1
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de Abreu Pestana LF, Martello F, Fonseca RCB. Richness and composition of terrestrial mammals vary in eucalyptus plantations due to stand age. AUSTRAL ECOL 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.13297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Felipe Martello
- Vale Technological Institute – Sustainable Development Belém Brazil
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2
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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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3
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van der Heyde M, Bunce M, Nevill P. Key factors to consider in the use of environmental DNA metabarcoding to monitor terrestrial ecological restoration. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 848:157617. [PMID: 35901901 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Ecological restoration of terrestrial environments is a globally important process to combat the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services. Holistic monitoring of restored biota and active management of restoration is necessary to improve restoration processes and outcomes, and provide evidence to stakeholders that targets are being achieved. Increasingly, environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding is used as a restoration monitoring tool because it is able to generate biodiversity data rapidly, accurately, non-destructively, and reliably, on a wide breadth of organisms from soil microbes to mammals. The overall objective of this review is to discuss the key factors to consider in the use of environmental DNA for monitoring of restored terrestrial ecosystems, hopefully improving monitoring, and ultimately, restoration outcomes. We identified that the majority of eDNA based studies of ecosystem restoration are currently conducted in Europe, North America, and Australia, and that almost half of total studies were published in 2021-22. Soil was the most popular sample substrate, soil microbial communities the most targeted taxa, and forests the most studied ecosystem. We suggest there is no 'one size fits all' approach to restoration monitoring using eDNA, and discuss survey design. Factors to consider include substrate selection, sample collection and storage, assay selection, and data interpretation, all of which require careful planning to obtain reliable, and accurate information that can be used for restoration monitoring and decision making. We explore future directions for research and argue that eDNA metabarcoding can be a useful tool in the restoration monitoring 'toolkit', but requires informed application and greater accessibility to data by a wide spectrum of stakeholders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mieke van der Heyde
- ARC Centre for Mine Site Restoration, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, GPP Box U1987, Perth, Western Australia 6102, Australia; Trace and Environmental DNA Laboratory, School of Life and Molecular Sciences, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, Western Australia 6102, Australia.
| | - Michael Bunce
- Trace and Environmental DNA Laboratory, School of Life and Molecular Sciences, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, Western Australia 6102, Australia; Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR), Kenepuru, Porirua 5022, New Zealand
| | - Paul Nevill
- ARC Centre for Mine Site Restoration, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, GPP Box U1987, Perth, Western Australia 6102, Australia; Trace and Environmental DNA Laboratory, School of Life and Molecular Sciences, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, Western Australia 6102, Australia
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4
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Zivec P, Sheldon F, Capon S. Regenerative capacity of old‐fields on semi‐arid floodplains in the northern
Murray‐Darling
Basin. Restor Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Peta Zivec
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, 140 Kessels Road Nathan QLD 4111 Australia
| | - Fran Sheldon
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, 140 Kessels Road Nathan QLD 4111 Australia
| | - Samantha Capon
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, 140 Kessels Road Nathan QLD 4111 Australia
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5
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Barrera‐Cataño JI, Garibello J, Moreno‐Cárdenas C, Basto S. Trade offs at applying tree nucleation to restore degraded high andean forests in colombia. Restor Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13753] [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)
- José I. Barrera‐Cataño
- Escuela de Restauración ecológica (ERE), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana
- Unidad de Ecología y Sistemática (UNESIS), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana
| | - Juan Garibello
- Escuela de Restauración ecológica (ERE), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana
| | - Carolina Moreno‐Cárdenas
- Escuela de Restauración ecológica (ERE), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana
| | - Sofía Basto
- Unidad de Ecología y Sistemática (UNESIS), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana
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6
