Transcript Document
Restoration Ecology- human involvement in
recovering from a disturbance.
Fig 56.21
Enhancement of Biodiversity and Ecosystem
Services by Ecological Restoration: A MetaAnalysis
J M Rey Benayas, A C Newton, A Diaz, J M Bullock
Science 28 August 2009: Vol. 325. no. 5944, pp. 1121 – 1124
Looked at the results of 89 different ecological
restorations.
Types of Disturbances:
Cessation of prescribed burning; Cultivation and cropping;
Disturbance, excavation, or burial of Substrate;
Eutrophication; Hydrological disruption; Invasion by nonnative species; Logging of trees; Over-grazing; Removal of
carnivores or herbivores; Soil contamination
Restoration action:
Cessation of degrading action only (passive restoration);
Extirpation of damaging species (including non-natives);
Nutrient removal; Planting of forbs or grasses; Planting of
trees; Reinstatement of burning; Reintroduction of
herbivores or carnivores; Remodeling of topography; Soil
amendments
Tbl 1: Enhancement of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services by Ecological Restoration: A Meta-Analysis
J M Rey Benayas, A C Newton, A Diaz, J M Bullock
Science 28 August 2009: Vol. 325. no. 5944, pp. 1121 - 1124
(nutrients and
primary production)
(goods)
(climate, water, etc)
Fig 1: Enhancement of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services by Ecological Restoration: A Meta-Analysis
J M Rey Benayas, A C Newton, A Diaz, J M Bullock
Science 28 August 2009: Vol. 325. no. 5944, pp. 1121 - 1124
Fig 1: Enhancement of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services by Ecological Restoration: A Meta-Analysis
J M Rey Benayas, A C Newton, A Diaz, J M Bullock
Science 28 August 2009: Vol. 325. no. 5944, pp. 1121 - 1124
Restoration recovered 86% of biodiversity and 80%
of combined ecosystem services compared to nondisturbed systems.
Fig 1: Enhancement of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services by Ecological Restoration: A Meta-Analysis
J M Rey Benayas, A C Newton, A Diaz, J M Bullock
Science 28 August 2009: Vol. 325. no. 5944, pp. 1121 - 1124
Restoring
ecosystems can
also be seen as
directly
benefiting people,
“Restoration
Marketplace”
Restoration
Restoration of Ecosystem Services for Environmental Markets
M A Palmer and S Filoso Science 31 July 2009: Vol. 325. no. 5940, pp. 575 - 576
“Restoration
Marketplace”
Might lead to
sub-standard
restoration
Restoration
Restoration of Ecosystem Services for Environmental Markets
M A Palmer and S Filoso Science 31 July 2009: Vol. 325. no. 5940, pp. 575 - 576
What limits the success of restoration?
Fig 1: Enhancement of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services by Ecological Restoration: A Meta-Analysis
J M Rey Benayas, A C Newton, A Diaz, J M Bullock
Science 28 August 2009: Vol. 325. no. 5944, pp. 1121 - 1124
What limits the success of restoration?
One problem... Invasive Species
What limits the success of restoration?
One problem... Invasive Species
...biotic thresholds resulting from species
invasions are likely to be difficult to reverse
and have long-term consequences for
restoration projects.
Species Invasions and the Limits to Restoration: Learning from the New Zealand
Experience
David A. Norton Science 31 July 2009: Vol. 325. no. 5940, pp. 569 - 571
Why are species going extinct?
"Global Biodiversity" Chapman & Hall, World Conservation Monitoring Centre, London, 1992
Invasive species
can disrupt an
ecosystem
CB 55.6
The brown tree snake
(Boiga irregularis)
• Its native in Australia and was introduced to Guam
accidentally in the 1950’s
• Overall responsible for the extinction of 3 out of 4
seabirds; 9 out of 13 forest birds; 3-5 out 12 reptile
species on the Island of Guam.
• This snake caused the extirpation or serious
reduction of most of the island's 25 resident bird
species on the main island of Guam.
Nile Perch (Lates niloticus)
• Introduced to Lake Victoria in 1954 to
increase fish yield
• Caused extinction of 200+ endemic fish
species through predation, and competition
• Fish caused indirect increased erosion on
land, causing higher nutrient levels in the
lake.
Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)
• Introduced as ornamental plant around the world
• Now in 50 countries on 5 continents including US
• In California it replaced the native pennywort
(Hydrocotyle umbellata) which occupies a similar
habitat, leading to a marked decrease in invertebrate
communities
• Limits water transport, reduces oxygen and light
levels in the water
Zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha)
• Spread from its native range in the Baltic
Sea via ballast water
• Spreads in Europe and North America
• Kills native molluscs, changes ecosystems,
and damages infrastructure
• Estimated annual damage in US $3 billion
Napela T.F., Schloesser, D.W., 1992
How Many Invasive Species Are There in
Texas?
67 terrestrial plants
12 aquatic/wetland plants
10 mammals
4 birds
7 fishes
11 insects
11 mollusks and crustaceans
Hydrilla verticillata
Aquatic invader covering nearly 100,000 surface
acres of water in Texas.
Spreads rapidly, in one Texas lake it covered 23 acres
in 1999 but over 200 in 2000.
Depletes water of oxygen and blocks sunlight killing
off many native plants and animal species.
Hydrilla on Longhorn dam over Town Lake
The level of Lake Austin is lowered in winter
to kill the hydrilla and other invasive plants
Why are species going extinct?
"Global Biodiversity" Chapman & Hall, World Conservation Monitoring Centre, London, 1992
Ecological Restoration benefits on a large scale
Restoration of the Mississippi Delta: Lessons
from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
J W Day, Jr et al.Science 23 March 2007: Vol. 315. no. 5819, pp. 1679 - 1684
Storm surge, damage, and deaths were less
where coastal wetlands are intact
Restoration of the Mississippi Delta: Lessons from Hurricanes Katrina and
Rita
J W Day, Jr et al.Science 23 March 2007: Vol. 315. no. 5819, pp. 1679 - 1684
Future storm damage could be reduced by
reestablishing coastal wetlands.
Restoration of the Mississippi Delta: Lessons from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
J W Day, Jr et al.Science 23 March 2007: Vol. 315. no. 5819, pp. 1679 - 1684
Future storm damage could be reduced by
reestablishing coastal wetlands,
cost $5-$17 billion
Restoration of the Mississippi Delta: Lessons from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
J W Day, Jr et al.Science 23 March 2007: Vol. 315. no. 5819, pp. 1679 - 1684
Next:
How many animals do you want/need to save?