39: Lecture Restoration Ecology
1. What is restoration ecology? 2. What do restoration ecologists do? 3. Why is restoration common? 4. The challenges
Definition
Restoration ecology rebuilding damaged habitats to _____________________. Major agencies Federal: Army Corps of Engineers, National Park Service. Private: the Nature Conservancy, consulting firms.
Restoration ecologists typically:
1. Work in damaged habitats, not in "pristine" areas. 2. Set explicit goals for given project. 3. Use _______________________.
Different styles of landscaping Tucson, Arizona
Neighborhood with native landscaping
Why is restoration important?
3. Extreme level of habitat loss in many areas. In Indiana, _______ of all tallgrass prairie is gone, 95% of black oak savanna is gone. Conservation of these areas requires restoration.
Example: Florida everglades
Largest restoration project in the United States. System of interconnected fresh water ecosystems.
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Everglades water flow
Wading birds
Area famous for breeding herons, storks, etc.
By late 20th Century, many birds had abandoned the Everglades sign of something wrong.
First step: Kissimmee River
To reduce flooding in past, Army Corps of Engineers converted river to a __________ . 100 miles of river reduced to 58 miles of _________ . 75% of area wetlands were ___________ .
Kissimmee River - problems
Didn't work __________________. Bald eagle population dropped, waterfowl declined (less hunting income). Much of drained land converted to pastures, so more waste came off land into marshes. Increased _________________.
Current status:
Kissimmee River is being restored by Army Corps. Largest corps project to be reversed. Cost of original project: $30 million Cost of restoration: $500 million
Challenges
1. Identifying the original condition (needed to set goals) 2. Spatial scale of project 3. Cost
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Next topic: Human population growth
1. Review of facts. 2. Model of population growth the demographic transition. 3. How can we decrease birth rates? 4. Social & cultural considerations.
Suggested readings: Dietz, T., et al. 2007. Driving the human ecological footprint. Frontiers in Ecology & Environment 5:13-24.
Review
World population ________________ Adding 80 million / year USA population 308 million Other countries China: 1.3 billion India: 1.1 age billion
Human pyramids
In many developing countries, huge % of population is very young. Some developed nations have aging populations.
Probable world's population by 2050
Best case scenario: 8 billion Worst case scenario: 11 billion Recent study (2008): _____________ most likely
Source: Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, World Population Prospects: The 2008 Revision, http://esa.un.org/unpp,
Demographic transition model
Demographic transition model
Stage 1. Early history of society. High birth rates, high death rates, low population
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____________________.
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Demographic transition model
Stage 2. Start of modernization, first change: death rates decrease (better food, health, etc.). But birth rates stay high (family choice). ___________________.
Demographic transition model
Stage 3. Industrialization. Less need for large families, so lower birth rates because families choose to have fewer kids. Death rates also lower. High population size. Population growth ____________.
Demographic transition model
Stage 4. Stable populations. Low birth and death rates, but total population high.
How to stabilize population?
1. Increase death rates.
Inhumane, unethical
2. Decrease birth rates ____________ population growth. ________________ to date have reached this stage.
"Family planning" programs Increased education (esp. women) Increased economic opportunities (Especially for women)
Economic opportunity
Very small loans, direct to poorest people (microloans) Give women opportunity to earn income aside from producing labor. Innovator from Bangladesh won Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for micro-loans
Anyone can give microloans...
Create an account (Kiva, MicroPlace, or OptINnow are options). Fund your account. If you have a Paypal account, you can transfer the money online with one or 2 clicks. You can begin with as little as $25. Browse through the various individual loan applicants (including pictures and a summary of their business) or (in the case of MicroPlace) local banks / micro-finance lenders and decide where and on what repayment terms to invest. With a few clicks, make your investment. When your investment is repaid, make another loan to continue the cycle. http://www.charityguide.org/volunteer/fifteen/micro-loans.htm
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