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The restoration of rivers and their floodplains is complex, requires substantial financial efforts, intensive stakeholder involvement and long recovery times, making the identification of appropriate ecological indicators for restoration success a key challenge. Herein, one of the largest floodplain restorations along the European Danube was repeatedly assessed over a 12-year period. Changes in the fish community composition in relation to chemical and morphological habitat variables were assessed in all three restored habitat types free-flowing rivers (RS), reconnected oxbows (OS), and small floodplain ponds (FP) which are only temporarily connected to the main stem Danube. Fish species composition of RS, OS, FP and the Danube differed significantly. Species numbers (34 detected in 2022) remained largely constant since the last monitoring in 2013, whereas abundance increased by 15%. Small-bodied target species with short generation times were able to establish populations comprising all size classes shortly after restoration, whilst large-bodied species needed a decade after the restoration for full demographic representation. Highly specialised species such as the rheophilic Chondrostoma nasus used restored RS only during the life stages spawning and juvenile growth. Restoration increased habitat heterogeneity and the initialized hydromorphological processes are still ongoing, supporting the high species diversity. The observed differences in colonization patterns can be explained by species-specific life histories, resulting in diverse short and long-term responses of different fish species and life stages following restoration. Consequently, a comprehensive assessment of restoration success only becomes possible if multiple fish species as ecological indicators are combined in a long-term monitoring.

Forest fires pose significant environmental challenges globally, profoundly affecting watershed hydrology. As human activities increase and climate change exacerbates, the incidence and severity of forest fires have escalated, leading to profound modifications in watershed hydrological behavior. This review synthesizes findings from numerous studies conducted between 1966 and May 2024, focusing on the short- and long-term effects of forest fires on watershed runoff, peak flow, sediment transport, and water quality. Key findings include significant increases in runoff volume and peak flow, with post-fire runoff in some regions increasing by up to 500 %. Fires also alter soil properties, reducing infiltration and increasing erosion. These changes persist over time, impacting groundwater recharge, baseflow, and water quality. Elevated levels of phosphorus, nitrate, and other pollutants in post-fire runoff present risks to aquatic ecosystems and human health, with potential for eutrophication and contamination of drinking water. The study highlights regional differences in hydrological responses to forest fires, with Mediterranean regions experiencing rapid runoff increases, while boreal forests exhibit more gradual hydrological changes. This review also discusses the methodologies employed, including hydrological models and remote sensing technologies, and outlines future research needs to address gaps in our understanding of fire-watershed interactions. Improved management strategies are essential to mitigate the hydrological impacts of increasing fire activity in forested regions worldwide.

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Fire is a critical driver of giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum [Lindl.] Buchholz) regeneration. However, fire suppression combined with the effects of increased temperature and severe drought has resulted in fires of an intensity and size outside of the historical norm. As a result, recent mega‐fires have killed a significant portion of the world's sequoia population (13%–19%), and uncertainty surrounds whether severely affected groves will be able to recover naturally, potentially leading to a loss of grove area. To assess the likelihood of natural recovery, we collected spatially explicit data assessing mortality, crown condition, and regeneration within four giant sequoia groves that were severely impacted by the SQF‐ (2020) and KNP‐Complex (2021) wildfires within Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. In total, we surveyed 5.9 ha for seedlings and assessed the crown condition of 1104 giant sequoias. To inform management, we used a statistical methodology that robustly quantifies the uncertainty in inherently "noisy" seedling data and takes advantage of readily available remote sensing metrics that would make our findings applicable to other recently burned groves. A loss of giant sequoia grove area would be a consequence of giant sequoia tree mortality followed by a failure of natural regeneration. We found that areas that experienced very high‐severity fire (above ~800 RdNBR) are at substantial risk for the loss of grove area, with tree mortality rapidly increasing and giant sequoia seedling density simultaneously decreasing with fire severity. Such high‐severity areas comprised 17.8, 142.0, 14.6, 1.6 ha and ~90%, ~14%, ~53%, and ~27% of Board Camp, Redwood Mountain, Suwanee, and New Oriole Lake groves, respectively. In all sampling areas, we found that seedling densities fell far below the average density measured after prescribed fires, where seedling numbers were almost certainly adequate to maintain giant sequoia populations and postfire conditions were more in keeping with historical norms. Importantly, spatial pattern is also important in assessing the risk of grove loss, and in two groves, Suwanee and New Oriole Lake, the high‐severity patches were not always contiguous, potentially making some areas more resilient to regeneration failure due to the proximity of surviving trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Fire is a critical driver of giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum [Lindl.] Buchholz) regeneration. However, fire suppression combined with the effects of increased temperature and severe drought has resulted in fires of an intensity and size outside of the historical norm. As a result, recent mega‐fires have killed a significant portion of the world's sequoia population (13%–19%), and uncertainty surrounds whether severely affected groves will be able to recover naturally, potentially leading to a loss of grove area. To assess the likelihood of natural recovery, we collected spatially explicit data assessing mortality, crown condition, and