由於都市環境汙染嚴重,植物覆蓋度低,再加上少有自然棲地,因而往往被認為是生物多樣性相當低的生態系[5]。對鳥類而言,都市中的鳥類物種數,也就是鳥種豐富度(bird species richness)常常比森林或農田生態系來的低,但是,其中少數幾種會非常優勢,族群量相當龐大[4]。這個現象暗示了某些鳥種較能適應都市環境,某些鳥種則難以適應。然而,究竟是那些因素產生這樣的差異呢?
由於重金屬會直接或間接地影響鳥類的繁殖成功率[2]。鳥類能否有效的代謝體內的重金屬或許是其中一個答案。比利時的安特衛普大學(University of Antwerp)Dauwe博士的研究團隊指出,比較重金屬污染嚴重的地區與較輕微的地區,藍山雀(Parus caeruleus)每一巢的鳥蛋數量和蛋殼厚度沒有明顯的差別,但是,在重金屬汙染較嚴重的地區,雄鳥精細胞的數量明顯較低。
法國巴黎第六大學(University Pierre and Marie CURIE)的Chatelain博士認為,在都市中體羽顏色偏黑的鳥類數量較多,可能與黑色素能代謝重金屬離子有關。黑色素(melanin)是生物體內常見的有機化合物,會使動物的皮膚、羽毛和毛髮呈現黑色或棕色的色素,再者,黑色素能夠有效吸附鉛和鋅等重金屬離子,將血液中有毒的重金屬離子代謝至體外[3]。
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可是海上的風就是比陸地上強上好幾倍,這麼香的風力來源怎麼能放著不用呢?來自挪威的公司 World Wide Wind 提出了一種浮標式風電機組,省去了海底工程的麻煩。這種風電機組採用垂直軸的設計,這樣機組就不會被海風吹著跑。整個裝置可以靠著海面下的配重平衡地直立在海面上,除了電纜之外不須要任何固定措施。這大大地擴展了離岸風電的發展空間。許多最佳的風場位在離岸較遠的深海區域,我們沒辦法在這些海床上豎立巨大的水平軸風車,這時候就可以透過漂浮式構造來擴張風電的勢力範圍。