Scientists & Staff

Nancy Falxa Sonti
5523 Research Park Drive
Current Research
My current research spans the social and biological sciences in asking many questions about urban social-ecological systems.
URBAN TREE ECOPHYSIOLOGY. Every tree in an urban forest is expected to provide a multitude of benefits to the city. Because of this, municipalities invest tremendous resources in their urban trees, making the trees' growth and success even more important. The ability to quantify urban tree health and physiological function will provide added value to urban forest managers, allowing them to make proactive management decisions and plan for stress mitigation. My research includes development and application of urban tree health metrics, as well as measurements of urban tree growth, photosynthesis, respiration, sap flow, and associated physiological traits in response to urban environmental conditions.URBAN FOREST INVENTORY & ANALYSIS. Long-term plot data associated with the Baltimore Ecosystem Study and the Urban FIA programs allow us to examine urban forest dynamics over time, including changes in species composition and net primary productivity. My work with the Urban FIA program includes integration of field data collection with the Urban National Landowner Survey, which examines the social dimensions of the urban forest, including the perspectives of private landowners who manage urban green space. Information about changes in the condition, health and growth of urban trees across public and private lands can help all urban land managers ensure sustainability of urban forests under changing environmental conditions.
USE AND MEANING OF URBAN NATURAL AREAS. Urban natural areas have the potential to provide restorative benefits to local residents and may foster feelings of environmental identity and attachment to place. However, wild urban forests can elicit positive and negative emotions, both at a community level and within an individual. These ambivalent feelings may influence the types of benefits derived from these urban green spaces, as well as local residents' desires for their future structure and function as social-ecological spaces. My research examines the ways that urban residents use and value urban natural areas, including public parkland and vacant undeveloped land, in New York City and Baltimore. The results provide context for urban natural resource managers and community organizations, as they seek to enhance access to safe and inspiring nature experiences for all urban residents.
Research Interests
My research projects have integrated the social, biological, and physical sciences in the study of urban ecosystems. I am interested in many aspects of urban ecology, including plant physiological ecology, forest health, and dynamics of urban afforestation. I am also interested in the social and psychological impacts of human interactions with urban nature across different site types and communities.Past Research
Falxa-Raymond, Nancy; Palmer, Matthew I.; McPhearson, Timon; Griffin, Kevin L. 2014. Foliar nitrogen characteristics of four tree species planted in New York City forest restoration sites. Urban Ecosystems. 17(3): 807-824.Sonti, Nancy Falxa; Svendsen, Erika S. 2018. Why Garden? Personal and Abiding Motivations for Community Gardening in New York City. Society & Natural Resources
Sonti, Nancy Falxa; Campbell, Lindsay; Johnson, Michelle; Daftary-Steel, S. 2016. Long-term outcomes of an urban farming internship program. Journal of Experiential Education. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1053825916655444 [19 p.].
Falxa-Raymond, Nancy; Svendsen, Erika; Campbell, Lindsay K. 2013. From job training to green jobs: a case study for a young adult employment program centered on environmental restoration in New York City, USA. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. 12: 287-295.
Why This Research is Important
Given the level of investment in urban green infrastructure, it is important to make quality scientific knowledge available to the environmental stewards who care for our urban natural areas, from municipalities to local community groups. A greater understanding of plant physiological ecology in urban ecosystems will help future restoration efforts ensure the integrity of ecological processes and the preservation of biodiversity. An understanding of how plants perform in urban environments will help us plan for the future of these critical open spaces, which make cities more liveable and provide people with a much needed connection to the natural world.
Education
- University of Maryland - College Park, Ph.D. Plant Science, 2019
- Columbia University, M.A. Conservation Biology, 2011
- Stanford University, B.A. History and Biology, 2007
Featured Publications & Products
- Jiang, Shasha ; Sonti, Nancy F.; Avolio, Meghan L. 2022. Tree communities in Baltimore differ by land use type, but change little over time. Ecosphere
- Sonti, Nancy F.; Groffman, Peter M.; Nowak, David J.; Henning, Jason G.; Avolio, Meghan L.; Rosi, Emma J. 2022. Urban net primary production: Concepts, field methods, and Baltimore, Maryland, USA case study. Ecological Applications
- Sonti, Nancy F.; Hallett, Richard A.; Griffin, Kevin L.; Sullivan, Joe H. 2019. White oak and red maple tree ring analysis reveals enhanced productivity in urban forest patches. Forest Ecology and Management
- Edgar, Christopher ; Nowak, David ; Majewsky, Mark ; Lister, Tonya ; Westfall, James ; Sonti, Nancy F. 2021. Strategic National Urban Forest Inventory for the United States. Journal of Forestry
- Ponte, Sarah ; Sonti, Nancy F.; Phillips, Tuana H.; Pavao-Zuckerman, Mitchell A. 2021. Transpiration rates of red maple (Acer rubrum L.) differ between management contexts in urban forests of Maryland, USA. Scientific Reports
- Sonti, Nancy Falxa. 2021. Urban plant ecophysiology. In: Barbosa, Pedro, ed. Urban ecology: it's nature and challenges. Boston, MA: CABI Publishing: 67-84. Chapter 4.
