Abstracts

Coastal and Marine Communities

A Simple Approach to Estimating the Nutrient and Carbon Storage Benefits of Restoring Submerged Aquatic Vegetation, Applied to Vallisneria americana in the Caloosahatchee Estuary, Florida, USA. 2024. Krebs, B.M., N. Iadevaia, J. Hecker and J.G. Douglass (Department of Marine and Earth Sciences, The Water School, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL, jdouglass{at}fgcu.edu). Ecological Engineering 200:107167. doi:10.1016/j.ecoleng.2023.107167

In Florida, urbanization threatens coastal ecosystems via excess nutrient inputs resulting in over 25% of waterways currently classified as impaired. Submerged aquatic vegetation is becoming increasingly recognized as a valuable means of combatting eutrophication via nutrient sinks as well as by increasing sedimentation rates. Krebs et al. assessed the nutrient storage potential of Vallisneria americana (American eelgrass) in Florida’s Caloosahatchee River estuary under various restoration scenarios for use in eutrophication remediation projects. If V. americana were restored to late-1990s abundances, its tissues could be a significant sink for up to 28.4 metric tons (mt) of carbon, 2.6 mt of nitrogen and 0.16 mt of phosphorous and cause the sedimentation of a further 897 mt-C y⁻¹, 68.5 mt-N y⁻¹, and 3.87 mt-P y⁻¹. Unfortunately, V. americana currently exists at very low densities, so the actual nutrient sink and sedimentation potentials are several orders of magnitude lower.

Conditions that Promote Oyster Settlement Coincide with Areas of High Boating Activity in a Developed Coastal Habitat. 2024. Sussan, T.T. and C.L. Charpentier (Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Stetson University, DeLand, FL, ccharpentier{at}stetson.edu). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 572:151989. doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2024.151989

Oyster reefs stabilize shorelines, improve water quality, sequester carbon and support marine biodiversity. Dramatic declines in oyster reefs due to climate change, habitat loss, overfishing, disease, invasion and boating over the last century have led to the implementation of restoration projects, with particular attention paid to Crassostrea virginica (eastern oyster) on the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of the United States. Oyster shell and artificial reefs are common restoration techniques, but little monitoring has been done to assess either ecological or engineering goals such as continued oyster growth and survival and shoreline stabilization. In Mosquito Lagoon, Florida, boating is a significant driver of oyster decline, so the authors compared settlement density of C. virginica under varying boating intensities and proximities to existing reefs over a 20-week period. Settlement was greatest at high boating intensity but this is more likely due to increased tidal flow and larval supply than boat activity. Reef proximity had a positive effect on recruitment, indicating that the optimal restoration sites provide adequate tidal flow and natural reef proximity.

Economics and Ecosystem Services

Assessing the Contribution of Ecological Restoration Projects to Ecosystem Services Values in the Chinese Loess Plateau. 2024. Liang, Y., Z. Su and L. Liu (College of Resources and Environment, Yangtze University, Wuhan, China, liulijun{at}yangtzeu.edu.cn). Geojournal 89:23. doi:10.1007/s10708-024-11007-8

Widespread ecological degradation in China has led the government to implement projects in vulnerable areas to restore ecosystem services and biodiversity. Eleven such projects are occurring on the Loess Plateau, where there is an urgent need to combat soil erosion but a lack of research into how restoration impacts ecosystem services in this fragile region. Liang et al. evaluated changes to ecosystem services in the Loess Plateau under three restoration scenarios over a 20-year period. Land use changed rapidly during the study period with forests becoming dominant over grassland, leading to a 1.74 billion RMB increase in overall ecosystem service contributions. The authors recommend more research into the tradeoffs between grassland, farmland and forest services as well as developing diverse conservation projects.

