Download SER2015 POSTER SESSIONS

SER2015
POSTER SESSIONS
P1.1
Protective effect of nitric oxide on Cd-induced oxidative damage in alfalfa (Medicogo sativa L.)
seedlings
Y. Chen, X. Zi, X. Su, M. Qu, S. Yang, Z. Yang
School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou, China
Cadmium is a heavy metal element existing widely in nature, in a certain range of concentration,
toxicity of cadmium on plants is greater than other heavy metals. Alfalfa (Medicogo sativa L.) has the
strong ability to accumulate relatively high amount of Cd in body indicating that the plant may be
valuable in the phytoremediation of heavy metal-contaminated soil. Nitric oxide (NO) is an important
signaling molecule involved in many physiological processes. In this study, the effect of NO on
oxidative damage caused by high levels of cadmium was investigated in alfalfa seedlings.
Pretreatment with NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP), prior to exposure to cadmium stress,
resulted in reduced Cd-induced lectrolyte leakage and reduced contents of malondialdehyde,
hydrogenperoxide (H2O2) and superoxideradicals (O2-). The activities of superoxidedismutase (SOD),
catalase (CAT), ascorbate eroxidase (APX), peroxidase (POD) and glutathionereductase (GR)
increased in the presence of SNP under Cd stress. These responses could be reversed by
pretreatment with the NO scavenger 2-(4-carboxy-2-phenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazo-line-1-oxyl-3oxide (cPTIO). A pronounced increase in activity of nitricoxidesynthase (NOS) and Nitrate reductase
(NR) and NO release was found in alfalfa seedlings after exposure to Cd stress. Pretreatment with the
NOS inhibitor No-nitro-L-arginine (L-NAME) and NR non-specific inhibitor (NaN3) resulted in increased
oxidative damage under Cd stress. These results suggest that Cd stress induced increased NOS and
NR activity leading to elevated NO. This NO might act as a signaling molecule triggering enhanced
activities of antioxidant enzymes, further protecting against injuries caused by high level Cd.
P1.2
Planting seedlings versus sowing seeds: effect of seed size on the establishment of tree
species on a tropical forest
S.R. Pereira1, L.G. Macera2, A.D.S. Faustino2, N.G.R. Tão2, J.C. Scaloppi2, A.L.T. Souza2
1
2
Embrapa Beef Catle, Campo Grande, Brazil, Department of Environmental Sciences, Federal
University of São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
Seed size is a plant trait considered as a good predictor of the probability of emergence and
performance of seedlings, and is correlated with other functional traits that can influence the success
of ecological restoration projects. Individuals of species of larger seeds have higher probability to
emerge and survive under stressful conditions, such as poor soil and high luminosity, commonly found
in abandoned pastures. In Brazil, plant tree seedlings are the main method used in most ecological
restoration projects. Despite their high cost, few studies have quantified the advantages of this
strategy in relation to direct sowing of tropical forest trees. We evaluated the emergence and survival
of nine tree species of different seed sizes (0.04 to 5.13g) reintroduced by planting tree seedlings and
by direct sowing, for 24 months. The probability of emergence was positively related with seed size as
previously predicted. Seedling survival was also positively related with seed size for both plants
introduced as seedlings and plants that emerged from direct sowing in the field. Furthermore, plants
introduced as seedlings presented higher survival than those introduced by direct sowing, but we
failed to detect an interaction between these two factors. Planted seedlings probably have a better
starting point to form deep roots and compete with weeds, and species with larger seeds use seed
reserves to get higher initial performance. However, differences in the survival of plants introduced as
seedlings and plants introduced by seeding tended to be smaller in species with larger seeds. This
study showed advantages in plant survival when tree species are reintroduced by plant seedlings in
comparison with direct sowing, but seed size is an important trait that can influence plant survival even
24 months after planting for both treatments.
P1.3
Seed germination in situ storage and rehabilitation significant for two shrubs in Dabancheng
desert, China
X. Zhao, J. Wang
College of Life Science, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi, China
Zygophyllum xanthoxylum and Ephedra przewalskii are super xerophy shrubs. They are dominate
species in Dabancheng, a cold desert with chronic strong wind and extreme drought (about 70 mm
annual rainfall) in Northwest China. They are the potential pioneer for revegetation in the region. Seed
germination after in situ storage can predict field emergence of the two shrubs. In this study, Seeds
were storaged in situ at different micro-habitats from September to April and exhumed at next April.
Soil temperature were recorded and soil moisture were measured. Seeds were incubated in the light
at 20/10℃ after period of cold stratification in field for 8 months. The results show that the highest
germination 82.6％ occurred in seeds storaged on bare stone land and but the germination process is
most slow. Seeds germinated 59.3％ and 48.7％ respectly on surface and in soil of dry shrub. The
lowest germination 74.0％ and 48.0％ respectly were occurred on surface and in soil of wet shrub. It
indicates that dry storage in situ improves germination for the shrubs. Seeds vitality in bare land and
dry shrub is the best. Only some seeds can germination in any habitat, especially for Z. xanthoxylum,
other small seeds are deep physiologically domanant at maturity during dispersal. Domancy break in
some seeds was not occurred during in situ cold stratification for one winter. These germination and
dormancy traits maybe a strategy adapt to such extreme environment and may be applied to model
the natural regeneration patterns of the cold desert. For rehabilitation, we can storage seeds in dry
native environments. Seeds need pretreated when use it for revegetation. As well as the research will
be helpful to select pioneer native plants for revegetation in similar region.
Funding body: National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.31260101)
P1.4
How are seed characteristics related to ability of plants to colonize post-mining sites?
M. Entová
Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
The occurrence of plant species at a disturbed site generally depends on their ability to survive a
disturbance, and to reach, establish and persist at the site after a disturbance. Seed characteristics
play an important role in colonization and following persistence of species in succession in disturbed
sites and may contribute to predict the colonization of such sites and thus, to predict restoration
success.
I investigated how various seed characteristics participated in 11 different spontaneous successional
series running in different mining sites (spoil heaps, extracted sand and sand-gravel pits, extracted
peatlands, and stone quarries) in the Czech Republic, central Europe. Using 1864 vegetation samples
from successional stages 1 to 100 years old I tested whether species position in the succession could
be predicted on the base of 10 basic species traits connected with propagules and dispersal. Species
with the high Longevity index occurred at the beginning of succession whereas species with high seed
mass and high potential for endozoochory and autochory were connected with the late stages of
succession. The results indicate that seed characteristics can be used to predict to a certain level
spontaneous vegetation succession, i.e. passive restoration, in the mining sites. A screening of
species available in the given landscape (regional and local species pools) may help to identify those
species which probably colonize the disturbed sites. Extensive databases of species traits, nowadays
available for central European flora, enable such screening.
P1.5
Native seeds for restoration of Alpine meadows: a study on germination, seed treatments and
stress tolerance
1,2
1
3
L. López del Egido , F.C. Lanfermeijer , P.E. Toorop
1
Global Seed Physiology and Enhancement, Syngenta Seeds B.V., Enkhuizen, Netherlands,
2
University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy, 3Comparative Plant and Fungal Biology, Royal Botanic Gardens
Kew, Wakehurst Place Ardingly, United Kingdom
Destruction of natural habitats due to human activities continues to increase. In 2002, the United
Nations estimated that over 70% of the natural habitats on Earth will be lost by 2030. Considering this
high loss, not only conservation but also restoration of vegetation in vulnerable natural habitats is
critical. The alpine meadow is one of the most vulnerable biomes due to the increase of temperature
as a result of climate change, but also due to pressure from recreational use. Restoration requires use
of high stress tolerant seed stocks in order to establish seedlings under conditions that may be
dissimilar from the conditions which are present in the original vegetation habitat. High stress
tolerance can be achieved through the use of genotypes with this trait present, or by applying seed
treatments that results in high stress tolerance. However, there is still a poor understanding on the
biology of native seeds, such as their germination, dormancy and longevity characteristics. My project
is part of The NAtive Seed Science, TEchnology and Conservation (NASSTEC) initial training network,
an EU project joining together seed producers and academic institutions that aims to promote
conservation, production and use of European native seed. This project aims to 1) provide knowledge
on germination requirements and seed treatments to enhance germination and establishment of wild
species, 2) bridge the gap between academia and industry to exchange this knowledge and 3) deliver
procedures for the production of high quality native seeds. Because improved germination is one of
the key aspect to achieve a successful restoration, initial experiments testing germination under
suboptimal and optimal conditions are being performed. Furthermore, priming techniques aiming to
achieve an improvement in germination, establishment and high stress tolerance will be investigated.
Funding Body: Marie Curie Actions Initial Training Network (ITN) funded under EU - FP7 People
P1.6
Micro-environmental conditions differentially affect plant emergence and establishment in
denuded areas of the Patagonian Monte
T. Bosco1, M.B. Bertiller1,2, A.L. Carrera1
1
Laboratorio de Ecología de Pastizales, Centro Nacional Patagonico (CENPAT) - CONICET, Puerto
Madryn, Argentina, 2Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco (UNPSJB), Puerto
Madryn, Argentina
Direct seeding of native plants combined with litter amendments could be a key management tool for
restoration of disturbed arid ecosystems. We analyzed the effect of abiotic controls on seedling
emergence and establishment of perennial grasses (Poa ligularis, Nassella tenuis) and evergreen
shrubs (Atriplex lampa, Larrea divaricata, Schinus johnstonii) in denuded areas induced by anthropic
disturbance in the Patagonian Monte. We sowed seeds of these species in microcosms subjected to
the combined effects of UV radiation (near-ambient, am-UV; attenuated UV radiation, att-UV), high
and low soil moisture (15-25%, HSM; 5-15%, LSM), and litter cover (without litter, BS; low quality litter,
LQL; high quality litter, HQL). During 7 months, we estimated weekly the seedlings emerged
(coleoptile or cotiledons visible) and the seedlings established (two true leaves expanded) as
percentage of emerged seedlings. Combined effects of the three factors affected N. tenuis emergence
with the highest values under HQL and HSM for both UV treatments. P. ligularis emergence was
higher under am-UV radiation except for HSM at BS. The establishment of P. ligularis was not affected
by factors while that of N. tenuis was promoted by am-UV. A. lampa emergence was promoted by amUV in both HQL and LQL while the establishment was enhanced by the combined effects of am-UV
and HSM. L. divaricata did not emerge under att-UV and LSM in any of the three litter covers whereas
S. johnstonii mostly emerged under am-UV and HSM at the three litter covers. The establishment of
the latter species was not affected by factors. We concluded that abiotic factors exerted a stronger
control on seedling emergence than on seedling establishment. Moreover, the combination of factors
affecting emergence varied among species. Management tools focused on manipulation of
microenvironments of seedbeds could promote seedling emergence and establishment of target
species for restoration of denuded áreas.
P1.8
The role of soil seed bank, seed rain, floristic composition in degraded cerrado regeneration in
Brazil
1
2
2
G.A. Santos , D.F. Burslem , M.D. Swaine
1
Unidade Básica de Biociências, Centro Universitário de Mineiros (UNIFIMES), Mineiros, Brazil,
2
School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
Lack of seed dispersal has been shown to be a major factor limiting tropical forest recovery in
degraded cerrado landscape. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of soil seedbank, seed
rain and floristic composition on succession of degraded cerrado vegetation in Mineiros-GO (Brazil). A
hundred and nineteen seed traps were installed in the site study to evaluate seed rain in four forest
fragments and one degraded area. Two hundred samples of soil were collected from these forest
fragments and from the degraded area for soil seed bank analysis. Floristic survey was carried out in
the same environments to investigate the richness and species composition. The rate and species
richness of seeds of woody plants arriving in seed traps were higher in forest fragments (103.75 ±
29.42 seeds.m-2 to 236.23 ± 56.17 seeds.m-2) than in the degraded Cerrado landscape of Chitolina
gully (2,38 ± 0.78 seeds.m-2). The assessment of soil seed bank showed that 87 % of the seed were
from herbaceous plants. Lack of tree seeds in the soil seed bank from the degraded area suggests
that degradation reduces the abundance of seeds in the soil. Richness of 145 species was found in
the site study in the floristic survey. Fabaceae was the richest family in number of species. Only three
species of trees from remnant forest were present in the degraded landscape. The results suggests
that the natural regeneration of forest in this gully is constrained by the lack of seeds in the soil seed
bank and by limited immigration of seeds to the degraded area.
Keywords: Seed rain. Soil seed bank. Floristic composition. Erosion. Cerrado. Degradation.
P1.9
Identification of potential native species for environmental recovery
D. Orlandini1, E.N.S.O. Paula1, O.B.C. Ribeiro1, J.R. Ferreira2, C.C. Souza3
1
AGROFLOR Engineering and Environment, Viçosa, Brazil, 2Anglo American Brazil - Iron Ore
3
Business Unit, Mariana, Brazil, Postgraduate Program in Forest Science, Federal University of
Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil
The search for potential native species for environmental recovery is needed to provide subject of
further studies on genetics, propagation, development and economic viability, providing subsidy to the
improvement of techniques. In this context, this study aimed to identify potential native species for
degraded areas recovering. Previously, we selected species wich occurr in degraded areas passing
through various stages of regeneration of natural environments in the areas of study. The data
collection, processing and evaluation took place in four stages: formulation and application of
questionnaire for experts; creation of a database gathering the indicated species; application of
species exclusion factors; and obtaining of a list of potential species for further specialized studies.
The exclusion factors were defined based on indications of the literature and from experts consulted,
and were as follows: growth time of the species; natural occurrence in the study areas; exotic species;
and species with known allelopathic effect. Finally, we obtained a list of 61 potential species for future
studies in genetics and propagation, from 15 different families, of which Fabaceae and Verbenacea
stood out with eleven and nine species respectively, followed by Asteraceae and Poaceae, with seven
species each. The authors thank FAPES (the Research Support Foundation for the State of Espírito
Santo), for granting of the scholarship.
P1.10
Is there evidence of trade-off between investment in seed banks and vegetative growth to be
used in ecological restoration?
1
2
2
S. Basto , K. Thompson , M. Rees
1
Unidad de Ecología y Sistemática, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia
Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia, 2Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of
Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
Disturbance may favour individuals allocating resources to seed production at the expense of
vegetative growth, which suggests the likelihood of a trade-off between seed bank density and
vegetative investment. This trade-off might be used to apply restoration strategies for recovering
vegetation above-ground and improving seed production by stimulating existing seed bank. We aimed
to investigate, at intraspecific level, the potential trade-off between investment in seed banks and
vegetative growth. At an infertile, calcareous grassland, above-ground individuals and those from seed
banks of six species were cloned. After 12 months of growing following standardization of the plant
material, functional traits reflecting vegetative (canopy height, number of tillers and leaves, biomass of
shoots), reproductive (number and biomass of flowering culms), and above-ground growth investment
(total biomass) were measured. Shoot biomass was used to calculate relative growth rate (RGR). The
origin of plant material had little effect on the probability of sexual reproduction. Only Agrostis vinealis
seed bank-originating individuals had a lower probability of flowering and a higher RGR than those of
mature plant-origin. However, individual plant size matters in terms of probability of sexual
reproduction and investment in seeds. Independent of the origin of plant material, larger plants
(measured by shoot biomass) of Carex pulicaris, Hypericum pulchrum and A. vinealis had a higher
probability of flowering. We conclude that there is no evidence of a trade-off between investment in
seed banks and vegetative growth, and that plant origin does not make any difference to the recovery
of vegetation or to seed production. However, reintroducing the largest individuals might increase the
number of seeds and consequently assist the above-ground and seed bank recovery.
This study was supported by the Programme Alβan, the European Union Programme of High Level
Scholarships for Latin America, scholarship No. (E07D400528CO) and Pontificia Universidad
Javeriana.
P1.11
Avoid falling from pit to precipice: need for an attentive selection of species for greening forest
lands
S.M.W. Ranwala, N.V. Wijewantha
Department of Plant Sciences, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Forest restoration is often supported by planting of woody species and in many instances fast growing
species have been preferred. The paper provides a case study which had failed to achieve ecological
restoration in the long run due to being one -sided in the species selection process. Udawattekele is
104 ha rain forest reserve of historic importance to Sri Lanka in which Swietenia macrophylla,
Myroxylon balsamum and Alstonia macrophylla were introduced to degraded areas in 1950s. Recent
survey of floristics using 20 plots of 10m x 10m revealed the dominance of species Myroxylon
balsamum>Swietenia macrophylla> Artocarpus heterophyllus>Alstonia macrophyllain for canopy
species and Myoxylon balsamamum >Swietenia macrophylla >and Goniothalamus gardneri. for
understory and ground layer. Dendogram for species and microclimatic data constructed using BrayCurtis similarity measure in PAST software separated the restored and non restored areas in two
clusters at 56% similarity. Seed rain and soil seed bank studies exhibited that the propagule pressure
of above species were higher suggesting continuous suppression of the regeneration process of
native species including the 14 endemic species. This study identifies the aggressive behavior of the '
new additions' to forest even after 70-75 years despite manual removal of their seedlings at a regular
basis. Achieving ecological, social, cultural and economic benefits at Udawattekele is therefore
questionable. This study exhibits the need for careful selection of species following a risk assessment
to avoid potential invaders being introduced into forests during restoration practices.
P1.12
In vitro establishment of three tree species, potential for recovery of degraded areas
1
2
2
1
3
D. Orlandini , M.M.P. Fontes , Y.S.S. Lana , E.N.S.O. Paula , C.C. Souza
1
2
AGROFLOR Engineering and Environment, Viçosa, Brazil, Federal University of Espírito Santo,
3
Alegre, Brazil, Postgraduate Program in Forest Science, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil
Scientific studies are published with proposals for the adoption of procedures for using species from
the environment itself in projects of recovery of degraded areas, however, are rare the works involving
studies about the adaptations of these species. The in vitro establishment can be an alternative for the
forest restoration, since various biotechnological techniques that favor the mass propagation can be
applied. Besides, in vitro culture techniques can assist in the choice of potentially suitable species to
restore degraded areas. The aim of this study was to establish in vitro three different potential species
for recovery of degraded areas, namely: Mabea fistulifera (canudo-de-pito), Piptadenia gonoacantha
(pau-jacaré) and Tabebuia serratifolia (ipê-amarelo). After different tests of superficial disinfection the
seeds were inoculated in bottles with three different culture mediums for germination and growing: MS,
MS½ and AAS (without vitamins or minerals), plus sucrose and agar. When the seeds were
submerged in HCl 10% solution, in different times, it proved harmful and it all died. Between the tested
treatments, the most effective for desinfestation was the serie: 30 min imersion in destilated water, 15
min in 70% ethyl alcohol and 50 min in sodium hypochlorite. It showed low fungus growing, both in the
culture medium as the seeds. About the seeds germination, we observed a better rooting in the culture
medium AAS, because of the higher availability of water. P. gonoacantha showed the higher
germination in vitro rate, achieving 60%, followed by T. serratifolia (55%) and M. fistulifera (48%). The
culture medium MS½ was favorable to the development of aerea part of the species, where pau-jacaré
was the more favored about the in vitro establishing, because of the number of leafs and the size of
seedling.
P1.13
Does intensive seed harvest affect the demography of tree species used in forest restoration
projects?
1
2
3
4
2
A.P. Liboni , E. Bianchini , J.M.D. Torezan , A.V.L. Messetti , J.A. Pimenta
1
2
Department of Plant Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil, Department of Biological
Sciences, Laboratory of Plant Ecology, University of Londrina, Londrina, Brazil, 3Department of
Biological Sciences, Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Restoration, University of Londrina,
4
Londrina, Brazil, Department of Statistics, University of Londrina, Londrina, Brazil
In the Brazilian Atlantic forest, restoration activities have been increasingly applied in fragmented
landscapes to mitigate the negative impacts of environmental degradation. As a consequence, many
tree species have been exploited by seed harvest in order to produce seedlings for restoration
plantings. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of seed harvest on demography of
Colubrina glandulosa Perkins, a tree species widely used in restoration projects in the Semideciduous
Atlantic forest. Fifty four plots of 100 m2, divided into six blocks with nine plots each, were set in a
restoration planting adjacent to Godoy Forest State Park, South Brazil. We collected annually about
80% of the seeds from all C. glandulosa reproductive individuals of three blocks (treatment group TG), while the other three blocks remained without seed harvest (control group - CG). C. glandulosa
seeds were harvested before the seed dispersal period. We measured the height of all C. glandulosa
individuals during five years (2006 to 2010). We defined nine height classes and demographic
variations in CG and TG were described using Lefkovitch matrices model, to estimate the finite
population growth rate (λ). The λ(CG) showed population growth while λ(TG) showed population stability.
Survivorship and stasis of adults most contributed to λ value in both groups. Life-table-responseexperiment (LTRE) indicated that growth and fecundity rates are also important to explain
demographic differences among groups. Although the harvest of 80% of seed has not resulted in
population decline, the current harvest scenario may compromise C. glandulosa regeneration in the
long term. Such outcome highlights the necessity of establishing a science-based seed harvest
protocol for tree species commonly used in restoration plantings, focusing on sustainability to ensure
biodiversity conservation in accordance with restoration activities.
P1.14
How does competition and timing of planting of two native trees of Brazilian savanna affect
their initial establishment?
L.S. Collier1,2, E.W.A. Weidlich1, V.M. Temperton1
1
Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany, 2Federal University of Goias, Goiânia, Brazil
The planting of native tree species in the central savanna of Brazil is currently increasing during
operations to recover degraded soils as the management of agroforestry systems. Despite this activity,
little is known about inter and an intra-specific competition between these native species during initial
establishment. Effects of timing of arrival/planting are rarely researched and yet such factors can have
strong known-on effects on later performance. We investigated how the simultaneous presence and
timing of arrival of two different native species can affect their initial performance and vigor which
helps farmers and scientists to develop strategies for successful plantings. Two tropical native species
were studied in a greenhouse experiment: Tabebuia impetiginosa and Enterolobium contortisiliquum.
We sowed transplanted Tabebuia seedlings into 2L pots filled with tropical Brazilian soil. Fifteen and
thirty days we created the treatments using time and number of Enterolobium plants. After 90 days the
below and aboveground biomass and height measurements showed that Tabebuia was negatively
affected by the presence of Enterolobium, but the presence of two individuals was better for its
development than just one. Enterolobium was less sensitive to competition however and seemed to
thrive in pots with three seedlings. There was no effect of the experimental treatments on the main
chemical attributes of the fertility the soils at the end of the experiment. There was however a
reduction in the levels of Ca, K and an elevation of Al comparing to the soil before start the
experiment. Our results suggest that Tabebuia can perform well next to Enterolobium as a neighbour
especially if the density of the latter is high. In addition, the N2-fixing Enterolobium has no problem
arriving after the slower-growing Tabebuia. Thus they can be recommended as co-plantings where
they can contribute to soil recovering in restoration plantings and agroforestry systems.
P1.15
Translocation, sowing, natural regeneration and seed priming: restoring calcareous grassland
in the South Downs Nature Improvement Area
K.A. Hardwick1, T. Chapman1, S. Miles1, J. Rowlands2, P. Toorop1
1
Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Ardingly, United Kingdom, 2Department of Animal and Plant Sciences,
University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
The 40,000 hectare South Downs Way Ahead Nature Improvement Area (NIA) was created in 2012,
one of 12 government-funded NIAs in England and Wales aiming to restore and reconnect nature on a
landscape scale. The South Downs area is mainly lowland calcareous grassland, a threatened habitat
supporting a diverse range of specialised plants and animals and providing valuable ecosystem
services to people. As part of its contribution to this NIA project, the Royal Botanic Garden Kew's UK
Native Seed Hub conducted research to explore various techniques for restoring chalk grassland, at
Crane Down, near Polegate, East Sussex.
One study compared the effectiveness of three techniques - turf lifting and reinstatement, seed-sowing
and natural regeneration - in the restoration of habitat destroyed by the construction of a water
pipeline. Turf lifting and reinstatement was shown to be an effective if labour-intensive technique,
retaining most of the undisturbed plant community and limiting opportunities for colonisation by noncharacteristic species. Seed sowing and natural regeneration plots, by contrast, recorded high levels
of colonisation by non-characteristic species from the soil seed bank. Methodologies and results are
presented, with a discussion of the impacts that time and management are likely to have on the site.
A second study investigated the effect of osmopriming of seeds on the performance of reintroduced
Achillea millefolium, Thymus pulegiodes, Briza media and Succisa pratensis. Primed and non-primed
seeds of A. millefolium and T. pulegiodes were direct sown onto bare ground in the field, while primed
and non-primed seeds of all four species were sown in the nursery and grown on as plug plants, which
were transplanted into the sward. Although previous research has indicated that seed priming can
enhance subsequent seedling development, osmopriming resulted in no significant improvement in
the field performance of the species tested in this study.
P1.16
Direct seed sowing of nine Brazilian tree species
1
2
2
1
H.S.C. Brant , F.O. Santos , A.D.L.C. Novembre , R.R. Rodrigues
1
Forest Science, University of São Paulo (USP-ESALQ), Piracicaba, Brazil, 2Crop Science, University
of Sao Paulo (ESALQ), Piracicaba, Brazil
The direct seed sowing of Brazilian tree species has potential for reducing costs, facilitates
implantation and adaptation of seedlings, although this kind of research still has few studies. Hereby
we evaluated seed germination of tree species from semideciduous forest in São Paulo state, in field
conditions. The direct seed sowing was performed with seeds of nine recovering tree species: Apeiba
tibourbou, Croton floribundus, Croton urucurana, Guazuma ulmifolia, Heliocarpus popayanensis,
Senna alata, Senna multijuga and Trema micrantha. The experiment consisted of four plots, with 50
seeds each, planted in lines spaced 10 cm between seeds and 55 cm between lines. A seedling
emergence evaluation was performed until the third pair of leaves, during three months. Irrigation was
manual and uniform. Dormancy was overcome before sowing. Also, germination tests were performed
in a chamber for seed viability. The experimental design was completely randomized, ANOVA was
done and means were compared by Tukey's test (p < 0,05). The decreasing order of emergence on
field conditions was as follows: S. alata (72%) > C. floribundus (20,5%) > S. multijuga (20%) > S.
granulosoleprosum (19,5%) > G. ulmifolia (4%) > A. tibourbou (3%) > C. urucurana (1,5%) > H.
popayanensis (1%) and T. micrantha (0%). For the chamber test it was S. alata (87,5%) > S. multijuga
(86%) > A. tibourbou (71%) > C. floribundus (58,5%) > H. popayanensis (53,5%) > S.
granulosoleprosum (52,5%) > C. urucurana (39%) > G. ulmifolia (36%) e T. micrantha (4%). A drought
episode with high temperatures and low precipitation occurred during the experiment, which
decreased emergence on the field, when compared with the chamber test. The species with better
germination rates were the rustic, known as pasture invasive. Low viability was observed for a few
species with the chamber test. A few species should be employed for restoration purposes.
P1.17
Examining best management practices for roadside ecological restoration through seed mix
germination rates in fine textured soils
A. Novacic1, S. Murphy1, D. McGrath2
1
Environment and Resource Studies, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada, 2Vineland Research
and Innovation Centre, Vineland, Canada
A four month study was conducted on three roadside sites in Southern Ontario, Canada to evaluate
the impacts of decompaction and added compost amendment on seed mix performance. Four
treatment beds were prepared on each site with an additional control. All four treatment beds were
decompacted and spaded, with three treatments receiving an additional AAA compost amendment of
different percentages (10%, 25% and 50%). Three seed mixes were used in the study; two are widely
applied by provincial government after construction contracts, and a native roadside seed blend from a
local seed manufacturer. Seed mixes were sown in quadrats on each treatement bed and evaluated
on a 30, 60 and 90 day routine with percent cover analysis. Constraints by the contractor due to
weather conditions during the recommended optimal seeding time in early spring resulted in a very
late mid-summer sowing dates. As a result, the seed mixes scarcely germinated and in many
quadrats, failed to germinate at all. Lolium multiflorum (annual ryegrass) showed great vigour out of all
the species sown from the seed mixes, and proved to have high percent cover in the quadrats it was
used as a cover crop. Exotic species such as Conovolvus arvensis (bindweed) were also observed as
a result of the compost application on the site. The failure of high germination rates in the seed mixes
sown, highlights the importance of prioritizing seed sowing dates and contractor needs to increase
successful germination of seed mixes used for roadside ecological restoration. Sowing seed mixes
during optimal seeding time frames in the fall or early spring would promote higher germination of
seed mixes and limit economic loss in restoration processes.
Funding provided by Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, Ministry of Transportation Ontario
P1.18
Restoration potential of riparian vegetation in dam removal context in France: contribution of
soil seed bank
I. Muller, I. Bernez
Ecology and Ecosystem Health, INRA-Agrocampus Ouest, Rennes, France
Dam removal is potentially a powerful tool for river and riparian restoration. Through dam removal,
new bare sediment appears and can be colonized by riparian vegetation. By their position interlinked
between terrestrial and aquatic systems, the riparian vegetation plays a crucial role in the ecological
quality of the restored river. Study and understand this vegetation succession is thus particularly
relevant. Initial plant colonization of bare sediment is dependent to the regional species pool. Seeds of
some species buried by sediment and submerged in water have the potential to remain viable for long
years and thus contribute to vegetation dynamics along lake and would be expected to play an
important role in primary succession on bare sediments upstream of dam. Investigating the soil seed
bank allows to evaluate the success restoration potentiality and the prediction of the trajectory of the
plant succession. In the western of France (Manche), two dams on the Sélune River will be removing
gradually by lowering the levels of the reservoir lake over a period of 4 years. We studied the soil seed
bank along a reservoir lake in a context of dam removal to
(I) determine species diversity and frequency of the seed available and restoration potentiality
(II) to understand processes (hydrologic, morphologic and landscape) influencing these pattern and
(III) to know the impact of burying by sediment and submerging in water on seeds.
The soil seed bank was samples in February 2015 on a lateral and longitudinal gradient on the
reservoir lake. Results will be discuss and could be implemented as a guideline to help managers and
decisions makers to select areas were spontaneous vegetation is successful for riparian vegetation
restoration and other areas were active restoration need to be done to minimize establishment of
invading species.
P1.19
Plant colonization of eroded areas — what is the problem?
A.L. Aradottir
Agricultural University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
Understanding of the processes that govern plant colonization of eroded areas is one of the keys to
developing effective restoration measures. Large areas of Iceland, once covered by birch woodlands,
are now desertified due to soil erosion. The eroded areas have lost most of their soil and vegetation
cover, have limited capacity for retention of nutrients and water and have unstable surfaces due to
erosion and cryoturbation. Once ecosystems damaged by soil erosion have crossed these
degradation thresholds they recover very slowly without restoration interventions. But why is their
recovery so slow and what limits recolonization of the key woodland species, birch and native willows?
Research shows that very little colonization occurs until the soil surface has been stabilized, e.g., by
vascular plant cover and/or biological soil crust. Availability of propagules is also a limiting factor,
especially for the birch which has a patchy distribution and limited dispersal range. Willows are more
likely than the birch to colonize spontaneously if safe sites are available, due to more widespread
distribution and larger dispersal range. Measures to restore birch woodlands on eroded areas thus
require revegetation or some other means to stabilize the soil surface and create safe sites for
seedling establishment. In many cases it is also necessary to establish birch stands at strategic
locations in the landscape to serve as seed sources.
P2.1
Facilitating effect of Bromelia balansae Mez on the natural regeneration of Brazilian savannah
in grazing areas
L.A. Martins1, A.C.G. Melo2, G. Durigan2, K.T. Bernardo3, M. Alonso4
1
São Paulo State University - UNESP, Botucatu, Brazil, 2Forestry Institute of the State of Sao Paulo,
3
4
Assis, Brazil, University of Sao Paulo, São Carlos, Brazil, Forestry Institute of the State of Sao Paulo,
São Paulo, Brazil
Positive or negative interactions between plants influence on the assembly of plant communities. The
knowledge concerning facilitator species can be applied in restoration projects because the facilitation
promoted by certain species contributes to ecological restoration, especially in sites in which
environmental conditions or herbivory hamper the establishment and growth of plant species. Field
observations suggest B. balansae may preclude grazing by creating “safe sites” for natural
regeneration of tree species because of its large leaves with thorns and occurrence in agglomerated
populations. We aimed at testing the facilitating effect of B. balansae over the indigenous flora from
the Brazilian savannah (Cerrado). Our study was carried out in a Cerrado regenerating area where
grazing activities also occur. Ten pairs of 12m2-circular plots were established in a 6 ha site. Each pair
comprises one plot with the presence of B. balansae and one plot without the bromeliad species. We
surveyed all individuals of tree, vine, shrub and grass species. Fifty-one species were found under the
colonies of B. balansae in which 19 are exclusive species. In plots where B. balansae was absent we
found 38 species in which 6 are exclusive. Among the species that occurred in both environments, 10
out of 32 were significantly more abundant under the colonies of B. balansae. Colonies of B. balansae
are therefore influencing the facilitating effect of regeneration of woody species from Cerrado,
protecting regenerating individuals from the predatory cattle action, either by grazing or trampling,
creating regeneration cores. The presence of a large number of unique species within the colonies
suggests that cattle act as a biotic filter, preventing the establishment of many species. In addition to
facilitation, the bromeliad species may play the leading role in the assembly of communities to direct
their species composition.