- Sonti, Nancy Falxa; Griffin, Kevin L.; Hallett, Richard A.; Sullivan, Joe H. 2021. Photosynthesis, fluorescence, and biomass responses of white oak seedlings to urban soil and air temperature effects. Physiologia Plantarum
- Sonti, Nancy ; Hallett, Richard ; Griffin, Kevin ; Trammell, Tara ; Sullivan, Joe H. 2020. Chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, leaf traits and foliar chemistry of white oak and red maple trees in urban forest patches. Tree Physiology
Publications & Products
- Burghardt, Karin T.; Avolio, Meghan L.; Locke, Dexter; Grove, J. Morgan; Sonti, Nancy; Swan, Christopher M. 2022. Current street tree communities reflect race‐based housing policy and modern attempts to remedy environmental injustice. Ecology
- Sonti, Nancy F.; Pregitzer, Clara C.; Hallett, Richard A. 2022. Native tree seedling growth and physiology responds to variable soil conditions of urban natural areas. Restoration Ecology
- Anderson, Elsa C.; Avolio, Meghan L.; Sonti, Nancy F.; LaDeau, Shannon L. 2021. More than green: Tree structure and biodiversity patterns differ across canopy change regimes in Baltimore's urban forest. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening
- Sonti, Nancy Falxa; Henning, Jason G.; Yesilonis, Ian D.; Hoehn, Robert E.; Nowak, David J. 2021. Baltimore's Urban Forest, 1999-2014. Resour. Bull. NRS-124. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 38 p.
- Zukswert, Jenna M.; Hallett, Richard ; Bailey, Scott W.; Sonti, Nancy F. 2021. Using regional forest nutrition data to inform urban tree management in the northeastern United States. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening
- Avolio, Meghan ; Blanchette, Allison ; Sonti, Nancy F.; Locke, Dexter H. 2020. Time Is Not Money: Income Is More Important Than Lifestage for Explaining Patterns of Residential Yard Plant Community Structure and Diversity in Baltimore. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution
- Huff, Emily S.; Johnson, Michelle ; Roman, Lara ; Sonti, Nancy Falxa; Pregitzer, Clara C.; Campbell, Lindsay ; McMillen, Heather. 2020. A literature review of resilience in urban forestry. Arboriculture and Urban Forestry. 46(3): 185-196.
- Johnson, Lea R.; Johnson, Michelle L.; Aronson, Myla F. J.; Campbell, Lindsay K.; Carr, Megan E.; Clarke, Mysha ; D'Amico, Vincent ; Darling, Lindsay ; Erker, Tedward ; Fahey, Robert T.; King, Kristen L.; Lautar, Katherine ; Locke, Dexter H.; Morzillo, Anita T.; Pincetl, Stephanie ; Rhodes, Luke ; Schmit, John Paul; Scott, Lydia ; Sonti, Nancy F. 2020. Conceptualizing social-ecological drivers of change in urban forest patches. Urban Ecosystems
- Sonti, Nancy Falxa. 2020. Ambivalence in the Woods: Baltimore Resident Perceptions of Local Forest Patches. Society & Natural Resources
- Sonti, Nancy Falxa; Campbell, Lindsay K.; Svendsen, Erika S.; Johnson, Michelle L.; Novem Auyeung, D.S. 2020. Fear and fascination: Use and perceptions of New York City's forests, wetlands, and landscaped park areas. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening
- Westfall, James A.; Nowak, David J.; Henning, Jason G.; Lister, Tonya W.; Edgar, Christopher B.; Majewsky, Mark A.; Sonti, Nancy F. 2020. Crown width models for woody plant species growing in urban areas of the U.S.. Urban Ecosystems
- Westfall, James A.; Sonti, Nancy F.; Wiemann, Michael C.; Eberhardt, Thomas L.; So, Chi-Leung. 2020. Urban tree specific gravity and ash content: A case study from Baltimore, Maryland USA. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening
- Campbell, Lindsay K.; Svendsen, Erika ; Sonti, Nancy Falxa; Hines, Sarah J.; Maddox, David. 2019. Green Readiness, Response, and Recovery: A Collaborative Synthesis. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-185. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 358 p.
