Research and Education - Tropical Plant Ecology and Urban Systems Lab

Bioconservation and Plant Ecology

Carite Forest Reserve 2019 – Credits: Robert Espillat

We seek to understand the dynamics and evolution of plant populations and vegetation communities through the understanding of ecological processes related plant-pollinator interactions, plant-herbivore interactions, plant responses to climatic variability and life history trade-offs. In recent years, several projects have focused on understanding the vulnerability of threatened or endangered species. Studies and this topic are done collaboration with the DNER and USFW, Cabo Rojo Office).

Social-Ecological Systems

From Melendez-Ackerman et al., 2016

Studies in this area address environmental problems using social-ecological approaches. A focus of the lab has been on the understanding of the social and ecological drivers of green infrastructure variation in urban systems to evaluate how this variation relates to the provision of ecosystem services by green spaces and the role that green areas play in urban sustainability, resilience and adaptive capacity to climate change and the improvement of urban environments. In support of these activities the lab collaborates with a number of networks and organizations (San Juan ULTRA, NATURA, Alianza por El Rio Piedras, Fundación Amigos De El Yunque, Resilience Centers of Excellence - Puerto Rico, INESI , RISE Network ).

Education and Research Training

iTree training activities in Santo Domingo, DR.

The lab is committed to student research training at the graduate and undergraduate level. Through the years it has contributed to the implementation of training activities to build local capacity in skills related to vegetation monitoring though various federally funded programs (eg. USDA-NIFA). To date the lab has generated 5 PhD dissertations, 4 MSc theses and 15 undergraduate theses associated to the programs in Environmental Sciences and Biology More information for Alumni's. These projects have contributed to a variety of education and training Products.