Local grassland restoration affects insect communities

1. It is hypothesised that ecological restoration in grasslands can induce an alternative stable state shift in vegetation. The change in vegetation influences insect community assemblages and allows for greater functional redundancy in pollination and refuge for native insect species. 2. Insect community assemblages at eight coastal California grassland sites were evaluated. Half of these sites had undergone restoration through active revegetation of native grassland flora and half were non‐restored. Insects were collected from Lupinus bicolor (Fabaceae) within 2 × 2‐m² plots in spring 2017. Lupinus bicolor is a common native species that is used in California restoration projects, and home and state landscaping projects. 3. Ordination demonstrated that insect community assemblages were different between restored and non‐restored sites. These differences were seen in insect functional groups as well as taxa‐specific differences and were found to be driven by environmental characteristics such as non‐native forb cover. 4. Functional redundancy of herbivores decreased at restored sites, while pollinators became more redundant compared with non‐restored sites. The assemblages of the common species found at restoration sites contained more native insects than those found at non‐restored sites, including species such as Bombus vosnesenskii. 5. Local grassland restoration has the potential to induce an alternative stable state change and affect insect community assemblages. Additionally, it was found that grassland restoration can be a potential conservation tool to provide refugia for bumblebees (Bombus), but additional studies are required to fully understand its broader applicability.     

Sunlit mesocosms designed for pollen confinement and risk assessment of transgenic crops

To minimize concerns about the ecological consequences of wind and insect dispersal of pollen and the potential of gene flow from experimental genetically modified (GM) crops to compatible relatives, we have modified outdoor sunlit open top chambers (OTCs) for use with GM plants. We have redesigned 21 cylindrical OTCs, commonly used to study the effects of atmospheric pollutants, by adding (1) a pollen filter at the top of each unit to minimize the possibility of the escape of GM pollen; with pollen filters in place, the OTCs are referred to as mesocosms, (2) an evaporative cooler to help mitigate elevated temperatures during the summer months, and (3) an automated watering system that eliminates the need to enter a mesocosm for irrigation during pollination, thereby minimizing potential pollen escape and entry of insect pollinators. Each sunlit mesocosm contains three large plastic pots (each with 1.2-m² surface area) that simulate field plots and that contain a constructed plant community. For example, the community may consist of a GM and a non-GM cultivar of canola (Brassica napus), compatible weedy relatives, and non-compatible species that may be found in mesic disturbed areas such as roadsides or ditches beyond crop fields. The sunlit mesocosms provide a well-replicated outdoor testing system that confines pollen and that can be used to precede or supplement field tests that evaluate the potential ecological consequences of transgenic crops. The mesocosms are proposed as test systems in which transgenic crops and other plants (e.g., biofuel crops) that have been proposed to be grown in new geographies, or plants that produce novel compounds, may be studied to evaluate their potential effects on plant communities. The pollen confinement and insect exclusion features of our mesocosms may also minimize exposure of sensitive humans and insect pollinators to pollen and cellular debris from other plant parts.     

Restoration of riverine inland sand dune complexes: implications for the conservation of wild bees

1.  The evaluation of restoration measures is an important task of conservation biology. Inland sand dunes and dry, oligotrophic grasslands have become rare habitat types in large parts of Central Europe and their restoration and management is of major importance for the preservation of many endangered plant and insect species. Within such habitats, it is important to restore key ecosystem services, such as pollination networks. As wild bees are the most important pollinators in many ecosystems, they represent a suitable key group to evaluate restoration measures. Furthermore, the recent decline of many bee species and the potential ecological and economic consequences are currently topics of strong scientific interest.
2.  We studied the succession of bee communities in response to restoration measures of sand dunes and sand grasslands and compared these communities with those of old sand dune complexes.
3.  Our results show that wild bees respond rapidly to restoration measures indicated by a high species richness and abundance. The community structure of bees at restoration sites converged only slightly to those of the target sites. A higher similarity was found between bee communities at the restoration sites (sand dunes and grasslands), indicating that their close proximity was an important determinant of species overlap. Environmental factors such as the number of entomophilous plant species and moisture had a strong influence on wild bee species composition.
4.   Synthesis and applications . The restoration of inland sand dune complexes provides opportunities for colonization by a diverse wild bee community. Although it is difficult to establish a given target community, restoration measures gave rise to a high pollinator diversity and abundance, suggesting that community function can be re-established.     

