Ecosystem RestorationEcosystem Restorationcontinuedcontinued

TerminologyTerminology

- Resistance-Inertia – resistance to change within a system- Resistance-Inertia – resistance to change within a system(e.g. How much impact needed (threshold) to cause a change in ecosystem (e.g. How much impact needed (threshold) to cause a change in ecosystem

structure/function)structure/function)

- - Resilience – ability of an ecosystem to return to a pre-impact Resilience – ability of an ecosystem to return to a pre-impact statestate

- Elasticity – rapidity with which an ecosystem returns to a pre-- Elasticity – rapidity with which an ecosystem returns to a pre-impact stateimpact state

Predicting Recoveryof impacted ecosystems

• Epicenters – source of colonizers?• Transportability – movement within the

ecosystem?• Habitat conditions – suitable for recovery?• Residual stressors – unsuitable for recovery?• Management capability – responsive to

anthropogenic input?

Class A RestorationClass A Restoration

Return to a pre-disturbance condition Return to a pre-disturbance condition or a condition that would have or a condition that would have existed if no disturbance had occurred existed if no disturbance had occurred

Cairns, 1981

Class B RestorationClass B Restoration(Rehabilitation)(Rehabilitation)

Re-establishment of selected ecosystem attributes Re-establishment of selected ecosystem attributes (e.g. fisheries, wetlands for flood storage). (e.g. fisheries, wetlands for flood storage). Probably not self-maintaining because only some Probably not self-maintaining because only some attributes are restored and managed.attributes are restored and managed.

Cairns, 1981

Restored wetlands on Slab Cabin Run, State College, PA

Class C RestorationClass C Restoration(Enhancement)(Enhancement)

Replacement with an alternative ecosystem. Replacement with an alternative ecosystem. May replace ecosystem lost elsewhere. May May replace ecosystem lost elsewhere. May become self-maintaining, but often requires become self-maintaining, but often requires substantial managmentsubstantial managment

Cairns, 1981

Class D RestorationClass D Restoration

Recovery left entirely to natural processes. Outcome Recovery left entirely to natural processes. Outcome highly uncertain. Result may not resemble pre-highly uncertain. Result may not resemble pre-disturbance condition. disturbance condition.

Cairns, 1981

““Prediction is difficult. Especially the future”Prediction is difficult. Especially the future”

- Sam Goldwyn- Sam Goldwyn

Class F RestorationClass F Restoration

Restoration in an area with Restoration in an area with high risk of ecoaccidents. high risk of ecoaccidents. Restored species should Restored species should be selected for resilience be selected for resilience and ecological value.and ecological value.

Cairns, 1981

Class G RestorationClass G Restoration(Decontamination)(Decontamination)

Restoration after Restoration after contamination by contamination by genetically altered genetically altered organismsorganisms

Cairns, 1981

Class H RestorationClass H Restoration

Restoration designed to protect the health of Restoration designed to protect the health of adjacent ecosystemsadjacent ecosystems

Cairns, 1981

Restoration Success and FailureRestoration Success and Failure

1.1. Ecological damage contained (stabilization Ecological damage contained (stabilization of hazards)of hazards)

2.2. Integration with adjacent ecosystemsIntegration with adjacent ecosystems

3.3. Potential for self-maintenancePotential for self-maintenance

4.4. Successional comparabilitySuccessional comparability

5.5. Equivalent ecosystem servicesEquivalent ecosystem services

6.6. Monitoring follows expected trends Monitoring follows expected trends

Cairns, 1981

Ecosystem ManagementEcosystem Management

A.A. ObjectivesObjectives1. To foster rapid, natural return to pre-impact 1. To foster rapid, natural return to pre-impact state (help nature along)state (help nature along)

2. To maintain restored ecosystems as close to 2. To maintain restored ecosystems as close to desired state as possible (long-term maintenance desired state as possible (long-term maintenance of system)of system)

Ecosystem ManagementEcosystem Management

B. Methods of Ecological ManagementB. Methods of Ecological Management

1. Survey – determine what is there1. Survey – determine what is there

2. Surveillance – changes in presence /absence 2. Surveillance – changes in presence /absence of organismsof organisms

3. Monitoring – assess system function3. Monitoring – assess system function

Ecosystem ManagementEcosystem Management

C. Integrating Environmental ManagementC. Integrating Environmental Management

1. Testing at population, community levels1. Testing at population, community levels2. Predictive modeling2. Predictive modeling3. Field validation3. Field validation4. Biological monitoring4. Biological monitoring

Summary: Ecosystem management must be based on a Summary: Ecosystem management must be based on a combination of factors: historical, current impacts, combination of factors: historical, current impacts, present and future goalspresent and future goals

““The acid test of our understanding is not The acid test of our understanding is not whether we can take ecosystems to bits on whether we can take ecosystems to bits on pieces of paper, however scientifically, but pieces of paper, however scientifically, but whether we can put them together in practice whether we can put them together in practice and make them work”and make them work”

--AD BradshawAD Bradshaw