P2.2
Restoring grassland after tree plantations: legacy of land-use change
M.S. Vieira, G.E. Overbeck
Botânica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
Highland grasslands in southern Brazil, also known as the Campos de Cima da Serra, are relicts of
the Quaternary period, when climate was dry and cool. They have been maintained to today's humid
and warm conditions by fire and grazing. These old-growth grasslands have high endemism,
pronounced species richness, specifically of legumes, and good forage potential, which enables
livestock production and combines high quality meat with the conservation of native species,
ecosystem services and local culture. Nonetheless, these grasslands have been, since the late 90s,
the target of public policy that encouraged forestry with exotic species, transforming the landscape and
local customs. Currently, the incorporation of large areas used for tree plantations into protected areas
poses challenges for ecological restoration, as no studies on methods aiming at restoration. This study
aims to diagnose the impact of pine plantations on the soil seed bank comparing areas converted into
forestry areas with reference grassland. Our objective was to evaluate the potential of regeneration
from the soil seed bank. After periods of roughly one decade with tree plantation, seed density of the
seed bank in pine plantation areas has been drastically reduced. The seed bank is mainly composed
by ruderal species and species from the Cyperaceae and Hypoxidaceae. Seed bank density appears
to be depended on age of plantation. Typical grasslands species, especially of the Poaceae family,
present in the reference seed bank were basically eliminated after one planting period, showing the
high limitation of natural recolonization of the area. The planting sites also showed a reduction in soil
pH. Our results indicate that the active reintroduction of species in degraded areas is needed to
overcome seed limitation, possibly together with other measures aiming at removal of abiotic barriers
that are currently being investigated.
P2.3
Southern Brazilian grassland restoration: balancing species richness, ecosystem function and
services
J.-M. Hermann1, C. Koch1, M.M. Gossner2, S.T. Meyer2, L. Podgaiski3, J. Kollmann1
1
2
Chair of Restoration Ecology, Technische Universitaet Muenchen, Freising, Germany, Chair of
3
Terrestrial Ecology, Technische Universitaet Muenchen, Freising, Germany, Universidade Federal do
Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
Highland grasslands of southern Brazil are increasingly transformed into tree plantations or arable
land, they undergo management changes that aim at higher productivity (melioration) or were
enforced by law (cessation of pasture burning). In absence of strong governmental institutions,
conservation and restoration must go hand in hand with sustainable cattle ranching practices. We
investigate if, and under which management, high species richness and ecosystem functions such as
pollination and decomposition can be reconciled with good forage production. The data here
presented were collected in southern summer between 2013 and 2015 in a total of 45 study sites in
the Campos da Cima da Serra, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Seventeen sites are traditionally managed,
i.e. extensively grazed and burned every 1-2 ys without addition of fertilizer or lime. Eighteen sites
were traditionally managed until 3-24 years ago and have since then not or less regularly burnt, with
varying grazing regimes. Ten sites were limed, fertilized and inter-seeded with non-native forage
species 1-20 years ago. Our results show that traditionally managed grasslands exhibit highest plant
species richness and harbor most of the rarer native species. When grasslands are no longer burnt,
both forage quality and species richness decline. One caveat concerns uncertain fire legislation and
permits; also, ecological studies on key grassland species are urgently needed to determine if fire is
essential to restoration and conservation, or replaceable by other management techniques such as
mowing. Forage production is clearly highest in meliorated grasslands; species richness,
decomposition rate, flower visitor and seed disperser activity are higher than in unburnt grasslands.
One caveat is that these are novel communities containing introduced fodder species cultivars and
spontaneously colonizing non-native species, whose long-term impacts on ecosystem diversity and
function are not known. The "ideal" balance as a reference for restoration has not yet been found.
P2.4
Restoring the Brazilian savanna grassland by the management of an invasive grass
1
2
3
G.B. Assis , M.F. Siqueira , G. Durigan
1
Escola Nacional de Botânica, Rio de Janeiro Botanical Gardens Research Institute, Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil, 2Rio de Janeiro Botanical Gardens Research Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 3Forestry Institute
of São Paulo State, Assis, Brazil
Invasion by exotic grasses has been one of the major challenges for conservation and restoration of
the Brazilian savanna, particularly for open vegetation types. Among these invasive plants, the African
grass Urochloa decumbens stands out, by modifying the structure and causing biodiversity losses. We
evaluated different restoration strategies to control the invasion by U. decumbens and to provide the
return of the native vegetation. The study was carried out at Santa Bárbara Ecological Station, state of
São Paulo, Brazil. We tested six treatments to eradicate the invasive grass, corresponding to different
combinations of prescribed burning, herbicide (glyphosate), and hand weeding. Prescribed burning
was applied just once and the other techniques were reapplied as often as necessary until reach the
control of the invasive grass. All native plants were sampled before and 10 months after treatments.
Plant species richness, density and cover by native vegetation were used as indicators to assess the
efficacy of the treatments and to compare to the reference ecosystem (non-invaded plots). Glyphosate
and weeding were most effective tools to control the invasive grass. When the return of the native
vegetation was assessed, however, the best results were obtained by:
1) weeding,
2) prescribed burning + weeding and
3) precribed burning + glyphosate. In these treatments, the native species density was three-fold and
plant species richness was two-fold that previous to the treatment application, both variables reaching
the reference level.
Plants of the ground layer (grasses and forbs) are the last to recover, the best treatment providing
about half the ground cover compared to the reference. Recovering the native plant community after
invasion by exotic grasses has proved feasible. Not all components, however, return at the same rate
and the use of herbicides can make the recovery process even slower.
P2.5
Drought survival strategies in ecotypes of Elymus glaucus, a wildland perennial grass, with
applications to restoration
J. Balachowski1, P. Bristiel2, F. Volaire3
1
Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, United States, 2CEFE, CNRS, Montpellier, France,
3
INRA, CEFE, CNRS, Montpellier, France
Global climate change is expected to cause an increase in the frequency and intensity of severe
droughts. Restoration practitioners in perennial grasslands are in need of methods to increase their
projects' robustness to severe drought conditions, particularly in regions with Mediterranean-type
climates, where a severe annual summer drought already imposes substantial limitations on plant
survival. Selecting perennial grass species, ecotypes, or cultivars that are known to be “drought
tolerant” is a common approach; however, not all taxa survive drought in the same way. Indeed, even
within a single species, ecotypes and cultivars can employ different strategies, which can have
different ecological consequences, and thus, different implications for restoration practice.
Surprisingly, very little is known about the specific strategies used by the vast majority of wildland
perennial grass species, or how these strategies vary among ecotypes. We assessed this variation in
four ecotypes and one subspecies of Elymus glaucus (Blue wildrye), a perennial bunchgrass native to
Western North America and commonly used in restoration projects across the region. We chose
ecotypes from regions in California's Mediterranean-type climate zone that vary in summer drought
severity. We used greenhouse experiments to quantify a suite of traits associated with severe drought
survival, including summer dormancy, dehydration tolerance, several functional traits in both foliar and
root tissue, as well as patterns of growth and phenology throughout an entire growing season. In a
multivariate analysis, we found that several traits—including summer dormancy, dehydration
tolerance, and reproductive timing—varied predictably based on climate at the ecotypes' sites of
origin. We present these data along with recommendations for how similar studies can be used to
better inform the selection of species and ecotypes for perennial grassland restoration.
Funding for this work was provided by a Fulbright Fellowship to France and the US National Science
Foundation REACH IGERT.
P2.6
Land use changes and restoration techniques: impact and recovery of plant diversity in the
Brazilian savanna
1
2
K.C. Dalle Laste , G. Durigan
1
São Paulo State University- Unesp, Botucatu, Brazil, 2Forestry Institute of São Paulo State, Brazil
Among all savannas in the world, the Cerrado (Brazilian savanna) has the largest biodiversity and has
been the most threatened by land conversion in the last decades. The impacts resulting from land use
changes on biodiversity have not been assessed and Cerrado restoration is a challenge still to be
overcome. We investigated both - plant diversity losses due to land conversion for different uses and
recovery after distinct restoration actions. We characterized the structure and diversity of the plant
community in 13 different vegetation types, comprising production systems (sugarcane, pasture,
silviculture), ecosystems undergoing restoration (passive or active, the last by planting nursery-raised
seedlings of tree species in pure or mixed stands) and two reference ecosystems (cerrado stricto
sensu, which is the typical Brazilian savanna, and the “cerradão”, which is the forest type savanna
resulting from vegetation encroachment after fire suppression). We measured tree basal area, plant
density, canopy cover and height, plant community richness and composition. A total of 247 species
were recorded, with huge variation in density, basal area, richness and composition among the
vegetation types studied. In general, the production systems maintain only part of the native species
and all vegetation types resulting from planting trees can reach the richness and structure of the
“cerradão”, if this is considered the target ecosystem. Richness and functional diversity of this
vegetation type, however, are far below that existing in cerrado stricto sensu. Light-demanding nonarboreal species do not survive the vegetation encroachment and cannot be recovered by restoration
techniques based on planting trees in high density. Species losses in the typical Brazilian savanna,
either due to land conversion or vegetation encroachment after fire suppression are irreversible and
cannot be recovered by conventional restoration actions. Management practices to keep the canopy
open are mandatory for conservation or restoration of savanna ecosystems.
P3.1
Selecting key plant water stress traits for restoration: an overview for Mediterranean- type
environments
A.L. Muler, C.A. Canham, W.D. Stock, E.V. Etten, R.H. Froend
Natural Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia
Mediterranean areas are among the most impacted ecosystems on Earth. It is agreed that degraded
areas need to be restored, however, many restoration projects have failed to establish seedlings in
these ecosystems, where summers are very hot and dry. This scenario will be aggravated with climate
changes projected for the near future, in which water stress is likely to increase in intensity and
become more frequent in many Mediterranean areas. All vegetation ages will be impacted, making the
restoration of these ecosystems even more complex, since juveniles and adults will be growing under
different conditions. In the context where soils and climate are being transformed, there is an urgent
need to assess differences in the ability of plants to withstand water stress, especially when selecting
species for ecological restoration projects. This study focused on Mediterranean environments and
reviewed the principal plant traits associated with water stress resistance that not only account for
different plant functional types present but also are rapid and low-cost. Among the traits assessed are:
Carbon isotope composition of leaves (as a proxy for water use efficiency), leaf nutrient contents (N
and P), leaf mass per area (LMA), water potential at leaf turgor loss point and wood density of the
stem. Some anatomical features, such as number and diameter of xylem vessels in relation to water
stress were also assessed. The analyses of these morphological and physiological traits show that
predictions of differences in water stress resistance amongst large numbers of plant species from
seasonally arid environments are possible.
This research was funded by Edith Cowan University, Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPaW), and
Australian Research Council (IPRS scholarship).
P3.2
Effects of understory prescribed burning on fuel models: assessing the efficiency of this
treatment for controlling wildfires in Northeastern Spain
L. Fuentes López, S. Costafreda-Aumedes, B. Duguy Pedra
Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
In Spain, as in most northern Mediterranean countries, wildfires are a major cause of ecosystems and
landscape degradation. The magnitude of the problem will likely be enhanced by climatic change,
making necessary the implementation of landscape-level designed management and restoration
strategies.
In this context, certain fuel treatments, such as prescribed burning, might be particularly interesting
and need to be further promoted. Field-based studies about how this treatment affects vegetation
structural characteristics and alters fuel models, as well as the spread and behavior of potential future
wildfires, are still very scarce for Mediterranean ecosystems.
In this study, we intend to gain insight on these matters studying the short term effects of a spring
prescribed burning on the understory vegetation of a Pinus halepensis forest and, thus, on the fuel
model type. The major variables required for characterizing fuel models will be estimated and
compared between the pre- and post-burning situations.
The study area is at El Perelló (Tarragona, Northeastern Spain) and is dominated by Pinus halepensis
forests that were planted in the 1970s. The understory shrublands are dominated by Pistacia lentiscus,
Quercus coccifera, Rosmarinus officinalis and Ulex parviflorus.
The understory vegetation was sampled in three plots during the spring 2013 (February-March). In
May 2013, a prescribed burning was conducted under the pine canopy and the same plots were
sampled again one year after the burning. Both composition and structure variables (including aerial
phytovolumes) were considered. Aerial biomasses (total, fine and coarse) were estimated based on
allometric volume-biomass regressions previously established for the dominating shrub species.
Preliminary results suggest that some major structural characteristics, which are among those used for
describing fuel models (e.g. shrub layer height and total cover, fuel load), were clearly affected by the
burning. The post-treatment vegetation corresponds to a less fire-prone fuel model than the pretreatment situation.
P3.3
Effects of salt stress on the activity of H+-ATPase from Reaumuria soongorica
H. Tan, Y. Liu, X. Li, R. Jia
Shapotou Desert Research and Experimental Station,Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and
Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China
Reaumuria soongorica (Pall.) Maxim is the strong xerophils plant in the northwest arid and semiarid
regions in China. It is a valuable shrub species used for afforestation on saline and alkaline desert
sites. Salt stress alters various biochemical and physiological responses in plants, and thus affects
almost all plant processes including photosynthesis, growth and development. To study the function
+
and adaptive mechanism of H -ATPase under salt stress R. soongorica callus were treated with
different concentrations of salt (0-250 mmol/L NaCI) for different days (7, 14, 21d). After 7 and 14 day
stress, the activities of plasma membrane H+-ATPase (PM-ATPase) and vacuolar H+-ATPase (VATPase) in R. soongorica callus remain very higher level than the CK, while decreased after 21d salt
+
stress, which it indicated the function of the H -ATPase had been inhibited. The plasma and vacuolar
membrane may be destroyed by salt stress.
NaCl treatments led to a significantly increase in PM-ATPase and V-ATPase hydrolysis activity. In
addition, the V-ATPase hydrolysis activity was higher than PM-ATPase activity after the same salt
+
treatment. This is mean that V-ATPase can afford energy to transport the ions such as Na , Cl to
enter into vacuolar in order to decrease the contents in the protoplasm which it may be protect the
organelle. It also can help to absorb the nutrition ions to enter the cell and distribute the ions in it
reasonable.
2+
+
2+
+
Ca -ATPase and K -ATPase activity were correlation with Ca and K concentration in R. soongorica
callus treated by NaCl. It suggested that calcium was the second signal transduction in R. soongorica
callus and involved in feedback regulation of H+-ATPase. Ca2+-ATPase and K+-ATPase are able to
afford energy to absorbe Ca2+ and K+ to keep up the level of the concentration of the cytoplasm in
order to ensure the process of lifecycle naturally.
P3.4
Combined effects of drought and sand burial on crust moss Bryum argenteum in spring in the
Tennger Desert, China
R. Jia, Y. Gao, R. Hui, H. Tan, X. Li
Shapotou Desert Research and Experiment Station, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and
Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China
Crust moss is an important integral component and the main contributor to the stability and fertility of
desert ecosystems throughout China. Due to the soil surface niche, small stature and poikilohydric in
nature, crust moss is highly susceptible to drought and sand burial, which are two ubiquitous stressors
in spring. However, little information is available regarding how crust moss responds to the combined
effects of the two stressors. A common garden experiment was conducted from March to May to
evaluate the combined effects of drought (by spraying 4 (equivalent to the average rainfall, control), 2
(double drought) and 1 mm (fourfold drought) distilled water at 8-day intervals) and sand burial (sand
depth of 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 10 mm) on shoot upgrowth, chlorophyll content and PSII photochemical
efficiency of a predominant crust moss, Bryum argenteum Hedw., in the Tennger Desert, China. The
results showed that drought stress alone displayed uniform negative effects on the three parameters,
while sand burial alone exhibited positive influences on shoot upgrowth and opposite effects on
chlorophyll content and PSII photochemical efficiency depending on the depth of burial, wherein
positive when the depth was shallow (0.5 and 1mm) and negative when deep (2, 4 and 10 mm).
However, the joint effects of drought and sand burial did not absolutely exacerbate their single
negative effects on the three parameters of B. argenteum. Drought significantly ameliorated the
negative effects of deep sand burial on the retention of chlorophyll content and PSII photochemical
efficiency, while sand burial largely alleviated the negative effects of drought on shoot upgrowth of the
crust moss. Therefore, the mutual protection provided by one stressor against the other between
drought and sand burial may act as a critical mechanism that crust moss survive and recover from the
their combination in spring.
P3.5
Evaluating the rehabilitation path in degraded semi-arid lands in central Mexico: understory
plant diversity
G. Angeles-Perez, F.O. Plascencia-Escalante, A. Ventura-Rios, P. Hernandez de la Rosa
Colegio de Postgraduados, Texcoco, Mexico
Valle del Mezquital in central Mexico, is a region characterized by low precipitation and shallow-rocky
soils. Pinus cembroides that naturally grows in these semi-arid areas, have been affected by different
disturbance types, such as fire, insects, diseases, and especially by land use change for livestock and
agriculture. In 1998, inhabitants of Ejido El Porvenir, with the support of governmental institutions,
initiated a reforestation program as an strategy for ecosystem rehabilitation. The main planted species
were Pinus greggii and P. cembroides, for its adaptability to areas with low rainfall and shallow soils.
Three different Pinus greggii plantations (5, 10, and 14 years-old; P5, P10 and P14, respectively), and
a reference site (RS), dominated by pynion pine were selected to evaluate the path of the
rehabilitation program. In each plantation and at RS we established eight circular 100 m2 plots and 1
m2 subplots to collect information on shrub and herbaceous layers, respectively. The alpha diversity
was calculated using the indices of Margalef and Shannon (H'); additionally we compared the beta
diversity through the Jaccard and Sorensen indices. The highest species richness was observed in
P15 (27 species) followed by the RS (26 species). These sites also attained the highest diversity
values through Shannon and Margalef indices. According to Sorensen index the sites P15 and RS had
a coefficient of 0.79, while P15 and P10 showed a value 0.49. After 15 years the reforestation have
improved the understory plant diversity, being similar to that in the RS.
P3.6
The conservation value and ecological restoration potential of wild plants in eastern Saudi
Arabia
M.W.A. Halmy1, S.Z. Heneidy2, L.M. Bidak2
1
Department of Environmental Sciences, Alexandria University/Faculty of Science, Alexandria, Egypt,
2
Department of Botany and Microbiology, Alexandria University/Faculty of Science, Alexandria, Egypt
The southeastern coastal area in Saudi Arabia is being subjected to some environmental threats that
include sever overgrazing, agricultural activities, land reclamation projects and urban encroachments.
These activities result in destruction of natural habitats, changing species composition and polluting
the area. The current study attempts to analyze causes of degradation and to evaluate the possible
recovery of plant species from socioeconomic impacts exerted on the natural vegetation in the
southeastern coastal area in Saudi Arabia. We conducted field surveys and collected data to study the
natural vegetation composition and identify native plant species. The conservation value of the
recorded species was estimated for each species. Data were collected to identify the main stress and
threats to native plants that may influence the provision of goods and services by the natural
ecosystems. Seventy five plant species, related to 26 families were recorded in the study area, 5.5%
of them are considered endangered in terms of conservation status. The majority of them (36%) are
xerophytes, the rest are either geophytes (28%) or phanerophytes (18.7%). The vegetation in the
study area has relatively low species richness (7.5). The results shows that the native plants in the
area provide many socioeconomic services that include provisioning of food, medicine, and energy; in
addition to supporting biodiversity, water storage, and soil fertility. The study indicated that the current
human pressure manifested in the change in land use, overgrazing and other ill-managed human
activities area influencing the wild plants. This may negatively impact the provisioning of ecosystem
services with high implications for biodiversity and habitats in the region. The potential for restoration
was estimated for the native plants. The ability of the natural ecosystems to sustainably provide
services will be enhanced by adoption of land management practices that restore species and reduce
pressure on native plants.
P4.1
Above-ground plant biomass on three revegetated milled peatfields in Northern Estonia
A.-H. Purre
Institute of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia
There are over 9 000 ha of abandoned peat extraction areas in Estonia and peat milling continues in
vast areas. According to European and Estonian legislation, mining areas, including milled peatfields
have to be recultivated. One of the recultivation possibilities is revegetation. Three experimental sites
(Viru, Ohtu and Seli) were revegetated by peatland research group in Tallinn University, Institute of
Ecology, in 2005-2008 using North American approach of peatland restoration. Bryophyte (especially
Sphagnum sp.) biomass accumulation and also plant functional type biomass in restored milled
peatfields are one of the main indicators of successful revegetation. Plant biomass and peat samples
were collected between years 2012 and 2014. Vegetation was most similar to pristine bogs in Viru
experimental site, where plants characterizing natural bogs were present and bryophyte and
Sphagnum sp. biomass was higher than in the other two sites. In Viru site peat mineral content was
lowest and water table was on similar level as in Ohtu site. In Ohtu and Viru sites vascular plant
biomass was higher (mainly shrubs in Seli, and shrubs and herbs in Ohtu) than in Viru site, but
bryophyte biomass was lower. Water level and peat mineral content had stronger effect on aboveground plant biomass structure than for example distribution of various bryophyte species diaspores or
using different plant material distribution rates.
P4.2
Moss propagation methods for use in arctic land reclamation
J.J.M. Lamarre, M.A. Naeth
Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
The Arctic's short growing season, long, cold winters, low rainfall and slow nutrient release result in
slow vegetation establishment and growth, and make the north a difficult place for most species to live.
Land reclamation is further impeded by a limited understanding of northern ecosystem processes and
community dynamics. This reclamation research addresses mosses, a major component of the
biological crust layer. Mosses play critical roles in tundra ecosystems and their presence or absence is
an indicator of ecosystem health. They act as pioneer species, facilitating soil and microhabitat
development and enabling establishment of other plant species. They assist in erosion control, slope
stability, landscape hydrology and provide critical habitat and forage for northern fauna.
This research investigates methods to reintroduce mosses to disturbed sites to accelerate
development of early successional tundra communities, by testing anecdotal and scientific knowledge
of bryophyte propagation. Bryophyte samples were collected near Lac de Gras in the Northwest
Territories and grown in the laboratory. The effect on density and % cover of growth of different
fragment sizes (small, medium, large) and anecdotally important slurry mixtures (beer, buttermilk,
distilled water) were assessed. The medium size treatment, which emulated the well known method of
bryophyte propagation by detached leaves or stem pieces, was significantly more effective than the
small or large size fragments. All three sizes were effective to some extent, and will be further
analyzed in a field experiment. Water and beer were significantly more effective at propagating
bryophytes than buttermilk. Since water and beer did not differ significantly in their effects, the more
conventional, affordable and accessible of the two will be assessed in the field. Research is being
conducted at two arctic field sites, one in the Northwest Territories, Canada and one near Reykjavik,
Iceland, with interesting preliminary results.
P4.3
Large scale successful translocation of whole heathland community containing threatened
species and its ongoing management
A. Shapcott
Genecology Research Center, University Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, Australia
Coastal heath contains a high diversity and many threatened species yet is under extreme pressure
due to rapid urban expansion. Translocation have been proposed in many areas including these
habitats as a method to reduce the potential loss of specific species and the habitat generally yet there
are few examples of successful projects. The success of such translocations are further complicated
by the dependence of many species on fire for regeneration. The high diversity of species cannot be
replicated by direct planting programs as the cultivation of many species is difficult or unknown and
translocation of topsoil trials have resulted in excessive weed management issues. A successful whole
turve translocation of 15 Ha of coastal heath containing five threatened plant species and habitat for
several threatened frog, lizard and bird species was undertaken in order to compensate for a housing
development. The receiver site was nearby on the campus of the University Sunshine Coast that was
formerly abandoned cleared farmland and directly adjacent to the Mooloolah National Park that
adjoined both properties. A detailed planning process was undertaken prior to the translocation with
predetermined quantifiable performance objectives and a three year monitoring program post
translocation and a fire detailed management plan tailored to suit the needs of the threatened species
dependent on fire for regeneration. It is now several years since the project completion and the first
burns have been successfully completed. The project has been a resounding success and the fire
management effective stimulating regeneration of many species including target threatened species.
Weed management required is minimal spot spraying with mostly ephemeral weed species and
pasture grasses managed by slashing around the fire break edges. Many smaller frogs and lizards
moved with the translocated turves and have established on site. The project was funded by
Stocklands.
P4.4
Bord na Móna Raised Bog Restoration Project
C.A. Farrell, D. Fallon, M. McCorry
Ecology, Bord na Mona, Tullamore, Ireland
Since its establishment in the 1940s, Bord na Móna (the Irish Peat Company) has acquired extensive
areas of Irish peatlands to develop for energy and horticultural use. In 2008 the company announced
that no new bog areas (i.e. no previously un-drained bog areas) would be developed for peat
production. This was followed by a baseline ecological/habitat classification of the full range of the
Bord na Móna lands between 2009 and 2011. During the survey, a number of raised bogs partially
drained for peat production in the 1980s were subsequently identified as being of high ecological and
conservation value, as well as having significant restoration potential. These bogs now form the core
of the Bord na Móna Raised Bog Restoration Project (2009 to present) which has been developed as
one strand of the company's current Biodiversity Action Plan (2010-2015).
The standard restoration methodology used in the Bord na Móna restoration work was developed by
the National Parks and Wildlife Service under the Dutch-Irish Restoration programme in the 1990s.
There are two key elements involved - topographical survey followed by drain blocking. Both aspects
are centred on ensuring restoration of the appropriate hydrological condition for growth and spread of
Sphagnum species.
Changes in habitat quality of the restored bogs are being monitored to assess the success of the work,
both in the short and long term. Monitoring of greenhouse gases is also taking place to assess the
potential offset of carbon by rewetting drained bogs. To date, up to 1,000 ha of raised bog has been
restored using this methodology and the sites restored are being considered for designation as part of
the NATURA 2000 SAC network and/or as part of the national conservation network as NHAs (Natural
Heritage Areas).
P4.5
The role of mosses in subarctic tundra restoration
Á. Helgadóttir1,2,3, K. Svavarsdóttir3, R. Guicharnaud4, I.S. Jónsdóttir1,2
1
University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland, 2UNIS University Centre in Svalbard, Longyearbyen,
3
4
Svalbard and Jan Mayen, Soil Conservation Service of Iceland, Gunnarsholt, Iceland, Resource and
Climate Consultancy, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Mosses are an important component of many ecosystems of the subarctic tundra in Iceland. In
ecological restoration mosses have been shown to be an important factor in primary succession by
stabilizing the soil structure and preventing further soil erosion. At later stages, the depth of the moss
cover may affect the ecosystem functioning. To improve our understanding on the role of mosses in
ecosystem functioning we ask: How does the moss cover affect selected soil properties and soil
development in a 30 years old restored ecosystem?
We examined relationships between moss depth and selected soil properties (soil temperature,
moisture, respiration, pH, microbial biomass carbon, available NO3- and NH4+) in 30 plots (30x30cm) at
a relatively dry 30 years old restoration site in the highlands of Iceland (Eyvindastaðaheiði, 65°N, 530
m elevation). The dominant bryophyte species was Sanionia uncinata and the moss cover averaged
approx 90% in the research area. Eroded land with no moss was used as a comparison site to
illustrate soil conditions prior to restoration interventions and a nearby intact heathland was used as a
reference site.
With increasing moss cover the soil temperature decreased and daily temperature fluctuations were
reduced. Soil moisture increased with moss depth and soil microbial biomass carbon increased with
increased moisture. Soil temperature fluctuated more frequently at the eroded land and the soil
moisture was exceedingly low compared to the restoration site.
These results show that the Sanionia uncinata cover plays an important and complex role in
ecosystem restoration. It acts as an insulator for soil temperature and retains moisture, which is a key
factor in ecosystem processes in harsh environment such as Eyvindastaðaheiði.
P4.6
Short-term vegetation response of grazing exclusion as a restoration measure in moss
heathland in NE Iceland
1
2
K. Svavarsdóttir , J. Thorsson
1
2
Soil Conservation Service of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland, Soil Conservation Service of Iceland, Hella,
Iceland
The government has for over a century carried out organised restoration measures in Iceland. Over
40% of the land area is severely eroded, hence the focus has been on sparsely vegetated and eroded
lands, but less emphasis has been on degraded fully vegetated ecosystems. It is foreseeable that
more focus will be on these vegetated but degraded ecosystems, thus a better understanding of the
degradation processes and the role of key species will be needed. A research project was initiated in
2014 with the aim of studying degradation processes in inland moss heathland at 380 m above sea
level in NE Iceland, in which sheep grazing is believed to contribute greatly to its degradation. This
ecosystem is widely distributed all over Iceland, particularly over 200 m asl. The study area was
recently designated as a restoration site and sheep excluded from part of the area by fence in 2011.
The aim of the current study was to evaluate how resilient this moss heathland ecosystem is. The
newly established fence offers a unique opportunity to compare vegetation response with and without
sheep grazing. Here we report some preliminary results presenting observed short-term (3 years)
vegetation response to release of grazing. The vegetation composition differed amongst the sites and
of 27 vascular plant species recorded, nine were only found in the grazed area and one only at the
ungrazed site. The higher diversity on the grazed side may be related to more species richness at
intermediate disturbance regimes. The rapid change observed at the ungrazed site indicates that the
ecosystem has high potential for recovery. At the same time nearby areas show that the soils are
excessively vulnerable and there is a need for identifying thresholds occurring in the ecosystem to
improve management and restoration measures.
P4.7
Restoration of upland blanket bog using micropropagated Sphagnum
1
2
2
3
4
S.J.M. Caporn , S. Hinde , J. Riggs , M. Buckler , N. Wright
1
School of Science & the Environment, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United
Kingdom, 2Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom, 3Moors for the Future
Partnership, Edale, United Kingdom, 4Micropropagation Services Ltd, East Leake, United Kingdom
Large areas of degraded blanket bog of the Peak District National Park in England have been revegetated with nurse grasses and heather. Having stabilised the degraded surfaces, the Moors for the
Future Partnership have taken plant restoration a further step with the introduction of Sphagnum
moss. With relatively little surviving Sphagnum to be found in this region, local samples were bulkedup using micro-propagation techniques and encapsulated in gel-based beads in the form of
Beadamoss®allowing Sphagnum to be produced in a sustainable manner. Beads of Sphagnum fallax
and S. palustre were produced and supplied by Micropropagation Services Ltd. Beadamoss®were
planted on degraded blanket bog surfaces in the first full trials in the in 2008-9. Here, we demonstrate
the results after 6 years following planting on different peat surfaces with different treatments and at
varied times of year. Sphagnum beads were spread in replicated small plots over Autumn 2008 Spring 2009. During Summer of 2014, the plots were re-surveyed and Sphagnum survival and size
were scored. Results showed that the success of Sphagnum Beadamoss application in this trial was
strongly influenced by several factors. In this year 2008-9, the Springtime application of Sphagnum
was more effective than in the Autumn. The best establishment and growth was seen on restored,
stabilised and vegetated areas and also on wetter areas of peat where brash was added. Even on the
best restored surfaces of degraded blanket bog the growth of Sphagnum was slow and the damaged
hydrology in many areas is likely to be a continuing constraint in this damaged landscape, planting of
Sphagnum on degraded blanket bog therefore requires careful site selection to optimise the chances
of successful establishment.
Funding support was supplied by Moors for the Future, Micropropagation Services Ltd and
Manchester Metropolitan University
P4.8
Restoration of Sphagnum carpet on raised bog using sustainably sourced planting material BeadaMoss®, SoluMoss™ & PlugaMoss™
N.A. Wright1, S.J.M. Caporn2, C. Miller3, A. Keightley2
1
2
Micropropagation Services, Loughborough, United Kingdom, Division of Biology and Conservation
3
Ecology, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom, Lancashire Wildlife
Trust, Bolton, United Kingdom
Lack of source material can be the limiting factor in restoration of Sphagnum to lowland peatlands
where it historically has grown, but has been damaged or removed by peat-cutting, draining, or other
human or natural activity. Micropropagation (laboratory tissue culture) allows the bulk production of
Sphagnum from tiny amounts of donor local-origin material. This sustainable material can be applied
to peatlands as tiny plantlets in gel beads (BeadaMoss®), larger strands in liquid gel (SoluMoss™) or
as plug plants (Sphagnum plugs plants grown from Micropropagated Sphagnum -PlugaMoss™).
BeadaMoss® was developed to restore Sphagnum to the harsh moorland environment and
successfully used in large quantities. Here we report the trials of this together with SoluMoss™ and
PlugaMoss™, under the more favourable conditions of lowland raised bog with high water table.
In more favourable areas (i.e. lowland raised bog with high water table compared to upland blanket
bog) a fast establishment and denser cover is desirable and helps avoid weed competition.
SoluMoss™ enables rapid restoration and has future potential for establishment of a Sphagnum sward
for harvest (Sphagnum farming for growing media). Results show that Sphagnum introduced as
BeadaMoss® successfully establishes, but Sphagnum introduced as SoluMoss™ & PlugaMoss™ can
be highly successful with more rapid results. Trials of the three forms of Sphagnum were planted in
June 2014 onto bare peat and a partially vegetated (Eriophorum angustifolium) site and covered with
a thin layer of straw. By October 2014 both sites had produced a carpet of Sphagnum covering an
average of over 60% of the peat surface where SoluMoss™ was used. Sphagnum plugs survived and
grew substantially in wetter areas and the majority grew even in dry areas. On raised bog over 97%
survived with considerable growth, up to 3 times the size at planting.
More recent observations will also be reported.
P4.9
Restoring reedbed habitat - a case study in Northern England
1
1
2
S. Ross , G. Hammond , J. Traill
1
Penny Anderson Associates Ltd, Buxton, United Kingdom, 2Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, York, United
Kingdom
Penny Anderson Associates was commissioned by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust to design and carry out a
vegetation monitoring study at Pulfin Bog Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The study aimed to
identify changes in common reed (Phragmites australis)-dominated fen and reed sweet-grass
(Glyceria maxima)-dominated swamp on site. The reed-dominated community represents the main
interest feature of the site although there is some concern that the extent of Phragmites-dominated
vegetation is decreasing, while the species-poor Glyceria-dominated community may be increasing.
Management objectives for the SSSI are currently targeted towards increasing the extent and speciesdiversity of the Phragmites fen.
A vegetation monitoring strategy was devised and implemented from 2011 to 2013 to describe the
site, assess the effects of management on the site and to inform future management prescriptions.
The strategy comprised National Vegetation Classification (NVC) and Nationally Scarce plant survey,
mapping reedbed extent, monitoring different management treatments and sampling water/peat
chemistry and peat depth.
