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publications > paper > paleoecology and ecosystem restoration: case studies from Chesapeake Bay and the Florida Everglades
Paleoecology and Ecosystem Restoration: Case Studies from Chesapeake Bay and the Florida Everglades
Debra A. Willard1, 2 and Thomas M. Cronin1
1U.S. Geological Survey, 926A National Center, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA 20192
2Address for manuscript correspondence
e-mail addresses: dwillard@usgs.gov, tcronin@usgs.gov
ABSTRACT
Climate extremes causing droughts, floods, or large temperature fluctuations can complicate ecosystem restoration efforts focused on local and regional human disturbance. Restoration targets often are based primarily on monitoring data and modeling simulations, which provide information on short-term species' response to disturbance and environmental variables. Consequently, the targets may be unsustainable under the spectrum of natural variability inherent to the system or under changes associated with future climate change. Increasingly, ecologists and restoration planners recognize the value of the long temporal perspective provided by paleoecological data. Advances in paleoclimatology, including better climate proxy methods and temporal resolution, contribute to our understanding of ecosystem response to anthropogenic and climatic forcing at all timescales. We highlight paleoecological research in Chesapeake Bay and the Florida Everglades and summarize its contributions to restoration planning. Integration of paleoecological, historic, monitoring, and modeling efforts provides the best means to develop sustainable, adaptive management strategies for ecosystem restoration.
Introduction >
Related information:
SOFIA Project: Ecosystem History: Terrestrial and Fresh-water Ecosystems of southern Florida
SOFIA Project: Development and Stability of Everglades Tree Islands, Ridge and Slough, and Marl Prairies
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