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Palli J, Mensing SA, Schoolman EM, Solano F, Piovesan G. Historical ecology identifies long-term rewilding strategy for conserving Mediterranean mountain forests in south Italy. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2023; 33:e2758. [PMID: 36193873 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2758] [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: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
In the context of global decline in old-growth forest, historical ecology is a valuable tool to derive insights into vegetation legacies and dynamics and develop new conservation and restoration strategies. In this cross-disciplinary study, we integrate palynology (Lago del Pesce record), history, dendrochronology, and historical and contemporary land cover maps to assess drivers of vegetation change over the last millennium in a Mediterranean mountain forest (Pollino National Park, southern Italy) and discuss implications in conservation ecology. The study site hosts a remnant beech-fir (Fagus sylvatica-Abies alba) mixed forest, a priority habitat for biodiversity conservation in Europe. In the 10th century, the pollen record showed an open environment that was quickly colonized by silver fir when sociopolitical instabilities reduced anthropogenic pressures in mountain forests. The highest forest cover and biomass was reached between the 14th and the 17th centuries following land abandonment due to recurring plague pandemics. This rewilding process is also reflected in the recruitment history of Bosnian pine (Pinus heldreichii) in the subalpine elevation belt. Our results show that human impacts have been one of the main drivers of silver fir population contraction in the last centuries in the Mediterranean, and that the removal of direct human pressure led to ecosystem renovation. Since 1910, the Rubbio State Forest has locally protected and restored the mixed beech-fir forest. The institutions in 1972 for the Rubbio Natural Reserve and in 1993 for Pollino National Park have guaranteed the survival of the silver fir population, demonstrating the effectiveness of targeted conservation and restoration policies despite a warming climate. Monitoring silver fir populations can measure the effectiveness of conservation measures. In the last decades, the abandonment of rural environments (rewilding) along the mountains of southern Italy has reduced the pressure on ecosystems, thus boosting forest expansion. However, after four decades of natural regeneration and increasing biomass, pollen influx and forest composition are still far from the natural attributes of the medieval forest ecosystem. We conclude that long-term forest planning encouraging limited direct human disturbance will lead toward rewilding and renovation of carbon-rich and highly biodiverse Mediterranean old-growth forests, which will be more resistant and resilient to future climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan Palli
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
- Department of Agriculture and Forest Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Scott A Mensing
- Department of Geography, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada, USA
| | | | - Francesco Solano
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
- Department of Agriculture and Forest Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Gianluca Piovesan
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
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McClenachan L, Neal B. Forgotten whales, fading codfish: Perceptions of ‘natural’ ecosystems inform visions of future recovery. PEOPLE AND NATURE 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10439] [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)
- Loren McClenachan
- Ocean History Lab, Department of History and School of Environmental Studies University of Victoria Victoria British Columbia Canada
- Environmental Studies Program Colby College Waterville Maine USA
| | - Benjamin Neal
- Environmental Studies Program Colby College Waterville Maine USA
- Department of Biology and School of Environmental Studies University of Victoria Victoria British Columbia Canada
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McAfee D, McLeod IM, Alleway HK, Bishop MJ, Branigan S, Connell SD, Copeland C, Crawford CM, Diggles BK, Fitzsimons JA, Gilby BL, Hamer P, Hancock B, Pearce R, Russell K, Gillies CL. Turning a lost reef ecosystem into a national restoration program. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2022; 36:e13958. [PMID: 35621094 PMCID: PMC10087571 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
Achieving a sustainable socioecological future now requires large-scale environmental repair across legislative borders. Yet, enabling large-scale conservation is complicated by policy-making processes that are disconnected from socioeconomic interests, multiple sources of knowledge, and differing applications of policy. We considered how a multidisciplinary approach to marine habitat restoration generated the scientific evidence base, community support, and funding needed to begin the restoration of a forgotten, functionally extinct shellfish reef ecosystem. The key actors came together as a multidisciplinary community of researchers, conservation practitioners, recreational fisher communities, and government bodies that collaborated across sectors to rediscover Australia's lost shellfish reefs and communicate the value of its restoration. Actions undertaken to build a case for large-scale marine restoration included synthesizing current knowledge on Australian shellfish reefs and their historical decline, using this history to tell a compelling story to spark public and political interest, integrating restoration into government policy, and rallying local support through community engagement. Clearly articulating the social, economic, and environmental business case for restoration led to state and national funding for reef restoration to meet diverse sustainability goals (e.g., enhanced biodiversity and fisheries productivity) and socioeconomic goals (e.g., job creation and recreational opportunities). A key lesson learned was the importance of aligning project goals with public and industry interests so that projects could address multiple political obligations. This process culminated in Australia's largest marine restoration initiative and shows that solutions for large-scale ecosystem repair can rapidly occur when socially valued science acts on political opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominic McAfee
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Environment Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Ian M McLeod
- TropWATER, Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Heidi K Alleway
