Urban ecology is a major focus in the lab
More than half of the world's population currently lives in urban areas, and that number is expected to keep growing over the next century. Urbanization is changing our landscapes and changing how people interact with their environment. Cities are not devoid of nature and in fact can be quite biodiverse, but we still know very little about the ecological communities and ecosystems in urban areas. Our lab is interested in species distributions and interactions in urban areas. Below are some of the particular urban ecosystems we study.
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Cemeteries
Cemeteries often have large trees and relatively low levels of human activity. This study showed that cemeteries can provide suitable habitat for many birds.
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Urban ag
Urban agriculture can benefit both people and biodiversity. We have studied the pollinators, pests, and natural enemies that live in these ecosystems.
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Vacant lots
Chicago has >10,000 vacant lots! Elsa Anderson studied their plants and pollinators and explored low-input restoration options for increasing their biodiversity.
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Home gardens
Residential neighborhoods are where most of us experience nature each day. We study diversity in yards, gardens, and neighborhoods.
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Rights-of-way
Rights-of-way like powerline corridors crisscross our country and can potentially provide important habitat for species like pollinators and birds.
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