Gabr
ielle Cerep-Funke
Master's Thesis Defense
Advisor: Dr. Chrissy Alba
When: Thursday, November 20, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Where: Science Building, Room 4127
Zoom: https://ucdenver.zoom.us/j/94940451010
Evaluating the Performance of Horticulturally Relevant Native Forbs under Increasingly Limiting Water Availability
Climate models predict a hotter and drier future for Colorado, which can impact the availability of water, an already limited resource. Given these climate projections, managing and maintaining urban green spaces with greater water-efficiency is imperative, as these spaces provide important ecological benefits and ecosystem services, yet their maintenance currently requires substantial water use. This study sought to better understand optimal irrigation levels for horticulturally relevant forbs in the Front Range of Colorado that maintain plant performance while minimizing water use. Using a common garden experiment, I investigated how eight plant species native to Colorado performed in terms of survival, size, and overwintering success under increasingly limited irrigation. Variation in how different species perform under increasingly limiting water availability highlights the need for continued research on optimizing the balance between reduced water use and maintaining visual quality in urban green spaces.