Evaluating Remnant Vegetation Management Practices Adjacent to Apple Orchards to Support Native Bee Pollinators. 2023. Spronk, A.L. (Primary Industries and Regions South Australia, Clare, South Australia, amber. spronk{at}sa.gov.au), G.R. Guerin, I. Martin-Fores, A.J. Lowe and K. Hogendoorn. Ecological Management and Restoration 24:96–106. doi:10.1111/emr.12588

As the human population continues to grow, there is an increased demand for land dedicated to crop production and, consequently, for pollination services. Agricultural expansion has driven declines in wild bee populations via reduction of native habitat and increased use of pesticides. Flower strip plantings on farms are a recommended practice for wild bee conservation but outcomes for crop pollination have been variable, perhaps because flowers distract bees from crops or because restoration takes time. Spronk et al. examined the effects of remnant forest patch management adjacent to apple orchards on native bee communities in South Australia. Management regimes consisted of fire, grazing and low maintenance. Bee diversity and floral abundance were higher in burned and low maintenance fragments than in grazed fragments and bee richness was positively correlated with plant richness. Plant-pollinator networks in grazed patches were less connected but network resilience was not affected by management type.

Grasslands

Practical Methods for the Control of Tor-Grass (Brachypodium pinnatum S.L.) and the Restoration of Calcareous Grassland. 2024. Ridding, L.E. (UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Oxfordshire, UK, lucridd{at}ceh.ac.uk), J.W. Redhead, E.V. Upcott, L. Hulmes, S. Hulmes, N. Mitschunas et al. Journal for Nature Conservation 78:126566. doi:10.1016/j.jnc.2024.126566

Western Europe’s calcareous grasslands support high biodiversity but require management to prevent succession to woodlands. These habitats have experienced degradation due to invasion by graminoids such as Brachypodium pinnatum (tor-grass) which, although it is native to western Europe, quickly spreads to create a monoculture. Cutting, burning, grazing and applying herbicides have been tested for reducing B. pinnatum cover, with mixed results and no clear best method. Ridding et al. compared the results of herbicide application and seeding to seasonal cutting and grazing. Herbicide application was effective for cover reduction, and seeding the herbicided plots facilitated establishment of natives. Cutting and grazing in both spring and fall was also effective for controlling spread, reducing cover and increasing species richness of grasslands.

Invasive and Pest Species

From Invasive Species Stand to Species-Rich Grassland: Long-Term Changes in Plant Species Composition During Solidago-invaded Site Restoration. 2024. Świerszcz, S. (Institute of Agroecology and Plant Production, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland, sebastian.swierszcz{at}upwr.edu.pl), M. Czarniecka-Wiera, T.H. Szymura and M. Szymura. Journal of Environmental Management 353:120216. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120216

Solidago gigantea (giant goldenrod) and Solidago canadensis (Canada goldenrod) are highly problematic grassland invaders in Europe and Asia, forming dense stands that outcompete natives, and reducing richness of both plants and animals. Świerszcz et al. conducted an eight-year experiment comparing the effects of removal and seed application methods on restored vegetation composition and diversity in a Wrocław, Poland meadow. Restoration had a positive effect on composition and diversity for target graminoids and forbs. Applying fresh hay as a seed source in combination with herbicide yielded the highest level of success. However, over time, non-chemical methods yielded results comparable to herbicide treatments.

Lakes, Rivers and Streams

The Role of Stream Restoration in Mitigating Sediment and Phosphorous Loads in Urbanizing Watersheds. 2024. MacKenzie, K. (School of Engineering, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada, kmacke06{at}uoguelph.ca), S. Auger, S. Beitollahpour and B. Gharabaghi. Water 16:363. doi:10.3390/w16020363

Urban stream syndrome is characterized by altered hydrological flows, erosion and sedimentation, high pollution and nutrient runoff, and generally poor habitat health. Bank erosion, in particular, may be a major driver of sedimentation and phosphorous loading in urban watersheds but few studies have investigated whether bank erosion or upland watershed sources are responsible and whether restoration can reduce contaminant loads. Using Ontario’s Tannery Creek watershed as a case study, the authors used percent impervious cover to compare sediment and phosphorous contributions and develop cost-effective mitigation plans for both urban stormwater infrastructure and rural areas. Restoration was found to be an indispensable and cost-effective facet of urban watershed management.

