Restoration Ecology

CB Carbon cycle Fig 54.14

CO 2 and other greenhouse gases keep heat from radiating back into space

Ecological Restoration and Global Climate Change J. Harris, R. Hobbs, E. Higgs, and J. Aronson Restoration Ecology Vol. 14, No. 2, pg. 170– 176 June 2006

Mismatches – an example Great tit (relative of the chickadee) Common in Europe Studied in detail since the 1950’s by scientists at the Netherlands Institute of Ecology. Information: Grossman, D. 2003, Spring Forward, Scientific American,

Tits lay eggs at the same time that they did in 1985 – mid-spring (~4/16 to 5/15) Since ~1985 spring temperatures have risen about 2 o C Tits primary food is the winter moth caterpillar (below) Caterpillar production is 2 weeks earlier in 2002 than in 1985 Grossman, D. 2003, Spring Forward, Scientific American,

Restoring a disturbed ecosystem to historical conditions may not be valid as ecosystems change.

It is increasingly likely that the next century will be characterized by shifts in global weather patterns and climate regimes. precipitation changes

The past is no longer a prescriptive guide for what might happen in the future. precipitation changes

What are the two most basic resources necessary for biodiversity?

Restoring ecosystems must begin with the basics: water and space

Truckee River, Nevada- Water diversions reduced flow. Increased flows during willow and cottonwood seed release season allowed recovery of riparian ecosystem.

Kissimmee River, Florida- Had been turned into a 90 km canal. About 24 km of the river has been restored.

Rhine River, Europe- dredging for ships reduced biodiversity. Side channels are being reintroduced to allow species to recover.

Water cycle Fig 54.13

Stream restoration in urban catchments through redesigning stormwater systems: looking to the catchment to save the stream C. Walsh, T. Fletcher, and A. Ladson J. N. Am. Benthol. Soc., 2005, 24(3):690–705

Restoration of streams degraded by urbanization has usually been attempted by enhancement of instream habitat or riparian zones.

Recent studies of urban impacts on streams in Melbourne, Australia, on water chemistry, algal biomass, diatoms and invertebrates, suggest that the primary degrading process to streams in many urban areas is effective imperviousness.

The direct connection of impervious surfaces to streams means that even small rainfall events can produce sufficient surface runoff to cause frequent disturbance.

Where impervious surfaces are not directly connected to streams, small rainfall events are intercepted and infiltrated.

A wet retention pond to filter pollutants and buffer and maintain stream flow

Roadside swales can increase water filtration

Inlet screens for filtering large debris

Baffle boxes to remove sediment

Restoration of streams degraded by urbanization has usually been attempted by enhancement of instream habitat or riparian zones.

The use of alternative drainage methods, which maintain a near-natural frequency of surface runoff from the catchment, is the best approach to stream restoration in urban areas.

Stream restoration in urban catchments through redesigning stormwater systems: looking to the catchment to save the stream