Green Roof Ecosystems ed. by Richard K. Sutton (review)

Green Roof Ecosystems is an edited volume of thirty contributing authors with diverse education and research agendas, intent on providing the reader with the state of the science of green roofs. The editor indicates they are attempting to provide an update to the seminal Oberndorfer et al. (2007) article by providing a survey of accomplishments related to green roofs since that time in both the United States and Europe, and in that regard this work is fully successful. The book is timely in that much green roof activity, from design and building green roofs through researching different aspects of green roofs over the past decade, can now be examined, put into context, and compiled to serve as a resource.

Each of the book’s 17 chapters addresses a different green roof component, function, or benefit and is available for purchase by chapter. The book begins with a green roof system introduction and is divided into three segments: the first section covers abiotic factors of water, substrate, climate, and microclimate; then plants, microbes, animals, and their interactions; and finally summaries of actual green roofs and a synthesis of common themes. The chapters also cover numerous other design components including monitoring abiotic inputs and outputs; climates and microclimates (challenges in hot climates); water through green roofs; nutrient cycling; soil-based systems; bacteria and fungi; plant biodiversity; vegetation effects on green roof ecosystem services; ruderal green roofs; assembling prairie biome plants for Minnesota green roofs; green roof plant assemblage and dynamics; long-term rooftop plant communities; invertebrates on green roofs; placing green roofs in time and space (scale, recruitment, establishment, and regeneration); eco-regional green roof case studies; and green roof ecosystems (summary and synthesis). Chapters start with an abstract and continue with state of the science discussion as found in the literature along with the author’s empirical research. Each chapter concludes with positing of unanswered questions or future research that is needed for the field. As a result, each chapter has an extensive and useful bibliography of green roof literature. The book as a whole serves as a bibliography of a significant portion of all current green roof research and provides germane direction for those interested in beginning green roof research through an investigation of contemporary theories and practices.

This book is distinguished from other green roof books in that it does not attempt to tell someone “how to” (build a green roof, select plants, maintain the roof, etc.), show the process of green roof construction, or spend a great deal of time reviewing case studies of built green roofs. The astute reader will gain useful information in each of these other areas as a result of the way the contributors have presented the material. The book is further distinguished by being thoroughly connected to green roof research as found in current literature and the book’s overall focus on viewing each of the chapter topics through the lens of green roofs as ecosystems. Well-chosen color photographs (78) and helpful diagrams (23) are used throughout the book to illustrate discussion points.

The intended audience for this work–policy makers, designers, and environmental professionals–is broad and ambitious, and the contributors have published a book that should serve those different groups well. The book’s greatest strength in reaching intended audiences will be its usefulness to designers who are specifying and designing green roofs in addition to environmental professionals, researchers, and students wanting to learn more. Because the authors used the existing green roof literature so extensively and incorporated comprehensive coverage of green roof components, functions, and benefits, this publication will serve as a valuable resource for researchers and students who are just beginning to become involved in green roof research. The book will be very beneficial for green roof designers because it highlights important considerations that must be deliberated and provides...