We are interested in community ecology and biodiversity* in cities and other human-impacted environments.
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Our lab is interested in applied ecology and conservation at the nexus of biodiversity and urban planning
Wild Bees and Pollination Wild bees and pollination services are at-risk in some environments, and perhaps less so in others. We investigate how urbanization and public perception shape wild bee communities and pollination services in the city of Toronto, the Rouge National Park, and with partners including the David Suzuki Foundation, Wildlife Preservation Canada, and Ontario Nature, as well as colleagues around the world. Green Infrastructure and Urban Biodiversity We are interested in the contribution of plants and substrate to the performance and success of green roofs and other forms of green infrastructure. We evaluate different plant communities and management scenarios that affect functions such as stormwater capture, building cooling, and wildlife habitat. We collaborate with the Green Roof Innovation Testing (GRIT) lab at the University of Toronto Invasion Biology and Ecosystem Functioning Invasive species alter community patterns and ecosystem functioning. We study the impacts of invasion on fundamental ecosystem processes including biodiversity-decomposition relationships in urban parks, and direct and indirect impacts on plant-pollinator networks. Cities 'At The Edge' Understanding how complex social and environmental factors shape urban plant and animal communities is a broad focus, and we lead and participate in research that informs city planning and design for biodiversity conservation. We are particularly interested in the city edge, where development is at the frontier of urbanization, to implement applied research to study biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in these quickly changing environments. |
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