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Ecological RestorationEcological Restoration
FOR 406 Silviculture
HarveHarvestst
RegeneraRegeneratete
TendTend
HarveHarvestst
RegeneraRegeneratete
TendTend
What is a “natural” ecosystem?
• Native (indigenous) species interact in a self-sustaining manner
• Species persist through natural recruitment rather than managed reproduction
• Population dynamics are regulated internally• Disturbance regimes function within their pre-
disruption range of variability• Trophic dynamics are sustainable over time• Usually equated with some pre-existing
condition; e.g., “pre-European settlement”
Attainable?
Porcupine Mountains State ParkPorcupine Mountains State Park
Sleeping Bear Dunes National LakeshoreSleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
What is an “unnatural” ecosystem?
• High proportion of nonnative (exotic) species• Exhibits wide swings in population dynamics,
thereby requiring continual management actions
• Dominated by disturbance regimes far different than those present before degradation
• Difficult or impossible to restore to natural conditions
What is a “degraded” ecosystem?
• Somewhere in between natural and unnatural conditions
• Potentially restorable to a more natural condition
Natural ecosystems
Unnatural ecosystems
Degraded ecosystems
Res
tora
tion
“Historical ecology”
• The desired future condition is a past condition
• How far past is past?• The goal should be to achieve a
historical range of variability• Therefore, not only species and
structures must be restored, but also processes
“Historical ecology”
How can pre-existing conditions be defined?
• Extrapolation from “undisturbed” natural ecosystems
Toumey WoodsToumey Woods
Newton WoodsNewton Woods
Estivant PinesEstivant Pines
How can pre-existing conditions be defined?
• Extrapolation from “undisturbed” natural ecosystems
• Matching species with habitat
Deep Shade Partial Intermittent Full sun shade shade sun
Tolerant Moderately Moderately Intolerant tolerant intolerant
Shade tolerance
How can pre-existing conditions be defined?
• Extrapolation from “undisturbed” natural ecosystems
• Matching species with habitat • General Land Office (GLO) survey records
15
6 5 4 3 2 1 7 8 9 10 11
18 17 16 15 14 13
19 20 21 22 23 24
30 29 28 27 26 25
31 32 33 34 35 36
One township
One section12
S 16
S 22
S 15
S 21
Historic forest composition changes at a location in Cheboygan County Michigan
(Data from Palik & Pregitzer 1992)
Species group ca. 1850s 1992 . . . . . % of total trees . . . . . Pine 21 7 Hemlock 44 -- Beech 22 <1 Maple 5 11 Paper birch 4 6 Aspen 1 67 Red oaks 2 8
How can pre-existing conditions be defined?
• Extrapolation from “undisturbed” natural ecosystems
• Matching species with habitat • General Land Office (GLO) survey records• Written descriptions by early settlers &
scientists; native oral traditions
J.W. Wing, 1839
How can pre-existing conditions be defined?
• Extrapolation from “undisturbed” natural ecosystems
• Matching species with habitat • General Land Office (GLO) survey records• Written descriptions by early settlers &
scientists; native oral traditions • Old photographs & maps
State Archivesof Michigan
MSU Archives & Historical Collections
MSU Archives & Historical Collections
MSU Archives & Historical Collections
MAC Exp. Sta. Bulletin 162 (1898)
How can pre-existing conditions be defined?
• Extrapolation from “undisturbed” natural ecosystems
• Matching species with habitat • General Land Office (GLO) survey records• Written descriptions by early settlers &
scientists; native oral traditions • Old photographs & maps• Micro-fossil (pollen) record
Pollen diagram from a bog in Lapeer County
How can pre-existing conditions be defined?
• Extrapolation from “undisturbed” natural ecosystems
• Matching species with habitat• General Land Office (GLO) survey records• Written descriptions by early settlers &
scientists; native oral traditions • Old photographs & maps• Micro-fossil (pollen) record• Dendrochronology
Rin
g w
idth
(m
m)
Year
226 years of radial growth in a northern white cedar swamp near Escanaba
~1890--tree120 years old
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Area of Michigan occupied by savanna communities circa 1800 (data from MNFI)
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000
Lakeplainopenings
Oak barrens Pine-oakbarrens
Bur oaksavanna
Inland oakopenings
Tho
usan
ds o
f acr
es
~2.2 million acres
Area of Michigan occupied by savanna communities today
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000
Lakeplainopenings
Oak barrens Pine-oakbarrens
Bur oaksavanna
Inland oakopenings
Tho
usan
ds o
f acr
es
+1 thousand acres?
X X
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Use of herbicides in restoration
Post-emergents (selective placement):
• Foliar spray• Stump application• Bark application
Pre-emergents:• Spot seeding or
plantings• Large-area seeding
(broadcast)
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The enemy!
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Begin the restoration, and they will come…
Light the fire, and they will come…Light the fire, and they will come…
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Restoration Time FrameFullyrestored
Degraded0 ?Years
Natural Ecosystem
1050100
• Agency, corporate, or unit budgets• Government or foundation grants• Private or corporate contributions• Fund-raising events, auctions, or
merchandise sales• Entrance fees or donations• All of the above
No mon, no fun…
Since1902