For most of us, our interest in urban ecology is rooted in the desire to better understand and conserve biodiversity. Once researchers better understand the science behind issues facing our urban species, the next step is engaging the wider public on how to beset conserve these species. This theme was present almost every talk I... Continue Reading →
IUWC 2019: Investigating Avian Species Diversity in Urban Habitat Patches
A critical issue when managing for habitat in urban areas is habitat size. What is the minimum viable patch size for a species of concern? Can multiple smaller patches, such as yards and parks, collectively “scale up” to provide connected, suitable habitat? Michael Vermeulen, an M.S student at Portland State University, spoke at IUWC2019 about... Continue Reading →
IUWC 2019: Drivers of Bird and Arthropod Diversity in Portland Yards
Urban yards have a large potential for providing habitat, and important considerations when studying these spaces are the tritrophic interactions between plant species, herbivores, and predators. Dr. Marion Dresner, Professor at Portland State University, has spent years studying these interactions in backyard habitats and is particularly interested in understanding how the management of backyards provides... Continue Reading →
IUWC 2019: Characteristics of Garden Bee Communities
Dr. Gail Langellotto, Professor of Urban and Community Horticulture at Oregon State University, was the first speaker in the "Urban Garden Ecology" section at the 2019 IUWC. Dr. Langellotto has been conducting research in garden ecosystems since her first faculty job at Fordham University. An entomologist by training, when she moved to the Bronx she... Continue Reading →