Research & reports

Kevin C. Matteson, Gail Langellotto · Cities and the Environment · United States (New York City)

This study used mark-recapture and translocation experiments to assess the residency and movement of the urban butterfly, Pieris rapae, within and among community gardens in New York City. While most marked butterflies used gardens transiently, recruitment and residence time were higher in larger gardens and those with more flowers. The study demonstrated the butterfly's ability to move through developed landscapes and locate floral resources.

· · United States (New York City)

In New York City, social workers and community organizers engage in environmental protection practices through community organizing aimed at creating and preserving green spaces. Much of this activism takes place within community gardens, which are recognized as spaces for social engagement, community building, and social justice-based activism.

Mary Margaret Fischer · OpenSIUC (Southern Illinois University Carbondale) · United States

This study evaluated commercial and vermicompost-blended green roof media for annual herb production in shallow modular trays on a university roof in Southern Illinois, Carbondale, during two experiments in 2011. The commercially available media generally produced more significant results for shoot growth parameters in sweet basil, Thai basil, and parsley. Partial shade also showed significant effects on shoot-to-root ratio in the first experiment, while most basil variables were insignificant in the second.

Shuowei Qin · TigerPrints (Clemson University) · United States

This research explores the concept of "food landscape," which integrates edible plants into landscapes under a new ecological paradigm to address issues of food transportation energy consumption and land degradation. Through an intensive literature review, the study discusses the origin, rationale, and benefits of food landscape, drawing upon the new ecological paradigm and edible landscape concepts. The findings will be applied to Johns de la Howe School, also incorporating the concept of therapeutic gardens to develop design principles for successful food landscape implementation.

Adriana Franklin de Souza da Silva, M. M. da Silva, L. M. de Santana, A. N. Moreira, J. R. B. Pereira, S. A. S. Amorim, C. R. R. S. França, A. P. G. Santos, Rooselvelt Izel Pereira de Melo · infoteca-e (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation) · Brazil

This study describes multiple participatory research and technological learning fields concerning alternative control of banana weevils and the management of agroecological gardens in communities of the Brazilian Northeast Semi-arid region. These include projects on the Maria Tereza Project, Senator Nilo Coelho Irrigation Project, community agroecological gardens in Nova Descoberta, Petrolina, PE, chemical characteristics of biofertilizer, adaptation of lettuce varieties, and cultivation of different species using well water.

Kevin F. Welzel · Berkeley Scientific Journal · United States (California)

This study examined native bee pollination at two urban agricultural sites in Berkeley, California: the Oxford Tract and Berkeley Youth Alternative garden. It observed squash, tomato, strawberry, and sunflower plants, collecting data on distance from natural habitat, native bee pollinator diversity, and visitation rates. The study found mixed results for genus richness and evenness, and a t-test indicated no significant difference in visitation rates for each plant type between the two sites.

Mirella Cultrera, Maria Christina de Mello Amorozo, Fábio Cop Ferreira · SITIENTIBUS série Ciências Biológicas · Brazil (Mato Grosso)

An ethnobotanical study in five peripheral neighborhoods of Santo Antônio do Leverger, Mato Grosso, Brazil, surveyed 135 households and detailed 30 to characterize food plant cultivation. Ninety-seven species from 38 families were identified across homegardens, fields, and empty lots. While some species were common, the similarity between species/varieties across households was generally below 50%, and many had low frequency, revealing a vulnerability to species loss despite social network circulation.

Nate Millington · International Journal of Urban and Regional Research · United States

This article analyzes representations of urban nature in Detroit, Michigan, focusing on journalistic and photographic work over the past 5 years. These representations, part of a discourse on Detroit's decline, ultimately reflect dominant conceptual divisions between the city and nature. Journalists and commentators perceive nature in the city as a reflection of the city's absence rather than its materiality, suggesting an ambivalence about emergent urban ecologies.

Bellon M. R., Hodson D., Hellin J. · PNAS 108(33):13432-13437 · Mexico

Assesses farmer-based traditional maize seed systems in Mexico and their vulnerability to climate change, with implications for maintaining and adapting landrace diversity in situ.

