Deutschman Lab Projects
The restoration of degraded ecosystems is becoming an increasingly important focus of natural resource management and environmental policy. However, despite many advances in the field of restoration ecology, little is known about the long-term effectiveness of restoration efforts. It is often assumed that restored habitats follow a smooth and reliable trajectory towards the desired ecological state, but very few studies have examined whether this is the case. My thesis research will begin to address this issue by examining the long-term effectiveness of habitat restoration efforts in coastal sage scrub and riparian habitats in San Diego County, California.
I will evaluate the current ecological conditions (vegetation community composition, diversity, and structure, and quality of surrounding habitat) of 25 restoration sites that have not been actively managed for at least 5 years. The sites' current conditions will be compared to their conditions at the conclusion of active restoration, as reported in final restoration project monitoring reports. I will then evaluate which environmental factors are associated with sites that are self-sustaining and sites that degrade in habitat value. The results of this study will be directly applicable to efforts to restore these two highly sensitive ecosystems. Results will be provided to land managers, regulatory agency personnel, and field practitioners to inform restoration planning and management decisions.
Research Questions
1. What are the conditions of coastal sage scrub and riparian restoration sites in terms of vegetation composition, diversity, and structure at least 5 years after active restoration has ceased?
2. How do these sites' current conditions compare to their conditions at the end of active restoration, the objectives of each restoration project, and well-established metrics for evaluating coastal sage scrub and riparian habitat value?
3. What are the factors associated with long-term success or failure of restored coastal sage scrub and riparian habitat?
Lead Biologist: Julia Groebner
Does Ecological Restoration Work? The Long-term Effectiveness of Restoration Projects in Southern California