- The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Provide Food and Water, The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, Virginia, USA
| | - Melanie J Bishop
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Simon Branigan
- The Nature Conservancy Australia, Carlton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sean D Connell
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Environment Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | | | - Christine M Crawford
- Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Ben K Diggles
- DigsFish Services Pty Ltd, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - James A Fitzsimons
- The Nature Conservancy Australia, Carlton, Victoria, Australia
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ben L Gilby
- School of Science and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
| | - Paul Hamer
- Victorian Fisheries Authority, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Boze Hancock
- The Nature Conservancy, c/o Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Robert Pearce
- Albert Park Yachting and Angling Club, Albert Park, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kylie Russell
- NSW Department of Primary Industries, Taylors Beach, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Chris L Gillies
- TropWATER, Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- The Nature Conservancy Australia, Carlton, Victoria, Australia
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Thurstan RH. The potential of historical ecology to aid understanding of human-ocean interactions throughout the Anthropocene. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2022; 101:351-364. [PMID: 35061243 PMCID: PMC9545720 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Marine historical ecology emerged in the scholarly literature with the aim of understanding long-term dynamics in marine ecosystems and the outcomes of past human-ocean interactions. The use of historical sources, which differ in temporal scale and resolution to most scientific monitoring data, present both opportunities and challenges for informing our understanding of past marine ecosystems and the ways in which human communities made use of them. With an emphasis upon marine social-ecological changes over the past 200 years, I present an overview of the relevant historical ecology literature and summarise how this approach generates a richer understanding of human-ocean interactions and the legacies associated with human-induced ecosystem change. Marine historical ecology methodologies continue to be developed, whereas expanded inter- and multidisciplinary collaborations provide exciting avenues for future discoveries. Beyond scholarship, historical ecology presents opportunities to foster a more sustainable relationship with oceans going forward: by challenging ingrained perceptions of what is "normal" within marine ecosystems, reconnecting human communities to the oceans and providing cautionary lessons and exemplars of sustainable human-ocean interactions from the past. To leverage these opportunities, scholars must work alongside practitioners, managers and policy makers to foster mutual understanding, explore new opportunities to communicate historical findings and address the challenges of integrating historical data into modern-day frameworks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth H. Thurstan
- Centre for Ecology and ConservationUniversity of ExeterCornwallUK
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Tanner JE, McSkimming C, Russell BD, Connell SD. Rapid restoration of belowground structure and fauna of a seagrass habitat. Restor Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jason E. Tanner
- SARDI Aquatic Sciences, PO Box 120 Henley Beach SA 5022 Australia
- Southern Seas Ecology Laboratories, School of Biological Sciences University of Adelaide Adelaide SA 5005 Australia
| | - Chloe McSkimming
- SARDI Aquatic Sciences, PO Box 120 Henley Beach SA 5022 Australia
- Southern Seas Ecology Laboratories, School of Biological Sciences University of Adelaide Adelaide SA 5005 Australia
- Department for Environment and Water Innes National Park Inneston SA 5575 Australia
| | - Bayden D. Russell
- Southern Seas Ecology Laboratories, School of Biological Sciences University of Adelaide Adelaide SA 5005 Australia
- Swire Institute of Marine Science and School of Biological Sciences The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR China
| | - Sean D. Connell
- Southern Seas Ecology Laboratories, School of Biological Sciences University of Adelaide Adelaide SA 5005 Australia
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Lau SCY, Thomas M, Hancock B, Russell BD. Restoration potential of Asian oysters on heavily developed coastlines. Restor Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sally C. Y. Lau
- The Swire Institute of Marine Science and School of Biological Sciences The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR China
- Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture and College of Science and Engineering James Cook University Townsville QLD Australia
| | - Marine Thomas
- The Nature Conservancy Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR China
| | - Boze Hancock
- The Nature Conservancy C/O URI Graduate School of Oceanography Narragansett RI USA
| | - Bayden D. Russell
- The Swire Institute of Marine Science and School of Biological Sciences The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR China
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Vergés A, Campbell AH, Wood G, Kajlich L, Eger AM, Cruz D, Langley M, Bolton D, Coleman MA, Turpin J, Crawford M, Coombes N, Camilleri A, Steinberg PD, Marzinelli EM. Operation Crayweed: Ecological and sociocultural aspects of restoring Sydney’s underwater forests. ECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT & RESTORATION 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/emr.12413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
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McAfee D, McLeod IM, Boström‐Einarsson L, Gillies CL. The value and opportunity of restoring Australia's lost rock oyster reefs. Restor Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Dominic McAfee
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of Adelaide Adelaide South Australia Australia
| | - Ian M. McLeod
- TropWATER (Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research)James Cook University Townsville Queensland Australia
| | - Lisa Boström‐Einarsson
- TropWATER (Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research)James Cook University Townsville Queensland Australia
| | - Chris L. Gillies
- TropWATER (Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research)James Cook University Townsville Queensland Australia
- The Nature Conservancy Australia Carlton Victoria Australia
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