what is “ecological restoration” - uw courses web...

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1 Restoration Ecology Capstone UW Bothell UW Seattle UW Tacoma Welcome! Restoration Capstone Instructors Warren Gold UW Bothell Jim Fridley UW Seattle Kern Ewing UW Seattle Rodney Pond UW Seattle John Banks UW Tacoma Restoration Capstone Students UW Bothell: 7 UW Seattle: 22 UW Tacoma: 4 33 What is “Ecological Restoration” ? Ecological Restoration Ecological restoration is the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged or destroyed. Society for Ecological Restoration (2002) Ecological Restoration Introduction of native plant species into a prepared (or unprepared) site with the goal of fostering natural ecosystem processes and returning the site to a more natural condition. Kern Ewing

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1

Restoration Ecology Capstone

UW BothellUW SeattleUW Tacoma

Welcome!

Restoration Capstone InstructorsWarren Gold UW Bothell

Jim Fridley UW Seattle

Kern Ewing UW Seattle

Rodney Pond UW Seattle

John Banks UW Tacoma

Restoration Capstone Students

UW Bothell: 7

UW Seattle: 22

UW Tacoma: 4

33

What is“Ecological Restoration”

?

Ecological Restoration

Ecological restoration is the process of

assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that

has been degraded, damaged or destroyed.

Society for Ecological Restoration (2002)

Ecological Restoration

Introduction of native plant species into a

prepared (or unprepared) site with the goal of

fostering natural ecosystem processes and

returning the site to a more natural condition.

Kern Ewing

2

Ecological Restoration

Ecological restoration is the process of assisting

the recovery of an ecosystem that has been

degraded, damaged or destroyed.

S i t f E l i l R t tiSociety for Ecological Restoration

Ecological RestorationEcological restoration is the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged or destroyed.

What is “recovered” ?

Stuff Historical conditions

Functions (Goods & Services)Course emphasis

Read CHAPTER 4 on Ecosystem Functions

(for week 3)

Ecosystem Functions• Nutrient cycling

• Soil formation

• Primary productivity / food

• Water quality

• Habitat

• Climate regulation

• Disturbance regulation

• Disease regulation

What kind of knowledge / expertise

does it take to do restoration?

Ecological restoration• is MULTIDISCIPLINARY

• involves application of principles from a variety of fields

Restoration Ecology Capstone Approach• Focus on recovery of ecological functions

• Appreciative project design

• Design decisions based on scientific evidence & principles

• Community-based projects• Intentional project management

3

Spirit of the Restoration Ecology Capstone

Real-life ecological restoration project experience

• Multiple phases of a restoration project for a real “community partner”

• Applying the knowledge you’ve gained in academia (& beyond)

• Multidisciplinary, collaborative team-based experience

Can you articulate what you know to others in different disciplines?

• Integrative learning

What matters in college?“Essential learning outcomes”

• Knowledge of human cultures and the natural and physical world

• Intellectual & practical skills

College Learning for the New Global Century, AACU 2007

• Personal & social responsibility

• Integrative learning

What matters in college?“Essential learning outcomes”

• Integrative learning“Synthesis and advanced accomplishment across general

and specialized studies”

College Learning for the New Global Century, AACU 2007

and specialized studies

- demonstrated through the application of knowledge, skills, and

responsibilities to new settings and complex problems

Engaging the Region:

The UW Restoration Ecology Network

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTONRestoration Ecology Network

Engaging UW students with communities across the region

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTONRestoration Ecology Network

Using natural sciences to restore damaged landscapes

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTONRestoration Ecology Network

Using social sciences to build community stewardship

4

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTONRestoration Ecology Network

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTONRestoration Ecology Network

November 2006

March 2007

May 2007

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTONRestoration Ecology Network

Private Schools: 2Evergreen School (Shoreline)Islandwood (Bainbridge Island)

Community Groups: 2

Capstone Project Community Partners 1999 - 2008

City Governments: 6City of Bothell (Thrashers Corner Pk)City of Redmond (Grasslawn Park)City of Shoreline (Saltwater Park)y p

Licton Springs Park Assoc (Seattle)Friends of Hylebos (Hylebos Cr)

City of Shoreline (Saltwater Park)City of Woodinville (Big Bear Creek)City of Kirkland (Cotton Hill Park)City of Seattle (8 Parks)

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTONRestoration Ecology Network

Higher Ed Institutions: 3UW (Union Bay Natural Area;

Arboretum)Tacoma Community CollegePierce College

Capstone Project Community Partners 1999 - 2008

County Governments: 2Snohomish County (Swamp Creek)King County (2 sites)

