2017 ESA Annual Meeting (August 6 -- 11)

OOS 49 - Urban Ecological Theory and Adaptive Land Management: From Patterns to Processes

Friday, August 11, 2017: 8:00 AM-11:30 AM
Portland Blrm 255, Oregon Convention Center
Organizer:
Richard A. Hallett
Co-organizers:
Tara L.E. Trammell , Clara Pregitzer , Nancy F. Sonti and Vincent D'Amico III
Moderator:
Tara L.E. Trammell
In the next thirty years, it is projected that over 66% of the global population will reside in urban areas. The study of environmental systems in our cities is being driven by the realization that maintaining natural processes within the urban matrix is critical to the health of the city. Green space plays a key role in providing ecosystem services across public and private lands including parks, public rights of way, vacant land, and residential yards. In addition, urban green space promotes the health and wellbeing of urban populations and can improve the ecological resilience of our cities in the face of extreme climatic events. With rapid environmental change, urban land managers strive to make management decisions towards improving and maintaining healthy ecological patterns and processes within the urban environment. These decisions are based on current scientific evidence and their own experiences. Recent advances in urban ecology theory can provide a foundation for best management practices in urban areas. The ecology of cities allows us to study changes in temperature, nutrient cycling, and species composition within the urban context and share commonalities within and between cities providing useful results that could help management in rapidly urbanizing areas in the future. Despite a concern for managing the spread of exotic invasive species, cities typically aren’t lacking in biodiversity. How do native and introduced species interact in urban environments? How can we optimize growth and survival of native species as they adapt to urban environmental conditions? Here we showcase research that advances urban ecological theory and has the potential to influence urban land management decisions, whether on public or private property. Each presentation will include a discussion of how the findings have or could influence management and/or policy decisions in urban areas, thereby advancing our understanding of ecological studies for cities.
8:00 AM
Reinventing urban ecosystems through designed experiments
Alexander J. Felson, Yale University
8:20 AM
Developing climate change-adaptive species palettes for urban forests restoration
Helen M. Forgione, Natural Areas Conservancy; Clara C. Pregitzer, Yale University, Natural Areas Conservancy; Kristen King, NYC Parks; Justin Bowers, Natural Areas Conservancy; Sarah Charlop-Powers, Natural Areas Conservancy
8:40 AM
Ecosystem services of trees in New York City: Sampling design implications for management
D. S. Novem Auyeung, NYC Department of Parks & Recreation; Allison Bodine, Syracuse-Onondaga County Planning Agency; Justin Bowers, Natural Areas Conservancy; Robert Coville, The Davey Tree Expert Company; Helen Forgione, Natural Areas Conservancy; Richard A. Hallett, USDA Forest Service; Robert E. Hoehn, USDA Forest Service; Michelle L. Johnson, USDA Forest Service; Mina Kim, Natural Areas Conservancy; David J. Nowak, USDA Forest Service; Clara Pregitzer, Yale University, Natural Areas Conservancy; Nancy F. Sonti, USDA Forest Service
9:00 AM
Young adult conservation workers: Health benefits and satisfactions of green jobs
Kathleen Wolf, University of Washington, US Forest Service; Elizabeth Housley, Our Future Environment
9:40 AM
9:50 AM
Intrinsic and extrinsic drivers of yard vegetation in urban residential areas: Implications for conservation planning
Elvia Melendez-Ackerman, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras; Khrisia Torres, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras; Elizabeth Díaz, University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras; Nicolas Correa, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus; Cristina P. Vila, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras; Sofia Olivero, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras; Angelica Erazo, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras; Jose Melendez_Ackerman Sr., University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras; Luis Santiago, University of Puerto Rico; Jose Seguinot-Barbosa, University of Puerto Rico - Medical Sciences Campus
10:10 AM
Before, during, and after: The role of plant invasion in urban forests
Vincent D'Amico III, USDA Forest Service; Tara L. E. Trammell, University of Delaware; W. Gregory Shriver, University of Delaware; Solny Adalsteinsson, University of Delaware; Zachary S. Ladin, University of Delaware
10:30 AM
Social and environmental drivers of cultivated plant community assembly in cities
Meghan L. Avolio, Johns Hopkins University; Diane Pataki, University of Utah; Tara L.E. Trammell, University of Delaware; Joanna Endter-Wada, Utah State University
10:50 AM
Ecophysiology of white oaks and red maples in urban forest patches
Nancy F. Sonti, USDA Forest Service; Richard A. Hallett, USDA Forest Service; Kevin L. Griffin, Columbia University; Joe H. Sullivan, University of Maryland