regeneration within four giant sequoia groves that were severely impacted by the SQF‐ (2020) and KNP‐Complex (2021) wildfires within Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. In total, we surveyed 5.9 ha for seedlings and assessed the crown condition of 1104 giant sequoias. To inform management, we used a statistical methodology that robustly quantifies the uncertainty in inherently “noisy” seedling data and takes advantage of readily available remote sensing metrics that would make our findings applicable to other recently burned groves. A loss of giant sequoia grove area would be a consequence of giant sequoia tree mortality followed by a failure of natural regeneration. We found that areas that experienced very high‐severity fire (above ~800 RdNBR) are at substantial risk for the loss of grove area, with tree mortality rapidly increasing and giant sequoia seedling density simultaneously decreasing with fire severity. Such high‐severity areas comprised 17.8, 142.0, 14.6, 1.6 ha and ~90%, ~14%, ~53%, and ~27% of Board Camp, Redwood Mountain, Suwanee, and New Oriole Lake groves, respectively. In all sampling areas, we found that seedling densities fell far below the average density measured after prescribed fires, where seedling numbers were almost certainly adequate to maintain giant sequoia populations and postfire conditions were more in keeping with historical norms. Importantly, spatial pattern is also important in assessing the risk of grove loss, and in two groves, Suwanee and New Oriole Lake, the high‐severity patches were not always contiguous, potentially making some areas more resilient to regeneration failure due to the proximity of surviving trees.

Establishing an artificial grassland is a common measure employed to restore heavily degraded alpine grasslands for regional sustainability. The Three-River Headwaters Region in China has significant areas of black-soil-type grassland which is typified by heavy degradation; nearly 35% of the grassland regions in the Three-River Headwaters Region has degraded into this type. There are different plant community types of black-soil-type grasslands, however, it is not clear which restoration measures should be adopted for different kinds of black-soil-type grasslands. Here, we investigate the plant community characteristics and soil physicochemical properties of artificial grasslands, two types of black-soiltype grasslands, and native undegraded grassland in the Three-River Headwaters Region, then analyzed the direct and indirect interactions between the plant and soil properties by partial least squares path models (PLS-PM). Our results revealed that establishing artificial grassland significantly increased aboveground biomass and plant community coverage, and also decreased plant species richness and diversity and soil water content, soil organic carbon and total nitrogen in the 0-10 cm soil layer as compared with black-soil-type grasslands. Plant community diversity had a positive effect on plant community productivity, soil nutrient, and soil water content in native undegraded grassland. These results suggest that more management interventions are needed after establishing an artificial grassland, such as reducing dominant species in two types of black-soil-type grasslands, water regulation in the A. frigida-dominated meadow, diversifying plant species (i.e., Gramineae and sedges), and fertilizer addition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Fish community was monitored in a large restored Danube floodplain over 12 years. • Colonisation patterns and population development strongly depended on life history. • Habitat- and species-dependent indicators of restoration success were established. • Floodplain restoration is important to compensate for habitat loss of the main stem. • Only long-term monitoring covered full population development of target species. The restoration of rivers and their floodplains is complex, requires substantial financial efforts, intensive stakeholder involvement and long recovery times, making the identification of appropriate ecological indicators for restoration success a key challenge. Herein, one of the largest floodplain restorations along the European Danube was repeatedly assessed over a 12-year period. Changes in the fish community composition in relation to chemical and morphological habitat variables were assessed in all three restored habitat types free-flowing rivers (RS), reconnected oxbows (OS), and small floodplain ponds (FP) which are only temporarily connected to the main stem Danube. Fish species composition of RS, OS, FP and the Danube differed significantly. Species numbers (34 detected in 2022) remained largely constant since the last monitoring in 2013, whereas abundance increased by 15%. Small-bodied target species with short generation times were able to establish populations comprising all size classes shortly after restoration, whilst large-bodied species needed a decade after the restoration for full demographic representation. Highly specialised species such as the rheophilic Chondrostoma nasus used restored RS only during the life stages spawning and juvenile growth. Restoration increased habitat heterogeneity and the initialized hydromorphological processes are still ongoing, supporting the high species diversity. The observed differences in colonization patterns can be explained by species-specific life histories, resulting in diverse short and long-term responses of different fish species and life stages following restoration. Consequently, a comprehensive assessment of restoration success only becomes possible if multiple fish species as ecological indicators are combined in a long-term monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• River restoration has a growing focus on North American beaver (Castor Canadensis). • Beaver-based fixes can harm stream restoration, beaver, and lands and waters. • There are millennia of Indigenous theory about beaver relations in North America. • Settler restorationists can partner with beaver and Native peoples who know beaver. • River restoration must reconnect beaver back to people, place, and time. This Forum brings together river restoration researchers and practitioners to stimulate debate about the recent explosion of interest in North American beaver (Castor canadensis) and beaver-related practices in North American river restoration science and management. While the beaver is described in recent literature as a low-cost, high-impact ecosystem engineer capable of minimizing the impacts of wildfire, drought, flood, and