title: [Urban ecological risk assessment: a review].
abstract: With the development of urbanization and the degradation of urban living environment, urban ecological risks caused by urbanization have attracted more and more attentions. Based on urban ecology principles and ecological risk assessment frameworks, contents of urban ecological risk assessment were reviewed in terms of driven forces, risk resources, risk receptors, endpoints and integrated approaches for risk assessment. It was suggested that types and degrees of urban economical and social activities were the driven forces for urban ecological risks. Ecological functional components at different levels in urban ecosystems as well as the urban system as a whole were the risk receptors. Assessment endpoints involved in changes of urban ecological structures, processes, functional components and the integrity of characteristic and function. Social-ecological models should be the major approaches for urban ecological risk assessment. Trends for urban ecological risk assessment study should focus on setting a definite protection target and criteria corresponding to assessment endpoints, establishing a multiple-parameter assessment system and integrative assessment approaches.
authors.forename: Mei-E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wei-Ping
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peng
mesh_terms: D004463:Ecology / Q000379:methods*; D017753:Ecosystem; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014507:Urbanization