Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-2007
Abstract
Green roofs (roofs with a vegetated surface and substrate) provide ecosystem services in urban areas, including improved storm-water management, better regulation of building emperatures, reduced urban heat-island effects, and increased urban wildlife habitat. This article reviews the evidence for these benefits and examines the biotic and abiotic components that contribute to overall ecosystem services. We emphasize the potential for improving green-roof function by understanding the interactions between its ecosystem elements, especially the relationships among growing media, soil biota, and vegetation, and the interactions between community structure and ecosystem functioning. Further research into green-roof technology should assess the efficacy of green roofs compared to other technologies with similar ends, and ultimately focus on estimates of aggregate benefits at landscape scales and on more holistic cost-benefit analyses.
Recommended Citation
Oberndorfer, Erica; Lundholm, Jeremy; Bass, Brad; Coffman, Reid R.; Doshi, Hitesh; Dunnett, Nigel; Gaffin, Stuart; Köhler, Manfred; Liu, Karen KY; and Rowe, Bradley, "Green Roofs as Urban Ecosystems: Ecological Structures, Functions, and Services" (2007). Architectural Science Publications and Research. Paper 1.
http://digitalcommons.ryerson.ca/arch/1
Comments
BioScience, November 2007 / Vol. 57 No. 10: 823-833. Publisher URL: http://www.aibs.org/bioscience-press-releases/resources/11-07.pdf. (doi:10.1641/B571005)