Tim Pannkuk, Jacqueline A. Aitkenhead‐Peterson, Kurt Steinke, James C. Thomas, David R. Chalmers, Richard H. White · HortScience · United States (Texas)

This experiment quantified nutrient concentrations and fluxes in leachate from single- and mixed-species urban landscapes at two Texas sites with different irrigation water chemistry. Plant species significantly affected phosphate flux, and irrigation chemistry significantly affected all nutrient fluxes. An interaction between plant species and irrigation chemistry was found for phosphate flux.

Saad El‐Din Hassan, Eva Boon, Marc St‐Arnaud, Mohamed Hijri · Molecular Ecology · Canada

A study assessing indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) community structure in roots and soil of Plantago major (plantain) growing on trace-metal (TM)-contaminated versus uncontaminated sites, selected based on a survey of TM concentrations (As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Sn, Zn) in community garden soils in Montreal, Canada. AMF community structure was analyzed using PCR-DGGE, cloning and sequencing, and direct sequencing. Native AMF diversity, measured by the number of AMF ribotypes, was decreased in TM-polluted soils and plant roots compared with unpolluted sites, and community structure was altered by TM contamination. Various Glomus species along with Scutellospora aurigloba and S. calospora were the most abundant ribotypes in unpolluted soil, while G. etunicatum, G. irregulare/G. intraradices and G. viscosum occurred in both polluted and unpolluted soils, and G. mosseae together with unidentified Glomus ribotypes (B9, B13) dominated in TM-polluted sites. The predominance of G. mosseae at metal-polluted sites is interpreted as suggesting tolerance to TM stress and potential use for phytoremediation.

Kevin C. Matteson, Gail Langellotto · Urban Ecosystems · United States (New York City)

A study in community gardens in densely populated Bronx and East Harlem, New York City, evaluated local and landscape factors influencing bee and butterfly richness. Contrary to predictions, models showed that within-garden variables like floral area and sunlight availability were the most influential factors for both bee and butterfly richness. Marginal support was found for models of bee richness including the number of surrounding building units, which showed a negative association.

Sarah Presogna · ScholarlyCommons (University of Pennsylvania) · United States (Philadelphia)

The Morris Arboretum is incorporating two new Green Roofs to demonstrate sustainable and functional stormwater management. The author designed an aesthetically pleasing rooftop garden, informed by visits to other local green roofs, which will mitigate stormwater runoff and showcase native and water-wise plants suitable for the Philadelphia area.

Kevin C. Matteson, Gail Langellotto · Insect Conservation and Diversity · United States (New York City)

The ability of adding 70 plants of seven native wildflower species over two years to augment beneficial insect richness, including bees, butterflies, and predatory wasps, was assessed in New York City community gardens. Bayesian analyses failed to find a strong influence of the native plant additions on beneficial insect richness, even after correcting for prior floral abundance. Butterflies and megachilid bees were found to heavily utilize introduced ornamental and crop flowers in these gardens, even when native flowers were present.

Hiran Moran Ramon Soriano-Robles · Ateliê Geográfico · Mexico (Mexico City)

In peri-urban agriculture in Mexico City, a traditional multi-cropping agro-ecosystem combining diverse species like maize, beans, and amaranth is preserved. Maize and amaranth are central to productive activities and are part of Mexico City's biological and cultural heritage. The conservation and utilization of this diversity can enhance the genetic potential of native crops, contribute to local agricultural development and sustainability, and potentially offer alternatives for a future global food crisis.

Colla S.R., Willis E., Packer L. · Cities and the Environment (CATE), 2(1):4 · Canada (Toronto area)

A foundational study comparing bee diversity and abundance on green roofs and ground-level sites near Toronto. With suitable plants and management, green roofs can host bee communities comparable to ground habitats, discussing implications for urban pollinator conservation and rooftop agriculture.

Kevin C. Matteson, Gail Langellotto · Cities and the Environment · United States (New York City)

In 2005, a study compiled a list of crop plants in 19 New York City community gardens, classifying them by bee pollination dependence. Using mark-recapture methods, the abundance of the common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens) was estimated. Wild populations of B. impatiens were found to be abundant in New York City community gardens, where it is the most prevalent native bee species and visits various crop flowers.