Monitoring and Adaptive Management

How Well Do Existing Surveys Track Fish Community Performance Measures in the St. Clair-Detroit River System? 2024. Hilling, C.D. (U.S. Geological Survey Great Lakes Science Center, Huron, OH, chilling{at}usgs.gov), M.L. Belore, J. Boase, J.A. Chiotti, R.L. DeBruyne, S.E. Doka et al. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 196:129. doi:10.1007/s10661-023-11895-2

The St. Clair-Detroit River System was a major fishery until 1910 when the waterway underwent channelization to accommodate large shipping vessels, which destroyed spawning habitat. Additionally, during the following years, up to 87% of coastal wetlands were lost to draining, diking and infilling. Restoration efforts have focused on improving habitat for the over 100 native fish species that require near-shore coastal habitat for their life history. Much site-specific monitoring has been carried out to assess fish responses to restoration, but uncertainty persists regarding whether such surveys can accurately assess population-level benefits and whether management objectives are being achieved. The authors compared monitoring survey results to performance metrics from management plans to identify information gaps and develop more effective monitoring programs. For commercially harvested species, performance measures were accurate but data for at-risk species was unreliable. Effective monitoring of restoration projects is essential for evaluating restoration success.

Recovery of Eelgrass (Zostera marina) Following Conversion of Conventional Chain Moorings to Conservation Mooring Systems in Massachusetts: Context-dependence, Challenges, and Management. In press. Seto, I. (Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, Gloucester, MA, iris.seto{at}mass.gov), N.T. Evans, J. Carr, K. Frew, M. Rousseau and F.R. Schenck. Estuaries and Coasts. doi:10.1007/s12237-023-01322-7

Recreational boat moorings are harmful to seagrasses such as Zostera marina (common eelgrass) mostly via dragging of the mooring chain across the seafloor, creating persistent scouring scars. Conservation mooring systems such as the floating rode method, that employs anchors and subsurface buoys rather than heavy chains, have been implemented across the northeast United States. Seto et al. evaluated Z. marina recovery under 21 floating rode systems in six harbors off the coast of Massachusetts. Recovery was not consistent across study sites and, while most scars revegetated, few achieved complete recovery even five years post conversion to floating rode systems. When systems were oversized for the site or when not properly maintained to remove fouling organisms, gear still dragged along the sea floor, damaging Z. marina fields. While floating rodes can be an effective tool for conservation, recovery is variable and appropriate sizing and maintenance of equipment is essential.

Other Communities

Evaluation of Exclosures in Restoring Degraded Landscapes in the Semi-Arid Highlands of Northwestern Ethiopia. 2024. Adem, A.A. (Department of Natural Resource Management, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia, anwarasefa{at}gmail.com), T.M. Wassie, T. Gashaw and S.A. Tilahun. CATENA 237:07826. doi:10.1016/j.catena.2024.107826

Ethiopian highland ecosystems are threatened by erosion, deforestation and overgrazing, which has led to soil fertility decline. Various rehabilitation programs including the use of exclosures have been implemented since the 1970s but few monitoring efforts have followed up on their efficacy. Adem et al. compared vegetation and soil from inside 11- and 8-year exclosures to unfenced communal grazing land in Ethiopia’s Karita-Wuha and Dengora watersheds. Exclosures were beneficial to vegetation and soil nutrient restoration at both sites, but nutrient profiles differed somewhat, indicating that local conditions have significant effects on restoration outcomes.

