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Restoration Ecology Capstone
Restoration Capstone Instructors
UW Bothell
UW Seattle
UW Tacoma
Welcome!
Restoration Capstone Students
UW Bothell:
7
UW Seattle:
22
UW Tacoma:
4
Warren Gold
UW Bothell
Jim Fridley
UW Seattle
Kern Ewing
UW Seattle
Rodney Pond
UW Seattle
John Banks
UW Tacoma
What is
“Ecological
Restoration”
?
33
Ecological Restoration
Ecological restoration is the process of
Ecological Restoration
Introduction of native plant species into a
assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that
prepared (or unprepared) site with the goal of
has been degraded, damaged or destroyed.
fostering natural ecosystem processes and
returning the site to a more natural condition.
Society for Ecological Restoration (2002)
Kern Ewing
1
Ecological Restoration
Ecological restoration is the process of assisting
the recovery of an ecosystem that has been
degraded, damaged or destroyed.
Ecological Restoration
Ecological restoration is the
process of assisting the
recovery of an ecosystem
that has been degraded,
damaged or destroyed.
What is “recovered” ?
Stuff
Historical
conditions
S i t for
Society
f Ecological
E l i lR
Restoration
t ti
Functions
Course emphasis
(Goods &
Services)
Ecosystem Functions
• Nutrient cycling
• Soil formation
• Primary productivity / food
Read CHAPTER 4 on
What kind of knowledge / expertise
Ecosystem Functions
does it take to do restoration?
• Water quality
(for week 3)
• Habitat
• Climate regulation
• Disturbance regulation
• Disease regulation
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
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
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
9 Can you articulate what you know to others in different disciplines?
• Integrative learning
What matters in college?
“Essential learning outcomes”
College Learning for the New Global Century, AACU 2007
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
Restoration Ecology Network
Engaging the Region:
The UW Restoration Ecology Network
• Integrative learning
“Synthesis and advanced accomplishment across general
and specialized studies”
studies
- demonstrated through the application of knowledge, skills, and
responsibilities to new settings and complex problems
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
Restoration Ecology Network
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
Restoration Ecology Network
Using natural sciences to restore damaged landscapes
Engaging UW students with
communities across the region
Using social sciences to build community stewardship
3
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
Restoration Ecology Network
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
Restoration Ecology Network
November 2006
March
2007
May 2007
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
Restoration Ecology Network
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
Restoration Ecology Network
Capstone Project Community Partners
1999 - 2008
Private Schools: 2
Evergreen School (Shoreline)
Islandwood (Bainbridge Island)
y Groups:
p 2
Community
Licton Springs Park Assoc (Seattle)
Friends of Hylebos (Hylebos Cr)
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
1999 - 2008
County Governments: 2
Snohomish County (Swamp Creek)
King County (2 sites)
Tribal Governments: 1
S
Snoqualmie
l i N
Nation
ti (C
(Coall C
Creek)
k)
Utilities / Public Institutions: 2
Tacoma Power (Nisqually Gravel pit)
Port of Seattle (Duwamish)
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
Restoration Ecology Network
Project Team
Restoration
Tools & Lessons
Review Community
Partner RFP
The REN Capstone Experience:
Winter Quarter
Community
Partner
Classes & Labs
Submit RFP
Restoration Tools
& Lessons
Site Analysis
Site reviews
Team meetings:
problem solving
Functional req. &
constraints
Proposal
Private Individuals & Institutions: 4
Landowners: Mercer Island, Carnation,
Snohomish, Port Gamble
Earth Sanctuary (Whidbey Island)
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
Restoration Ecology Network
The REN Capstone Experience:
Fall Quarter
Classes & Labs
Higher Ed Institutions: 3
UW (Union Bay Natural Area;
Arboretum)
Tacoma Community College
Pierce College
Proposal review
& approval
Team meetings:
problem solving
Project Team
Work Plan
Community
Partner
p
Site Preparation
Work Plan review
Project
Implementation
Equipment ,
materials &
logistics support
Stewardship
building & plan
4
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
Restoration Ecology Network
Ecological Restoration
The REN Capstone Experience:
Spring Quarter
Classes & Labs
Team meetings:
problem solving
Community
Partner
Project Team
Project
Completion
As-Built report
Stewardship
building & plan
Equipment ,
materials &
logistics support
Stewardship training
Ecological restoration is the process of assisting
the recovery of an ecosystem that has been
SER (2002)
degraded, damaged or destroyed.
“The role of the practitioner is to
reinitiate
i iti t ecosystem
t
d
development.”
l
t”
Restoration is not a singular event
Clewell & Aronson (2007)
!! CELEBRATION !!
The “process of recovery”
“An ecosystem has a developmental trajectory…
This trajectory can be predicted into the future…
future
The accuracy of that prediction depends upon:
the environment & random events”
Clewell & Aronson
(2007)
Restoration as a process: trajectory & endpoint
Ecosystem
Characteristics
Ecological Restoration
Ecological restoration is the process of assisting
the recovery of an ecosystem that has been
SER (2002)
degraded, damaged or destroyed.
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”?
Trajectory Endpoints:
In a restoration there is maximum recovery of ecosystem
How do we determine the desired endpoint ?
structure and functions
Reference models
CHAPTER 5 !
Bradshaw (1987)
Bradshaw (1987)
5
Ecological Restoration
Ecological restoration is the process of assisting the recovery of
an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged or destroyed.
