Untangling the Variability in Urban Ecological Processes: Socioecological Drivers of Residential Landscape Management and Ecosystem Responses

Notes_CAP-LTER_LARSON PROJECT

Title:
Untangling the Variability in Urban Ecological Processes: Socioecological Drivers of Residential Landscape Management and Ecosystem Response
Hypothesis Question:
! What are the factors that drive residential landscape management decisions, and how do these practices affect ecological processes, specifically biogeochemistry?
Methodoloy:
! We will evaluate how landscape types (xeriscape yards, turfgrass lawns), irrigation practices (technology, frequency), and the application of agrichemical products (fertilizers, pesticides) impact soil nutrients, microbial processes, and emissions of trace gases into the atmosphere.
! Through an integrated sampling design and field work, we aim to investigate coupled socioecological processes by explicitly linking reported landscape practices from social surveys to biogeochemical responses.
Discussion:
! Small area globally, intensively managed urban landscapes such as lawns are increasingly prevalent. Turfgrass is now the largest irrigated crop in the U.S. (Milesi et al. 2005 covering 10-16 million hectares (Robbins et al. 2001). Alternative residential landscapes, such as water efficient xeriscapes, are often planted with densely spaced productive species that are drip irrigated, raked, and pruned (Martin 2001).
Conclusion:
! Ultimately, How are diverse homeowner practices impacting biogeochemical cycling?
Few studies have linked the drivers of residential land management to ecological impacts.
Location
In the arid region of Phoenix, AZ.
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LTER support through a Social Science Supplement grant