J. C. Pawelek, Gordon W. Frankie, Robbin W. Thorp, Maggie Przybylski · Cities and the Environment · United States (California)

A community garden in San Luis Obispo, California, was modified by planting bee-attractive plants to attract native bee pollinators. Garden modification and monitoring of native bees occurred from 2007 through the 2009 growing season. The diversity of collected and observed native bees increased each year, with 40 species in 17 genera recorded to date.

Peter A. Werrell, Gail Langellotto, Shannon U. Morath, Kevin C. Matteson · Cities and the Environment · United States (New York City)

A study in New York City community gardens examined how the spatial area dedicated to cucumbers (Cucumis sativus), relative to other flowering plants, influenced the deposition of conspecific and heterospecific pollen on cucumber plants, and also examined the effect of overall garden size on that pollen deposition. Female flowers were collected from potted cucumber plants placed experimentally in the gardens for the study, as well as from cucumbers established in raised beds by community garden members; pollen grains were isolated in the laboratory by acetolysis and the numbers of heterospecific and conspecific pollen grains were quantified. The abstract does not report quantitative results or conclusions.

Wayne C. Zipperer · Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America · United States

The Urban Ecosystem Ecology Section of the Ecological Society of America implemented a quarterly newsletter and field trip in 2007, sponsored two symposia, and voted to support travel awards for students presenting at the 2008 ESA meeting. The section's officers met their objectives by establishing these initiatives and will hold a meeting on August 5th to nominate new officers, discuss future events, and present travel awards.

S. Karrie Reid, Lorence R. Oki · California Agriculture · United States (California)

In California, there is a growing need for landscape plants requiring fewer water and chemical inputs. A program at UC Davis screened ten unused or underused California native plants for low water tolerance in open-field conditions during summer 2006. No significant differences were found in summer growth or physical appearance across four irrigation levels. Six species maintained a favorable appearance throughout the season and are now undergoing further assessment in demonstration gardens across seven climate zones.

Kevin C. Matteson, John S. Ascher, Gail Langellotto · Annals of the Entomological Society of America · United States (New York City)

Bees were surveyed over 4 years in community gardens in heavily developed neighborhoods of the Bronx and East Harlem, New York City, yielding 1,145 individuals from 54 species (13% of recorded New York State bee fauna). Soil-nesting individuals were relatively rare (25%), possibly due to a lack of suitable nesting soils, and parasitic species were scarce (5.6% of species, 2.6% of individuals); exotic species were common, comprising 27% of individuals and 19% of species collected. Compared with other bee faunal surveys in New York and New Jersey, including Central Park and Prospect Park, bee richness in these urban gardens was reduced and the species composition was biased toward exotic and cavity-nesting bees, though the gardens still supported a diverse bee assemblage despite their small size and location within highly urbanized areas.

· Society & Natural Resources · United States

Case study of a nonprofit heritage seed bank (the Seed Savers Exchange), examining the cultural significance of heirloom seed saving and exchange.

Sally A. Kitt Chappell · · United States (Chicago)

Sally A. Kitt Chappell's "Urban Nature" is a guide to Chicago's blend of nature and architecture, highlighting the integration of green spaces into the city's cultural life. The book explores historic sites like Garfield Park Conservatory and contemporary green spaces such as City Hall's rooftop garden and Millennium Park. It emphasizes the connection between buildings, landscapes, culture, and nature in Chicago's urban concept.

Shane R. de Solla, Pamela A. Martin · Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry · United States

Because many reptiles oviposit in soil within agricultural landscapes, this study evaluated the toxicity of two commonly used nitrogenous fertilizers — urea and ammonium nitrate — to snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) egg survivorship. Eggs were incubated, unmanipulated and under ambient conditions, in a community garden plot treated with urea at realistic rates up to 200 kg/ha in 2004 and ammonium nitrate up to 2,000 kg/ha in 2005, and separately in covered laboratory bins designed to minimize nitrogen loss through volatilization or leaching. In the field, neither urea nor ammonium nitrate affected hatching success or development, despite ammonium nitrate showing overt toxicity to native plants. In the laboratory, however, both fertilizer exposures reduced hatching success, lowered body mass at hatching, and reduced post-hatching survival compared with controls. The authors attribute the field's lack of toxicity to leaching and atmospheric loss of nitrogen in soil, and conclude that nitrogenous fertilizers likely have little direct impact on turtle eggs deposited in agricultural landscapes.