Marsh pea (Lathyrus palustris) and marsh fern (Thelypteris palustris) were both relocated on the
wetland area. Marsh pea was also noted along the grassland/wetland edge to the east of the reserve.
Fibrous tussock sedge (Carex appropinquata) was not relocated on site and may now not occur on
this site.
Different areas of the site have been subject to four different management regimes (summer grazing,
winter cutting of reed, summer cutting of reed and an untreated area) in order to reduce reed sweetgrass dominance and increase overall plant species diversity across the site. Summer cutting
appeared to be the most successful treatment over this short term monitoring, but data suggest
hydrological restoration needs to be included alongside vegetation management to more fully restore
the reedbed habitat.
We would like to acknowledge Natural England´s funding for the project.
P4.10
Natural regeneration of a disturbed swamp forest in the semiarid region of Brazil
N.C.A. Fagundes, C.V.A. Veloso, C.S. Santos, Y.R. Nunes
Laboratório de Ecologia Vegetal - Biologia Geral, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros UNIMONTES, Montes Claros, Brazil
The vegetation along watercourses, such as palm swamps, are highly vulnerable to anthropogenic
changes. These environments are of great economic interest, for providing suitable conditions for
human survival and agricultural production. In this sense, the restoration of degraded environments
becomes imminent for the Brazilian semiarid region. This study evaluated the natural regeneration in
an impacted swamp forest (Vereda do Acari Sustainable Reserve - Chapada Gaúcha, north of Minas
Gerais, Brazil), after isolation from cattle grazing. In February of 2012, we established 23 plots of 80 m
× 40 m, totaling 7.36 ha experimental area. In each plot we marked 16 plots of 2 m², distributed in
lines (10, 30, 50 and 70 m along the length of plot), lying 10 m apart. All individuals recruited in these
2 m² plots were sampled, including herbaceous vegetation and timber species, along 18 months. We
sampled 2,950 non-timber individuals belonging to 137 morphospecies, and 134 woody plants
belonging to five species (Solanum lycocarpum St. Hil. and Curatella americana L. - invasive species
from cerrado/savanna, Vernonia polysphaera Baker - species characteristic of disturbed habitats, and
Mauritia flexuosa L.f. - native species of palm swamps). The occurrence of only one woody species
typical of swamp forest indicates a low resilience of this environment. On the other hand, species of
adjacent environments, especially of the cerrado flora, are being established. Nevertheless, the
number of individuals and species regenerating show the recovery of the system.
P5.1
Creation and restoration of aquatic ecosystems for water quality and biodiversity
improvements CREAMAGUA (Life09ENV/ES/000431)
F.A. Comín
Biodiversity Conservation and Ecological Restoration, Instituto Pirenaico Ecología-CSIC, Zaragoza,
Spain
The EU Life project CREAMAGUA (Creation and restoration of aquatic ecosystems for the
improvements of water quality and biodiversity) was been performed under the responsibility and
coordination of Comarca de Los Monegros (Huesca, Spain) in collaboration with the regional water
authority, a private and a semipublic company, a research center, and two local institutions for
promoting culture and education. The project consisted on: writing the wetland restoration plans and
the programs for monitoring water and sediment quality and the plants, macroinvertebrates and birds
communities as representatives of biodiversity, which was finished by the end of 2011; restoring and
constructing 11 in-stream and 5 off-stream wetlands adding 300 ha of new wetlands to the landscape
of North Monegros which is a semiarid zone intensively (irrigation) used for agriculture, which was
finished in spring 2013.; monitoring the results of the project, which will finished by the end of 2014. All
these actions were performed by different partners with a complex coordination, which shows the very
much required establishment of a joint venture among the partners to cover the scientific-technical,
economic and social aspects and to perform the project successfully. Monitoring during 2013-14
showed a high retention of nitrate by the wetlands (80-90 % of the nitrate discharged into most of the
wetlands) and good ecological status after macroinvetebrate indicators for most wetlands. However,
the fact that some wetlands didn´t show neither water quality nor community improvements indicate
that these restored wetlands are still at the early stage of their restoration trajectory.
P5.2
River Anker weir removal and restoration scheme
A.C. Baker1, E. Lewin2, C. Farmer3
1
2
Water, CH2M Hill Ltd, Worcester, United Kingdom, Geomorphology, CH2M Hill Ltd, Birmingham,
3
United Kingdom, Biodiversity, Environment Agency, Lichfield, United Kingdom
The problem: The River Anker in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, is heavily modified due to flood protection
works and weirs. These are altering the channel morphology and sediment transfer and acting as
barriers to fish and eel passage.The drivers behind the project are;
(1) Support Water Framework Directive (WFD) objectives;
(2) To restore species and habitats appropriate to River Anker's physical and geographical context to
levels that are sustainable in a changing climate;
(3) To restore and secure the long-term sustainability of the ecological and physical processes that
underpin the way ecosystems work in the River Anker, enhancing the capacity of our natural
environment to provide ecosystem services; and
(4) To provide accessible natural environments rich in wildlife for people to enjoy and experience in the
river corridor.
Our approach: The vision for the Anker was to create a more naturally functioning channel within the
existing urban environment, in accordance with the targets set out in the River Basin Management
Plan and the River Trent Catchment Flood Management Plan.The proposed option would improve the
hydromorphological elements of the River Anker, allowing it to encourage and support water vole,
otter, fish and aquatic invertebrates, helping the Anker to achieve WFD objective of Good Ecological
Potential by 2027. The Anker will provide free fish passage to currently un-reachable habitat and
potential spawning opportunities upstream, resulting in a healthier and more robust fish population
with a more diverse age structure.The Anker will provide both an aesthetic and educational addition to
Nuneaton town centre, encouraging public engagement and interaction with the river.
Conclusion: The geomorphological and ecological led investigation and design identified options of
weir alteration and in-channel works to improve ecological diversity and geomorphological
process within the channel and riparian zone as well as to improve public perception and
interaction with the river.
P5.3
What direct and indirect consequences of dam removal on flora biodiversity at a landscape
level? Study design
A. Alignier, E. Lanoë, J. Deniau, D. LeCoeur, C. Thenail
UR 0980 SAD-Paysage, INRA, Rennes Cedex, France
Scheduled to begin in 2015, the removal of two dams on the Selune River, Manche (France) will be
one of the largest dam removal and river restoration projects undertaken in Europe. Dam removal
decisions involve a tradeoff of multiple socioeconomic and ecological costs and benefits.
Environmental consequences of dam removal may include benefits from restoring more natural flow
and sediment regimes but also impacts on biodiversity and associated ecosystem services due to
changes in landscape and agricultural dynamics. The aspect of dam removal examined here is the
trajectories of vegetation response on lands exposed by dam removal but also on agricultural lands on
each side of the valley, from the river up to the plateaus. One challenge associated with this project is
to understand how dam removal will influence the logics of farmers' decisions and the allocation rules
of land covers at the landscape level. Indeed, riparian zones are known to serve as conduits for
substantial fluxes of materials, species and energy. In addition, riparian zones are connected to seminatural habitats such as hedgerows, field margins, permanent grasslands facilitating vegetation
proliferation and spread overall the landscape. We hypothesized that dam removal by modifying
farmer management practices and land use allocation, could influence ecological continuity and thus,
vegetation communities in agricultural landscapes. Our methodological design consists in vegetation
surveys along transects that run perpendicular to the river and extended to the plateaus, following
structural elements constitutive of the ecological continuity. Transects belong to 1 km * 1km
agricultural landscapes centered on the Selune river, from upstream to downstream. The landscapes
are selected to represent gradients in landscape heterogeneity and ecological continuity. Vegetation
long-term monitoring appears as an innovative and pragmatic way of understanding direct and indirect
consequences of dam removal at a range of spatial scales in riparian environments.
P5.4
Assessing the efficacy of livestock restriction in rural creeks of the Grand River watershed to
improve water quality
P. Huynh, S. Murphy
Environment and Resource Studies, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada
Livestock can have negative impacts on water quality - they can trample and disturb aquatic habitats,
and their urine and feces can increase water nutrient levels. In Ontario Canada, we have regional
bodies known as Conservation Authorities who are partially responsible for water quality restoration.
The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) therefore developed their Rural Water Quality
program, which involved building fences along creeks to restrict livestock access. At the time the
fences were implemented, it was hypothesized that the fencing would allow for passive restoration
once the waste inputs were curtailed. Subsequently, we have sampled benthic macroinvertebrates in
the creeks to assess how effective these fences have been at improving water quality. Variables such
as fence length, and the time since fencing were considered. In year 1 (2014) of the study, 11 creeks
with different fence lengths (200m - 1500m) and year of fencing (2002 - 2010) were sampled once
each month in spring and summer, using a standard method known as the Ontario Benthos
Biomonitoring Network protocol. Samples were collected downstream, midstream, and upstream of
each fenced location. Sub-sampling occurred to collect approximately 100 invertebrates from each
sample. Insects were identified to family, and all other invertebrates were identified to the lowest
possible taxa. An ANOVA was used to compare the Shannon-Weiner Index, %EphemeropteraPlecoptera-Trichoptera, Hilsenhoff Index, and Jaccard's Coefficient values. Our data indicate that the
creeks are still characterized as impacted. Moreover, our first year of sampling revealed no significant
differences between downstream, midstream, and upstream invertebrate assemblages, regardless of
fence age or length. Long-term records indicate that the fences have restricted livestock access to the
creeks; however, the impacted state of the creeks and lack of significant differences within creeks
suggest that there may be other factors impairing the water quality, such as tile drainage.
P5.5
Risk assessment of downstream communities, pokhara Nepal, based on the seti river disaster
(5 May 2012)
B. Thapa
Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
5 May, 2012, the Seti River suddenly flooded rural areas in the Pokhara. The flood killed 32 people
and left 40 missing. It also displaced many people. Catastrophic flood even with much larger scale
have occurred in historical time, one of which deposited the Pokhara formation (Fort,1987). The flood
killed livestock, wiped out local livelihood, destroyed temples, roads, community buildings and vital
infrastructure such as suspension bridges, electric poles and drinking water transmission pipes. The
study area starts from near Jamire Bari to Ramghat. The elevation of the study area ranges between
1511m to 812m. According to the Nepali govt, flood discharge rate at the 2012 event was 1500 m3/s.
The main objective of this study of to make flood inundation map and find out the vulnerable
settlements and to understand why the people are still residing over there even they know about the
risk. Flood inundation map was prepared by the existing topographic maps, by the detailed
topographical survey at 1 m contour level and by softwares HEC-RAS and ArcGIS. And Socioeconomic field survey, i.e., questionnaire survey and focused group discussions, was conducted in the
downstream areas in the Seti river basin from December 2012 to January 2013.Based on the
inundation mapping and social survey Masina Bagar and Latin Bazaar are the most dangerous sites
that can be affected by a future flood. Out of the 183 houses 113 house lies in danger zone on the
basis of the estimated flood with 7500 m3/s. Most of the riverbank people have low level of income
status, which suggests that they cannot afford safer lands for settlements. Based on the interview
survey, they prefer the riverside area because it is easy to access to water resource. Provision of free
water access in safe place will be suggested.
P6.1
Restoration of biodiversity through destabilisation of coastal sand dunes in Israel
1
1
2
3
T. Bird , P. Bar (Kutiel) , A. Bouskila , E. Groner
1
Geography & Environmental Development, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel,
2
Life Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel, 3Dead Sea & Arava Science
Center, Mitspe Ramon, Israel
The proximity of Nizzanim Nature Reserve to both desert & Mediterranean coastal systems has
resulted in unique species assemblages in this Israeli coastal dune system. Due to changes in land
uses over the last 50 years, there has been rapid dune stabilization, leading to loss of mobile dunes,
the preferred habitat for many endemic and specialist species. Unlike most coastal dune restoration
projects that seek to stabilize dunes, restoration in these coastal dunes involves vegetation removal, in
an effort to recreate mobile dune assemblages.
Species diversity has been monitored on mobile, stabilized & semi-stabilized dunes (un-manipulated &
treated) for more than 10 years in five taxonomic groups; annual & perennial plants, arthropods,
reptiles & rodents. Such extensive data across so many taxa is rare in restoration science and to our
knowledge, unique in coastal dune research.
We compare species composition and diversity trends on natural dunes and treated dunes for
differences in responses between taxonomic groups. Ordination analysis suggest that different taxon
respond differently to restoration treatments, with implications for restoration management decisions.
These results are discussed. Future plans are to make specific recommendations for coastal dune
restoration management that could be adjusted according to changes in societal values.
P6.2
The importance of trophic interactions and community structure in tidal wetland restoration
A.C. Moore, O.J. Schmitz
School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, New Haven, United States
On average, restored wetlands have reduced biological structure and biogeochemical functioning
compared to natural reference wetlands. Traditional restoration methods aim to restore the physical
and hydrological features of wetland sites with little regard for the biological features, such as
community structure and species interactions, that may be important drivers of ecosystem functioning.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether actively restoring community structure with
functionally important species (fiddler crabs, purple marsh crabs, and European green crabs) will
enhance the restoration of structure and function in New England tidal wetlands. Preliminary results
suggest that community structure and trophic diversity, found to be higher in natural marshes than in
restored marshes, correlates with increased ecosystem functioning. To directly assess how trophic
structure influences ecosystem functioning, small-scale constructed wetland mesocosms with various
ecological communities were established and ecosystem functioning measured in each. Initial results
indicate that restoring trophic interactions, and particularly predators, has significant implications for
community composition and the restoration of ecosystem functioning. Although the historical focus on
reestablishing the hydrological and physical features that define wetlands has resulted in an increase
in biodiversity and ecosystem functioning relative to degraded environments, these results indicate
that reestablishing the biological community and species interactions is also important. Wetlands are a
critically important ecosystem type throughout the world, providing services and benefits that other
ecosystems do not. Having an understanding of the best practices for restoring these and other
degraded environments is essential to maintaining the health and functioning of natural systems on
which humans depend.
P7.1
Long-term restoration records reveal impacts of recent climate change on the jarrah forest of
South-western Australia
1
2
3
4,5
1
4
M.I. Daws , R.J. Standish , A.D. Gove , R.K. Didham , A.H. Grigg , R.J. Hobbs
1
Alcoa of Australia Ltd., Pinjarra, Australia, 2Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia, 3Astron
Environmental Services, Perth, Australia, 4University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia, 5CSIRO
Ecosystem Sciences, Floreat, Australia
There is urgent need to understand potential effects of climate change on biodiversity and what
interventions might be required to mitigate species loss. South-western Australia has already
experienced significant climate change - mean annual rainfall reduced 14% in the period 1975 to 2004
compared with mean rainfall from the mid-1900s to 1974. Long-term records of jarrah-forest
restoration following bauxite mining have been collected for the last 20-years of this observed rainfall
decline. These records include annual data on seeding rates and seedling establishment for over 550
species and offer an unprecedented opportunity to test for climate-based 'assembly rules' for
ecosystem restoration by relating historical rainfall amounts and timing to patterns of vegetation
development. We used structural equation models to discriminate relative effects of climate, plant
traits, restoration protocol and their interactions on three response variables including species richness
of the restored plant communities. Climate variability had a significant negative effect on species
richness, but with a relatively small effect size, being less than half that of changing restoration
practice. We suggest this may be due to the reliability of rainfall (i.e. no change in the coefficient of
variation, seasonality or evenness, between recent and historical climates), despite the absolute
amount of winter rainfall varying threefold. There was also no evidence of restoration practices being
compromised by interacting effects of increased climate variability. Our results indicate that
establishment of restored Jarrah-forest appears resistant to recent climate change. Further, our
research highlights the importance of multiple metrics of climate change for understanding plant
community responses. In addition, the reliability of rainfall should be a focus of future research to
determine its significance to seedling establishment in environments subject to climate drying.
P7.2
Biological connectivity as strategy of ecological restoration in tropical dry forest of high
Magdalena, Colombia, South America
N. Rodríguez, O. Melo, A. Aguirre
University of Tolima, Ibagué, Colombia
The research was conducted in areas of tropical dry forest located in the Valley Interandean of the
Magdalena River in the central Colombian region. These forests have been affected by animal
husbandry and agriculture that has reduced the natural area to 2.5% of the total area (9000 Km2). The
goal of the research was design and implements a biological corridor to connect forest fragments with
high biological value that allows its restoration and conservation. An area of direct influence of 5000
was selected, 12 natural forest fragments were identified with greater surface to 100 ha and 4 habitat
source were selected and one plot of 1.0 ha was established for each. All trees with DBH more than
10 cm were evaluated. Wildlife inventories for groups of birds, mammals, herps and beetles were
performed. The flora was represented by 2500 trees, 115 species and 69 botanical families. The
wildlife was represented by 190 species of birds, 23 species of mammals, 14 reptiles and 19
amphibians (herps). 12 species of trees located in threatened categories (IUCN) were identified, within
which Aspidosperma polyneuron Müll. Arg., Cedrela angustifolia Sessé & Moc. Ex. D.C. and Sabal
mauritiiformis (H. Karst.) Griseb. & H. Wendl., are classified as endangered. In terms of wildlife
Mazama americana was classified as a species in critical condition. As connectivity strategy were
designed 12 km of linear corridors established with tree belts that combine ecological groups of
pioneer, secondary and climaxicas species, within which seedlings of the species mentioned were
relocated from the forest seedling bank. In this way the population and ecological size of the target
species was increased. The local community was linked to this project.
P7.3
Characterization of successional trajectories and reference ecosystems for ecological
restoration of tropical dry forest in Colombia
1
1
2
1
3
1
1
A. Avella , K. Benavides , F.S. Fajardo , N.A. García , D. Jimenez , S. Torres , W. Gomez
1
Fundacion Natura, Bogota, Colombia, 2Jardín Botánico de Bogotá, BOGOTA, Colombia, 3Universidad
Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
Tropical dry forest in Colombia has lost 92% of its original coverage despite of its biological and
socioeconomic importance. On Inter-andean valleys of Magdalena river in the department of Huila, it is
been developed the Pilot plan for restoration of the Tropical Dry forest as a step for biological
compensation of the hydroelectric project “El Quimbo”. On this project frame, it is presented the
ecological characterization of successional trajectories and reference ecosystems based on different
analysis:
i) floristic-structural,
ii) chronosequences,
iii) Ecological integrity and
iv) Functional ecology.
Based on reference Ecosystems (forests, shrublands and sub xerophytic scrub of high ecological
integrity), successional trajectories and slope, 7 management units were defined in order to determine
the most successful ecological restoration strategies in terms of cost-effectiveness. Three
management units in grasslands were defined, two in shrublands and two in forest. On grasslands we
found 21 families, 56 species where Digitaria horizontalis, Hyparrhenia rufa and Croton leptostachyus
presence is remarkable. On shrublands we found 14 families and 30 species, where Calliandra
tolimensis, Croton glabellus and Croton hibiscifolius are highlight. On forests we found 28 families and
54 species, where Trichillia hirta, Machaerium capote and Casearia praecox presence is remarkable.
At a Functional level, we identified functional groups of key species for floristic arrangements of
restoration strategies. This information is fundamental for guiding restoration objectives in highly
degraded ecosystems in order to conform successional trajectories that can be configured through
time in socially and ecologically viable ecosystems.
Key words: Chronosequences, Ecological succession, Tropical dry forest, Ecological integrity.
P7.4
Pilot plan for ecological restoration of inter-andean tropical dry forest of Colombia
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
F. Torres , C. Solano , A. Avella , W. Gomez , S. Torres , B. Miranda , J.S. Díaz
1
2
Fundación Natura, Bogota, Colombia, Emgesa, Bogota, Colombia
Restoring tropical dry forest represents a priority for Colombia for some reasons:
i) It is endangered,
ii) It is a refuge for a large number of species,
iii) It is under a severe water stress, and
iv) It performs ecological functions that are vital for the sustainability of communities that inhabit it.
A first approach for the purpose mentioned above is outlined on the first Pilot plan - at a national level for the restoration of the tropical dry forest for ecological compensation areas of the hydroelectric
project “El Quimbo” in the department of Huila, on an area of 11,079 ha. Project methodology includes
9 phases: i) Ecological analysis at a regional level and prioritization of areas for ecological restoration
(ER); ii) Biophysical characterization of areas for ER; iii) Design of ER trials; iv) Domestication and
propagation of native species; v) Implementation of trials for ER; vi) Maintenance of trials for ER; vii)
Monitoring of ER strategies; viii) Zoning of areas for ER, and ix) Divulgation, articulation and social
appropriation of knowledge. We identified 3 priority zones for implementation of ER strategies based
on a multicriteria analysis. Also, we conducted a biotic and physical characterization for those zones.
We defined 7 management units and 5 ER strategies for each of the priority zones. We prioritized 40
native species, and they are under domestication and propagation processes. In order to restore these
ecosystems is necessary to generate knowledge about their ecological dynamic, selecting the most
successful strategies in terms of cost-effectiveness for improving the ecosystems ecological integrity,
monitoring the process, and articulating community through knowledge generation.
Key words: ecological compensation, pilot trials of ecological restoration, ecological restoration
monitoring, native species domestication, restoration pilot plan.
P7.5
Domestication and propagation process of 40 native species for ecological restoration of interandean tropical dry forest in Colombia
A. Villota, F. Torres, A. Avella, L. Muñoz
Fundación Natura, Bogotá, Colombia
This Project is developed under the pilot plan for restoration of tropical dry forest. The plan is being
developed for compensation of the hydroelectric project “El Quimbo” on the department of Huila,
Colombia. Because there is poor knowledge about propagation of native species that are necessary
for restoration, we proposed a project focused on process of domestication and propagation for 40
native species. Our objectives were: 1) Defining species susceptible to propagation for restoration pilot
plan, 2) Establishing fundaments for the process of domestication and propagation of species that can
be used for restoration, 3) Proposing the design and assembly of a plant nursery with a differential
management of species according to their ecological guild, 4) Generating educational cards with
results of the process of domestication and propagation of native species, 5) Contributing to the social
appropriation of knowledge about domestication and propagation of native species. The main steps
that were proposed for domestication and propagation are: a) Defining priority species, b)
Taxonomical classification of the species, c) Botanical description, d) Phytogeography and geographic
distribution, e) Ethnobotany, f) Autoecology and definition of ecological guilds, g) Identification of
associated fauna, h) Identification, selection, establishment, management and evaluation of seeds
sources, i) Evaluation and quality analysis of fruits and seeds, j) Propagation and differential planting,
k) Integral management of plagues, phytopathologies and abiotic damages, l) Nutritional
management, m) Preparation and divulgation of educational cards and technical guides. At the
moment, we have worked on the identification of areas and seeds sources for 30 species. Moreover,
we have conducted phenological studies, and collection of fruits and seeds. Also, we established a
plant nursery with differential management according to ecological guilds.
Key words: Hydroelectric project “El Quimbo”, domestication, propagation, species for ecological
restoration, ecological guild.
P7.6
Ecological restoration on Mexican Islands: Guadalupe and Socorro Islands as case studies
L. Luna-Mendoza, A. Ortiz-Alcaraz, A. Aguirre-Muñoz, J. Hernández-Montoya, F. Méndez Sánchez
Grupo de Ecología y Conservación de Islas, Baja California, Mexico
Mexico's more than 2,500 islands host 8.3% of all the country's plant and land vertebrates, many of
them endemic. Like other islands worldwide, many Mexican islands have been severely degraded by
invasive species. As the first step towards their comprehensive ecological restoration, during the past
two decades we have conducted 58 invasive mammal's eradications on 37 Mexican islands. The
isolated oceanic islands Guadalupe and Socorro, both in the Pacific Ocean, are among the most
unique, well preserved and beautiful ecosystems, landscapes and seascapes of Mexico. For over a
century, these island ecosystems suffered severe environmental impacts: habitat loss, soil erosion,
modification of vegetation communities, and even the extinction of species; all of these mainly caused
by the presence of introduced species. On both islands, introduced herbivores were eradicated and,
on Socorro Island, cat eradication started in 2011. As a result, on Guadalupe Island the recruitment of
endemic pines, cypresses, and palm trees is in the order of tens of thousands after feral goats were
removed. Besides endemic trees, native shrubs and forbs are also recovering, which restores habitat
for endemic avifauna such as the junco and house-finch. On Socorro Island, sheep eradication led to
an increase on vegetation cover, shifting from less than 30% to more than 80% in just a few years.
Soil compaction is being reverted and levels of organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorous have
increased. As a result of habitat restoration, as well as the ongoing cat eradication program, endemic
birds have become more abundant. Such actions are an essential step for the reintroduction of
extirpated species such as the Socorro Dove. As the next step, we will continue with the active
restoration of vegetation communities (revegetation, soil restoration, etc.), and we will use these
islands as models for other projects in the country.
P7.7
Biomass stocks of Hymenaea courbaril plantation under the influence of different fertilization
types in the Brazilian Amazonian forest
R. Pinheiro Bastos1, J. Baptista Silva Ferraz2
1
Geoscience and Natural Resources Management, University of Copenhagen, København, Denmark,
2
Environmental Dynamics, National Institute of Amazonian Research, Manaus, Brazil
This research describes the influence of three fertilization types on a degraded area with Hymenaea
courbaril plantation, a multiple purposes neotropical tree species. Changes in soil characteristics, tree
aerial biomass and nutrient stocks, as well, ecophysiological parameters were investigated. The
objectives were to determine morphological, physical and chemical soil characteristics (a very clayey,
oligotrophic, Latossolo Amarelo / Oxissol) and the biomass of three plantations. Two plantations
established in April 2001, had spacing 3 x 2 m, one received no fertilization (treatment SA) and the
second received green manure (treatment AO). The third plantation (April 2002) with spacing 5 x 2 m
received chemical fertilization (treatment AQ) in each planting hole (AQ; 150 g Fosmag®; NPK
15:5:10, + B e S). The fertilization was made at planting time and repeated the next four years with the
same amount of fertilizer close to the trees. Green manure (AO) altered significantly soil chemical
properties. In the superficial soil layers, the macro- and micronutrient content was higher than with
-1
-1
-1
chemical fertilization e.g. N: 2,48 g kg (AO); 1,77 g kg (AQ) and 1,36 g kg (SA). In deeper layers
(50 cm) of the soil profile the AO increased pH values (H2O e KCl) as carbon was reduced. H.
courbaril trees were taller and biomass was twenty times greater with AO (273 Mg ha-1) than with SA
-1
-1
(13 Mg ha ) and AQ (34 Mg ha ). In all treatments higher biomass was observed in trunks and fine
branches (Ø < 10 cm) than trunks and thick branches (Ø > 10 cm).
P7.8
Natural regeneration under Pinus elliottii plantation: a case study in national forest Piraí South,
Brazil
J.P.B.A.C. Marcondes, J. Iarmul, A.L.P. Andrade, M.R.B. Carmo
Biologia Geral, Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa, Ponta Grossa, Brazil
Recent studies have been reporting the occurrence of the natural regeneration in commercial forest
plantations, because exotic forest species may be catalysts of secondary succession, favoring the
environmental conditions and increasing in the structural complexity of the new habitat. Although
Pinus spp be one of the most common species of trees planted in the Brazilian reforestation, little is
known about the natural regeneration of these commercial forest stands, because each species tends
to respond according to specific environmental. This study aimed to obtain relevant information on the
dynamics of natural regeneration under Pinus elliottii plantation in National Forest Piraí South, Paraná
State, Brazil (24º34´21"S and 49º55´41"W), having as purpose discuss the influence of native forest in
the vicinity as a direct source of seeds. For the study were established 30 plots distributed in three
replications of 10 sampling units in planting of P. elliottii (age 35-40 years). In each plot we performed
a study of three categories: Arboreal, Regenerate I and Regenerate II. For the seed bank 30 soil
samples with depths of 0-3cm and 3-6cm were collected. The survey sampled a total of 603
individuals, 72 species and 29 families. Due to the high percentage of non-pioneer species sampled
(47%) in the three categories is assumed that the planting of P. elliottii has an important role as
facilitators of species of ecological succession process. In the seed bank germinated 2151 individuals,
29 species and 14 families in its most weeds. In spite of slow, we concluded that the dynamics of the
regeneration process under P. elliottii is possible, and particularly in this site, the environment was
crucial to enable the succession because there is a direct influence of the surrounding native forest as
a source of seeds, favored mainly by the local fauna.
P7.9
Natural regeneration and post-harvest impacts on Eucalyptus spp plantation in Southern Brazil
B.J. Pilati, A. Cequinel, J. Travensoli, A.R. Silva, E.N. Santos, M.R.B. Carmo
Biologia Geral, Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa, Ponta Grossa, Brazil
In the current context of intense degradation of the environment there are incentives for the recovery
of degraded areas starting from reforestation. Studying the impacts generated by exotic specimens is
critical to get the most appropriate measures for the management. We studied the impact of the
withdrawal of the exotic species on native forest regenerating in the Vila Velha State Park, Paraná
State, Brazil (25º12'34'' and 25º15'35'' S, 49º58'04'' and 50º03'37'' W), to understand and support
measures of proper management. One hundred and twenty plots of 100m² each were allocated on the
patches of Araucaria forest, Eucalyptus plantation areas and harvested Eucalyptus areas. We
sampled a total of 4453 individuals, belonging to 208 species, in 48 botanical families. The similarity,
richness and diversity of species varied among strata, but the highest values were found in the areas
of native forest and eucalyptus plantation. The different values of density and diversity among the
areas suggest that native forest and reforestation are more advanced successional stage than
harvested Eucalyptus areas, which had returned to the initial stage of succession after cutting. This
may be originating from the management techniques to removal of vegetation, which caused direct
and indirect impacts on the regeneration of native species. In Eucalyptus plantation of the Vila Velha
State Park was established a typical understory of Araucaria Forest. These initially homogeneous
plantations have potential to become heterogeneous environments by propagules dispersion derived
from native forests in the region. Eucalyptus can accelerate the natural regeneration of native species
in some conditions, but care must be taken in planting and harvesting to reduce impacts.
P7.10
Vegetation structure and composition across different sizes and ages of recovered riparian
forests, Southeastern Brazil
M.C.T.B. Messias1, A.C. Tonaco1, I. Martins1, M.B. Castro1, H.C. de Sousa1, R. Fiorine2, A.R.
3
Kozovits
1
Biodiversity Evolution and Environment, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil,
2
CEMIG, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, 3Biodiversity Evolution and Environment, Federal University of Ouro
Preto, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Vegetation structure is usually determined by measuring vegetation cover and these measures are
useful for predicting the direction of plant succession and restoration success. We evaluated the effect
of the width (size: 30 and 100m) and time since planting (age) on tree and seedling richness and
abundance and on litter production of four riparian forest restored sites to compare with one reference
site. About 35 tree species were planted in 1994 and in 2004. In each site 12 plots (10x10m) were
systematically allocated and received one litter trap. All individuals with CBH ≥10cm were sampled.
We found a total of 125 plant species with an average density of 1.420 ind/ha. Our results show no
significant differences on richness, diversity and seedling between two out the four sites and the
reference site, what indicates the restoration success. The species richness of the secondary forests
recovered rapidly, but the species composition was quite different in comparison with the reference
site, suggesting that enrichment planting will be necessary to restore the original composition.
Besides, Shannon-Wiener diversity was also very similar between the sampling sites, ranging from
2.74 to 3.26 and the Pielou evenness from 0.85 to 0.90. We also found that the presence of native
forests close to the sampling sites, and soil characteristics contribute to plant diversity in the recovered
sites. The annual litter production was not related to plant diversity. Several species are from natural
recruitment after revegetation. The observed floristic diversity and annual litterfall are comparable to
other riparian forests in Cerrado biome. Even though the age and width of recovered sites did not
influence the flora diversity, the estimated parameters suggest the efficiency of the reforestation
process. We recommend a management of the sampling sites. Also an engagement of the
community-based institutions in neighboring areas for effective monitoring.
P7.11
Planting techniques, landscape or environmental factors: what drives the understory richness
in riparian forest restoration?
M.S. Suganuma1, J.M.D. Torezan2, G.B. de Assis3, G. Durigan1
1
Assis State Forest, Forestry Institute of São Paulo State, Assis, Brazil, 2CCB/BAV, Londrina State
3
University, Londrina, Brazil, Rio de Janeiro Botanical Gardens Research Institute, Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil
Identifying the factors that lead to success or failure of projects has been a major challenge in
restoration, given the wide range of biotic and abiotic influences on the trajectories of ecosystems
being restored. We assessed 26 riparian forest plantations in the Atlantic Forest (Brazil), aiming at to
identify those factors determining the tree species richness under the planted stands, in two different
size classes. We investigated the influences of the following factors, categorized in three groups:
1) planting techniques: density and richness of seedlings planted;
2) landscape: distance and size of the nearest forest remnant; and
3) environment: average annual precipitation and proportion of small particles in the soil (silt and clay).
We analyzed the data using a stepwise analysis (backward method). The understory richness (plants
with height ≥ 50 cm, and DBH < 5 cm) was negatively influenced by the distance of the nearest
2
remnant of native vegetation and positively correlated with the average annual precipitation (R = 0.66;
p = 0.001). The richness of saplings (1 ≤DBH < 5 cm), which represents the individuals recruited from
the seedlings, was also influenced by these factors, but the correlation is not so strong (R2 = 0.21; p =
0.068). The results showed us that the landscape integrity (proximity of a seed source) and a
favorable climate (no long dry season) are the most relevant ecological filters determining tree species
richness in the understory of a forest community undergoing restoration, which translates resilience
recovery. This influence, however, decreases in the late phases of the community assembly
(saplings), when biotic relationships (e.g. competition) can exert more strong influences on the species
composition. The number of species planted or the seedlings density did not exert any influence on
the understory richness of forest communities undergoing restoration.
