From stress to recovery: using experimental ecology to improve freshwater restoration
Abstract: Freshwaters are highly diverse, provide irreplaceable ecosystem functions and services, and are among the most threatened ecosystems on Earth. Due to growing anthropogenic pressure, these systems are impacted by a wide range of stressors such as eutrophication and biological invasions, which can lead to tipping points beyond which impacts become hard to reverse. The United Nations has declared 2021-2030 the Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, aiming to mitigate the unprecedented ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss. Slowing and reversing the decline of freshwater species, ecosystems functions, and services is therefore a global priority. Aquatic vegetation forms the foundation of freshwater ecosystems, playing a crucial role in maintaining their structure, function, and resilience to disturbance. They too have been experiencing dramatic declines, and its recovery is often the ultimate goal of freshwater restoration projects. Understanding stressor impacts and the recovery of natural communities, with aquatic vegetation as the main interest, has been the focus of my scientific career as well as my passion for experimental ecology. Experimental ecology can provide us with key findings and an understanding of ecological patterns and processes, offering evidence-based knowledge to inform restoration strategies. In this presentation, I will discuss examples from my own work, highlight the limitations of experimental approaches, and outline potential opportunities to strengthen the link between experimental ecology and restoration practice.
Antonella Petruzzella, Postdoctoral researcher, IGB
IGB Colloquia open up!
IGB strives to facilitate and accelerate the exchange of knowledge and ideas within and also outside of IGB. One element contributing to inter- and transdisciplinary exchange, and more (scientific) cooperation and innovation, is to open up IGB Colloquia to an interested external audience from science (other research institutes, universities, laboratories) as well as practice (i.e. conservationists, freshwater/land-use managers, authorities, associations). If you would like to join this IGB Colloquium as a guest, we ask you to register until the morning of the colloquium 10 o'clock the latest. After we have checked your registration, you will receive the participation link.
