restoration ecology Flashcards
(24 cards)
what is restoration ecology?
restoration ecology can be understood as ‘assisting in the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged or destroyed’ (Corlett,2016)
what is active restoration
involves direct human intervention to restore an ecosystem
used when an ecosystem is too degraded to recover on its own
passive restoration
relies on a nature recovery with minimal human intervention
used when stopping harmful activity is enough for the ecosystem to recover
why is vegetation important in shaping terrestrial ecosystems?
- as primary producers plants are at the base of the trophic cascade = provide a wide range of species with resources and services
- vegetation help stabilize soils whilst offering complimentary habitats for mammals
- vital food source for herbivores
- dense forests sequester carbon
Example for having the correct plants for restoration projects
UK National Trust Initiative - Grierson, 2025
UK National Trust Initiative - Grierson, 2025
explain
established a living gene bank for the native black poplar tree
success of a plant centric approach
poplar tree use to be one of most prominent trees native to the country
now threatened greatly
worked with local communities to collect and locate cuttings
80 trees have been planted along the river culm floodplain in devon
to create a naturally reproducing population
poplar tree important for species such as the hawk, moths, aphids and hornets
what are the challenges with the plant centric approach?
as climate change results in altered environmental conditions the ability for traditional native species to colonise the area may become less possible
suggested it may be time to consider moving away from this historical guideline and introduce plant species that are suited to new of future predicted conditions
what is taxon substitution?
how can this be used in light of climate change?
replacing extinct species with a functionally similar substitute
offers and alternate direction for restoration
as species become incompatible with climatic conditions = these species may be better suited to the environment
Example of taxon substitution for species that are completely extinct
Hansen(2010) Easter Island Giant Palm
Hansen (2010) - Taxon substitution
Giant palm previously native to easter island entirely extinct
palm is considered to have been a keystone component of the ecosystem and therefore crucial for ecosystem recovery
substitutes of closely related palms have been planted onto the island
what does Corlett argue we must consider when moving away from historical restoration frameworks?
complete abandonment of history risks restoration becoming a form of landscaping driven by aesthetics rather than ecological concern
must remain ‘historically informed’ using this knowledge as a ‘guide not a template’
example of importance of apex predator repatriation in restoration ecology
Beschta and Ripple (2006)
Yellowstone - Grew wolves
effect on Elk and willow
key study to support the expectation that reintroduction after removal has symmetric and offsetting effects = an assumed reciprocity
Study that challenges an assumed reciprocity between repatriation and extirpation
Hobbs et al (2024)
- whilst restoration of a predator for a simpler linear food chain may cause rapid reversal of the side effects of its removal for larger food chains this may not be able to be reversed
Unregulated herbivore activity can effect plant communities slowly resulting in changing environmental conditions = alternative stable state emerge
the longer the apex predator missing from the environment the less likely a successful repatriation
What does the Hobbs et al (2024) study indicate is important for restoration ecologists to consider?
vital to understand the complexity of animal plant relationships
even if the ‘right’ plants are present they may struggle to survive or fulfil their ecological role in the absence of the animal interactions that sustain them
what is a keystone species?
an organism whose presence and activities have a disproportionately large effect on the structure and/or function of an ecological community
Keystone species example paper
Letnic et al (2009) - the case of the dingo
Explain the Letnic et al (2009) paper on the dingo
case of the Dingo in Australia reinforces the importance of considering the keystone species in restoration ecology
After extinction of the Thylacine dingos occupied the apex pred role coexisted with native prey species
during british colonisation widespread extermination of the dingo in order to protect livestock
dingo reduction led to decline of small dwelling mammals and red fox became an abundant invasive unmanaged predator
research indicated that dingos exert a top down influence control on red foxes and kangaroos preventing overgrazing and reducing the predation of smaller animals
reintroducing dingoes in low rainfall regions could enhance biodiversity by restoring predator prey dynamics
Dingoes are not native to australia how does this complicatethe Letnic (2009) study?
in some cases there are non-native keystone species that can help restore biodiversity
this may have a cost to other mammals = kangaroos and red foxes
raise important ethical questions
why is understanding of connectivity important in restoration ecology?
conservation has traditionally conceptualised a wider picture but projects are usually small scale due to practicality and politics
small projects can result in isolated patches of restored land that are more vulnerable to disturbance events and collapse
example study of connectivity
Mueller (2014)
Trumpeter Hornbill in South America
what did the Mueller (2014) study reveal abt the importance of connectivity?
The trumpeter hornbill uses stepping stone areas sites to maintain functional biodiversity
seed dispersion etc
these zones are critical
restoration projects must seek to understand the spatial relatiosnhips between plants and animal species to restore biodiversity
Need to see environments as embedded within complex and dynamic systems of ecological interaction = lead to more resilient recovered environments
why does Corlett (2016) suggest there is a lack of similarity in ideas around restoration?
division in response due to different stages of grief over the loss of biodiversity as some remain in denial whilst other have come to accept a new degraded landscape
what is shifting baseline syndrome?
a gradual change in the accepted norms for the condition of the environment due to lack of past info or a lack of experience of past conditions
results in an increased tolerance for progressive environmental degradation
use of inappropriate baselines for nature conservation
how can the shifting baseline be mediated?
reduce extinction of experience (encourage ppl to go outside)
educate public
monitor and collect high value data on biodiversity - preferably encouraging public participation
