Navigating the urban landscape: Integrating animal movement ecology with the One Health framework to better understand urban ecosystems

Abstract The expansion of urban areas and anthropogenic activities have intensified human–wildlife interactions, increasing zoonotic disease emergence and transmission. Understanding factors influencing urban wildlife movement and their interactions with humans is critical for addressing disease transmission. We examine factors driving zoonotic risks in urban ecosystems, emphasizing the human–wildlife interactions, and suggest their integration into a One Health framework. Urban environments facilitate contact with wildlife reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens such as rabies, Lyme disease, and SARS-CoV-2. Factors such as green spaces, altered wildlife behavior, and human mobility amplify disease spillover risks. We emphasize applying movement ecology concepts, particularly for understanding how animals and humans navigate and use urban spaces to identify hotspots interaction and inform management strategies. Despite advancements, challenges such as data standardization and limited interdisciplinary collaboration persist. We advocate for an integrative approach combining animal movement ecology, human mobility, and public health to foster coexistence and safeguard human health.