Groundwater sustainability in the San Joaquin Valley: Multiple benefits if agricultural lands are retired and restored strategically

Kelsey, Heath; Hart, Abigail K.; Butterfield, H. Scott; Vink, D

doi:10.3733/ca.2018a0029

Cited by 16 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Full-size  DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10428/ fig-4 are consistent and crucial differences between this simple grouping of practices. The opportunity to restore agricultural systems is increasing globally particularly in farmlands in dryland ecosystems that are experiencing intensifying water shortages and resulting land retirement (Benayas et al, 2007;Kelsey et al, 2018). Unfortunately, ecological restoration is neither a simple concept nor "one size fits all" group of practices with known outcomes (Higgs, 1997).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, global water scarcity particularly in dryland agricultural ecosystems-farmlands and grazing lands-impacted by overexploitation, land degradation, and climate change is increasingly driving retirement of those agricultural lands that are no longer productive (Benayas et al, 2007;ELD Initiative, 2015). For instance, more than 200,000 acres of irrigated farmlands in California are predicted to be retired in the next 10-20 years as part of a strategy for sustainable groundwater use (Kelsey et al, 2018;Hanak et al, 2019;Bryant et al, 2020). This general sociopolitical and ecological context provides the opportunity to re-claim some of these lands for native plants and animals through habitat restoration (Queiroz et al, 2014;Kelsey et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For instance, more than 200,000 acres of irrigated farmlands in California are predicted to be retired in the next 10-20 years as part of a strategy for sustainable groundwater use (Kelsey et al, 2018;Hanak et al, 2019;Bryant et al, 2020). This general sociopolitical and ecological context provides the opportunity to re-claim some of these lands for native plants and animals through habitat restoration (Queiroz et al, 2014;Kelsey et al, 2018). Limitations in lands as set asides for plant and animal species has been proposed as a critical issue in all systems globally (Diamond, 1975;Gotelli & McCabe, 2002) and evidence-informed decisions for habitat restoration can contribute to the recovery of plant and animal species worldwide.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Limitations in lands as set asides for plant and animal species has been proposed as a critical issue in all systems globally (Diamond, 1975;Gotelli & McCabe, 2002) and evidence-informed decisions for habitat restoration can contribute to the recovery of plant and animal species worldwide. Restoration of agricultural drylands back to habitat for plants and animals will provide capacity for reductions in species loss in these biodiversity hotspots (Durant et al, 2012;Lortie et al, 2018) and contribute to more secure water and food resources for a rapidly expanding human population (Tilman et al, 2011;Kelsey et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A meta-analysis contrasting active versus passive restoration practices in dryland agricultural ecosystems

Miguel

Butterfield

Lortie

2020

PeerJ

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Restoration of agricultural drylands globally, here farmlands and grazing lands, is a priority for ecosystem function and biodiversity preservation. Natural areas in drylands are recognized as biodiversity hotspots and face continued human impacts. Global water shortages are driving increased agricultural land retirement providing the opportunity to reclaim some of these lands for natural habitat. We used meta-analysis to contrast different classes of dryland restoration practices. All interventions were categorized as active and passive for the analyses of efficacy in dryland agricultural ecosystems. We evaluated the impact of 19 specific restoration practices from 42 studies on soil, plant, animal, and general habitat targets across 16 countries, for a total of 1,427 independent observations. Passive vegetation restoration and grazing exclusion led to net positive restoration outcomes. Passive restoration practices were more variable and less effective than active restoration practices. Furthermore, passive soil restoration led to net negative restoration outcomes. Active restoration practices consistently led to positive outcomes for soil, plant, and habitat targets. Water supplementation was the most effective restoration practice. These findings suggest that active interventions are necessary and critical in most instances for dryland agricultural ecosystems likely because of severe anthropogenic pressures and concurrent environmental stressors—both past and present.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

A meta-analysis contrasting active versus passive restoration practices in dryland agricultural ecosystems

Miguel

Butterfield

Lortie

2020

PeerJ

Self Cite

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“…Furthermore, our study suggests caution in using facilitation by native shrubs as a tool for restoring native biodiversity to degraded environments. Drylands in California and globally are being retired from intensive agricultural use due to drought, poor soils, and changing climate (Webb et al 2017), presenting critical opportunities for restoring native biodiversity (Kelsey et al 2018;Lortie et al 2018c). In this context, facilitation by native shrubs has attracted considerable interest as a restoration tool (Padilla and Pugnaire 2006;Funk et al 2008;Gomez-Aparicio 2009;Lortie et al 2018c).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The dark side of facilitation: native shrubs facilitate exotic annuals more strongly than native annuals

Lucero¹,

Noble²,

Haas³

et al. 2019

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Positive interactions enhance biodiversity and ecosystem function, but can also exacerbate biological invasions. Facilitation of exotic invaders by exotic foundation species (invasional meltdown) has been studied extensively, but facilitation of exotic invaders by native foundation species has attracted less attention. Specifically, very few studies have examined the extent that native foundation species facilitate native and exotic competitors. Understanding the processes that mediate interactions between native and exotic species can help explain, predict, and improve management of biological invasions. Here, we examined the effects of native foundation shrubs on the relative abundance of the annual plant community – including native and exotic taxa – from 2015–2018 in a desert ecosystem at Carrizo Plain National Monument, California, USA (elevation: 723 m). Shrub effects varied by year and by the identity of annual species, but shrubs consistently enhanced the abundance of the annual plant community and facilitated both native (n=17 species) and exotic (n=4 species) taxa. However, at the provenance level, exotic annuals were facilitated 2.75 times stronger in abundance than native annuals, and exotic annuals were always more abundant than natives both near and away from shrubs. Our study reaffirms facilitation as an important process in the organisation of plant communities and confirms that both native and exotic species can form positive associations with native foundation species. However, facilitation by native foundation species can exacerbate biological invasions by increasing the local abundance of exotic invaders. Thus, the force of facilitation can have a dark side relevant to ecosystem function and management.

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Shrub density effects on the presence of an endangered lizard of the Carrizo Plain National Monument, California

Zuliani

Ghazian

Owen

et al. 2023

Ecology and Evolution

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Repopulation and protection of endangered species are driving factors for many restoration and conservation practices globally. For successful habitat protection and restoration, we must understand (1) species distribution within suitable habitat and (2) how that habitat is utilized-daily and seasonally (Elith et al., 2006;Eyre et al., 2022;Guisan & Thuiller, 2005). The relationship between animal species and their interactions with plants provides key insights into how managing plant communities can better support animal species Zwolak et al., 2022). In arid/semi-arid deserts and scrublands, animal species experience greater stress due to extremes in temperature and precipitation (Barrows, 2011;

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Groundwater sustainability in the San Joaquin Valley: Multiple benefits if agricultural lands are retired and restored strategically

Cited by 16 publications

References 12 publications

A meta-analysis contrasting active versus passive restoration practices in dryland agricultural ecosystems

A meta-analysis contrasting active versus passive restoration practices in dryland agricultural ecosystems

The dark side of facilitation: native shrubs facilitate exotic annuals more strongly than native annuals

Shrub density effects on the presence of an endangered lizard of the Carrizo Plain National Monument, California

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