Considerations of Scale for Restoration Kris Lightner CFR 521
How will climate change impact where and how we approach restoration in riparian systems?
System Components: -Temperature -Precipitation System Components: -Temperature -Precipitation -Hydrology -Species Composition -Sedimentation -Geomorphology -Humans!
Tipping Points (and recovery from the BEYOND) Scheffer, M., S. Carpenter, J. A. Foley, C. Folke and B. Walker. 2001. Catastrophic Shifts in Ecosystems. Nature Vol. 413, pp. 591-596
System Response to Disturbances Pulsed – short term, intense event (hurricanes, fire, flooding, land conversion, mass wasting) Ramp – long term, steady pressure (drought, sedimentation, succession/loss, temperature) * Vary in space and time! Zedler, Joy B. and Janelle M. West. 2008. Declining Diversity in Natural and Restored Salt Marshes: A 30-Year Study of Tijuana Estuary. Restoration Ecology Vol. 16, No. 2, pp. 249–262
Climate as Disturbance * Gradual change with pulsed events; magnification of the “usual suspects” Gradual: Increased temperature Sea level rise Pulsed: Precipitation = flashier/dryer systems Storm severity and frequency
Species Response to Disturbance California Condor Ability to adapt to disturbance, but restoration as well? Burrowing Owl
Global Climate Seasonal Variation Restoration Disturbance Regional Network System Matrix Ecosystem Patch Complex Single Patch Microhabitat Global Climate Seasonal Variation Restoration Disturbance Day Week Month Year Decade Century Millennia
Thoughts? Questions?