Tribal Governments: 1S l i N ti (C l C k) Pierce College

Private Individuals & Institutions: 4Landowners: Mercer Island, Carnation,

Snohomish, Port GambleEarth Sanctuary (Whidbey Island)

Snoqualmie Nation (Coal Creek)

Utilities / Public Institutions: 2Tacoma Power (Nisqually Gravel pit)Port of Seattle (Duwamish)

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTONRestoration Ecology Network

The REN Capstone Experience:Fall Quarter

Restoration Tools & Lessons

Classes & Labs Project Team Community Partner

Review Community Partner RFP Submit RFP

Site Analysis

Proposal

Proposal review & approval

Team meetings: problem solving

Functional req. & constraints

Site reviews

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTONRestoration Ecology Network

The REN Capstone Experience:Winter Quarter

Restoration Tools & Lessons

Classes & Labs Project TeamWork Plan

Site Preparation Work Plan review

Community Partner

Team meetings: problem solving

p

Project Implementation

Stewardship building & plan

Equipment , materials &

logistics support

5

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTONRestoration Ecology Network

The REN Capstone Experience:Spring Quarter

Team meetings: problem solving

Classes & Labs Project TeamProject

Completion

Community Partner

Equipment , materials &

Stewardship building & plan Stewardship training

As-Built report

!! CELEBRATION !!

logistics support

Ecological RestorationEcological restoration is the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged or destroyed. SER (2002)

“The role of the practitioner is to i iti t t d l t ”reinitiate ecosystem development.”

Clewell & Aronson (2007)Restoration is not a singular event

Ecological RestorationEcological restoration is the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged or destroyed. SER (2002)

“An ecosystem has a developmental trajectory… This trajectory can be predicted into the futureThis trajectory can be predicted into the future… The accuracy of that prediction depends upon: the environment & random events” Clewell & Aronson

(2007)

Restoration as a process: trajectory & endpoint

Ecos

yste

m

Cha

ract

eris

tics

The “process of recovery”

Time“An ecosystem has a developmental trajectory… This trajectory can be predicted into the future… The accuracy of that prediction depends upon: the environment & random events”

Clewell & Aronson (2007)

Trajectory Endpoints: What is “recovery”?In a restoration there is maximum recovery of ecosystem

structure and functions

Bradshaw (1987)

Trajectory Endpoints:

How do we determine the desired endpoint ?

Reference models

Bradshaw (1987)

CHAPTER 5 !

6

Ecological RestorationEcological restoration is the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged or destroyed.

Society for Ecological Restoration (2002)

“Once an ecosystem has undergone ecological

restoration, it should be self-organizing, self-, g g,

sustaining, and capable of maintaining itself …”Clewell & Aronson (2007)

Restoration ≠ landscaping project

Connecting principles to practice: ecological science & restoration

• Succession

• Diversity

• Holocoenotic environment

• Island biogeography

Ecological Concepts• Patch dynamics

• Non-equilibrium community dynamics

• Adaptation – Acclimation

• Life history strategiesy g

Background readings on these concepts available on electronic reserve

(linked to course web page under “Supplemental Materials”)

Succession

Gradual, directional change in species

composition or structure of a plant community

over timeBarbour et al (1999)Barbour et al. (1999)

Succession following abandonment of a farm field in North Carolina

Pioneer Stage

Climax StageSeral

Stages

Stage

FIRE

TIMESuccession following fire in a PNW Forest

Biological & Structural Diversity accumulate through time

7

Com

mun

ity

Cha

ract

eris

tics

Multiple possible endpoints

Time

C

Com

mun

ity

Cha

ract

eris

tics

Multiple possible endpoints & trajectories

Time

C

Com

mun

ity

Cha

ract

eris

tics

Multiple possible endpoints & trajectories

Time

Endpoints & trajectories determined by• Autogenic factors (biota themselves)

• Allogenic factors (e.g., disturbance, invasives)

Succession – restoration implicationsGradual, directional change in species composition or structure of a plant community over time Barbour et al. (1999)

• Restoration initiates and directs this process

• Often not completely deterministic, though certain “assembly rules” frequently applyassembly rules frequently apply

• Design should consider autogenic & allogenic factors that may influence trajectory & endpoint of restoration

Diversity

Structural Diversity• Horizontal

• Vertical

Biological (species) Diversity• Richness

• Equitability

Topography

Environmental diversity

Consider key factors that underlay biodiversity

Biodiversity

8

Topographic variation fosters diversity Ecological restoration created topography & environmental diversity at UWB

