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Handbook of Ecological Restoration: Volume 1 Principles of Restoration
Ecological Engineering 21 (2004) 205–209
Book reviews Handbook of Ecological Restoration: Volume 1 Principles of Restoration M.R. Perrow, A.J. Davy (Eds.), Cambridge University Press, 2002, 444 pp., US$ 100, Hardback, ISBN 0-521-79128-6 In their recently released Handbook of Ecological Restoration: Volume 1 Principles of Restoration, editors M.R. Perrow, A.J. Davy have put together an excellent primer that covers nearly every aspect of the expanding field of ecological restoration. This book, the first in a series of two volumes, focuses upon introducing the field to readers who are not yet experienced in the science of restoration. Ecological restoration is defined in the first chapter as the act of returning a damaged ecosystem to a former, healthy, or vigorous state. The book is suitable as a textbook for an introductory ecological restoration class at both graduate and undergraduate levels. It would also be a useful reference to engineers, contractors, scientists, and other ecologists who are interested in this field. The volume reflects a great deal of effort in both editing and publishing, as the chapters flow together seamlessly. It is a product of 39 authors who have different areas of specialization, yet it is clear that the editors shaped the work into one coherent volume rather than a simple compilation of papers. There are five parts to the volume: The background (Chapters 1–5), Manipulation of the physical environment (Chapters 6–8), Manipulation of the chemical environment (Chapters 9–11), Manipulation of the biota (Chapters 12–20), and Monitoring and appraisal (Chapters 21). The first part of the volume may be most valuable for engineers, contractors, and other scientists who would like to catch up on the theory behind ecological restoration. Chapters 1 and 2, “Introduction and philosophy” and “Rationale for restoration”, define the current philosophy behind much of the science, with the emphasis on progressive environmentalism. Chapter 3, “The ecological context: a land-
scape perspective”, Chapter 4, “A species population perspective”, and Chapter 5, “A species perspective”, all discuss implicit assumptions that are exercised during the restoration process. “A species perspective” was particularly interesting to this reviewer, but the landscape perspective or species population perspective could be equally interesting to an experienced scientist who has not yet delved into either of these areas. This volume has quite a bit to offer and every restoration ecologist is sure to find at least one chapter that will contain previously unencountered information. Chapters 6, 7, and 8 introduce the physical science of abiotic factors that often exert control over restoration projects. Classical equations such as Shield’s shear parameter are introduced, making these chapters useful as a reference for ecologists who are less familiar with engineering principles. “Terrestrial systems” details surface hydrology, landscape design, and structural modifications. The chapter on “Wetlands and still waters” emphasizes peat and bog restoration. “Running water: fluvial geomorphology and river restoration” covers sediment transport and stream channel design. Chapters 9, 10, and 11 present a rare view into the chemistry behind restoration practices. “Manipulating the chemical environment of the soil” discusses pollution, degraded systems, and how to approach enhancing as well as purposefully impoverishing the soil nutrient supply. “Chemical treatment of water and sediments with special reference to lakes” focuses upon lentic ecosystems and how to remediate eutrophication. “Atmospheric chemistry” adds an often forgotten aspect of restoration to the volume; it points out that by reducing the output of certain air pollutants, one can essentially restore on a regional or global level. The restoration of plant communities is discussed in Chapters 12 and 13, “Plant communities in terrestrial systems” and “Ecology and management of plants in aquatic systems.” Seeding techniques, biotic
0925-8574/$ – see front matter © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
206
Book reviews
and abiotic interactions, species addition, species removal, and dispersal are covered quite well. Chapter 14, “Micro-organisms”, details the diversity and critical function of microbes, particularly in the soil. Interactions with plants are discussed. Most restoration books do not cover animals in as much detail as this volume. Chapters 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20 are presented in phylogenetic order. “Terrestrial invertebrates” contains interesting information on sampling protocols and “Aquatic invertebrates” constitutes an excellent literature review with specific prescriptions as well. The two chapters on “Fish” and “Reptiles and amphibians” present several interesting case studies from around the world. “Birds” covers the restoration of endangered bird species, the impacts of birds on restoration projects, and the usefulness of utilizing bird survival as an indicator of overall ecosystem health. “Mammals” discusses reintroduction programs and includes case studies on beavers in England and the European mink. Chapter 21, “Monitoring and appraisal,” appropriately closes the book with discussions about funding needs, size and scaling in restoration studies, protocols, goals, and monitoring techniques for several different ecosystems. An index is provided along with a table of contents, a list of contributors and addresses, a foreword, and a preface. The volume is attractively bound and presented. This volume, Handbook of Ecological Restoration: Volume 1 Principles of Restoration, is quite nice. It would be a superb textbook for an undergraduate introduction to restoration ecology course. For the graduate level, other parts of the second volume (to be reviewed in a separate book review) or applied case studies would also need to be presented. For engineers, contractors, or other scientists who want a comprehensive introduction to the field, this first volume is perfect. As an ecologist with restoration experience, this reviewer is looking forward to reading the second volume that contains applied techniques for specific ecosystems. R.A. Feagin Department of Rangeland Ecology and Management Texas A&M University, 2126 TAMU College Station, TX 77843, USA Tel.: +1-979-739-6163; fax: +1-979-845-6430 E-mail address: [email protected] doi: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2004.02.001