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van der Heyde M, Bunce M, Dixon KW, Fernandes K, Majer J, Wardell-Johnson G, White NE, Nevill P. Evaluating restoration trajectories using DNA metabarcoding of ground-dwelling and airborne invertebrates and associated plant communities. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:2172-2188. [PMID: 35092102 PMCID: PMC9304231 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 12/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Invertebrates are important for restoration processes as they are key drivers of many landscape‐scale ecosystem functions; including pollination, nutrient cycling and soil formation. However, invertebrates are often overlooked in restoration monitoring because they are highly diverse, poorly described, and time‐consuming to survey, and require increasingly scarce taxonomic expertise to enable identification. DNA metabarcoding is a relatively new tool for rapid survey that is able to address some of these concerns, and provide information about the taxa with which invertebrates are interacting via food webs and habitat. Here, we evaluate how invertebrate communities may be used to determine ecosystem trajectories during restoration. We collected ground‐dwelling and airborne invertebrates across chronosequences of mine‐site restoration in three ecologically disparate locations in Western Australia and identified invertebrate and plant communities using DNA metabarcoding. Ground‐dwelling invertebrates showed the clearest restoration signals, with communities becoming more similar to reference communities over time. These patterns were weaker in airborne invertebrates, which have higher dispersal abilities and therefore less local fidelity to environmental conditions. Although we detected directional changes in community composition indicative of invertebrate recovery, patterns observed were inconsistent between study locations. The inclusion of plant assays allowed identification of plant species, as well as potential food sources and habitat. We demonstrate that DNA metabarcoding of invertebrate communities can be used to evaluate restoration trajectories. Testing and incorporating new monitoring techniques such as DNA metabarcoding is critical to improving restoration outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- M van der Heyde
- ARC Centre for Mine Site Restoration, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, GPP Box U1987, Perth, Western Australia, 6845, Australia.,Trace and Environmental DNA Laboratory, School of Life and Molecular Sciences, Curtin University, GPP Box U1987, Perth, Western Australia, 6845, Australia
| | - M Bunce
- Trace and Environmental DNA Laboratory, School of Life and Molecular Sciences, Curtin University, GPP Box U1987, Perth, Western Australia, 6845, Australia.,Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR), Kenepuru, Porirua, 5022, New Zealand
| | - K W Dixon
- ARC Centre for Mine Site Restoration, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, GPP Box U1987, Perth, Western Australia, 6845, Australia
| | - K Fernandes
- Trace and Environmental DNA Laboratory, School of Life and Molecular Sciences, Curtin University, GPP Box U1987, Perth, Western Australia, 6845, Australia
| | - J Majer
- ARC Centre for Mine Site Restoration, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, GPP Box U1987, Perth, Western Australia, 6845, Australia
| | - G Wardell-Johnson
- ARC Centre for Mine Site Restoration, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, GPP Box U1987, Perth, Western Australia, 6845, Australia
| | - N E White
- Trace and Environmental DNA Laboratory, School of Life and Molecular Sciences, Curtin University, GPP Box U1987, Perth, Western Australia, 6845, Australia
| | - P Nevill
- ARC Centre for Mine Site Restoration, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, GPP Box U1987, Perth, Western Australia, 6845, Australia.,Trace and Environmental DNA Laboratory, School of Life and Molecular Sciences, Curtin University, GPP Box U1987, Perth, Western Australia, 6845, Australia
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7
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Suganuma MS, Durigan G. Build it and they will come, but not all of them in fragmented Atlantic Forest landscapes. Restor Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Marcio S. Suganuma
- Laboratório de Biodiversidade e Restauração de Ecossistemas Universidade Estadual de Londrina Londrina Brazil
- Centro de Ciências Humanas e da Educação Universidade Estadual do Norte do Paraná Cornélio Procópio Brazil
| | - Giselda Durigan
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Hidrologia Florestal Floresta Estadual de Assis, Instituto Florestal Assis Brazil
- Instituto de Biologia Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP) Campinas Brazil
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8
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Ritchie AL, Elliott CP, Sinclair EA, Krauss SL. Restored and remnant Banksia woodlands elicit different foraging behavior in avian pollinators. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:11774-11785. [PMID: 34522340 PMCID: PMC8427588 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Pollinators and the pollination services they provide are critical for seed set and self-sustainability of most flowering plants. Despite this, pollinators are rarely assessed in restored plant communities, where their services are largely assumed to re-establish. Bird-pollinator richness, foraging, and interaction behavior were compared between natural and restored Banksia woodland sites in Western Australia to assess their re-establishment in restored sites. These parameters were measured for natural communities of varying size and degree of fragmentation, and restored plant communities of high and low complexity for three years, in the summer and winter flowering of Banksia attenuata and B. menziesii, respectively. Bird visitor communities varied in