Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis (IDH) provides restoration ecology a framework for restoring processes that maintain / renew ecological function, biological diversity, and capacity for ecosystem services. In summary, IDH illuminates natural disturbances, such as herbivory and fire, that occurred in predictable cycles, pulses, and patterns, preventing widespread system decent into late succession, as characterized by declines […]
Floodplain Forest as a Novel Vegetation Instead of a Historic Community and Why it Matters
Stephen Thomforde 2017 Introduction: In this document the floodplain is defined as the flat plain between the river and the blufflands that fills with water during flood events. This interpretation is based on elevation without any consideration of vegetation or soil classification. This document further constrains the definition of floodplain by soils which are alluvial […]
Achieving ecological and agricultural goals through grazing
This article touches on how we can achieve ecological and agricultural objectives through grazing. As a grassland ecologist, I have by default become a grazing ecologist. My first 15 years in restoration were focused only on the first trophic level; plants. During the past decade, my research and practice has been focused on restoring the […]