Reconnecting plants and pollinators: challenges in the restoration of pollination mutualisms

Ecological restoration of plant-pollinator interactions has received surprisingly little attention, despite animal-mediated pollination underpinning reproduction of the majority of higher plants. Here, we offer a conceptual and practical framework for the ecological restoration of pollination mutualisms. Through the use of targeted restoration plantings to attract and sustain pollinators and increased knowledge of the ecological requirements of pollinators, we propose that pollination could be successfully restored in degraded ecosystems. The challenge for pollination biologists is to integrate their findings with those of plant restoration ecologists to ensure sustainable pollination in restored ecosystems.     

If we build – they mostly come: partial functional recovery but persistent compositional differences in wetland beetle community restoration

There is growing evidence of restoration success for wetland plant communities. However, little research has been done on the associated invertebrate community. We test whether restoring plant communities after peat extraction is sufficient for restoring the taxonomic and functional composition of beetle communities. We monitored taxonomic and trait‐based community metrics for beetle assemblages on restoration islands that were up to 13 years old and compared these with the adjacent “target” undisturbed peat bog. Recovery of beetle abundance, species richness, and trophic structure on the islands was remarkably rapid (i.e. within a decade) and converged on that of the undisturbed peat bog within 13 years after restoration commenced. In contrast, small, native, and poor‐dispersing taxa were persistently less abundant on the islands than in the undisturbed peat bog, causing persistent differences in species composition, even on the oldest islands. These poor‐dispersers probably need assistance to reach the islands and possibly ongoing intervention to allow them to survive there. Our findings emphasize the potential for functional trait analysis to reveal barriers to full restoration of insect community composition.     

Spatial and Temporal Considerations in Restoring Habitat for Wildlife

An accumulated body of theory and empirical evidence suggests that habitat selection by animals is a scale‐dependent, hierarchical process. Hierarchy theory predicts that habitat suitability is influenced by the interaction of factors at multiple spatial scales from the microsite to the landscape and that higher‐order factors impose constraints at lower levels. For instance, large‐scale factors such as landscape context may make a site unsuitable for a species even if the vegetation structure and composition are appropriate. In addition, the spatial arrangement of habitat elements at all scales must be considered when planning restoration efforts. For example, the presence of snags does not ensure that the site will be suitable for snag‐dependent species. The size, age, and spacing of snags and their juxtaposition to other habitat elements must also be considered. Finally, all habitats are dynamic, and therefore the ecological processes that contribute to those dynamics must be maintained or suitable substitutes included in the recovery plan. When considering restoring habitat for wildlife, we recommend that managers: (1) identify the wildlife species they want to target for restoration efforts, (2) consider the size and landscape context of the restoration site and whether it is appropriate for the target species, (3) identify the habitat elements that are necessary for the target species, (4) develop a strategy for restoring those elements and the ecological processes that maintain them, and (5) implement a long‐term monitoring program to gauge the success of the restoration efforts.     

Management of invasive plants through ecological resistance

Despite debates on the real impact of plant invasion on native biodiversity, there remain many situations where exotic invasive plants must be managed and habitats restored. Restoration practices that build on plant community assembly principles could be useful to delay or prevent re-invasion after control, but there are still few syntheses of the biodiversity theory, ecological mechanisms and experimental evidence relevant to invasive plant management, possibly delaying applications. To provide such a synthesis, we review current knowledge on three key determinants of invasion success: biotic resistance, abiotic constraints, and propagule pressure. We elaborate on the ecological mechanisms at play for each determinant and emphasize, using case studies, their relevance for invasive plant management and ecological restoration. We find evidence that restoring a plant cover can enhance invasion resistance, but the challenge for both research and field applications is to understand how multiple determinants interact in relation to species traits in the fields. Failure to recognize these interactions and their effect on community assembly processes may explain some of the mixed species responses observed. While we need control and restoration case studies with local species at different sites, the development of a coherent, dynamic and adaptive framework around biotic/ecological resistance will have to go beyond the idiosyncrasy of the many species and systems being tested. Emphasizing the functional diversity of the restored community seems a promising approach when facing potentially multiple invaders and/or fluctuating abiotic conditions.     

