1
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Wiederhecker A, Cardoso Ferreira M, Barbosa Rodrigues S, Bonesso Sampaio A, Belloni Schmidt I, Ribeiro JF, Ogata RS, Rodrigues MI, Silva-Coelho AC, Sousa Abreu I, Montenegro TF, Mascia Vieira DL. Ten years of directing seeding restoration in the Brazilian savanna: Lessons learned and the way forward. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 365:121576. [PMID: 38955045 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Savannas and grasslands have lost almost 50% of their original cover worldwide. Therefore, the development of methods and information on open-canopy ecosystem restoration is urgent for the inclusion of these ecosystems into global and regional priorities. In the Brazilian savanna, the most diverse savanna in the world, restoration efforts focused on open ecosystems have been virtually absent, but have increased in the last 10 years. Such efforts are frequently threatened by invasive exotic grasses (IEG) that invade and dominate areas excluding native species, oftentimes aided by altered soil conditions. Long-term studies of savanna restoration trajectories are rare. In this study, we surveyed 22 savanna restoration areas established two to ten years before the study with similar restoration methods to assess their current status. We show that the current restoration methods are successful in establishing native species and allowing species turnover but they are threatened by IEG. Restoration success varies and is affected by soil conditions, IEG landscape cover and post-sowing weeding. Despite that, the simultaneous introduction of different plant functional groups allows turnover from fast to slow-growing plants. Establishing savanna native species is possible at an operational scale with current knowledge and techniques. However, native species establishment fails to prevent IEG reinfestation, which needs to be managed in restoration efforts in the Brazilian savanna.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Wiederhecker
- Pós-Graduação Em Ecologia, Universidade de Brasília, 70297-400, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
| | | | | | - Alexandre Bonesso Sampaio
- Centro Nacional de Avaliação da Biodiversidade e de Pesquisa e Conservação Do Cerrado, Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade - ICMBio, 70635- 800, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
| | | | | | - Roberto Shojirou Ogata
- Agência de Cooperação Alemã (GIZ) at Embrapa Cerrados, 73301-970, Planaltina, DF, Brazil.
| | - Maísa Isabela Rodrigues
- Departamento de Gestão do Agronegócio, Universidade de Brasília, 70297-400, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
| | | | - Icaro Sousa Abreu
- Pós-Graduação Em Ecologia, Universidade de Brasília, 70297-400, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
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2
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Bozzuto C, Ives AR. Predictability of ecological and evolutionary dynamics in a changing world. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20240980. [PMID: 38981521 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2024.0980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Ecological and evolutionary predictions are being increasingly employed to inform decision-makers confronted with intensifying pressures on biodiversity. For these efforts to effectively guide conservation actions, knowing the limit of predictability is pivotal. In this study, we provide realistic expectations for the enterprise of predicting changes in ecological and evolutionary observations through time. We begin with an intuitive explanation of predictability (the extent to which predictions are possible) employing an easy-to-use metric, predictive power PP(t). To illustrate the challenge of forecasting, we then show that among insects, birds, fishes and mammals, (i) 50% of the populations are predictable at most 1 year in advance and (ii) the median 1-year-ahead predictive power corresponds to a prediction R 2 of only 20%. Predictability is not an immutable property of ecological systems. For example, different harvesting strategies can impact the predictability of exploited populations to varying degrees. Moreover, incorporating explanatory variables, accounting for time trends and considering multivariate time series can enhance predictability. To effectively address the challenge of biodiversity loss, researchers and practitioners must be aware of the information within the available data that can be used for prediction and explore efficient ways to leverage this knowledge for environmental stewardship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio Bozzuto
- Wildlife Analysis GmbH, Oetlisbergstrasse 38 , 8053 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Anthony R Ives
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison , Madison, WI 53706, USA
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3
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Ager A. Improving the evaluation of spatial optimization models for prioritizing landscape restoration and wildfire risk reduction investments. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 360:121001. [PMID: 38776656 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Alan Ager
- USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory, 5775 US Highway 10W, Missoula, MT, 59808, USA.
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4
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Ager AA, Day MA, Aparício BA, Houtman R, Stinchfield A. Optimizing the implementation of a forest fuel break network. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0295392. [PMID: 38091301 PMCID: PMC10718465 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0295392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Methods and models to design, prioritize and evaluate fuel break networks have potential application in many fire-prone ecosystems where major increases in fuel management investments are planned in response to growing incidence of wildfires. A key question facing managers is how to scale treatments into manageable project areas that meet operational and administrative constraints, and then prioritize their implementation over time to maximize fire management outcomes. We developed and tested a spatial modeling system to optimize the implementation of a proposed 3,538 km fuel break network and explore tradeoffs between two implementation strategies on a 0.5 million ha national forest in the western US. We segmented the network into 2,766 treatment units and used a spatial optimization model to compare linear versus radial project implementation geometries. We hypothesized that linear projects were more efficient at intercepting individual fire events over larger spatial domains, whereas radial projects conferred a higher level of network redundancy in terms of the length of the fuel break exposed to fires. We simulated implementation of the alternative project geometries and then examined fuel break-wildfire spatial interactions using a library of simulated fires developed in prior work. The results supported the hypothesis, with linear projects exhibiting substantially greater efficiency in terms of intercepting fires over larger areas, whereas radial projects had a higher interception length given a fire encountered a project. Adding economic objectives made it more difficult to obtain alternative project geometries, but substantially increased net revenue from harvested trees. We discuss how the model and results can be used to further understand decision tradeoffs and optimize the implementation of planned fuel break networks in conjunction with landscape conservation, protection, and restoration management in fire prone regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan A. Ager
- USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Missoula Fire Sciences Lab, Missoula, Montana, United States of America
| | - Michelle A. Day
- USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Missoula Fire Sciences Lab, Missoula, Montana, United States of America
| | - Bruno A. Aparício
- International Visiting Scholar, USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Missoula Fire Sciences Lab, Missoula, Montana, United States of America
| | - Rachel Houtman
- USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Missoula Fire Sciences Lab, Missoula, Montana, United States of America
