What is the Relevance of Historical Knowledge as a Guide in Restoration Ecology? (Essay Sample)

Ecology
Name
Institution
Ecology
MacKinnon (2013) suggests that the first place we thought as nature is an illusion that in many ways has created our world. He reminds us that our planet Earth was once home to almost unfathomable diversity and abundance. He points out that the conservation trend circles towards "re-wilding" some species and questions what we think we are restoring wilderness to, the reason we are doing so, and whether we can be successful. Conclusively, he argues that although human beings are responsible for considerable degradation of the natural world, it is still likely to enter a restoration age although nature is not what it used to be, it is not simply gone.
Marris (2011) argues that a shift in paradigm is upsetting the environmental world. People have unquestioningly acknowledged that our purpose is to conserve nature in its pristine and pre-human state. Many scientists see this as an old-fashioned dream that hinders new plans to save our environment and prohibits us from having a complete relationship with nature. Landscapes inhabited by humans have been subjected to changes since prehistory and change in climate means that even the remotest regions now bear humanity fingerprints. She convincingly argues that it is now time to intend and establish the "rambunctious garden" which is a hybrid of human management and wild nature.
1 What is the relevance of historical knowledge as a guide in restoration ecology?
Higgs et.al, (2014) argues that historical knowledge is keystone concept in the science of restoration ecology and the practice of ecological restoration. Historical information or reference conditions are the primary source of ideas for what an ecosystem should be like in the future following restoration. An attempt to return to reference conditions may seem sensible although contemporary constraints, priorities and land use legacies may present limitations to the achievements.
History provides reference information for understanding how our ecosystems used to function in the past and how they may operate under new conditions. In restoration projects such information is obtained from sources such as historical documents, maps, land-use records, oral histories, archeology and paleoecology.
Historical knowledge also significantly reinforces the sense of place. Understanding what people did on land, how they thought about it and how they coped with crises gives stakeholders a critical connection to that landscape. Historical human beliefs and practices also help in determining the goals of restoration wherein the motivations of restoration are tied to the redress of damages to traditional ways of life and ecosystems. Researching the historical conditions of an ecosystem reminds us that time modifies these ecosystems and helps us reflect on long term changes that an ecosystem experiences. MacKinnon (2013) also suggests that some historical knowledge can also be used to reveal potential future conditions.
2 What is Pleistocene Rewilding and what are its benefits in Ecological Restoration/Conservation?
Pleistocene rewilding is the process of restoring the missing ecological functions and the evolutionary potential of lost North American megafauna using extant conspecifics and related taxa. Pleistocene rewilding would promote large, long-lived species over pest and weed assemblages, enable ecological effectiveness and persistence of megafauna on a global scale, and broaden the current conservation to encompass restoring ecological and evolutionary processes. Examples of megafauna include the Bolson Tortoises, Feral horses, elephants and Holarctic lions.
Humans have consistently eliminated some species and changed ecosystem function, thereby affecting the very future of evolution. Donlan et al (2006) states that humans have influenced the environment in terms of habitat alteration and fragmentation, pollution, resource reduction as a result of exploitation hence affecting the megafauna due to their low population densities and that they are the focus of human exploitation
The persistence of endangered large vertebrates with a multi-continent system of reserves as a result of evolutionary and ecological history would be enhanced through Pleistocene rewilding. Moving away from extinction management towards ecological and evolutionary processes restoration provides an exciting platform for conservation biology whose current goal is to reduce the biodiversity loss rate. Marris, (2014) describes innovative approaches such as rewilding have assisted migration and the acknowledgement of the so-called novel ecosystems.
Pleistocene rewilding would likely increase the social benefits, and economic value of both private and public parks and reserves despite the risks, costs, challenges and objections faced. For instance it would affect Africa’s eco-tourism sector and thus cripple conservation there if North Americans decide instead to see large animals in their own continent.
3 What is the comparison between invasive species, GMOSs, synthetic organisms and emerging pathogens as novel organisms?
It is important to have a clear understanding on the various components of an ecosystem, their nature and how they relate to each other within the system. The comparison is important because it facilitates knowledge among researchers, policy makers and scientists (Marris, 2011). Novel organisms are an important part of global change and greatly affect human environment. A framework that allows comparison of consecutive stages that novel organisms go through advances understanding of how climate change can affect the establishment, spread and impacts of these organisms.(Jeschke et al. 2013).
Invasive species are those species that are introduced to a new habit instead of their natural habitat. Mostly these species are a result of human activities. They cause changes to the environment in which they are introduced. On the other hand, Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are organisms with altered genetic material through genetic engineering techniques. Synthetic organisms are in some way related to the genetically modified organisms. Emerging pathogens could be classified into three: a new microorganism, a previously known microorganism and one that has already been discovered recently as a pathogen.
Less diverse ecosystems are more susceptible to invaders and pathogens may be transmitted more readily in ecological communities with reduced diversity. Aside from biodiversity, risk factors such as urban living and drug use may influence the susceptibility to novel organisms. To avoid negative impacts of novel organisms, integration of research and policy for all types of novel organisms seems more promising. (Jeschke et al. 2013).
4 Why is native species desirable over non-native species?
It is evident from history of invasion biology that native species are desirable over non-native species. (Shackelford et al., 2013). Native species can genetically adapt to adverse changes of climate in their original habitat. They are resistant and tolerant to harsh ecological and environmental effects.
Due to unpredictability of non-native species behavioral changes in terms of production, co-existence and adaptability as a result of environmental and climatic changes, it becomes difficult to manage and monitor the progress of their bio-diversification for future analysis. Moreover, the impact of non-native species on the native species and habitat can lead to human conflicts, displacement of native species and in some cases to extinction.
The non-native species may affect the environmental conservation and ecosystem thus affecting biodiversity. Due to the human efforts on restoring the ecosystem through assisted colonization and synthetic biology they cause environmental and ecological imbalance which affects the non-native species. (MacKinnon, 2013).
On the contrary, some non-native species are desirable due to their importance such as some are vital in efforts of restoration and conservation. Other non-natives species are also desirable because they play beneficial roles for instance provision of habitat in the new communities.
5 What is the major cause of climate change and how does it affect the ecosystem?
Climate change has a major influence on an ecosystem. The ranges of plants and animals are moving in response to the recent changes in climate. It is important to know how species in an environment have adapted to the natural climate in an area and how any change in the climatic pattern can affect existence of an organism in an ecosystem. Due to the rise in temperatures, ecosystems with "nowhere to go" such as mountains are considered to be more threatened. (Loarie et al., 2009)
Persistence of suitable climates is not sufficient for species to survive. They (species) must also keep pace with climates as they move although land-cover changes may result in formidable barriers to the movement of species. The change in climate is much contributed by nature of topography. Some human activities have affected the topography of a region and this could cause climatic change. A change in climate could either favor invasive species, lead to extinction of native species or cause species to migrate to another habitat if they are unable to adapt to the happenings in climate, (MacKinnon, 2013). For instance, warm temperatures could cause migration of species to area of higher latitude where presumably temperatures are cooler.
6 What is the effect of synthetic biology on conservation of nature?
If synthetic biologists and others pursue their proposals to use advanced genetic engineering techniques to save endangered species and return the extinct ones, then we would have overcome extinction, (Redford et al., 2013). Synthetic biology is one of the positive and promising strategies to conservation nature. Despite the conflicts of...