Integrating soil ecological knowledge into restoration management

Abstract

The variability in the type of ecosystem degradation andthe specificity of restoration goals can challenge restorationists’ability to generalize about approaches that leadto restoration success. The discipline of soil ecology, whichemphasizes both soil organisms and ecosystem processes,has generated a body of knowledge that can be generallyuseful in improving the outcomes of restoration despitethis variability. Here, we propose that the usefulness ofthis soil ecological knowledge (SEK) for restoration isbest considered in the context of the severity of the originalperturbation, the goals of the project, and the resilienceof the ecosystem to disturbance. A straightforwardmanipulation of single physical, chemical, or biologicalcomponents of the soil system can be useful in the restorationof a site, especially when the restoration goal isloosely defined in terms of the species and processes thatmanagement seeks to achieve. These single-factor manipulationsmay in fact produce cascading effects on severalecosystem attributes and can result in unintended recoverytrajectories. When complex outcomes are desired,intentional and holistic integration of all aspects of the soilknowledge is necessary. We provide a short roster of examplesto illustrate that SEK benefits management andrestoration of ecosystems and suggest areas for futureresearch.

Citation

Heneghan, L., S.P. Miller, S. Baer, M.A. Callaham, Jr., J. Montgomery, M. Pavao-Zuckerman, C.C. Rhoades, S. Richardson. 2008. Integrating soil ecological knowledge into restoration management. Restoration Ecology 16:608-617.