composition, richness, foraging movement distances, and aggression among sites. Bird richness and abundance were lowest in fragmented remnants. Differences in the composition were associated with the size and degree of fragmentation in natural sites, but this did not differ between seasons. Restored sites and their adjacent natural sites had similar species composition, suggesting proximity supports pollinator re-establishment. Pollinator foraging movements were influenced by the territorial behavior of different species. Using a network analysis approach, we found foraging behavior varied, with more frequent aggressive chases observed in restored sites, resulting in more movements out of the survey areas, than observed in natural sites. Aggressors were larger-bodied Western Wattlebirds (Anthochaera chrysoptera) and New Holland Honeyeaters (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae) that dominated nectar resources, particularly in winter. Restored sites had re-established pollination services, albeit with clear differences, as the degree of variability in the composition and behavior of bird pollinators for Banksias in the natural sites created a broad completion target against which restored sites were assessed. The abundance, diversity, and behavior of pollinator services to remnant and restored Banksia woodland sites were impacted by the size and degree of fragmentation, which in turn influenced bird-pollinator composition, and were further influenced by seasonal changes between summer and winter. Consideration of the spatial and temporal landscape context of restored sites, along with plant community diversity, is needed to ensure the maintenance of the effective movement of pollinators between natural remnant woodlands and restored sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison L. Ritchie
- School of Biological ScienceThe University of Western AustraliaCrawleyWAAustralia
- Kings Park ScienceDepartment of Biodiversity, Conservation and AttractionsKings Park and Botanic GardenKings ParkWAAustralia
| | - Carole P. Elliott
- School of Biological ScienceThe University of Western AustraliaCrawleyWAAustralia
- Kings Park ScienceDepartment of Biodiversity, Conservation and AttractionsKings Park and Botanic GardenKings ParkWAAustralia
| | - Elizabeth A. Sinclair
- School of Biological ScienceThe University of Western AustraliaCrawleyWAAustralia
- Kings Park ScienceDepartment of Biodiversity, Conservation and AttractionsKings Park and Botanic GardenKings ParkWAAustralia
| | - Siegfried L. Krauss
- School of Biological ScienceThe University of Western AustraliaCrawleyWAAustralia
- Kings Park ScienceDepartment of Biodiversity, Conservation and AttractionsKings Park and Botanic GardenKings ParkWAAustralia
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9
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Binny RN, Innes J, Fitzgerald N, Pech R, James A, Price R, Gillies C, Byrom AE. Long‐term biodiversity trajectories for pest‐managed ecological restorations: eradication vs. suppression. ECOL MONOGR 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecm.1439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rachelle N. Binny
- Manaaki Whenua‐Landcare Research Lincoln New Zealand
- Te Pūnaha Matatini New Zealand
| | - John Innes
- Manaaki Whenua‐Landcare Research Hamilton New Zealand
| | | | - Roger Pech
- Manaaki Whenua‐Landcare Research Lincoln New Zealand
| | - Alex James
- Te Pūnaha Matatini New Zealand
- School of Mathematics and Statistics University of Canterbury Christchurch New Zealand
| | - Robbie Price
- Manaaki Whenua‐Landcare Research Hamilton New Zealand
| | - Craig Gillies
- Department of Conservation, Biodiversity Group Hamilton New Zealand
| | - Andrea E. Byrom
- Manaaki Whenua‐Landcare Research Lincoln New Zealand
- NZ Biological Heritage National Science Challenge New Zealand
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10
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The resilient frugivorous fauna of an urban forest fragment and its potential role in vegetation enrichment. Urban Ecosyst 2021; 24:943-958. [PMID: 33432262 PMCID: PMC7787706 DOI: 10.1007/s11252-020-01080-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Anthropocentric defaunation affects critical ecological processes, such as seed dispersal, putting ecosystems and biomes at risk, and leading to habitat impoverishment. Diverse restoration techniques could reverse the process of habitat impoverishment. However, in most of the restoration efforts, only vegetation cover is targeted. Fauna and flora are treated as isolated components, neglecting a key component of ecosystems’ functioning, the ecological interactions. We tested whether the resilient frugivorous generalist fauna can improve habitat quality by dispersing native plant species through the use of fruit feeders as in a semideciduous seasonal urban forest fragment. A total of 32 sampling points was selected at a heavily degraded 251-ha urban forest fragment, with feeders installed at two heights monitored by camera-traps. Variable quantities of native fruits of 27 zoochorous species were offered alternately in the feeders. Based on more than 36,000 h of video records, Turdus leucomelas (Class Aves), Sapajus nigritus (Class Mammalia), and Salvator merianae (Class Reptilia) were recorded ingesting the highest fruit species richness. Didelphis albiventris (Class Mammalia) was the most frequent visitor but consumed only pulp in most of the visits. The frugivorous birds were recorded at a high visitation rate and consumed a wider variety of fruits. Our study opens a new avenue to combine the traditional approach of ecosystems recovery and ecological interactions restauration in an urban forest fragment.
