Restoring Disturbed Landscapes

Tongway, David J.; Ludwig, John A.

doi:10.5822/978-1-61091-007-1

Cited by 57 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 18 publications

(26 reference statements)

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“…Our study environment contains many highly degraded areas that have been compacted and eroded by livestock and cultivation, which are represented in this study as scalds (McIntyre et al, 2010, 2014)—areas with few plants, low water infiltration and a smooth surface resisting the lodgement of litter and seeds (Tongway & Ludwig, 2010). Similarly degraded areas are also found between the tussocks in some grassed areas.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Similarly degraded areas are also found between the tussocks in some grassed areas. In many systems, scalds tend to persist even if the causative agents are removed (Tongway & Ludwig, 2010). McIntyre et al (2014) noted no change in amount of bare ground in our study site between 2007 and 2011, despite reduced native grazing pressure and livestock removal.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Returning a lost process by reintroducing a locally extinct digging marsupial

Munro

McIntyre

MacDonald

et al. 2019

PeerJ

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The eastern bettong (Bettongia gaimardi), a medium-sized digging marsupial, was reintroduced to a predator-free reserve after 100 years of absence from the Australian mainland. The bettong may have the potential to restore temperate woodlands degraded by a history of livestock grazing, by creating numerous small disturbances by digging. We investigated the digging capacity of the bettong and compared this to extant fauna, to answer the first key question of whether this species could be considered an ecosystem engineer, and ultimately if it has the capacity to restore lost ecological processes. We found that eastern bettongs were frequent diggers and, at a density of 0.3–0.4 animals ha−1, accounted for over half the total foraging pits observed (55%), with echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus), birds and feral rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) accounting for the rest. We estimated that the population of bettongs present dug 985 kg of soil per ha per year in our study area. Bettongs dug more where available phosphorus was higher, where there was greater basal area of Acacia spp. and where kangaroo grazing was less. There was no effect on digging of eucalypt stem density or volume of logs on the ground. While bettong digging activity was more frequent under trees, digging also occurred in open grassland, and bettongs were the only species observed to dig in scalds (areas where topsoil has eroded to the B Horizon). These results highlight the potential for bettongs to enhance soil processes in a way not demonstrated by the existing fauna (native birds and echidna), and introduced rabbit.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Returning a lost process by reintroducing a locally extinct digging marsupial

Munro

McIntyre

MacDonald

et al. 2019

PeerJ

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“…First was the recognition (Westoby et al 1989) that Australia's rangeland vegetation was best described by sets of 'states' with sets of discrete 'transitions' between 'states' at any point in the landscape rather than the equilibrium model of Clements (1916). Second was the development of the concept of landscape functionality (Ludwig and Tongway 1995;Ludwig et al 1997) and linked restoration thinking (Tongway and Ludwig 2011) that replaced range condition methodology developed in the USA and which was used for a period in Australia. Significant contributions to an Australian philosophy continue to emerge, giving credibility and respect for Australia's rangeland scientists in other countries.…”

Section: Rangeland Research and Australia/china Cooperationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preventing rangeland degradation: a shared problem for Australia and China

Hodgkinson

Wang

2020

Rangel. J.

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Rangeland degradation continues in Australia, China and elsewhere. The stocking rate/animal production relationship has been a successful concept for pastoralists wanting to avoid degradation and/or raise incomes. However, there are no means available of alerting pastoralists to the approach of critical thresholds that would ‘flip’ rangelands into alternative states when grazing-stressed. Critical threshold forecasting for avoiding degradation (and seizing restoration opportunities) could be made available online. Research has yet to find, assemble and test the set of indicators needed to forecast the approach of critical thresholds envisaged in State-and-Transition thinking. Forecasting at paddock, property and regional scales would have to involve high-performance computing because the thresholds will be space and time dependent. The case for Australia and China to contribute cooperatively to this research effort rests on the large number of contrasting rangeland ecosystems across the two countries that represent rangelands globally. A proven history of past collaboration is extant with existing research programs on plant population dynamics, landscape patchiness/leakiness and soil biota status, and their responses to the separate and combined effects of climate and grazing animals. The road to adoption would involve partnerships with pastoralists throughout the process, remote sensing to identify approaching thresholds in real time, application of high-performance computing and possibly artificial intelligence, and packaging of forecasts for different socio-economic rangeland systems.

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“…Once restoration goals have been identified, management techniques must be designed and deployed. Many restoration practitioners posit that revegetation activities cannot occur before major problematic physical processes are solved (Tongway and Ludwig 2010). Therefore, prior to considerations of any biotic management, chronic abiotic disturbances must be acknowledged and mitigated: rectifying floods, rockslides, chemical contaminations, etc.…”

Section: Pre-vegetation Techniquesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Restoration Manual for Annual Grassland Systems in California

Gornish¹,

Shaw²

2017

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Restoring Disturbed Landscapes

Cited by 57 publications

References 18 publications

Returning a lost process by reintroducing a locally extinct digging marsupial

Returning a lost process by reintroducing a locally extinct digging marsupial

Preventing rangeland degradation: a shared problem for Australia and China

Restoration Manual for Annual Grassland Systems in California

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