P7.12
Forest rehabilitation and its effect in plant diversity and wildlife in Hidalgo, central Mexico
F. Montoya-Reyes1, F.O. Plascencia-Escalante1, L.A. Tarango-Arámbula2, S. Ugalde-Lezama3, J.E.
4
Rubiños-Panta
1
2
Postgrado en Ciencias Forestales, Colegio de Postgraduados, Montecillo Texcoco, Mexico, Colegio
3
de Postgraduados, Salinas Hidalgo, Mexico, Suelos, Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, Texcoco,
Mexico, 4Hidrociencias, Colegio de Postgraduados, Texcoco, Mexico
After an ecological restoration or rehabilitation, it is important to evaluate the structure, ecological
process, and diversity of species of an intervened ecosystem, the wildlife species diversity in restored
ecosystems has received little attention. The main objective of the following research is to evaluate the
effect of forest rehabilitation in wildlife in three different ages of reforestation (5, 12 y 14 year-old) and
a reference site (RS) at “El Porvenir”, Hidalgo. From January to June 2015, the presence of birds and
mammals in each stand it is monitored through the intensive search method, mist nets, and direct
registration (Sherman, Tomahawk and photo traps) and also indirect methods (animal tracks, feces,
animal remains). We are measuring the structure and composition, to determinate plant diversity using
and Shannon-Wiener diversity index and Jacard similarity index. Significant differences will be
determinate by ANOVA test, previously normality and homogeneity variances will tested, Poisson
regression model and a “Simple Correlation Analysis” will be used to determinate the effect of
rehabilitation over the wildlife. Results shown that in RS the birds and mammals richness, involve 10
species (4, 6), 12-year-old reforestation with 9 species (5, 4), 14-year-old reforestation with 8 species
(4, 4) and finally the 5-years-ago with 8 species (6, 2). RS has a greater species richness contrasting
with reforestation of 5 year-old which represents the lowest richness, this could indicate that the RS
and 12 years-old reforestations have similar vegetation characteristics.
P7.13
The use of Eucalypt as a “commercial pioneer species” in tropical forest restoration and its
effects on native species growth
N.T. Amazonas1, C.C. Silva1, R.R. Rodrigues2, P.H.S. Brancalion1
1
Departamento de Ciências Florestais, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, Brazil, 2Departamento
de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, Brazil
The high cost of restoring the tropical forest is, nowadays, the greatest obstacle to achieve large scale
restoration. In order to overcome this barrier, we developed and implemented restoration plantings
that included Eucalypt to grow together with mid- to late-successional native tree species. The
proposal is to create favorable conditions for the regeneration of native species by shading exotic
grasses and generating income with Eucalypt, which shall be replaced by native species after
harvesting. The aim of this study was to test the use of Eucalypt as a “commercial pioneer species” in
a new restoration model for the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. The experiment was implemented in Aracruz,
ES, Brazil. The forest was 3.5-year old when the last inventory was done. We assessed tree growth in
the treatments “Native species with native pioneers” (NSNP), “Native species with Eucalypt” (NSE)
and “Eucalypt monoculture” (EM). Native species (mid- to late-successional species) grew 21% less in
diameter in the presence of Eucalypt (3.00±3.87 cm in NSNP compared to 3.88±3.87 cm in NSE). In
its turn, Eucalypt grew 17% more in association with native trees (14.78±2.68 cm in NSE) than in
monoculture (12.27±2.15 cm in EM). We believe these effects are caused by competition for light and
water and that it is possible to improve this restoration model to reduce competition. We conclude that
competition negatively affects the growth of native species and positively affects the growth of
Eucalypt. The use of Eucalypt as a commercial pioneer species certainly represents a trade-off
between financial and ecological benefits for the first years. However, given that the growth reduction
of native species can be recovered after the harvest of Eucalypt, we think this model is an interesting
alternative to counterbalance the high cost of tropical forest restoration.
Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
P7.14
Efectiveness of riparian forest restoration on water quality and zooplankton community in an
impacted reservoir, Brazil
E.M.E. Sant'Ana1, M.G.P. Leite2, M.A.G. Fujaco2, F.W. Moreira1, R. Fiorine3, Y. Antonini1
1
Biodiversity Evolution and Environment, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil,
2
3
Geology, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil, CEMIG, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Reservoirs can be especially influenced by nutrients and sediments inputs do to their relatively large
watersheds when compared to natural lakes. In this sense, riparian forests are essential to preserve
water quality and biodiversity in reservoirs, by controlling erosion and providing microhabitats for
aquatic biota. Reservoir managers of Volta Grande Reservoir, Brazil, made an effort to recover its
riparian forest, which are currently 10 and 30 years old. Since plankton community represents an
important resource for matter flow in the aquatic food web and respond very quickly to environmental
stimulus, we tested the hypothesis that zooplankton community will be positively affected by the
presence of riparian forest, and that the difference in age of these forest would influence species
richness as a result of the direct effect on the spatial heterogeneity and additional food resources.
Sampling was carried out between February/2013 and August/2014 in representative points of margin
land use (agricultural, industrial and riparian forest). Spatial difference in the water quality was
observed, with highest values of turbidity and nutrients in the industrial and agricultural areas (P<
0.05). Analysis of variance indicates that the zooplankton composition (rotifer, cladoceran and
copepod) showed a similar longitudinal distribution within the reservoir, but significant differences in
the richness and biomass, with higher richness occurring in the reforestation areas (P< 0.01).
However, no differences in zooplankton richness were observed considering the age of forest
(P>0.05), indicating that positive effects of riparian forest are effective since the initial establishment of
the forest. The presence of epibenthic zooplankton species (cladocerans Alonella dadayi, Ilyocryptus
spinifer e Macrothrix elegans), besides epibenthic rotifers, highly contributed to zooplankton diversity.
The presence of riparian forest enhanced the availability of new habitats and zooplankton populations
associated with these habitats appear to have strategies that enable them to rapid recolonize newly
created microhabitats.
P7.15
Tree biomass and carbon estimation in restoration areas in the SOS Mata Atlântica forest
experiment centre in Brazil
B. Pudles1, T.D. Nunes2, R.M. Peres3
1
Centro Universitário Senac, São Paulo, Brazil, 2Universidade Santo Amaro, São Paulo, Brazil,
3
Universidade Uninove, São Paulo, Brazil
Estimating tree biomass based on growth for the application of management techniques within
methodology that produces practical results is a challenge in the environmental area. This paper
presents a mathematical modelling method that estimates tree biomass in a period of time based on
tree circumference growth in a restoration area of the NGO SOS Mata Atlântica Forest Experiment
Centre in Itu, São Paulo, Brazil, an area of semi-deciduous seasonal Atlantic forest. Measurements of
individual trees tend to show more accurate results in comparison to those achieved by area,
preferably through the calculation of the tree basal area. Therefore, in order to estimate biomass and
carbon sequestration, the DBH and height of 299 native trees were measured over twelve months.
The five native species used: Chorisia speciosa, Senna multijuga, Cytharexyllum myrianthum, Luhea
divaricata and Croton urucurana. The species that presented highest growth and carbon/biomass
sequestration was Cytharexyllum myrianthum and the least Luhea divaricata. Growth curves were
generated that enable the prediction of biomass generation and carbon sequestration over time for
each of the species used. These trees of different ages generated between 15 and 18 tons of biomass
and between 7.5 and 9 tons of carbon in a year, depending on the formula adopted. This is a nondestructive and low cost method that avoids the destruction of specimens for weighing and measuring
while still producing reliable results. The quantification of carbon sequestration from trees positively
acts on climate change, as they are a sink for atmospheric carbon. The results also show that using
reforestation techniques on degraded areas in turn contributes to the removal of carbon from the
atmosphere. The project provides insights for planning reforestation programs, enabling its use in
CDM (Clean Development Mechanism) projects as a base tool for clean technologies that promote
sustainable development through carbon sequestration.
P7.16
Do restoration plantings enrich plant diversity in severely fragmented landscapes?
D.C. Rother1, A.P. Liboni1,2, R.L. Chazdon3, R.R. Rodrigues1
1
2
Department of Biological Sciences, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, Brazil, Department of
3
Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology,
University of Connecticut, Storrs, United States
Studies have shown that forest remnants in human-modified landscapes still hold high floristic
diversity, despite their high level of degradation. These remnants may function as stepping stones that
increase the landscape's connectivity, and can provide important ecosystem services, playing a critical
role in biodiversity conservation. In addition, restoration activities have been increasingly applied in
fragmented landscapes to mitigate the negative impacts of environmental degradation in the Brazilian
Atlantic forest. In this context, our main goal is to verify if restoration plantings increase the diversity of
trees and shrubs in a landscape with less than 10% of forest cover. Abundance and richness of trees
and shrubs are being evaluated in ten plots of 25 x 4 m installed in each remnant and restoration
planting, totaling 14 areas (seven of each). To assess patterns of species turnover and characterize
the species abundance distribution at local and landscape scales, we used the Hill numbers.
Preliminary results show that beta diversity enhances when plant species from remnants and
restoration plantings are considered together. These results highlight the relative effectiveness of
restoration plantings in the increment of plant diversity in fragmented landscapes. Such ecological
outcome can benefit science-based strategies for conserving and restoring the biodiversity of tropical
forests at large-scale restoration programs.
Financial Support: São Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP (Process Number 2013/50718-5).
P7.17
Enrichment of degraded Tropical Forests in the Southeast of Brazil
1
2
J.R.A. Mangueira , R.R. Rodrigues
1
Plant Biology Post Graduation Program, Universidade Estadual de Campinas - Unicamp, Campinas,
Brazil, 2Department of Biological Sciences, ESALQ, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, Brazil
The countryside Atlantic Forest has been historically deforested in Brazil and replaced by crop fields,
especially sugarcane plantations. As a result of this process, not only the area covered by natural
habitats has been drastically reduced, but forest remnants have decreased in quality and capacity to
provide ecosystem services. Notwithstanding, these forest remnants represent the only natural
habitats in these human modified landscapes, and therefore should be managed in order to improve
their role in biodiversity conservation and provisioning of ecosystem services. Unfortunately, although
this need it is broadly recognized in the literature, very few management experiments with
conservation goals have been developed. For that matter, three remnants of seasonal semideciduous
forest were selected for a forest enrichment experiment. In these remnants, we established nine plots
and planted four species: Hymenaea courbaril L., Copaifera langsdorffii Desf., Myroxylon peruiferum
L.f. and Cariniana estrellensis (Raddi) Kuntze. We planted 3,240 individuals either by direct seeding,
plantation of young saplings and plantation of mature saplings, after 2 and 9 months of development in
plant nurseries, respectively. The experiment was implemented in March and April of 2014, and four
evaluations will be made in 21 months, during the peak of each season. So far, mature samplings had
the better performance, with 75% survival (808 individuals). The individuals planted as seed had the
worst performance, with only 6% of emergency. The next evaluation will happen during the rainy
season and this result must change. The years of 2014 and 2015 have been very atypical regarding to
the quantity and distribution of rain, which must affect the development of the individuals in the field.
With this experiment, we expect to contribute to the development of important management
techniques to improve the quality of semidecidual forest remnants.
P7.18
Introduction of understory species in Brazilian seasonal semideciduous forests restoration
areas
1,2
3
3
M.M. Pardi , S. Gandolfi , R.R. Rodrigues
1
Forestry Sciences, Universidade de São Paulo - Escola Superior de Agricultura 'Luiz de Queiroz',
Piracicaba, Brazil, 2Project Management, Bioflora Tecnologia da Restauração, Piracicaba, Brazil,
3
Biological Sciences, Universidade de São Paulo - Escola Superior de Agricultura 'Luiz de Queiroz',
Piracicaba, Brazil
Understory species are rarely used on restoration plantations because they are generally composed
by late sucessional and shade tolerant treelets and shrub species, which are not canopy species.
These characteristics make them to be mistakenly thought as inappropriate to be planted under full
sunlight exposure. Despite their ecological importance, such as providing food and shelter to
pollinators and dispersers, little is known about their potential use in restoration and enrichment of
degraded forests. Within fragmented landscapes, these species have little chance of being naturally
recruited into areas undergoing restoration. In order to develop planting and enrichment techniques
and promote the recuperation of understory layers, this study evaluated the survival and growth of 10
understory species planted under four different conditions: initial planting; 5-year-old restoration area;
10-year-old restoration area; and degraded forest fragment. All sites are located in Sao Paulo State
interior, Brazil, inside the Atlantic Forest biome, specifically in the Seasonal Semideciduous Forest
type. Seedlings were planted in January 2012 and measured during 15 months for their survival and
growth. Study sites were characterized regarding soil chemical and physical attributes, and canopy
composition and coverage. Principal components analysis (PCA) showed that relative growth of
seedlings was strongly related to canopy coverage. Survival of seedlings was over 60% for most
species, regardless of location. As expected, at sites where canopy cover was up to 75% shade, most
part of seedlings planted showed slow growth, which shows the difficulty of enriching areas with high
levels of shading, and thus, the difficulty of reversing degradation of forest remnants. The surprising
outcome was that introduction of understory species was considered successful at the initial planting
when evaluating survival and growth. This reinforces the importance of using high diversity of species
and functional groups in restoration plantings and also of conserving remnant forests.
Funding: CNPq
P7.19
Genetic diversity of a Neotropical tree species in forest restoration plantations
1
1
1
1
2
3
P.S. Sujii , K.D. Schwacz , E.D.A. Silvestre , C. Grando , P.H.S. Brancalion , M.I. Zucchi
1
Department of Genetics, Evolution and Bioagents, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas,
Brazil, 2Department of Forest Sciences, ESALQ, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, Brazil, 3Agência
Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios, Pólo Centro-Sul, Piracicaba, Brazil
Biodiversity assessments have shown that ecological restoration has speeded up the reestablishment
of a relevant portion of native plant species in degraded lands. However, little is known about the
genetic diversity of populations reintroduced through restoration plantations. This study aimed to
assess the genetic diversity of a Neotropical tree species in forest restoration plantations and compare
it with reference values found in conserved remnants. We studied the canopy tree species
Centrolobium tomentosum (Fabaceae) in two natural populations in conserved remnants - CR - and
two populations established in well developed, high-diversity restoration plantations - RP - (24 and 57
years-old) in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. We assessed genetic diversity of adult and juvenile plants,
using nuclear and chloroplast microsatellite markers. The mean number of alleles per locus (ACR = 4.1
- 5-3; ARP = 4.6 - 4.7), allelic richness (RCR = 3.5 - 4.4; RRP = 3.4 - 3.5) and inbreeding coefficient (Fis-CR
= 0.10 - 0.17; Fis-RP = 0.10 - 0.15) were not different between restored and natural populations, as well
the effective population size (Ne-CR = 16.6 - 24.4; Ne-RP = 11.6 - 26.3) and the number of chloroplast
haplotypes (HapCR = 4 - 16; HapRP = 4 - 10). There is no evidence of founder effect in restoration
plantation populations. This may be due to high genetic diversity in the seedlings planted, initial
population size large enough to reduce genetic drift effects and gene flow from neighbour forest
fragments. Thus, restoration plantations were effective in reestablishing C. tomentosum populations
with genetic variability similar to natural remnants and with potential to persist over time.
Funding Body: Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP - 2012/03246-8)
P7.20
Is there a place for exotic species in passive Atlantic Forest restoration?
J.M.D. Torezan, R.P. Scervino, A.L. Cavalheiro
Londrina State University, Londrina, Brazil
The claim for restoration of degraded lands is increasing worldwide, and a scale threshold should be
overcome if present commitments, such as the Bonn Challenge, are to be achieved. Traditional forest
restoration by means of planting seedlings is known to be efficient, but expensive. Thus natural
regeneration, which is usually cheaper, may warrant the attainability of restoration needs. However,
when planting seedlings the practitioner have the power to select native species within the regional
pool, while in passive methods, such as natural regeneration, non-native species can also be present.
Here we try to address the following question: when allowing natural regeneration, should these nonnatives be fought, or is there a place for them? In three low-productivity pasture sites in Brazilian
Atlantic Forest we compared the vegetation in plots placed in spontaneous woody vegetation patches
amidst the pasture and in grass-only spots. Three different patterns of species abundance were
observed. Some species did not established in pastures and other species did, but showed higher
abundance in woody patches. While being capable of establishing in pastures, these later species
benefited from the patch environment. Finally, some species were equally or more abundant in
pastures than in woody patches, thus being the likely primers of these vegetation clumps. From these
species, exotics comprise 6 of 32 species and 910 of 2300 individuals; moreover, exotics are present
in 100% of woody patches. Thus, allowing the establishment of these species can accelerate
succession. The abilities to endure grass competition and fire are key features of species for forest
restoration in tropical pastures and thus exotic species with these features may play a role in
vegetation patch development in tropical pastures as facilitators. It is worth to note that, being sunloving species, these exotics should not be considered invasive in this context.
P7.21
Monitoring tropical forest restoration projects: the ecological principle of the Atlantic Forest
Restoration Pact protocol in Brazil
1
2
3
4
3
3
R.B. Chaves , R.A.G. Viani , P.H.S. Brancalion , A. Padovezi , F.T. Farah , R.R. Rodrigues
1
Centro de Restauração Ecológica, Secretariat for the Environment of the State of São Paulo (SMA),
São Paulo, Brazil, 2Centro de Ciência Agrárias, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), Araras,
Brazil, 3Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo (USP), Piracicaba, Brazil,
4
Word Resources Institute (WRI), São Paulo, Brazil
Ecological monitoring is an essential step for forest restoration projects to identify whether they are
following a desirable ecological trajectory. The Atlantic Forest is a global hotspot for biodiversity
conservation with less than 16% of its original cover, showing the need for large scale restoration
planning. The Atlantic Forest Restoration Pact (AFRP) is a collective initiative set up with the aim of
restoring 15 million hectares of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest by 2050. So far, about 55,000 hectares
undergoing restoration are registered. One of the AFRP specific goals is the development of a protocol
for monitoring Atlantic Forest restoration. The up to date version of this Forest Restoration Monitoring
Protocol (FRMP) was developed in February 2013 in a cooperative effort by more than 70 Pact
members. FRMP assumption is that successful restoration projects must address three principles:
ecological, socioeconomic, and management needs. In this work, we focus on the ecological principle,
that seeks to evaluate whether natural ecological process are being restored. In the FRMP, the
ecological principle is divided into two phases. The first one is applied to areas with canopy cover <
70% and its objective is to evaluate whether the restoration project has already developed a forest
structure. The second phase is applied after the area has reached a canopy cover >70% and the
objective is to evaluate the ecological trajectory. Main indicators used in the second phase are tree
community density, richness and basal area. Once the FRMP is largely applied, a database will be
organized and used to establish Atlantic Forest restoration projects reference values. Although the
FRMP was developed for the Atlantic Forest, its framework may be used as a template to develop
monitoring protocols in other tropical regions where large scale restoration initiatives are taking place.
P7.22
Economic evaluation of enrichment planting in sustainable-use protected areas in Brazil´s
Atlantic Forest biome
R. Benini1, T.F. Maier2, P.J.A. Santana2, C. Fachini3, V.J. Girão4
1
The Nature Conservancy, Arraial d´Ajuda, Brazil, 2The Nature Conservancy, São Paulo, Brazil, 3São
Paulo's Agency of Agribusiness Technology, Department of Agriculture and Supply of the State of São
4
Paulo, Campinas, Brazil, The Nature Conservancy, Vila Velha, Brazil
Socioeconomic aspects can limit the expansion of ecological restoration, and one alternative to
address this question is the development of models that generate income to farmers, in addition to
earnings from conservation itself. To this end, we designed and implemented the initiative
"Reforestation Project with Native Species in the Atlantic Forest biome", a project of the National
Development Bank (BNDES) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC), to generate economic and social
benefits for the communities involved. The project was implemented in protected areas that allow the
sustainable exploration of resources in a region that is home to approximately 21 percent of Atlantic
Forest remnants (called Vale do Ribeira, in the state of São Paulo). These areas are occupied by
traditional farmers and are largely degraded, mainly due to fires and conversion to pasture for cattle.
This study aims at evaluating the economics of the enrichment restoration model for forest
management implemented on 17 hectares that included timber species (468 ind/ha) and timber with a
focus on Juçara (Euterpe edulis Mart.) (624 ind/ha) for fruit production. Earnings come from the
production of Juçara fruits, wood and seeds for internal use; taking into account sustainable
management, we considering only part of the individuals taking part in the project. We considered
input and labor costs for implementation, maintenance and harvesting, and for economic analysis we
used the following criteria: Net Present Value; Internal Rate of Return; Benefit/Cost Ratio, and
Payback. The results showed that the model implemented was economically viable, but also indicated
that certain measures are necessary, such as adding value to products, strengthening supply chains,
and adapting planting models, which in turn will bring more stability and make the model more
attractive to rural producers.
P7.23
How much does size matter? Community structure in tropical restoration forests two decades
after planting
F.M. Souza
Forest Ecology Department, Forest Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
The first impression of the success or failure of a restoration project is usually based on the
appearance of the vegetation. In a forest, overall tree size (height and diameter at breast height DBH) is a visual attribute that indicates the effectiveness of the establishment of the vegetation at first
sight. However, there is much more than tree size behind the course of succession. Here we present
the results of a 16-year study in restoration forests in Brazil, in which we monitored three sites of
different ages (21, 25 and 26 years old) and species combinations. We assessed tree size, density
and species richness of trees with DBH equal to or greater than 4.8 cm. The mean and maximum tree
height and DBH were very similar among sites. Nevertheless, total density of trees in the 26 yr-old site
was 43% greater than the 25 yr-old site and 65% greater than the 21 yr-old site, and reached the
same density as well-preserved, natural forests. Regenerating individuals accounted for a significant
proportion (53%) of the total density in the oldest forest, as well as the number of regenerating
species, which corresponded to more than half of the total number of species. Conversely, in the 25and 21 yr-old sites, regenerating individuals corresponded to 34% and 23% of the total density,
respectively, whereas species richness of regenerating trees corresponded to 30 and 19%. Although
tree size was found to be very similar among sites, the higher density of trees, and the greater
proportion of regenerating individuals and species in the 26 yr-old forest reveal that the successional
process at this site is advancing in a desirable direction faster than the other two sites. This suggests
that tree size alone is not a good indicator of the trends in trajectory of restoration forests.
P7.24
Towards a generalized protocol to selecting framework species to restore tropical forests
S. Frison, V.L. Engel
São Paulo State University - UNESP, Botucatu, Brazil
Identifying target species that are appropriate to restore high diversity forests it is still a challenge and
require extensive background studies. Such target species are expected to perform a vast range of
ecological functions to catalyse the processes needed during the successional trajectory of the
restored ecosystem. Based on the Framework species approach, we developed a generalized species
selection protocol aiming at restoring high diversity forest ecosystems within the Atlantic Forest
(tropical wet forest and tropical moist seasonal forest) and the Brazilian savanna (Cerradão) domains.
The primary selection criterion was species frequency in forest fragments to produce a “candidate
species list”.11 functional attributes were assigned for each species: canopy size and architecture,
growth rhythm, nitrogen fixing ability, regeneration potential, adaptation to full sun, first reproduction
age, seed dispersal and pollination syndromes, flowering and fruiting time. Each attribute was divided
into 2-6 categories which received weights, according to their role in providing desirable restoration
properties such as quick canopy cover; wildlife attraction potential; regeneration speed and capacity to
colonize wide areas. For example, the attribute 'canopy size' was divided in the categories: large,
intermediate and small (score 5, 3 and 1, respectively). Based in this protocol, we identified 30
potential 'framework species 'for each three forest formation (tropical wet forest; tropical moist
seasonal forest and forested savanna) with potential to kick startthe restoration processes within the
ecosystems. The protocol proved to be suitable for different environmental and degradation contexts.
This is due to the possibility of changing the attribute weights in order to value up the most desirable
characteristics for site-specific ecological filters.
P7.25
Facilitating natural regeneration: the influence of canopy composition over vegetation
structure of the understory
D.F. Schievenin, V.L. Engel
Department of Forest Science, Sao Paulo State University, Botucatu, Brazil
The role of native tree species monospecific plantations on facilitating the natural regeneration has
been demonstrated in tropical regions. However, the facilitation mechanisms are not so clear. We
aimed at investigating the role of three Atlantic Forest tree species on promoting natural regeneration
of the native vegetation in seasonal semi-deciduous forest. The study site was located in central São
Paulo State, SE Brazil. We compared three abandoned forest stands that were used as shaded coffee
plantations around 80 years ago. The sites were similar both in topography and soil properties. The
canopy species planted as shade trees in each stand were respectively:
1) Anadenanthera peregrina (L.) Spreng (nitrogen-fixing and deciduous);
2) Piptadenia gonoacantha (Mart.) Macbr. (nitrogen-fixing and semi-deciduous); and
3) Hymenaea courbaril L. (non-fixing and semi-deciduous), all belonging to the Fabaceae family.
All understory individuals above 1.30 m tall were measured and identified at the species level, in 25
plots of 10 x 10 m in each stand. Soil samples were taken to check for differences in physical and
chemical properties. Although in all stands the understory vegetation could develop, the structure and
composition (density and species richness) contrasted with reference sites (native forest remnants).
The understory vegetation structure was not related to soil fertility but varied among canopy species.
In the P. gonoacantha stand, population density and species richness were higher than in the others,
followed by the A. peregrina stand in density, and by the H. courbaril stand in richness. We
hypothesize that canopy species functional attributes, namely canopy deciduousness and nitrogenfixing capability, are important drivers of understory community assembly in tropical seasonal semideciduous ecosystems. Facilitation potential seems to be a key issue for tropical plantations species
choice, when aiming at biodiversity conservation and restoration at the landscape level.
P7.26
Restoration of genetic diversity and ecological processes in a planted tree population
1,2
1
2
3
3
1
K.D. Schwarcz , C.M.T. Macrini , J.B.D. Campos , P.H.S. Brancalion , R.R. Rodrigues , M.I. Zucchi
1
2
APTA, Piracicaba, Brazil, Dept. of Genetics and Evolution, University of Campinas, Campinas,
3
Brazil, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture / University of Sao Paulo, Piracicaba, Brazil
Brazilian atlantic forest deforestation have resulted in elimination of many populations and potentially
erosion of genetic diversity of several plant species, putting on risk the preservation of important
natural resources such as water and fertile soil.
Ecological restoration is a strategy that has been used with success in reversing forest degradation
and reintroduction of locally extinct plant species. Study and monitoring of areas of forest restoration
are essential to improve restoration techniques in tropical and subtropical ecosystems but little is know
about genetic diversity of restored populations or the occurrence and effectiveness of gene flow
between these areas and surrounding natural remnants.
In this study we accessed the genetic variability and structure of Cabreuva tree (Myroxylon peruiferum
L. f.) in two areas of restored plantations (RP) and two areas of conserved remnants (CR) of brazilian
semideciduous atlantic forest.
The investigations were done using nuclear microsatellite markes. The mean number of alleles per
locus (ACR = 5.2; ARP = 3.9), allelic richness (RCR = 3.8; RRP = 3.3) and inbreeding coefficient
(Fis-CR = 0.23; Fis-RP = 0.28) were not different between restored and natural populations.
Our results indicates that restored plantations conserve genetic and allelic diversity similar to that of
natural remnants. The main difference between natural and restored areas was the lowest richness of
endemic alleles which is the result of a sampling effect that favors the loss of rare alleles. It was
observed the occurrence of local genetic structure in natural areas and in the oldest restored
plantation. We also find evidence of gene flow between native and restored areas wich can sugest
that seed or polen income from nearby conserved remnants could explain those similar levels of
genetic diversity amog natural and restored tree populations.
Funding Body: Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP2010/00170-5)
P7.27
Forest restoration and mangement in Southern China
S. Fu
South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
Large area of forest in southern China was degraded due to excess logging and poor mangement in
the last century. Later on a project of Greening Guangdong was initiated by planting both introduced
and native plant species, and comparative studies were conducted to evaluate the economic and
ecological effects of different models for forest restoration. We found that the introduced plants such
as Eucalyptus and Acacia grew much faster and sequestered more C in the forest ecosystem. Our
results also demonstrated that burning would cause detrimental effects on soil microbes particularly on
fungi and slashing (remove the understory plants) also would supress the fungi and retard the litter
decomposition and nutrient return. The allelopathic effects of litter and roots were mostly not
significant but depending on plant species. Nine native plant species were found to be good
candidates for forest restoration in terms of physiological and ecological traits. Two agroforestry
models were found effective both economically and ecologically.
P7.28
Monitoring and use of conifers (Coniferopsida) in landscaping of Azerbaijan
T.S. Mammadov, F.N. Rustamova
Ecology, Institute of Dendrology, Baku, Azerbaijan
Flora of Azerbaijan is very unique and determined not only by physical and geographical conditions
which affect its formation, but also by characteristics of its relationship with other floras. In recent
years, we studied the floristic composition of Azerbaijan dendroflora.
1116 species, 264 genus and 91 families belong to trees and shrubs of Azerbaijan. Most diversely are
represented 121 species, 21 genus and 7 families, which belong to the Conifers (Coniferopsida or
Pinopsida). These kind of plants are widely spread in the following floristic regions: Europe, Asia,
America and Australia.
In particular, these trees and shrubs are widely used in landscaping of our Republic because of its
decorative features, exactly in parks, gardens, squares, boulevards, recreation areas and so on. That
is, in places suitable and favorable for the vital activity of the humankind.
P7.29
The restoration of natural vegetation at the historical landscapes of European Russia
1
2
O.V. Burova , E.M. Volkova
1
Natural, Museum-Reserve 'The Kulikovo Field', Tula, Russian Federation, 2Biology, Tula State
University, Tula, Russian Federation
European part of Russia has a lot of areas which plaied a very important role in the history of country.
One of them is Kulikovo Pole - the historical site of the Kulikovo battle of 1380. The area is located in
the Upper Don, in northern part of forest-steppe zone. The natural vegetation characterized by wide
steppe landscapes with steppificated oak forests. During XVII-XVIII centuries, forest-steppe landscape
was destroyed by deforestation and ploughing up. Now natural steppe and forest communities saved
at small and protected sites. The forest vegetation is represented by Lathyro pisiformis-Quercetum
roboris association (class Querco-Fagetea). Steppe vegetation is presented by associations Gentiano
cruciatae-Stipetum pennatae) and Stachyo rectae-Echinopetum ruthenici (class Festuco-Brometea).
The restoration of steppe vegetation on the area of 50 ha began in 2000 by different methods:
1 - transplantation of Stipa swards into semi-natural meadow-steppe communities;
2 - transplantation of Stipa swards from natural plots into arable land;
3 - sowing of herbal mixes which were cut on natural plots;
4 - sowing of Stipa and motley grass seeds with herbal mixes (agrostep method);
5 - sowing of Stipa seeds in rows and other herbal steppe plants between them (wide-row sowing).
The restoration of forest vegetation on the area 20 ha began in 2006 by planting young deciduous
trees. Now the recovering meadow-steppe vegetation is presented by different successional stages
(classes Artemisietea vulgaris and Festuco-Brometea).
P7.30
Monitoring and evaluation of ecosystem naturalness restoration activities in hemiboreal
forests
D. Laarmann, H. Korjus
Institute of Forestry and Rural Engineering, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia
Silvicultural systems for timber production have caused changes in ecosystem structure and function
associated with anthropogenic alterations of natural disturbance regimes. Increasingly, forest
management is based on understanding of processes of natural disturbances, their effects for stand
and landscape composition and structure, considering that this enables managers to reduce the
negative impacts of timber harvest on biodiversity and thereafter maintain ecological functions.
Restoration is an activity that can improve conservation efforts in protected areas in order to enhance
quality and quantity, to improve connectivity between fragmented areas and create buffer zones
between protected and managed forest areas. The objective of ecological restoration is to recreate a
self-supporting ecosystem that existed previously and is resilient to contingent damage and to
maintain the system in a desirable state or moving away from an undesirable state. Restoration
treatments were implemented in the context of LIFE-Nature project ''Protection of priority forest habitat
types in Estonia'' on protected areas in Estonia. Treatments used were gap cutting, gap cutting with
added deadwood and gap cutting with low overburning. For monitoring the restoration process on the
restored area, 50 permanent sample plots were established. Plots were measured before
implementing treatments in 2004 and re-measured in 2005, 2008 and 2013. The aim was to analyze
and evaluate the effect of different restoration treatments on the understory vegetation, beetles
(Coleoptera) and regeneration on protected areas in Estonia. Restoration treatments significantly
affected regeneration and species richness of understory vegetation and beetles. Species richness of
understory vegetation increased the most in gaps. Species richness of beetles increased the most in
gaps and in gaps with added deadwood. Regeneration of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) was most
successful in gaps with burning, regeneration of birch (Betula) in gaps and regeneration of Norway
spruce (Picea abies) in gaps with added deadwood.
P7.31
Early plant dispersal and community development in upland boreal forest reclamation
C. Jones, S. Landhäusser
Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
Large scale surface mines result in the removal of surface soils, which are often salvaged and used
during reclamation processes. The use of salvaged soils as capping material can enhance vegetation
establishment from their inherent propagule banks. Within the boreal forest these soils typically are
either lowland organic peat or upland forest floor material (FFM). These soil materials have unique
physical, chemical and biological characteristics and legacies.
Forest floor material has been found to produce much higher percent cover and greater richness of
desirable forest understory species than peat cover after three growing seasons. Therefore FFM
would be the more desirable material for the restoration of upland forests; however, in this region
salvaged FFM is scarce and lowland peat is much more commonly available as a capping material.
Consequently maximizing the efficacy of deploying FFM with its desirable propagule bank for upland
forest restoration is important. A nucleation strategy was explored using FFM islands within a large
landscape matrix dominated by peat capping material. The effectiveness of this strategy was
assessed by examining plant migration, seed dispersal, and community development from these 1 ha
FFM islands into the surrounding peat. Desirable forest understory species moved over short distance
from the FFM into the peat; at this stage of recolonization, vegetative reproduction rather than seed
dispersal appeared to be the most prominent mechanism of dispersal.
