Detailed Record


Restoration ecology through the lens of coexistence theory


Abstract Advances in restoration ecology are needed to guide ecological restoration in a variable and changing world. Coexistence theory provides a framework for how variability in environmental conditions and species interactions affects species success. Here, we conceptually link coexistence theory and restoration ecology. First, including low-density growth rates (LDGRs), a classic metric of coexistence, can improve abundance-based restoration goals, because abundances are sensitive to initial treatments and ongoing variability. Second, growth-rate partitioning, developed to identify coexistence mechanisms, can improve restoration practice by informing site selection and indicating necessary interventions (e.g., site amelioration or competitor removal). Finally, coexistence methods can improve restoration assessment, because initial growth rates indicate trajectories, average growth rates measure success, and growth partitioning highlights interventions needed in future.
Authors Lauren M. Hallett ORCID , Lina Aoyama ORCID , György Barabás ORCID , Benjamin Gilbert ORCID , Loralee Larios ORCID , Nancy Shackelford ORCID , Chhaya M. Werner University of WyomingORCID , Óscar Godoy ORCID , Emma Ladouceur ORCID , Jacob E. Lucero ORCID , Christopher Weiss‐Lehman University of WyomingORCID , Jonathan M. Chase ORCID , Chengjin Chu ORCID , W. Stanley Harpole ORCID , Margaret M. Mayfield ORCID , Akasha M. Faist ORCID , Lauren G. Shoemaker University of WyomingORCID
Journal Info Elsevier BV | Trends in Ecology & Evolution , vol: 38 , iss: 11 , pages: 1085 - 1096
Publication Date 11/1/2023
ISSN 0169-5347
TypeKeyword Image article
Open Access hybrid Hybrid Access
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2023.06.004
KeywordsKeyword Image Ecosystem Resilience (Score: 0.550071) , Community Ecology (Score: 0.531755) , Habitat Fragmentation (Score: 0.506383)