disturbance across the continent, we consider the importance of shifting from a focus on prescriptive results—on what beaver get humans—and towards engaging with beaver in relational process. Through a set of provocations that highlight the potential damage beaver fixes pose for stream restoration, for beaver, and for the lands and waters they inhabit with humans and other beings, we invite settler river scientists, river restorationists, and river thinkers to question the increasingly taken-for-granted logic of beaver as isolated creature, ecosystem engineer, and river savior; defer to the millennia of theory about beaver and their relations on this continent, partnering with beaver and with the Native peoples who have known them longest; and reconnect beaver back to people, place, and time in support of lively, dynamic, diverse, flourishing river systems across the continent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many raised bogs in Central Europe are in an unfavorable state: drainage causes high emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O), while rewetting may result in high methane (CH4) emissions. Also, the establishment of typical bog species is often hampered during restoration. Measures like topsoil removal (TSR) or introduction of target vegetation are known to improve restoration success in other systems, but experiences on bogs after long‐term agricultural use are scarce and their climate effects including carbon losses from TSR are unknown. In a field trial in north‐western Germany, consisting of seven plots (intensive grassland, IG, and six restoration approaches), we explored the effects of rewetting, TSR and Sphagnum introduction on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. We measured GHG fluxes to obtain two‐year GHG budgets and applied a radiative forcing model to assess the time‐dependent climate effects. Existing uncertainty of decomposition processes in the translocated topsoil has been incorporated by different topsoil accounting scenarios. According to our data, rewetting alone reduced CO2 emissions by approximately 75% compared to IG, but substantially increased CH4 emissions. After TSR and rewetting, on‐site CO2 emissions were close to zero or, with Sphagnum introduction, net negative while CH4 emissions remained very low. The climatic warming effect of TSR including C export becomes less climate warming than rewetting nutrient‐rich peatlands after a few decades. For raised bog restoration, we therefore recommend a TSR sufficient to achieve nutrient‐poor and acidic conditions needed for rapid Sphagnum establishment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forests in eastern North America are experiencing high densities of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and encroachment by invasive plants, both of which threaten native biodiversity. We review the literature on deer and invasive plant impacts focusing on studies that simultaneously evaluate the consequences of both. Deer have more frequent and more consistently negative effects than invasive plants. Widespread deer impacts now threaten many native plant species through much of their range. In contrast, invasive plant effects currently remain more localized and/or of smaller extent within forests. Deer impacts are also cumulative, hitting preferred plant species especially hard as they decline in density. This generates difficult-to-reverse legacy effects. Invasive plant effects, in contrast, tend to be more diffuse and may be more readily reversed. High deer populations also shift physical and chemical conditions in soils promoting "invasion cascades" involving non-native earthworms and certain introduced plants. Removing invasive plants without reducing deer populations can increase deer impacts on native species. Management should be integrated to address both deer and invasive plants. To safeguard and restore native biota when resources are limited, however, it may be most effective for managers to first reduce deer populations before investing in efforts to reduce invasive populations (except when invasions are at an early stage). We should rethink and reform traditional approaches to managing deer so that we can better integrate land vegetation with wildlife management to achieve broad public objectives. Interacting effects of high ungulate populations and invasive plants deserve further study to determine whether similar recommendations apply to other regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundNitrogen (NOx, NHy) and acidifying (NOx, NHy, SOx) deposition has reduced the biodiversity of European dry heathlands. Restoration efforts such as sod-cutting (removal of vegetation, litter and humus layer) often shifted these systems from N to P limitation and have had limited success in restoring the invertebrate community. Possible reasons for this include the unresolved acidification and a change in food plant stoichiometry. Here, we investigate how liming and P addition change food nutritional quality and their consequences for invertebrate performance.MethodsWe performed feeding experiments with field crickets (Gryllus campestris), using plant material collected from a full factorial field experiment with liming and P addition. We related female reproduction as measure of individual fitness to elemental ratios of plants fed to the crickets.ResultsP addition stimulated cricket daily reproduction and shortened their reproductive period, resulting in no difference in total reproduction. Liming greatly reduced both daily and total reproduction and resulted in more females cannibalizing on their male mates. Females that did so could partly offset the liming induced reduction in reproduction, suggesting dietary deficiency. P-addition improved food quality (lower N:P ratios) while liming led to skewed Mn:Mg and Fe:Mg ratios that compare unfavorably to ratios found in terrestrial invertebrates.ConclusionIncreased plant N:P ratio following sod-cutting constrains the reproductive potential in Gryllus campestris in a non-linear way. Liming reduced nutritional quality, likely by inducing deficiencies in Fe or Mn.Management ImplicationsHigh-impact restoration management practices such as sod cutting and liming cause new problems for invertebrates rooted in ecological stoichiometry. Since P-addition only partially offsets these negative effects, we instead advocate the use of less intensive N removal management and weaker buffering agents to reduce soil acidification. Furthermore, a reduction in N emission is paramount as it will remove the need for disruptive interventions.