Handbook of Ecological Restoration: Volume 2, Restoration in Practice M.R. Perrow, A.J. Davy (Eds.), Cambridge University Press, 2002, 599 pp., US$100, Hardback, ISBN 0-521-79129-4 Editors M.R. Perrow and A.J. Davy have given ecologists an excellent resource with their recently released Handbook of Ecological Restoration: Volume 2, Restoration in Practice. This book, the second in a series of two volumes, delves into the mechanics of ecological restoration for specific ecosystems. Ecological restoration is roughly defined as the act of returning a damaged ecosystem to a former, healthy, or vigorous state. The book is suitable as a textbook for an introductory ecological restoration class at both graduate and undergraduate levels. Moreover, it lives up to its title as a handbook for practitioners in this field. This volume is also excellent for ecologists in general, as each chapter contains an extensive literature review for each specific ecosystem. Similar to the first volume in this series (reviewed in a separate book review), this second volume appears to be the product of a great deal of work by the editors. It is clear that the editors coordinated the layout and tone of the book with the 56 authors. The first section of the volume, “Part 1: Restoration policy and infrastructure”, contains five chapters that discuss political and socioeconomic issues facing restoration ecologists on five different continents. The second section of the volume, “Part 2: The biomes”, contains 19 chapters detailing restoration strategies for specific ecosystems. Each of these 19 chapters have been constructed in a similar format, with the exception of the last chapter. An index is provided along with a table of contents, a list of contributors and their addresses, a foreword, and a preface. The volume is attractively bound and presented. The first part of the volume provides an introduction to the laws, policies, and issues that surround restoration initiatives. It is useful as a reference or as a primer for ecologists and practitioners, especially those who may work in multiple countries. Chapter 1, “The Americas: with special reference to the United States of America”, discusses the legal background to restoration in the United States of America, Canada, Mexico, Latin America, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Uruguay, and Venezuela. A nice
Book reviews Handbook of Ecological Restoration: Volume 1 Principles of Restoration M.R. Perrow, A.J. Davy (Eds.), Cambridge University Press, 2002, 444 pp., US$ 100, Hardback, ISBN 0-521-79128-6 In their recently released Handbook of Ecological Restoration: Volume 1 Principles of Restoration, editors M.R. Perrow, A.J. Davy have put together an excellent primer that covers nearly every aspect of the expanding field of ecological restoration. This book, the first in a series of two volumes, focuses upon introducing the field to readers who are not yet experienced in the science of restoration. Ecological restoration is defined in the first chapter as the act of returning a damaged ecosystem to a former, healthy, or vigorous state. The book is suitable as a textbook for an introductory ecological restoration class at both graduate and undergraduate levels. It would also be a useful reference to engineers, contractors, scientists, and other ecologists who are interested in this field. The volume reflects a great deal of effort in both editing and publishing, as the chapters flow together seamlessly. It is a product of 39 authors who have different areas of specialization, yet it is clear that the editors shaped the work into one coherent volume rather than a simple compilation of papers. There are five parts to the volume: The background (Chapters 1–5), Manipulation of the physical environment (Chapters 6–8), Manipulation of the chemical environment (Chapters 9–11), Manipulation of the biota (Chapters 12–20), and Monitoring and appraisal (Chapters 21). The first part of the volume may be most valuable for engineers, contractors, and other scientists who would like to catch up on the theory behind ecological restoration. Chapters 1 and 2, “Introduction and philosophy” and “Rationale for restoration”, define the current philosophy behind much of the science, with the emphasis on progressive environmentalism. Chapter 3, “The ecological context: a land-
scape perspective”, Chapter 4, “A species population perspective”, and Chapter 5, “A species perspective”, all discuss implicit assumptions that are exercised during the restoration process. “A species perspective” was particularly interesting to this reviewer, but the landscape perspective or species population perspective could be equally interesting to an experienced scientist who has not yet delved into either of these areas. This volume has quite a bit to offer and every restoration ecologist is sure to find at least one chapter that will contain previously unencountered information. Chapters 6, 7, and 8 introduce the physical science of abiotic factors that often exert control over restoration projects. Classical equations such as Shield’s shear parameter are introduced, making these chapters useful as a reference for ecologists who are less familiar with engineering principles. “Terrestrial