Syllabus (BOTANY)

Course Type: MAJ-18

Semester: 8

Course Code: BBOTMAJ18C

Course Title: Restoration Biology and Ecosystem Services

(L-P-Tu): 4-2-0

Credit: 6

Practical/Theory: Combined

Course Objective: 1. The main objective of studying restoration biology is to learn about the science of ecological restoration, which is the practice of renewing and restoring degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystems and habitats in the environment by active human inter

Learning Outcome: 1. Ecosystem services are processes provided by nature that support human life. These services include water catchment and filtration, moderation of floods, pollination, and renewal of soil fertility.  2. Restoration ecology is the scientific study of r

(Theory, Credit 4)

Unit	Topic	No. of Lectures/Hrs
1	Ecological Concepts, Ecological Succession	2
2	Restoration Process ,Steps in the Process ,Understanding Limitations ,Biological Limitations, Soil microbes, Bacteria, Mycorrhizal fungus , Physical Limitations , Rock content ,Soil texture , Soil aggregation , Moisture, Bulk Density, Compaction and Available Rooting Depth, Slope, Topography and Stability, Soil Color , Top soil and sub soil depth , Chemical Limitations, Soil pH, Soil fertility , Overcoming Limitations (a few examples), Revegetation, Mulching, Equipment, Phytoremediation , Collaborative Restoration, Restoration in Various Settings (examples) , mining , metal and mineral ,coal, Grasslands , Tropical Forests , Wetlands, Fire	20
3	Management of the Productive Mine Spoil, Rebuilding Soil Structure, Management of Soil pH, Increase soil fertility, Recharging Soil Microbes, Re-establishing Nutrient Cycles, Top Soil Management, Choice of seed or underground structure (Rhizome, bulb, corm etc) for plantation, Selection of C4 or C3 plants	12
4	Re-vegetation at abandoned land, Agricultural approach, Ameliorative approach, Adaptive approach, Site specific ecotypes, Types of plant, Monoculture (herbs shrubs or trees), mixed culture, native plants, introduced plants	12
5	Four Types of Ecosystem Services, Ecosystem functions: The ‘supporting’ services, From biodiversity to bioperversity: from good science to poor environmental policy, How to avoid bio‐perversity (negative outcomes for biodiversity), Provisioning and regulating services, Ecological production functions- Biodiversity & C‐ sequestration, Cultural and relational services, Coral reefs and ecotourism, Ecotourism in local places like Ajodhya	14

Practical (Credits -2, 60 Hrs)

1. Soil pH
2. Soil texture
3. Soil aggregation, Moisture, Bulk Density

Reading References:

Restoration Biology:

1. Bell, S. S., Fonesca, M. S. et al. Linking restoration and landscape ecology. Restoration Ecology 5, 318–323 (1997).
2. Bradshaw, A. D. Restoration: the acid test for ecology. In Restoration Ecology: A Synthetic Approach to Ecological Research. eds. Jordan, W. R., Gilpin, M. E. et al. (Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 1987): 23–29.
3. Falk, D. A., Palmer, M. A. et al. Foundations of Restoration Ecology. Washington, DC: Island Press, 2006.
4. Hobbs, R. J. & Harris, J. A. Restoration ecology: Repairing the Earth's ecosystems in the new millennium. Restoration Ecology 9, 239–246 (2001).
5. Hobbs, R. J. & Norton, D. A. Towards a conceptual framework for restoration ecology. Restoration Ecology 4, 324–337 (1996).
6. Hobbs, R. J., Arico, S. et al. Novel ecosystems: theoretical and management aspects of the new ecological world order. Global Ecology and Biogeography 15, 1–7 (2006).
7. Holl, K. D., Loik, M. E. et al. Tropical montane forest restoration in Costa Rica: overcoming barriers to dispersal and establishment. Restoration Ecology 8, 339–349 (2000).
8. Lamb, D. Large-scale ecological restoration of degraded tropical forest lands: the potential role of timber plantations. Restoration Ecology 6, 271–279 (1998).
9. McKay, J. K., Christian, C. E. et al. "How local is local?": a review of practical and conceptual issues in the genetics of restoration. Restoration Ecology 13, 432–440 (2005).
10. Michener, W. K. Quantitatively evaluating restoration experiments: research design, statistical analysis, and data management considerations. Restoration Ecology 5, 93–110 (1997).
11. Montalvo, A. M., Williams, S. L. et al. Restoration biology: a population biology perspective. Restoration Ecology 5, 277–290 (1997).
12. Osborne, L. L. & Kovacic, D. A. Riparian vegetated buffer strips in water-quality restoration and stream management. Freshwater Biology 29, 243–258 (1993).
13. Palmer, M. A., Bernhardt. E. S. et al. Standards for ecologically successful river restoration. Journal of Applied Ecology 42, 208–217 (2005).
14. Temperton, V. M., Hobbs, R. J. Assembly Rules and Restoration Ecology. Washington, DC: Island Press, 2004.
15. Van Andel, J. and Aronson J. Restoration Ecology. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing, 2006.
16. Young, T. P. Restoration ecology and conservation biology. Biological Conservation 92, 73–83 (2000).
17. Young, T. P., Petersen, D. A. et al. The ecology of restoration: historical links, emerging issues, and unexplored realms. Ecology Letters 8, 662–673

Ecosystem services:

1. Cardinale, B.J., R. B. Primack, and J.D. Murdoch, Chapter 5 ‐ The many values of biodiversity, in Conservation Biology, 1st ed. 2019, Oxford University Press: New York, NY. p. 117‐139.

2. Cardinale, B.J., R. B. Primack, and J.D. Murdoch, Chapter 6 ‐ Biodiversity and ecosystem services, in Conservation Biology, 1st ed. 2019, Oxford University Press: New York, NY. p. 141‐180.

3. Lindenmayer, D.B., et al., Avoiding bio‐perversity from carbon sequestration solutions. Conservation Letters, 2012. 5(1): p. 28‐36.

4. Tilman, D., et al., Diversity and productivity in a long‐term grassland experiment. Science, 2001. 294(5543): p. 843‐845.

5. Hungate, B.A., et al., The economic value of grassland species for carbon storage. Science Advances, 2017. 3(4): p. 1‐8.

6. Brander, L.M., P. Van Beukering, and H.S.J. Cesar, The recreational value of coral reefs: A meta‐analysis. Ecological Economics, 2007. 63(1): p. 209‐218.

7. Loomis, J., et al., Measuring the total economic value of restoring ecosystem services in an impaired river basin: results from a contingent valuation survey. Ecological Economics, 2000. 33(1): p. 103‐117.

8. Fuller, R.A., et al., Psychological benefits of greenspace increase with biodiversity. Biology Letters, 2007. 3(4): p. 390‐394.

9. Lester, S.E., et al., Evaluating tradeoffs among ecosystem services to inform marine spatial planning. Marine Policy, 2013. 38: p. 80‐89.

10. Schwenk, W.S., et al., Carbon storage, timber production, and biodiversity: comparing ecosystem services with multi‐criteria decision analysis. Ecological Applications, 2012. 22(5): p. 1612‐1627.

11. Alix‐Garcia, J.M., E.N. Shapiro, and K.R. Sims, Forest conservation and slippage: Evidence from Mexico’s national payments for ecosystem services program. Land Economics, 2012. 88(4): p. 613‐638.

12. Pyron, A.R., We don't need to save endangered species. Extinction is part of evolution, in Washington Post. 2015, The Washington Post: Washington, D. C.