Connecting principles to practice:
ecological science & restoration
Society for Ecological Restoration (2002)
“Once an ecosystem has undergone ecological
restoration,, it should be self-organizing,
g
g, selfsustaining, and capable of maintaining itself …”
Clewell & Aronson (2007)
Restoration ≠ landscaping project
Ecological Concepts
Succession
• Succession
• Patch dynamics
• Diversity
• Holocoenotic environment
• Non-equilibrium community
dynamics
• Island biogeography
• Adaptation – Acclimation
y strategies
g
• Life history
Gradual, directional change in species
composition or structure of a plant community
over time
Barbour et al
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
Succession following fire in a PNW Forest
TIME
Climax
Stage
FIRE
Pioneer
Stage
Biological & Structural Diversity accumulate through time
6
Multiple possible endpoints & trajectories
Community
Characteristics
C
Community
Characteristics
C
Multiple possible endpoints
Time
Community
Characteristics
Multiple possible endpoints & trajectories
Time
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
assembly rules”
rules frequently apply
Time
Endpoints & trajectories determined by
• Design should consider autogenic & allogenic factors
that may influence trajectory & endpoint of restoration
• Autogenic factors (biota themselves)
• Allogenic factors (e.g., disturbance, invasives)
Diversity
Structural Diversity
Biological (species) Diversity
• Horizontal
• Richness
• Vertical
• Equitability
Consider key factors that underlay biodiversity
Topography
Environmental diversity
Biodiversity
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Topographic variation fosters diversity
Mounds created with Woody Debris (logs)
Ecological restoration created topography
& environmental diversity at UWB
Varying
topography
Æ
Plant species
diversity
Æ
Animal habitat
diversity
MOUND
PIT
Growing diversity based upon topography
Trees growing on mound
Water-filled pit
8
Consider key factors that underlay biodiversity
Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis
Biodiversity
Disturbance
Topography
Environmental diversity
Competitive
exclusion
Environmental
stress
Disturbance (frequency, intensity)
Biodiversity
Flooding disturbance & diversity
Biological disturbance & diversity
Elwha River
Consider key factors that underlay biodiversity
Topography
Vegetation
structure
Disturbance
Vertical diversity in a forest
Forest VERTICAL
structural complexity Æ
Habitat
diversity
Æ
Animal
diversity
Environmental diversity
Biodiversity
Kruckeberg (1991)
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Diversity – implications for restoration
Is diversity always desirable?
• Diversity ≠ Good
Good community ?
Diversity – implications for restoration
• Diversity ≠ Good
Bad community ?
RADIATION
The Holocoenotic
Environment
1. Mulitple Factors
• IF biodiversity is important to your project
consider how you can modify the underlying
environmental factors that foster diversity
• Abiotic
• Biotic
2. Factor
Interaction
organism
WATER
(e.g., topography, vegetation structure, disturbance)
PLANTS
SOIL
ROCKS
The Holocoentoic Environment
Air
temperature
Insect
herbivores
Competing
shrubs
Billings (1978)
The Holocoentoic Environment
Implications for restoration?
• Changes you make can have
Fire
Soil
moisture
• Limitations on species can
arise from many angles
Humidity
Insect
pollinators
complex implications
Soil N
Soil OM
Storm
frequency
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Island Biogeography – Landscape Ecology
Island Biogeography – Landscape Ecology
“Patch”
Restoration projects
as functional islands
“Matrix”
• 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
Island Biogeography – restoration implications
Condition of the surrounding matrix is important
• Influences how aggressive the restoration approach is
“Patch”
• Influences maintenance requirements & long-term success
“Matrix”
Likelihood
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).
Considerable
maintenance required
after restoration
Long term
success
• Will the “build-it-and-they-will-come” approach work?
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
Patch dynamics
Non-equilibrium community dynamics
Patch dynamics
Non-equilibrium community dynamics
Traditional, equilibrium-based view
Species composition at a site / patch is a function of
• Site availability (site conditions)
• Species availability (can they get there?)
Patch dynamics view
• Species performance (can they handle it there?)
Patch dynamics
Non-equilibrium community dynamics
Adaptation – Acclimation
Adaptation – genetic range of a species’ tolerance for
environmental condition
Restoration implications
Dry
• Tempers the absoluteness of targets
Restoration Implications
9Anticipate development of a mosaic rather than homogeneity
9Allow for dynamic nature of real system
Right plant – right place – right time
• Know your plant material (species, ecotype)
• Recognize the importance of species availability for
recolonization in a patchy, long-term dynamic system
• Conditions of place are a moving target
• Plant assemblage is a moving target
Adaptation – Acclimation
Restoration Implications
Flexibility of plants to changing conditions
• Know your site – how important is acclimation ability?
9 Seasonal changes
9 Successional changes
High
Wet
Pote
ential
Produ
uctivity
Environmental Gradient
Competitive
Low
Life History Strategies:
Ruderal – Competitive – Stress Tolerant
Acclimation – phenotypic adjustment to changing
environmental conditions
Dry
Wet
Environmental Gradient
Stress Tolerant
Ruderal
Low
High
Disturbance
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High
Low
Po
otential Productivity
R – C – S Life Histories: restoration implications
Competitive
Ruderal
Stress
Tolerant
Low
Disturbance
High
Consider life history
attributes that place
species in these
categories
Select species
appropriate for mix of
environmental
conditions in SPACE &
TIME
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