The Restoration of Ecological Function.

在2010年9月发布的一份120页的政府报告《自然的空间》中，劳顿和他的同事们提出了一个问题：面对气候变化和其他环境问题，我们如何才能改善英国的自然环境。他们的报告认为，答案是“大规模的栖息地创造和恢复，以重建生态过程和生态系统服务为基础，这些都是为了人类和野生动物的利益”。在这项NERC学生提案中，布里斯托尔大学和萨默塞特野生动物信托基金会将合作恢复栖息地和恢复两种生态系统服务，即授粉和害虫控制。学者和实践者之间的合作可能会导致最有效的保护（社论2008，Nature: 450, 135-136），前者提供实验设计、统计和科学背景方面的专业知识，后者提供后勤帮助（这里是大规模的实地操作）、实地地点的详细知识和栖息地管理专业知识。我们将测试一个物种的恢复是否能促进群落其他部分的恢复，即蜜蜂、苍蝇、甲虫和蝴蝶的大型群落，它们到花上采集花粉和花蜜。生态上的“一劳永获”。到目前为止，在Memmott研究的所有植物-传粉者群落中，已经有可能确定优势或关键植物。因此，该方法很容易适用于世界范围内的一系列群落，可以为植物物种的恢复提供科学依据，也可以启动生态系统服务的恢复。我们的模型研究系统是正在萨默塞特水平恢复的Sium latifolium（更大的水防风草）。Memmott在诺福克郡的两个地点对latifolium的试验数据表明，这个物种，像同一植物科的其他物种一样，对赏花者非常有吸引力。许多寄生蜂（农业生态系统中害虫控制的提供者）也以latifolium花为食。萨默塞特野生动物基金会将在萨默塞特地区的8个地点种植latifolium，另外8个地点作为对照。2008/9年度在田间进行了一次成功的试点移植。将采用配对设计，在16个站点中的每一个站点，将建立定量的植物-传粉者网络并比较网络的结构。对于Memmott的学生来说，这种方法已被证明是一种高度可发表的方法。例如Carvalheiro et al. (2008), Carvalheiro, Buckley & Memmott (2010)， Lopezaraiza等人（2007），Heleno等人（2009 & 2010）。所有推荐人都列在“推荐人”下面。第二个萨默塞特水平恢复计划仍处于非常初步的阶段，是重新引入燕尾蝶（Papillo machaon britannicus）。虽然从生态功能的角度来看并不重要，但这种标志性物种的恢复将为当地提供巨大的吸引力（旅游，像授粉和害虫控制一样，是一种生态系统服务），并为有关栖息地的环境教育提供巨大的潜力。然而，燕尾是否真的是一种常住物种仍然是一个有争议的话题。使用分子方法，我们将确定萨默塞特地区当地博物馆的燕尾蝶标本是否来自不同的种群，而这些种群的存在证据很好。在该大学，该学生将加入一个充满活力的小组，该小组由5名博士生、一名PDRA、两名研究员和由Memmott领导的130万英镑的城市传粉者资助组成。在萨默塞特野生动物基金会，学生将成为一个积极的保护实践者团队的成员，参与农业生态学、保护、公众参与和学校活动。

In 'The Space for Nature' a 120 page government report released in September 2010, Lawton and colleagues ask how we can enhance the natural environment in England in the face of climate change and other environmental insults. Their report argues that the answer is 'large-scale habitat creation and restoration, under-pinned by the re-establishment of ecological processes and ecosystem services, these being for the benefits of both people and wildlife'. In this NERC studentship proposal The University of Bristol and The Somerset Wildlife Trust will work collaboratively on habitat restoration and the restoration of two ecosystem services, those of pollination and pest control. Collaborations between academics and practitioners are likely to lead to the most effective conservation (Editorial 2008, Nature: 450, 135-136) with the former providing expertise in experimental design, statistics and the scientific context, and the latter providing logistical help (here, large scale field manipulations), detailed knowledge of field sites and habitat management expertise. We will test whether the restoration of one species can facilitate the restoration of other parts of the community, namely the large community of bees, flies, beetles and butterflies that visit flowers for pollen and nectar, ie. an ecological 'two for the price of one'. It has been possible to identify dominant or keystone plants in all the plant-pollinator communities studied so far by Memmott. Thus the approach is readily applicable to a range of communities worldwide and could provide a scientific basis for which plant species to restore and could also jump start the restoration of ecosystem services. Our model study system is the ongoing restoration of Sium latifolium (greater water parsnip) in the Somerset Levels. Memmott's pilot data on S. latifolium at two sites in Norfolk indicates that this species, like others in the same plant family, is highly attractive to flower visitors. Many parasitoids (providers of pest control in agroecosystems) were also found feeding on the S. latifolium flowers. For this studentship the Somerset Wildlife Trust will plant out populations of S. latifolium at eight sites in the Somerset Levels, with a further eight sites left as controls. A successful pilot transplantation took place in 2008/9 at the field site. A paired design will be used and at each of the 16 sites, quantitative plant-pollinator network will be made and the structure of the webs compared. This approach has proved a highly publishable approach for Memmott's students. For example Carvalheiro et al. (2008) Carvalheiro, Buckley & Memmott (2010), Lopezaraiza et al. (2007), Heleno et al. (2009 & 2010). All references are listed under 'Supervisors'. A second Somerset Levels restoration programme, still at a very preliminary stage, is the reintroduction of the swallowtail butterfly (Papillo machaon britannicus). While not important from an ecological function point of view, the restoration of this iconic species would provide a tremendous local attraction (tourism, like pollination and pest control, is an ecosystem service) and huge potential for environmental education about the habitat in general. Whether or not the swallowtail was actually a resident species remains a subject of some debate though. Using a molecular approach we will determine whether specimens of swallowtail butterflies in museums local to the Somerset Levels are from populations different to those found in museums close to sites where good evidence exists as to their presence. At the University the student will join a vibrant group of 5 PhD students, a PDRA, two Research Fellows and a £1.3 million grant on urban pollinators led by Memmott. At the Somerset Wildlife Trust, the student will be a member of an active team of conservation practitioners involved in agroecology, conservation, public engagement and school activities.