Research Flashcards
Do you have an idea of innovative research projects that advance the science of restoration ecology?
My research project ideas would be developed in Tropical regions. They focus particular restoration challenges for the region.
1st challenge - > Many tropical grassland species, particularly those that invest in underground storage organs, are difficult to propagate and re-establish by seed -> seed dormancy, germination, bud bank, underground storage organs. So my first broad idea of project would be to develop methods and technology to overcome barriers to seed establishment of target plants. I could do this by experimentation of restoration techniques in association with functional ecology studies. Incorporating functional trait assessments in restoration research might be especially relevant in tropical mountain ecosystems, due to the strong influence of climate change and the need of species to migrate upslope to track temperatures.
2nd challenge: Restoration studies that consider socio-ecological questions are scarce
- Incorporate socioeconomic dimensions. Social-ecological approach: take into consideration the local community needs and understanding in terms of ecosystem services provisioning and how it is affected by the restoration process.
o It can have an impact on future discussions regarding public policies for forest/ savanna/ grassland conservation and restoration and in the local scale provides higher engagement of local communities in the restoration process -> higher restoration success.
o Local and traditional ecological knowledge can aid with species selection, identification of successional trajectories and species interactions, as well as the right choice of management strategies involving cultural practices from prescribed burns to grazing management (Christmann & Menor 2021).
3rd challenge: The need to scale up the restoration strategies from a local scale to the landscape scale.
o research on large-scale restoration is needed to scale up mountain restoration to a landscape level. Geo-spatial technologies (MapBiomes), such as remote sensing could aid with this. Science-based open data initiative like the newly launched portal RESTOR, pave the path for the application of remote sensing for large scale restoration purposes.
alpine grassland restoration networks and restoration protocols could be a solid next step.
• Protocol should include project costs and community engagement.
How your project idea build upon the strengths of MBG’s local and international field programs?
My project would focus on Tropical Ecosystems and restoration and filling in knowledge gaps for the region
There are opportunities to develop collaborative projects in MBG’s Shaw Nature Reserve, several of the MBG Madagascar-managed Nature Reserves, and field sites in Africa and Latin America. Would you be willing to develop research there and how would that add to your research idea?
What is your previous experience developing research in conservation biology, reintroduction biology, global change, restoration ecology, community ecology, and macroecology? Do you have interest to collaborate in such areas in the future?
I have experience in restoration ecology, but also in applied grassland community ecology, conservation of temperate and tropical species-rich ecosystems, reintroduction of forb species and disturbance ecology.
- Describe projects broadly
- Science communication projects
What is your experience interacting with a broader community of scientists at universities, non-governmental organizations, and governmental agencies?
- I was invited to be part of a initiative that aimed to identify valuable areas for conservation. It involved a multidisciplinary community of researchers from different departments from different universities, as well as researchers working on non-governmental organizations, and governmental agencies.
- Sisbiota and PELD - different trophic levels
Have you heard about the Ecological Restoration Alliance of botanic gardens and arboreta? How will you be able to contribute/participate?
I admire the work you have been doing through the Ecological Restoration Alliance and I think my project ideas are in line with the work you currently do
- Develop methods and technology to overcome barriers to the establishment of target plants.
- community participation and collaboration action
- Scale up small plot-level studies to landscapes
What is your experience with restoration projects? How would you envision increasing restoration capacity in MBG’s international field programs, including tropical Andean countries, Madagascar and other islands in the Indian Ocean?
Are you fluent in Spanish and/or French?
What is your previous experience attracting financial support for research activities, preparing proposals and obtaining grants from external funding sources?
- minor grants (e.g., travel)
Do you have previous experience collaborating with other researchers to prepare collaborative scientific papers?
Do you have previous experience leading a group or supervising others?
What skills do you have that make you an excellent researcher in restoration ecology?
What skills do you have that make you an excellent mentor/leader?
How you envision engaging volunteers and undergraduate and graduate students in restoration projects?
Whhat are the motivations to work with vegetation ecology and restoration
- grasslands are largely ignored in sustainable development agendas