基于生境等价分析法的胶州湾围填海造地生态损害评估

围填海造地的生态损害是指围填海造地所引致的海洋生态系统服务功能的下降,包括生物资源消失、生态调节功能减弱以及生物栖息地破坏等。针对胶州湾围填海造地规模及其生态影响,使用生境等价分析法,对围填海造地的资源和生态服务功能的受损程度和补偿规模进行了评估。结果表明,1988-2005年胶州湾填海造地的资源生态受损程度为41.33%,以退田还海作为修复工程,修复期为8a,在5%的折现率水平下,修复工程的规模应为22.47 km²,才能使被填海域的生态服务功能恢复到初始水平。这一结论可作为地方政府对胶州湾围填海造地实施生态修复建设和生态补偿管理的技术依据。     

Comparing the conservatism of ecological interactions in plant–pollinator and plant–herbivore networks

Conservatism in species interaction, meaning that related species tend to interact with similar partners, is an important feature of ecological interactions. Studies at community scale highlight variations in conservatism strength depending on the characteristics of the ecological interaction studied. However, the heterogeneity of datasets and methods used prevent to compare results between mutualistic and antagonistic networks. Here we perform such a comparison by taking plant–insect communities as a study case, with data on plant–herbivore and plant–pollinator networks. Our analysis reveals that plants acting as resources for herbivores exhibit the strongest conservatism in species interaction among the four interacting groups. Conservatism levels are similar for insect pollinators, insect herbivores and plants as interacting partners of pollinators, although insect pollinators tend to have a slightly higher conservatism than the two others. Our results thus clearly support the current view that within antagonistic networks, conservatism is stronger for species as resources than for species as consumer. Although the pattern tends to be opposite for plant–pollinator networks, our results suggest that asymmetry in conservatism is much less pronounced between the pollinators and the plant they interact with. We discuss these differences in conservatism strength in relation with the processes structuring plant–insect communities.     

Cascading Ecological Responses to an In‐Stream Restoration Project in a Midwestern River

River restoration projects are increasingly common, but assessments of ecological responses and overall success of the vast majority of efforts are lacking. Information on potential positive ecological effects of restoration efforts can be used to justify further projects and refine methods. We examined responses of multiple trophic levels, aquatic insects and riparian birds, to a series of rock weirs installed in an Illinois river to stabilize the channel. We quantified adult insect emergence and performed weekly point counts of birds in spring at four weir and four non‐weir (control) sites. Emerging insect abundance was higher at control sites, but species richness and diversity were higher at weir sites. Total insect emergence production did not differ between site types, but emergence production of larger‐bodied taxa was higher at weir sites. Ordinations and analysis of similarity indicated differences in insect and bird assemblages between site types. Birds showed a positive numerical response to large‐bodied emerging insects, and total bird abundance was higher at weir sites. Clutch size and feeding rates of a focal bird species, Prothonotaria citrea (Prothonotary Warbler), did not differ between sites, but the number of hatchlings and fledglings was higher at control sites. Molothrus ater (cowbird) parasitism was higher at weir sites, likely because of increased edge habitat associated with weir construction activities. Results show positive ecological impacts of in‐stream restoration and provide justification for further efforts. However, forest disturbance associated with construction could offset some benefits to some species, and thus refinements to procedures may be necessary.     

Flower and Fruit Availability along a Forest Restoration Gradient

Frugivores and pollinators are two functional groups of animals that help ensure gene flow of plants among sites in landscapes under restoration and to accelerate restoration processes. Resource availability is postulated to be a key factor to structure animal communities using restoration sites, but it remains poorly studied. We expected that diverse forests with many plant growth forms that have less‐seasonal phenological patterns will provide more resources for animals than forests with fewer plant growth forms and strongly seasonal phenological patterns. We studied forests where original plantings included high tree species diversity. We studied resource provision (richness and abundance of flowers and fruits) of all plant growth forms, in three restoration sites of different ages compared to a reference forest, investigating whether plant phenology changes with restoration process. We recorded phenological data for reproductive plant individuals (351 species) with monthly sampling over 2 years, and found that flower and fruit production have been recovered after one decade of restoration, indicating resource provision for fauna. Our data suggest that a wide range of plant growth forms provides resource complementarities to those of planted tree species. Different flower phenologies between trees and non‐trees seem to be more evident in a forest with high non‐tree species diversity. We recommend examples of ideal species for planting, both at the time of initial planting and post‐planting during enrichment. These management actions can minimize shortage and periods of resource scarcity for frugivorous and nectarivorous fauna, increasing probability of restoring ecological processes and sustainability in restoration sites.     

