Negative resistance and resilience: biotic mechanisms underpin delayed biological recovery in stream restoration.

ABSTRACT: Traditionally, resistance and resilience are associated with good ecological health, often underpinning restoration goals. However, degraded ecosystems can also be highly resistant and resilient, making restoration difficult: degraded communities often become dominated by hyper-tolerant species, preventing recolonization and resulting in low biodiversity and poor ecosystem function. Using streams as a model, we undertook a mesocosm experiment to test if degraded community presence hindered biological recovery. We established 12 mesocosms, simulating physically healthy streams. Degraded invertebrate communities were established in half, mimicking the post-restoration scenario of physical recovery without biological recovery. We then introduced a healthy colonist community to all mesocosms,

SUBMITTER: Barrett IC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8059965 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature