Rapid Recovery of Damaged Ecosystems

Jones, Holly P.; Schmitz, Oswald J.

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0005653

Cited by 287 publications

(271 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…For populations, the response is often measured as their abundance, distribution, size structure or functional role; for ecosystems, the response can involve structural parameters, such as species diversity, habitat availability, foodweb composition or water quality, or functional characteristics, such as productivity or nutrient cycling [3,19,32]. …”

Section: What Is Recovery?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, although the average exploitation rate has been reduced in five out of ten large marine ecosystems, actual fish biomass has only begun to rebuild in three systems [9]. In a recent review of ecosystem recovery across 240 studies in terrestrial and aquatic systems, 37.5% showed recovery in some, and 34.5% in all variables measured [19]. In summary, it appears that recovery occurs in more than 10% but less than 50% of species or ecosystems, suggesting much need for improved management and conservation.…”

Section: Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a recent review, the average recovery time for different ecosystems types ranged from 10 to 42 years, with slowsuccessional ecosystems taking longer than short-lived ones [19]. When considering different perturbation types, average recovery time ranged from 20 years to >56 years when multiple interacting perturbations were involved, and recovery from human disturbances took longer than from natural disturbances, such as hurricanes or cyclones [19].…”

Section: Magnitude Of Recoverymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…When considering different perturbation types, average recovery time ranged from 20 years to >56 years when multiple interacting perturbations were involved, and recovery from human disturbances took longer than from natural disturbances, such as hurricanes or cyclones [19].…”

Section: Magnitude Of Recoverymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A recent review on the recovery of damaged ecosystems found that many terrestrial and marine ecosystems can recover on timescales of a few years to a few decades after major perturbations [19]. However, most case studies in the review, especially among marine and brackish examples, included small, short-lived organisms, such as microbes, algae and invertebrates, which have much higher recovery potential compared with long-lived marine vertebrates.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Recovery of marine animal populations and ecosystems

Lotze¹,

Coll²,

Magera³

et al. 2011

Trends in Ecology & Evolution

358

316

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Many marine populations and ecosystems have experienced strong historical depletions, yet reports of recoveries are increasing. Here, we review the growing research on marine recoveries to reveal how common recovery is, its magnitude, timescale and major drivers. Overall, 10-50% of depleted populations and ecosystems show some recovery, but rarely to former levels of abundance. In addition, recovery can take many decades for long-lived species and complex ecosystems. Major drivers of recovery include the reduction of human impacts, especially exploitation, habitat loss and pollution, combined with favorable life-history and environmental conditions. Awareness, legal protection and enforcement of management plans are also crucial. Learning from historical recovery successes and failures is essential for implementing realistic conservation goals and promising management strategies.A new focus on recovery An increasing number of studies have reported strong declines in marine animal populations and the degradation of ocean ecosystems over past decades and centuries around the world [1][2][3][4][5][6][7], leading to a widespread perception of empty oceans and polluted waters. Yet, throughout history, humans have responded to declining resource abundance and ecosystem degradation by implementing management and conservation measures. Some of these have been successful and resulted in recovery, whereas others have failed [3,8,9].Therefore, an important question to science and management is: how common is recovery among depleted populations and degraded ecosystems in the ocean? Today, many marine mammal, bird, reptile and fish populations are at low abundance, and several species are endangered or extinct on regional or global scales [5,[10][11][12]. However, despite long periods of intense human impacts, most marine species persist and some populations do show signs of recovery [3,8,9]. Similarly, many coastal habitats, including wetlands, seagrass beds, mangrove and kelp forests, and oyster and coral reefs, have been severely reduced or degraded [2][3][4]6], yet partial recovery has been achieved in some regions in response to protection and pollution controls [3,13]. Restoration attempts at an ecosystem level have often been followed by the return and recovery of former species assemblages and ecosystem functions [13][14][15][16][17], but some ecosystems have remained in an altered state [18]. Such successes could serve as important guides for efforts to prevent further biodiversity loss and enhance future recoveries.Despite a growing number of case studies on the recovery of specific populations or ecosystems, an overview of the general patterns and drivers of marine recoveries over historical timescales is lacking. A recent review on the recovery of damaged ecosystems found that many terrestrial and marine ecosystems can recover on timescales of a few years to a few decades after major perturbations [19]. However, most case studies in the review, especially among marine and brackish examples, included small, short-...

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Section: What Is Recovery?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Magnitude Of Recoverymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Magnitude Of Recoverymentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Recovery of marine animal populations and ecosystems

Lotze¹,

Coll²,

Magera³

et al. 2011

Trends in Ecology & Evolution

358

316

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Island characteristics and sampling methodologies influence the use of stable isotopes as an ecosystem function assessment tool

Pascoe

Shaw

Trebilco

et al. 2021

Ecol Sol and Evidence

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1. Monitoring seabird-derived nutrients on islands following invasive mammal eradications may provide a useful, cost-and time-efficient indication of the recovery of ecosystem function; however, the technique has only been investigated on environmentally similar islands. How seabird-derived nutrients recover on islands with different characteristics, and how differences in sampling regimes affect results is poorly understood.2. To determine how different island characteristics (size, geographic location and invasion history) and aspects of the sampling regime (sample collection year, season and intra-island location) influence seabird-derived nutrients we collated nitrogen stable isotope (δ 15 N) data from three ecosystem components (soil, plants and spiders), collected on 28 islands around New Zealand. We investigated which variables best predict δ 15 N using linear-mixed effects models. Accounting for these variables and using still-invaded and never-invaded islands as controls for recovery, we then investigated changes in δ 15 N on islands at different stages following invasive mammal eradication.3. Island size, invasion history and the presence of seabirds in the direct vicinity of a sampling location all influenced δ 15 N. After accounting for these variables, δ 15 N increased with time since eradication in soils, plants and spiders, though there was still some variation that our chosen variables could not explain.4. This study demonstrates the importance of considering island characteristics and sampling methods when assessing seabird-derived nutrient recovery and highlights the need for additional targeted sample collection on islands to help separate out the effects of time since eradication and other confounding variables affecting δ 15 N. Improved understanding of these factors will be prerequisite for furthering this technique as a useful addition to the post-eradication monitoring tool kit.This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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Ecological History has Present and Future Ecological Consequences – Case Studies from Australia

Lindenmayer¹

2012

Historical Environmental Variation in Conservation and Natural Resource Management

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Rapid Recovery of Damaged Ecosystems

Cited by 287 publications

References 21 publications

Recovery of marine animal populations and ecosystems

Recovery of marine animal populations and ecosystems

Island characteristics and sampling methodologies influence the use of stable isotopes as an ecosystem function assessment tool

Ecological History has Present and Future Ecological Consequences – Case Studies from Australia

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