The Restoration of Ecological Function.

生态功能的恢复。

• 批准号: NE/I018336/1
• 负责人: Jane Memmott
• 金额: $ 9.7万
• 依托单位: University of Bristol
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Training Grant
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2011 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=NE%2FI018336%2F1
• 关键词: Restoration; Ecological; Function.

In 'The Space for Nature' a 120 page government report released in September 2010, Lawton and colleagues ask how we can enhance the natural environment in England in the face of climate change and other environmental insults. Their report argues that the answer is 'large-scale habitat creation and restoration, under-pinned by the re-establishment of ecological processes and ecosystem services, these being for the benefits of both people and wildlife'. In this NERC studentship proposal The University of Bristol and The Somerset Wildlife Trust will work collaboratively on habitat restoration and the restoration of two ecosystem services, those of pollination and pest control. Collaborations between academics and practitioners are likely to lead to the most effective conservation (Editorial 2008, Nature: 450, 135-136) with the former providing expertise in experimental design, statistics and the scientific context, and the latter providing logistical help (here, large scale field manipulations), detailed knowledge of field sites and habitat management expertise. We will test whether the restoration of one species can facilitate the restoration of other parts of the community, namely the large community of bees, flies, beetles and butterflies that visit flowers for pollen and nectar, ie. an ecological 'two for the price of one'. It has been possible to identify dominant or keystone plants in all the plant-pollinator communities studied so far by Memmott. Thus the approach is readily applicable to a range of communities worldwide and could provide a scientific basis for which plant species to restore and could also jump start the restoration of ecosystem services. Our model study system is the ongoing restoration of Sium latifolium (greater water parsnip) in the Somerset Levels. Memmott's pilot data on S. latifolium at two sites in Norfolk indicates that this species, like others in the same plant family, is highly attractive to flower visitors. Many parasitoids (providers of pest control in agroecosystems) were also found feeding on the S. latifolium flowers. For this studentship the Somerset Wildlife Trust will plant out populations of S. latifolium at eight sites in the Somerset Levels, with a further eight sites left as controls. A successful pilot transplantation took place in 2008/9 at the field site. A paired design will be used and at each of the 16 sites, quantitative plant-pollinator network will be made and the structure of the webs compared. This approach has proved a highly publishable approach for Memmott's students. For example Carvalheiro et al. (2008) Carvalheiro, Buckley & Memmott (2010), Lopezaraiza et al. (2007), Heleno et al. (2009 & 2010). All references are listed under 'Supervisors'. A second Somerset Levels restoration programme, still at a very preliminary stage, is the reintroduction of the swallowtail butterfly (Papillo machaon britannicus). While not important from an ecological function point of view, the restoration of this iconic species would provide a tremendous local attraction (tourism, like pollination and pest control, is an ecosystem service) and huge potential for environmental education about the habitat in general. Whether or not the swallowtail was actually a resident species remains a subject of some debate though. Using a molecular approach we will determine whether specimens of swallowtail butterflies in museums local to the Somerset Levels are from populations different to those found in museums close to sites where good evidence exists as to their presence. At the University the student will join a vibrant group of 5 PhD students, a PDRA, two Research Fellows and a £1.3 million grant on urban pollinators led by Memmott. At the Somerset Wildlife Trust, the student will be a member of an active team of conservation practitioners involved in agroecology, conservation, public engagement and school activities.

在 2010 年 9 月发布的一份长达 120 页的政府报告《自然空间》中，劳顿及其同事询问，面对气候变化和其他环境侵害，我们如何才能改善英国的自然环境。他们的报告认为，答案是“巨大”。大规模栖息地的创建和恢复，以生态过程和生态系统服务的重建为基础，这些都是为了人类和野生动物的利益”。布里斯托大学和萨默塞特野生动物信托基金将在这项 NERC 学生奖学金提案中开展工作。协作地学术界和专业人士之间的合作可能会导致最有效的保护（社论 2008，自然：450, 135-136），前者提供了以下方面的专业知识。实验设计、统计数据和科学背景，以及提供后勤帮助（此处为大规模野外操作）、野外地点的详细知识和栖息地管理专业知识，我们将测试一种物种的恢复是否可以促进物种的恢复。群落的其他部分，即蜜蜂、苍蝇、甲虫和蝴蝶的大型群落，它们访问花朵获取花粉和花蜜，即生态“一物两用”。因此，该方法很容易适用于世界范围内的一系列植物群落，可以为恢复哪些植物物种提供科学依据，也可以启动我们的模型研究。系统正在进行中梅莫特在诺福克两个地点对 Sium latifolium（大水防风草）的恢复表明，该物种与同一植物科的其他物种一样，对花卉游客（提供者）非常有吸引力。还发现以 S. latifolium 花为食的 S. latifolium 花。萨默塞特野生动物信托基金将在该奖学金中种植 S. latifolium 种群。 2008 年 9 月，在萨默塞特水平的 8 个地点进行了一次成功的试点移植，并在 16 个地点的每一个地点进行了定量种植。对于 Memmott 的学生来说，这种方法已被证明是一种高度可发表的方法，例如 Carvalheiro 等人 (2008) Carvalheiro, Buckley。 & Memmott (2010)、Lopezaraiza 等人 (2007)、Heleno 等人 (2009 和 2010)。 第二个萨默塞特水平恢复计划仍处于非常初步的阶段。虽然从生态功能的角度来看并不重要，但这种标志性物种的恢复将为当地带来巨大的吸引力。 （旅游业，就像授粉和害虫控制一样，是一种生态系统服务）以及关于一般栖息地的环境教育的巨大潜力。不过，我们将使用分子方法来讨论燕尾是否实际上是一种常驻物种。确定萨默塞特当地博物馆中的燕尾蝴蝶标本是否来自于有充分证据证明其存在的地点附近的博物馆中发现的种群。在大学，学生将加入一个由 5 名博士生组成的充满活力的小组。 PDRA，两项研究在萨默塞特野生动物基金会，该学生将获得研究员和 130 万英镑的资助，资助由梅莫特领导的城市授粉昆虫，该学生将成为参与农业生态、保护、公众参与和学校活动的活跃保护从业者团队的成员。