Research & Extension
The below descriptions of selected projects illustrate the types of questions we address. Note that due to our interests in applied research, we incorporate extension/outreach components into all research projects.
The below descriptions of selected projects illustrate the types of questions we address. Note that due to our interests in applied research, we incorporate extension/outreach components into all research projects.
Examples of Lab Projects
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Ecological and environmental benefits of drought-tolerant native landscaping in new residential landscapes
This project is a private-academic-municipal-NGO collaboration among the University of Florida, the Sunbridge Stewardship District, Cherrylake, LifeSoils, the University of Central Florida, and The Nature Conservancy-Florida Chapter. This project is using a manipulative experiment and real model homes to test soil remediation and irrigation strategies for establishing native plants in degraded development soils, and to quantify the benefits of no-turf, native plant-dominated landscaping on water saving, fertilizer and pesticide reduction, pollinators, and arthropod food webs. |
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Integrating education and research activities to promote stormwater pond plantings as a BMP
This EPA-funded project will quantify the potential water quality benefits of stormwater pond plantings relative to conventional stormwater ponds having turfgrass banks. We will determine the degree to which plants decrease various forms of nitrogen and phosphorus, both of which runoff urban landscapes and degrade water quality. We will also identify educational strategies for promoting the adoption of BMPs by urban residents aimed at protecting water quality. |
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The effects of landscaping plant diversity, plant structure, and management intensity or landscaping costs and ecosystem services
There is much variation among yards in the amount of plants they contain, their spatial arrangement, and the intensity in which they are managed. This project will determine how the interaction among these factors affect landscaping costs and ecosystems services, including soil health, aesthetics, recreation value, comfort, and wildlife value. The knowledge gained from this study will guide the design of more sustainable landscaping plant communities that provide a diversity of ecosystem services valued by homeowners. |
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Ecological benefits/costs of lawn plant diversity
There is currently more lawn in the United States than any other irrigated crop. Miss-management and poor selection of turfgrass species leads to excessive irrigation and fertilizer usage, which can impact water quality and quantity. In addition, many lawns contain very few or even only a single plant species. This project is exploring native plants as an opportunity to reduce water and fertilizer usage in lawns. We are quantifying the effects of adding native plants to drought tolerant turf on lawn resilience, pollinators and arthropod communities, and aesthetic acceptability. Findings will guide the design of more sustainable and ecologically beneficial lawns. |
