Alumna
Alumna
B.A. Biology, University of Pennsylvania, 2004
Master of Environmental Studies, University of Pennsylvania, 2006
Urban tree mortality
Why do trees die in cities? Understanding the urban tree mortality process is critical to planning for cycles of tree removal and replacement, modeling tree population changes over time, and accurately predicting ecosystem services provided by urban forests. Although a handful of studies have reported urban tree mortality rates, we lack monitoring studies with repeated observation intervals over time. I am addressing this gap in knowledge by assessing tree survival repeatedly over several years in three separate case studies in northern California: East Palo Alto, Oakland, and Sacramento. Each case will shed light on different aspects of urban tree mortality, and the relative importance of various risk factors that are associated with tree death. The results from each study site will be analyzed separately with demographic and longitudinal analysis techniques, a novel contribution to urban forest ecology. In addition to advancing the scientific understanding of urban ecosystems, this research is directly applicable to urban forest management.
Community-based participatory research
My field studies involve collaborative partnerships with local non-profit organizations, and the results will be used to modify their programs in ways that increase tree survival. The non-profit partners have been involved in setting research goals, developing methods, and conducting field work. These community groups contribute their professional expertise and insights into local conditions, thereby enhancing the quality of the research, and they will be able to apply the study results directly to management.
Roman, L.A. and F.N. Scatena. 2011. Street tree survival rates: meta-analysis of previous studies and field survey in Philadelphia, PA, USA. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. (In press)
Roman, L. and F.N. Scatena. 2010. Chapter 6: Global and local variations in tropical montane cloud forest soils. In Bruijnzeel, L.A., F.N. Scatena, L.S. Hamilton, eds. Tropical montane cloud forests: science for conservation and management. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
Press
Hunter, C. 2009. Renewal takes root: young urban foresters help Oakland’s Urban Releaf transform the concrete jungle one tree at a time. Breakthroughs, alumni magazine of the College of Natural Resources, University of California, Berkeley. Fall 2009: pgs. 18-23.
2011 Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor Award
ESPM 301: Teaching as a Lifelong Experience (F 2011)
ES 196: Environmental Science Senior Thesis (F 2010 & S 2011)
ES 100: Methods in Environmental Science (S 2010)
LAEP 225: Urban Forest Management (S 2009 & S 2010)
