Urban Wildlife Diversity Urban Wildlife Diversity Wildlife diversity , the variety of animals that live within a particular area, decreases when an area becomes urbanized. Urbanization is the process by which wildlife habitat is transformed to better meet the needs of humans. When an area is developed for human use, much of the native vegetation is removed and its habitat potential is significantly altered.
Some animals adapt very well to the urban environment.
Others, however, either move somewhere else or decrease in number and variety. However, there are numerous native and migratory animals that spend part or all of their lives inside the city limits. An animal's response to urbanization depends on its natural habits. In birds, for example, habitat specialists such as flycatchers, vireos, bluebirds and warblers tend to decrease in number. These birds are typically long-distance migrants and cavity nesters which rely on complex habitats throughout their migratory routes.