- Oregon State University, College of Forestry, Forest Ecosystems & Society, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Andrew Stinchfield
- USDA Forest Service, Umatilla National Forest, Pendleton, Oregon, United States of America
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5
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Tudor EP, Lewandrowski W, Tomlinson S. Integrating animal physiology into the adaptive management of restored landscapes. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023:10.1007/s00267-023-01800-5. [PMID: 36781454 PMCID: PMC10372129 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-023-01800-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Global-scale ecological changes and intensifying habitat destruction and have caused alarming declines in wildlife populations, resulting in a great need for concerted efforts towards their conservation. Despite this, animals are frequently overlooked in restoration and management initiatives and therefore populations often do not reassemble following disturbance without re-establishing habitat that meets their abiotic and biotic requirements. However, restoration ecologists broadly lack insight into the physiological mechanisms that can govern the responses of fauna to environmental change and management. Therefore, we conducted a literature search for studies reporting a mechanistic understanding of faunal habitat suitability and selection in restored landscapes to deliver an updated perspective on the integration of animal ecophysiology and restoration ecology. Of the 75,442 studies that we identified discussing ecological restoration in the last 50 years, only 8,627 (11.4%) did so in the context of fauna from which 912 studies (1.2%) examined habitat selection, 35 studies (0.05%) integrated physiology and only 15 studies (0.02%) explored thermal biology, despite temperature being one of the most pervasive drivers of physiological functioning. To combat this, we developed a conceptual framework that can guide restoration ecophysiology and promote innovative, multidisciplinary research through an established adaptive management structure. While physiological tools and approaches are currently underutilised in restoration practice, integrating them into ecological restoration, and environmental management more broadly, will offer exciting new opportunities to describe, explain and predict the responses of fauna to environmental change occurring, and that yet to come.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily P Tudor
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, 6102, Australia.
- Kings Park Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kattidj Close, Kings Park, WA, 6005, Australia.
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia.
| | - Wolfgang Lewandrowski
- Kings Park Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kattidj Close, Kings Park, WA, 6005, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Sean Tomlinson
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, 6102, Australia
- Kings Park Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kattidj Close, Kings Park, WA, 6005, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia
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6
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Rohal CB, Hazelton ELG, McFarland EK, Downard R, McCormick MK, Whigham DF, Kettenring KM. Landscape and site factors drive invasive
Phragmites
management and native plant recovery across Chesapeake Bay wetlands. Ecosphere 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Christine B. Rohal
- Department of Watershed Sciences and Ecology Center Utah State University Logan Utah USA
| | - Eric L. G. Hazelton
- Department of Watershed Sciences and Ecology Center Utah State University Logan Utah USA
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center Edgewater Maryland USA
| | | | - Rebekah Downard
- Department of Watershed Sciences and Ecology Center Utah State University Logan Utah USA
| | | | | | - Karin M. Kettenring
- Department of Watershed Sciences and Ecology Center Utah State University Logan Utah USA
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7
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Tarsa EE, Holdaway BM, Kettenring KM. Tipping the balance: The role of seed density, abiotic filters, and priority effects in seed-based wetland restoration. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 32:e2706. [PMID: 35808932 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Sowing native seeds is a common approach to reintroduce native plants to degraded systems. However, this method is often overlooked in wetland restoration despite the immense global loss of diverse native wetland vegetation. Developing guiding principles for seed-based wetland restoration is critical to maximize native plant recovery, particularly in previously invaded wetlands. Doing so requires a comprehensive understanding of how restoration manipulations, and their interactions, influence wetland plant community assembly. With a focus on the invader Phragmites australis, we established a series of mesocosm experiments to assess how native sowing density, invader propagule pressure, abiotic filters (water and nutrients), and native sowing timing (i.e., priority effects) interact to influence plant community cover and biomass in wetland habitats. Increasing the density of native seeds yielded higher native cover and biomass, but P. australis suppression with increasing sowing densities was minimal. Rather, community outcomes were largely driven by invader propagule pressure: P. australis densities of ≤500 seeds/m2 maintained high native cover and biomass. Low-water conditions increased the susceptibility of P. australis to dominance by native competitors. Early sowing of native seeds showed a large and significant benefit to native cover and biomass, regardless of native sowing density, suggesting that priority effects can be an effective restoration manipulation to enhance native plant establishment. Given the urgent wetland restoration need combined with the limited studies on seed-based wetland restoration, these findings provide guidance on restoration manipulations that are grounded in ecological theory to improve seed-based wetland restoration outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily E Tarsa
- Ecology Center and Department of Watershed Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA
| | - Bailey M Holdaway
- Ecology Center and Department of Watershed Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA
| | - Karin M Kettenring
- Ecology Center and Department of Watershed Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA
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8
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Staples TL, Mayfield MM, England JR, Dwyer JM. Drivers of Acacia and Eucalyptus growth rate differ in strength and direction in restoration plantings across Australia. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 32:e2636. [PMID: 35404495 PMCID: PMC9539508 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Functional traits are proxies for a species' ecology and physiology and are often correlated with plant vital rates. As such they have the potential to guide species selection for restoration projects. However, predictive trait-based models often only explain a small proportion of plant performance, suggesting that commonly measured traits do not capture all important ecological differences between species. Some residual variation in vital rates may be evolutionarily conserved and captured using taxonomic groupings alongside common functional traits. We tested this hypothesis using growth rate data for 17,299 trees and shrubs from 80 species of Eucalyptus and 43 species of Acacia, two hyper-diverse and co-occurring genera, collected from 497 neighborhood plots in 137 Australian mixed-species revegetation plantings. We modeled relative growth rates of individual plants as a function of environmental conditions, species-mean functional traits, and neighbor density and diversity, across a moisture availability gradient. We then assessed whether the strength and direction of these relationships differed between the two genera. We found that the inclusion of genus-specific relationships offered a significant but modest improvement to model fit (1.6%-1.7% greater R2 than simpler models). More importantly, almost all correlates of growth rate differed between Eucalyptus and Acacia in strength, direction, or how they changed along the moisture gradient. These differences mapped onto physiological differences between the genera that were not captured solely by measured functional traits. Our findings suggest taxonomic groupings can capture or mediate variation in plant performance missed by common functional traits. The inclusion of taxonomy can provide a more nuanced understanding of how functional traits interact with abiotic and biotic conditions to drive plant performance, which may be important for constructing trait-based frameworks to improve restoration outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy L. Staples