This research has been funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC),
Canada's Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA), and TransAlta.
P7.32
Canadian lands potentially available for future reforestation: area estimations for boreal
ecozones
R.S. Winder, D.G. Lecke, A.R. Dyk, K. Omendja
Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada, Victoria, Canada
Canada supports a very large and robust commercial sector for resource development across its landbase. With increasing emphasis on reclamation efforts and ecological recovery to follow resource
extraction activities in Canadian boreal ecozones, there is a need to quantify and characterize the
potential shape of future reclamation efforts, in order to prioritize research, planning, and development
of these activities. We estimated area of forest cleared for resource extraction within boreal ecozones,
with a national dataset that used mapping (on a sample basis) and records data to estimate annual
deforestation. For the purposes of this estimate, all areas of forest clearing were included in the pool of
areas assumed to be potentially suitable for reclamation/restoration. Results were summarized on 5year intervals (1970 to 2013), for areas within boreal ecozones. For the oil and gas sector, 32,000 ha
of future potentially reclaimable area was identified; the mining sector (mineral, coal, and gravel
mining) was linked to 7,600 ha while peat mining was linked to over 200 ha. Mining in eastern boreal
regions (Newfoundland west to Ontario, inclusive) included 3,000 ha; central regions (Manitoba,
Saskatchewan) had 100 ha linked to oil and gas, over 850 ha linked to mining, and 200 ha linked to
peat mining; western regions (Alberta, B.C., Yukon T., N.W.T.) had 32,000 ha corresponding to oil and
gas, over 3,500 ha to mining, and over 20 ha to peat mining. During 1970-2010, the oil and gas sector
showed an increase from ca. 1500 ha to ca. 8000 ha per year, with large increases from 1995-2005
and a slight recent decrease. Other sectors were relatively stable during the same period, with mining
also showing a slight recent decline. The results point to reclamation priorities that will persist in efforts
to reclaim forest ecosystems in the boreal.
P7.33
Fit for climate change - hydrological restoration of wet oak-hornbeam forests in North-western
Germany
A. Brinkert1, D. Bieker2, M. Elmer2, B. Linnemann2, N. Hölzel1
1
2
Institute of Landscape Ecology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany, NABU- Naturschutzstation
Münsterland e.V., Münster, Germany
Wet forests, depending on high ground-water levels are particularly vulnerable to hydrological changes
in the course of climate change. At the same time they provide habitat for many highly specialized
plant and animal species and play a crucial role for carbon sequestration, water retention and other
ecosystem services. Pre-disturbed wet forests with still existing extensive drainage systems are
expected to suffer disproportionally from extended periods of drought in course of climate change.
Consequences might be reduced vitality of trees, altered species compositions and lower resilience to
disturbances. Restoring the hydrological conditions of naturally wet forests could help optimizing their
adaptive capacity.
Within the framework of the so-called Forest Climate Fund we are currently testing and implementing
rewetting measures in wet oak-hornbeam forests of North-western Germany aiming at the restoration
of hydrological conditions of formerly drained soils to mitigate increasing drought stress. Restoration
measures include closing and filling of small drainage ditches and the optimization of tree species
composition. Our aim is to re-create site-adapted forests on soils with sufficiently high water levels to
buffer climate extremes.
The success and the transferability of the project are secured by an intense accompanying research
program: Using dendro-ecological methods, we investigate the response of pedunculate oak (Quercus
robur) to climatic factors and rewetting measures implemented several years ago. Rewetting and
rewilding measures are closely monitored in 14 reference plots with and without forest use. The results
of tree vitality, carbon stocks in biomass and soil, vegetation composition and water levels will be used
to give best practice advice for similar projects.
The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Federal Ministry for the
Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety and the Ministry for Climate
Protection, Environment, Agriculture, Conservation and Consumer Protection of the State of North
Rhine-Westphalia.
P7.34
Ecosystem properties in long-term chronosequences of coastal forests in Estonia
M. Pensa, M. Küttim
Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia
Disturbances are important for retaining the maximal biomass stage in forest ecosystems. After
reaching the climax during succession, unless a catastrophic disturbance occurs, forest decline may
follow as caused by increasing phosphorus limitation or reduced decomposer activity.
In Estonia, coastal ridges of varying ages represent chronosequences of several thousand years
caused by land uplift. Along these chronosequences the vegetation properties and environmental
conditions were measured. A hypothesis that variability in vegetation parameters (e.g., species
diversity at ground level, relative growth rates of tree basal area) would be related to soil nitrogen (N)
to phosphorus (P) ratio, and that this relationship depends on the history of disturbances (e.g., forest
harvest, land use) was tested.
In total, 6 transects were established along the chronosequences of coastal ridges. In four transects
the variability in vegetation composition decreased with the increasing distance from the coast. Also
the patterns in nutrient concentrations (N to P ratio) differed among the transects. Along the less
disturbed transects, the N to P ratio increased with the distance from the coast. In the transects
located in disturbed environments, the soil N and P did not change with the distance. The same
pattern was evident in the relative growth rates of tree basal area.
Our results indicate that the differences in the severity of disturbances have a significant influence on
the properties of forest ecosystems in coastal ridge chronosequences in Estonia. The frequent
disturbances postpone the stage of descent in forest ecosystems and, thus, help to retain their
function, structure and identity.
P8.1
Response of Andropogon gerardii to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the context of
phytoremediation
A. Li, L. Dietterich
Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States
Phytoremediation, or the use of plants to restore polluted soils, holds significant promise for the
treatment of heavy metal contamination. Phytoremediation provides a cleaner and cheaper alternative
to destructive traditional methods. Incorporating obligate symbionts like arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
(AMF) is vital to the effectiveness of phytoremediation. AMF are crucial in promoting growth and
survival that, for some plants, might otherwise be impossible. However, there is scant information
about tolerance of AMF species to metalliferous soils. We performed a greenhouse experiment to
examine the efficacy of AMF in soils polluted with Zn, Cd, and Pb from zinc smelting. We measured
performance of two Andropogon gerardii ecotypes: seeds collected from recent plantings on-site and
from a natural serpentine grassland, which is high in Ni, Cr and Fe. Four AMF treatments were used:
Rhizophagus clarus, Claroideoglomus etunicatum, a 1:1 mixture of the two, or sterile inoculum. Plant
ecotype and AMF factors were fully-factorial with two levels of soil metal contamination.
Plant height, biomass and AMF colonization varied with all three experimental factors: plant ecotype,
level of soil metal contamination, and AMF treatment. The serpentine plant ecotype experienced
higher levels of colonization, but lower levels of biomass growth. The importance of AMF to A. gerardii
in these soil environments is evinced by plants without AMF having 600-700%, less biomass than
those with AMF. In addition, the Rhizophagus clarus treatment produced the most mycorrhizal
colonization, nearly double colonization when both AMF species were applied. Thus, AMF diversity is
not necessarily an absolute benefit. Providing that AMF are present, A. gerardii thrives in high stress
environments, signifying it as an operative phytoremediator. These results will provide a greater
understanding of the importance of AMF to phytoremediation and allow for increased implementation
of phytoremediation.
P8.2
Effects of afforestation on soil microbial community structure in the arid valley of Minjiang
River, Southwestern China
Z. Shi, W. Wang, R. Cheng
Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
In order to explore the effects of afforestation on soil microbial community structure in the arid valley of
Minjiang River, Southwestern China, we selected plantation stands with different afforestation time
(2002, 2006 and 2011) and site conditions (returned farmland to forest, barren mountain and
wasteland) to investigate their soil microbial biomass and community structure by phospholipid fatty
acids (PLFAs) method. The results showed that soil chemical properties were different among the
plantation stands but not significant due to their short plantation period, while the soil microbial
biomass increased significantly with the afforestation time. For the plantation stands with different site
conditions, soil microbial biomass was higher in the plantation stands returned from farmland. The
findings indicate that the response of soil microbial characteristics is more sensitive than that of soil
chemical properties to environmental changes. Soil microbial biomass had significant correlation with
soil total nitrogen content. It suggests that soil total nitrogen content is the key factor affects the soil
microbial community structure in these plantation stands.
P8.3
Use of the ectomycorrhizal fungi in the restoration of a temperate forest in Mexico City
I. Sandoval-González, F.J. Álvarez-Sánchez
Ecology and Natural Resources, National Autonomous University of Mexico, D. F., Mexico
The mycelia of the ectomycorrhizal fungi Suillus brevipes (Peck.) Kuntze and Inocybe splendens R.
Heim, was propagated using BAF media (Biotin-aneurin-folic acid); then saplings of Pinus hartwegii
Lindl. and Abies religiosa (Kunth Schltdl. et Cham.) were inoculated. In a greenhouse the next growth
variables were analyzed: stem diameter, total height and meristem height. The saplings remained for
one year after that in field conditions in permanent plots of the Magdalena River Basin, Southern
Mexico City; survivorship, root/shoot ratio, total dry weight and the relative growth rate were
measured. The mycorrhiza description and nutrient analysis (C, N, P) were done too in four
treatments:
1) without soil (control),
2) with forest's soil,
3) S. brevipes and
4) I. splendens
P. hartwegii had highest survivorship, 88% for the forest soil treatment (the lower value); A. religiosa
survivorship had the lowest values for March 2008, in particular for no forest soil treatment (65.27%).
Peto and Peto test didn't show significant differences between treatments for both species, but small
differences were observed for S. brevipes and I. splendens treatments. Using an ANOVA, there were
no significant differences for total dry weight; however Abies religiosa had a small biomass allocation
with I. splendens and P. hartwegii with S. brevipes. The Relative growth rate was different for P.
hartwegii, where as for A. religiosa, time and the interaction were significant.
The nutrient's analysis showed significant differences for N, and for P. hartwegii higher allocation was
for shoot. There were significant P allocation for soil and S. brevipes treatments; for A. religiosa higher
P allocation was for I. splendens and S. brevipes. Some species of ectomycorrhizal fungi give plant
advantages in field conditions, but more than one year data is necessary. So, a long term monitoring
will be very important for restoration programs.
P8.4
Bimonthly variability of soil microbial community and nitrogen fractions comparing two
vegetation types in the Loess Hilly Region, China
Y. Huang
College of Natural Resource and Environment Science, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
Background and Aims Changes of nitrogen (N) fractions and microbial communities composition and
the relationship between them is essential to understanding microbial-mediated nitrogen
transformation in different artificial shrubs and guiding the revegetation projects in the Loess Hilly
Region
Methods A one-year in situ experiment with closed-top PVC tubes was conducted in two typical
artificial shrub species (Siberian apricot (SA) and Prunus davidiana Franch(PdF)) in the mountainous
area of southern Ningxia. Inorganic N (NH4-N, NO3-N and NO2-N), microbial biomass N (MBN),
soluble organic N (SON), organic N (ON) and its acid hydrolysable fractions and microbial
phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) were measured bimonthly from April 2012 to April 2013.
Results The content of ON and most of its acid hydrolysable fractions, total and fungal PLFAs values
were all higher in SA, but there were no significantly different content of inorganic N, the HTN fraction
percentage and microbial structure between the two shrubs (p< 0.01). The content of SMN and the
hydrolyzable amino sugar-N (HASN) were increased during experiment, and others had no consistent
variation trends. The discriminate analysis showed that the hydrolyzable amino acid-N (HAAN) was
responsible of monthly Nitrogen difference with the highest standard discriminate function
coefficient.12 soil nitrogen fractions were more pronounced separated by time variation than by PLFAs
data. Bacterial PLFAs were the main discriminating indicators for monthly difference. From CCA
analysis, two groups respective positive relationship were found between organic N (HAN) and
+
Bacterial PLFAs as well as inorganic N (NH4 -N) and Total PLFAs.
Conclusions In Loess Hilly region, SA and PdF had the various N and microbial monthly dynamic.
HAN was the most discriminating factions among 12 N fractions. Early-accessible inorganic NH4+-N
was favored by all living microbes. SA is more helpful to improve and recover the soil quality.
P8.5
Functional response of ectomycorrhizal fungal community to nitrogen deposition on slash pine
(Pinus elliottii) plantation in south-central China
1
2
2
2
C. Ning , G.M. Mueller , L.M. Egerton-Warburton , A.W. Wilson
1
Program in Plant Biology and Conservation, Northwestern University, Evanston, United States,
2
Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, United States
In human-dominated and degraded ecosystems, debate centers on how much diversity is necessary
to maintain ecosystem function and serve for restoration practices, and whether species are
functionally redundant. In this study, we address this issue in a Pinus elliottii plantation in south-central
China that was exposed to 3 years of experimental nitrogen (N) deposition. Anthropogenic N
deposition is expected to alter ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal communities, but the effect on functional
diversity is not clear. We characterized the ECM fungal communities associated with trees in three
levels of N enrichment (0, 50, 300 kg N ha-1 yr) by sequencing of fungal ribosomal DNA. Activities of
hydrolytic and oxidative enzymes were quantified in 15 dominant ECM morphotypes in each N
treatment. Increasing N enrichment produced a reduction in ECM richness. The abundance of ECM
formed by Thelephoraceae and Cenococcum decreased in N addition plots, whereas Atheliaceae and
Russula species increased significantly. Acid phosphatase activities were suppressed by N addition,
whereas polyphenol oxidase activity was stimulated by high N input. Protease activities did not
significantly vary among the three different N treatments despite the shift in ECM community
composition. Thus, a degree of functional redundancy in proteolytic ability existed in ECM
communities across the N gradient, and we do not expect this ecosystem service to be compromised
by long-term N deposition. Our study provides a better understanding of functional traits related ECM
fungal communities as well as developing an effective restoration strategy on forest planation
management in these subtropical regions.
P8.6
Interactive influence among vegetation, soil moisture and nutrients after land abandonment in
the loess hilly region, China
F. Jiao
Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University,Yangling, Yangling, China
Background and aim: Despite the great importance of soil water storage and soil nutrition in
influencing vegetation restoration, how their influence with time since land abandonment remains
poorly understood.
Methods: Here, we analyzed of vegetation community characteristic, soil water storage and soil
nutrition by using a chronosequence (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 years since land abandonment,
respectively) in Loess Plateau, China. All sampled sites were established in close proximity to each
other (max. distance 10 km) and had similar climates.
Results: Along this chronosequence, soil water storage decreased over time and was more
remarkable downtrend in surface layer. However, vegetation characteristic index and soil nutrition
generally increased with time since land abandonment. Consequently, soil nutrition increased but soil
water decreased following abandonment, indicating that plant growth in this region were more limited
more by soil water than by soil nutrition over time.
Conclusions: These results suggested that soils in Loess Plateau could adjust soil water storage and
soil nutrition with time since land abandonment, potentially resulting in associated changes in species
composition and nature succession.
P8.7
Biological soil crusts as ecosystem engineers indicate desert ecosystems health in extreme
arid regions of China
X. Li, H. Tan, R. Jia, X. Li, Y. Su
Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of
Sciences, Lanzhou, China
Biological soil crusts (BSCs) are a common and widespread feature of arid and semiarid landscapes
throughout the world. The low cover of vascular plants allowed BSCs to develop in the interspaces of
sparse plants in extreme arid regions. However, as vital components of desert systems, little attention
has been given to their contribution to desert ecosystem health. Our results testified that
cyanobacterial-algal crusts showed the highest nitrogenase activity (16.6 mmol m-2 h-1), followed by
-2 -1
-2 -1
lichen crusts (6.9 mmol m h ), and moss crusts (2.6 mmol m h ). The carbon fixation was 11.36 g
−2
−1
−2
−1
C m yr for cyanobacteria-algae dominated crusts and 26.75 g C m yr for lichen-moss dominated
crusts. These figures demonstrated that BSCs are the main nitrogen and carbon input source in desert
ecosystem because BSCs require less moisture for nitrogen and carbon fixation compared to plants
and occupy a greater desert area. The long-term monitoring indicates BSCs play an important role in
the maintaining soil biota in arid desert systems, such as the presence of BSCs significantly enhanced
nematode diversity in topsoil. In addition, BSCs improved the soil water availability of the shallow layer
by enhancing the topsoil water-holding capacity, which occurred due to increased silt and clay. Such
alteration of soil water by BSCs is expected to significantly increase the survival rate of annual plants
with shallow root systems. At landscape scale, more than 75% of the sediments, 63% soil carbon,
74% nitrogen and 45∼73% dissolved nutrients triggered by runoff from crust patches were delivered to
shrub patches. Therefore, it is potential that BSCs act as vital factors for stability and health of desert
ecosystems through their benefits in protection surface soil, providing nutrient, favoring soil microbiome, mediating soil moisture and influence on vascular plants.
This work was supported by NNSFC (grant No.41271061).
P8.8
Soil restoration: the role of soil micro-food webs under the nitrogen deposition and earthworm
invasion
Y. Shao, W. Zhang, X. Wang, T. Liu, S. Fu
South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
As a component of climate change, the effects of atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition and earthworm
invasion on forest ecosystems are substantial. Most previous studies of N deposition or earthworm
invasion focus on aboveground ecosystems. In belowground ecosystems, most studies of N
deposition focus on soil microbial communities, few studies suggest that soil fauna could also be
affected by atmospheric N deposition. Studies on the responses of underlying processes of
belowground ecosystems to the interactions between atmospheric N deposition and earthworm
invasion are poorly documented. We conducted an experiment in a subtropical forest to test the
hypothesis that N deposition will result in the decrease of soil C:N ratios, which will affect the
components of the soil micro-food webs.Our results revealed that N deposition increased
actinomycetic biomass but decreased the diversity and richness of bacteria and fungi. The interactions
between plant and N deposition increased the diversity and richness of soil fungi. Earthworm invasion
decreased bacterial biomass, the Shannon index of bacteria and fungi. The interactions between
earthworm invasion and plant increased the values of nematode richness, evenness, diversity but
decreased the values of nematode dominance. Overall, the effects of earthworm invasion on soil
nematodes were stronger in those systems with plant in contrast to those systems without plant.
Similarly, the effects of N deposition on soil fungal communities were stronger in those systems with
plant in contrast to those systems without plant.
The results suggest that the diversity of soil nematodes may increase in response to earthworm
invasion, diversity and richness of soil fungi will increase in response to N deposition in subtropical
forest ecosystems. As a result, soil fungi and soil nematodes will play different indicator roles in soil
restoration in the context of N deposition and earthworm invasion.
P8.9
Soil carbon stabilization under deciduous, coniferous, and grassland reclamation treatments in
the Alberta oil sands
M. Laidlaw, C. Prescott, S. Grayston
Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
During oil sands extraction, upland mineral soil and organic soil from peatlands is salvaged and stored
before being mixed together and used as a capping treatment in reclaimed areas. The ability of
reclaimed soils to stabilize carbon is an important indicator of soil functioning and successful
reclamation. The objective of this research was to compare total soil carbon and the distribution of
carbon in chemically- and physically-protected pools between reclaimed vegetation treatments, and
naturally fire-disturbed sites. All 20 sites were reclaimed or disturbed 20 - 40 years ago, and the top 10
cm was sampled. Density and size separation was used to isolate soil organic carbon (SOC) into free
light fraction C, aggregate-associated C, and silt- and clay-associated C. Air-dried soil was wet-sieved
and separated into large macroaggregates (>2000 µm), small macroaggregates (250-2000 µm),
microaggregates (53-250 µm) and silt- and clay-sized fraction (>53 µm). Reclaimed sites had six times
more total SOC than natural sites, and more SOC in physically- and chemically-protected pools.
However, the largest SOC pool at reclaimed sites was the light fraction pool, which represented half of
total SOC on average, compared to 9 % at natural sites. No significant differences were found
between vegetation treatments, except at deciduous sites, which had more total soil C than grassland
sites, and tended to have the greatest light fraction C pool. Aggregate stability (MWD) and size
distribution were not significantly different between reclaimed vegetation treatments, or natural sites.
Accumulation of SOC in the free light fraction at reclaimed sites suggest that further incorporation of
SOC into physically- and chemically-protected pools may be limited by soil texture (< 3% clay).
P8.10
The use of topsoil in the restoration an area degraded by iron mining
L.C. Araújo1, Â.A.F. Esperança1, G.C. Santos1, I.M. Pereira1, M.A.P. Silva1, J.R. Ferreira2
1
Forestry, Federal University of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys, Diamantina, Brazil, 2Forest
Engineer, Anglo American - Iron Ore Brazil, Conceição do Mato Dentro, Brazil
One fundamental aspect in the restoration of areas degraded by mining is the knowledge about the
soil or the substrate where the restoration will be held, since the mined areas and waste dump show
severe chemical and physical limitations for the establishment of plants. Thus, among the existing
restoration methods one widely used in mining areas and that is directly related to the improvement in
soil quality, is the transposition of topsoil which provides physical, chemical and microbiological
conditions which are favorable to the establishment of species from its seed data, besides the its use
is a requirement needed for the environmental license. Thus, the object of the current study was to
quantify the richness and density of plants generated from the use of topsoil in a ferruginous rock field
waste dump. The experiment area is the top of a ferruginous rock field waste dump located in the
Anglo American company in Conceição do Mato Dentro, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, formed
by 1963.5m², where a layer of topsoil of nearly 1m from areas of ferruginous rock field where there
was suppression of vegetation to install the digging area. Ten months after the distribution of topsoil all
of the individuals of a shrubby arboreal community regenerating were accounted and identified. The
vegetal coverage grown on the topsoil has shown 366 total shrubby arboreal individuals, belonging to
14 families with 24 species. The topsoil has provided the regeneration of autochthonous and
allochthonous species to the rock field ecosystem promoting the soil coverage and vegetation
recovery, thus a liable alternative to accelerate the process of succession in degraded areas has
shown.
P8.11
Use of topsoil in the ecological restoration of the Atlantic Forest, in Grazing Land in
Southeastern Brazil
1
1
1
2
1
A.A. Fernandes Esperança , L.C. Araujo , M.A. Pereira da Silva , J.R. Ferreira , I. Marinho Pereira
1
Forestry Department, Federal University of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys - UFVJM, Diamantina,
Brazil, 2Forest Engineer at Anglo American - Iron Ore Brazil, American Ferrous Company, Brazil
The Brazilian Atlantic Forest used to reach an area equivalent to 1,315,460 km², nowadays there is
just 12.5% of that. This environment degradation occurred for diverse activities, such as through
formation of grazing lands. The ecological restoration of this biome has become a challenge, among
the already evaluated techniques, the use of topsoil has been widely spread especially in the mining
sector. To extract the iron ore the topsoil is taken out and stored. However, due to the long life circle of
the mine, it becomes unviable to use it in the restoration of those areas. Therefore, it creates the
opportunity to be used in the ecological restoration in grazing lands environments. Glimpsing that
opportunity, the goal of this study was to test the use of the topsoilin the restoration of the Atlantic
Forest in grazing lands areas, as well as the influence of different layers, shading and origin of the
topsoil in the composition of species and density of seedlings rising through the natural regeneration.
The experiment was installed in Conceição do Mato Dentro, in southeastern Brazil, in November of
2012. The randomized blocks design was used, being composed by the combination of three factors:
topsoil origin (initial and medium stage of succession); different thickness (10, 20, 30 cm); and by the
presence or absence of shading (70%); in addition to two extra witnesses composed by the presence
or absence of shading, totalizing 14 treatments with three repetitions, implanted in 42 parcels of 25m².
After two years of evaluation, it was found the natural regeneration of 655 shrubby arboreal individuals
distributed in 22 genus and 29 species. There with, we can conclude that the use of topsoil is a liable
technique for the restoration of the Atlantic Forest in grazing lands environments.
P9.1
Enhancing ecosystem services through policy resilience towards effective restoration
programs in multifunctional periurban wetlands
1
2
A. Chatterjee , D. Dey
1
2
Research & Communication, South Asian Forum for Environment, Kolkata, India, Research &
Planning, South Asian Forum for Environment, Kolkata, India
Paradigm shifts in policy framework toward accommodating irreversible landscape alterations brought
about by climate change to guide ecological restoration needs to aim toward minimizing the causes of
ecosystem degradation, especially where causes cannot be eliminated or minimized. The degree to
which lost diversity and ecosystem services can be recovered depends on the extent and nature of
landscape change. Studies reveal that wetlands that occur at the base of watersheds that have been
developed for agriculture or urban centers, the inflows of excess water, sediment, and nutrients can be
permanent and can severely challenge efforts to restore historical services, including biodiversity
support. In a similar case, periurban Ramsar sites in India like Loktak Lake and Deepor Beel, perusal
of impact assessment studies show that the historical state of downstream wetlands cannot be
completely restored. The present paper implies on wetland restoration policy to promote watershed
planning, wherein wetland and upland restoration is prioritized to achieve multiple, and specific
ecosystem services. Further for downstream wetlands, the study advocates that it is realistic to aim to
enhance nutrient removal and to establish native plants that are matrix dominants. Policy should also
call for adaptive restoration and long-term assessments. For larger and multiple sites of a given
wetland within a region, experimental tests can determine a wetland's ability to support high levels of
ecosystem services. Once restoration practices are underway, long-term monitoring of structural and
functional indicators can characterize progress toward each objective. The paper recommends that
when experimental treatment shows limited progress, practitioners may shift to more promising
treatments and targets, thereby adapting restoration efforts to changing landscapes. Rather than
ensuring duplication of historical conditions, an adaptive restoration framework would allow
practitioners to aim high while using field tests to identify unachievable targets and adapt ecological
restoration to landscape change.
P9.2
Quantification and valuation of ecosystem services to optimize sustainable re-use for lowproductive drained peatlands
A. Tolvanen1, M. Parviainen2
1
2
Natural Resources Institute Finland / University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland, Natural Resources Institute
Finland, Oulu, Finland
Almost one-third of European peatland resource is situated in Finland, where more than half of the
original peatlands have been drained to increase tree growth. However, 20% of the drained peatland
area does not produce enough timber to fulfill commercial purposes. At the same time, their
biodiversity is degraded, they may continue environmental loading to watercourses and act as
greenhouse gas (GHG) sources. A key question concerning the use of peatlands is what to do with
these low-productive drained peatlands that have been left aside from active forestry.
There are needs to use the low-productive peatlands in the production of bioenergy, timber and peat.
Simultaneously, there are needs to restore the most valuable drained peatland habitats, which might
recover towards their original state. The problem is that the impacts of different the different options on
biodiversity, environment and economy are not yet fully understood and thus it is hard to give
proposals for re-use actions for specific areas. The challenge is to develop mechanisms that can
balance the conflicting demands on the use of the drained peatlands and to ensure their sustainable
use.
Our 5-year EU funded LIFE+ project LIFEPeatLandUse (2013-2018) consolidates and increases the
knowledge on the impacts of peatland re-use on ecosystem services. The aim is to find cost-efficient
re-use options to low-productive drained peatlands, which help to prevent or stop decline of
biodiversity and environmental loading to watercourses, and improve capacity of peatlands to store
greenhouse gases. There are seven different peatland re-use options under investigation,
representing the economic activity as well as measures related to the protection. The purpose is to
evaluate and predict their potential impacts on the peatland landscapes, if they were applied in
practice.
P9.3
Factors involved in the resilience of a Brazilian savanna grassland after disturbances by
opening gaps
1
2
N.A.L. Pilon , G. Durigan
1
Instituto de Biologia, UNICAMP, Campinas, Brazil, 2Forestry Institute of São Paulo State, Assis, Brazil
Among the major targets set by the Conference on Biological Diversity are recovering and increasing
the resilience of natural ecosystems. However, little is known about the response of natural systems to
disturbances and this information is even scarcer for savanna and grassland vegetation. Aiming at to
evaluate the resilience of an undisturbed savanna grassland in Brazil, we opened gaps of different
sizes (large = 1 m², median = ¼ m², and small = 1/16 m², ten replicates each), by totally removing the
plant cover and top soil (5 cm deep) after a complete survey of the plant community. Plant community
density and richness and rhythm of ground recovery were used as indicators of resilience. Additionally,
we quantified plants in regeneration on their origin (seeds or sprouts) and functional groups
(graminoids, forbs, and woody plants), to elucidate the processes behind resilience. Gaps were first
colonized by plants coming from seeds. After three months, however, approximately 80% of the
colonizers were sprouts from underground structures of woody plants. After six months, richness and
density were higher than in the pre-disturbance condition in all gap sizes, and small gaps had already
reached the coverage previous to disturbance. Graminoids (grasses and sedges) form the last
functional group to return, with less than half the previous density recovered after six months. We
concluded that cerrado grassland is highly resilient. This resilience, however, is strongly dependent on
the regrowth of underground structures (roots, xylopodia, rhyzomes), with little contribution of seed
bank or seed rain. If the degradation processes do not destroy underground structures, natural
regeneration of this vegetation is possible and tends to be rapid. However, special attention should be
given to grasses, whose recovery depends on seed germination and seedling establishment, which
have proven unsuccessful processes.
P9.4
Assessment of ecological resilience bsed on vegetation carbon storage in coal mining areas
1
2
1
1
H. Hou , S. Zhang , Y. Yang , Z. Ding
1
School of Environment Science and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology,
Xuzhou, China, 2Low Carbon Energy Institute, Low Carbon Energy Institute of China University of
Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, China
Although mining is a highly important activity for global economy growth，it inevitably leads to
substantial ecological and environmental damage. Land reclamation and ecological restoration are
considered as an important strategy of balancing mineral resource exploration and ecological
protection. Thus, it is important to understand ecological resilience variation during mining and
reclamation to make measurement for improving ecosystem in mining areas. This paper discussed the
ecological resilience in the operational mining based on the vegetation carbon storage in the case of
Jiuli mining of Xuzhou. Remote sensing images and GIS soft were used and three study phases were
on 8 June 1987, 6 June 1998, and 1 June 2008. Vegetation carbon storage was calculated by a
modified CASA model, and the distributing characters of different land-use types were analyzed. The
results showed that:
-1
(1) The vegetation carbon storage decreased 12,488.73 PgCmonth from 1987 to 1998 and occupied
17.91% of vegetation carbon storage in 1987. Therein, vegetation of carbon storage of cultivated land
declined 13,184.9 PgCmonth-1, increased 637.05 and 68.48 PgCmonth-1 in forest land and water
respectively. Vegetation carbon storage was small in Build-up land and wasteland so that it could be
neglected.
-1
(2) The vegetation carbon storage decreased 21,409.00 PgCmonth from 1998 to 2008 and occupied
37.40% of vegetation carbon storage in 1998. Therein, vegetation of carbon storage declined
-1
-1
25,570.66 PgCmonth in cultivated land，increased 5,069.99 PgCmonth in forest land, decreased
-1
952.81 PgCmonth in water. It was clearly that the ecosystem resilience declined with the increase of
production capacity of mining. Since agricultural ecology pays an important role in land reclamation in
the mining area, improving the cultivated and forest land ecology might help reconstruct the mining
ecology.
P9.5
Resource - biomass relationship in a simple mathematical model of vegetation development:
contrasting states are not indicators of resilience loss
A. Yurova1, A.S. Komarov2
1
Nansen Centre, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation, 2Laboratory of Ecosystem Modelling, Institute of
Physicochemical and Biological Problems in Soil Science, Pushchino, Russian Federation
A system of differential equations was derived for a very simplified case of homogeneous vegetation
and primary resource. It is assuming two strategies: either investment in growth with resource
saturation at a certain resource level or investment in survival and resource saving. It is shown that
with a use of parameter range found in literature a single and stable steady state is indicative for both
cases of this simplified system, but for given resource productivity the biomass is naturally higher in
case of investment in growth. The system dynamics describes either accumulation of biomass and
resource in the system when below the steady state (mimicking primary succession) or the loss of
both when above it (also in correspondence with observations). The active resource pool is higher at a
higher growth rate. It is also shown that approaching the steady state with higher or lower initial
biomass the system can be at the states when two different biomass values are corresponding to the
single resource value. However calling the case with a lower biomass as a secondary (undesired)
state and the result of resilience loss of the higher biomass conditions would be a misinterpretation.
Indeed in definition of Holling the described system is fully resilient, because all trajectories move
inside the domain where the steady state for both variables is situated. The relative rate of
approaching this steady state can however be very low at low initial biomass. Implications of the
proposed system of equations for explaining various strategies of ecosystem restoration, such as
removing topsoil and highly productive vegetation or, in opposite, sowing initially productive plants at
low resource sites are discussed.
P9.6
How pollinators contribute to resilience of wetland gentiana Swertia perennis - a case study
from Biebrza Valley
1,2
1
U. Biereznoj-Bazille , I. Tałałaj
1
2
Institut of Biology, University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland, Biebrzański Park Narodowy, Goniądz,
Poland
Species existence depends strongly from abiotic habitat conditions but also from the interactions with
other biota elements. In vascular plant the special role play pollinators which guaranty the long term
survival by ensuing the pollination process and new generation. The capability of reproductive system
of the felwort was examined in that study. The experiment was conducted in the Biebrza Valley (in one
from seven Polish lowland felwort populations) during two vegetation periods (2012-2013). We were
testing three type of pollination: manual self-pollination, geintonogamy and cross-pollination with
emasculation. The results showed the highest seed production among control flowers (natural
pollination). Conversely, the seed-set of manually selfed flowers was almost 15% lower (p< 0,001)
than of open-pollinated (control) flowers, with large proportion of aborted seeds indicating an
inbreeding depression. The same trends were observed in both year. Differences in germination of
seed were detected between diverse pollination treatments. Seeds germination was higher about 30%
(p< 0,01) in open-pollinated flower (control) than from selfed pollinated ones. Herkogamy prevents
spontaneous selfing. The occurrence of pollinators is essential for the successful pollination and
development of viable seeds.