Exotic Plant Species as Problems and Solutions in Ecological Restoration: A Synthesis

Exotic species have become increasingly significant management problems in parks and reserves and frequently complicate restoration projects. At the same time there may be circumstances in which their removal may have unforeseen negative consequences or their use in restoration is desirable. We review the types of effects exotic species may have that are important during restoration and suggest research that could increase our ability to set realistic management goals. Their control and use may be controversial; therefore we advocate consideration of exotic species in the greater context of community structure and succession and emphasize areas where ecological research could bring insight to management dilemmas surrounding exotic species and restoration. For example, an understanding of the potential transience of exotics in a site and the role particular exotics might play in changing processes that influence the course of succession is essential to setting removal priorities and realistic management goals. Likewise, a greater understanding of the ecological role of introduced species might help to reduce controversy surrounding their purposeful use in restoration. Here we link generalizations emerging from the invasion ecology literature with practical restoration concerns, including circumstances when it is practical to use exotic species in restoration.     

Larger patches of diverse floral resources increase insect pollinator density,diversity, and their pollination of native wildflowers

Native wildflower plantings can be used to provide nutritional resources to support pollinating insects, yet the effects of planting size and bloom richness on the density, diversity, and function of these insects are not well understood. We established stands of twelve native flowering perennial plant species in replicated plots ranging in size from 1 to 100 m². These plots were sampled for insect pollinators, bloom richness, and seed production by three wildflower species. Honeybees, wild bees, and hoverflies all responded positively to increasing flower richness, whereas particular insect pollinator groups responded differently to the size of the flowering plant area. The density of honeybees and hoverflies was not affected by increasing flowering patch size, whereas in general, wild bees were observed at higher density and diversity in the 30 and 100 m² patches. Increasing wildflower patch size, and thus wild bee density, resulted in greater seed set in the sampled wildflowers. These results indicate that wild bees are sensitive to the area and richness of floral resources in patches, even at relatively small scales. Therefore, larger wildflower plantings with more diverse flower species mixes are more suitable for the conservation of wild pollinators and reproduction of sown species.     

基于生态安全格局的国土空间生态修复关键区域识别——以贺州市为例

国土空间生态修复是落实生态文明建设战略的重要举措。科学识别国土空间生态修复关键区域，合理布局全域生态修复空间是当前国土空间规划面临的难点之一。以广西壮族自治区贺州市为例，从生态保护重要性、景观连通性、生态功能重要区域和自然保护区四个方面识别生态源地，运用电路理论提取生态廊道，构建生态安全格局。通过电流密度诊断生态廊道中的生态"夹点"和生态障碍点，判定生态廊道宽度，识别国土空间生态保护修复关键区域，制定生态修复的空间布局策略。研究结果表明：（1）市域生态源地面积3656.89 km²，呈"东西重，中部轻"的空间分布特征；生态廊道总长度639.50 km，以中部分布为主，关键生态廊道133.96 km。（2）市域生态"夹点"共16处，面积124.24 km²，主要分布在钟山县，亟待保护修复的生态"夹点"8处，面积45.02 km²，零散分布于市域；生态障碍点共32处，面积426.56 km²，主要分布在市域东部和南部，需优先保护修复的生态障碍点6处，面积166.05 km²，集中在平桂区。通过综合分析国土生态修复关键区域土地利用现状和空间分布特征，制定了分级分类的生态修复措施，以期进一步优化生态安全格局，为国土空间生态修复区域识别和国土空间生态修复规划编制提供参考。     

