Conceptualizing ecological restoration: a concise and adaptable framework for researchers and practitioners

Abstract

Restoration ecology is challenged by taking the knowledge gained from individual projects and generalizing to broader hypotheses and theories. A simple conceptual framework that is easily adapted to many diverse situations has the ability to improve communication among restoration researchers and practitioners, to increase our ability to generalize among our often very diverse projects, and encourage a comprehensive view of the many factors that influence the outcome of an ecological restoration. We propose the restoration triangle as three sets of factors all scientists and practitioners should consider: the attributes and characteristics of the desired focal restoration species, the biotic characteristics of the restoration site, and the environmental conditions of the restoration site. This framework will help scientists and practitioners establish a common language and organizing principles to help move our discipline forward.

Identificación de vacíos de investigación aplicada para restaurar ecosistemas terrestres en Colombia

“…Al revisar los temas que conforman estas dos fases del marco de trabajo, es evidente que estos trabajos tienen un énfasis más descriptivo que experimental; contrario a las tres fases que han sido menos exploradas: la obtención de propágulos, el establecimiento de plántulas y la facilitación del desempeño de estas plántulas. Si bien el tratamiento de temas predominante incluye aspectos esenciales como la caracterización de ecosistemas (Perkins y Leffler, 2018) de indicadores de escala pequeña (Aguilar-Garavito y Ramírez, 2015), creemos que la investigación en restauración debe adoptar con mayor frecuencia un enfoque basado en experimentos. Esta decisión implica la comparación metódica de tratamientos y tecnologías que conduzca a la identificación de estrategias costo-efectivas cuya aplicación contribuiría a su vez a superar grandes retos; entre otros, la escasez de recursos financieros, la necesidad de ampliar significativamente la cobertura espacial de los proyectos y el ajuste de políticas gubernamentales identificados por Murcia et al (2016).…”

Capacity of Two Sierra Nevada Rivers for Reintroduction of Anadromous Salmonids: Insights from a High‐Resolution View

“…Other factors influencing capacity, such as cover, prey, and predators, were treated implicitly by estimating P ( x t,i ) j using data from river systems that could serve as ecological analogs. Ecological analogs can be identified as sites with similar biotic and abiotic traits as the reintroduction site and where the focal species had a similar phenotype and local adaptation as the reintroduction stock (Perkins and Leffler 2018). In practice, this implicit treatment of some factors implied that the peak of the incidence function ( P max ) could fall below 1.0 because even if the explicit factors were optimal, the implicit factors might limit incidence.…”

Importance of restoration of dung beetles in the maintenance of ecosystem services

“…To conceptualize dung beetle restoration, we propose a restoration triangle framework encompassing environmental conditions, biotic characteristics and focal restoration species (Figure 2: Perkins & Leffler, 2018). Environmental conditions are physical properties of the site that can influence restoration, like soil structure and moisture.…”

“…Biotic characteristics involve other organisms present at a site, which can aid or impede restoration, including plants, insects and herbivores. Additionally, restoration planning should account for the requirements and traits of focal restoration species (dung beetles), such as seasonal activity and dispersal abilities (Perkins & Leffler, 2018). Whereas the triangle describes the conditions and characteristics of the site, external influences arising from outside the restoration site such as fragmentation and disturbance can also influence restoration success (Perkins et al., 2011).…”

“…Restoration triangle with three principal factors involved in the restoration of dung beetles (adapted from Perkins & Leffler, 2018). …”