Gainesville's Urban Forest

Ryan Buron, Mark Hostetler, and Michael Andreu

During migration, birds travel from their northern breeding grounds to their southern wintering grounds and vice versa. To understand which urban habitats are valuable for specific migratory species, we compared the diversity of migratory bird species that used urban forest fragments vs residential areas with tree canopy in Gainesville, Florida. Study results summarized in this fact sheet can help inform urban planners, developers, and homeowners about vegetation migratory birds use. Conservation of large, forested areas is important, but fragmented landscapes are not useless, and conserving urban forest fragments and trees in residential areas is also important for bird conservation.

Francisco Escobedo, Jennifer A. Seitz, Wayne Zipperer, and Basil Iannone

The urban forest can help improve air quality by removing pollutants and by reducing air temperature through shading and transpiration, but tree maintenance-related pollution emissions can indirectly contribute to ozone formation and pollutants. This fact sheet presents the results of a study estimating air pollution removal by urban trees in Gainesville, Florida.

Francisco Escobedo, Jennifer A. Seitz, Wayne Zipperer, and Basil Iannone

A city's trees reduce its energy use year round by shading buildings and providing evaporative cooling in summer and by blocking icy winter winds. This fact sheet presents the results of a study estimating urban tree heating and cooling effects on residential buildings in Gainesville, Florida, from 2006-2007.

Francisco Escobedo, Jennifer A. Seitz, Wayne Zipperer, and Basil Iannone

UF/IFAS Fact sheet.

Francisco Escobedo, Jennifer A. Seitz, Wayne Zipperer, and Basil Iannone

The urban forest is composed of a mix of native and non-native species introduced by people managing this forest and by residents. Because they usually contain non-native species, many urban forests often have greater species diversity than forests in the surrounding natural landscapes. This fact sheet overviews the composition and structure of the urban forest found in Gainesville, Florida.

Michael G. Andreu, Caroline A. Hament, David A. Fox, and Robert J. Northrop

A UF/IFAS numbered peer reviewed Fact Sheet. in support of UF/IFAS Extension program: Natural resources operations and Invasive Species

Michael G. Andreu, Caroline A. Hament, David A. Fox, and Robert J. Northrop