Questions: Deer‐proof fencing is an essential conservation tool to protect and recover plant species diversity in deer‐overbrowsed ecosystems, including species‐rich sub‐alpine grasslands. However, community‐level conservation tools (such as fencing) may be insufficient for single‐species conservation, particularly for non‐target endangered or rare species that are sparsely distributed. We examined whether fencing that can protect and recover total plant species richness also benefits non‐target endangered or rare species. Location: A sub‐alpine semi‐natural Kirigamine grassland in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. Methods: We conducted two complementary plant surveys (typical vegetation survey using 1‐m2 sampling units and flowering survey using 150‐m2 sampling units) to account for scarce species. We examined the community‐level responses (species richness, flowering species richness, and flowering abundance) of all species and endangered or rare species and the species‐level responses (occurrence and flowering abundance) of each species to deer fences. Results: Fencing benefited not only the community‐level response of all species, but also that of endangered or rare species. As species‐level responses, about half of 43 endangered or rare species had greater flowering abundance inside the fences than outside, but only three of them showed a positive effect on their occurrence. These results suggest that once an endangered or rare species has disappeared, it may be difficult to recover. Conclusions: Continued placement of deer fences is necessary to protect community‐level plant species richness of sub‐alpine endangered and rare species in deer‐overbrowsed ecosystems. We also highlight the necessity of additional strategies focusing on non‐target individual species across broad areas outside fences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Questions: Sod cutting has been used extensively as an effective measure in removing excess N and restoring dwarf shrub dominance in heathlands affected by increased nitrogen deposition. However, recovery of other plant species is often very limited. One barrier is high soil acidity following sod cutting, which results in soil aluminium (Al3+) and ammonium (NH4+) reaching toxic concentrations. Sod‐cutting management also removes most of the major nutrients from the system, so intensified nutrient limitation could be an additional barrier to the recovery of species‐rich communities. Soil phosphorus (P) is of special interest as research indicates sod‐cutting management can shift the system to P limitation. Location: Hoge Veluwe National Park, The Netherlands. Methods: We set up a full‐factorial experiment in sod‐cut heathland formerly encroached by Molinia caerulea, adding phosphate (P+) and lime (Ca+) and over the next three growing seasons, we recorded soil chemistry and plant responses. Results: Soil inorganic N, especially soil NH4+, strongly declined after liming compared to the control situation, confirming that liming alleviates NH4+ toxicity. Addition of P resulted in a similar decline, also suggesting a role for soil phosphate availability in this process. Acid‐sensitive plant species richness increased significantly in both Ca+ and P+ treatment, whereas acid‐insensitive plant species richness only increased significantly as a result of P+ treatment. Mean vegetation relative growth rate increased significantly in both Ca+ and P+ treatments. Conclusions: Excessive P removal due to sod cutting constitutes a second barrier to restoration in addition to soil acidity. We discourage the large‐scale use of sod cutting to reduce soil N availability in heathlands and propose to use interventions that leave the soil nutrient balance intact, such as burning and grazing, mowing or litter removal, in combination with measures that restore the soil buffer capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Past management practices may continue to influence ecosystem functions and processes for decades, centuries or even longer after they have been abandoned. Until now, few researchers have attempted experiments which test the effects of restoring some of these past management practices on long-term community developmental trajectories., Strong evidence indicates that the diversity of various taxonomic groups declined in European lowland forests in the second half of the 20th century, following the abandonment of some traditional forest management practices. We carried out a five-year field trial in a lowland thermophilous oak forest to describe the effects of restoration of litter raking and grass cutting on the long-term developmental trajectory of species composition and the diversity of understorey vegetation. We used target species groups, that is species specific to thermophilous forests and dry grassland vegetation and plant functional traits to evaluate the restoration success using both compositional and functional outcomes., Dissimilarity in species composition between the managed plots and controls increased significantly during the 5 years of the trial. Litter raking increased the richness and cover of the thermophilous forest and dry grassland species, whereas grass cutting increased the richness and cover of only the dry grassland species. We did not record any overall trends in divergence of functional trait composition between managed and control plots. In the litter raking plots, we recorded increases in community-weighted means of specific leaf area, in lateral spread and in Ellenberg indicator values for nutrients and soil reaction. In contrast, we found little evidence for predictability of species functional trait composition subjected to grass cutting., Synthesis and applications. Following the restoration of traditional forest management practices, we were able to change the community's developmental trajectory towards higher richness and cover of target species. The evaluation of community