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11
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Belder DJ, Pierson JC, Ikin K, Lindenmayer DB. Revegetation and reproduction: do restoration plantings in agricultural landscapes support breeding populations of woodland birds? Oecologia 2020; 192:865-878. [PMID: 32025896 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-020-04611-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Restoration plantings are frequently occupied by native wildlife, but little is known about how planting attributes influence breeding by, and persistence of, fauna populations. We monitored breeding success of woodland birds in restoration plantings in a fragmented agricultural landscape in south-eastern Australia. We documented nest fate and daily nest survival (DSR) in plantings and remnant woodland sites. We analysed the influence on breeding success of patch attributes (size, shape, type) compared to other potentially influential predictors such as nest-site and microhabitat variables. We found that, in general, patch attributes did not play a significant role in determining breeding success for woodland birds. However, we examined a subset of species of conservation concern, and found higher DSR for these species in restoration plantings than in similarly sized woodland remnants. We also found negative effects of patch size and linearity on DSR in species of conservation concern. The primary cause of nest failure was predation (91%). We used camera trap imagery to identify the most common nest predators in our study sites: native predatory bird species, and the introduced red fox (Vulpes vulpes). Our findings are further evidence of the value of restoration plantings and small habitat patches for bird populations in fragmented agricultural landscapes. We recommend controlling for foxes to maximise the likelihood that restoration plantings and other woodland patches in Australia support breeding populations of woodland birds. More broadly, our study highlights the importance of taking a detailed, population-oriented approach to understanding factors that influence habitat suitability for fauna of conservation concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donna J Belder
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia. .,National Environmental Science Program Threatened Species Recovery Hub, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia.
| | - Jennifer C Pierson
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia.,ACT Parks and Conservation Service, Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate, ACT Government, Canberra, ACT, 2602, Australia
| | - Karen Ikin
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - David B Lindenmayer
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia.,National Environmental Science Program Threatened Species Recovery Hub, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia.,Sustainable Farms, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
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12
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Schweiger AH, Svenning J. Analogous losses of large animals and trees, socio‐ecological consequences, and an integrative framework for rewilding‐based megabiota restoration. PEOPLE AND NATURE 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Andreas H. Schweiger
- Plant Ecology Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER) University of Bayreuth Bayreuth Germany
- Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE) Aarhus University Aarhus Denmark
- Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity Department of Bioscience Aarhus University Aarhus Denmark
| | - Jens‐Christian Svenning
- Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE) Aarhus University Aarhus Denmark
- Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity Department of Bioscience Aarhus University Aarhus Denmark
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13
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Hagger V, Wilson K, England JR, Dwyer JM. Water availability drives aboveground biomass and bird richness in forest restoration plantings to achieve carbon and biodiversity cobenefits. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:14379-14393. [PMID: 31938526 PMCID: PMC6953662 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Revised: 10/19/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
To combat global warming and biodiversity loss, we require effective forest restoration that encourages recovery of species diversity and ecosystem function to deliver essential ecosystem services, such as biomass accumulation. Further, understanding how and where to undertake restoration to achieve carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation would provide an opportunity to finance ecosystem restoration under carbon markets. We surveyed 30 native mixed-species plantings in subtropical forests and woodlands in Australia and used structural equation modeling to determine vegetation, soil, and climate variables most likely driving aboveground biomass accrual and bird richness and investigate the relationships between plant diversity, aboveground biomass accrual, and bird diversity. We focussed on woodland and forest-dependent birds, and functional groups at risk of decline (insectivorous, understorey-nesting, and small-bodied birds). We found that mean moisture availability strongly limits aboveground biomass accrual and bird richness in restoration plantings, indicating potential synergies in choosing sites for carbon and biodiversity purposes. Counter to theory, woody plant richness was a poor direct predictor of aboveground biomass accrual, but was indirectly related via significant, positive effects of stand density. We also found no direct relationship between aboveground biomass accrual and bird richness, likely because of the strong effects of moisture availability on both variables. Instead, moisture availability and patch size strongly and positively influenced the richness of woodland and forest-dependent birds. For understorey-nesting birds, however, shrub cover and patch size predicted richness. Stand age or area of native vegetation surrounding the patch did not influence bird richness. Our results suggest that in subtropical biomes, planting larger patches to higher densities, ideally using a diversity of trees and shrubs (characteristics of ecological plantings) in more mesic locations will enhance the provision of carbon and biodiversity cobenefits. Further, ecological plantings will aid the rapid recovery of woodland and forest bird richness, with comparable aboveground biomass accrual to less diverse forestry plantations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie Hagger
- School of Biological SciencesThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQldAustralia
| | - Kerrie Wilson
- Institute for Future EnvironmentsQueensland University of TechnologyBrisbaneQldAustralia
| | | | - John M. Dwyer
- School of Biological SciencesThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQldAustralia
- CSIRO Land and WaterBrisbaneQldAustralia
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14
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Cross SL, Bateman PW, Cross AT. Restoration goals: Why are fauna still overlooked in the process of recovering functioning ecosystems and what can be done about it? ECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT & RESTORATION 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/emr.12393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
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