- School of Biological SciencesThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
- CSIRO Land and Water, EcoSciences PrecinctDutton ParkQueenslandAustralia
| | - Margaret M. Mayfield
- School of Biological SciencesThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
| | | | - John M. Dwyer
- School of Biological SciencesThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
- CSIRO Land and Water, EcoSciences PrecinctDutton ParkQueenslandAustralia
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9
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Berto B, Brown VS. 10 years to restore the planet: a seedy situation. Restor Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Berto
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Western Australia Crawley Western Australia 6009 Australia
- Kings Park Science, Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions, Kings Park Western Australia 6005 Australia
| | - Vanessa S. Brown
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Western Australia Crawley Western Australia 6009 Australia
- Kings Park Science, Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions, Kings Park Western Australia 6005 Australia
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10
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Lawrence PJ, Sullivan MJP, Mossman HL. Restored saltmarshes have low beta diversity due to limited topographic variation, but this can be countered by management. J Appl Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Peter J. Lawrence
- Department of Natural Sciences Manchester Metropolitan University Manchester UK
- School of Ocean Sciences Bangor University Anglesey UK
| | - Martin J. P. Sullivan
- Department of Natural Sciences Manchester Metropolitan University Manchester UK
- School of Geography University of Leeds Leeds UK
| | - Hannah L. Mossman
- Department of Natural Sciences Manchester Metropolitan University Manchester UK
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11
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Lortie CJ, Miguel MF, Filazzola A, Butterfield HS. Restoration richness tipping point meta‐analysis: finding the sweet spot. Restor Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - M. Florencia Miguel
- Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas (UNCuyo‐ Gobierno de Mendoza‐ CONICET)
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12
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Manhães A, Pantaleão L, Moraes L, Amazonas N, Saavedra M, Mantuano D, Sansevero J. FUNCTIONAL TRAJECTORY FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION SUCCESS. Restor Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A.P. Manhães
- Plant Ecophysiology Laboratory, Department of Botany Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) Rio de Janeiro RJ 21941‐901 Brazil
- Applied Ecology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Sciences Forests Institute, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ) Seropédica RJ 23897‐000 Brazil
| | - L.C. Pantaleão
- Applied Ecology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Sciences Forests Institute, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ) Seropédica RJ 23897‐000 Brazil
| | - L.F.D. Moraes
- Center of Agrobiology, Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) Seropédica RJ 23897‐000 Brazil
| | - N.T. Amazonas
- Plant Ecophysiology Laboratory, Department of Botany Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) Rio de Janeiro RJ 21941‐901 Brazil
- Applied Ecology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Sciences Forests Institute, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ) Seropédica RJ 23897‐000 Brazil
| | - M.M. Saavedra
- Plant Ecophysiology Laboratory, Department of Botany Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) Rio de Janeiro RJ 21941‐901 Brazil
| | - D. Mantuano
- Plant Ecophysiology Laboratory, Department of Botany Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) Rio de Janeiro RJ 21941‐901 Brazil
| | - J.B.B. Sansevero
- Applied Ecology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Sciences Forests Institute, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ) Seropédica RJ 23897‐000 Brazil
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13
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DeCock E, Moeneclaey I, Schelfhout S, Vanhellemont M, De Schrijver A, Baeten L. Ecosystem multifunctionality lowers as grasslands under restoration approach their target habitat type. Restor Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Eva DeCock
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department Environment Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University Gontrode (Melle) Belgium
| | - Iris Moeneclaey
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department Environment Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University Gontrode (Melle) Belgium
| | - Stephanie Schelfhout
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department Environment Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University Gontrode (Melle) Belgium
| | - Margot Vanhellemont
- Research Centre AgroFoodNature HOGENT University of Applied Sciences and Arts Melle Belgium
| | - An De Schrijver
- Research Centre AgroFoodNature HOGENT University of Applied Sciences and Arts Melle Belgium
| | - Lander Baeten
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department Environment Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University Gontrode (Melle) Belgium
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14
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Monroe AP, Nauman TW, Aldridge CL, O’Donnell MS, Duniway MC, Cade BS, Manier DJ, Anderson PJ. Assessing vegetation recovery from energy development using a dynamic reference approach. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8508. [PMID: 35222945 PMCID: PMC8855019 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Adrian P. Monroe
- U.S. Geological Survey Fort Collins Science Center Fort Collins Colorado USA
- Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory Colorado State University, in cooperation with the U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center Fort Collins Colorado USA
| | - Travis W. Nauman
- U.S. Geological Survey Southwest Biological Science Center Moab Utah USA
| | - Cameron L. Aldridge
- U.S. Geological Survey Fort Collins Science Center Fort Collins Colorado USA
- Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory Colorado State University, in cooperation with the U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center Fort Collins Colorado USA
| | - Michael S. O’Donnell
- U.S. Geological Survey Fort Collins Science Center Fort Collins Colorado USA
- Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory Colorado State University, in cooperation with the U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center Fort Collins Colorado USA
| | - Michael C. Duniway
- U.S. Geological Survey Southwest Biological Science Center Moab Utah USA
| | - Brian S. Cade
- U.S. Geological Survey Fort Collins Science Center Fort Collins Colorado USA
| | - Daniel J. Manier
- U.S. Geological Survey Fort Collins Science Center Fort Collins Colorado USA
| | - Patrick J. Anderson
- U.S. Geological Survey Fort Collins Science Center Fort Collins Colorado USA
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15
