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Enhancing ecosystem restoration efficiency through spatial and temporal coordination

Neeson, T.M., Ferris, M.C., Diebel, M.W., Doran, P.J., O'Hanley, J.R., McIntyre, P.B. (2015) Enhancing ecosystem restoration efficiency through spatial and temporal coordination. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, 112 (19). pp. 6236-6241. E-ISSN 1091-6490. (doi:10.1073/pnas.1423812112) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:48600)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1423812112

Abstract

In many large ecosystems, conservation projects are selected by a diverse set of actors operating independently at spatial scales

ranging from local to international. Although small-scale decision making can leverage local expert knowledge, it also may be an

inefficient means of achieving large-scale objectives if piecemeal efforts are poorly coordinated. Here, we assess the value of

coordinating efforts in both space and time to maximize the restoration of aquatic ecosystem connectivity. Habitat fragmentation

is a leading driver of declining biodiversity and ecosystem services in rivers worldwide, and we simultaneously evaluate optimal barrier removal strategies for 661 tributary rivers of the Laurentian Great Lakes, which are fragmented by at least 6,692 dams and 232,068 road crossings.We find that coordinating barrier removals across the entire basin is nine times more efficient at reconnecting fish to headwater breeding grounds than optimizing independently for each watershed. Similarly, a one-time pulse of restoration investment is up to 10 times more efficient than annual allocations totaling the same amount. Despite widespread emphasis on dams as key barriers in river networks, improving road culvert passability is also essential for efficiently restoring connectivity to the Great Lakes. Our results highlight the dramatic economic and ecological advantages of coordinating efforts in both space and time during restoration of large ecosystems.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1073/pnas.1423812112
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HA Statistics > HA33 Management Science
Q Science > QH Natural history > QH75 Conservation (Biology)
Divisions: Divisions > Kent Business School - Division > Department of Analytics, Operations and Systems
Depositing User: Jesse O'Hanley
Date Deposited: 21 May 2015 14:49 UTC
Last Modified: 19 Sep 2023 15:04 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/48600 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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