
Plant Ecologist, Educator at University of North Carolina

With more than a decade of experience in plant science, Gabriella de Souza is dedicated to sharing her knowledge about sustainable and aesthetically pleasing plant environments.
What is your current occupation?
I am a community educator and owner of "The Plant Ecologist." I am also a biology faculty member at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington and South College.
Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
I am from Wilmington, NC and I completed my B.S. in Biology & Environmental Sciences as well as my M.S. in Biology at UNC-Wilmington. I love Wilmington and I plan for it to remain my home base indefinitely. Teaching is as much of a hobby for me as it is an occupation! When I am not leading classes or workshops in my community, I am likely instructing biology labs at the university, or tutoring students.
What is your area of expertise?
I am a passionate plant ecologist and love analyzing the relationships between plants and their environments.
What is your primary motivation for doing the work that you do?
My passion for learning motivates me every day! The universe is filled with information and resources, and I want to help people gain access to knowledge so they can achieve their goals. The potential to change people's lives as an educator is constant motivation.
What would you say is your greatest accomplishment?
My greatest accomplishment is probably starting my own business and actually running with it! I previously taught high school science and technology courses full-time. After starting my own business, I realized…wow, I could really do something with this! Being able to teach people who are genuinely interested is such an honor and I am thankful. Entrepreneurship is terrifying, but I am proud of how far I have come and what the future holds!
[See how de Souza's business, The Plant Ecologist, merges plant education with art and is benefiting victims of Hurricane Helene]
What do you strive to achieve in the future?
One day, I would love to scale my business so that I can educate more people and provide affordable “edutainment” to a wider audience.
Have you ever thought about the name HOBO and what it might mean?
Absolutely. I'm not sure that it is an acronym..."Happy Outdoor Biodiversity Observer"?!
What HOBO monitoring products do you use on a regular basis?
I love the HOBO Pendant MX Temperature/Light Data Loggers, as they allow me to create photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) maps of a given area. You can tell a lot about a plant from the light it receives!
Please describe a specific project of yours where HOBO data loggers played a key role.
For my master's thesis, I studied cacao tree agroforestry and used HOBO Pendants to analyze environmental factors that influenced cacao tree productivity. Environmental factors we monitored included water band index, PAR, and temperature. The HOBO data loggers were handy for creating light maps across the plantation and recording the temperature throughout the day.
What HOBO features do you consider most important?
The reusability of the products and the ease of use!
Do you think accurate data can help you build a better tomorrow?
Absolutely. Accurate data is essential for making informed decisions that can lead to a better future. That's why I rely on high-quality data loggers and sensors like HOBO products. These tools allow me to capture precise and reliable environmental data, which I can then use to create accurate visual representations. While there are online light estimators available, they often lack the precision needed for my specific work. Using HOBO data loggers ensures that the data I gather is not only accurate but also tailored to the unique requirements of my projects, ultimately supporting more effective and sustainable outcomes.
Gabriella's Top HOBO Plant Ecology Monitoring Product
HOBO Pendant MX Temperature/Light Data Logger
To record temperatures and create photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) maps of a given area.