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O'Brien SA, Dehling DM, Tylianakis JM. The recovery of functional diversity with restoration. Ecology 2021; 103:e3618. [PMID: 34927237 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Ecological restoration aims at recovering biodiversity in degraded ecosystems, and it is commonly assessed via species richness. However, it is unclear whether increasing species richness in a site also recovers its functional diversity, which has been shown to be a better representation of ecosystem functioning. We conducted a quantitative synthesis of 30 restoration projects and tested whether restoration improves functional diversity. We compared actively and passively restored sites with degraded and reference sites with respect to four key measures of functional diversity (richness, evenness, dispersion and functional turnover) and two measures of species diversity (richness and evenness). We separately analyzed longitudinal studies (which monitor degraded, reference and restored sites through time) and space-for-time substitutions (which compare at one point in time degraded and reference sites with restored sites of different ages). Space-for-time studies suggested that species and functional diversity improved over time. However, replicated longitudinal data showed no sustained benefits of active or passive restoration for functional diversity measures, relative to degraded sites. This could suggest that the positive results in space-for-time designs may have been unreliable, but the relative short duration of longitudinal studies suggests a need for longer-term longitudinal research to robustly demonstrate the absence of any effect. These differences across study designs may explain the variable results found in recent studies directly measuring the response of functional diversity to restoration. We recommend that future assessments of ecological community dynamics include control sites in monitoring, to ensure the consequences of treatments, including but not limited to restoration, are correctly partitioned from unassisted temporal changes. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie A O'Brien
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - D Matthias Dehling
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Jason M Tylianakis
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
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16
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Romanelli JP, Silva LGM, Gonçalves MCP, Naves RP, Almeida DRA, Resende AF, Rodrigues RR. Repeatability of the searching process in reviews of restoration outcomes. Restor Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- João Paulo Romanelli
- Laboratory of Ecology and Forest Restoration (LERF), Department of Forest Sciences, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture University of São Paulo Avenida Pádua Dias, 11 Piracicaba SP 13418‐900 Brazil
| | - Luiz G. M. Silva
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering (D‐BAUG), Stocker Lab Institute for Environmental Engineering (IfU) ETH‐Zurich Zurich 8046 Switzerland
| | - Maria Carolina P. Gonçalves
- Enzyme Technologies Laboratory (LabEnz), Chemical Engineering Department Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar) São Carlos SP 13565‐905 Brazil
| | - Rafaela P. Naves
- Department of Forest Sciences, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture University of São Paulo Avenida Pádua Dias, 11 Piracicaba SP 13418‐900 Brazil
| | - Danilo Roberti Alves Almeida
- Laboratory of Tropical Forestry (LASTROP), Department of Forest Sciences, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture University of São Paulo Avenida Pádua Dias, 11 Piracicaba SP 13418‐900 Brazil
| | - Angélica Faria Resende
- Laboratory of Tropical Forestry (LASTROP), Department of Forest Sciences, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture University of São Paulo Avenida Pádua Dias, 11 Piracicaba SP 13418‐900 Brazil
| | - Ricardo Ribeiro Rodrigues
- Laboratory of Ecology and Forest Restoration (LERF), Department of Forest Sciences, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture University of São Paulo Avenida Pádua Dias, 11 Piracicaba SP 13418‐900 Brazil
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17
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Catano CP, Bassett TJ, Bauer JT, Grman E, Groves AM, Zirbel CR, Brudvig LA. Soil resources mediate the strength of species but not trait convergence across grassland restorations. J Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Tyler J. Bassett
- Michigan Natural Features Inventory Michigan State University Extension Lansing MI USA
| | - Jonathan T. Bauer
- Department of Biology and the Institute for the Environment and Sustainability Miami University Oxford OH USA
| | - Emily Grman
- Department of Biology Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti MI USA
| | - Anna M. Groves
- Department of Plant Biology Michigan State University East Lansing MI USA
- Freelance science journalist Kansas City MI USA
- Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Michigan State University East Lansing MI USA
| | - Chad R. Zirbel
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior University of Minnesota St. Paul MN USA
| | - Lars A. Brudvig
- Department of Plant Biology Michigan State University East Lansing MI USA
- Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Michigan State University East Lansing MI USA
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars A. Brudvig
- Department of Plant Biology Michigan State University East Lansing MI 48824 U.S.A
- Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Michigan State University East Lansing MI 48824 U.S.A
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Sulavik J, Auestad I, Halvorsen R, Rydgren K. Assessing recovery of alpine spoil heaps by vascular plant, bryophyte, and lichen functional traits. Restor Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jan Sulavik
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and Science Western Norway University of Applied Sciences P.O. Box. 133, NO‐6851 Sogndal Norway
- Geo‐ecological Research Group, Section for Research and Collections, Natural History Museum University of Oslo P.O. Box 1172 Blindern, N‐0318 Oslo Norway
| | - Inger Auestad
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and Science Western Norway University of Applied Sciences P.O. Box. 133, NO‐6851 Sogndal Norway
| | - Rune Halvorsen
- Geo‐ecological Research Group, Section for Research and Collections, Natural History Museum University of Oslo P.O. Box 1172 Blindern, N‐0318 Oslo Norway
| | - Knut Rydgren
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and Science Western Norway University of Applied Sciences P.O. Box. 133, NO‐6851 Sogndal Norway
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20
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Stream Restoration Is Influenced by Details of Engineered Habitats at a Headwater Mine Site. DIVERSITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/d13020048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
A lack of information regarding which ecological factors influence restoration success or failure has hindered scientifically based restoration decision-making. We focus on one headwater site to examine factors influencing divergent ecological outcomes of two post-mining stream restoration projects designed to improve instream conditions following 70 years of mining impacts. One project was designed to simulate natural stream conditions by creating a morphologically complex channel with high habitat heterogeneity (HH-reach). A second project was designed to reduce contaminants and sediment using a sand filter along a straight, armored channel, which resulted in different habitat characteristics and comparatively low habitat heterogeneity (LH-reach). Within 2 years of completion, stream habitat parameters and community composition within the HH-reach were similar to those of reference reaches. In contrast, habitat and community composition within the LH-reach differed substantially from reference reaches, even 7–8 years after project completion. We found that an interaction between low gradient and high light availability, created by the LH-reach design, facilitated a Chironomid-Nostoc mutualism. These symbionts dominated the epilithic surface of rocks and there was little habitat for tailed frog larvae, bioavailable macroinvertebrates, and fish. After controlling for habitat quantity, potential colonizing species’ traits, and biogeographic factors, we found that habitat characteristics combined to facilitate different ecological outcomes, whereas time since treatment implementation was less influential. We demonstrate that stream communities can respond quickly to restoration of physical characteristics and increased heterogeneity, but “details matter” because interactions between the habitats we create and between the species that occupy them can be complex, unpredictable, and can influence restoration effectiveness.
