Plant Interactions in Coffee Agroecosystems in Chiapas Mexico

Date: Saturday, September 16
Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm
Participant fee: $0
Speaker: Xochyl Perez

Join the Gardens of Golden Gate Park for an enriching discussion with Yale Environmental Fellow and Graduate candidate at the University of Michigan, Xochyl Perez. Uncover the complex interaction between plants that offers insight towards their coexistence.

Through her research, Xochyl aims to foster a deeper understanding of plant species that have been traditionally labeled as weeds. Her primary objective is to challenge the prevailing approach to weed management, shifting the perspective from mere removal to one that embraces a biological and curious viewpoint towards these plants. Xochyl’s investigation delves deep into the interactions between two native plants, Ipomoea Purpura and Viguiera cordata, in the Soconusco region of Chiapas, Mexico. Specifically, the study focuses on their dynamics within a coffee agroecosystem to understand how these competitive interactions contribute to their management.

Xochyl’s research holds the potential to provide a fresh perspective on these plants’ roles and behaviors. She aspires to offer a richer comprehension that could contribute to building resilient food systems in the face of climate change. Through her efforts, Xochyl seeks to inspire a more harmonious coexistence between human practices and the natural world.