Empirical and Theoretical Ecology as a Basis for Restoration: An Ecological Success Story

Abstract

Within this chapter, some samples of the contributions of ecological science to the process of disturbed system restoration are discussed. At nearly every stage of the development of restoration science, ecological studies have made significant contributions to developing more effective restoration procedures. Increasingly, ecosystem science and its intellectual approaches are being adopted by restorationists. Whole-system perspectives are now commonly included in restoration plans, modelling as a knowledge-organizing activity appears in many projects, especially those of large areal extent, and attention to such ecosystem processes as cycles of chemicals and not merely the list of component species is evolving. Just as restoration has benefited from ecological knowledge, so has ecology benefited from restoration activities. In this chapter, insight into many ecological processes and phenomena have been highlighted in the context of restoration. Ecological theory is easily tested in the milieu of the highly managed restoration process. Additionally, restoration projects are often of a size and intensity that could neither be duplicated nor funded to conduct normal ecological research. In a sense, restoration projects are some of the large experiments that ecologists cannot afford to conduct. We must avail ourselves of these unique opportunities. Ecology-based restoration will probably become more important in the future for two reasons. First, there will be more disturbed areas to restore than at present, and second, ecology-based restoration is apt to provide efficient methods (in terms of both time and money) of restoration. Various examples of ecology-based restoration projects have been presented in this chapter, and some comments about the future are offered both to alert ecologists to the future, and to bring decision-makers, restoration practitioners, and ecologists into closer partnerships.