developmental trajectories using species and functional trait composition supports the idea that restoration of traditional forest management practices should carefully distinguish among possible interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While phenology data (the timing of recurring biological events) has been used to explain and predict patterns related to global change, and to address applied environmental issues, it has not been clearly identified as pertinent for restoration. This opinion article thus aims to raise awareness of the potential of phenology to enhance the quality of restoration projects and ecological restoration theory. We based our analysis on a systematic literature survey carried out in February 2014, searching the words 'phenology' or 'phenological' in books dealing with restoration, the term 'phenolog*' in the journal Restoration Ecology, and the terms 'restoration' and 'phenolog*' in the database Web of Science until February 2014. We finally selected 149 studies relevant to our goals, and first classified them according to the context in which phenology was addressed. We then analyzed them within the framework of the five key steps of restoration projects: (1) the reference ecosystem; (2) biotic resources; (3) restoration methods; (4) monitoring; and (5) adaptive management. The literature survey showed that phenological information improved decision-making in the few restoration projects in which it was incorporated. We thus advocate taking phenological data into account at all stages of restoration when appropriate: from the acquisition of baseline data on the reference ecosystem to treatment design, and from restoration action planning and timing to monitoring. Phenological data should at minimum be collected for sown, keystone, dominant, and/or rare species to improve restoration quality. Phenology studies and monitoring should be promoted in future restoration guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A tight coupling exists between biogeochemical cycles and water availability in drylands. However, studies regarding the coupling among soil moisture (SM), soil carbon/nitrogen, and plants are rare in the literature, and clarifying these relationships changing with climate gradient is challenging. Thus, soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and species richness (SR) were selected as soil-plant system variables, and the tradeoff relationships between SM and these variables and their variations along the precipitation gradient were quantified in the Loess Plateau, China. Results showed these variables increased linearly along the precipitation gradient in the woodland, shrubland, and grassland, respectively, except for the SR in the woodland and grassland, and SOC in the grassland ( p > 0.05). Correlation analysis showed that the SM-SOC and SM-TN tradeoffs were significantly correlated with mean annual precipitation (MAP) across the three vegetation types, and SM-SR tradeoff was significantly correlated with MAP in grassland and woodland. The linear piece-wise quantile regression was applied to determine the inflection points of these tradeoffs responses to the precipitation gradient. The inflection point for the SM-SOC tradeoff was detected at MAP = 570 mm; no inflection point was detected for SM-TN tradeoff; SM-SR tradeoff variation trends were different in the woodland and grassland, and the inflection points were detected at MAP = 380 mm and MAP = 570 mm, respectively. Before the turning point, constraint exerted by soil moisture on SOC and SR existed in the relatively arid regions, while the constraint disappears or is lessened in the relatively humid regions in this study. The results demonstrate the tradeoff revealed obvious trends along the precipitation gradient and were affected by vegetation type. Consequently, tradeoffs could be an ecological indicator and tool for restoration management in the Loess Plateau. In further study, the mechanism of how the tradeoff is affected by the precipitation gradient and vegetation type should be clarified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Establishing an artificial grassland is a common measure employed to restore heavily degraded alpine grasslands for regional sustainability. The Three-River Headwaters Region in China has significant areas of black-soil-type grassland which is typified by heavy degradation; nearly 35% of the grassland regions in the Three-River Headwaters Region has degraded into this type. There are different plant community types of black-soil-type grasslands, however, it is not clear which restoration measures should be adopted for different kinds of black-soil-type grasslands. Here, we investigate the plant community characteristics and soil physicochemical properties of artificial grasslands, two types of black-soil-type grasslands, and native undegraded grassland in the Three-River Headwaters Region, then analyzed the direct and indirect interactions between the plant and soil properties by partial least squares path models (PLS-PM). Our results revealed that establishing artificial grassland significantly increased aboveground biomass and plant community coverage, and also decreased plant species richness and diversity and soil water content, soil organic carbon and total nitrogen in the 0-10 cm soil layer as compared with black-soil-type grasslands. Plant community diversity had a positive effect on plant community productivity, soil nutrient, and soil water content in native undegraded grassland. These results suggest that more management interventions are needed after establishing an artificial grassland, such as reducing dominant species in two types of black-soil-type grasslands, water regulation in the A. frigida -dominated meadow, diversifying plant species (i.e., Gramineae and sedges), and fertilizer addition., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Wang, Wan, Ding, Zhang, Li, Liu and Zhang.)

