Old Fields: Dynamics and Restoration of Abandoned Farmland (The Science and Practice of Ecological Restoration Series)

346 Pages·2007·3.59 MB·English

by  Viki A. Cramer

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old fields
Society for Ecological Restoration International
The Science and Practice of Ecological Restoration
James Aronson, editor
Donald A. Falk, associate editor
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and Animal Monitoring, by Michael L. Morrison
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edited by Edward O. Guerrant Jr., Kayri Havens, and Mike Maunder
Great Basin Riparian Ecosystems: Ecology, Management, and Restoration,
edited by Jeanne C. Chambers and Jerry R. Miller
Assembly Rules and Restoration Ecology: Bridging the Gap
Between Theory and Practice, edited by Vicky M. Temperton,
Richard J. Hobbs, Tim Nuttle, and Stefan Halle
The Tallgrass Restoration Handbook: For Prairies, Savannas, and Woodlands,
edited by Stephen Packard and Cornelia F. Mutel
The Historical Ecology Handbook: A Restorationist’s Guide to Reference
Ecosystems, edited by Dave Egan and Evelyn A. Howell
Foundations of Restoration Ecology, edited by Donald A. Falk,
Margaret A. Palmer, and Joy B. Zedler
Restoring the Pacific Northwest: The Art and Science of Ecological
Restoration in Cascadia, edited by Dean Apostol and Marcia Sinclair
A Guide for Desert and Dryland Restoration: New Hope for Arid Lands,
by David A. Bainbridge
Restoring Natural Capital: Science, Business, and Practice,
edited by James Aronson, Suzanne J. Milton, and James N. Blignaut
Old Fields: Dynamics and Restoration of Abandoned Farmland,
edited by Viki A. Cramer and Richard J. Hobbs
Old Fields
Dynamics and Restoration of
Abandoned Farmland
Edited by
Viki A. Cramer and Richard J. Hobbs
Society for Ecological Restoration International
Washington (cid:129)Covelo (cid:129)London
Copyright © 2007 Island Press
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Old fields : dynamics and restoration of abandoned farmland / edited by Viki A. Cramer and
Richard J. Hobbs.
p. cm. -- (The science and practice of ecological restoration)
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN-13: 978-1-59726-074-9 (cloth : alk. paper)
ISBN-10: 1-59726-074-6 (cloth : alk. paper)
ISBN-13: 978-1-59726-075-6 (pbk. : alk. paper)
ISBN-10: 1-59726-075-4 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Abandoned farms. 2. Reclamation of land. 3. Restoration ecology. I. Cramer, Viki A. II. Hobbs,
R. J. (Richard J.)
S606.O43 2007
577.5'5--dc22
2007025183
Printed on recycled, acid-free paper
Manufactured in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
contents
acknowledgments ix
1. Why Old Fields? Socioeconomic and Ecological Causes and
Consequences of Land Abandonment 1
Richard J. Hobbs and Viki A. Cramer
PART1. Old Fields and the Development of
Ecological Concepts 15
2. Old Field Succession: Development of Concepts 17
Richard J. Hobbs and Lawrence R. Walker
3. Old Fields as Complex Systems: New Concepts for Describing
the Dynamics of Abandoned Farmland 31
Viki A. Cramer
PART2. Case Studies from Around the World 47
4. Implications of Land Use History for Natural Forest
Regeneration and Restoration Strategies in Puerto Rico 51
Jess K. Zimmerman, T. Mitchell Aide, and Ariel E. Lugo
5. Processes Affecting Succession in Old Fields of
Brazilian Amazonia 75
Gislene Ganade
6. Old Field Vegetation Succession in the Neotropics 93
Karen D. Holl
7. Patterns and Processes of Old Field Reforestation in Australian
Rain Forest Landscapes 119
Peter D. Erskine, Carla P. Catterall, David Lamb,
and John Kanowski
vii
viii Contents
8. Succession on the Piedmont of New Jersey and Its Implications
for Ecological Restoration 145
Scott J. Meiners, Mary L. Cadenasso, and Steward T. A. Pickett
9. Succession and Restoration in Michigan Old
Field Communities 162
Katherine L. Gross and Sarah M. Emery
10. Old Field Succession in Central Europe: Local and
Regional Patterns 180
Karel Prach, Jan Lepsˇ, and Marcel Rejmánek
11. Dynamics and Restoration of Abandoned Farmland and Other
Old Fields in Southern France 202
Pascal Marty, James Aronson, and Jacques Lepart
12. Land Abandonment and Old Field Dynamics in Greece 225
Vasilios P. Papanastasis
13. Old Field Dynamics on the Dry Side of the Mediterranean
Basin: Patterns and Processes in Semiarid Southeast Spain 247
Andreu Bonet and Juli G. Pausas
14. Restoration of Old Fields in Renosterveld: A Case Study in
a Mediterranean-type Shrubland of South Africa 265
Cornelia B. Krug and Rainer M. Krug
15. Prospects for the Recovery of Native Vegetation in Western
Australian Old Fields 286
Viki A. Cramer, Rachel J. Standish, and Richard J. Hobbs
PART3. Synthesis: Old Field Dynamics and Restoration 307
16. Old Field Dynamics: Regional and Local Differences, and
Lessons for Ecology and Restoration 309
Richard J. Hobbs and Viki A. Cramer
about the editors 319
about the contributors 321
acknowledgments
We wish to extend our warmest thanks to all of the people who have assisted
us in bringing together this book. First, to the authors of the chapters, both for
their contributions to the book and for their gracious responses to our re-
quests; their cheerful assistance was much appreciated during the editing
process. The encouragement and patient assistance of Barbara Youngblood,
Barbara Dean, and Jessica Heise at Island Press guided us through making
the book a whole from the sum of its parts. All chapters in the book were peer
reviewed. We gratefully acknowledge those who reviewed chapters and
provided further comment on the ideas presented within the book: Marga-
rita Arianoutsou, Bob Bunce, Rodolfo Dirzo, Jennifer Fraterrigo, Patricia
Holmes, Anke Jentsch, Jamie Kirkpatrick, Carlos Klink, John Morgan, Rafael
Navarro Cerillo, Maria Ruiz-Jaen, Wolfgang Schmidt, and Vicky Temperton.
We are grateful for financial support from the Australian Research Council
during the preparation of this book. Finally, our heartfelt thanks to our fami-
lies; their support and encouragement makes the load lighter and the path
not so narrow.
ix