Restoration ecology meets design-engineering: Mimicking emergent traits to restore feedback-driven ecosystems

Temmink, Ralph J.M.; Angelini, Christine; Verkuijl, Martijn; van der Heide, Tjisse

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166460

Cited by 9 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 88 publications

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“…There have also been successful trials using sand capping to control organic-enriched estuarine sediments (Oncken et al 2022). Control of these feedbacks is thought to ultimately amplify restoration success (Temmink et al 2020(Temmink et al , 2023van der Heide et al 2021). Meanwhile studies in the United States have found that planting seeds in hessian (burlap/jute) bags has reduced seed predation (Harwell & Orth 1999), and that burial of seeds may also be beneficial (Marion & Orth 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Overcoming ecological feedbacks in seagrass restoration

Unsworth,

Jones,

Coals

et al. 2024

Restoration Ecology

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Overcoming ecological feedbacks is a major limiting factor reducing the success of many seagrass restoration projects. Negative feedbacks occur when biotic or abiotic conditions of a site are changed sufficiently after the loss of seagrass to prevent its recovery, even after the original stressors are remediated. While negative feedbacks in seagrass restoration are common, there remain limited studies of ways to reduce them and kick‐start the necessary positive feedbacks to promote recovery. We used field and laboratory experiments to investigate key ecological feedbacks in seagrass (Zostera marina) restoration by testing the role of hessian bags and seed burial in reducing seed predation and promoting plant development. We used a double‐hurdle model approach to predict “seagrass emergence success” and “seagrass growth success” across planted field plots. We found that planting seeds in hessian bags and burying them in the sediment improved the likelihood of seeds developing into mature plants. We recorded an average 13‐fold increase in shoot density for seeds planted in buried bags relative to raked furrows. This could be the combined result of reduced predation as well as bags mimicking emergent traits of mature seagrass to withstand physical impacts. We supplement these findings with laboratory evidence that hessian bags provide protection from predation by green shore crabs. Overall, we found a low and variable success rate for seed‐based restoration and indicate other feedbacks in the system beyond those we controlled. However, we show that small methodological changes can help overcome some key feedbacks and improve restoration success.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Overcoming ecological feedbacks in seagrass restoration

Unsworth,

Jones,

Coals

et al. 2024

Restoration Ecology

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“…As bivalves facilitate foundational vegetation, they may also bolster a habitat's capacity to support higher population densities of their own conspecifics and, in turn, drive positive feedbacks on their ecosystem service provisioning (Moore & Hughes, 2023). Indeed, positive density dependence often generates intraspecific or self-facilitation feedbacks (Bertness & Callaway, 1994;Bruno et al, 2003;Temmink et al, 2023) and N sequestration services provided by these faunal engineers may similarly respond in a positive direction.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Density‐dependent influence of ribbed mussels on salt marsh nitrogen pools and processes

Williams,

Fischman,

Angelini

et al. 2024

Journal of Ecology

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Bivalves are becoming an increasingly popular tool to counteract eutrophication, particularly in vegetated coastal ecosystems where synergistic interactions between bivalves and plants can govern important N sequestration pathways. In turn, new calls to evaluate how bivalve densities modify N pools and processes across multiple scales have surfaced. Ribbed mussels, Geukensia demissa, and their relationship with smooth cordgrass present a classic demonstration of positive bivalve‐plant interactions and offer a useful model for assessing density dependence. We measure porewater ammonium concentrations, N stable isotope signatures in cordgrass tissue, and sediment N fluxes in mussel aggregations and in cordgrass‐only plots across a southeastern U.S. salt marsh. In addition to measuring the effect of mussel presence, we evaluate mussel density dependence through a multiscale approach. At the patch scale, we quantify mussel density effects within their aggregations (individuals m−2) while at a larger landscape scale, we quantify mussel density effects on the cordgrass‐only areas they neighbour (individuals ~30 m−2). Porewater ammonium concentrations were halved in mussel biodeposits relative to sediments in cordgrass‐only areas and negatively related to mussel density within aggregations. Leaf clip ẟ15N signatures were nearly 2‰ higher in cordgrass growing among mussel aggregations and increased with increasing patch mussel density. Microcosm incubations showed that mussels enhanced N2 flux (i.e., nitrogen removal) and DIN flux (i.e., N regeneration) into the water column, where only nitrogen removal increased with increasing patch‐scale mussel density. Across the marsh landscape, mussel coverage drove ammonium accumulation and N2 flux in sediments. Synthesis. Our results suggest that, at the patch scale, mussels stimulate the microbial metabolism of N, the assimilation of this bioavailable N by cordgrass, and nitrogen removal in a positive, density‐dependent manner. Tidal currents redistribute mussel biodeposits from mussel aggregations to surrounding areas, influencing biogeochemical transformations at scales beyond their physical footprint. We emphasize that the N regeneration potential of bivalve populations is a significant metric contributing to their mitigation potential and that bivalve density effects may be non‐linear, vary across patch to ecosystem scales, and have differing implications for the plants with which they interact.

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Structure and Function of Restored and Natural Salt Marshes: Implications for Ecosystem Resilience and Adaptive Potential

Crosby,

Hudson,

Hughes

et al. 2024

Estuaries and Coasts

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Salt marshes have ecological and economic value, but shoreline development, the increasing rate of sea-level rise, and other human impacts have caused significant loss of salt marshes. As a result, restoration of these ecosystems is widespread. For restoration and management to be effective, it is imperative to improve our understanding of marsh-building plants that serve as the ecological foundation of these habitats. Given the observed differences in characteristics between populations of smooth cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora, restoration plantings may impact the biodiversity and resilience of restored ecosystems. Understanding differences in the structural and functional outcomes of active planting of restoration sites will enable the long-term success of restoration efforts to be improved. Natural and restored salt marshes in Long Island Sound were studied in 2021–2022 for S. alterniflora genetics, biomass, stem morphology, and faunal community composition. The average genotypic diversity of S. alterniflora was more than 4 times higher in restored than in natural marshes, and differentiation between each restored site and natural sites decreased with time. No difference was observed in live S. alterniflora belowground biomass; however, mean dead belowground biomass in natural marshes was more than 3 times greater than in restored marshes. Marsh platform invertebrates differed between the restored and natural sites, with natural marsh edge habitats having 9 times higher density of Geukensia demissa and 3 times as many crab burrows than in restored marshes, but there was no detected difference in species richness or abundance of nekton at high tide. With restoration practitioners seeking resilient, self-sustaining ecosystems, it is important to evaluate whether restored marsh characteristics are consistent with those goals and modify restoration planning accordingly to incorporate genetics, structure, and function.

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Restoration ecology meets design-engineering: Mimicking emergent traits to restore feedback-driven ecosystems

Cited by 9 publications

References 88 publications

Overcoming ecological feedbacks in seagrass restoration

Overcoming ecological feedbacks in seagrass restoration

Density‐dependent influence of ribbed mussels on salt marsh nitrogen pools and processes

Structure and Function of Restored and Natural Salt Marshes: Implications for Ecosystem Resilience and Adaptive Potential

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