Damaged Ecosystems Can Recover

 

A Yale University study states that aquatic systems recovered much faster than terrestrial. Researchers noted that aquatic systems may recover more quickly because species and organisms that inhabit them turn over more rapidly. For instance, forests took the longest to recover due to the fact that forest inhabitants take longer to regenerate after logging or clear-cutting.

A recent study by Yale University?EUR??,,????'?????<

Researchers grouped the data into seven broad aquatic and terrestrial types of ecosystems, and disruptions such as deforestation, hurricane, invasive species, oil spoils, power plant and sea trawling. Most of the studies measured multiple response variables, which researched grouped into three categories: ecosystem function, animal community, and plant community. The researchers evaluated the recovery of each of the variables in terms of the time it took for them to return to their original state as determined by each study’s author. The study also assessed whether recovery times were related to the magnitude of the disturbance.

To view the research article by Jones and Schmitz, visit: www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0005653.