Rucete ✏ Campbell Biology In a Nutshell
Unit 8 ECOLOGY — Concept 55.5 Restoration Ecology Attempts to Restore Degraded Ecosystems to a More Natural State
Restoration ecology aims to repair damaged ecosystems by speeding up recovery processes. While many ecosystems can recover naturally, others—especially those severely degraded by human activity—need active intervention through physical reconstruction and biological strategies like bioremediation and augmentation.
1. Principles of Restoration Ecology
- Ecosystems can recover naturally via ecological succession, but this is often very slow
- Restoration ecologists assume:
- Damage is partly reversible
- Ecosystems have resilience limits
- Goals include restoring structure and function within practical limits
- Sometimes, focus is on key functions or habitats rather than full restoration
2. Physical Reconstruction
- Physical environment must often be rebuilt before life can return
- Examples:
- Stream restoration: reshape channels to reduce erosion
- Mine restoration: regrade land, replace topsoil
3. Biological Restoration
- Once structure is restored, biological processes begin
- Two major strategies:
- Bioremediation: use organisms to remove toxins
- Lichens absorb heavy metals
- Shewanella oneidensis bacteria convert metals into safer forms
- Oak Ridge: ethanol boosted microbes → 80% uranium reduction
- Biological augmentation: add helpful species/nutrients
- Plant nitrogen-fixing lupines on degraded soils
- Add mycorrhizal fungi to restore prairie communities
- Bioremediation: use organisms to remove toxins
4. Global Restoration Examples
- Maungatautari, New Zealand: fencing excludes invasive mammals → native birds recover
- Succulent Karoo, South Africa: revegetation combats overgrazing in desert ecosystem
- Coastal Indonesia: restored seaweed and seagrass beds for fish nurseries
- Kissimmee River, Florida: rechanneling restored wetlands and wildlife habitat
5. Supporting Wildlife and Services
- Plants alone don’t guarantee animal return
- Additional strategies:
- Reintroduce animals
- Create corridors for movement
- Install perches to attract birds
- These efforts restore pollination, seed dispersal, and other ecological services
In a Nutshell
Restoration ecology seeks to return degraded ecosystems to functioning, resilient states. Through physical and biological strategies—like reshaping landscapes, detoxifying pollutants, and reintroducing species—ecologists guide ecosystems toward recovery. These interventions support biodiversity and restore critical ecological services in landscapes altered by humans.