Restoration Ecology in the Anthropocene

Timetable

Module aim (aims)

• Focussing on the Anthropocene as the hot topic in science
• Providing a long time scale as a basis for restoration practices
• Delivering basic knowledge about ecological restoration and reintroduction
• Providing examples for the discussion about different approaches to restoration
• Presenting disturbances and restoration effects during the field trip
• Revealing and discussing conflicts between nature conservation and nature exploitation in the class and in the field
• Active discussion about the future of terrestrial ecosystems in the context of global warming

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

Basic knowledge of the fundamentals of Ecology

Syllabus

Field trip - 4 days - N and W Poland

Week 1: Fundamentals of Ecology (Ecosystems, Communities, Landscape)
Week 2: Anthropocene, Past Global Changes including Global Warming Perspective
Week 3: Disturbances – Pollution, Drainage, Exploitation of natural resources, Fires, Beetle bark
Week 4: Nature protection – active and passive nature conservation
Week 5: Restoration perspectives (e.g. dry grasslands, peatlands,)
Week 6: Restoration perspectives (e.g. forests, lakes, alpine ecosystems)
Week 7: Reintroduction
Week 8: Cultural aspects of ecological restoration

Reading list

Rochefort, L., Quinty, F., Campeau, S., Johnson, K., Malterer, T., 2003. North American approach to the restoration of Sphagnum dominated peatlands. Wetlands Ecology and Management 11, 3–20.
Suding, K.N., Gross, K.L., Houseman, G.R., 2004. Alternative states and positive feedbacks in restoration ecology. Tree 19, 46-53.
Andel, J.v., Aronson, J., 2006. Restoration Ecology The New Frontier. Blackwell.
Falk, D.A., Palmer, M.A., Zedler, J.B., 2006. Foundations of Restoration Ecology. Island Press.
Walker, L.R., Walker, J., Hobbs, R.J., 2007. Linking Restoration and Ecological Succession. Springer.
Bennion, H., Battarbee, R.W., Sayer, C.D., Simpson, G.L., Davidson, T.A., 2010. Defining reference conditions and restoration targets for lake ecosystems using palaeolimnology: a synthesis. Journal of Paleolimnology, 1-12.
Kardol, P., Wardle, D.A., 2010. How understanding aboveground–belowground linkages can assist restoration ecology. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 25, 670-679.
Klimkowska, A., Dzierza, P., Grootjans, A.P., Kotowski, W., Van Diggelen, R., 2010. Prospects of fen restoration in relation to changing land use-An example from central Poland. Landscape and Urban Planning 97, 249-257.
Hedberg, P., Saetre, P., Sundberg, S., Rydin, H., Kotowski, W., 2013. A functional trait approach to fen restoration analysis. Applied Vegetation Science 16, 658-666.
Bonn, A., Reed, M.S., Evans, C.D., Joosten, H., Bain, C., Farmer, J., Emmer, I., Couwenberg, J., Moxey, A., Artz, R., Tanneberger, F., von Unger, M., Smyth, M.-A., Birnie, D., 2014. Investing in nature: Developing ecosystem service markets for peatland restoration. Ecosystem Services.
Lamers, L.P., Vile, M.A., Grootjans, A.P., Acreman, M.C., van Diggelen, R., Evans, M.G., Richardson, C.J., Rochefort, L., Kooijman, A.M., Roelofs, J.G., Smolders, A.J., 2015. Ecological restoration of rich fens in Europe and North America: from trial and error to an evidence-based approach. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 90, 182-203.
van Diggelen, J.M.H., Bense, I.H.M., Brouwer, E., Limpens, J., van Schie, J.M.M., Smolders, A.J.P., Lamers, L.P.M., 2015. Restoration of acidified and eutrophied rich fens: Long-term effects of traditional management and experimental liming. Ecol. Eng. 75, 208-216.
Kotowski, W., Ackermann, M., Grootjans, A.P., Klimkowska, A., Rossling, H., Wheeler, B., 2016. Restoration of temperate fens: matching strategies with site potential, in: Bonn, A., Allott, T., Evans, M., Joosten, H. (Eds.), Peatland Restoration and Ecosystem Services: Science, pp. 172-193.
Minayeva, T.Y., Bragg, O.M., Sirin, A.A., 2017. Towards ecosystem-based restoration of peatland biodiversity. Mires and Peat 19.
Wingard, G.L., Bernhardt, C.E., Wachnicka, A.H., 2017. The Role of Paleoecology in Restoration and Resource Management—The Past As a Guide to Future Decision-Making: Review and Example from the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, U.S.A. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution.