Introduction to Wildlife & Fisheries Conservation
WFSC 304
Lecture 17: Ecological Restoration
Water and vegetation are key to most remediation. Veg stabilizes sediments, forms pathways for water into soil, adds organic matter to soil and thereby establishes habitat for a larger array of soil organisms. Let the positive synergy begin and be sustained. When it is disrupted (left) it must be reset by a long process of succession, or with help from humans with thumbs.
Restoration Ecology
“The process of assisting recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or destroyed.” —Society for Ecological Restoration
Draws upon all major disciplines in the natural sciences
Ecosystems
Landscape ecology
Geomorphology
Hydrology
Soil science
Geochemistry
Animal behavior
Theoretical ecology
Population biology
Invasion biology
Evolutionary ecology
Role of Restoration Ecology in Conservation
Opportunity to conduct experiments
Community assembly dynamics
Secondary succession
Fire dynamics
Role of keystone species
Alternative to in situ conservation
Restoration and conservation are complementary for ecosystem protection
Active restoration speeds the process of ecological renewal.
The act of restoration requires keen naturalist perspectives, academic breadth, and experimentation.
Steps to Designing and Implementing ER
Site assessment – Examine and define preexisting conditions
Setting goals (e.g. historic state, particular functions)
Develop a restoration design or plan
Obtain necessary permits
Implementation of the designs
Monitoring the restored system
Adaptive management-iterative process
Degradation brings an ecosystem through states that are progressively less functional (1-4; like cancer stages). Ecosystems commonly pass through state transitions during which recovery requires greater levels of intervention. In a slightly degraded site, recovery requires minimal intervention, but after the threshold is crossed (between 1 and 2), manipulations of vegetative structure and composition are necessary. If degradation is more severe, the second threshold is crossed (between 2 and 3) in which physical interventions like earthmoving or dyking are required to restore the site.
Restored communities not always like original.
Original is a good goal we have found not for sentimental but practical reasons. It is sustainable. Many restored systems are simplified and do not persist.
As well, to restore ecosystem function we may often have to get used to the idea of “novel ecosystems”. The Great Lakes is a great example. It will never be historic, but the historic species have persisted. Ecosystem function is high again, though new predators and prey now rule.
Major Case Study 1: Everglades
Wetlands – Florida Everglades (maybe not so much with the “ever” part)
Water is key to this restoration
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