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Ladouceur E, Shackelford N. The power of data synthesis to shape the future of the restoration community and capacity. Restor Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Emma Ladouceur
- Biodiversity Synthesis & Physiological Diversity German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Leipzig‐Halle‐Jena Leipzig Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Germany
- Biodiversity Synthesis, Institute of Computer Science Martin Luther University Halle‐Wittenberg Halle (Saale) 06120 Germany
- Physiological Diversity Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ Leipzig Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Germany
| | - Nancy Shackelford
- School of Environmental Studies University of Victoria 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria British Columbia V8P 5C2 Canada
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22
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Catano CP, Grman E, Behrens E, Brudvig LA. Species pool size alters species-area relationships during experimental community assembly. Ecology 2020; 102:e03231. [PMID: 33091155 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The species pool concept has advanced our understanding for how biodiversity is coupled at local and regional scales. However, it remains unclear how species pool size, the number of species available to disperse to a site, influences community assembly across spatial scales. We provide one of the first studies that assesses diversity across scales after experimentally assembling grassland communities from species pools of different sizes. We show that species pool size causes scale-dependent effects on diversity in grasslands undergoing restoration by altering the shape of the species-area relationship (SAR). Specifically, larger species pools increased the slope of the SAR, but not the intercept, suggesting that dispersal from a larger pool causes species to be more spatially aggregated. This increased aggregation appears to be caused by sampling effects due to fewer individuals arriving per species, rather than stronger species sorting across variation in soil moisture. These scale-dependent effects suggest that studies evaluating species pools at a single, small scale may underestimate their effects, thereby contributing to uncertainty about the importance of regional processes for community assembly and their consequences for ecological restoration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher P Catano
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 48824, USA
| | - Emily Grman
- Department of Biology, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan, 48197, USA
| | - Eric Behrens
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 48824, USA
| | - Lars A Brudvig
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 48824, USA.,Program in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 48824, USA
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23
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Glennemeier K, Packard S, Spyreas G. Dramatic long-term restoration of an oak woodland due to multiple, sustained management treatments. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0241061. [PMID: 33095813 PMCID: PMC7584219 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
We measured 34 years of plant community change in a degraded oak woodland undergoing ecological management. Management included regular prescribed fire, control of white-tailed deer populations, repeated sowing of a diverse seed mix, and removal of invasive plants. We tracked change with several conservation metrics. Time series analysis showed no significant changes over time in either plant species richness or the Shannon-Weiner diversity index. Floristic Quality Assessment measures—the Floristic Quality Index (FQI), Cover-weighted FQI, and the Mean Coefficient of Conservatism (Mean C)—all increased dramatically over time, such that their values now surpass those of the highest quality representative of this habitat in the region. Cover-weighted FQI had the added benefit of being quick to respond (negatively and positively) to short-term management changes during the study. This sensitivity highlights its utility for adaptive management, enabling timely, data-driven changes to ongoing management regimes. Plant community composition showed striking changes during the study period, as species of high conservation value replaced weedier species. As a group, conservative woodland species are notoriously slow to recover from degradation, making this flora’s recovery particularly notable. A mid-study cessation of management immediately stalled the woodland’s recovery according to Floristic Quality metrics, but the restoration quickly returned to its positive trajectory with the resumption of management treatments. These results illustrate that impressive plant biodiversity restoration can be achieved, even in highly degraded contemporary oak ecosystems, if ecological management is comprehensive and if it is sustained over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Glennemeier
- Habitat Research LLC, Wilmette, Illinois, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Stephen Packard
- North Branch Restoration Project, Northbrook, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Greg Spyreas
- Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois, Champaign, Illinois, United States of America
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Grundel R, Dulin GS, Pavlovic NB. Changes in conservation value from grasslands to savannas to forests: How a temperate canopy cover gradient affects butterfly community composition. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0234139. [PMID: 32559760 PMCID: PMC7304999 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2019] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Temperate savannas and grasslands are globally threatened. In the Midwest United States of America (USA), for example, oak savannas persist today at a small percentage of recent historic coverage. Therefore, restoration of habitats of low and intermediate canopy cover is a landscape conservation priority that often emphasizes returning tree density to a savanna-like target value. Understanding how animal species react to such changes in vegetation structure is important for assessing the value of these restoration plans. We examined how butterfly community attributes in northwest Indiana USA, including community composition, richness, and abundance responded to a grassland-to-forest gradient of canopy cover. Butterfly community composition under intermediate canopy cover differed significantly from community composition in the most open or closed-canopy habitats. Composition of the plant community in flower was a significant predictor of three assessed attributes of the butterfly community—composition, richness, and abundance. Phenology, expressed as day-of-the-year, was also a strong predictor of these butterfly community attributes. Few butterfly species were habitat specialists as adults although canopy cover was a more important predictor of adult community composition than of richness or abundance of butterflies. Therefore, adult butterfly community differences along the canopy cover gradient were less about butterfly communities filled with habitat specialists for different canopy-defined habitats and more about gradual changes in community composition along this gradient. Overall, butterfly community richness was predicted to peak at about 34% canopy cover, butterfly abundance at about 53% canopy cover, community conservation value at about 59% canopy cover, and a combination of desirable conservation attributes–high diversity, high abundance, and high conservation value–was predicted to reach a peak of co-occurrence at about 67% canopy cover suggesting that habitats of intermediate canopy cover might be particularly effective for butterfly conservation in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralph Grundel
- U.S. Geological Survey, Great Lakes Science Center, Chesterton, Indiana, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Gary S. Dulin
