understanding informs both our literature and our lives.
The convergence of literary analysis and ecological science creates new frameworks for understanding human-nature relationships in urban environments.