{"id":9589,"date":"2024-08-28T09:55:48","date_gmt":"2024-08-28T13:55:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dcp.ufl.edu\/landscape\/?p=9589"},"modified":"2024-09-06T09:13:36","modified_gmt":"2024-09-06T13:13:36","slug":"laffey-uses-summer-to-save-endangered-seabirds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dcp.ufl.edu\/landscape\/laffey-uses-summer-to-save-endangered-seabirds\/","title":{"rendered":"Laffey Uses Summer to Save Endangered Seabirds"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Tuesday, August 27, 2024<\/strong>
By: Jori Rzepecki<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As coastal development threatens natural habitats, an unlikely ally for endangered seabirds has emerged: gravel rooftops. University of Florida landscape architecture<\/a> student Megan Laffey dedicated her summer to exploring this connection through an internship with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) and American Bird Conservancy (ABC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laffey\u2019s research focused on three threatened species: Least Terns, Black Skimmers, and Roseate Terns. These seabirds, pushed from their traditional coastal nesting grounds, have increasingly turned to gravel roofs as alternative breeding sites since the mid-1900s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFlorida\u2019s growth along its coastlines has led to the development or disturbance of suitable habitat ground, placing stress upon these species,\u201d Laffey explained. \u201cGravel roofs have become an unexpected sanctuary.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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However, this man-made habitat is also under threat. Gravel roofs are falling out of favor due to energy efficiency concerns, increased maintenance costs, and potential health risks associated with asphalt construction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 11-week internship, running from May 29 to August 14, saw Laffey dive deep into the complexities of this issue. Her work involved extensive background research, interviews with a diverse range of professionals, and field visits to assess current rooftop conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI consulted with biologists, ecologists, roofing contractors, material specialists, architects, insurance agents, and fellow landscape architects,\u201d Laffey said. \u201cUnderstanding the full scope of the problem requires insights from multiple disciplines.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the sole undergraduate on the project, Laffey was supervised by a team of advisors, including Jules Bruck<\/a>, Director of UF\u2019s School of Landscape Architecture and Planning<\/a>, Dani Tabilo from the FWC, and Sea McKeon from the ABC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The internship took an unexpected turn when Laffey\u2019s research revealed that preserving existing gravel roofs was not a viable long-term solution. This realization prompted a shift in focus towards developing alternative habitat solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cI began looking at current roof safety measures for both birds and humans,\u201d Laffey said. \u201cI also studied successful case studies from Maryland and applied the skills I\u2019ve gained through my landscape architecture program to design suggestions for various scenarios.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The culmination of Laffey\u2019s work is a comprehensive report for the FWC and ABC. It includes a decision-making model to guide property owners in establishing or enhancing seabird habitats. The organizations hope this information will inspire commercial property owners and large corporations to create new spaces for displaced seabirds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis set of guidelines could be used in design charrettes to generate more ideas, working towards a sustainable habitat solution for seabirds not only in Florida, but across the nation,\u201d Laffey noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The internship\u2019s mostly remote format allowed Laffey to conduct research and do any travel when necessary. Weekly meetings and consistent communication with Bruck, her supervisor, provided valuable guidance and creative collaboration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cJules provided valuable guidance and creative collaboration through weekly meetings and consistent communication, encouraging my vision, and building my confidence as a role model and dedicated support system,\u201d Laffey said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reflecting on her experience, Laffey emphasized the broader lessons learned. \u201cI gained extensive knowledge about the complications that result from human actions in our natural world and how difficult habitat remediation, or replacement can be,\u201d she said. \u201cI also learned about the structure of roofs and their requirements to fit building codes and be insured.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The internship has implications beyond Laffey\u2019s academic career. Her report could influence future conservation efforts, potentially increasing available habitats for seabirds and strengthening their populations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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As coastal development continues to threaten natural habitats, innovative solutions like those explored in Laffey\u2019s research may prove crucial for the survival of endangered seabird species. Her work underscores the importance of interdisciplinary approaches to complex environmental challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m proud to be producing a final report that may have long-term implications,\u201d Laffey concluded. \u201cI hope this work contributes to conserving and strengthening our natural world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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To Learn More, Click Here<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Tuesday, August 27, 2024By: Jori Rzepecki As coastal development threatens natural habitats, an unlikely ally for endangered seabirds has emerged: gravel rooftops. University of Florida landscape architecture student Megan Laffey dedicated her summer to exploring this connection through an internship with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) and American Bird Conservancy (ABC). Laffey\u2019s research […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":194,"featured_media":9591,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"no-sidebar","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"normal-width-container","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9589","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/dcp.ufl.edu\/landscape\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2024\/08\/Least-Tern-Miro-Cover-1024x542-1.jpg",1024,542,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/dcp.ufl.edu\/landscape\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2024\/08\/Least-Tern-Miro-Cover-1024x542-1-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/dcp.ufl.edu\/landscape\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2024\/08\/Least-Tern-Miro-Cover-1024x542-1-300x159.jpg",300,159,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/dcp.ufl.edu\/landscape\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2024\/08\/Least-Tern-Miro-Cover-1024x542-1-768x407.jpg",768,407,true],"large":["https:\/\/dcp.ufl.edu\/landscape\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2024\/08\/Least-Tern-Miro-Cover-1024x542-1.jpg",1024,542,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/dcp.ufl.edu\/landscape\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2024\/08\/Least-Tern-Miro-Cover-1024x542-1.jpg",1024,542,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/dcp.ufl.edu\/landscape\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2024\/08\/Least-Tern-Miro-Cover-1024x542-1.jpg",1024,542,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"","author_link":"https:\/\/dcp.ufl.edu\/landscape\/author\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Tuesday, August 27, 2024By: Jori Rzepecki As coastal development threatens natural habitats, an unlikely ally for endangered seabirds has emerged: gravel rooftops. University of Florida landscape architecture student Megan Laffey dedicated her summer to exploring this connection through an internship with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) and American Bird Conservancy (ABC). 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