What is. Ecological Restoration. Welcome! Restoration Ecology Capstone Restoration Capstone Instructors. Restoration Capstone Students

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1 Restoration Ecology Capstone Restoration Capstone Instructors UW Bothell UW Seattle UW Tacoma Welcome! Warren Gold Jim Fridley Kern Ewing Rodney Pond John Banks UW Bothell UW Seattle UW Seattle UW Seattle 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 1

2 Ecological Restoration Ecological restoration is the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged or destroyed. Ecological Restoration What is recovered? Ecological restoration is the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged or destroyed. Stuff Historical conditions Society for Ecological l Restoration ti Course emphasis Functions (Goods & Services) Ecosystem Functions Nutrient cycling Read CHAPTER 4 on Soil formation Ecosystem Functions Primary productivity / food (for week 3) Water quality Habitat Climate regulation Disturbance regulation Disease regulation What kind of knowledge / expertise does it take to do restoration? Restoration Ecology Capstone Approach Ecological restoration is MULTIDISCIPLINARY involves application of principles from a variety of fields Focus on recovery of ecological functions Appreciative project design Design decisions based on scientific evidence & principles Community-based projects Intentional project management 2

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? What matters in college? Essential learning outcomes College Learning for the New Global Century, AACU 2007 Knowledge of human cultures and the natural and physical world Intellectual & practical skills Personal & social responsibility Integrative learning Integrative learning What matters in college? Essential learning outcomes College Learning for the New Global Century, AACU 2007 Engaging the Region: The UW Integrative learning Synthesis and advanced accomplishment across general and specialized studies - demonstrated through the application of knowledge, skills, and responsibilities to new settings and complex problems Engaging UW students with communities across the region Using natural sciences to restore damaged landscapes Using social sciences to build community stewardship 3

4 November 2006 March 2007 May 2007 Private Schools: 2 Evergreen School (Shoreline) Islandwood (Bainbridge Island) Community Groups: 2 Licton Springs Park Assoc (Seattle) Friends of Hylebos (Hylebos Cr) Capstone Project Community Partners City Governments: 6 City of Bothell (Thrashers Corner Pk) City of Redmond (Grasslawn Park) City of Shoreline (Saltwater Park) City of Woodinville (Big Bear Creek) City of Kirkland (Cotton Hill Park) City of Seattle (8 Parks) Capstone Project Community Partners County Governments: 2 Snohomish County (Swamp Creek) King County (2 sites) Tribal Governments: 1 Snoqualmie Nation (Coal Creek) Utilities / Public Institutions: 2 Tacoma Power (Nisqually Gravel pit) Port of Seattle (Duwamish) S l i N ti (C l C k) Pierce College Higher Ed Institutions: 3 UW (Union Bay Natural Area; Arboretum) Tacoma Community College Pierce College Private Individuals & Institutions: 4 Landowners: Mercer Island, Carnation, Snohomish, Port Gamble Earth Sanctuary (Whidbey Island) The REN Capstone Experience: Fall Quarter Classes & Labs Project Team Community Partner Restoration Review Community Tools & Lessons Partner RFP Submit RFP Site Analysis Site reviews Team meetings: problem solving Functional req. & constraints Proposal Proposal review & approval Classes & Labs Restoration Tools & Lessons Team meetings: problem solving The REN Capstone Experience: Winter Quarter Project Team Work Plan Site Preparation Project Implementation Stewardship building & plan Community Partner Work Plan review Equipment, materials & logistics support 4

5 Classes & Labs Team meetings: problem solving The REN Capstone Experience: Spring Quarter Project Team Project Completion As-Built report Stewardship building & plan Community Partner Equipment, materials & logistics support Stewardship training Ecological Restoration Ecological 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 reinitiate iti t ecosystem development. Restoration is not a singular event Clewell & Aronson (2007)!! CELEBRATION!! Ecological Restoration Ecological 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 future The accuracy of that prediction depends upon: the environment & random events Clewell & Aronson (2007) Restoration as a process: trajectory & endpoint Ecosystem Characteristics 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 Trajectory Endpoints: How do we determine the desired endpoint? Reference models CHAPTER 5! Bradshaw (1987) Bradshaw (1987) 5

6 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) Connecting principles to practice: ecological science & restoration Once an ecosystem has undergone ecological restoration, it should be self-organizing, g, self- sustaining, and capable of maintaining itself Restoration landscaping project Clewell & Aronson (2007) Ecological Concepts Succession Patch dynamics Diversity Non-equilibrium community Holocoenotic environment dynamics Island biogeography Adaptation Acclimation Life history strategies Succession Gradual, directional change in species composition or structure of a plant community over time Barbour et al. (1999) Background readings on these concepts available on electronic reserve (linked to course web page under Supplemental Materials ) Succession following abandonment of a farm field in North Carolina Seral Stages Climax Stage Succession following fire in a PNW Forest FIRE TIME Pioneer Stage Biological & Structural Diversity accumulate through time 6

