Intro to Restoration Ecology (part 1)

This is the very first lecture for our Theory and Practice of Ecological Restoration Class at CSU Channel Islands. We cover a few projects I have worked on over the years and talk about the big picture of ecological restoration.

[@kimrocksthetrees]

This was very inspiring. Thank you. Please keep adding new content.

[@ThePirateLab]

Thanks Kim! I will. I'm on sabbatical this year and so not teaching, but have new content intermittently. Glad you found some of this helpful.

[@TheBostricano]

this was riveting

[@michaelalberts3615]

Great lecture

[@brittanyfriedman5118]

how do you know which former state the ecology should return to? and doesnt the word restoration preclude any vision that makes the ecology better than that former state? it seems that mere restoration may not be enough anymore

[@ThePirateLab]

Brittany: Excellent questions! These are key aspects to any effective restoration plan. The reality is that most restorations are going to be constrained by the logistics of the setting: hydrological setting in a region of increasing drought, severely reduced propagule pressure as the plants/animals/fungi populations crash, altered fire return frequency, obliterated coral skeleton substrate for recruitment sites for planulae settlement, etc.
"Restoration" is similar to "disasters." Both are representative of the mid-point of what is in fact a wider spectrum of actions and efforts. That said, increasingly we need to engage in truly radical efforts to battle the current mass extinction and altered environments sweeping our planet. But finding the resources and the public support for such aggressive environmental management is non-trivial.

[@tam-mietedawaribriggs3532]

I would assume that this might be a real issue and in many instances the use of reference ecosystems as benchmarks for ecosystem restoration targets is common. The significant differences between the affected ecosystem and the reference ecosystem in terms of structure, function and services will most likely be a good place to start. The question then becomes how do we define and identify a reference ecosystem? There exist in literature various principles and protocols for determining/selecting a reference ecosystem.
Additionally, it is also advisable and interesting to review literature (if they exists) on studies which involved the characterisation of the environmental baseline data conditions on the area of interest. Past academic reports, impacts assessment studies, etc. which discuss the ecosystem's structure, function and services will be very good source of information.

[@ozarkchinquapin6010]

I like the sound of your voice

[@baderksa9950]

Can someone please tell me if there is a part 2?

[@ThePirateLab]

Bader...there is. You can find it (and others) in this playlist: th-cam.com/play/PLvKr3ZQE4i37Dd3o427Q76fy3J_B68s6H.html

[@juandmurciaeslava5966]

What are the 5th top universities for ecosystem restauration?

[@ThePirateLab]

That will depend on what level you are talking about: introductory/beginning or advanced. Also, most of the programs will specialize: there are good forest restoration programs (such as Northern Arizona University), good wetland restoration programs (Tulane, Louisiana State University, University of San Francisco), good grassland restoration programs (Kansas State, UC Davis, etc.).

[@siwakwievaristo8064]

Too much jokes than teaching