- Hines, Sarah J.; Campbell, Lindsay K.; Sonti, Nancy Falxa; Svendsen, Erika ; Maddox, David. 2019. Background. In: Campbell, Lindsay K.; Svendsen, Erika; Sonti, Nancy Falxa; Hines, Sarah J.; Maddox, David, eds. Green readiness, response, and recovery: A collaborative synthesis. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-185. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: 14-20.
- Hines, Sarah J.; Campbell, Lindsay K.; Sonti, Nancy Falxa; Svendsen, Erika ; Maddox, David. 2019. Epilogue: Tracing the lines between storytelling, science, and recovery outcomes. In: Campbell, Lindsay K.; Svendsen, Erika; Sonti, Nancy Falxa; Hines, Sarah J.; Maddox, David, eds. Green readiness, response, and recovery: A collaborative synthesis. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-185. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: 340-343.
- Johnson, Michelle L.; Novem Auyeung, D.S. ; Sonti, Nancy F.; Pregitzer, Clara C.; McMillen, Heather L.; Hallett, Richard ; Campbell, Lindsay K.; Forgione, Helen M.; Kim, Mina ; Charlop-Powers, Sarah ; Svendsen, Erika S. 2019. Social-ecological research in urban natural areas: an emergent process for integration. Urban Ecosystems
- Ogden, Laura A.; Aoki, Carissa ; Grove, J. Morgan; Sonti, Nancy Falxa; Hall, William ; Locke, Dexter ; Pickett, Steward T. A.; Avins, Miriam ; Lautar, Katie ; Lagrosa, John. 2019. Forest ethnography: An approach to study the environmental history and political ecology of urban forests. Urban Ecosystems
- Hallett, Richard; Johnson, Michelle L.; Sonti, Nancy F. 2018. Assessing the tree health impacts of salt water flooding in coastal cities: A case study in New York City. Landscape and Urban Planning
- Maxwell, K. ; Grambsch, A. ; Kosmal, A. ; Larson, L. ; Sonti, N. 2018. Built Environment, Urban Systems, and Cities. In: Reidmiller, D.R.; Avery, C.W.; Easterling, D.R.; Kunkel, K.E.; Lewis, K.L.M.; Maycock, T.K.; Stewart, B.C., eds. 2018. Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation in the United States: Fourth National Climate Assessment, Volume II. Washington, DC: U.S. Global Change Research Program. pp. 438-478.
- Nowak, David J.; Bodine, Allison R.; Hoehn, Robert E.; Ellis, Alexis ; Hirabayashi, Satoshi ; Coville, Robert ; Auyeung, D.S. Novem; Sonti, Nancy Falxa; Hallett, Richard A.; Johnson, Michelle L.; Stephan, Emily ; Taggart, Tom ; Endreny, Ted. 2018. The urban forest of New York City. Resource Bulletin NRS-117. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 82 p
- Sonti, Nancy Falxa; Svendsen, Erika S. 2018. Why Garden? Personal and Abiding Motivations for Community Gardening in New York City. Society & Natural Resources
- Auyeung, D.S. Novem; Campbell, Lindsay K.; Johnson, Michelle; Sonti, Nancy Falxa; Svendsen, Erika. 2016. Reading the landscape: citywide social assessment of New York City parks and natural areas in 2013-2014. Social Assessment White Paper No. 2. New York, NY: New York Department of Parks and Recreation. 69 p.
- Campbell, Lindsay K.; Svendsen, Erika S.; Sonti, Nancy Falxa; Johnson, Michelle L. 2016. A social assessment of urban parkland: Analyzing park use and meaning to inform management and resilience planning. Environmental Science & Policy. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2016.01.014
- Pregitzer, Clara C.; Sonti, Nancy F.; Hallett, Richard A. 2016. Variability in urban soils influences the health and growth of native tree seedlings. Ecological Restoration. 34(2): 106-116.
- Simmons, Brady L.; Hallett, Richard A.; Sonti, Nancy Falxa; Auyeung, D. S. N.; Lu, Jacqueline W. T. 2016. Long-term outcomes of forest restoration in an urban park. Restoration Ecology. 24(1): 109-118.
