Restoration Ecology and the Conservation of BiodiversityObjectivesLandscape TransformationSlide 4FragmentationInvasive SpeciesIllinois in NeedRestoration EcologySlide 9Improving the Ecology of a Disturbed Area by:Ecosystem What are the goals of function restoration?Slide 12Slide 13Ecology Theory Relevant to RestorationWhat aspects of Population Ecology are relevant to Restoration Ecology?COMMUNITY ECOLOGY: How is the Species-Area curve relevant?How is Island Biogeography Theory relevant?Patch relationships: What is take-home message?Ecological Disturbance: What are its dimensions? How relate to restoration?Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis: at which level does disturbance aid restoration?Selected Natural & Anthropogenic Disturbances: reversible vs. permanent change?SuccessionSuccession: Species-Species InteractionsCommunity AssemblyWhich orientation to follow? Succession vs. Community AssemblyHow can succession be managed to aid restoration?Restoration: Managing SuccessionManaging Succession: in PracticeHow can community structure influence stability of restored community?How can Diversity Complexity Stability be enhanced?Landscape EcologySpatial PrinciplesMinimum Dynamic Area in Restoration DesignEcosystem Ecology: how is it relevant?Restoration Ecology and the Conservation of BiodiversityBasic principles of ecology have practical use for solutions to human problemsNRES 420 Restoration EcologyObjectives•Human transformation of landscape created need •Illinois – a state in great need•Restoration ecology & conservation biology•Blending science into practice•Important ecological principles for restoration•Practice of restoration1999Executive Order 13112(invasive species)1836Steel plow invented1800 1840 1880 2000196019201862Homestead Act1870’sAdvent of clay drainage tile systemsDecreased rail transportation costsLegislation to create drainage districts1869 Transcontinental railroad1893First gasoline automobile1903First flight1923First commercial hybrid maize1956Interstate Highway System1970sEnvironmental protection legislation1850Swamp & Overflowed Lands ActLandscape Transformation1800 1820 1840 1860 1880 1900 1920 1940 1960 1980Year04.86.48.01.63.2Hectares (millions) in IllinoisPastureForestsWet Prairie / MarshDry Prairie1800 1820 1840 1860 1880 1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 EarlySettlementStart ofAgriculturePrairieDrainageDiversifiedFarmingMonocultureOtterBobcatBeaverDeerGray WolfFisherMountain LionBlack BearBisonElk CoyoteCHANGES IN MAJOR LANDSCAPE ELEMENTS IN ILLINOIS SINCE 1800 AND IMPACTS ON SELECTED MAMMALSFragmentation0-0.5 0.5-2 8-204-82-420-40>40Prairie Size (ha)Number of Sites04080120NUMBER OF HIGH QUALITY PRAIRIES REMAINING IN ILLINOIS CLASSIFIED BY SIZE CATEGORYNumber of Parcels>24040-24020-400.4-4<0.44-201,0001,000,00010,000100,000100Area Category (ha)FOREST PARCELS BY AREA CATEGORYHabitat LssInvasive SpeciesNon-Natives in the Illinois Flora**2004: 961 non-native of 3,074 taxa 97 of 173 families (56%) lack non-native taxa184620041950 19862010030% of Illinois FloraSpread of Alliaria petiolataIllinois in Need•Clearly a need – –Remaining habitat:•0.01% prairie•9.9% wetland•31.4% forest–U.S. Rank:•Indiana 48•Illinois 49•Iowa 50Restoration EcologyUsing research to better understand ecological processes within highly disturbed ecosystems in order to enhance their complexity and long-term persistenceLANDSCAPEECOLOGYECOSYSTEMECOLOGYPOPULATIONECOLOGYCOMMUNITYECOLOGYRESTORATION ECOLOGYvan Diggelen, Grootjans & Harris (2001)Improving the Ecology of a Disturbed Area by: – increase diversity in highly disturbed system – reintroduce ecosystem function – reestablish characteristic species and community structure/function – may have to start restoration from scratchEcosystem What are the goals of function restoration? A. D. Bradshaw, “Reclamation of Land and Ecology of Ecosystems”EcosystemstructureRestoration EcologyApplying ecological principles within a social context to revitalize habitats and conserve speciesECOLOGICAL RESTORATIONLANDSCAPEECOLOGYECOSYSTEMECOLOGYPOPULATIONECOLOGYCOMMUNITYECOLOGYPOLICYSOCIETYECONOMICSPOLITICSEcology Theory Relevant to Restoration•Population Ecology–Vulnerability of small populations•Genetic depression, swamping•Metapopulation theory + MVP size•Community Ecology• Species-area relationships– Island biogeography theory– Problems with fragmented habitats• Intermediate disturbance hypothesis• Succession & community assembly• Diversity-stability theory; community structure•Landscape Ecology•Ecosystem EcologyWhat aspects of Population Ecology are relevant to Restoration Ecology?• Species survival depends on • maintaining minimum viable population levels (>500).• maintaining genetic diversity.• using locally adapted genotypes.• having a metapopulation structure with strong source subpopulations to rescue sink ones.COMMUNITY ECOLOGY: How is the Species-Area curve relevant?S = c + z log Alog S = log c + z log AS = c AzFigure 1How is Island Biogeography Theoryrelevant?NearFarLargeSmallImmigrationNumber of SpeciesRate (species per year)ExtinctionFigure 2(From Forman, 1995)Patch relationships: What is take-home message?Figure 3(D.T. Krohne, ‘General Ecology’)Ecological Disturbance: What are its dimensions? How relate to restoration?123Figure 4Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis:at which level does disturbance aidrestoration?Disturbance RateSmallspecies poolNumber of SpeciesCompetitive exclusionFigure 5** Entries in italics connote reversible disturbances; others represent long-term or permanent conversion of habitat.Selected Natural & Anthropogenic Disturbances: reversible vs. permanent change?•Natural Events**–Fire–Disease epidemic–Flood–Herbivory–Drought–Hurricane, tornado, windstorm–Avalanche, landslide–Volcanic eruption–Ice storm•Anthropogenic Events**–Residential development–Road, trail, railroad line–Telephone line, electrical power line–Dam, water diversion, canal–Commercial development –Modern agriculture –Mining–Logging –GrazingSuccession•an orderly change in relative abundances of dominant species in a community following a disturbance until a stable community (‘climax’- like predisturbance) results 1° succession begins on mineral soils 2° succession begins on soils with seedsSuccession: Species-Species Interactions How do these
View Full Document