Mounds created with Woody Debris (logs)Varying

topographyPlant species

diversity Animal habitat

diversity

MOUND

PIT

Growing diversity based upon topography

Trees growing on mound

Water-filled pit

9

Topography

Environmental diversity

Consider key factors that underlay biodiversity

Disturbance

Biodiversity

Bio

dive

rsity

Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis

Disturbance (frequency, intensity)

Competitive exclusion

Environmental stress

Flooding disturbance & diversity

Elwha River

Biological disturbance & diversity

Topography

Environmental diversity

Consider key factors that underlay biodiversity

DisturbanceVegetation structure

Biodiversity

Forest VERTICAL structural complexity

Habitat diversity

Animal diversity

Vertical diversity in a forest

Kruckeberg (1991)

10

Diversity – implications for restoration

• Diversity ≠ Good

Is diversity always desirable?

Good community ? Bad community ?

Diversity – implications for restoration

• Diversity ≠ Good

• IF biodiversity is important to your project

consider how you can modify the underlying

environmental factors that foster diversity

(e.g., topography, vegetation structure, disturbance)

The Holocoenotic Environment

1. Mulitple Factors• Abiotic• Biotic

2. Factor organism

RADIATION

Billings (1978)

Interactionorganism

WATER

ROCKS

SOIL

PLANTS

The Holocoentoic Environment

Fire

Competing shrubs

Air temperature

Soil moisture

Insect herbivores

Humidity

StormfrequencyInsect

pollinatorsSoil OM

Soil N

The Holocoentoic Environment

Implications for restoration?

• Changes you make can have complex implications

• Limitations on species can arise from many angles

11

Restoration projects

Island Biogeography – Landscape Ecology

as functional islands

Island Biogeography – Landscape Ecology

• Rate of colonization of island depends on distance from reservoir

“Matrix”“Patch”

• Local extinction rates are higher for patches further from large reservoirs

• Local extinction rates are higher for smaller patches

Island Biogeography – restoration implications

• Smaller, isolated patches of restored ecosystems are much

“Matrix”“Patch”

less stable and require more maintenance (more prone to invasion by non-native species and loss of natives).

• Will the “build-it-and-they-will-come” approach work?

Island Biogeography – restoration implications

ood

Considerable

Site will recover on its own

Condition of the surrounding matrix is important

• Influences maintenance requirements & long-term success• Influences how aggressive the restoration approach is

Condition of Matrix

Like

lih

Natural Semi-natural Highly Modified

maintenance required after restoration

Long term success

Patches in the urban matrix

Patches can

occur WITHINWITHIN your site as well!

Patch dynamicsNon-equilibrium community dynamics

Plant communities are often better thought of as a mosaic of dynamic patches

rather than

Uniform, stable climax assemblages

12

Patch dynamicsNon-equilibrium community dynamics

Traditional, equilibrium-based view

Patch dynamics view

Patch dynamicsNon-equilibrium community dynamics

Species composition at a site / patch is a function of

• Site availability (site conditions)

• Species availability (can they get there?)• Species availability (can they get there?)

• Species performance (can they handle it there?)

Patch dynamicsNon-equilibrium community dynamics

Restoration implications• Tempers the absoluteness of targets

Anticipate development of a mosaic rather than homogeneityAnticipate development of a mosaic rather than homogeneity

Allow for dynamic nature of real system

• Recognize the importance of species availability for recolonization in a patchy, long-term dynamic system

Adaptation – Acclimation

Environmental GradientDry Wet

Adaptation – genetic range of a species’ tolerance for environmental condition

Restoration ImplicationsRight plant – right place – right time

• Know your plant material (species, ecotype)

• Conditions of place are a moving target

• Plant assemblage is a moving target

Restoration Implications

Adaptation – Acclimation

Environmental GradientDry Wet

Restoration Implications

Acclimation – phenotypic adjustment to changing environmental conditions

Restoration ImplicationsFlexibility of plants to changing conditions

• Know your site – how important is acclimation ability?

Seasonal changes

Successional changes

Life History Strategies:Ruderal – Competitive – Stress Tolerant

entia

l uc

tivity H

igh

Competitive Ruderal

Disturbance

Pote

Prod

u

HighLow

Low Stress Tolerant

13

R – C – S Life Histories: restoration implications

oten

tial P

rodu

ctiv

ity

Hig

hLo

w

Competitive

Stress Tolerant

RuderalConsider life history attributes that place species in these categories

Select species

Disturbance

Po HighLow Select species appropriate for mix of environmental conditions in SPACE & TIME