Pengzhen Du

Pengzhen is a PhD student researching plant selection for green roofs to optimise stormwater performance and survival.

To do this, Pengzhen is measuring the physiological response and plant traits of a variety of species with different life-forms under green roof and controlled glasshouse conditions.

The objectives of her research are to:

1. determine how plants with different drought avoidance (isohydry) or tolerance (anisohydry) strategies respond to drought stress
2. determine how plants with different regeneration strategies, namely seeders and resprouters, to drought stress
3. assess the plasticity of plants with different water use or regeneration strategies to drought stress
4. determine the trade-offs between water use and regeneration strategies on green roof survival and water use for stormwater management
5. determine how physiological and morphological plant traits relate to plant water use and survival
6. provide insights into the importance of drought resistance strategies and regeneration strategies for selecting species best suited for adverse green roofs.