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，即面对气候变化和其他环境问题，我们如何才能改善英格兰的自然环境。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”。在这个NERC学生奖学金提案中，布里斯托大学和萨默塞特野生动物信托基金将合作恢复栖息地和恢复两个生态系统服务，即授粉和害虫控制。学术界和实践者之间的合作可能会导致最有效的保护（Editorial 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，大规模的实地操作），详细的实地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可以促进社区其他部分的恢复，即蜜蜂，苍蝇，甲虫和蝴蝶的大型社区，访问花朵的花粉和花蜜，即。生态“买一送一”梅莫特迄今为止研究的所有植物传粉者群落都有可能确定优势植物或关键植物。因此，这种方法很容易适用于世界各地的一系列社区，可以为恢复哪些植物物种提供科学依据，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进行的恢复Sium latifolium（更大的水防风草）在萨默塞特水平。Memmott在S.在诺福克的两个地点发现的宽叶植物表明，该物种像同一植物科的其他物种一样，对花卉游客具有高度的吸引力。许多寄生蜂（农业生态系统中害虫控制的提供者）也被发现以S。阔叶花为了这个奖学金，萨默塞特野生动物信托基金会将种植S。在萨默塞特水平的8个地点进行阔叶树试验，另外8个地点作为对照。2008/2009年在实地成功进行了试点移植。将采用配对设计，并在16个地点的每一个，定量植物传粉网络将和网络的结构进行比较。这种方法对Memmott的学生来说是一种非常容易理解的方法。例如Carvalheiro et al.（2008）Carvalheiro，Buckley & Memmott（2010），Lopezaraiza et al.（2007），Heleno et al.（2009 & 2010）。所有参考文献均列在“监督人”项下。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提供巨大的当地吸引力（旅游业，如授粉和虫害控制，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，燕尾蝶是否真的是一种常驻物种仍然是一个有争议的话题。使用分子的方法，我们将确定是否标本的燕尾蝶在博物馆当地的萨默塞特水平是从人口不同的那些发现在博物馆附近的网站，有很好的证据存在，以他们的存在。在大学，该学生将加入由5名博士生、一名PDRA、两名研究员组成的充满活力的团队，并获得由Memmott领导的130万英镑的城市传粉者资助。在萨默塞特野生动物信托基金会，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.