The European Water Framework Directive requires a good ecological potential for heavily modified water bodies. This standard has not been reached for most large estuaries by 2015. Management plans for estuaries fall short in linking implementations between restoration measures and underlying spatial analyses. The distribution of emergent macrophytes – as an indicator of habitat quality – is here used to assess the ecological potential. Emergent macrophytes are capable of settling on gentle tidal flats where hydrodynamic stress is comparatively low. Analyzing their habitats based on spatial data, we set up species distribution models with ‘elevation relative to mean high water’, ‘mean bank slope’, and ‘length of bottom friction’ from shallow water up to the vegetation belt as key predictors representing hydrodynamic stress. Effects of restoration scenarios on habitats were assessed applying these models. Our findings endorse species distribution models as crucial spatial planning tools for implementing restoration measures in modified estuaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wetland restoration management is an important tool for stakeholders and practitioners to mitigate climate change and preserve ecological functioning. Various approaches to modifying the water management of a catchment for restoration purposes exist and were performed in a preservation area in northwest Germany. To validate the effect of the re-wetting practice, a monitoring network of 46 wells was established and monthly readings were taken from 1997 onwards. A declining trend in water table depth was present at 39 wells and equaled on average a lowering of 20 cm during the study period from 1997 to 2012. So far, half of the trend lines are above 40 cm below ground, which is an indicator of an effective re-wetting practice, but they will decline below this threshold until 2032 according to linear regression analysis. The progress of water table depths might be accelerated by climate change. According to the meteorological forecast, air temperatures will rise and the annual precipitation pattern will change. Thus, the climatic water balance tends toward more negative values in the summer and positive values in the winter, favoring an earlier and more intense water table draw-down. Because root water extraction from shallow groundwater is limited to a certain depth, the forecast of water table depth development according to the recent trend depicts a worst-case scenario. Nevertheless, the results emphasize that restoration management should be validated and has to be adapted in certain ways when mitigating the impact of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Headwaters and small streams are crucial components of riverine systems, harbouring many highly specialized and unique invertebrate species. Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of the Central European lowland headwaters are channelized, eutrophicated and/or polluted, and many related species have become critically endangered. Artificial streams established to drain some post-mining sites supplement a network of headwaters and generally do not suffer from agricultural pollution. Nevertheless, the biodiversity and conservation potential of the streams at post-mining sites has never been evaluated. We studied the biodiversity of dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata) at 53 sections (30 m) of an extraordinarily dense system of drainage ditches at a large lignite spoil heap in the Czech Republic. We recorded 22 dragonfly species, of which eight are threatened according to the national Red List. Moreover, four of them are closely associated with the endangered environment of small streams. Overall diversity was generally low at very tiny and/or narrowed streams and was also strongly reduced by high water velocity, high bankside inclination and dominance of expansive common reeds. Sufficient cover of rather shallow sediment layers strongly supports the studied diversity indicators. We thus conclude that post-mining streams in drainage ditches could have a strong potential to offer secondary habitats for threatened headwater biodiversity. However, intermittent reed suppression and the establishment of gently sloping banks and a structured stream bottom are necessary measures for maximizing post-mining stream conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both naturally and manually managed restoration can effectively improve degraded ecosystems; however, little is known about the option of restoration management for the recovery of ground-dwelling arthropod communities in desertified regions. Naturally restored grassland (termed here “grassland”) and manually afforested shrubland (termed here “shrubland”) were compared in relation to ground-dwelling arthropod communities; the adjacent mobile sand land was used as a control. Both types of restoration markedly improved soil and herbaceous properties, with the grassland characterized by high plant herbaceous richness and abundance in addition to low soil temperature, and the shrubland characterized by high soil fine-sand content and clay-plus-silt content as well as low coarse-sand content. Restoration management in different habitats resulted in the specific distribution of arthropod groups, with the Labiduridae and Anatolicas (Tenebrionidae) dominant in the mobile sand land and the Formicidae dominant at both restored sites. Total abundance was correlated with the dominant taxa, even for the Simpson index; both were significantly higher in the mobile sand land than in the restored sites, while no significant differences were found between the two types of restoration. Restoration management facilitated ground-dwelling arthropod diversity, including taxon richness, with markedly higher values in the restored sites compared with those in the mobile sand land. Furthermore, taxon richness and Shannon index were noticeable in the shrubland, with significantly higher values than in the grassland. Soil temperature, water content, and bulk density together explained the different structure of ground-dwelling arthropod communities at each site where the restored procedures were implemented. Overall, the manually afforested shrubland was found to contribute much more to the conservation of ground-dwelling arthropod diversity relative to the naturally restored grassland, where both restored strategies were used to facilitate the processes of fixation and recovery of desertified sand land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Areas dominated by Pinus halepensis in the Mediterranean Basin largely result from its plantation as a restoration tool and often exhibit low diversity and resilience. Given their extent and importance, increasing efforts are being made to overcome these limitations, mainly through management practices such as pine thinning. However, studies