A new tool for trait-based guidance of stormwater pond ...€¦ · A new tool for trait-based...

A new tool for trait-based guidance of stormwater pond plantings

Basil Iannone, Gisele P. Nighswander, Kayla Hess, Eban Bean, Gail Hansen

Ecology of Stormwater Ponds

> 95,000 in Florida!

Overlap with Stakeholder Needs

• Stormwater management• Water conservation• Water quality

• Opportunities to increase biodiversity & ecosystem services in urban landscapes

Other functions / Ecosystem services

UF SEEP

Plants contribute to services

UF SEEP

Enhancing pond functions via ornamental plantings

Issue: Were chosen plant species contributing to intended goals of the planting?

Or chosen for aesthetics & availability

Firecracker plant (Russelia equisetiformis)

Virginia sweetspire(Itea virginica)

Need: A tool to guide trait-based selection of plants

Firecracker plant (Russelia equisetiformis)

Virginia sweetspire(Itea virginica)

Issue: Were chosen plant species contributing to intended goals of the planting?

Or chosen for aesthetics & availability

Tool: Traits database

http://ufdc.ufl.edu/IR00010631/00001/citation?search=iannone

http://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/2019/01/12/trait-based-guidance-for-stormwater-pond-plantings/

EDIS Publication in review

Traits database: Information

Traits database: Download

• Commercially available• 78 Species are native• Exotics are non-invasive (UF|IFAS Assessment)

• Traits database: 82 Plant species

• Trait Categories

(1) Aesthetics – Plant species’ appearance

(2) Function – Species’ impacts and responses to environment

(3) Habitat – The conditions under which the species grows best

Traits database: 31 Traits

Metadata

Metadata: Overview

Metadata: Planting zones

Metadata: Planting zones

Metadata: Trait definitions

Traits: Aesthetics

Traits: Function

Traits: Habitat

Literature

Example

Example: Bank stabilization & Improving water quality

Example: Bank stabilization & Improving water quality

Example: Bank stabilization & Improving water quality

Purple lovegrass

Fakahatchee grass

Golden Canna

GiantBulrush

Spikerush

Purple lovegrass

Fakahatchee grass

Golden Canna

GiantBulrush

Spikerush

Example: Bank stabilization & Improving water quality

Added benefits: Drought toleranceAttract wildlife & pollinators

Some considerations

Importance of Trait Diversity

• e.g. Variation in habitat needs

Nealis 2015

Trait diversity can enhance pond functionality

Nealis 2015

Trait diversity can enhance pond functionality

Benefit of multispecies plantings

• Functional redundancy Ecosystem stability

• e.g. Stable / long-term erosion control

Future Direction

• Add new species

• Include new traits

• Find missing information

• We need feedback!

QUESTIONS

Purple lovegrass(Eragrostisspectabilis)

Fakahatchee grass(Tripsacum dactyloides)

Golden Canna (Canna flaccida)

Giant Bulrush (Schoenoplectuscalifornicus)

Spikerush(Eleocharis cellulose)

Example: Bank stabilization & Improving water quality