珠三角河网区典型生境植物群落构成特征及生态修复

如何实现生态文明建设与三生空间高度混杂地区的高质量协同发展是珠三角河网区新时期面对的重要难题。以2018—2021年间积累的第一手田野调查资料为基础，针对广佛地区20处样地202个样点，综合生态学数量分析与风景园林学空间分析方法，研究河网区典型生境的植物群落构成特征及应用。结果表明：(1)珠三角河网区植物物种丰富，维管束植物共122科382属551种；植物群落“乔、灌、草、藤本”垂直结构完整，但乡土植物占比较低、外来入侵较严重；(2)动物友好植物种类丰富，共有鸟类友好植物88种、昆虫类友好植物90种、鱼类两栖类友好植物34种，但缺乏针对动物友好生境的科学配置；(3)河网区包括滨水、坑塘、农田、聚落四类典型生境以及9个稳定的植物群系，但在长期人为干扰下其生态功能和水乡风貌特征被严重削弱。最后，以佛山大美公园为例，探讨了以恢复河网区生物多样性和特色景观风貌为目标的生态修复实践。研究为珠三角河网区地域性景观恢复和三生空间混杂区域的近自然生态修复提供了重要的规划设计蓝本和实践示范。     

基于生态监管的生态保护修复工程实施成效评估指标体系

生态监管是保障生态保护修复工程有效实施的重要途径，生态保护修复监督评估是我国当前维护生态环境安全的迫切需求和生态监管开展的有力抓手。在对国内外已有生态保护修复成效评估相关理论方法进行分析的基础上，围绕生态保护修复工程实施目标，结合生态监管要求，统筹考虑“山水林田湖草生命共同体”理念、生态保护修复工程类型、指标可操作性和兼容性等因素，综合运用频度分析法、专家咨询法和层次分析法等方法，提出了生态保护修复工程实施成效评估指标体系，构建了包括生态环境成效和工程管理成效的指标体系。其中，生态环境成效指标由共性指标和个性指标组成，共性指标包括生态系统格局、生态系统功能、生态干扰等方面的具体指标，个性指标包括森林保护修复工程、草原保护修复工程、湿地保护修复工程、矿山修复工程、防沙治沙工程、石漠化治理工程、水土流失治理工程、地质灾害治理工程、流域综合治理工程等不同工程类型的具体指标。工程管理成效指标主要包括工程绩效、工程实施及公众满意等方面的具体指标。在对各项指标评估的基础上，通过综合评估计算对生态保护修复工程实施成效进行评估。基于生态系统格局指数、生态系统功能指数、生态干扰指数、工程管理成效指数及不...     

Restoration impacts on fuels and fire potential in a dryland tropical ecosystem dominated by the invasive grass Megathyrsus maximus

Ecological restoration often attempts to promote native species while managing for disturbances such as fire and non‐native invasions. The goal of this research was to investigate whether restoration of a non‐native, invasive Megathyrsus maximus (guinea grass) tropical grassland could simultaneously promote native species and reduce fire potential. Megathyrsus maximus was suppressed with herbicide, and three suites of native species—each including the same groundcover and shrub, and one of three tree species—were outplanted in a randomized, complete block design that also included herbicide control (herbicide with no outplantings) and untreated control treatments. Fuels were quantified 27 months after outplanting, and potential fire behavior (rate of spread and flame length) was modeled with BehavePlus. Compared with untreated controls, native outplant treatments reduced M. maximus cover by 76–91% and M. maximus live and dead fuel loads by greater than 92 and 68%, respectively. Despite reductions in M. maximus fuels, neither treatment‐level (grass + native) total fuel loads and fuel moistures, nor modeled fire behavior differed between outplant treatments and controls. The best performing native woody species (Dodonaea viscosa) had significantly lower average individual plant live fuel moisture (84%) than M. maximus (156%) or other native woody outplant species (201–328%), highlighting the need for careful species selection. These results demonstrate that restoring native species to degraded tropical dry forests is possible, but that ecological restoration will not necessarily alter the potential for fire, at least in the short term, making selection of species with beneficial fuel properties and active fire management critical components of ongoing restoration.     