Outreach

Integration of Social Data into Restoration Suitability Modelling for Oyster Reefs. 2024. Howie, A.H. (School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, alice.howie{at}hdr.mq.edu.au), S.E. Reeves, C.L. Gillies and M.J. Bishop. Ecological Indicators 158:111531. doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2023.111531

Habitat Suitability Models (HSMs) are a commonly used tool for restoration site selection. These models integrate species-habitat relationships and geospatial data and, while they are effective for determining ecological parameters, they neglect social and economic factors, particularly in urban areas. Howie et al. compared HSMs that had been adapted to incorporate local stakeholder engagement in addition to ecological data with traditional HSMs using oyster reefs in Sydney Harbor, Australia, as a case study. The combination models reduced habitat suitability from 43–93% to just 7% indicating that traditional HSMs can vastly overestimate suitability, resulting in increased restoration failure rates. For urban restoration site selection, ecological data alone is insufficient and incorporating stakeholder preferences has the potential to improve restoration outcomes.

Propagation and Introduction

Shifting Reef Restoration Focus from Coral Survivorship to Biodiversity Using Reef Carpets. 2024. Horoszowski-Fridman, Y.B., I. Izhaki, S.M. Katz, R. Barkan and B. Rinkevich (Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, Tel-Shikmona, Haifa, Israel, buki{at}ocean.org.il). Communications Biology 7:141. doi:10.1038/s42003-024-05831-4

Coral reef systems face myriad threats while providing ecosystem services to millions of people worldwide. Traditional management approaches such as the establishment of marine protected areas and fishing restrictions have shown limited success for protecting reefs, so focus has shifted to active reef restoration efforts such as coral gardening. This technique consists of a nursery cultivation phase followed by an outplanting phase where nursery-raised corals are transplanted to degraded reefs. Extensive research has been done on the cultivation phase but the transplantation phase has yet to receive much attention. Horoszowski-Fridman et al. assessed the reef carpet transplant method for establishing plantings of Acropora cf. variabilis (purple-tip acropora), Pocillopora damicornis (cauliflower coral) and Stylophora pistillata (hood coral) in the Red Sea’s Gulf of Eliat over a 17-month period. Reef carpet corals exhibited growth and recruitment and created habitat for 183 coral-reliant taxa, but the unstable substrate contributed to mortality. However, since dead corals did contribute to providing habitat, this is not necessarily indicative of failure. Though the technique needs improvement on soft substrates, the reef carpet method can enhance biodiversity on severely degraded reefs.

Species at Risk

Key Issues in Assessing Threats to Sea Turtles: Knowledge Gaps and Future Directions. 2023. Fuentes, M.P.B. (Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, mfuentes{at}fsu.edu), E. McMichael, C.Y. Kot, I. Silver-Gorges, B.P. Wallace, B.J. Godley et al. Endangered Species Research 52:303–341. doi:10.3354/esr01278

Sea turtles are charismatic megafauna that play critical roles in the maintenance of coral reef, sea grass and sandy beach habitats as well as marine nutrient and energy cycling. Anthropogenic-driven degradation has resulted in dramatic population declines, and consequently, many species of sea turtle are now considered globally threatened or endangered. With the goal of encouraging scientifically-informed conservation planning, Fuentes et al. surveyed researchers, government employees and for- and non-profit organizations on major threats and knowledge gaps in sea turtle conservation. Climate change, coastal overdevelopment, overfishing, direct taking and contamination were cited as key drivers of declines. Major knowledge gaps included our still-limited understanding of the consequences of female-skewed sex ratios due to rising temperatures, the effects of climate change on in-water behavior such as foraging, quantifying the impacts of illegal direct-take, and evaluating the extent of disease and pollution effects on populations.

