Template B v3.0 (beta): Created by J. Nail 06/2015 Assessing visual preference among fourth grade students for habitat components on educational green roofs in Starkville, Mississippi By TITLE PAGE Amy Counterman A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Mississippi State University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Landscape Architecture in Landscape Architecture in the Department of Landscape Architecture Mississippi State, Mississippi December 2017 Copyright by COPYRIGHT PAGE Amy Counterman 2017 Assessing visual preference among fourth grade students for habitat components on educational green roofs in Starkville, Mississippi By APPROVAL PAGE Amy Counterman Approved: ____________________________________ Robert F. Brzuszek (Committee Chair) ____________________________________ Timothy J. Schauwecker (Committee Member) ____________________________________ Peter R. Summerlin (Committee Member) ____________________________________ Michael Seymour (Graduate Coordinator) ____________________________________ George M. Hopper Dean College of Agriculture and Life Science Name: Amy Counterman ABSTRACT Date of Degree: December 8, 2017 Institution: Mississippi State University Major Field: Landscape Architecture Major Professor: Robert Brzuszek Title of Study: Assessing visual preference among fourth grade students for habitat components on educational green roofs in Starkville, Mississippi Pages in Study 148 Candidate for Degree of Master of Landscape Architecture As urbanization grows wildlife habitat is displaced and fragmented. Vegetative roofs offer an innovative alternative to provide animal food and habitat in urban environments. This research study investigates how wildlife needs in a green roof ecosystem are interpreted through children’s visual perception. A visual preference survey was administered to fourth-grade students in Starkville, Mississippi which offered paired photographs displaying basic vertebrate and invertebrate needs. The responses from 85 students (n=85) were compared to identify preferences for legible habitat components. The results of this survey showed that fourth-grade students could readily identify the basic habitat needs for birds but were less able to with insects. Students were intrigued with utilizing a green roof for learning and play. Green roofs have potential to be designed as innovative teaching tools to enhance science education in K-12 schools. DEDICATION I would like to dedicate this to my family who continuously encouraged me to pursue this passion. I never would have been able to complete this process without all of their support and encouragement. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to extend the most sincere gratitude to my committee chair Bob Brzuszek who helped me tremendously to focus my research goals and pursue them with vigor. I would like to thank my thesis committee members Tim Schauwecker and Peter Summerlin for providing valued guidance and endless encouragement. Additionally, I would like to express my appreciation for all the faculty members of the Department of Landscape Architecture at Mississippi State University for their enthusiasm and dedication to their students and the profession. I would also like to acknowledge all the teachers and students of Henderson Ward Stewart Elementary and Starkville Academy who participated in the visual preference survey. Additionally, I am grateful for the helpful employees at The International Institute of Tropical Forestry, Conservatorio de Musica, and Oficina de Conservacion Historica who allowed me to access and photograph the green roof locations in Puerto Rico. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS DEDICATION .................................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................... iii LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. vi LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................... viii I. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................1 Background ............................................................................................................1 Research Objectives ..............................................................................................2 Organization of Thesis ..........................................................................................3 II. LITERATURE REVIEW .....................................................................................4 Habitat Loss, Connectivity and Urban Green Infrastructure .................................4 Green Roofs as Part of Urban Green Infrastructure ..............................................5 Roof Garden History and Context .........................................................................6 Extensive and Intensive Green Roofs ....................................................................6 Green Roof Habitat Types .....................................................................................9 Green Roofs Can Provide for Urban Wildlife Habitat ........................................10 Green Roofs and Butterfly Habitat ................................................................13 Green Roofs and Bee Habitat ........................................................................14 Landscape Visual Preference ..............................................................................16 The Importance of Visual Interpretation for Ecological Models ........................20 Environmental Education ....................................................................................21 Mississippi Science Standards .......................................................................23 The Future of Green Roof Education ..................................................................25 III. METHODOLOGY .............................................................................................28 Survey Logistics ..................................................................................................28 Survey Instrument ...............................................................................................30 Baseline Wildlife Knowledge ........................................................................31 Questionnaire Creation ........................................................................................34 Survey Distribution .............................................................................................44 IV. DATA ANALYSIS .............................................................................................46 iv Data Introduction .................................................................................................46 Survey Analysis Process ......................................................................................46 Survey Results .....................................................................................................49 V. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION ..............................................................105 Introduction .......................................................................................................105 Image Comparisons ...........................................................................................106 Impacts for Designers of Educational Green Roofs ..........................................114 Limitations to Study ..........................................................................................126 Opportunities for Future Research ....................................................................129 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................... 131 APPENDIX A. GREEN ROOF HABITAT VISUAL PREFERENCE SURVEY ....................136 B. IRB APPROVAL LETTER ..............................................................................143 C. EDUCATIONAL GREEN ROOF GUIDELINES ...........................................145 D. EDUCATIONAL GREEN ROOF SCHEMATICS .........................................147 v LIST OF TABLES 4.1 Survey Distribution ......................................................................................................47 4.2 Image 1A Frequency Distribution ...............................................................................51 4.3 Image 1B Frequency Distribution ................................................................................52 4.4 Question 1 Open Ended Comments .............................................................................53 4.5 Image 2A Frequency Distribution ...............................................................................57 4.6 Image 2B Frequency Distribution ................................................................................57 4.7 Question 2 Open Ended Comments .............................................................................59 4.8 Image 3A Frequency Distribution ...............................................................................63 4.9 Image 3B Frequency Distribution ................................................................................63 4.10 Question 3 Image Response .......................................................................................65 4.11 Image 4A Frequency Distribution .............................................................................69