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Student Success Building Green Roof Assessment Project

Student Success Building Green Roof Assessment Project. Rebecca V. Ferrell, PhD Professor of Biology Metropolitan State University of Denver. Advantages of a Green Roof. Roof lasts longer: protection from extreme temperatures and weathering extends useful life of the membrane

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Student Success Building Green Roof Assessment Project

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  1. Student Success Building Green Roof Assessment Project Rebecca V. Ferrell, PhD Professor of BiologyMetropolitan State University of Denver

  2. Advantages of a Green Roof • Roof lasts longer:protection from extreme temperatures and weathering extends useful life of the membrane • Building is more energy efficient: less energy is needed for both heating and cooling • Treats rainwater: nitrogen and other pollutants are removed by soil microbes before it enters storm sewer or groundwater • Mitigates urban heat island effect: temperatures are moderated by the roof, cooling both the building and the surrounding area • Habitat for wildlife: insects and birds, especially, can benefit • Psychological benefits to building occupants: decreases stress and improves productivity

  3. What do we want to know? Phase I: Baseline study • What plants are growing on the roof now? • How does the roof participate in cycling nitrogen? • What physical factors affect the roof’s performance? Phase II: What happens if the vegetation is changed? • Plant seeds of native prairie grasses and wildflowers • Continue monitoring of roof performance and compare with baseline data • Determine best vegetation for this particular roof

  4. Green Roof Investigation Team (GRIT) • Rebecca Ferrell, PhD(BIO) • Metro students Erica Prather & Jocelyn Avila • STEPS grant student Armando Lopez • Bill Baxendale, PhD (BIO) • Metro student Jesse Newland. • Tom Davinroy, PhD (EAS) • Metro students Devin Madigan and Adam Peterson. • Betsy Baxendale, M.L.S. Librarian and botanist • Tom Slabe, MS, US Environmental Protection Agency

  5. Tasks of each lab • Baxendale lab: • Mapping and Plant Survey to document existing vegetation • Developing plan for seed introduction (Phase II) • Davinroy lab: • Monitoring abiotic factors (e.g. temperature) • Identifying microclimate influences • Ferrell lab: • Assessing soil samples for: • Moisture, organic matter and microbiological nitrification potential • Specific gene sequences; DNA is extracted and analyzed by Q-PCR • Overall project coordination (PI)

  6. SSB Green Roof: test plots in differing microclimates Test plots were selected to represent the diversity of conditions on the roof Shady Corner: Shaded from morning sun by eastern wall, and from wind in most directions. Solar Oven: Reflected sunlight from north wall windows increases temperature and light. Open Space: Represents the “normal” area of the roof, without moderation from walls or windows. Abiotic Control: No vegetation; “soil” is accumulated dust from gravel and windblown materials. N J. Newland & B. Baxendale

  7. Soil Sampling ↑ Zones A, B & C: have some sedum groundcover and several inches of soil. ↑ Zone D: no vegetation; gravel dust and windblown material make scant soil. ← Zones E & F: ground level controls; landscaping beds established at about the same time as the green roof.

  8. Soil samples are processed in the lab • We determine: • Percent moisture in the soil • Percent organic matter in the soil • Nitrification potentials of the soil microbes • We extract DNA from each soil sample • DNA will be analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) • This will tell us about the presence of genes encoding key enzymes in the nitrogen cycle

  9. Nitrogen cycle showing our Q-PCR targets nxrA amoA nirK(2 versions) norB & norS nifH Madigan, et al, Brock Biology of Microorganisms 10/e. Prentice-Hall, 2003.

  10. Current funding and other resources • LAS Faculty Professional Development Grant • Rebecca Ferrell ($1000) • Metro State Undergraduate Research Grant • Erica Prather ($500) • MSU Denver Biology Department • Reagents, supplies and equipment • Laboratory support staff

  11. Wish List for Green Roof project • Seeds for Phase II, needed for spring 2014 (Baxendale lab) • Instrumentation (meteorology stations, 4 @ $400) for collecting additional data on abiotic factors (Davinroy lab). • Reagents (e.g. soil DNA extraction, Q-PCR) and support services (e.g. DNA sequencing) (Ferrell lab). • Water source (fountain or birdbath) to encourage wildlife visits to the green roof • Survey of building occupants’ perceptions of the green roof • Sign(s) so people will understand the project and functions of the roof • More time to work with students on this project (faculty reassigned time and/or summer salary, student stipends, etc) • Other ideas???

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