- Valparaiso University, Department of Biology, Valparaiso, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Noel B. Pavlovic
- U.S. Geological Survey, Great Lakes Science Center, Chesterton, Indiana, United States of America
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McNeil DJ, Rodewald AD, Ruiz‐Gutierrez V, Johnson KE, Strimas‐Mackey M, Petzinger S, Robinson OJ, Soto GE, Dhondt AA, Larkin JL. Multiscale drivers of restoration outcomes for an imperiled songbird. Restor Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Darin J. McNeil
- Department of Natural Resources Cornell University Ithaca NY 14850 U.S.A
- Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology Ithaca NY 14850 U.S.A
- Department of Entomology Pennsylvania State University State College PA 16803 U.S.A
| | - Amanda D. Rodewald
- Department of Natural Resources Cornell University Ithaca NY 14850 U.S.A
- Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology Ithaca NY 14850 U.S.A
| | | | - Kirsten E. Johnson
- Department of Biology Indiana University of Pennsylvania Indiana PA 15705 U.S.A
| | | | | | | | - Gerardo E. Soto
- Department of Natural Resources Cornell University Ithaca NY 14850 U.S.A
- Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology Ithaca NY 14850 U.S.A
| | - Andre A. Dhondt
- Department of Natural Resources Cornell University Ithaca NY 14850 U.S.A
- Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology Ithaca NY 14850 U.S.A
| | - Jeffery L. Larkin
- Department of Biology Indiana University of Pennsylvania Indiana PA 15705 U.S.A
- American Bird Conservancy The Plains VA 20198 U.S.A
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26
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Wood CM, Loman ZG, McKinney ST, Loftin CS. Testing prediction accuracy in short-term ecological studies. Basic Appl Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2020.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Staples TL, Mayfield MM, England JR, Dwyer JM. Comparing the recovery of richness, structure, and biomass in naturally regrowing and planted reforestation. Restor Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Timothy L. Staples
- School of Biological SciencesThe University of Queensland Brisbane Queensland 4072 Australia
- EcoSciences PrecinctCSIRO Land and Water, Dutton Park Brisbane Queensland 4001 Australia
| | - Margaret M. Mayfield
- School of Biological SciencesThe University of Queensland Brisbane Queensland 4072 Australia
| | | | - John M. Dwyer
- School of Biological SciencesThe University of Queensland Brisbane Queensland 4072 Australia
- EcoSciences PrecinctCSIRO Land and Water, Dutton Park Brisbane Queensland 4001 Australia
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Garrouj M, Alard D, Corcket E, Marchand L, Benot M. The effects of management on vegetation trajectories during the early-stage restoration of previously arable land after hay transfer. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:13776-13786. [PMID: 31938481 PMCID: PMC6953687 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Revised: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The restoration of floodplain grasslands has benefited from many studies of the underlying mechanisms. Among the operational tools that resulted, hay transfer is now used increasingly to alleviate the effects of limited seed dispersal and recruitment. To improve this method, we still need to understand how it can affect restoration trajectories, and particularly their direction and magnitude during the early stages of restoration. Based on concepts from the field of community ecology theory, we investigated the effects of early-stage management through grazing or mowing on restoration trajectories after soil harrowing and hay transfer. We established a randomized block design experiment and quantified several community-related metrics to formalize restoration trajectories for 3 years after hay transfer on a previously arable alluvial island in southwestern France. Whatever the management treatment, the species richness and evenness were significantly higher in hay-inoculated than in control plots. This effect was linked to the recruitment of species originating not only from the reference grassland through hay transfer, but also from the seed bank, a well-known effect of soil harrowing. Although generally oriented toward the reference grassland, the origin, direction, and magnitude of the trajectory of hay-inoculated plots all depended on the management applied. Sheep grazing applied at the same time as hay transfer enhanced the recruitment of reference species as from the first experimental year, because it controlled aboveground competition and maintained the window of opportunity open for a sufficiently longer period of time. Our findings show that the type of management applied simultaneously to hay transfer influences the origin of a grassland trajectory, while its direction and magnitude are dependent on the management applied in subsequent years. Grazing immediately after hay transfer may be appropriate to accelerate the recruitment of species from the reference grassland.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Lilian Marchand
- INRABIOGECOUMR 1202Univ. BordeauxPessacFrance
- Present address:
LyREResearch and Development Center of SUEZTalenceFrance
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Rydgren K, Auestad I, Halvorsen R, Hamre LN, Jongejans E, Töpper JP, Sulavik J. Assessing restoration success by predicting time to recovery—But by which metric? J Appl Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Knut Rydgren
- Department of Environmental Sciences Western Norway University of Applied Sciences Sogndal Norway
| | - Inger Auestad
- Department of Environmental Sciences Western Norway University of Applied Sciences Sogndal Norway
| | - Rune Halvorsen
- University of OsloGeo‐Ecology Research GroupSection of Research and CollectionsNatural History Museum Oslo Norway
| | - Liv Norunn Hamre
- Department of Environmental Sciences Western Norway University of Applied Sciences Sogndal Norway
| | - Eelke Jongejans
- Radboud UniversityInstitute for Water and Wetland Research Nijmegen The Netherlands
| | | | - Jan Sulavik
- Department of Environmental Sciences Western Norway University of Applied Sciences Sogndal Norway
- University of OsloGeo‐Ecology Research GroupSection of Research and CollectionsNatural History Museum Oslo Norway
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Wainwright CE, Davies GM, Dettweiler‐Robinson E, Dunwiddie PW, Wilderman D, Bakker JD. Methods for tracking sagebrush‐steppe community trajectories and quantifying resilience in relation to disturbance and restoration. Restor Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Claire E. Wainwright
- School of Environmental and Forest SciencesUniversity of Washington, Box 354115 Seattle WA 98195 U.S.A
- Exponent, Inc., Ecological and Biological Sciences Bellevue WA 98007 U.S.A
| | - G. Matt Davies
- School of Environment and Natural ResourcesThe Ohio State University, Kottman Hall, 2021 Coffey Road Columbus OH 43210 U.S.A
| | | | - Peter W. Dunwiddie
- School of Environmental and Forest SciencesUniversity of Washington, Box 354115 Seattle WA 98195 U.S.A
| | - David Wilderman
- Washington State Department of Natural ResourcesNatural Resources Building Headquarters, PO Box 47014 Olympia WA 98504 U.S.A
| | - Jonathan D. Bakker
- School of Environmental and Forest SciencesUniversity of Washington, Box 354115 Seattle WA 98195 U.S.A
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Expected Shifts in Nekton Community Following Salinity Reduction: Insights into Restoration and Management of Transitional Water Habitats. WATER 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/w11071354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
