Targets for ecological Targets for ecological restorationrestoration

Robert K. PeetRobert K. PeetUniversity of North CarolinaUniversity of North Carolina

1. Introduction1. Introduction

• Why me? Why me? I’m not a restoration ecologist.I’m not a restoration ecologist.

• Icon = “an object of uncritical devotion:Icon = “an object of uncritical devotion:especially a traditional belief or ideal”especially a traditional belief or ideal”

• My icon = a simple model for how to My icon = a simple model for how to conduct ecological restoration.conduct ecological restoration.

• My approach = A Carolina case study My approach = A Carolina case study

• Goal: ecological function & biodiversityGoal: ecological function & biodiversity

2. A methodological 2. A methodological iconicon• Document reference conditionsDocument reference conditions

• Derive restoration targetsDerive restoration targets

• Design site-specific restoration planDesign site-specific restoration plan

• Implement the planImplement the plan

• Monitor change and assess successMonitor change and assess success

• Employ adaptive managementEmploy adaptive management

3. Carolina Vegetation 3. Carolina Vegetation SurveySurvey

• Multi-institutional collaborative study Multi-institutional collaborative study to document and understand the to document and understand the natural vegetation of the Carolinas.natural vegetation of the Carolinas.

• High-quality, High-quality, quantitative quantitative records of records of reference reference vegetationvegetation

Over 5000 plots, containing Over 5000 plots, containing over 2600 species, over 2600 species, representing over 200 representing over 200 vegetation typesvegetation types..

Reference Reference data collection data collection is an on-going is an on-going activityactivity

““The EEP mission is to restore, The EEP mission is to restore, enhance, preserve and protect the enhance, preserve and protect the functions associated with wetlands, functions associated with wetlands, streams, and riparian areas, including streams, and riparian areas, including … restoration, maintenance and … restoration, maintenance and protection of water quality and riparian protection of water quality and riparian habitats …”habitats …”

4. North Carolina 4. North Carolina Ecosystem Enhancement Ecosystem Enhancement ProgramProgram

Biennial Budget FY 2005/06 and 2006-07

Cost by Category: Total $175,077,880

SummaryAdministration $ 9,477,939Restoration* $ 102,910,770HQ Preservation $ 57,984,804Project Development $ 4,704,366 *Includes Implementation and Biennial Total $ 175,077,880 Future Mitigation Projects

5%

59%

33%

3%Administration

Restoration

HQPreservation

ProjectDevelopment

Ecosystem Enhancement ProgramEcosystem Enhancement Program

Stream RestorationDurham, NC

5. Traditional EEP 5. Traditional EEP methodmethod

• Consult brief habitat-based plant Consult brief habitat-based plant listslists

• Design a site-specific restoration Design a site-specific restoration planplan

• Implement the planImplement the plan

• Monitor survival of planted stems Monitor survival of planted stems 5 yrs5 yrs

• Replant if neededReplant if needed

6. EEP-CVS 6. EEP-CVS CollaborationCollaboration

• EEP wants to do a better job EEP wants to do a better job creating natural ecosystems.creating natural ecosystems.

• CVS provides improved reference CVS provides improved reference data, target design, monitoring, data, target design, monitoring, and data management and and data management and analysisanalysis

7. Reference site 7. Reference site initiativeinitiative

• Goal: move from modest species lists to Goal: move from modest species lists to a quantitative plot database and high-a quantitative plot database and high-resolution community classification with resolution community classification with quantitative descriptions and defined quantitative descriptions and defined environmental settingsenvironmental settings. .

8. Target generation 8. Target generation

• Simple goal – Deliver composition Simple goal – Deliver composition goal based on the vegetation type goal based on the vegetation type most appropriate for the site and most appropriate for the site and region.region.

• Sophisticated goal. – Automated Sophisticated goal. – Automated system that uses site data to system that uses site data to generate likely NVC types, from generate likely NVC types, from which compositional goals are which compositional goals are extracted.extracted.

Longleaf pine – feasibility study

• Few longleaf pine sites remain in “original” condition.

• Restoration targets must be extrapolated from a limited number of reference stands.

Dataset:

-188 plots across fall-line sandhills of NC, SC, & GA

- All sites contained near-natural, fire-maintained groundlayer vegetation

- Soil attributes included for both the A and B horizon: sand, silt, clay, Ca, Mg, K, P, S, Mn, Na, Cu, Zn, Fe, BD, pH, organic content, CEC, BS.

Step 1. Classification.

Developed a classification of the major vegetation types of the ecoregion.

Used cluster analysis with a matrix of 188 plots x 619 species.

Vegetation types were seen to be differentiated with respect to soil texture, moisture, nutrient status, & geography.

Step 2. Build model.

- Forward selection with linear discriminant analysis identified predictor variables.

- Critical variables were Latitude, Manganese, Phosphorus, Clay, Longitude.

- 75% of plots correctly identified to series. Typically 75% of communities within a series that were correctly classified.

Step 3. Select species.

1.Generate a list of all species in type (species pool) with frequency, mean cover values, and mean richness.

2.Randomly order the list

3.Compare species frequency to random number between 0 & 1, and if the random number is less than the proportion of plots the species is selected. Continue until the number in list of selected species equals the number predicted.

Overall strategy:

• Identify biogeographic region and obtain predictive models.

• Select pool of candidate species for a specific site based on range information.

• Divide restoration site into environmentally homogenous areas, stratifying by topography and soil.

• Use models to select species number and composition.

9. Monitoring – CVS 9. Monitoring – CVS methodsmethods

• Trade off between detail and time.Trade off between detail and time.

• EEP protocol seamlessly integrates EEP protocol seamlessly integrates with CVS methods by allowing a with CVS methods by allowing a series of sampling levels.series of sampling levels.

• MS-Access data-entry tool to MS-Access data-entry tool to assure standardize data, easy assure standardize data, easy assimilation, and automated assimilation, and automated quality control.quality control.

• Standard backend database for Standard backend database for reports and analysisreports and analysis

10. Reports & Analysis10. Reports & Analysis

• Datasheets for monitoringDatasheets for monitoring

• Survival & growth of planted stemsSurvival & growth of planted stems

• Direction of compositional changeDirection of compositional change

• Rate of changeRate of change

• Problems needing attention, such Problems needing attention, such as exotic species as exotic species

CVS-EEP Training is CVS-EEP Training is essentialessential

11. Reference stand 11. Reference stand issuesissues

Reference stand conditions may be Reference stand conditions may be difficult to achieve because of altereddifficult to achieve because of altered

• Soil nutrientsSoil nutrients• HerbivoryHerbivory• HydologyHydology• Exotic species, and diseasesExotic species, and diseases• Disturbance regimesDisturbance regimes• Sea levelSea level• Climate Climate

12. Concluding remarks12. Concluding remarks• The iconic model, although analytically The iconic model, although analytically

simple, provides a firm foundation.simple, provides a firm foundation.

• My case study lacks the sophisticated but My case study lacks the sophisticated but impractical approaches generally impractical approaches generally advocated at an ESA symposium, yet it advocated at an ESA symposium, yet it improves on a highly respected program.improves on a highly respected program.

• Don’t forget Robert May’s observation Don’t forget Robert May’s observation that ‘ecology is a science of contingent that ‘ecology is a science of contingent generalization.’ The CVS method focuses generalization.’ The CVS method focuses on contingencies of site and history.on contingencies of site and history.