7 Multiple possible endpoints Multiple possible endpoints & trajectories Community Characteristics Community Characteristics Time Time Multiple possible endpoints & trajectories Community Characteristics Time Endpoints & trajectories determined by Autogenic factors (biota themselves) Allogenic factors (e.g., disturbance, invasives) Succession restoration implications Gradual, 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 apply Design should consider autogenic & allogenic factors that may influence trajectory & endpoint of restoration Diversity Consider key factors that underlay biodiversity Structural Diversity Horizontal Vertical Biological (species) Diversity Richness Equitability Topography Environmental diversity Biodiversity 7

8 Topographic variation fosters diversity Ecological restoration created topography & environmental diversity at UWB Mounds created with Woody Debris (logs) Varying topography Plant species diversity Animal habitat diversity MOUND PIT Growing diversity based upon topography Trees growing on mound Water-filled pit 8

9 Consider key factors that underlay biodiversity Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis Topography Environmental diversity Biodiversity Disturbance Biodiversity Competitive exclusion Disturbance (frequency, intensity) Environmental stress Flooding disturbance & diversity Biological disturbance & diversity Elwha River Consider key factors that underlay biodiversity Topography Vegetation structure Disturbance Forest VERTICAL structural complexity Vertical diversity in a forest Habitat diversity Animal diversity Environmental diversity Biodiversity Kruckeberg (1991) 9

10 Diversity implications for restoration Is diversity always desirable? Diversity Good Good community? Bad community? Diversity implications for restoration The Holocoenotic Environment RADIATION Diversity Good IF biodiversity is important to your project consider how you can modify the underlying environmental factors that foster diversity 1. Mulitple Factors Abiotic Biotic 2. Factor Interaction organism WATER (e.g., topography, vegetation structure, disturbance) PLANTS SOIL ROCKS Billings (1978) Air temperature Fire Humidity The Holocoentoic Environment Insect herbivores Competing shrubs Soil moisture The Holocoentoic Environment Implications for restoration? Changes you make can have complex implications Limitations on species can arise from many angles Insect pollinators Soil N Soil OM Storm frequency 10

11 Island Biogeography Landscape Ecology Island Biogeography Landscape Ecology Patch Matrix Restoration projects as functional islands Rate of colonization of island depends on distance from reservoir Local extinction rates are higher for patches further from large reservoirs Local extinction rates are higher for smaller patches Island Biogeography restoration implications Patch Matrix Island Biogeography restoration implications Condition of the surrounding matrix is important Influences how aggressive the restoration approach is Influences maintenance requirements & long-term success Site will recover on its own Smaller, isolated patches of restored ecosystems are much 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? ood Likelih Long term success Considerable maintenance required after restoration Natural Semi-natural Highly Modified Condition of Matrix Patches in the urban matrix Patch dynamics Non-equilibrium community dynamics Patches can occur WITHIN your site as well! Plant communities are often better thought of as a mosaic of dynamic patches rather than Uniform, stable climax assemblages 11

12 Patch dynamics Non-equilibrium community dynamics Traditional, equilibrium-based view Patch dynamics Non-equilibrium community dynamics Species composition at a site / patch is a function of Site availability (site conditions) Patch dynamics view Species availability (can they get there?) Species performance (can they handle it there?) Patch dynamics Non-equilibrium community dynamics Restoration implications Tempers the absoluteness of targets Anticipate 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 Dry Adaptation Acclimation Adaptation genetic range of a species tolerance for environmental condition Environmental Gradient Restoration Implications Wet Right plant right place right time Know your plant material (species, ecotype) Conditions of place are a moving target Plant assemblage is a moving target Adaptation Acclimation Acclimation phenotypic adjustment to changing environmental conditions Life History Strategies: Ruderal Competitive Stress Tolerant Dry Environmental Gradient Wet Restoration Implications Flexibility of plants to changing conditions Know your site how important is acclimation ability? Pote ential Produ uctivity High Low Competitive Stress Tolerant Ruderal Seasonal changes Successional changes Low High Disturbance 12

13 R C S Life Histories: restoration implications Po otential Productivity High Low Competitive Stress Tolerant Low Disturbance Ruderal High Consider life history attributes that place species in these categories Select species appropriate for mix of environmental conditions in SPACE & TIME 13