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Designing Roofs to Support Native Plants in the Great Lakes Region

Blackson, Meghan Michelle
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1619702653699892

Abstract Details

2021, MS, Kent State University, College of Architecture and Environmental Design.
Roofs are being designed to support native plants to make cities more ecologically productive and biologically diverse. Yet, the architectural knowledge base remains limited when it comes to native planted roofs. In particular, how roofs can be designed to support local biodiversity. Designers are often left without clear guidelines in selecting native plant species, specifying substrate composition for local conditions, and navigating the site-specific construction process. Without this information future green roofs risk negative impacts in biodiversity, as well as ecosystem health. To help solve these problems, this thesis comprises three studies in the area of biodiverse green roofs. Firstly, the study compiled regional proven species into a sortable database of green roof plants. From published sources, this database enables sorting and selection of a variety of specific design attributes for professional and research use. Secondly, a multifactorial field trial comparison using thirty-six 1m2 green roof plots demonstrated the type of growing substrate, rather than native species, may have most influence effecting yearly weed maintenance and ecosystem health. Thirdly, a green roof installation on the Cleveland lakefront that incorporates native plants and soils for biodiversity acts as a case study. This case study offers lessons learned for the design and construction fields. The results of these studies lead to a better understanding of how to design for greater ecological productivity, native plants, and biodiversity in roof systems.
Reid Coffman, Dr (Advisor)
Christopher Blackwood (Committee Member)
Robert Safley (Committee Member)
154 p.
Architectural; Architecture; Ecology; Environmental Science; Environmental Studies; Horticulture; Urban Planning
Biodiversity, weeds, Green roof, native species, plants

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Blackson, M. M. (2021). Designing Roofs to Support Native Plants in the Great Lakes Region [Master's thesis, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1619702653699892

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Blackson, Meghan. Designing Roofs to Support Native Plants in the Great Lakes Region. 2021. Kent State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1619702653699892.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Blackson, Meghan. "Designing Roofs to Support Native Plants in the Great Lakes Region." Master's thesis, Kent State University, 2021. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1619702653699892

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

kent1619702653699892
135
© 2021, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Kent State University and OhioLINK.