| Abstract Detail
Conservation Biology Koptur, Suzanne [1], Barragan, Michelle [2], Jurado, Angel [2]. Growing Pine Rockland Wildflowers for Restoration in Schoolyards and on Roadsides in south Florida. PINE rocklands are a biologically diverse and beautiful habitat that has all but disappeared in subtropical southern Florida. Extensive development in the highly populated urban area around Miami has led to destruction of more than 98% of the original extent of pine rocklands outside of Everglades National Park. Research in the Koptur lab has long focused on plant/animal interactions in pine rockland habitat, and we have cultivated study species for use in greenhouse and field experiments. We are now cultivating many other pine rockland wildflowers for use in restoration plantings in schoolyards and roadsides. Most pine rockland species are still being pollinated in pine rockland fragments, even fragments that are small and far from ‘intact’ habitat. This may in part be due to pollinators utilizing floral resources in gardens, from both ornamental and especially native species that people have planted to beautify their surroundings. By increasing the numbers of pine rockland species represented in schoolyard, neighborhood, and highway plantings, the diversity and numbers of pollinators may increase, and the survival of pine rockland species will be assured. This goal will also be realized by facilitating the education of the public, young and old, through the concept of ‘gardening for pollinators of native wildflowers’. We are involved in schoolyard habitat restoration projects at several elementary, middle, and high schools in Miami. Most of the plants were purchased from a slim palette of natives available from local nurseries, but we are now able to augment the “pollinator gardens” with many more native wildflower species. Our long-term plan is to develop a schoolyard ecology program for south Florida, to not only facilitate the development of schoolyard habitats in all elementary schools, some middle, and some high schools, but to also teach the teachers how to use their schoolyards for teaching many subjects.
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1 - Florida International University, Deparment of Biological Sciences, 11200 SW 8th St., Miami, Florida, 33199, USA
2 - 1969 Loring Ave., San Diego, California, 92109-1406
Keywords:
pollinator
wildflower
Conservation
restoration
schoolyard
habitat fragmentation.
Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Topics
Session: 48-62
Location: Auditorium/Bell Memorial Union
Date: Tuesday, August 1st, 2006
Time: 12:30 PM
Abstract ID:582 |