on the effects of thinning are few, rely mainly on species diversity, and often lead to contradictory results. Further clarification is needed, particularly regarding species functional traits, as they are the key drivers of ecosystem functioning and resilience, two primary targets of restoration projects. We performed a 35% pine thinning to decrease competition and improve the functioning of an ecosystem dominated by pines, at a restored quarry site in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula. A functional approach was used for the first time to monitor the thinning effect in mixed plantations of P. halepensis and late-successional Mediterranean shrubs under a dry sub-humid climate. The effects of thinning on the understory plant diversity, functional composition and woody species growth were monitored for two years. While no changes were detected in species richness and diversity, thinning promoted key functional traits, increasing the density of groups with N-fixing ability, semi-deciduous drought strategy and therophyte life-form, mostly with anemochorous and barochorous dispersal. In the medium term, these changes are expected to contribute to improve nutrient cycling, ecosystem resilience to drought and fire, and biotic fluxes, which are important early limitations to plant establishment and functional recovery at the quarry site. Basal growth of planted evergreen sclerophylls increased, indicating a competitive relief. A moderate intensity pine thinning was useful to alleviate competition and improve ecosystem function in mixed stands with different pine densities and sizes. Our findings reinforce the benefits of a functional approach to monitor the effect of management practices on ecosystems, and may help researchers and managers to convert P. halepensis dominated areas into more diverse and resilient ecosystems, particularly in Mediterranean areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term (10 years) growth responses of residual trees to prescribed fire and thinning were evaluated using standard dendrochronological protocols to understand the broader effects of the treatments on mixed-oak forest ecosystems in southern Ohio. Analysis of 696 increment cores (348 trees ≥ 25 cm DBH; five species) from 80 0.1 ha permanent plots distributed evenly across four treatments (control, thin, thin + burn, burn) indicated substantial increase in tree basal area increment (BAI) following the treatment. Post-treatment mean BAI of trees from the three active treatments ranged from 20.52 to 23.55 cm 2 y −1 compared with pre-treatment values of 16.86–17.07 cm 2 y −1. BAI rates (averaging 15.13 and 16.33 cm 2 y −1, respectively, for pre- and post-treatments) in the control plots did not change much over time. Mechanical treatments were more effective than prescribed fire at enhancing BAI of trees. However, basal area growth depended to some degree on the severity of prescribed fire. Analysis of percent BAI change revealed an interesting temporal trend with moderate to major growth releases during the first 5-year post-treatment period, and a slight attenuation thereafter, suggesting the need for periodic application of treatments to sustain growth over a longer timescale. Growth responses varied greatly among species, with yellow-poplar and hickories exhibiting the highest and lowest post-treatment BAI rates of 31.11 and 15.71 cm 2 y −1, respectively. Given their variable growth responses, integrating residual trees into current monitoring programs may help in elucidating the consequences of prescribed fire and thinning on forest dynamics and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study attempts to investigate the size, composition and seedling dynamics of the seed bank of a metalliferous and vulnerable species, Erica andevalensis. Samples were taken during spring and autumn from two different sites. We also studied the effects of nutrient solution, irrigation from the river Tinto and irrigation deficit on seeding establishment and survival. Only E. andevalensis and Poaceae species emerged from the seed banks, although the former was dominant (98%). Germination and seedling establishment was totally inhibited by the waters of the river Tinto. Seed density was high in the soils of both seed banks irrigated with water and nutrient solution. We found no seasonal differences in the seed bank and number of germinated seeds and mortality rate and density were similar. From the standpoint of restoration management, the results indicate that the seed bank is a very important factor for successful species establishment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We conducted a long-term restoration experiment in the degraded ecosystems of a semi-humid evergreen broadleaf forest in Muding County, Yunan Province, China. We used single-indicator assessment and our newly established comprehensive assessment model to compare the effects of four types of management (different historical disturbances+restoration measures) on forest restoration based on a vegetation survey. (1) Species richness in each of the four restoring communities was still lower than that of the zonal forest. There was a compensatory effect of species richness among different layers within communities. Restoration management by natural succession was clearly efficient at restoring species richness and composition, but the effect of disturbance history was minor. Human-assisted restoration had a great effect on biomass accumulation and model tree growth. Plant density was also affected by the different management types, which progressively led to differences in model tree growth and biomass accumulation. (2) The comprehensive assessment model, a simple method based on the restoration mechanism, can precisely quantify the overall restoration of ecosystems, historical disturbance and actual disturbance, using only one set of data. Restoration index (R d ), turning-point restoration index (R 0), restoration-effect index (R a ), turning-point disturbance index (D 0), actual disturbance index (D r ) and overcoming disturbance index (D a ) presented gradual changes in the four restoring communities. The combined single-indicator and comprehensive model method fully assessed the restoration of degraded ecosystems in a semi-humid evergreen broadleaf forest. