The Reconstruction of Ecosystems: Presidential Address to the British Ecological Society, December 1982

Bradshaw, A

Land disturbed or destroyed by mining and similar activities is an inevitable part of civilization. We inherit a large area from the past and the destruction continues to the present. The product is destroyed soils and vegetation. The natural colonization provides an insight into natural processes of primary succession. Colonization is both deterministic and stochastic. Ecosystem development involves a large measure of facilitation. Many sites left to colonize naturally are of considerable ecological value. But natural colonization is slow and ecosystem development must usually be assisted. It is now relatively easy to treat most of the factors limiting development. However, these factors must be handled with ecological understanding. Nitrogen in particular has to be built up to total levels of at least 1000 kg ha -1 . Soils may have unexpectedly high phosphorus binding capacities. Treatment of toxicities may involve a number of different strategies. It is relatively easy to reintroduce agricultural and forest tree species. Wild species are more difficult, yet if their reproductive biologies are properly understood they can be handled with ease and reliability. Most animals will return on their own, but recolonization is assisted by careful habitat reconstruction and some important species may sometimes require reintroduction. Despite the readiness with which some people promulgate pessimism, here is an environmental problem for which solutions are available and one to which ecologists have an important contribution to make.

The Reconstruction of Ecosystems: Presidential Address to the British Ecological Society, December 1982

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