Miderm #2 Funk Reading Flashcards
What was Funk’s main argument?
Restorationists should focus on using native plant species adapted to local environmental/soil conditions, however, they should also select species that are ecologically similar to potential invaders
How does the author believe we can limit invasions? (2)
Through choosing ecologically similar native species
By increasing the trait diversity of natives planted rather than focusing on species diversity
Community assembly theory
An essential component of restoration is the reassembly of plant and animal communities following ecosystem degradation or the removal of invasive species
Why is community assembly theory important to ER?
Concepts pertaining to the assembly of plant communities can be used to strengthen resistance to invasion in restored communities
Community ecology theory (2)
Predicts that an invasive species will be unlikely to establish if there is a species with similar traits present in the resident community or if available niches are filled
Therefore ER should focus on filling areas with native species with similar traits to invaders and include a diversity of functional traits
The selection of native species based on resource-use traits will…
Increase community resistance to invasion, and predict the success of habitat manipulations (eg. Fire, mowing) for restoration
Ecological filters (3)
One view of community assembly separates niche and dispersal limitation into individual ecological filters, where species from a pool are filtered out of the local community by various dispersal, biotic, and environmental filters
These act at multiple spatial scales to determine community composition
By influencing filters, managers can guide community assembly
Functional traits (3)
Species resource capture strategies
Reflect strategies for reproduction and dispersal
Are related to environmental tolerances
What determines which functional traits or trait values will be optimal for a particular environment? (2)
Dispersal, biotic and environmental filters
How can restoration act on filters? (4)
Restoration can act on filters to influence community composition
For ex:
Dispersal filters can be overcome by planting
Environmental filters can be modified by ecosystem-based management practices such as controlled burns
Biotic interactions can be influenced by maintaining appropriate levels of herbivory etc.
Community ecology theory is most suitable in cases where…
This approach is most suitable in cases where planting or seeding is planned, such as on denuded landscapes where there is a high level of control over selection of native species. Otherwise other techniques must be used in addition such as herbicides or burning
Why are native species with greater trait diversity less susceptible to invasion?
Because they have less available niches
Why should ER promote native species plantings that have similar traits to invasive species?
Because plant distributions are often correlated with morphological (eg. Leaf area), physiological (eg. Photosynthesis), and reproductive traits (eg. Seed size). Therefore, the niche is taken up because of requirements etc.
