Collaborative Research: Toward a Biogeography of Urban Forests

该奖项由 2009 年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法 111-5）资助。生物地理学是对物种和生态系统空间分布的研究。虽然人们对自然生态系统的生物地理学了解相对较多，但我们对城市植物的空间格局了解甚少。 物理环境（例如气候和土壤类型）和决策（关于种植哪些物种）都可能决定城市植物生物地理学。这个由生态学家、地理学家和社会科学家组成的跨学科小组将利用洛杉矶城市森林作为案例研究，开发城市生态系统的生物地理学。 来自历史照片、卫星图像、地面清单和植物测量的数据将记录树种的历史和当前分布，记录其生理学，并描述物种的空间模式和生理多样性。 研究人员还将进行调查和焦点小组讨论，并记录历史文献，以了解对种植物种的偏好和决策。这些信息将被整合到城市森林发展和生产力的模拟模型中。该项目的结果可用于将生态因素纳入城市规划，加深我们对城市居民对特定树种的偏好、这些树种在城市环境中的表现以及生物多样性在影响城市生态系统服务中的作用的了解。 结果将与洛杉矶市政府和合作机构分享。我们将与当地非营利社区建设组织 Urban Semillas 合作，为服务不足的高中和社区大学举办城市林业教育讲习班。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).Biogeography is the study of the spatial distribution of species and ecosystems. While the biogeography of natural ecosystems is relatively well understood, we have a poor understanding of spatial patterns of plants in cities. Both the physical environment (e.g., climate and soil type) and decision-making (about which species to plant) are likely to determine urban plant biogeography. This interdisciplinary group of ecologists, geographers, and social scientists will develop a biogeography of urban ecosystems, using the Los Angeles urban forest as a case study. Data from historical photographs, satellite imagery, ground inventories, and plant measurements will document historical and current distributions of tree species, record their physiology, and describe spatial patterns of species and physiological diversity. The researchers will also conduct surveys and focus groups and document historical literature to understand preferences and decision-making about planted species. This information will be integrated into a simulation model of urban forest development and productivity.The results of this project can be used to integrate ecological factors into urban planning by improving our understanding of preferences of urban residents for specific tree species, the performance of those species in the urban environment, and the role of biodiversity in influencing urban ecosystem services. Results will be shared with the Los Angeles city government and partner agencies. Educational workshops on urban forestry will be developed for underserved high schools and community colleges in collaboration with Urban Semillas, a local non-profit community-building organization.