Ecologic Restoration and History

Question 1

Describe conceptual model of a degraded ecosystem

Answer 1

Start: Original ecosystem –> Enhance
or
Degradation occurs –> Mitigate (minimize effects) or Restoration (active process)
Finish: Improved habitat

Question 2

What are functional characteristics of ecosystems?

Answer 2

Ecosystem services

• Biodiversity
• Carbon Storage (Blue carbon in coastal systems)
• Food production
• Raw materials
• Waste treatment
• Nutrient filtration
• Erosion control
• Recreational uses

Question 3

Structural characteristics of a coastal ecosystem

Answer 3

Intact marsh (high and low) and mudflat comprise estuary

Question 4

The structure and function of coastal wetland systems are based on what drivers?

Answer 4

external drivers but also internal drivers

Question 5

What are examples of external drivers in the structure and function of a coastal ecosystem?

Answer 5

Sea-level rise
Storm frequency and intensity
Local tides
Freshwater discharge
Precipitation
Surface Drainage
Sediment and nutrient input

Question 6

What are examples of internal drivers in the structure and function of a coastal ecosystem?

Answer 6

Interrelationships between biological factors (microbial activity, herbivory, burrowing)
and
Microtopographic (accretion figure)

Question 7

What are 4 examples of recuperation of a coastal ecosystem?

Answer 7

• Recovery
• Mitigation
• Restoration
• Enhancement

Question 8

Example of Recovery in a coastal ecosystem

Answer 8

Discontinue mosquito control measures (cleaning drainage ditches and spraying Bti)

Question 9

Example of Mitigation in a coastal ecosystem

Answer 9

allow gate on tidal control device to remain open to minimize its tidal control and go back to natural fluctuations

Question 10

Examples of Restoration in a coastal ecosystem

Answer 10

Remove dykes, ditches and tidal gates to allow unrestricted sea water entry
Remove barriers that prevent tidal salt marshes from migrating inland with relative sea level rise

Question 11

What happens when a salt marsh is prevented from migrating inland?

Answer 11

Loss of wetland and habit and associated ecosystem services

Migration inland is necessary with rising sea levels

Question 12

Factors that contribute to soil accretion in a tidal salt marsh (diagram) and reason

Answer 12

Tidal salt marsh ecosystem can only function/survive if it can vertically accrete and move inland with sea level rise (climate change)

Question 13

BACI

Answer 13

Before-After-Control-Impact

Question 14

Mensuration

Answer 14

Natural experiment

Question 15

BACI for IVBRP

Answer 15

Mensuration
Control: James and Sidney Islands
Impact: Allowing sea water into IVBRP

Question 16

When did first silviculture planting occur in BC?

Answer 16

1930s

Question 17

When did interest in restoring GO meadows begin?

Answer 17

Early 1990s on Vancouver Island

Question 18

When was the Watershed Restoration Program created and where?

Answer 18

In 1995 by Forest Renewal BC (FRBC)

Question 19

When was the BC chapter of Society for Ecological Restoration formed?

Answer 19

1999 and still active present day

Question 20

GOERT

Answer 20

Garry Oak Ecosystem Recovery Team

- Established in 1999 and still active present day

Question 21

GCC

Answer 21

Grasslands Conservation Council

• Established in 1999 and still active present day
• Bunchgrass communities in Okanagan (Pocket Deserts)
• Often developed into Vineyards

Question 22

TERP

Answer 22

Terrestrial Ecosystem Restoration Program

• Launched in 2000 by FRBC
• No longer active

Question 23

What is ecological restoration?

Answer 23

Fully restores the components and processes of a damaged ecosystem

Question 24

What are possible restoration targets?

Answer 24

• Previous historical state
• Contemporary standard
• Desired future condition (ie Historical state cannot be achieved)

Question 25

When and why does a restoration plan become a desired future condition vs. previous historical state?

Answer 25

When a historical state cannot be achieved because there is nothing left to restore
or
Historical state cannot be determined
or