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1 November 2007 Green Roofs as Urban Ecosystems: Ecological Structures, Functions, and Services
ERICA OBERNDORFER, JEREMY LUNDHOLM, BRAD BASS, REID R. COFFMAN, HITESH DOSHI, NIGEL DUNNETT, STUART GAFFIN, MANFRED KÖHLER, KAREN K. Y. LIU, BRADLEY ROWE
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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 temperatures, 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.

ERICA OBERNDORFER, JEREMY LUNDHOLM, BRAD BASS, REID R. COFFMAN, HITESH DOSHI, NIGEL DUNNETT, STUART GAFFIN, MANFRED KÖHLER, KAREN K. Y. LIU, and BRADLEY ROWE "Green Roofs as Urban Ecosystems: Ecological Structures, Functions, and Services," BioScience 57(10), 823-833, (1 November 2007). https://doi.org/10.1641/B571005
Published: 1 November 2007
KEYWORDS
Biomimicry
built environments
energy conservation
habitat creation
urban ecology
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