Urban ecosystems are significantly impacted by which of the following?

Urban ecosystems are significantly impacted by urban development because this process involves the transformation of land for residential, commercial, and industrial use, which fundamentally alters the natural landscape. Urban development leads to changes in land use, habitat fragmentation, and alterations in local ecological processes. It can affect biodiversity, water drainage patterns, and soil quality, while also introducing pollution and heat islands that can alter climate conditions in urban areas.

While natural vegetation growth, rural farming practices, and weather patterns also influence ecosystems, their impacts are less direct and pronounced in the context of urban ecosystems specifically. Natural vegetation may be replaced or diminished due to urban development; rural farming practices impact more rural areas rather than dense urban settings; and while weather patterns change can affect all environments, urban development uniquely reconfigures the landscape, making its impact distinctly significant in urban contexts.