- Sonti, Nancy Falxa; Campbell, Lindsay; Johnson, Michelle; Daftary-Steel, S. 2016. Long-term outcomes of an urban farming internship program. Journal of Experiential Education. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1053825916655444 [19 p.].
- Svendsen, Erika S.; Campbell, Lindsay K.; Fisher, Dana R.; Connolly, James J.T.; Johnson, Michelle L.; Sonti, Nancy Falxa; Locke, Dexter H.; Westphal, Lynne M.; Fisher, Cherie LeBlanc; Grove, Morgan; Romolini, Michele; Blahna, Dale J.; Wolf, Kathleen L. 2016. Stewardship mapping and assessment project: a framework for understanding community-based environmental stewardship. Gen. Tech. Rep. 156. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 134 p.
- Lerman, Susannah B.; Sonti, Nancy F. 2015. U.S. Forest Service and partners deliver urban wildlife research in support of conservation and management. Cities and the Environment. 8(1): article 2. (3 p.).
- Oldfield, Emily E.; Felson, Alexander J.; Auyeung, D. S. Novem; Crowther, Thomas W.; Sonti, Nancy F.; Harada, Yoshiki; Maynard, Daniel S.; Sokol, Noah W.; Ashton, Mark S.; Warren, Robert J.; Hallett, Richard A.; Bradford, Mark A. 2015. Growing the urban forest: tree performance in response to biotic and abiotic land management. Restoration Ecology. 23(5): 707-718.
- Svendsen, Erika S.; Campbell, Lindsay K.; Sonti, Nancy F.; Baine, Gillian. 2015. Urban stewardship as a catalyst for recovery and change. In: Brandt, D.H.; Nordenson, C.S., eds. Waterproofing New York. Urban Research. 2: 104-111.
- Campbell, Lindsay K.; Monaco, Morgan; Falxa-Raymond, Nancy; Lu, Jacqueline; Newman, Andrew; Rae, Ruth A.; Svendsen, Erika S. 2014. Million TreesNYC: the integration of research and practice. New York, NY: New York City, Parks and Recreation. 43 p.
- Campbell, Lindsay; Svendsen, Erika; Falxa-Raymond, Nancy; Baine, Gillian. 2014. Reading the landscape, a reflection on method. PLOT. 3: 90-95.
- Falxa-Raymond, Nancy; Palmer, Matthew I.; McPhearson, Timon; Griffin, Kevin L. 2014. Foliar nitrogen characteristics of four tree species planted in New York City forest restoration sites. Urban Ecosystems. 17(3): 807-824.
- Zalesny, Ronald S.; Hallett, Richard A.; Falxa-Raymond, Nancy; Wiese, Adam H.; Birr, Bruce A. 2014. Propagating native Salicaceae for afforestation and restoration in New York City's five boroughs. Native Plants Journal. 15(a):29-41.
- Falxa-Raymond, Nancy. 2013. Book Review: Greening in the Red Zone. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 12(4): 606-607.
- Falxa-Raymond, Nancy; Svendsen, Erika; Campbell, Lindsay K. 2013. From job training to green jobs: a case study for a young adult employment program centered on environmental restoration in New York City, USA. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. 12: 287-295.
- Svendsen, Erika S.; Campbell, Lindsay K.; Falxa-Raymond, Nancy ; Northridge, Jessica ; Stone, Edie ; Mees, Caroln. 2012. Introducing a longitudinal study of community gardeners and gardens in New York City. Cities and the Environment (CATE). 5(1): article 11.
- Lu, Jacqueline W.T.; Svendsen, Erika S.; Campbell, Lindsay K.; Greenfeld, Jennifer; Braden, Jessie; King, Kristen; Falxa-Raymond, Nancy. 2010. Biological, social, and urban design factors affecting young street tree mortality in New York City. Cities and the Environment. 3(1): 1-15.
National Research Highlights
In New York City, the Value of Urban Trees Adds Up
Year: 2019
New York City’s urban forest produces cleaner air, lower energy costs, reduced ultraviolet radiation, and less storm water in the city’s sewer system. USDA Forest Service scientists and partners analyzed a sample of the city’s 7 million trees and found that they provide services with an annual value of more than $100 million.
Forest Service Program Mentors New York City Students in Environmental Science
Year: 2014
An innovative research mentorship with a Forest Service scientist gets New York City teens out into the urban woods, learning how to measure forest plots and quantitatively evaluate tree health across the city. The high school students have the opportunity to spend time with a Forest Service scientist, helping to make important connections between classroom science lessons and real-world applications. The program encourages students to explore career possibilities in environmental science as they transition to college.