Research

Improving Restoration Outcomes

Restoration outcomes are influenced by various factors operating at multiple spatial scales, ranging from local soil characteristics and planting efforts to broader land use patterns and large-scale, unpredictable events like significant floods. We are focused on understanding how these factors affect restoration success and, in turn, the biodiversity and ecosystem services—such as water quality enhancement, floodwater retention, and carbon sequestration—offered by restored wetlands and prairies. Our long-term goals include developing predictive models that enhance our ability to predict restoration outcomes based on a site’s landscape context and management practices, as well as creating a framework for setting realistic restoration objectives in an increasingly dynamic global environment.

Evaluating Wetland Mitigation Policy

Wetlands in the United States are safeguarded under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which mandates that developers compensate for wetland impacts by creating or restoring wetlands in alternative locations. These restored areas are generally monitored for five years to assess their success against site-specific performance standards. However, both regulators and restoration practitioners struggle to clearly define and quantify restoration success, leading to many restored wetlands failing to meet their intended goals. Our research focuses on evaluating the effectiveness of mitigation policies in ensuring that the ecological structure and functions of natural wetlands are adequately replaced.

Mitigating Invasive Plants

Invasive species are a major contributor to the failure of restored ecosystems to meet their intended goals. Our research investigates the significant impacts of invasive plants on biodiversity and ecosystem processes in restored ecosystems, exploring their effects on native species and ecological functions. Additionally, we are examining the landscape and local factors that drive the invasion of non-native plant species and developing effective methods for restoring invaded prairies and wetlands, aiming to reclaim these ecosystems and promote their ecological integrity.

Developing Tools for Ecological Assessment

Plant-based ecological indicators, such as the Floristic Quality Index, are being increasingly used to inform management decisions and establish restoration goals. Our research focuses on how these indicators change over time after restoration efforts and examines the assumptions underpinning their application in forest, grassland, and wetland ecosystems. Additionally, we are engaged in projects that evaluate the ecological conditions of wetlands at statewide, regional, and national levels, aiming to enhance our understanding of wetland health and inform effective conservation strategies.