Ecosystems recover from disturbances: riparian habitat

1 of 1 Seven Pools Flooded / Michael Huey / License

Ecosystems recover from disturbances through resource partitioning as resilient species colonize newly created habitats.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

	Maintain community >
	Provide ecosystem services >
	Regulate habitat response to disturbance

Biomimetic Application Ideas

Understanding resource partitioning as a way to recover disturbed areas.

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[Collapse all sections] Summary

"Other species attributes such as ability to cope with disturbances and colonization ability can contribute to successful coexistence of species that otherwise show little resource partitioning. One example is the Leucotrichia (caddis)-Paragyractis (moth) interaction where floods remove the competitively superior caddis species and allow colonization of rock surfaces by the moth, the more resilient species (McAuliffe 1984a). The rapid colonization ability of certain species (e.g. blackfly and chironomid larvae) allows them to exploit temporarily empty areas created by disturbances before they are displaced by other, slower colonists (see p. 191). Colonization ability could therefore be considered another niche dimension." (Giller and Malmqvist 1998:195)

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Understanding resource partitioning as a way to recover disturbed areas.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Restoring ecosystems

References

Giller, P. S.; Malmqvist, B. 1998. The Biology of Streams and Rivers. Oxford University Press, USA.

McAuliffe, JR. 1984. Competition for space, disturbance, and the structure of a benthic stream community. Ecology. 65: 894-908.

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