systems” details surface hydrology, landscape design, and structural modifications. The chapter on “Wetlands and still waters” emphasizes peat and bog restoration. “Running water: fluvial geomorphology and river restoration” covers sediment transport and stream channel design. Chapters 9, 10, and 11 present a rare view into the chemistry behind restoration practices. “Manipulating the chemical environment of the soil” discusses pollution, degraded systems, and how to approach enhancing as well as purposefully impoverishing the soil nutrient supply. “Chemical treatment of water and sediments with special reference to lakes” focuses upon lentic ecosystems and how to remediate eutrophication. “Atmospheric chemistry” adds an often forgotten aspect of restoration to the volume; it points out that by reducing the output of certain air pollutants, one can essentially restore on a regional or global level. The restoration of plant communities is discussed in Chapters 12 and 13, “Plant communities in terrestrial systems” and “Ecology and management of plants in aquatic systems.” Seeding techniques, biotic
0925-8574/$ – see front matter © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
206
Book reviews
and abiotic interactions, species addition, species removal, and dispersal are covered quite well. Chapter 14, “Micro-organisms”, details the diversity and critical function of microbes, particularly in the soil. Interactions with plants are discussed. Most restoration books do not cover animals in as much detail as this volume. Chapters 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20 are presented in phylogenetic order. “Terrestrial invertebrates” contains interesting information on sampling protocols and “Aquatic invertebrates” constitutes an excellent literature review with specific prescriptions as well. The two chapters on “Fish” and “Reptiles and amphibians” present several interesting case studies from around the world. “Birds” covers the restoration of endangered bird species, the impacts of birds on restoration projects, and the usefulness of utilizing bird survival as an indicator of overall ecosystem health. “Mammals” discusses reintroduction programs and includes case studies on beavers in England and the European mink. Chapter 21, “Monitoring and appraisal,” appropriately closes the book with discussions about funding needs, size and scaling in restoration studies, protocols, goals, and monitoring techniques for several different ecosystems. An index is provided along with a table of contents, a list of contributors and addresses, a foreword, and a preface. The volume is attractively bound and presented. This volume, Handbook of Ecological Restoration: Volume 1 Principles of Restoration, is quite nice. It would be a superb textbook for an undergraduate introduction to restoration ecology course. For the graduate level, other parts of the second volume (to be reviewed in a separate book review) or applied case studies would also need to be presented. For engineers, contractors, or other scientists who want a comprehensive introduction to the field, this first volume is perfect. As an ecologist with restoration experience, this reviewer is looking forward to reading the second volume that contains applied techniques for specific ecosystems. R.A. Feagin Department of Rangeland Ecology and Management Texas A&M University, 2126 TAMU College Station, TX 77843, USA Tel.: +1-979-739-6163; fax: +1-979-845-6430 E-mail address: [email protected] doi: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2004.02.001
Handbook of Ecological Restoration: Volume 2, Restoration in Practice M.R. Perrow, A.J. Davy (Eds.), Cambridge University Press, 2002, 599 pp., US$100, Hardback, ISBN 0-521-79129-4 Editors M.R. Perrow and A.J. Davy have given ecologists an excellent resource with their recently released Handbook of Ecological Restoration: Volume 2, Restoration in Practice. This book, the second in a series of two volumes, delves into the mechanics of ecological restoration for specific ecosystems. Ecological restoration is roughly defined as the act of returning a damaged ecosystem to a former, healthy, or vigorous state. The book is suitable as a textbook for an introductory ecological restoration class at both graduate and undergraduate levels. Moreover, it lives up to its title as a handbook for practitioners in this field. This volume is also excellent for ecologists in general, as each chapter contains an extensive literature review for each specific ecosystem. Similar to the first volume in this series (reviewed in a separate book review), this second volume appears to be the product of a great deal of work by the editors. It is clear that the editors coordinated the layout and tone of the book with the 56 authors. The first section of the volume, “Part 1: Restoration policy and infrastructure”, contains five chapters that discuss political and socioeconomic issues facing restoration ecologists on five different continents. The second section of the volume, “Part 2: The biomes”, contains 19 chapters detailing restoration strategies for specific ecosystems. Each of these 19 chapters have been constructed in a similar format, with the exception of the last chapter. An index is provided along with a table of contents, a list of contributors and their addresses, a foreword, and a preface. The volume is attractively bound and presented. The first part of the volume provides an introduction to the laws, policies, and issues that surround restoration initiatives. It is useful as a reference or as a primer for ecologists and practitioners, especially those who may work in multiple countries. Chapter 1, “The Americas: with special reference to the United States of America”, discusses the legal background to restoration in the United States of America, Canada, Mexico, Latin America, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Uruguay, and Venezuela. A nice