基于地质灾害敏感性的生态安全格局关键区识别与修复——以济南市为例

区域生态安全格局构建对提升生态系统服务功能提供了重要路径，同时统筹各种生态要素进行生态保护与修复分区也是新时期做好生态修复的重要举措。以济南市为例，基于现状生态系统类型分布，聚焦生态本底和地质灾害敏感性的特征，基于形态学空间格局分析方法和自然保护区结合进行生态源地提取。采用夏季降水、植被覆盖度、坡度3个地质灾害敏感性因子修正基本生态阻力面。并采用最小成本路径方法（Least-Cost Path method，LCP）提取生态廊道，构建了市域的生态安全格局。采用电路理论进行生态关键区域（生态"夹点"和生态障碍点）的识别，进一步划分生态修复改善区，并对此提出针对性的生态保护修复策略和工程措施。研究表明：1）市域生态源地的个数为35个，面积为567.15 km²，主要类型为林地和草地。空间上主要分布南部山区。生态廊道818.42 km，平均廊道长度为12.99 km，廊道分布存在较为明显的空间分布差异性，整体呈现出"一屏、一带、三轴"的生态安全格局。2）识别的生态修复关键区包含生态"夹点"25处，历城区生态"夹点"分布最为密集。全市亟需修复的生态障碍点共34处，面积为6.90 km²，主要分布章丘区。生态改善区共识别2994.84 km²，近期亟需修复的面积为96.1 km²，主要分布在长清区、历城区、莱芜区。3）通过对比生态修复关键区和现状土地利用类型，因地适宜的制定了生态修复策略与工程措施布置指引方向。研究结果可为济南市国土空间生态修复规划提供一定的技术支撑，同时也可为其他地质灾害敏感性区域的生态修复规划提供指引。     

典型红壤区自然生态修复的适用性

自然修复主要通过封山育林、禁止农作、禁牧禁伐措施,减少人类对环境的扰动,利用自然生态环境的自我演替能力,恢复生态环境,实现生态平衡。自然修复作为一种成本低、无污染的生态修复手段很早就受到人们重视,但关于自然修复适用范围的研究较少。为了正确认识自然修复的适用性,选择了我国南方红壤地区长期遭受严重土壤侵蚀危害的福建省长汀县为研究对象,通过对长期自然修复样地的监测资料分析,发现在坡度条件为20%—30%下,当植被覆盖度低于20%的退化阈值时,严重的土壤侵蚀引发的土壤肥力损失将导致生态系统自我退化,自然修复不仅无法改善当地的生态系统,反而会引起生态系统的进一步恶化。由此可见,自然修复并不适合所有的生态系统,当生态系统退化到一定程度时,退化生态系统必须通过人工干预来修复。因此,必须探索适合当地的生态修复模式,在生态系统退化突破阈值时,红壤丘陵区应通过恢复土壤肥力、促进自然植被覆盖度增加、综合提高生态系统健康水平。     

滇西北高原入湖河口退化湿地生态修复效益分析

选取滇西北高原典型退化湿地剑湖,对入湖河流永丰河入湖河口退化湿地进行的生态修复措施及其效益进行研究,评估其恢复效果,为高原退化湿地的修复和污染湖泊的治理提供依据。研究地修复2a后,入湖河口湿地景观格局得到较大改善,空间结构得到优化配置;水质状况明显改善,水体透明度提高101%,水体中总氮(TN)、氨氮(NH+4-N)、硝氮(NO-3-N)、总磷(TP)、化学需氧量(COD)的含量较恢复前明显下降,去除率分别达到62.5%、89.3%、62.5%、91.7%、68.0%,这一水质降解结果表明:基底修复促进了入湖河口水文状况的改善,而依据植物对不同浓度污水的适应状况进行多生活型、多种类的植物配置,并适当增加沉水植物比例,有效发挥了植物的净化作用,但不同湿地植物群落之间净化效果存在差异,显示了植物对氮磷的喜好程度和植物间的互作关系,而相同植物群落在不同浓度污水条件下的表现同样存在差异。因此,污染水体的治理必须选择性利用适合不同污水浓度的水生植物进行合理的群落配置,同时,根据水质变化及时对植物进行适应性调整,有利于植物的生长和湿地生态系统的稳定,以及湿地生态系统结构和功能的恢复。该退化湿地修复后,每年可产生以净化功能效益为主的生态系统服务功能价值185万元,以水源涵养和生物多样性保育、生态旅游等的生态系统服务功能价值32.7万元,以及以生态农业系统为主的市场价值270万元,呈现了较好的经济、社会效益和生态效益价值。