Special TESS Seminar – Using Plant Functional Traits to Design Forest Restoration: An example of hybrid ecosystem restoration in an invaded Hawaiian lowland wet forest
Join us on Tuesday 10th October for our special seminar.
We are LIVE STREAMING in the Crowther Lecture Theatre A3-003 – JCU Nguma-bada campus, where we are looking forward to hearing from Professor Rebecca Ostertag| University of Hawaii
Abstract: Plant functional recently have been suggested to be useful for restoration planning. The Liko Nā Pilina hybrid ecosystem experiment in Hilo, Hawaii, USA employed functional traits to design and test the suitability of different species combinations, using native and introduced (but non-invasive) species to meet the objectives of increased carbon storage, native biodiversity regeneration, and invasion resistance. In this case, restoration to a previous reference condition was not feasible. After the first five years of their development, we evaluated community-level outcomes related to nutrient cycling: carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus via litterfall, litter decomposition, outplant productivity, rates of invasion, and leaf litter arthropod species composition. We found that regardless of treatment, the experimental communities had low rates of nutrient cycling through litterfall relative to the invaded forest. In addition, which treatment did “best” depends on the metric being assessed. This seminar will include a discussion of how hybrid ecosystems represent a paradigm shift, how potential metrics of belonging within an ecosystem may be developed, and how new policies can support these efforts. Although challenges remain, this study provides evidence that functional trait-based restoration approaches to carefully select species and to assess ecosystem functioning can achieve management goals.
LIVE in Cairns at JCU Cairns, Nguma-bada campus, Smithfield (Crowther Lecture Theatre A3-003) followed by drinks & nibbles.
The seminars is also live streamed on Zoom and YouTube:
- Zoom: https://bit.ly/3YD16DL
- YouTube: https://bit.ly/37hpJ0v
Please visit the TESS website for further info including the streaming links, abstract and speaker bio.
All are welcome!
If you are hosting a visitor or would like to give a seminar, please contact the seminar coordinator, Dr Yoko Ishida by email to yoko.ishida@jcu.edu.au
