Christopher Swan, professor dept. of geography & environmental systems, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, will present the results of two studies from two very different systems, ponds representing the urban hygroscope, and urban forest vegetation to explain how human constraints on the regional species pool interact with beta diversity to generate different community assembly trajectories. The consequence is a more nuanced understanding of the role humans play in shaping urban biodiversity at multiple spatial scales.

Zoom link available upon request at environmental@wustl.edu