A restoration project is planned to take place in the northern Venice lagoon (northern Adriatic Sea, Italy), aiming at introducing freshwater into a confined shallow water lagoon area and recreating transitional water habitats. This work describes the shifts in the nekton (fish and decapods) community structure to be expected following the future salinity decrease in the restoration area. Nekton was sampled at a series of natural shallow water sites located along salinity gradients in the Venice lagoon. A multivariate GLM approach was followed in order to predict species biomass under the salinity and environmental conditions expected after restoration. Biomass of commercially important species, as well as species of conservation interest, is predicted to increase following salinity reduction and habitat changes. From a functional perspective, an increase in biomass of hyperbenthivores-zooplanctivores, hyperbenthivores-piscivores and detritivores is also expected. This study emphasises the efficacy of a predictive approach for both ecological restoration and ecosystem management in transitional waters. By providing scenarios of community structure, the outcomes of this work could be employed in future evaluations of restoration success in the Venice lagoon, as well as to develop management tools to forecast the effects of alterations of salinity regimes in coastal lagoons due to climate change.
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Similar recovery time of microbial functions from fungicide stress across biogeographical regions. Sci Rep 2018; 8:17021. [PMID: 30451978 PMCID: PMC6242862 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-35397-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2018] [Accepted: 11/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Determining whether the structural and functional stress responses of communities are similar across space and time is paramount for forecasting and extrapolating the consequences of anthropogenic pressures on ecosystems and their services. Stream ecosystems are under high anthropogenic pressure; however, studies have only examined the response of stream communities across large scales over multiple generations. We studied the responses of leaf-associated microbial communities in streams within three European biogeographical regions to chemical stress in a microcosm experiment with multiple cycles of fungicide pollution and resource colonisation. Fungal community composition and the ecosystem function leaf decomposition were measured as response variables. Microbial leaf decomposition showed similar recovery times under environmental levels of fungicide exposure across regions. Initially, the decomposition declined (between 19 and 53%) under fungicide stress and recovered to control levels during the third cycle of pollution and colonisation. Although community composition and its stress response varied between regions, this suggests similar functional community adaptation towards fungicide stress over time. Genetic, epigenetic and physiological adaptations, as well as species turnover, may have contributed to community adaptation but further studies are required to determine if and to which extent these mechanisms are operating. Overall, our findings provide the first evidence of a similar functional response of microbial leaf decomposition to chemical stress across space and time.
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Rowe L, Gibson D, Landis D, Gibbs J, Isaacs R. A Comparison of Drought-Tolerant Prairie Plants to Support Managed and Wild Bees in Conservation Programs. ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY 2018; 47:1128-1142. [PMID: 30052842 DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvy091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
In response to growing concerns surrounding pollinator health, there have been increased efforts to incorporate wildflower habitat into land management programs, particularly in agricultural systems dependent on bee-mediated pollination. While recommended plant lists abound, there is limited research on which plant species support the greatest bee abundance and diversity. In many farm settings, drought-tolerant plant species adapted to well-drained sandy soils are needed, since wildflower plantings are typically not irrigated. We used a common garden experimental design to evaluate 51 drought-tolerant native perennial plant species, and 2 non-native plant species in three regions of Michigan for their ability to support honey bees (Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae)) and wild bees. 1,996 honey bees and 2,496 wild bees were recorded visiting study plants. The wild bee community visiting plant species was dominated by Bombus spp. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) (25%), Halictus spp. (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) (23%), and Lasioglossum spp. (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) (16%). The number of honey bees and wild bees visiting study plants varied considerably, suggesting that bee groups have distinct preferences for plant species. Of the plant species assessed, Asclepias syriaca L. (Gentianales: Apocynaceae) (early season), Monarda fistulosa L. (Lamiales: Lamiaceae) (middle season), and Solidago speciosa Nutt. (Asterales: Asteraceae) (late season) were the three most attractive plant species to the entire bee community. Many other plants consistently attracted a high abundance of wild bees, honey bees, or both. Our results inform plant selection to support managed and wild bees as part of pollinator conservation programs in the Great Lakes region of the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- Logan Rowe
- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
| | - Daniel Gibson
- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
| | - Douglas Landis
- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
| | - Jason Gibbs
- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
- Department of Entomology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Rufus Isaacs
- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
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Reid JL. Restoration Ecology's
Silver Jubilee: big time questions for restoration ecology. Restor Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.12883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J. Leighton Reid
- Center for Conservation and Sustainable Development, Missouri Botanical Garden; 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis MO 63110 U.S.A
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35
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Environmental Restoration in Hydropower Development—Lessons from Norway. SUSTAINABILITY 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/su10093358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Hydropower is expanding globally and is regarded a key measure for mitigating climate change, but it also results in major environmental degradation, both at local scale and more widely. We can learn lessons about how restoration can be used to alleviate these problems from failures and successes in countries with a long history of hydropower development, such as Norway. Here, hydropower projects grew larger over time, and in the 1960s, the emerging environmentalist movement started to challenge hydropower developments because of their negative impacts on the environment. The Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate then appointed a landscape architect who became very influential, particularly due to his skills in aesthetics and photo documentation. He developed principles for designing self-sustaining environments which he called “living nature”, and in particular proposed methods of restoring barren, unattractive, alpine spoil heaps. Later, restoration methods and goals have changed in response to new insights and the changing goals of ecological restoration. Here, we present current best practice for the alpine biome and sum up general lessons in three points: restoration can represent a sustainable, ‘third way’ in the conflict between conservation and development; including a wider group of professionals may improve restoration goals and methods, and effective use of visual communication can be a good way of gaining support for new restoration principles.