P9.7
The CEBA “community ecosystem based adaptation” approach to integrated sustainable
development
Z. Brocklehurst, A. Whitley, A. Venter, R. Kloppers, K. Mccann
Wildlands Conservation Trust, Hilton, South Africa
Launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP17/CMP7) in Durban, South Africa,
the CEBA concept recognises that ecosystems sustain human life. That we have allowed these
systems to be overused, polluted and destroyed, and that impoverished communities are the most
vulnerable to this damage and the impacts of climate change, it is imperative that we implement
change. The CEBA approach focuses on the upliftment of impoverished communities by harnessing
the opportunities of the “green economy” to restore and maintain their ecosystems. Piloted at 27
project sites in South Africa, Wildlands implements the CEBA approach to leverage government, nongovernment, private sector and community partnerships to clean and green poor communities, restore
their ecosystems and nurture their environmental awareness, leadership and custodianship. A
catchment in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa is used to represent a philosophical overview of how
Wildlands has pioneered this concept.
P10.1
Carbon restoration in degraded areas of High Andean Forest using native plant species of
Colombia - South America
N. Rodriguez1, O. Melo1, F. Rojas2, A. Ochoa3
1
University of Tolima, Ibagué, Colombia, 2Corporación Ambiental Empresarial, Bogotá, Colombia,
3
Fundación Natura, Bogotá, Colombia
Carbon storage by 25 species of trees and shrubs native of Colombia was evaluated. The monitoring
period was 10 years and the work area covers 140 hectares, individuals were established by mixing
ecological species groups (pioneers, secondary early and secondary late). The total number of trees
planted in the restoration project is 160000. Weather conditions correspond to a dry high Andean
forest with precipitation of 600 mm.year-1, and with presence of frost in dry seasons. Temperatures
vary between 4 and 12 °C and with presence of permanent cloudiness, which characterizes the area
within an environment with water restrictions, temperature and light for optimal growth and
development of trees. The goal of this research was to quantify the accumulated biomass and carbon
captured through allometric models standardized for 25 species of trees, relating the total dry matter
and by structural component expressed in kilograms in function to age in years (DW=bo+b1A+b2A2).
The settings of the models expressed by R2 varied between 96 and 99%. The foliar biomass was the
component with more variability and the stem biomass had the highest settings. High variability in
carbon capture was evidenced, which was between 0,5 and 15 TonsCO2e.hectare-1.year-1. The
differential distribution of biomass allowed identified two functional groups of species; the first
corresponds to species that prioritize growth in aboveground biomass but show higher rates of
mortality. The second group corresponds to species that prioritize over ground biomass ensuring
greater survival at the expense of growth in height. The results of this research allow proposing
restoration strategies that ensure the survival of individuals and recovery of ecosystem services from
functional principles.
P10.2
Carbon sequestration in the plant-soil system following grazing exclusion and afforestation in
desertified area of China´s Horqin Sandy Land
Y. Li1, Y. Chen2, S. Wang1
1
Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of
2
Sciences, Lanzhou, China, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Lanzhou Jiaotong
University, Lanzhou, China
The Horqin Sandy Land is a severely desertified area in China´s agro-pastoral ecotone due to its
fragile ecology, combined with unsustainable land management. We investigated the effects of
afforestation and grazing exclusion in areas with active sand dunes on carbon (C) and nitrogen (N)
storage in the plant-soil system. The 28- and 38-year-old plantations with Mongolian pine (Pinus
sylvestris var. mongolica Litv.) had 72 and 160 times the ecosystem biomass C storage, respectively,
of areas with active sand dunes; the corresponding ecosystem biomass N storage was 48 and 105
times the value for areas with active dunes, versus 1.8 and 2.3 times for soil total C storage and 1.4
and 1.5 times for soil total N storage. The C and N accumulation rates in the plant-soil system were
678 kg C ha-1 y−1 and 23 kg N ha-1 y−1, respectively, over 38 years of planting. The biomass C
-1 −1
accumulation totaled 137, 250, and 148 kg C ha y after the exclusion of grazing for 7, 12, and 25
-1 −1
years, respectively, versus 350, 435, and 567 kg C ha y for soil C accumulation and 487, 685, and
715 g C m-2 y-1 for total ecosystem C accumulation. The corresponding N accumulation in biomass
totaled 3, 6, and 5 kg N ha-1 y−1, versus 40, 48, and 51 kg N ha-1 y−1 for soil N accumulation and 43,
-1 −1
54, and 56 kg N ha y for total ecosystem N accumulation. Our results indicated that afforestation
and grazing exclusion of active sand dunes have high potential to sequester C and N in the plants and
the soil.
P10.3
Brownfield multifunctionality: engineering carbon capture and biodiversity provision in the
urban environment
1
1
1
2
3
1
M.A. Goddard , M.E. Jorat , B.W. Kolosz , P. Manning , S.P. Sohi , D.A. Manning
1
School of Civil Engineering & Geosciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United
Kingdom, 2Institute for Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland, 3School of GeoSciences,
University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Urban green spaces should be managed to provide multiple ecosystem services. In particular, urban
brownfields have great potential for both carbon capture and biodiversity conservation. Survey work at
several UK sites has revealed that urban soils are more effective than agricultural soils as carbon
sinks. A reason for this is that urban brownfield soils typically contain calcium silicate/hydroxide
minerals derived from demolition (e.g. cement dust and lime) that release Ca sufficiently rapidly to
combine with carbonate in solution to form solid CaCO3 (calcite). This carbonation process is
extremely rapid: typically 150 tonnes of CO2 are removed from the atmosphere ha-1 yr-1 and, so, if
urban soils are strategically designed to have a carbon capture function, around 10% of the UK´s 2050
CO2 emissions reduction target could be captured in engineered urban soils. Here we introduce a new
research project that builds on these results - 'Sustainable Urban Carbon Capture: Engineering Soils
for Climate Change' (SUCCESS). Employing a novel interdisciplinary design, SUCCESS will integrate
field surveys and controlled experiments to explore the capacity for urban land designed to have a
carbon capture function to also provide other ecosystem services, including biodiversity conservation,
flood prevention and recreation, and to assess whether there are trade-offs or synergies between the
provision of these multiple functions. Field surveys in a stratified sample of brownfield sites will
measure plant and invertebrate diversity and the relationship between vegetation, carbonate
precipitation and soil geotechnical properties. These will be supported by experimental trials using
engineered urban soils that examine which plant species and functional types best facilitate carbon
capture. Ultimately, we will make recommendations for plant selection and vegetation management
that optimises both carbon capture and the provision of other ecosystem services in restored urban
landscapes.
SUCCESS is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
(EPSRC EP/K034952/1).
P10.4
Does species richness of forest restoration plantations affect light capture and above-ground
carbon stock?
1
1
1
2
1
3
M.M. Duarte , A.C. André , L.E. Bernardini , O.C. Campoe , J.C.T. Mendes , J.L. Stape , P.H.S.
Brancalion1
1
Departamento de Ciências Florestais, Universidade de São Paulo - Escola Superior de Agricultura
2
'Luiz de Queiroz', Piracicaba, Brazil, Instituto de Pesquisas e Estudos Florestais, Piracicaba, Brazil,
3
Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh,
United States
Studies of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning have investigated, in the last decades, how plant
diversity influences ecosystem functions, such as primary productivity. Enhancing biomass increment
in forests is especially important when considering the role of carbon uptake by vegetation for
mitigating climate change. Our study investigated whether increase in tree species richness in
restoration plantations sites increases light capture by canopy and carbon uptake. The experiment
was established in 2006 in southeastern Brazil, within the Atlantic Forest biome, where 20, 57, and
107 tree species were planted, using 480 tree seedlings per plot and four replicates. We estimated
aboveground carbon stored in tree biomass six years after planting, using a site-specific allometric
equation for restoration plantations of the same age class. In dry and rainy seasons, in 12 points per
plot, we used hemispheric photographs to determine vegetation area index (VAI) and a ceptometer to
measure photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) and to estimate absorbed PAR (APAR). We sampled
leaves from 5 individuals per species to assess specific leaf area (SLA) and to estimate leaf area
index (LAI), using VAI values and a calibration equation. LAI values (1.37, 1.53 and 1.61, for 20, 57,
and 107 species, respectively) significantly increased with species richness and APAR (2575.3,
2987.8 and 3283.1 MJ m-2 yr-1) differed between the lowest and highest species richness treatments.
However, carbon stock did not significantly differ among treatments so far (13.96, 15.62 and 16.94
-1
MgC ha ). Increasing species richness favored canopy cover and light interception, but did not
promote higher carbon stock in the first six years after plantation. However, there is a trend of
increasing carbon stock with higher plantation richness levels, which may result in different carbon
stocks in the midterm, with the development of late-successional species.
P11.1
A brief overview of biotic interactions in ecological restoration
1
2
1
3
1
4
T.S. Toma , M.M. Gossner , B.O. Azambuja , G. Ganade , M.S. Mendonça Jr. , T.M. Lewinsohn
1
2
Ecology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil, Ecology and Ecosystem
3
Management, Technische Universität München, Freising, Germany, Botany, Ecology and Zoology,
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil, 4Zoology, Universidade Estadual de
Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
Biotic interactions have been shown to be a crucial topic for ecological and conservation studies.
Nevertheless, interactions have only being rarely cited in central reference texts on ecological
restoration. We provide a brief overview of which biotic interactions have been addressed and which
have been largely neglected in ecological restoration. With this we aim at bringing them to the
attention of scientists and practitioners. We performed a Web of Science® search reviewing all articles
for the last 20 years that have dealt with ecological restoration and the following biotic interactions:
1) pollination,
2) seed dispersal,
3) seed predation,
4) herbivory,
5) endophyte-host association,
6) decomposition,
7) nitrogen fixation (bacteria),
8) phosphorus fixation (mycorrhizae),
9) facilitation,
10) competition,
11) parasitism and
12) predation.
We found a very low proportion (9%) of restoration studies considering these biotic interactions in their
main frame of investigation. From the restoration works that dealt with biotic interactions, two thirds
were focused on facilitation, competition and seed dispersal while only one in ten studies was related
to seed predation and associations between plant and nitrogen fixing bacteria. We highlight that
interactive processes should be accounted for, with a clear consideration of those that favor
restoration in contrast to others that may have undesirable effects. Currently, there is an unequal effort
of investigating modes of interaction within restoration projects, mainly focusing on plant-plant
interactions. We expect these efforts to equalize especially with the increased use of approaches such
as network and trait-based analysis in ecological restoration. This research was supported by CNPq,
CAPES and DFG.
P12.1
Experimental restoration of a former corn field to wet meadow by sowing and hay transfer
J. Thiry1, S. Gallet1, A. Dausse2
1
EA 2219, University of Brest, Brest, France, 2CAMA 29, Brest, France
The restoration of wetland ecosystems in severely altered sites often lead to the site vegetation being
completely removed during the process, leaving large stretches of bare soil, submitted to erosion and
sensitive to invasive plant colonization. In order to diminish these risks, sowing of grassland species is
a usual practice. However, there is no consensus on what should be sown and the impact of this
practice on plant and faunal biodiversity is rarely tested.
In the framework of an experimental network for wetland rehabilitation set up in the Finistère (Brittany,
France), a former corn field, was restored in order to re-establish a functional wet meadow. The
restoration work consisted in removing a landfill and filling up drainage ditches. Thereafter, in order to
accelerate vegetation colonization, different sowing modalities were tested.
The landfill was suppressed to the level of the former wetland, resulting in the removal of between 25
and 50 cm of soil on approximately 6 800 m2.
Stripe of 12 m wide taking up the whole length of the plot were materialized and sowed according to
five different modalities (with three replicates): two densities of monospecific Italian raygrass, a
commercial mixture of seeds intended for mowed wet meadows, and hay transfer from a wet meadow
located nearby. Unsown bare plots were included in the design to follow spontaneous colonization.
Plant diversity and specific cover was monitored on all sowing modalities and controls. In parallel a
seed bank analysis was undertaken on soil samples taken before the sowing and hay transfer, as well
as an analysis of the seed content of the transferred hay. Both soil sample and hay content were
analyzed by seed germination in a greenhouse and seedling counting.
P12.2
Restoration of functional biodiversity in agro-ecosystems: the role of field margin vegetation
and landscape structure
1
1
1
1
2
3
A. Pollier , Y. Tricault , B. Jaloux , A. Saphore , M. Plantegenest , A. Bischoff
1
Agrocampus Ouest, Angers, UMR IGEPP, Angers, France, 2Agrocampus Ouest, Rennes, UMR
IGEPP, Rennes, France, 3University of Avignon, UMR Mediterranian Institute of Biodiversity and
Ecology, Avignon, France
Biodiversity of agricultural landscapes is concentrated in semi-natural non-crop habitats. In presenting
shelter and resources for natural enemies of crop herbivores, these semi-natural habitats also
comprise a large part of functional biodiversity providing important ecosystem services such as pest
insect control. The floristic composition of such habitats has been suggested as a key factor since
plant species differ in resource provisioning. The decline of non-crop habitats in European agricultural
landscapes has resulted in loss of biological control service. To stop this loss of functional biodiversity,
several European countries have implemented the creation and restoration of semi-natural structures
in their agri-environment schemes. However, the success of such measures is limited by our poor
knowledge on interactions between field margin vegetation, crop herbivores and their natural enemies,
and we still do not know which plant community really improves ecosystem services.
In this study, we analyze the relationship between plant species composition of field margins and the
control of major herbivores in wheat crops. We also test whether large-scale landscape structure may
be more important than adjacent field margin vegetation. We studied 16 wheat and 16 oilseed rape
fields in Western France. Data collection included entomological surveys in the field and the analysis
of field margin vegetation close to the surveys. The surrounding landscape was mapped within a
distance of 1000m.
Several vegetation parameters (diversity and cover of functional groups) were positively correlated
with predation of crop herbivores and negatively correlated with herbivore abundance and damage.
However, we also found undesired interactions between field margin flora and crop herbivory such as
a positive correlation between the cover of grass species and cereal leaf beetle damage. The results
will help to improve the contribution of field margin flora to biological control by designing and planting
suppressive seed mixtures or by favoring desired plant species.
P12.3
Importance of field margins and flower strips for Papilionoidea and Zygaenidae in agricultural
landscapes
A. Kirmer, A. Schmidt, F. Zinner, S. Tischew
Nature Conservation and Landscape Planning, Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, Bernburg,
Germany
In many parts of Germany, land consolidation resulted in huge arable fields at the expense of speciesrich vegetation types. Especially in highly productive agricultural regions of Saxony-Anhalt (Germany),
natural vegetation is scarce, consisting mostly of dense grass swards. This resulted in a severe and
ongoing decline of biological diversity. Within agri-environmental schemes, species-rich flower strips
and field margins were established by sowing native wild plants. During this study, we want to quantify
the impact of these measures on Papilionoidea and Zygaenidae species.
From May 2013 to September 2014, we observed the occurrence of butterflies and burnet moths in
the following habitat types: (1) cultivated arable land, (2) species-poor grass margins, (3) species-rich
field margins sown with 49 native species in October 2010 and April 2011, respectively, and (4)
species-rich flower strips sown with 47 native species in September 2010 and April 2011, respectively.
During the observation time, 26 Papilionoidea and 4 Zygaenidae species were determined. Correlating
with the abundance of flowering species, the field margin as well as the flower strip site showed the
highest number of butterflies (24/21) and burnet moths (3/4). In grass margins and especially in
cultivated arable land the number of observed butterflies (10/5) and burnet moths (1/0) was lower. In
all sites, ubiquitous species and species typical for mesic grasslands were over-represented.
Xerophilous species were found only on species-rich field margin and flower strip sites. The number of
individuals was extremely low in arable fields, and highest in the flower strip with a significant
correlation to the number of flowering nectar plants.
Compared to the whole Strenzfeld region, already 60-63 % of the Papilionoidea and Zygaenidae
species have been found in the species-rich field margin and flower strip sites, indicating the extremely
high importance of these habitat types for biodiversity enhancement.
P12.4
Are the taxa used for ground covers in Mediterranean olive groves suitable for this
conservation agriculture practice?
M. Hernández González1,2, B. Jiménez Alfaro1,3, C. Gálvez1, S. Frischie1,2
1
2
3
Semillas Silvestres, Córdoba, Spain, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy, Masaryk University, Brno,
Czech Republic
In the Mediterranean basin more than 9.000.000 ha of land are dedicated to growing olives groves. A
number of factors threaten the sustainability of this agroecosystem, and the most important one is
erosion due to the soil management in recent decades. A ground cover (GC) is a conservation
agriculture practice used mainly to control erosion in perennial crops by covering the soil surface either
with inert matter or live plants. The live GC can be two types: sown (S), when the seeds are planted;
or spontaneous vegetation (SV), when the plants are allowed to grow from the soil seed bank.
Researchers have proved GC's effectiveness for controlling erosion and point out the ideal
requirements that a live GC must have: self-sowing, low height, fast growth, adaptation to the rainy
season, superficial root system, non-hostage of pests, capacity to capture and cycle nutrients,
tolerance to transit of vehicles and low combustibility. The taxa used for GC should meet these
requirements. When using S GC, olive growers and researchers have been sowing mainly cultivated
taxa that were not selected for this purpose. When using SV GC in many cases the taxa were not
identified or filtered. The objective of this study is to assess the suitability of the taxa used as GC in
Mediterranean olive groves for this conservation agriculture practice. To do this assessment, we
examined 60 publications about GC in Mediterranean olive groves and then we collected data about
the functional traits of the taxa found. We expect: to identify most of the taxa used as GC in different
Mediterranean countries; to provide a suitability guide of the taxa used as a GC and to find some
spontaneous taxa to be more suitable for GC than the used cultivated taxa.
P12.5
Hymenoptera interactions in an agricultural ecosystem near resilient dry forest, in Puntarenas,
Costa Rica
W.G. Ovares Villalobos
Natural Resources, UNED Costa Rica, San Pedro, Costa Rica
Entomofauna doesn´t get the same atention regarding ecological restoration; despite its contribution to
increase resilience of ecosystems. The importance of Hymenoptera in pollination and biological control
is well known but it´s not studied enough. The study was focused in the identification of parasitoids of
the citric leafminer (Phylocnistis citrella), in lemon plantations (Citrus latifolia) in the Pacific coast of
Costa Rica, in order to generate a proposal of biological control, instead of chemical control, to
minimize environmental damages and provide green options to farmers, in order to ensure ecological
restoration of areas connected to citric crops. First, It was established a random sampling of insects, to
determine the wealth of species in the crops. Over 60 species were found, then, it was decided to
focus in parasitism interactions among P. citrella and some species of Hymenoptera. Samples of
lemon leafs infected by P. citrella were brought to laboratory, in order to cuantify the eclosion success
of the species, and looking for evidence of parasitoid eclosion too. 4 genera of parasitoids were found,
all of them have been reported as biological controllers. The sudy reveals a high correlation (95%)
between P. citrella and parasitoid populations, with high levels of parasitism during the rainy season
(May - October). Plantations are surrounded by important remnants of tropical dry forest, so it´s
necesary to generate knowledge about the impact of productive activities in those remnants , including
declining of populations of benefical insects. Commonly, resilient forests are located between
agricultural or productive areas, and these activities have an impact on the sourroundings, including
water, soils and biodiversity.
The Project was funded by Proyecto FEES-UNED Costa Rica . In a next phase, benefical insects will
be studied in other ecosystems with the aim of ecological restoration.
Keywords: Hymenoptera, parasitoids, Phylocnistis citrella, biological control, ecological restoration
P13.1
Woodland herbaceous layer restoration in urban forests: assessing key species
E.A. Altrichter, C.M. Mabry, J.R. Thompson
Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Iowa State University, Ames, United States
Woodland herbaceous perennials are important functional elements of healthy forests. Understory
plants, especially spring ephemerals, capture nutrients and stabilize soil. In central Iowa, United
States, human impacts on forests have led to widespread decline of some native perennial species,
particularly forest specialists, and their replacement by generalist species. Woodland restoration
focused on the herbaceous layer is uncommon in Iowa, so best practices have not yet been
established. One significant debate has developed over appropriate plant sources for restoration.
There are often genetic differences between geographically distant populations of the same species,
and scientists and land managers are concerned that transplanting individuals for restoration may lead
to negative outcomes, including mortality and genetic swamping or outbreeding depression. However,
few local sources are available for most native species, which means that many species must be
obtained from non-local collection zones. Our study examines genetic variability and potential
phenotypic plasticity of local and non-local populations of six herbaceous understory species: wild
ginger (Asarum canadense), Virginia waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum), bluebells (Mertensia
virginica), jumpseed (Polygonum virginianum), Hispid buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus), and zigzag
goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis). We used a common garden study to test for genetic variation and a
field study to test for phenotypic plasticity. We measured both vegetative (leaf size, leaf number,
height) and reproductive (flower number, seed number, seed weight) traits. First season data indicate
that there are genetic differences between local and non-local populations for each species, and that
trait differences observed in greenhouse trials were also detected in the field. In general, differences
between populations occurred for vegetative rather than reproductive traits, and non-local plants were
larger than local plants. At least one additional year of data collection is needed to determine whether
there is substantial phenotypic plasticity in addition to genetic variation between populations.
P13.2
Urban development and wastes management systems in Lagos State, Nigeria
1
1
1,2
H.R. Anwan , M.A. Anetekhai , P.E. Ndimele
1
Fisheries, Lagos State University, Lagos, Nigeria, 2Aquatic Conservation and Ecological Restoration
Network (ACERNet), Lagos, Nigeria
The disposal of wastes with its adverse effects on societal wellbeing has been of utmost concern
especially in the context of environmental sustainability. Urban centres play key roles as drivers of
regional economies and economic development. They constitute the major centres of jobs,
businesses, higher educational institutions, innovation and entrepreneurship. Lagos is the largest
urban agglomeration in sub-Saharan Africa, with a population of about 18 million people. Her
population is growing at 5-10% per annum, and by 2020 may be the third largest city in the world. The
problem of solid waste management has become one of the most serious environmental problems
confronting many cities in Nigeria, including Lagos. In recent years, there has been a phenomenal
increase in the volume of wastes generated daily in the country. Nigeria's major urban centres are
today fighting to clear mounting heaps of solid waste from their environments. These strategic centres
of beauty, peace and security are being overtaken by the messy nature of over-flowing dumps,
unattended heaps of solid wastes emanating from households, markets, shopping and business
centres. This is due to a number of reasons including, the increasing population growth rate,
increasing urbanization, industrialization and economic growth. Solid waste management in the
country is characterized by inefficient collection methods, insufficient coverage of the collection system
and improper disposal of solid waste. This myriad of deficiencies in solid waste management
ultimately leads to deterioration of the ecosystem. This paper reviews the phenomenon of waste
management in Lagos state and suggests strategies for efficient solid waste management in the state.
P13.3
Flood-meadows restoration in Warsaw - developing the concept of an urban floodplain
management and reducing the impact of invasive species
M. Jermaczek-Sitak, W. Kotowski
Institute of Botany, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
The urban floodplain is an area with a lot of functions and specific problems. The aims of water
management accommodate and balance with esthetic and recreation functions, biodiversity protection
and ecosystem stability. In the city of Warsaw, we run a project that aims to restore seminatural, partly
wooded landscape on the embankments of the riverside, especially floodplain meadows, on the area
of almost 70 ha. We apply frequent mowing to supress growth of an invasive alien species Solidago
gigantea and re-introduce native meadow species sowing seeds and transfering seed-containing fresh
hay from well-preserved donor meadows. Recipient sites are prepared by topsoil removal or deep
ploughing. On the poster, we demonstrate how historical legacies, as well as current sociological and
ecological situation constrain possible directions of floodplain restoration. We also present early
results of a pilot study, in which we investigated seedling establishment in response to different
combinations of mowing, soil preparation (removal or ploughing) and mulching by straw, within a
factorial field experiment.
P14.1
Psychoecology: a new approach to environmental crisis
C.J.R. Moura, A.K.S. Gonçalves, H.S. Barros
Sociedade Eco-Atlântica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
In the seventies, the consequences of the rapid growth of world population considering limited natural
resources were predicted by the Club of Rome when they simulated the interactions that produced
consequences between the Earth´s and human´s. Three decades later, the Commonwealth Scientific
and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) agreed with all predictions made in Rome and predicts
a social collapse in the 21st century. Our concern is that the warning regarding the depletion of natural
resources seems to be only appreciated by academics and environmentalists and isn´t assumed to be
an actual cause by ordinary citizens, especially landowners in development countries. We would like
to introduce a new approach to this situation, seeing this problem as a psychological issue, or better
saying psychoecological. The first symptom of this proposition is the denial that something does not
exist or is not true. Denial is an ego defense mechanism, it is a logical way of thinking that only can
have meaning in the preconscious-conscious system. Second we may assume the disqualification or
demerit as a individual strategy that minimizes or ignores some aspects of the real situation when the
reality is inconsistent or deformed. Finally, the belief in a technological solution as a new and
revolutionary device, capable of solving the entire environmental struggle, confirms the diagnosis, so
that the inertia of environmental issues remains. We think that all the attempts to conserve nature until
today based on persuasive ideas as the law force, or the emotional appeal for conservation are
inefficient. The notion of environmental value is still weak and cannot change the psychoecological
inertia state.
P14.2
Ecosystem restoration provides opportunities for job creation and less social exclusion:
experiences from the social economy sector in Flanders (Belgium)
K. Decleer1, B. Delanoeije2, S. Bouteligier3
1
Research Institute for Nature and Forest, Brussels, Belgium, 2Natuurpunt, Mechelen, Belgium, 3UCL
City Leadership Inititiative, London, United Kingdom
Three of the seven flagship initiatives of the 'Europe 2020' strategy are
(1) the creation of a more resource-efficient Europe, including the implementation of Europe´s policy
on biodiversity,
(2) an agenda for more jobs and equipping people with the right skills and
(3) have at least 20 million fewer people in or at risk of poverty and social exclusion by 2020.
It is widely accepted that actions to restore ecosystems and conserve biodiversity can create new
skills, jobs and business opportunities, but actually very few data are available that provide evidence
for this and underpin the social benefits. In our contribution we focus on experiences in Flanders
(Belgium) with the social economy sector, which sits in between the private (business) and public
sector (government). We show that ecosystem restoration provides plenty of opportunities for several
categories of socially excluded, unemployed workers to learn new skills, regain self-esteem and find
their way into regular employment in the private or public sector. Evidence is provided that
investments in the social economy sector pay off, both for nature and people.
P14.3
Perceptions of severance & wilding
I.D. Rotherham
Department of the Natural and Built Environments, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, United
Kingdom
Approaches to 'wilding' and to 'wilder' landscapes, if applied effectively and sensitively, offer huge and
exciting benefits for biodiversity, for heritage, and for amenity. However, there are pitfalls too, which
become significant if implementation lacks careful planning and design. Important is the 'eco-cultural
nature' of landscape, the result of long-term, intimate interactions between people and ecologies.
Furthermore, with twenty-first century 'abandonment' and 'wilding', at least across Europe, rural
landscapes are being depopulated. The effects on ecology, communities and economies are
potentially devastating.
Alongside the urbanisation of rural landscapes, the consequence of these socio-economic and
demographic changes is 'cultural severance', resulting in long-term, often rapid, declines in biodiversity
and landscape quality. Contradictory approaches in recent decades show urban landscapes shifting
from softer, close-to-nature approaches, back to manicured horticulture; a move away from former
more naturalistic regimes developed in the 1980s. Furthermore, from urban to remote, rural areas,
attitudes to, and perceptions of, 'alien' invasive species present major challenges to attempts to 'wild'
the landscape. Feral species, exotic plants and animals, and invasive natives all add to a heady mix of
recombinant biodiversity. In discussions on supposed 're-wilding', the freeing up of feral and exotic is
rarely mentioned. Frequently approaches are strongly interventionist in contrast to the idea of 'wild'.
At the core of this, is the wider issue of perception of 'wild', and of the nature of 'nature', and of
'natural'. The long-term, human cultural character of landscapes across the planet is widely
misunderstood, with views of ecology and nature somehow freed of people seen as panaceas for
widespread environmental declines. The reality is different as cultural severance is rapidly triggering
massive ecological changes and losses of many species. The losses make restoration more vital than
ever, but the processes described here have significant implications for the underpinning science.
P14.4
Our own genetic antropocene by polluting our environment
1,2
J.-P. Close
1
City of Tomorrow, Eindhoven, Netherlands, 2AiREAS, Eindhoven, Netherlands
Scientific evidence shows that by polluting our environment we equally pollute our inside selves. The
human being itself is an evolutionary ecosystem that is equivalent to our living environment.
Meanwhile we are rapidly becoming the 6th life killing catastrophe since the birth of our planet and
probably the first caused by a self reflective and aware species. This seems contradictary to the
evolutionary practice of harmonizing nature. How does urbanization influence this obvious unbalance
with our surroundings? In the city of Eindhoven (Netherlands) a multidisciplinary cooperative venture,
called AiREAS, was initiated from a holistic human evolutionary perspective. It´s purpose is the
cocreation of a "healthy city" using air quality, health and regional dynamics as guiding principle. The
venture has no personnel nor buildings and works entirely with the value driven participation and
commitment of its multidisciplinary platform of members. Current members represent various local
governments, 6 universities and their respectively specialized scientists, many local and multinational
innovative business enterprises and large groups of local citizens. The venture is not money but value
driven and resembles a symbiotic ecosystem of its own that develops practical, empirical and scientific
insight on the risks and opportunities of urban life, its effect on our own inner and outer ecosystem and
the potential vulnerability it causes for our species, our environment and economies. AiREAS uses the
"City of Tomorrow" concepts of Sustainocracy and Transformation Economy that address our
combined sense of responsibility, ethics and consciousness by incorporating it in purpose driven
change. It shows the appearance of new interactive ecosystem of sustainable urban and rural
development. AiREAS has completed a very first transformative cycle consisting of awareness,
cocreation of values and its expansion with reciprocity, within a time span of 4 years and is ready to
share the early experiences through publications and presentations.
P14.5
Birth trees: securing natural ecosystems with social responsibility
1
2
G.M. van Luijk , J. Stokhof de Jong
1
ZEF, Bonn, Germany, 2Down2Earth, Doorn, Netherlands
In different cultures around the world, planting a tree marks the start of new live, more specifically the
birth of a child. Examples can be found in Oman, where a date palm is planted for each new-born son.
This palm also acts as a life insurance since its fruit can keep the owner from starvation. Another
example is found in Israel, where the Jewish National Fund plants a tree for every child born in Israel.
Furthermore, in developed countries like The Netherlands, municipalities plant a tree in dedication to a
new-born royality.
We propose the structural introduction of commercial birth trees, offering the possibility to enhance
human connectivity to nature and promote (re-)forestation. The planting of birth trees will provide
several cultural ecosystem services. First, it will re-establish the connection between new generations
and ecosystems. Secondly; it provides a spiritual function for the parents, substituting a decreasing
popularity of baptism by an increased popularity of green lifestyle. Thirdly; the forests created using
birth trees will provide functions in education, aesthetics and recreation.
Due to the direct linkage between child and tree (within a forest), the community will feel responsible
for the ecosystem service. Moreover, the sum of individual tree payments could suffice the cost of land
acquisition and planting. It thus makes this a self-sufficient and sustainable system; while protecting
and increasing green areas in densely populated developed countries.
We propose a pilot study in The Netherlands, where the government pushes for a 'participation
society' in which citizens get more responsibilities. Presently, there are several independent projects
involving the planting of trees related to life events, as well as for recreational purposes. While there is
no nation-wide platform to facilitate for these services, the few initiatives are filled up quickly and an
integrated method is needed.
P14.6
Interdisciplinary management of wildlife with socioecological sustenance after upraising of
Mangla Dam, AJK
Z. Ali1, B.N. Khan1,2
1
Zoology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan, 2Centre for the Undergraduate Studies,
University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
Mangla Dam is one of the largest earth filled structure to generate hydropower that also entices a
large number of migratory birds and associated wildlife in Azad Kashmir and Pakistan. This research
resolute the livelihood conditions of the local communities of villages (Khoi Rata, Dadyal, Kotli and
Bhimber) for their dependency on biodiversity of Mangla Dam, from 2013 to 2014. Socio-ecological
status was assessed by Participatory Human Resource Interaction Appraisal (PHRIA) method. During
consultations a community resource map, pictorial documentation and a capacity-building workshop
was organized with engagement and ownership of the community and with respect to the resource
management processes and participation. The findings concludes that generally local community was
dependent on dam products for use of fuel wood (64 percent), livestock grazing (89 percent), fishing
(90 percent), hunting, freshwater turtles trading (03 percent). Poverty status defines that villages
around dam range from 15 to 80 percent as the common international poverty line is roughly $1 a day.
Although poverty relates to excessive use of natural resources around dam yet the findings also
determine that the current frenzy for exploiting natural resources are creating to escalate
environmental degradation consequently the rural dwellers were a major contributor to wetland's
degradation. After raising of Mangla dam a large number of rural dwellers displaced but still be present
around dam on newly developed colonies. During PHIRIA exercise importance was given to ask
conservation and restoration of naturalness of the area with interdisciplinary management by
participation of all stakeholders. The socioecological indicators also accentuate that the management
will be operated at local, state, national, and international level. Thus, proper understanding and
coordination between the departments will be an important element for management of wildlife with
some international status if recognized by Ramsar.