Importance of Restoration of Dung Beetles in the Maintenance of Ecosystem Services. 2024. Torabian, S. (Department of Natural Resource Management, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, shiva_torabian{at}yahoo.com), J.A. Leffler and L. Perkins. Ecological Solutions and Evidence 5:e12297. doi:10.1002/2688-8319.12297

Dung beetles contribute significantly to ecosystem functions and services, cumulatively valued at nearly $6 billion USD as of 2005. These organisms aid in decomposition, pest management and seed dispersal and improve water filtration. Pesticide use, climate change and habitat fragmentation are threats to dung beetle populations, but little information exists about the efficacy of restoration on their populations. This review summarizes ecosystem services and benefits provided by dung beetles, evaluates major threats, and recommends effective restoration actions. Torabian et al. propose a conceptual dung beetle restoration framework incorporating biotic and abiotic conditions as well as external factors that can facilitate or hinder restoration at a given site, including plants and large herbivores, seasonal activity of the beetles, fragmentation and disturbance and dispersal abilities.

Technology and Tools

New Technologies for Monitoring and Upscaling Marine Ecosystem Restoration in Deep-Sea Environments. In press. Aguzzi, J. (Instituto de Ciencias del Mar, Barcelona, Spain, jaguzzi{at}icm.csic.es), T. Laurenz, S. Flögel, N.J. Robinson, G. Picardi, D. Chatzievangelou et al. Engineering. doi:10.1016/j.eng.2023.10.012

Biodiversity loss and ecosystem destruction are causing widespread degradation of European seas, particularly deep-water habitats. Many policies have been enacted to address these issues, but cross-sector planning is lacking. At depths over 200 m, remotely operated and/or autonomous vehicles are necessary and can provide high-resolution 3D imaging of substrates and target taxa as well as being able to manipulate said substrates and taxa in real-time. Aguzzi et al. reviewed the use of autonomous vehicles for deep-sea restoration and monitoring at large scales, with the expectation that they can soon be used for restoring reefs damaged by offshore fishing or oil extraction.

Using Community Science to Map Western Monarch Butterflies (Danaus plexippus) in Spring. 2023. Erickson, E. (University of California Davis, CA, ererickson{at}ucdavis.edu), C. Jason, H. Machiorlete, L. de la Espriella, E.E. Crone and C.B. Shultz. Ecology and Evolution 13:e10766. doi:10.1002/ece3.10766.

Western Danaus plexippus (monarch) numbers have declined drastically since the 1980s, when millions of butterflies overwintered in California, US. Recent studies have shown that declines are greatest during the early part of the year, perhaps due to overwintering site habitat loss or loss of spring breeding habitat. Identifying spring breeding habitat is challenging due to limited knowledge of early spring distribution, and the labor-intensive nature of monitoring a diffuse population over a large geographic range. Erickson et al. developed a community science project called the Western Monarch Mystery Challenge to monitor early spring D. plexippus breeding grounds, distribution, numbers and milkweed species usage over a three-year period across the western United States. The project generated more records than traditional monitoring and enabled the authors to identify breeding habitat spanning several ecoregions. Community science data has the potential to increase understanding of difficult-to-track species.

Wetlands

Global Impacts of Introduced Ungulates on Wetland Carbon and Biodiversity: A Review. 2024. Rowland, P.I. (Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water, Parkes, Australia, p.rowland{at}uq.net.au) and C.E. Lovelock. Biological Conservation 290:110432. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2023.110432

Coastal and floodplain wetlands are an important tool for mitigating climate change, preventing erosion, improving water quality, supporting biodiversity, fishery provisioning and providing migratory bird habitat. Ungulates can have both positive and negative impacts on wetland ecosystem function: they can both drive plant community composition, structure and recruitment while also reducing water quality, altering hydrology, soil and fire regimes, trampling vegetation and, if introduced, outcompete native herbivores. However, grazing by introduced herbivore has been shown to improve native plant richness and support invertebrate and amphibian communities. The full range of impacts to wetlands by ungulates is poorly understood. This systematic review summarizes the impacts of various ungulates including cattle, pigs, horses, deer, and camels on global wetlands, with a particular focus on Australia. Cattle and pigs were the most studied ungulates and freshwater wetlands have been more studied than marine. Soil damage, weed dispersal, declining forb and woody vegetation cover, and declines in abundance and richness of native fauna and flora were more commonly reported than positive or neutral outcomes. Most studies on carbon impacts reported increased CO₂ emissions with increased ungulate activity. The authors recommend excluding ungulates from wetlands to mitigate damage.