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Rydgren K, Halvorsen R, Töpper JP, Auestad I, Hamre LN, Jongejans E, Sulavik J. Advancing restoration ecology: A new approach to predict time to recovery. J Appl Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Knut Rydgren
- Institute of Natural ScienceWestern Norway University of Applied Sciences Sogndal Norway
| | - Rune Halvorsen
- Section of BotanyNatural History MuseumUniversity of Oslo Oslo Norway
| | | | - Inger Auestad
- Institute of Natural ScienceWestern Norway University of Applied Sciences Sogndal Norway
| | - Liv Norunn Hamre
- Institute of Natural ScienceWestern Norway University of Applied Sciences Sogndal Norway
| | - Eelke Jongejans
- Institute for Water and Wetland ResearchRadboud University Nijmegen The Netherlands
| | - Jan Sulavik
- Institute of Natural ScienceWestern Norway University of Applied Sciences Sogndal Norway
- Section of BotanyNatural History MuseumUniversity of Oslo Oslo Norway
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37
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Adaptive Networks for Restoration Ecology. Trends Ecol Evol 2018; 33:664-675. [PMID: 30005837 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2018.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2017] [Revised: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The urgent need to restore biodiversity and ecosystem functioning challenges ecology as a predictive science. Restoration ecology would benefit from evolutionary principles embedded within a framework that combines adaptive network models and the phylogenetic structure of ecological interactions. Adaptive network models capture feedbacks between trait evolution, species abundances, and interactions to explain resilience and functional diversity within communities. Phylogenetically-structured network data, increasingly available via next-generation sequencing, inform constraints affecting interaction rewiring. Combined, these approaches can predict eco-evolutionary changes triggered by community manipulation practices, such as translocations and eradications of invasive species. We discuss theoretical and methodological opportunities to bridge network models and data from restoration projects and propose how this can be applied to the functional restoration of ecological interactions.
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Sullivan MJP, Davy AJ, Grant A, Mossman HL. Is saltmarsh restoration success constrained by matching natural environments or altered succession? A test using niche models. J Appl Ecol 2018; 55:1207-1217. [PMID: 29780171 PMCID: PMC5947831 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2017] [Accepted: 10/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Restored habitats, such as saltmarsh created through managed realignment, sometimes fail to meet targets for biological equivalence with natural reference sites. Understanding why this happens is important in order to improve restoration outcomes. Elevation in the tidal frame and sediment redox potential are major controls on the distribution of saltmarsh plants. We use niche models to characterize 10 species’ responses to these, and test whether differences in species occurrence between restored and natural saltmarshes in the UK result from failure to recreate adequate environmental conditions. Six species occurred less frequently in recently restored marshes than natural marshes. Failure of restored marshes to achieve the elevation and redox conditions of natural marshes partially explained the underrepresentation of five of these species, but did not explain patterns of occurrence on older (>50 years) restored marshes. For all species, an effect of marsh age remained after controlling for differences in environmental conditions. This could be due to differences in successional mechanism between restored and natural marshes. In recently restored marshes, high‐marsh species occurred lower in the tidal frame and low‐marsh species occurred higher in the tidal frame than in natural marshes. This supports the hypothesis that competition is initially weaker in restored marshes, because of the availability of bare sediment across the whole tidal frame. Species that establish outside their normal realized niche, such as Atriplex portulacoides, may inhibit subsequent colonization of other species that occurred less frequently than expected on older restored marshes. Synthesis and applications. Niche models can be used to test whether abiotic differences between restored sites and their natural counterparts are responsible for discrepancies in species occurrence. In saltmarshes, simply replicating environmental conditions will not result in equivalent species occurrence.
Niche models can be used to test whether abiotic differences between restored sites and their natural counterparts are responsible for discrepancies in species occurrence. In saltmarshes, simply replicating environmental conditions will not result in equivalent species occurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anthony J Davy
- School of Biological Sciences University of East Anglia Norwich UK
| | - Alastair Grant
- School of Environmental Sciences University of East Anglia Norwich UK
| | - Hannah L Mossman
- School of Science and the Environment Manchester Metropolitan University Manchester UK
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Schäfer RB, Piggott JJ. Advancing understanding and prediction in multiple stressor research through a mechanistic basis for null models. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2018; 24:1817-1826. [PMID: 29368441 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2017] [Revised: 01/15/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2018] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Global environmental change is driven by multiple anthropogenic stressors. Conservation and restoration require understanding the individual and joint action of these stressors to evaluate and prioritize management measures. To date, most studies on multiple stressor effects have sought to identify potential stressor interactions, defined as deviations from null models, and related meta-analyses have focused on quantifying the relative proportion of stressor interactions across studies. These studies have provided valuable insights about the complexity of multiple stressor effects, but remain largely devoid of a theoretical framework for null model selection and prediction of effects. We suggest that multiple stressor research would benefit by (1) integrating and developing additional null models and (2) selecting null models based on their mechanistic assumptions of the stressor mode of action and organism sensitivities as well as stressor-effect relationships for individuals and populations. We present a range of null models and outline their underlying assumptions and application in multiple stressor research. Moving beyond mere description requires multiple stressor research to shift its focus from identifying statistically significant interactions to the use and development of mechanistic (null) models. Justified selection of the appropriate null model is a first step to achieve this.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralf B Schäfer
- Quantitative Landscape Ecology, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University Koblenz-Landau, Landau in der Pfalz, Germany
| | - Jeremy J Piggott
- School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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