P14.7
Reflexive indigenous modernity for restoration ecology
K. Kish, D. Larkman
Environment and Resource Studies, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada
Research regarding the mining reclamation and restoration process in Timmins, Ontario highlights the
challenges and opportunities of cross cultural restoration processes between indigenous and modern
institutions. A less explored faucet of this research is the inherent disembedding consequences of
abstract and modern systems that threaten traditional indigeneity. Disembedding through abstract
systems (such as the global economy) intrinsically cut through organic connections and solidarity
between people. Due to this inherent de-traditionalising nature of modernity, some traditional aspects
of indigenous culture become threatened if indigenous groups hope to maintain and participate in
modern abstract systems. In this paper we explore some challenges and opportunities of this problem
for restoration ecology. We argue that cultural restoration must go beyond simply including indigenous
and other cultural perspectives for two reasons. First, in the face of modernity there is potentially no
'indigeneity'. The process of inclusion is associated with an energy signature that is intimately tied to a
modern capitalist system. By incorporating indigenous groups into the restoration process it potentially
challenges the nature of indigeneity through a process of modernity. Second, this intersection of
'indigeneity' and 'modernity' exposes an opportunity for a future of 'indigenous modernity' that taps into
a potential for novel recombinations of both modern and traditional worldviews, into a new view of
restoration that is both scientifically sound and culturally sensitive. The modern process of political
consensus and convention fails among the interplay between mainstream and traditional opinions
hardening the front between the opposing sides. An 'indigenous modernity' approach functions to
deconstruct the monopolization of expertise in restoration while acknowledging the necessary pieces
of the system it seeks to challenge. This approach also expels the myth that an indigenous approach
is counter cultural to modernisation.
Funding agency: This Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
P15.1
The Greater Atlanta Pollinator Partnership: a model for urban pollinator conservation
1
2
3
J.M. Cruse-Sanders , D.L. Krusac , J.J. Belwood
2
Conservation Research, Atlanta Botanical Garden, Atlanta, United States, USDA Forest Service,
3
Atlanta, United States, Georgia Highlands College, Cartersville, United States
1
Global pollinator populations are in decline for many reasons including habitat loss and overuse of
pesticides. The Greater Atlanta Pollinator Partnership (GAPP) was initiated in 2009, in Atlanta,
Georgia, USA, because the housing boom of the 1990s and early 2000s resulted in the loss of 22
ha/day of green space and a corresponding increase of 11 ha/day of impervious surfaces in this major
metropolitan area. Over 20-years, approximately 162,000 ha of pollinator-friendly native green
space/tree canopy have been lost with an increase of 81,000 ha of impervious surface. Goals of the
GAPP are to encourage restoration, development, and registration of pollinator habitat at an
ecologically significant landscape scale. Consequently, our project focuses on a 40-km radius area
around downtown Atlanta that comprises nearly 500,000 ha of potential pollinator habitat and includes
all major public lands and thousands of individual residences. Our efforts focus on restoring pollinatorfriendly habitat and educating the public through formal and informal programs. Key components of
the GAPP include using native species when available, rescuing native plants from construction sites,
controlling invasive species, establishing community gardens, citizen science projects, conservation,
education, research, and website development. The GAPP website (http://gapp.org/) is critical to our
online garden registration and mapping to track garden establishment, assess habitat development
trends, provide online educational materials, and provide focus to the effort through a newsletter.
Several organizations have expressed interest in using the GAPP as a model for their citizen-based
pollinator conservation efforts. For example, the Cincinnati Nature Center will use the GAPP model for
pollinator conservation in metropolitan Cincinnati, Ohio, through their “Milkweeds to Monarchs”
initiative. Funding for the GAPP is limited, so synergy through partnerships is the key to success.
P15.2
Huella Verde-UNED: more than just a donation campaign to promote the restoration of resilient
ecosystems in Costa Rica
M. Ocampo Araya, J. Saborío Alvarez, O. Chacón Chavarría
Vice-Rector's Office for Research, Universidad Estatal a Distancia (UNED), San Pedro, Costa Rica
Costa Rica is known for being a leader in the protection of nature; however, funding represents a
strong constraint to expanding its efforts outside the national system of conservation areas, which
increases the vulnerability of ecosystems that have been altered by anthropogenic activities. Huella
Verde-UNED is a novel Self-Sufficient Institutional System of Environmental Sustainability based on
the principle of solidarity of its staff and students, which promotes the improvement of the quality of the
environment and human wellbeing by reducing the effects of climate change. The initiative builds on
strategies for environmental education and awareness, in order to encourage the donation of funds
and establish plans for ecological restoration of resilient ecosystems. Prioritization of the ecosystems
to be restored is based on previous research, which aim is to determine the degree of alteration
thereof and the condition of the vegetation they contain. The first phase is aimed at restoring coastal
ecosystems of the North Pacific of Costa Rica; these ecosystems have significant remnants of tropical
dry forest. Huella Verde-UNED is distinguished from other donation campaigns due to its scientific
rigor and also because donors can give long-term follow-up to the trees they are sponsoring, so
making social identification with environmental conservation to be a long-lasting and reflective
process.
The project is funded by Universidad Estatal a Distancia of Costa Rica (UNED), voluntary donations
and FUNDEPREDI (UNED - Costa Rica).
Keywords: ecological restoration, Huella Verde-UNED, resilient ecosystems, tropical dry forest
P15.3
Land literacy is a key challenge of restoration ecology - an Icelandic example
O. Arnalds, A.L. Aradottir
Agricultural University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
Society and land users often accept as a normal state poor condition of ecosystems that have been
deteriorated over a long time. A fundamental challenge of restoration ecology is to inform society
about the condition of ecosystems that need restoration actions. An important step in that direction is
to demonstrate and educate the general public about what constitutes good and poor state of the land,
and to point towards possible solutions where needed.
Many Icelandic ecosystems are severely degraded or in a collapsed state due to centuries of grazing
and other use of marginal land. Much of this poor state, however, goes un-noticed by land-users and
the general public alike. Improved land literacy is needed to ensure general recognition of the
problem. Furthermore, more widespread understanding is needed of the relationship between land
use and land condition, and the potential to improve the condition of the land—it is possible to restore
much of Iceland's degraded areas.
We have developed education material about land literacy and restoration in Iceland. It is aimed at
students, interested public and professionals alike, in order to help them understanding the condition
of Icelandic ecosystems. It presents easily identifiable ecosystem condition stages and fundamental
information about the principles of land restoration. It familiarizes readers with ecosystem processes
and both physical and biological controls and constraints of land condition and ecological succession.
Special attention is given to ecosystem resilience and degradation processes and their impacts on
ecosystems together with the interaction between land use and land condition.
The book is 112 pages, in Icelandic, and is published jointly by Landvernd—an Icelandic nature NGO,
the Icelandic Soil Conservation Service and the Agricultural University of Iceland. The e-book is
distributed free of charge (http://www.moldin.net/land-literacy.html).
P15.4
Ecotourism, education and conservation in Ban Mae Kued Luang community forest, northern
Thailand
M. Eriksen1, P. Larpkern2, B. Moungsrimuandee2, P. Waibooya2
1
2
Faculty of Education, Østfold University College, Halden, Norway, Bodhivijjalaya College,
Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok, Thailand
Management of community forests is a possibility for researchers, educators and local people to join
forces and work together. This project works for conservation of a valuable forested area, sustainable
use of forest products for local people and development of a nature trail for ecotourism and education
in the community forest of Ban Mae Kued Luang , Tak province in Thailand. Forested areas are few
and under great pressure for development of agriculture and other human activities. The research
includes a survey of biological and physical resources, the forest utilization and a collection of
information concerning history and forest management. There has been a field survey, depth
interviews with key informants, together with small group interviews and questionnaires. Sixty-eight
tree species from 29 families were found along the 1.9 kilometers planned nature trail. The forest is
relatively intact and recognized as a mixed deciduous forest which natural teaks still remaining. In our
study we found that the local people were satisfied with the forest management, also indicated by the
natural forest still remaining. They participated in the community forest activities, especially the
donation for supporting the community forest activities and the forest ordination which is an important
part of the local cultural identity. A majority of the local people still harvest non-timber forest products
such as mushrooms, bamboo stems and shoots, fruits and medicinal plants. Furthermore, the local
people thought that protecting the community forest can help the local environment by maintaining
biodiversity and improving water quality. The forest is also used by visiting groups as a place to learn
about the environment and the ecosystems present, by ecotourism and homestay visitors. The local
community plays significant roles in managing and conserving the forest, and at the same time they
utilize it in what seems to be a sustainable way.
P15.5
Restoring eco-responsive learning spaces; a multi-tiered study for co-designing courtyards in
Alexandria University, Egypt
1
2
1
R. Abdel Galil , A.A. Bayoumi , M. Gabr
1
Architectural Engineering & Environmental Design, Arab Academy for Science & Technology,
Alexandria, Egypt, 2Faculty of Engineering / Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
Rapid population increase in Egypt, and the inherit pressure on higher education have made university
spaces rather crowded and sparse, yet there is an opportunity of restoring the standard University
courtyard spaces to better utilize underused spaces. Courtyards are a traditional architectural feature
in the middle east which create a pleasant micro climate, yet this feature has been neglected in favor
of embracing an international style and user orientation to indoor spaces. To rediscover courtyard
spaces and engage the increasing amounts of students in an integrative exploration of adaptive urban
spaces, this research describes a Co-design model of a courtyard located in Alexandria University in
which students as members of the community are involved, proactive and conscious of local
ecological critical issues.
Restoring traditional open space, whilst allowing compatible light structures to be added, University
courtyard spaces can serve as an extended learning space. This paper analyses the inter-relatedness
of design, use and environmental measures, as contributing to learning, within a university Restorative
Learning Courtyard Space (RLCS) in Alexandria University. A conceptual framework utilizes an
'ecological interactive pedagogy' where diverse ecological, socio-cultural and participatory design
criteria feed into a computational method to investigate three case studies of a light structure in an
open courtyard. The results show constraints in participatory methods however, positive feedback in
awareness and engagement levels. Also, simulation showed positive changes in environmental
conditions.
The paper finally provides a critical reflection on the approach of ecological interactive pedagogy and
presents opportunities for the practical application of more integrative co-design projects besides
building local capacity among students to increase awareness of restorative ecological prospects of
underutilized open spaces.
P15.6
Capacity building in ecosystem restoration
B. Orradottir, H.H. Aegisdottir
UN University Land Restoration Training Programme, Reykjavik, Iceland
The deterioration of habitats, biodiversity and soils happens at accelerated rates due to human
activities. Multiple cases of ecosystem degradation have been documented and it has become evident
that swift action is required in order to avoid grave consequences. The proposed new UN Sustainable
Development Goals, that will replace the Millennium Development Goals by the end of this year,
reflect this by including goals on sustainable use of natural resources. If those goals are to be
reached, it is not sufficient to only halt ecosystem degradation but also to actively restore already
damaged ecosystems. The UN University Land Restoration Training Programme (UNU-LRT) works
within this arena, focusing on capacity building in developing countries which have limited resources to
react to those challenges. We do this by offering annually six-month training in restoration of degraded
land and sustainable land management for working professionals in developing countries. The training
provides participants with knowledge and skills needed to contribute to the activities in their own
organizations, strengthening their institutional capacities at home. Through the training, an active
network of professionals and practitioners is created who continue to work on these issues both locally
and in the global arena. Their networking has the potential to raise awareness at different levels and
help with channelling resources to deal with current environmental challenges.
P15.7
An interdisciplinary undergraduate minor in restoration science and management
1
1
2
G. Forrester , L.A. Meyerson , C. Druschke
1
2
Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, United States, Natural Resources
Science and Writing and Rhetoric, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, United States
Our new interdisciplinary undergraduate minor in restoration science and management (RSM) is
designed to create a framework for students wishing to engage in the focused study of restoration and
resilience, and help launch students into employment or post-graduate study in this field. RSM
students take courses from several departments in order to gain interdisciplinary skills necessary to
restoring or rehabilitating damaged ecosystems, and acquire competencies in undertaking restoration
that complement their individuals majors. The RSM minor thus formalizes the relationship between an
existing set of core courses around the field of restoration that span the fields of ecology,
environmental science, economics, and communication. A second key element of the minor is
experiential learning through participation in existing restoration projects, both with university staff and
with external partners. The intent is to produce graduates who are highly competitive for employment
or graduate study in government, NGO, business and academic sectors that focus on restoration and
sustainability.
P16.1
Political science analysis of ecological restoration policy and practice
1
2
1
K. Eckerberg , S. Baker , A. Zachrisson
1
2
Department of Political Science, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden, Sustainable Places Institute,
Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
This poster presents political science results of an interdisciplinary project. Despite the growing policy
salience, the social and political sciences have so far paid limited attention to the study of Ecological
Restoration (ER) policy and practice. ER policy and projects encounter professional and institutional
norms as well as place-specific interests and values. Viewed through the 'stages model', ER policy
involves 'negotiating' nature across 'stages' in the policymaking process. Even when there is broad
agreement about the need to 'manage' or 'conserve' nature, there is negotiation at the early, agenda
setting stage about how the problem is 'framed'. These negotiations shape policy formulation, that is,
the specific proposals and solutions designed to address the problem. Implementation stages open up
further debates not only about policy tools and instruments, but also between formal policy and
implementation in practice.
The formulation of policy in pursuit of ER is investigated at national level, using Sweden as empirical
illustration. There is of yet no particular Act directing ER. Nevertheless, ER activities are already taking
place, often as projects within the context of a public funding programme aiming at ecological
sustainability or nature conservation (in agriculture, water environments, forests and so on). Analyses
of key policy documents, as well as evidence from a data base that comprises Swedish central
government-funded ER projects over the last ten year period, are used to study how the concept of ER
is articulated in government policy from the late 1980s until recently, and how the policy has been
translated into implementation. With the programmatic result of the policy as contrast to the articulated
policy goals, we are thereby able to discuss the relationship between the formulation and the
implementation of ER policy in Sweden, and draw conclusions that go beyond the formulated policy as
such.
Formas (RESTORE) 2009-450 http://www.restore-project.org
P16.2
Applying botanical expertise to restoration: the work of the Ecological Restoration Alliance of
Botanic Gardens
K. Shaw
BGCI, London, United Kingdom
In 2011, a co-authored paper highlighted the valuable, yet under-realised potential role of botanic
gardens in ecological restoration (Hardwick, et al. 2011). In response to this, and with the mission to
contribute towards international policy targets, the Ecological Restoration Alliance of Botanic Gardens
(ERA) was formed in 2012. The ERA set out to work collaboratively to restore 100 degraded
ecosystems by 2020, and share their skills, resources and plant materials to scale up restoration
activities around the world.
Botanic gardens possess historical records, well-documented living plant and seed collections, and
horticultural expertise, enabling them to determine what has been lost, propagate a genetically diverse
supply of material for planting, with known and appropriate origin. With expertise ranging from lower
plants to trees, botanic gardens can restore whole ecosystems. They are well-practiced at delivering
training, and well-placed to outreach to communities.
Current ERA membership consists of 19 botanic gardens with experience leading restoration initiatives
in a variety of climates and ecosystems, on six continents. Projects include restoration of tropical
forest remnants in Yunnan, community-based rangeland rehabilitation in Jordan, restoration of desert
habitats in Oman, restoration of mining sites in Western Australia and prairie restoration in the
American mid-West. These sites provide demonstration and training. Results and resources generated
are widely shared to promote best practice and encourage further action.
There are over 3,000 botanic gardens worldwide with relevant skills and resources that can be applied
to ecological restoration. The ERA aims to inspire and train other gardens to join our efforts, at a time
when climate change and habitat destruction are accelerating the need for action. Results will be best
achieved through strengthened and multi-institutional partnerships. Congress participants are invited
to find out more about the ERA and partner with botanic gardens in our efforts to contribute towards
building resilient ecosystems.
P16.3
Endorsing the novel ecosystem paradigm: when is it acceptable?
A.C. Backstrom, S.A. Bekessy, G.E. Garrard
School of Global Urban and Social Studies, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
Ecological restoration and biodiversity conservation in the urban landscape is conducted within
fragmented and highly modified environments. These environments are often so altered as to be
considered novel ecosystems. At present novel ecosystems in the Australian urban landscape are
frequently managed, in a biodiversity conservation context, with the overarching objective of
restoration to an historic (pre-European) benchmark. In this context, attempts to restore or recreate
historic vegetation communities are conducted at great cost and with limited success. In such cases, it
may make more sense to use novel ecosystems as the benchmark for restoration and management.
Yet guidelines around embracing novel ecosystems are lacking - a more robust decision framework for
managing modified ecosystems in urban landscapes is required. Key questions remain about if and
when novel ecosystems are an acceptable reference point for modified ecosystem management
frameworks in urban and peri-urban landscapes. However, the acceptability of novelty as a benchmark
cannot be determined by reductionist science alone; the conceptualisation of novel ecosystems is a
deeply social process. Decision frameworks for determining when novel ecosystems should be used
as a management benchmark must incorporate social, economic and environmental values. We
present a conceptual decision framework, constructed from values and environmental change drivers,
for ecological management through the novel ecosystem paradigm in the urban landscape of
Australia.
P16.4
Analysis and visualisation in GIS for improved sustainability of large scale infrastructure
projects - an industrial application
K. McCausland1, G. Griffiths2, M. Blackwell3, J. Whyte4
1
Technologies for Sustainable Built Environments Centre, University of Reading, Reading, United
2
Kingdom, Geography and Environmental Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom,
3
4
Costain, Maidenhead, United Kingdom, Construction Management and Engineering, University of
Reading, Reading, United Kingdom
The international engineering group Costain Ltd., has a responsibility to provide the best services and
solutions for their stakeholders. However, it is not always possible to please all stakeholders;
challenges can arise from not understanding potential environmental effects including biodiversity and
ecosystem services that could affect the progress of a contract. This 4 year Engineering Doctoral
project aims improve Costain's sustainability with the use of GIS to have no net loss to biodiversity
through their projects, and to develop an industry standard for assessing risks to biodiversity. The
progress of this project seeks to reduce EIA time by providing spatially relevant data, thereby saving
time and money while protecting the wider environment. In addition, this project endeavours to identify
potential areas for ecological restoration and bio-enhancement once a construction project is
complete. The provisional study site is the A465, which is a 5-8km long road expansion from
Brynmawr to Gilwern in South Wales. Although the project is currently under public inquiry, the site is
comprised of many ecological characteristics that could hinder further construction. Current completed
work includes the mapping of conservation designations and the manipulation of data to visualise
habitat characteristics. The next steps for this project are testing of the data in order to provide Costain
with an accurate view of their potential environmental impacts; this will involve the updating and
validation of the existing Phase I Habitat Classification. This project will also be assessed for its useful
ness throughout the company. This will involve interviews with staff from bid writers to on site
engineers, allowing for needed changes and possible additions based on company needs.
P16.5
Using species distribution modelling for the restoration of ravine forests (Tilio-Acerion) in the
eastern end of the Iberian Mountain System
D. Arizpe Ochoa1, R. Herreros García1, R. Barberá Soriano1, E. Arizpe2
1
Centre of Applied Forest Research (CIEF), VAERSA-Generalitat Valenciana, Quart de Poblet, Spain,
2
Internship Student, Centre of Applied Forest Research (CIEF), Quart de Poblet, Spain
One of the biggest issues that managers have to deal with when restoring endangered habitats that
offer very scarce reference scenarios is the site selection process. Choosing the right places to create
new populations is critical, especially when the existing forests of that area have been intensively used
by humans over centuries. Species Distribution Modelling (SMD) has been proved a reliable tool to
determine suitable locations for species reintroductions by correlating species occurrence data with
environmental variables. This paper presents the findings of a study developed under the LIFE+
project “Renaix el Bosc” (LIFE11 NAT ES 706). The project is devoted to the restoration of the
NATURA 2000 priority habitat of Tilio-Acerion forests of slopes, screes and ravines, which is
represented in Valencian territory by small and rare forest fragments distributed among the Maestrat
and Els Ports mountains. Two of its most characteristic species, Tilia Platyphyllos and Ulmus glabra,
are indeed listed as vulnerable in the Anex I of the Valencian Catalogue of threatened flora species.
The restoration project includes actions aimed to improve the conservation status of Iberian linden
groves by reinforcing existing populations and by creating new ones. To support and improve the
selection process of the new sites, a SMD has been applied to generate maps of occurrence of the
mentioned species and other taxa that could be good habitat's distribution predictors. This work used
for its analysis the general-purpose machine learning method MaxEnt (Maximum Entropy) and
presence-only species occurrence data. The used data was acquired through both, field work and
confirmed bibliographical sources. The results showed that the environmental variables that best
explain the SDM are the maximum temperatures in the summer months and the slope orientation. A
normal situation for an Eurosiberian habitat that isn't adapted to the dry Mediterranean summers.
P16.6
Conservation and restoration in decision-making: combining decision support tools and local
expertise when targeting complementarity and regional hotspots
1
2
1
3
2
4
3
S. Kareksela , K. Aapala , T. Haapalehto , J. Lehtomäki , N. Leikola , N. Mikkonen , A. Moilanen
1
2
Parks & Wildlife Finland, Metsähallitus, Jyväskylä, Finland, Natural Environment Centre/Ecosystem
Services, Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), Helsinki, Finland, 3Department of Biosciences,
University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland, 4Parks & Wildlife Finland, Metsähallitus, Vantaa, Finland
Conservation resource allocation concerns a complex set of tradeoffs with both local and large scale
biodiversity goals, protection and restoration actions with connectivity considerations. Furthermore,
demands for cost-efficient solution and effective implementation are the norm. Here we present a
national scale spatial conservation prioritization analysis for the expansion of peatland protected area
network in Finland. We demonstrate how to plan for regional and national scale persistence of multiple
biodiversity features together with complementarity, connectivity, cost-efficiency and restoration
considerations. We use freely available prioritization software Zonation, which enables prioritization
over whole landscape balancing the persistence of large number of biodiversity features
simultaneously against costs of the solution. The planning units used were defined by expert work to
form hydrologically functional units, including areas that require restoration for the condition of the
planning unit to remain or potentially increase in value. Including the evaluated restoration cost to a
planning unit's overall costs makes it possible to balance the total costs of protection and restoration
against the biodiversity value of a set of planning units considered for protection: higher costs and
larger degraded area to be restored need to be outweighed with higher biodiversity value for a
planning unit to be included in the set chosen for protection. Significant part of the implementation of
any prioritization analysis is its integration with expert knowledge. Here we demonstrate how the
results of a spatial prioritization analysis can be coupled with regional targets and expert knowledge.
This is done through identifying thresholds in complementarity development when planning units are
iteratively added to the set of areas to be protected and through inspection of cost-effectiveness and
analyzing replacement-costs between different scenarios. Together the presented methods offer a
way towards more holistic conservation decision-making.
P16.7
Multicriteria analysis at landscape scale for the establishment of restoration strategies in an
inter-andean tropical dry forest in Colombia
W. Gómez1, A. Avella1, S. Torres1, B. Miranda2
1
2
Fundación Natura, Bogotá, Colombia, Emgesa, Bogotá, Colombia
Currently in Colombia, still remains 8% of the original extension of Tropical Dry Forest. Under the pilot
plan for ecological restoration of the Hydroelectric project “El Quimbo” (Department of Huila), 140 ha
of compensation area (8.976 ha) were selected. We identified homogeneous management units for
tropical dry forest restoration with a focus on Landscape Ecology. After that, a multicriteria evaluation MCE- was conducted through the weighting of 15 criteria that were classified in physical, biotic,
ecological, and logistics components. Among the most important criteria are climatic classification,
drains density, agrological class, contrast matrix, probability of connectivity, and cost - distance
analysis. Spatial information was structured in a geographic information system, and conceptual model
was developed through tool “Model Builder” on ArcGis 10.x. With results we identified 7 management
units depending on vegetation coverage, slope and reference system. We obtained a model at a
landscape scale from the MCE. The model allowed us to define nuclei with greatest potential for
restoration. Then we conducted a rapid ecological characterization in order to define priority areas
where ecological restoration trials will be established according to the pilot plan.
Key words: Restoration at landscape scale, Multicriteria analysis, Spatial model.
P16.8
How to measure ecosystem restoration outcome?
1
2
1
G.M. Asbjornsson , A.L. Aradottir , J. Thorsson
1
Soil Conservation Service of Iceland, Hella, Iceland, 2Agricultural University of Iceland, Borgarnes,
Iceland
It is important to evaluate the outcome of restoration projects at some point. Many methods have been
proposed and used, each focusing on different ecosystem attributes or social values. The goal of this
project was to evaluate simple and practical methods that measure restoration outcome using different
measures of vegetation attributes.
In Iceland, hundreds of ecosystem restoration projects have been accomplished over the last 100
years, but they have rarely been surveyed systematically. The research area was in South Iceland
near the Hekla volcano, where unsustainable land use in conjunction to ash deposition from volcanic
eruptions has caused intensive desertification. Revegetation measures began in the 1940's and cover
a wide variety of methods. For the study, plots were established at five restoration sites initiated in
1963, 1970, 1983, 1998 and 2011. Restoration methods were comparable at all locations with fertilizer
applied in addition to seeding of Leymus arenarius, Festuca rubra or Lupinus nootkatensis. The
methods used for evaluation were line point intercept, plant height, gap intercept and plant cover
estimates in frames.
All the selected methods were easily implemented and all but plant height were useful to identify
differences between the sites. Those methods revealed that the oldest restoration site had most
vegetation cover, most species groups and fewer and smaller gaps. In some cases there was
difference between methods, for example when measuring percentage cover of grasses there were
significantly different between line point intercept and plant cover estimates in frames. However there
was no difference between those methods when looking at overall plant cover.
The results confirm that there are many potential methods to measure restoration outcome in a simple
way but they need to be chosen based on land condition. They also indicate that there can be
difference between methods without affecting interpretation of the overall outcome.
P16.9
Do functional attributes really support the selection of species in restoration projects? A study
case
1
2
G.A. Canosa , L.F.D. Moraes
1
2
Universidade Federal da Fronteira Sul, Laranjeiras do Sul, Brazil, Embrapa, Seropedica, Brazil
Ecological restoration of Brazilian ecosystems has been increasing mostly to achieve compliance with
environmental laws. Information on functional attributes of forest tree species is recommended to
support species selection for restoration projects. This study included building a database with tree
species functional attributes, and further using database to evaluate species suggested to be used in
the restoration of the Atlantic Forest in Rio de Janeiro. Three attributes were taken account:
i) Nitrogen biological fixation;
ii) Attractiveness to wildlife; and
iii) Supply of both wood and non-wood forest products.
Database built consists of 808 woody native species, and 112 out of these are N-fixing species, 573
are found to be wildlife attracting plants, and 415 may provide either wood or non-wood products.
Forty-four compensation projects authorized by the State Environmental Institute (INEA) were
analyzed. The projects included a list of species suggested for planting, and 23 out of them included a
list of species which were really planted. A total of 674 tree species were suggested to be planted in
the restoration projects analyzed; 327 (48.4%) were listed only once, 75 were common to 30% of the
projects, but only six species were found to be very common, since they were listed in at least 70% of
the restoration projects. From the 176 species reported as planted, 133 meet at least one of the
functional attributes of our database, which make them important to reestablish ecological processes.
Only three projects based the selection of species to be planted in floristic surveys done in forest
remnants surrounding target areas. Analysis of the species lists suggests they could be richer, and
should prioritize regional species. Environmental public institutes are recommended to give special
attention to the species lists of compensation projects, for an effective achievement of restoration
goals.
P16.10
Analysis of chosen indicators for monitoring the success of ecological restoration: the first
year
M.O.S. Crepaldi1,2, G.S. Pereira2
1
IEE, USP, Porto Seguro, Brazil, 2Centro Sócio Cultural José Bahia (CSCJB), São Mateus, Brazil
For monitoring changes in the structure and sustainability of ecosystem restoration, four ecological
indicators were analysed: ground cover of native vegetation (%), density of native individuals
(individuals/ha), number of species (richness) and canopy cover (%). The main goal of ecological
restoration is to enable the natural process of ecological succession towards the non-degraded
condition. The Petrobras Environmental Program sponsored this monitoring. The restoration, covering
an area of 14.48 ha, is reported in each field campaign, divided by, 21 plots of 3 m x 10 m; among
them, 19 plots are situated in particular properties and 2 in the reference ecosystem of the Biological
Reserve “Córrego Grande”, Conceição da Barra - ES, Brazil. Here are presented the results of four
monitoring campaigns carried out between February/2014 and February/2015. Although the reference
ecosystem has predominance of litter, the monitored areas have not reached that goal yet. Comparing
the densities found in four monitoring carried out, it seems that there was an increase in density by
more than 75% of the sampled plots. Species richness also increased in 85% of monitored plots. The
canopy cover percentage indicates the shading level of the area, essential for the control of invasive
grasses and the success of the restoration area. It is observed that the plots have not yet reached the
amount of 20% for the canopy cover, that was expected to be attained by the first year of restoration. It
can be concluded that the interventions realized in restoration areas are showing positive results,
however, due to the short interval between the four field surveys, no significant variations in values of
the selected indicators could be measured. So it can be said that medium-term monitoring is required
to obtain an evolving framework of these four indicators along the time.
P16.11
The phenology of pitayo (Stenocereus queretaroensis) in the state of Zacatecas, Mexico, a tool
for restoration, conservation and utilization
1
1
1
2
O. Solís- Márquez , F.O. Plascencia-Escalante , G. Angeles-Pérez , A. Romero-Manzanares
1
Postgrado en Ciencias Forestales, Colegio de Postgraduados, Montecillo, Mexico, 2Postgrado en
Botánica, Colegio de Postgraduados, Montecillo, Mexico
Stenocereus queretaroensis is a columnar cactus commonly known as “pitayo”. Several studies have
showed the social-economic and ecological importance of “pitayo” for the region where it is naturally
found. Wild populations of “pitayo” can be found in Southern Zacatecas State. However, in the last few
years, there has been a significant decrease of its populations, particularly due to land use change for
agriculture and livestock activities. This specie can take up to 40 years to reproduce and is highly
sensitive to changes in environmental conditions. For these reasons we carried out a study to analyze
the reproductive features and seed production of this species in a population located at Cosalima.
2
Three plots were established of 4000 m each, where tree height, crown diameter, branch number and
reproductive structures were registered. To test the seed viability, germination percentage, and fruit
size, 40 fruits were collected within the 3 plots. Germination testing was carried out in situ and ex situ.
Pollinators were collected and identified. Our results showed that 68% of “pitayo” in Cosalima were
juvenile individuals (not reproductive), while 32% of them were reproductive individuals. Despite that
most individuals are juvenile; there are few individuals in seedling stage. There is a positive
relationship between the variables of tree height, mean crown diameter and the presence of the
reproductive structures (R2= 0.71). There is a positive relationship between the fruit size and the
2
number of seeds per fruit (R =0.781). Seed germination percentage in the laboratory was 60% (at
temperatures of 19 - 22 ºC), while in the field 28% was observed. We identified 9 pollinators, mostly
insects. Our results showed that seed germination potential could be sufficient to maintain the “pitayo”
population, however, further analysis are necessary to determine the environmental conditions that
prevent juvenile establishment and recruitment.
P16.12
Adjusting the path of restoration: qualitative monitoring to generate adaptive management
recommendations
V.J. Girão1, T.S. Sarcinelli2, A.P.C. Carmo3, R. Benini4
1
The Nature Conservancy, Vila Velha, Brazil, 2Forest Environment, Fibria Celulose S.A., Aracruz,
3
4
Brazil, Technology Center, Fibria Celulose S.A., Aracruz, Brazil, The Nature Conservancy, Arraial
d´Ajuda, Brazil
The course of ecological restoration in Atlantic Forest areas in Bahia and Espírito Santo states in
Brazil was evaluated through qualitative monitoring in order to generate adaptive management
recommendations where appropriate. We monitored 154 restoration areas (345 ha) in two intervention
groups:
(1) PN (78 areas, 223 ha): 2010/2011 native species plantations, with fast and slow growth species
intermingled in a 3x3 arrangement;
(2) NR (76 areas, 122 ha): 2010 assisted natural regeneration, mostly chemical control of invasive
grass in areas with significant presence of tree/shrub saplings.
Additionally, older restoration areas where the main activity was the removal of exotic trees (205
areas, 152 ha) were evaluated to serve as reference areas (RA). The adaptive management activities
were recommended based on monitoring through visual assessment using key indicators:
(1) in areas with high (>50%) invasive grass cover (4% of NR, 36% of PN, 2% of RA), chemical weed
control was recommended;
(2) in areas with presence of alien tree species (29% of NR, 20% of PN, 73% of RA), invasive tree
control was recommended;
(3) in areas with the presence of exposed soil (62% of NR, 50% of PN, 2% of RA), leguminous green
manure plantation was recommended;
(4) in areas with high (>70%) canopy cover (25% of NR, 11% of PN, 76% of RA) and low/absent
intensity of tree saplings (63% of NR, 69% of PN, 7% of RA), plantation of native trees associated with
leguminous green manure was recommended;
(5) in areas with high canopy cover, low/absent intensity of saplings and unsatisfactory species
richness (< 15 tree/shrub species; 62% of NR, 69% of PN, 8% of RA) plantation of shade native trees
was recommended. NR areas showed better indicators than PN ones, possibly because they are more
ecologically-resilient. Some RA still need adaptive measures, mainly invasive species control.
P17.1
The influence of environmental variables in the distribution of the vegetation for use in
reclamation programs to mine closure
1,2
2
J.R. Ferreira , E.L.M. Machado
1
2
Anglo American Brazil - Iron Ore Business Unit, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Universidade Federal dos
Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucurí - UFVJM Campus JK, Diamantina, Brazil
The study aimed to evaluate the possible correlation between the distribution of the vegetation and
environmental variables (elevation, distance from the plot to the watercourse and elevation) to identify
the species that would adapt better to the environment leading into account the environmental factors
analyzed. The study area includes the presence of vegetation types of Atlantic Forest in Advanced,
Middle and Initial stages of regeneration, Candeial, Escrube and ironstone outcrops. This area is
located in municipality of Conceição do Mato Dentro, Minas Gerais. A total of 56 plots were allocated,
29 plots, with dimensions of 20m x 30m, were allocated for forest physiognomy, only the individuals
bigger than 5 cm of Diameter at breast height (DBH) were measured and 27 plots, with dimensions 2m
x 2m, were allocated for outcrops physiognomy, where all individuals were identified. Through cluster
analysis found that the floristic differences between outcrops and forest formations and through
canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) indicated a significant correlation between the distribution of
species, where the outcrops occupied the higher level of quotas and the forest species the lower
levels. From this information, were identified the species that would adapt better to the environment for
use in programs of reclamation to mine closure.
