Ecological Restoration

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Chapter 10

• Ecological Restoration

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The Balance of Nature

• An environmental myth that states that the
  natural environment, when not influenced by human
  activity, will reach a constant status,
  unchanging over time.
• Environmentalists in early 20th cent. Formalized
  the idea
• Succession proceeds to a fixed, classic
  condition called Climax Condition (steady state
  stage that can persist indefinitely, max. organic
  matter, max. storage of chemicals, max.
  biodiversity.

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Restore to what !!

• Restore to original natural, permanent condition.
• But. What is this? This idea assumes that
  nature is constant.
• Nature is NOT constant it undergoes change
• Some species require change to persist

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What is Restoration

• Restoring an ecosystem to its historical range of
  variation and to an ability to sustain itself and
  its crucial functions, including chemical cycling
• Upper Newport Bay

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What needs to be restored?

• Wetlands, Rivers and Streams
• (Ex Kissimmee River)
• Channelization of the river,
• Prairie Restoration
• (Ex Allwine Prairie)
• Agricultural conversion

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Kissimmee River Project

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The Process of Ecological Succession

• Ecological Succession
• The process of the development of an ecological
  community or ecosystem.
• Two Types
• Primary Succession The initial establishment and
  development of an ecosystem
• (following volcanic activity or edges of
  glaciers)
• Secondary Succession The reestablishment of an
  ecosystem where there are remnants of a previous
  biological community
• (following a natural disaster hurricane,
  flooding, fire)

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Primary succession

• New growth on a cooled lava flow

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Secondary Succession

• Following a forest fire

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Patterns in Succession

• An initial kind of vegetation specially adapted
  to the unstable conditions (Pioneer Species)
• Small plants and other early-successional species
  grow and seeds spread rapidly.
• Larger plants and other late successional species
  enter and begin to dominate the site.
• A mature forest develops.
• (Succession is usually characterized as early
  (steps
• 12), middle and late.)
• Examples of Succession
• Dune Succession, Bog Succession, Old-Field
  Succession

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• Early successional species are fast growing,
  small, adapted for harsher conditions. They do
  not live long. Seeds widely disperse.
• Late successional species are slow growing and
  longer living. Can live in shade. Seeds not
  widely dispersed.

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Succession and Chemical Cycling

• Biomass, production, diversity and chemical
  cycling change during succession
• Biomass and diversity peak in mid-succession,
  increasing at first to a maximum, then declining
  and varying over time.

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Species Change in Succession

• Earlier and later species in succession may
  interact in three ways
• Facilitation
• Interference
• Life history differences
• If they do not interact, the result is termed
  chronic patchiness

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Facilitation

• During succession, one species prepares the way
  for the next (and may even be necessary for the
  occurrence of the next)
• Dune and bog succession

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Interference

• During succession, one species prevents the
  entrance of a later species into an ecosystem.
• Ex) Some grasses produce dense and thick mats so
  the seeds of trees cannot reach the soil to
  germinate

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Life History Difference

• The difference in the life histories of the
  species allow some to arrive first and grow
  quickly, while others arrive late and grow more
  slowly
• Ex) seed disbursal

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Primary Succesion
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Primary Succession
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Succession
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Forest Fire
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Forest succession