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Forest paths are characterised by a zonation in vegetation composition as a result of gradients in abiotical conditions and continued recreational impact. Little is known about how much seed bank composition is affected by recreation and the existing path structure. As it is difficult to assess the contribution of seed banks to vegetation restoration, this study imparts relevant knowledge to restore vegetation on paths which are closed for recreational use. We surveyed seed bank and field layer vegetation composition in transects across path ecotones in deciduous forest. Analysis concentrated on seed bank characteristics and similarities of the seed bank and field layer vegetation in terms of ecological and seed size groups. A total of 74 species and 9,815 seedlings germinated out of the seed bank samples. The total seed density does not differ between path zones, but significant differences exist in the depth distribution and composition of the seed bank throughout transects. There is a large discrepancy between the composition of the seed bank and the vegetation. Small seeded species of disturbed environments dominate in each path zone. Typical forest species dominate in the vegetation while their contribution to the seed bank is low. Only with reference to the proportion of species of forest edges and clearings, the seed bank and vegetation do not differ significantly. Similarity between the seed bank on the path centre and the vegetation in the respective path zones decreases towards the undisturbed forest vegetation. Some competitive species like Urtica dioica and Lythrum salicaria are excessively represented in the seed bank and efficiently may obstruct further visitor use. However, these early successional species may not contribute to the conservation values of forests. Therefore management should carefully consider alternative amendments (e.g. soil scarification and seeding) to stimulate vegetation restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Heterogeneous landscapes are biodiversity ‘hotspots’. Degradation resulting from acidification, desiccation and eutrophication not only decreases habitat quality, but also causes heterogeneity to decline. While restoration measures aim at restoring habitat quality, they can further reduce heterogeneity when they affect large parts of an area (large scale) or cause disturbance (high intensity). Successful restoration of biological diversity therefore requires knowledge of the mechanisms underlying the relation between landscape heterogeneity and species diversity. This paper addresses two questions: [(1)] Do bog pools in a heterogeneous landscape harbour more aquatic macroinvertebrate species than those located in more homogeneous landscapes? [(2)] Is distance between water bodies an important factor determining species composition? To answer the first question, aquatic macroinvertebrate assemblages in bog pools with a similar water chemistry range were studied in bog remnants differing in landscape heterogeneity. The most heterogeneous remnant (Korenburgerveen) had the highest scores on all diversity indices, indicating that bog pools situated in a heterogeneous landscape have a higher diversity than those located in more homogeneous landscapes. To answer the second question, the most heterogeneous remnant was studied in greater detail. Adjacent water bodies were more similar in species composition than expected on the basis of differences in local environmental conditions. This indicates that not only environmental conditions, but also spatial configuration determines the species composition. In conclusion, species diversity in heterogeneous landscapes (i.e. those with a combination of different parts) is greater than the total number of species that would be present if the individual parts were separated. Conservation and restoration strategies should not only focus on enlarging habitat areas and restoring a single habitat type, but also on conserving and strengthening landscape heterogeneity. We present some guidelines for improving habitat quality without causing heterogeneity to decline. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The effects of restorative grazing on the abundance of butterfly and moth species were studied in mesic semi-natural grasslands of SW Finland differing in management history: (1) old continuously grazed, (2) restored (with ca 5 years of reinitiated grazing), and (3) abandoned former pastures. Generalized linear modelling of species abundances and indicator species analysis produced qualitatively similar results. Only three species (Polyommatus icarus, Lycaena hippothoe and Camptogramma bilineatum) were most abundant in old pastures, whereas 12 species (Polyommatus semiargus, Polyommatus amandus, Brenthis ino, Aphantopus hyperantus, Scopula immorata, Idaea serpentata, Scotopteryx chenopodiata, Epirrhoe alternata, Cybosia mesomella, Polypogon tentacularius, Hypena proboscidalis and Cryptocala chardinyi) were most abundant in abandoned pastures. None of the old-pasture species had become more abundant in restored pastures. Three species, Epirrhoe hastulata, Xanthorhoe montanata and Chiasmia clathrata, occurred equally abundantly in abandoned and in restored pastures indicating a slow progress of restoration. Species associated with old pastures differed from species associated with abandoned pastures in their recent distributional changes in Finland. The species of old pastures showed decreasing trends, whereas those of abandoned pastures showed mainly increasing trends in their distribution. In five out of 11 species, the preferred successional stage differed markedly between this study and previous studies conducted in Central Europe. We conclude that (1) ca 5 years of restorative grazing in mesic grasslands has been insufficient for the colonisation of old-pasture species in the restored sites, (2) different management intensities are needed regionally for the maintenance of grassland insect diversity and (3) application of the knowledge on successional preferences of different species in conservation management, even in climatically similar regions, should be made with caution. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The transfer of hay from a donor site onto a receptor site is currently a widely accepted restoration procedure to establish grasslands with high biodiversity and rich in species. The impact of this procedure on vegetation has been well studied. However, its influence on the insect population has not been investigated. This study verifies that individuals ofMetrioptera bicolor(Orthopteroidea: Tettigoniidae) were successfully transferred with hay. Three individuals transferred with the hay were still able to reproduce after the hay transfer. This result corresponds to 4.6% of the 65 marked individuals that were mapped on the donor site on the day of hay transfer. Of the estimated 1220-3013 individuals on the donor site (8300 m2), 56-139 reproductively able individuals were transferred with the hay. Suitable habitat structures presupposed, this number is sufficient to initiate a persistent colonisation of the species on the receptor site. The loss rate ofM. bicolordue to grass cutting totalled 42%, which can be considered a very high mortality rate. Comparable studies on bush crickets show a medium loss rate of 21%, in relation to body size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]