P17.2
Which strategies to conserve and restore metallophytes threatened by intensive mining
activities in Katanga (D. R. Congo)?
S. Le Stradic1, S. Boisson1, M. Séleck1, G. Handjila2, G. Mahy1
1
Biodiversity and Landscape Unit, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liege, Gembloux, Belgium,
2
Tenke Fungurume Mining SARL, Lubumbashi, Congo, the Democratic Republic of the
One of the greatest contemporary challenges consists in the integration of economic activities with
environmental integrity and social concerns. This is especially the case of mining activities. South of
the Democratic Republic of Congo and adjoining regions in the North of Zambia comprise some of the
largest ore bodies of copper (Cu) and cobalt (Co) in the world. The Katangan Copperbelt is composed
of more than a thousand Cu-Co outcrops scattered over more than 400 km (W-E). Most Cu-Co
outcrops have now been allocated to mining companies and expected to be impacted in the coming
years and decades. In transition to environmentally responsible operations, some actors of the mining
industry are changing their environmental and social practices. Since 2007 Gembloux Agro Bio Tech,
University of Liege has been developing a collaboration with a mining company in order to plan
conservation and restoration actions before, during and after the extraction phase. Actions include insitu conservation, community translocation through vegetation mat and topsoil transposition, direct top
soil seeding of structuring species and ex-situ conservation through the development of a seed bank.
Another mechanism for ensuring the survival of metallophytes is to promote their use in ecological
restoration, site rehabilitation and phytoremediation projects at mine closure. Aims of implemented
actions are
i) to gain information and experience on the feasibility of restoration program for copper vegetation and
understand which process can limit the restoration of copper communities and,
ii) to temporarily store and conserve native copper plant diversity in order to reestablish it on postmining sites.
It is essential to increase and promote effective restoration programs using native plant and deliver
appropriate know-how to mining companies if we are to avoid the widespread use of exotic species in
the revegetalisation of ecologically compromised areas.
P17.3
Development over time of vegetation composition and spatial pattern on reclaimed mine sites
using salvaged forest floor material
E. Hoffman, S. Landhäusser, E. Macdonald
Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
Severe disturbances such as surface mining typically result in the removal of all surface soil. Forest
floor material (FFM), often salvaged from sites prior to mining, can provide native propagules for forest
restoration. Plant establishment after placing salvaged FFM has received some study; however, the
variables that drive early and intermediate time-frame development of these new forest communities
are poorly understood. Early on, weedy non-native species are common on reclamation sites, but
research on the interactions between these species and more 'desirable' native forest species is
lacking. We examined patterns of community development at different temporal stages on sites
reclaimed using FFM. Material salvaged from a rich-mesic aspen-dominated forest was placed in 2004
at a large reclamation site, while at another site similar FFM was placed in 2012. At that same site,
FFM salvaged from a poor-xeric pine-dominated forest was also placed. In 2014, 5 grids of contiguous
quadrats were established at each of the three site types and vegetation and environmental factors
were assessed at the quadrat level. Spatial patterns in the vegetation communities were explored
using Principal Components of Neighbour Matrices (PCNM) and variation partitioning. Spatial patterns
at the older site were more complex and easily differentiated than those at the young sites. At the
older site, native forest species were dominant and drove spatial patterns, while at both young sites,
patterns were driven by 'weedy' species, although different species drove patterns at the two site
types. The lack of importance of 'weedy' species in spatial patterns at the older site suggests that,
although these species are initially drivers of spatial pattern, their importance decreases with time.
This suggests that management actions to reduce the abundance of these species at 'young'
reclamation sites may not be necessary. Funding: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research
Council and Syncrude Canada.
P17.4
Results of 10 years of the pilot project revegetation of degraded land by alluvial mining in
South-Eastern Amazon of Peru
J.S. Garate Quispe
Centro de Investigaciones Herbario Alwyn Gentry, Universidad Nacional Amazónica de Madre de
Dios, Puerto Maldonado, Peru
The alluvial mining in Madre de Dios region located in south-eastern amazon of Peru, has been
developing since early last century, first using traditional methods until today working in an
industrialized - mechanized, so coming degrading the rainforests of the Peruvian Amazon
indiscriminately, not counting the intention of recovering them. It is estimated to currently an area of
20000 hectares of deforestation and a future projection of 200000 hectares. Considering that in 1999
a pilot project revegetation of 20 hectares was conducted, using mostly rustic legume species
introduced from Brazil. Today we can confirm the gradual recovery of the soil in particular by mosaics
of Dalbergia monetaria L., Vismia baccifera (L.) Triana & Planch and Sclerolobium. The vegetation
structure has height of 12 meters and consists of all vertical strata, the rate of carbon fixation were
estimated at 2.78 Mg / hectares, now the area is abandoned by the state, and has been affected again
by the mining local populations. The project does not consider the inclusion of local people to manage
these, so as they do not feel committed to the areas. Today is lacking in the region of projects of
restoration of degraded areas, mainly with native species. So some highly fragmented opportunistic
native species that are adapted to these conditions of degraded land, also considering nucleation
techniques for restoring landscape connectivity are proposed.
P17.5
Faunal recolonization of restored arid zone chenopod shrublands in Eastern Australia after
mineral sands mining
S. Cook1, A. Olson1, G. Horrocks1, P. Robertson2, A. Schweitzer3, I. Sluiter4
1
2
Federation University Australia, Ballarat, Australia, Wildlife Profiles P/L, Melbourne, Australia,
3
4
Cristal Mining Australia Limited, Broken Hill, Australia, Ogyris Ecological Research, Mildura,
Australia
Mineral sand prospects are prevalent in arid regions throughout the world, highlighting the importance
of suitable restoration procedures post-mining. Reassembly of faunal assemblages are less often
monitored than the floral component of mine site restoration, despite vertebrates and invertebrates
making essential contributions to the developing ecosystem. We studied recolonisation by vertebrate
and invertebrate fauna of two rehabilitated mine sites in semi-arid New South Wales immediately after
restoration of the soil profile and rip-seeding with indigenous plant species.
Ecosystem development was monitored for four years by analysing development of plant community
structure, and consequent effects on vertebrate and invertebrate colonisation dynamics. Sites were
established in rehabilitated areas following reseeding and at nearby undisturbed analogue sites. At
each site terrestrial vertebrates and invertebrates were sampled by pit trapping, birds were surveyed
by 20 minute area searches and bats were surveyed using anabat detection. Vertebrates were
identified to species and invertebrates were identified to family, with ants being identified to genus and
morphospecies.
There were clear successional patterns of colonisation by fauna related to increases in habitat
structural complexity. Species richness developed as a function time, however abundances were
highly influenced by stochastic climatic events. Introduced species were present in high numbers early
in the recolonisation process, but quickly became a less prominent component of the faunal
community in subsequent years. Initial species composition varied among rehabilitated sites and
between years, but community structure between sites became more similar, and more closely aligned
to that of remnant locations, over time. Results confirm a clear succession of faunal assemblages, with
the likely return to pre-mining diversity and abundance in the longer term. Evidence suggests that
improved rehabilitation techniques have facilitated the establishment of more ecologically sound
habitat restoration and a resultant return to close to a pre-mining environmental biodiversity.
P17.6
Back to the future: predicting plant available water using historical climate to assess postmining landform design for the future
1
1
1
1,2
J.R. Segura , L.B. Hutley , S.M. Bellairs , P. Lu
1
Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia,
2
Energy Resources of Australia Ltd, Darwin, Australia
In the wet-dry tropics of northern Australia, tropical savanna ecosystems are critically dependent on
stored plant available water (PAW) to survive the six-month dry-season. This presents a challenge for
mine site restoration in the region as previous mine site studies found PAW to be a limiting factor in
this environment. The Ranger uranium mine, located in northern Australia, is an open-pit, hard-rock
mine which will eventually be incorporated into the World Heritage listed Kakadu National Park.
Previous investigations into observed PAW over four years on Ranger's recently constructed, four
metre thick waste-rock landform found dry-season duration critical for restoration success. We expand
on this work by coupling century-scale climate data with an ecohydrological model calibrated for the
landform material to examine impacts of long-term climatic variability on soil PAW. The model's soil
moisture predictions were used to determine dry-season duration for each simulated year and to
estimate the initial dry-season PAW. For this study it was assumed that rehabilitated savanna can
access water resources across the four metre thick profile. In 65% of the 113 years simulated, the
landform could provide the required PAW to a rehabilitated savanna stand, given the observed dry-1
season transpiration rates of 0.55 mm d . Since the mid-1960's annual rainfall has increased by 30%.
We predicted that 75% of dry-seasons will have adequate PAW based on climatic conditions from the
1970's onwards thus 25% of years will have a moisture deficit. Successive or frequent years of
significant moisture deficit during establishment phase could result in tree deaths and a change in
stand characteristics thus presenting a risk to restoration success. Future model simulations will
determine the impact of increasing climate variability on likely revegetation survival to determine the
suitability of the landform under future climates.
P17.7
Long term evidences of the ecological restoration process of an Amazonian lake impacted by
bauxite tailings
1
2
3
2
1
1
R.L. Bozelli , F.A. Esteves , F. Roland , M.P. Figueiredo-Barros , E.P. Caramaschi , F.R. Scarano
1
Departamento de Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2Núcleo
em Ecologia e Desenvolvimento Sócio-Ambiental de Macaé, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro,
3
Macaé, Brazil, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Brazil
The purpose of this study was to discuss the disturb imposed to the lake Batata (Amazonia, Brazil)
and the long term evidences of its restoration process after a process of bauxite tailings discharge.
Bauxite tailings spread over 30% of the lake. The impact caused the death of the marginal vegetation
and created a region of high turbidity in the water column. The interruption of tailing disposal into the
lake allowed us to see some of its responses and measure its resilience. A monitoring program
allowed us to evaluate the ecological responses to the physical disruption and its evolution along 25
years. Complementarily, some iniciatives to promote restoration in a portion of impacted flood-prone
forest (igapó) were developed looking foward to accelerate the restoration facts. Bauxite tailings
influence light distribution in the water, and therefore its transparency in the impacted area. Its
presence on the bottom and its resuspension in the water column have ecological consequences to
the structure and the function of the entire ecosystem. Discharged material sensibly decreased
potencial areas for fish reproduction and feeding. Nutrient concentration, organic matter and sediment
characteristics were drastically affected with consequences on densities and diversity of benthic
macroinvertebrates community. Long term data has shown a substantial improvement in water
conditions and in the impacted flood-prone forest that showed relevants signs of its restoration by
natural processes or enhanced by our interventions. The temporal trend of some abiotic features like
organic matter in sediments and the reestablishment of many groups of organisms confirms that a
notable restoration process took place after the tailings' dumping was interrupted. The intrinsic resilient
condition of floodplain lakes are essential in helping them through a successful restoration process,
specially considering the unique experience linking terrestrial-aquatic tropical features.
This research was supported by Mineração Rio do Norte, CNPq and Faperj.
P17.8
Development of ecotechnologies for ecological management of diffuse pollution and
restoration of polluted areas in the Calanques National Park (France)
1,2
1
3
4
5
1
A. Heckenroth , J. Rabier , P. Prudent , P. Monsara , L. Le Mire-Pecheux , I. Laffont-Schwob
2
IMBE, Aix Marseille University / CNRS / IRD / UAPV, Marseille, France, OGD, ORTEC, Aix-en3
Provence, France, LCE, Aix Marseille University / CNRS, Marseille, France, 4Lycée des Calanques,
Marseille, France, 5Parc National des Calanques, Marseille, France
1
Long after activity ceased (1925), the former lead smelting factory of l´Escalette (South-East coast of
Marseille, France) is still a source of pollution by metals and metalloids (MM) for abiotic and biotic
components of the surrounding massif. Recently included in the first peri-urban French National Park,
this brownfield hosts a rich biodiversity growing on highly MM polluted soils in a territory at the
interface between urban area and natural environments. It is why researchers and stakeholders are
working together to develop alternatives to conventional soil remediation techniques considered
unsustainable especially on protected areas. An integrated research project is currently conducted to
assess the capacity to control diffuse pollution by resilient ecosystems and restore ecosystems
functionalities. The aims of this project are both local ecosystems conservation and rehabilitation, by
optimizing the existing functionalities particularly those enhancing MM transfer reduction within the
trophic web. More globally, it aims at developing ecotechnologies, including phytoremediation,
adapted to ecological restoration of Mediterranean areas impacted by diffuse pollution. First,
researches focused on the characterization of soil pollution and ecosystem contamination, i.e.
calcareous shrublands and grasslands, in order to select the most tolerant native plants to be used as
pioneer species. A high soil contamination heterogeneity has been highlighted and observations of
soil-plant-microorganism interactions led to the development of ecological engineering tools to
optimize phytostabilization potential of native plants by soil quality improvement, while reducing the
soil and pollutants erosion. Since 2013, a partnership was formed with a local agricultural high-school
to allow multiplication of the targeted native plants in cooperation with the Calanques National Park,
consequently providing an agroecology expertise helping to develop ecological engineering
techniques well adapted to this specific context. The first ecological restoration field trials should be
performed in autumn 2015 to respond to in situ diffuse pollution management objectives.
P17.9
In situ assessment of natural phytostabilization capacities of two Mediterranean plant species
under high metal and metalloid contamination
1,2
1,3
1
3
1
A. Heckenroth , M. Verlande , M. Le Croller , P. Prudent , J. Rabier , I. Laffont-Schwob
1
1
IMBE, Aix Marseille University / CNRS / IRD / UAPV, Marseille, France, 2OGD, ORTEC, Aix-enProvence, France, 3LCE, Aix Marseille University / CNRS, Marseille, France
On polluted territories, especially under Mediterranean climate, the establishment of a sustainable
autochthonous plant cover is an eco-friendly and commonly-used approach to manage metal and
metalloid (MM) contamination of soils. Within these particularly constrained ecosystems, it is
necessary to investigate further within soil-plants-microorganisms interactions to understand tolerance
mechanisms leading to long-term establishment of pioneer species and natural resilience of polluted
ecosystems. Globularia alypum and Coronilla juncea are two common Mediterranean shrubs that grow
spontaneously on highly polluted soils of a natural area surrounding the brownfield of l´Escalette
(Marseille, France). On this area, part of the Calanques National Park (CNP), previous studies
highlighted these plants as ones of the most tolerant to MM contamination. The effects of vertical and
horizontal heterogeneity of soil contamination on phytostabilization capacities of both species were
assessed in the field. Concentrations of industrial activity markers (As, Cu, Pb, Sb and Zn) were
correlated each other through the study area and significantly higher in topsoils than in deeper layers.
A high MM tolerance was detected for G. alypum. Bioconcentration factors in roots were
systematically under 1 and negatively correlated with MM concentrations indicating transfer
restrictions. Furthermore, root biomasses and symbioses were significantly higher within the upper
layer following the same pattern as MM concentrations through the soil profile. These results
suggested that fungal symbiotic structures may play a key role in G. alypum tolerance mechanisms.
By comparing soil quality, root symbioses and rhizosphere microorganism activities with those of C.
juncea, a native leguminous species that combines both endomycorrhizal colonization and rhizobial
nodulation, this study leads to identify more precisely the key factor improving the ecosystems
resiliency on this area. Furthemore, it aims to bring knowledge for an ecological restoration of the
polluted areas of the CNP using native plant species and their symbiotic root microorganisms.
P18.1
Can exclosed restoration sites be used for conservation purposes and climate refuges for
threatened species?
1
1
1
2
3
D.W. Braidwood , R. Andersen , M. Taggart , M. Smith , G. Morgan
1
Environmental Research Institute, University of the Highlands and Islands, Thurso, United Kingdom,
2
Inverness College, University of the Highlands and Islands, Inverness, United Kingdom,
3
Environmental Closure and Demolition, Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd., Thurso, United Kingdom
Dounreay nuclear power plant, a former research centre on the northeast coast of Scotland, is
currently being decommissioned and demolished in order to restore the area and create a site which
complements the local visual and landscape setting. The site will be fenced off to the public for ca. 300
years, but will be accessed by those assessing restoration success and measuring contamination.
A key step in restoration is the establishment of goals, which should be established a priori. Here, we
explore how similar abandoned sites in Europe have been restored, and in particular if they could be
used to provide a refuge for threatened species. We suggest that such sites could use novel
assemblages of plants which will allow for some species to adapt to new locations as climate change
forces a northward shift in distribution, creating an early seedbank in the area for them.
Another important step before the large-scale implementation is to trial methods and identify
constraints using small-scale experiments. In this case, we used pot experiments to test substrates
and seed mixes. The experiments demonstrated that although adding top-soil is not necessary, it
significantly improved the establishment rates of trialled species. Based on the results, vegetation trial
plots (8mx6m) were constructed using different restoration materials/mixes at Dounreay and seeded
with two custom-made seed mixes, and are being monitored for vegetation establishment and
succession. Seven reference sites are being monitored alongside. Results from the first growing
season will be presented. In particular, we will assess how custom-made seed mixes used for
restoration trials could be enhanced to “future proof” the restored site, following assessments of
threatened species and severity of threats from climate change.
P18.2
Artificial habitat for ex situ and in situ conservation - case study on Asplenium septentrionale
and Woodsia ilvensis in Estonia
1,2
2
M. Rattur , R. Aguraiuja
Department of Botany, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia, 2Tallinn Botanic Garden,
Tallinn, Estonia
1
Ex situ conservation method was chosen for Asplenium septentrionale L. and Woodsia ilvensis (L.) R.
Br. because both of these species are locally endangered in Estonia. The only known natural
population of A. septentrionale in Estonia is growing on the stone wall of an old churchyard on Prangli
Island (facing south) and the artificial population of reintroduced Woodsia ilvensis on the same stone
wall (facing north). This habitat has comparatively high human impact, the stone wall is partly unstable
and cave-ins occur.
The aim was to create the conditions for ex situ back up of the local genetic diversity of A.
septentrionale and expand the research on reintroduced W. ilvensis by the methods of gradual
population establishment in ex situ conditions. In 2012, the artificial habitat was constructed by
imitating the natural habitat of the only currently known population of A. septentrionale, and colonized
also with some of the associated species from the natural habitat. Artificial habitat is situated at the
ecologically suitable area on protected territory of Tallinn Botanic Garden, in the distance of 18 km
from the natural habitat of the species. Plants of A. septentrionale and W. ilvensis were grown from the
spores in the laboratory environment, hardened for natural climate conditions in shade tunnel, and
then gradually planted on to the artificial habitat, imitating this way the natural colonization and
population growth. Planted individuals of A. septentrionale and W. ilvensis adapted well to the
conditions of artificial habitat and started to produce viable spores.
In conclusion, the project has been successful. Artificially created structure began to function as a
habitat and the method could also be adjusted to future in situ conservation. This project was funded
with the support from Environmental Investment Centre (Estonia).
P18.3
Improving knowledge of the biology and ecology of Eryngium viviparum for its conservation
and potential reintroduction
P. Rascle1, S. Gallet1, F. Bioret1, S. Magnanon2, E. Glemarec2, Y. Guillevic3
1
Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Brest, France, 2National Botanic Conservatory of Brest, Brest,
3
France, Bretagne Vivante, Brest, France
Eryngium viviparum (Apiaceae) is an endemic pioneer plant from the Atlantic region of Europe,
growing in seasonally flooded open grasslands. Although it is one of the most threatened plants and
“endangered” at national and European level. After the loss of a large part of its historic stations,
Eryngium viviparum survives only in a few localities in the N-W of the Iberian Peninsula and in one
single known subpopulation in France (in Belz, Morbihan, Brittany). The strong geographical isolation
and the very small size (< 1000 m2) of the French station increase the vulnerability of the species and
make its conservation status concern.
In order to improve the conservation status of Eryngium viviparum in France, a conservation program
including a Ph. D. thesis is implemented as part of a National Action Plan. Through a multidisciplinary
approach, the thesis aims to improve the biological and ecological knowledge of the species, including
demography, modalities of reproduction and dispersal, as well as the caracterization of the French and
Iberian populations genetic structure. The aim of this thesis is to understand the functionning of
Eryngium viviparum populations, in order to establish a sustainable conservation management of the
species in France. The data collected during this study will also allow to test measures to strengthen
the current French population and, eventually, restoration and reintroduction on extinct sites.
To achieve these goals, the research team (EA 2219, geoarchitecture) has partnered the "National
Botanic Conservatory" of Brest and works with the French site manager "Bretagne vivante" (NGO),
and the General Council of Morbihan, with the financial support of the Regional Direction of
Environment (Brittany).
The aim of this poster is to present the thesis program and its first results.
P19.1
Ecological analysis of structure helminth fauna of marals (Cervus elaphus songarica) in Kyrgyz
Republic: biodiversity and parasite community
S. Shermatov
Department of Agro Technology, Naryn State University, Naryn, Kyrgyzstan
The focused helminthological examinations were launched in the natural conditions of Naryn State
Nature Reserve. The objects of helminthological examination were marals (Cervus elaphus songarica)
and domestic animals from households surrounding the nature reserve. Such examination method
was applied to the liver and digestive system of marals and domestic animals (cattle, sheep).
The helminthological examinations held have shown that within the marals population the parasitizing
helminths are of the families of Dicrocoeliidae (Dicrocoelium lanceatum) - 64,0%, Trichostrongyloidea
(Trichostrongylus capricola, Haemonchus contortus, Dictyocaulus filaria), - 58,7%, Anoplocephalidae
(Moniezia expansa) -23,1%, Ascaridoidea (Neoascaris vutulorum) - 17,8%, Trichocephalidea
(Trichocephalus ovis) -16,5-%, Paramfhistomatidea (Paramfhistomum cervi) - 13,6%, Fasciolidae
(Fasciola hepatica¸ Parafasciolopsis fasciolaemorpha) - 8,7% and parasitic protozoa - Eimeriidae
(Eimeria crandallis, Eimeria ovinoidalis)- 38,9%. Nematodirus invasion prevails. Nematodiruses were
found most frequently in young animals. The basis of parasite complex is made of Trichocephalidea
and Eimeriidae oocysts that are dominant in terms of frequency of occurrence and that have epizootic
importance.
Trematode prevalence in domestic cattle was 59.0%. The prevalence of Fasciolidae in cattle was 2538% and intensity 62, Dicrocoeliidae in sheep 80% and 79-117.
The received research results show that the marals in are mainly affected by the helminthiasis, the
causative agents of which are developed with the help of intermediary host. The spread of such
helminthiasis is connected to the special features of ecology of terricole molluscum of Bradybaena
genus and ants of Formica and Proformica genera. During our research Bradybaena species were
encountered in various biotypes (the sections of mixed forest; the shores of basins covered with
bushes; water meadows). They dwelled in leaf litter, in hollows, under stones, in grass, in floodplain
bushes and trees. The population density per 1 m² reached 1.3 to 17.5 species.
P19.2
Enhancement of barn owl populations (Tyto alba) for sustainable rodent control in the
Everglades Agricultural Area of south Florida (USA)
R.N. Raid
Everglades Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Belle Glades, United States
In 1994, the University of Florida initiated the UF Barn Owl Program, with the primary objective of
using barn owls (Tyto alba) for sustainable rodent control in south Florida. Crisscrossed by a vast
network of canals and ditches, and supporting the protective biomass that accompanies sugarcane,
vegetable, and rice production, the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) was a haven for millions of
rodents. The premise of the project was to promote placement of nesting boxes along field perimeters
to address limitations in nesting habitat. Although initially reluctant to inhabit boxes mounted on posts
out in the open, the majority of barn owls in the EAA have now been reared in these structures and
new nesting boxes are colonized within days of placement. Nearly 100% of boxes in the area are
currently used for either nesting (approx. 70%) or roosting (approx. 30%). As a result, the EAA now
supports some of the highest barn owl densities in North America. This has resulted in a dramatic
decline in both rodent damage and rodenticide use. The UF Barn Owl Program serves as a role model
for demonstrating the beneficial aspects of a wildlife species to agriculture and it illustrates how quickly
an avian species can respond to habitat management. An unintended benefit has been the
education/outreach afforded by the program. Youths of all ages (K-12) are recruited to participate in
the construction of nesting boxes, readily connecting them to both wildlife and agriculture. Additionally,
the program furnishes copious numbers of sterilized regurgitated owl pellets to local schools, where
students eagerly dissect the pellets. Consisting of the undigested remains of the owl's prey (bones and
fur), students absorb lessons on predator/prey relationships and even mammalian anatomy. Without
exception, every teacher that facilitates this activity reports that it is the favorite lesson of the year.
P19.3
Eastern Chimpanzee´s habitat fragmentation in the mountainous areas of Nyungwe National
Park (NNP), Rwanda
D. Mvunabandi1,2, I. van Duren1, T. Wang1
1
Faculty of ITC/Natural Resources Management, University of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands,
2
Ruhengeri Institute of Applied Sciences (INES-Ruhengeri), Musanze, Rwanda
Habitat fragmentation, arising from anthropogenic activities, is one of the main threat to biological
diversity and primates in particular. However, primate species differ from each other in responding to
fragmentation vulnerability. The chimpanzees considered as endangered and rare species, with low
fecundity have been identified to be much more affected by fragmentation and habitat degradation.
This study aimed to assess the chimpanzee habitat fragmentation within and around the Cyamudongo
forest patch in the perspective of identifying where future potentially chimpanzee habitat can be
restored to connect isolated forest patches with the contiguous forest of Nyungwe in Rwanda. This
study used remote sensing data to map and detect land cover change in the landscape located
between Cyamudongo and Nyungwe National Park through 1989, 2005 to 2013 and then quantify
spatial patterns changes in forest cover in 1989, 2005 and 2013 with FRAGSTATS™. This research
defined areas suitable for chimpanzee habitat as well as the areas biophysically suitable for the
establishment of ecological corridor. The results showed the total forest area in 1989, 2005 and 2013.
Forest degradation increased during the period of 1989-2005, but decreased as from 2005 to 2013.
The number of forest patches increased in 1989-2005 indicating more fragmented landscape and
decreased during the period of 2005-2013. This research pointed out areas that are most suitable for
reforestation efforts based biophysical variables, namely land cover, forest patches, protected areas,
slope, distance to settlements, distance to roads, distance to rivers. The application of least cost path
analysis with corridor design and ArcGIS software produced three corridors path, the corridor path 4
has potential to connect several fragmented forest patches between Cyamudongo and Nyungwe. This
research generated baseline data against which long term impact of fragmentation on chimpanzee
can be assessed for better conservation and protection of chimpanzee population.
P19.4
Conservation of native pollinators: the effects of restoration on bee communities of a tallgrass
prairie
1
1
2
B. Bruninga-Socolar , S. Griffin , R. Winfree
1
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Graduate Program in Ecology & Evolution, New
Brunswick, United States, 2Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Department of Ecology,
Evolution, & Natural Resources, New Brunswick, United States
Animal pollinators such as bees are required for the reproduction of 85% of angiosperms, yet whether
standard habitat restoration techniques successfully restore pollinators is poorly known. Native
tallgrass prairie in the midwestern United States is a focus of restoration efforts because over 80% of
this ecosystem has been converted to agriculture. In addition, native prairie hosts a diverse pollinator
community. We studied a large-scale, long-term tallgrass prairie restoration, the Nachusa Grasslands,
a Nature Conservancy property in Illinois, USA, to determine how pollinators are affected by the
restoration process. The restoration at Nachusa offers an ideal space-for-time substitution experiment,
because the restored prairie sites range in age from 1-25 years since planting with a native plant
assemblage. We compared bee communities in a chronosequence of 13 restored sites to bee
communities in remnant prairie sites (controls) and agricultural sites (pre-restoration condition). At all
19 sites over four months, we collected 2,254 specimens representing 24 bee genera and 87 species.
Restoration had a positive effect on bee abundance (p=0.0009) and richness (p< 0.0001). Abundance
and richness showed an increasing trend over time such that older restored sites reach or surpass the
abundance and richness at prairie remnant sites. Restoration also affected bee community
composition; composition of sites of similar age clustered together (R2=0.31, p=0.053). Examining
pairwise beta diversity among all sites, we found that turnover contributes more to beta diversity
among sites that are close together in age, while richness effects increase as age differences among
sites increase. Overall, we conclude that current prairie restoration methods successfully reestablish
bee communities resembling those in remnant habitats, but only after 20-25 years of management
since initial restoration.
Funding bodies: American Museum of Natural History, Prairie Biotic Research, Inc.
P19.5
Habitat suitability for moose (Alces alces) in reclaimed oil-shale opencasts in Estonia
A. Luud, M. Pensa
Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia
Multifunctional landscapes with natural and semi-natural ecosystems provide benefits to human
society that are of great ecological, socio-cultural and economic value. Land use changes in Estonian
oil shale mining area endanger the sustainability of the ecological functions of the landscape.We
examined the ecological evaluation of landscapes through the analysis of habitat suitability for moose
(Alces alces) in reclaimed oil-shale opencasts. Pellet group counts from the winter period have been
used as the most precise method of moose census. We counted pellet groups on 4 m x 100 m
counting tracks at test sites in spring just after the snow had melted. The tracks were located along
rides or dirt roads approximately 100 m off these in order to facilitate orientation. The total length of the
counting tracks was 960 km, of which 150 km were in reclaimed opencasts.According to our results,
one of the most significant factors that determines moose population density in oil shale mining area is
the amount of habitat in the surroundings of a particular site. The total amount of moose habitats
remains the same in reclaimed opencasts, because young stands on mine spoil are suitable winter
habitats for moose. However, the distance from blasting activity in mines significantly affects the
habitat use. Oil shale mining in opencasts has an essential impact on local moose habitats and
disturbs the functioning of the ecological network. The rapid reforestation of mined out areas,
nevertheless, forestalls the problems of habitat loss and population decline. The large area of young
pine plantations increases the area of suitable winter habitats for moose in reclaimed opencasts.
P19.6
Prescribed goat grazing to restore campus ecosystems and create a community of
sustainability
A. McKinney1, E. MacDonald2, E. King3,4, A. Hellenga5
1
Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, United States, 2College of Enviornment and Design,
3
University of Georgia, Athens, United States, Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens,
4
United States, Warnell College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens,
United States, 5Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Georgia, Athens,
United States
The Tanyard Creek Chew Crew is a student-led effort at the University of Georgia with three main
objectives: test the potential of prescribed goat grazing as an alternative method of invasive plant
management; advance the University's goal of creating a sustainable learning environment; and to
help meet the goals and objectives of the UGA Watershed Management Plan. The Chew Crew serves
as a novel approach to addressing the University's three missions: research, teaching, and service.
And through these we work to instill a stronger sense of environmental stewardship and advance
sustainability throughout campus and the community. The Chew Crew provides opportunities for
students to engage with faculty in research and other creative work. Several students have begun
independent research projects inspired by the work we are doing. Many UGA professors have used
our research sites as outdoor laboratories. These once unused campus landscapes have now become
exceptional and unique teaching opportunities by providing students with experiential and co-curricular
learning experiences. The Chew Crew has created ample opportunities for students, faculty, and staff
to enhance the quality of life throughout their communities by engaging in meaningful service
initiatives through volunteer workdays, community outreach, and K-12 education programs.
We are currently focusing our efforts towards restoring two landscapes on campus: a degraded urban
stream corridor and a rare patch of old growth piedmont forest. This is an ever expanding project that
has thus far engaged over 500 volunteers that have contributed over 1500 hours of service. Our great
motivating power is our goats. They not only engage university students, but are helping to bridge the
gap between Town and Gown and create a community of sustainability working towards common
restoration goals.
P19.7
Restoration of Greater Sage-Grouse habitat: a framework for landscape and site-specific
decisions
D.A. Pyke1, S.T. Knick2, J.C. Chambers3, J.L. Beck4, E.W. Schupp5
1
Forest & Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Corvallis, United States,
2
Forest & Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Boise, United States,
3
4
Rocky Mountain Research Station, United States Forest Service, Reno, United States, Department
of Ecosystem Science and Management, University of Wyoming, Laramie, United States, 5Wildland
Resources and the Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, United States
Sagebrush-grassland ecosystems are one of the most imperiled ecosystems in North America. Fire
has resulted in large areas instantly losing their shrub component with little hope to regain it soon
without assistance. Consequently, Greater Sage-Grouse, which are a candidate for endangered
species status, experiences immediate and large-scale habitat loss because it depends on sagebrush
at multiple scales. As a result, managers are faced with a need to restore sagebrush-grasslands that
meet both landscape and site-specific requirements. Managers are seeking decision support tools for
implementing restoration objectives across landscapes in a cost-effective manner. Using recent
concepts about sagebrush ecosystem resilience to disturbances and resistance to invasive annuals,
we developed a decision tool that meets these objectives and that also will address restoration of
habitat for Greater Sage-Grouse. The decision support tool is assembled in three parts. Part I provides
background ecological and management concepts that are necessary for the practitioner to use two
successive decision tools. Part II describes a hierarchical approach to restoration with the initial
decisions conducted at the landscape level. It is geared toward decision makers who must prioritize
where limited funds could be applied to gain the greatest benefit across a region. We used Greater
Sage-grouse habitat restoration within the western U.S. as the example of this process. Using a map
of landscape cover of sagebrush across the entire Greater Sage-grouse range, we delineated areas of
existing high (>65%), medium (25 to 65%), and low (< 25%) landscape cover. We coupled this with
soil temperature and moisture regimes used as surrogates for resistance and resilience to prioritize
restoration locations and potential management options. Part III describes project-level restoration
tools. These latter parts are designed to be followed in a step-by-step progression to ensure that
critical decisions are made in the appropriate order to ascertain best management practices.