ORCID

0000-0001-8353-243X

Keywords

Urban ecosystems, Biodiversity conservation, Sustainable landscaping, Ground-dwelling beetles, Residential landscapes, Natural ecosystems

Abstract

As cities continue to expand, designing urban landscapes that balance ecological resilience with biodiversity conservation has emerged as a pressing challenge. This dissertation examines urban ecosystems as complex and dynamic environments shaping plant and animal communities, with a particular focus on ground-dwelling beetles as ecologically significant indicators of environmental change. Conducted across the Orlando metropolitan area, one of the fastest-growing regions in the United States, this dissertation integrates experimental and observational approaches. Specifically, it aims to (1) test sustainable landscaping practices, (2) compare the ecological outcomes of conventional and alternative residential landscape designs, and (3) assess how gradients of urbanization and habitat complexity influence beetle communities. Chapter 2 presents a field-based experiment conducted in an emerging residential development, testing sustainable landscaping strategies, including native plantings, reduced irrigation, and compost amendments. Results demonstrate that management practices influence vegetation structure and soil moisture content, with cascading effects on beetle communities. Chapter 3 expands the analysis to two residential neighborhoods characterized by contrasting landscape designs, demonstrating that even small patches of native or structurally complex vegetation support more diverse assemblages and enhance ecological functioning, while simplified landscapes favor non-native species. Chapter 4 assesses beetle communities along an urban-natural gradient, revealing that natural habitats sustain more structured and predictable assemblages with specialized species, underscoring the importance of habitat integrity in maintaining native communities and limiting biological invasions. Structurally complex urban green spaces also function as critical refugia for forest-associated and vulnerable taxa. Overall, this dissertation demonstrates that habitat complexity at both local and landscape scales plays a fundamental role in supporting insect biodiversity within urban environments. These findings provide robust empirical support for integrating sustainable landscaping and habitat heterogeneity into urban planning and green-space management to enhance biodiversity conservation under continued urbanization.

Completion Date

2026

Semester

Summer

Committee Chair

Christina Kwapich

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

College

College of Sciences

Department

Biology

Format

PDF

Document Type

Dissertation

Language

English

Download

Share

COinS
 

Accessibility Statement

This item was created or digitized prior to April 24, 2027, or is a reproduction of legacy media created before that date. It is preserved in its original, unmodified state specifically for research, reference, or historical recordkeeping. In accordance with the ADA Title II Final Rule, the University Libraries provides accessible versions of archival materials upon request. To request an accommodation for this item, please submit an accessibility request form.