Wildlife Habitat Restoration

Response of Corvid Nest Predators to Thinning: Implications for Balancing Short- and Long-Term Goals for Restoration of Forest Habitat. 2024. Hagar J.C. (U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, joan_hagar{at}usgs.gov), T. Owen, T.K. Stevens and L.K. Waianuhea. Avian Conservation and Ecology 19:3. doi:10.5751/ACE-02578–190103

Logging in the Pacific Northwest of the United States has reduced old growth forest area and homogenized forest structure. Thinning is commonly used to hasten succession to late seral stages but may have short-term negative effects for target species. Brachyramphus marmoratus (marbled murrelet) is a federally threatened old-growth nester whose greatest threat is nest predation by corvids, which respond positively to disturbances such as thinning. Little data exists showing the impacts of thinning on nest predation, so Hagar et al. modelled long-term nest predation by Cyanocitta stelleri (Steller’s jay) and Perisoreus canadensis (Canada jay) under various thinning regimes. Both species were observed more frequently over the short term under the heavy thinning treatment, but by 10-years post-thinning no differences existed in observation rates between thinned and unthinned areas. Understanding changes in predator dynamics under different management scenarios is essential to conserving threatened species.

Small Mammal Associations with Habitat Composition, Configuration, and Management in Tallgrass Prairies: A Review. In press. Rowland-Schaefer, E.G. (Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, erin. rowland{at}cune.org), O. Koehn and H.P. Jones. Mammal Review. doi:10.1111/mam.12336

Small mammals play critical roles in food webs, making them important indicators of ecosystem health. Their roles in critically threatened grasslands and their responses to landscape changes are important but understudied, with most research focusing on small mammals in forests. The authors reviewed 61 articles pertaining to the effects of landscape composition, configuration and management practices on species-specific and community associations of small mammals in grasslands. Several trends were evident across these studies: 1) Peromyscus maniculatus (deer mouse), Microtus ochrogaster (prairie vole) and Peromyscus leucopus (white-footed mouse) demonstrated specific habitat associations such as bare ground or recently burned, 2) biodiversity was positively associated with increased vegetation diversity in patchy habitats, and 3) major knowledge gaps include examining the effects of habitat configuration, habitat heterogeneity and tallgrass prairie landscape ecology on small mammal populations.

Woodlands

Temporal Dynamics in the Composition of Bird Communities along a Gradient of Farmland Restoration. In press. Haslem, A. (Department of Environment and Genetics, and Research Centre for Future Landscapes, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia. a.haslem{at}latrobe.edu.au), R.H. Clarke, A.C. Maisey, A. Stewart, J.Q. Radford and A.F. Bennett. Ecological Applications. doi:10.1002/eap.2947

Restoring agricultural lands via revegetation can provide habitat for a wide range of taxa as well as enhance ecosystem services. Ecological succession has a strong influence over these benefits, which change over time as trees mature. It is often assumed that communities will become increasingly similar to natural habitats over time, but restoration outcomes can be difficult to predict. Haslem et al. evaluated avian communities at 255 sites along a restoration gradient ranging from unrestored paddocks, through revegetation plantings, to remnant natural areas in southeastern Australia over a 12-year period. Bird communities differed among habitat types, and assemblages in restored habitats diverged away from paddocks and became more similar, though not identical, to reference sites over time. Farmland restoration can increase beta diversity at short time scales and may eventually replicate natural communities.

Mule deer. Source: S. G. Goodrich, The Animal Kingdom Illustrated (New York: A. J. Johnson & Co., 1885). The Florida Center for Instructional Technology, College of Education, University of South Florida. fcit.usf.edu.