Chapter 6: Restoration Ecology

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Chapter 6 Restoration Ecology

• Big Question Can We Restore Damaged Ecosystems?
• Unless otherwise identified, photos and charts
  are from the text for ESRM100.

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Recovery
Recovery from disturbance is the "Rule" not the
exception. Image from http//vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Im
gs/
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Primary Succession

• Primary succession is the initial establishment
  and development of an ecosystem where one did not
  exist.

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Secondary Succession

• Secondary succession is the reestablishment of an
  ecosystem following disturbances.

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Succession in Dunes
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Bog Succession

• Cranberry Glades Bog, West Virginia

Marsh Island UW Arboretum Organic Soil
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The Harvard Forest Diorama East USA forest
succession

• Pre-Settlement Forest - 1700 A.D. Early
  Settler Clears a Homestead 1740 A.D
• Height of Forest Clearing Ag 1830 Farm
  Abandonment 1850 A.D

Taken from Harvard Forest Web site at
http//harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/
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Forest Succession Harvard forest

• "Old-Field" white pine forest on abandoned
  farmland, 1910
• Vigorously growing hardwoods, 1930

"Old-Field" white pine is Succeeded by hardwoods
1915 A.D. The Modern Forest Landscape
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Success, a Process

• Facilitation - dune grass and floating sedge help
  the establishment of later successional species.
• Interference - bluestem prairie grass forms a
  dense surface mat that inhibits germination of
  seeds of other plants.

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Ecosystem Changes during Succession
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Steps in Planning Restoration

• Understand why restoration is needed.
• Describe ecologically the area to be restored.
• List the goals of the restoration.
• Develop performance standards and plans for
  monitoring the project.
• Develop strategies to ensure long-term
  maintenance and protection of the restored
  ecosystem.

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Examples of Restoration of the Florida Everglades
See Everglades Diary" at http//evergladesdiary.co
m/
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Restoration of Californias Channel Islands
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Restoring Land Damagedby Lead Mines in England

• Approximately 55,000 hectares have been
  contaminated by centuries of lead mining. First
  attempts using heavy fertilizer applications and
  fast-growing commercial grasses failed due to
  leaching of soil. Success was subsequently
  achieved using succession principles and
  slow-growing native grasses adapted to poor
  soils.

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ESRM100 Students in Restoration Project
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Chapter 6 Restoration Ecology

• Questions? E-mail your TA. eschelp_at_u.washington.ed
  u