Conservation Paleobiology: A Guide to Restoring Ecosystems
What is Conservation Paleobiology?
Conservation paleobiology is a new field that uses the fossil record to inform and guide present-day conservation efforts. It helps us understand how ecosystems have changed over time, how species have responded to those changes, and how we can use this knowledge to restore damaged ecosystems.
How Conservation Paleobiology Informs Restoration Efforts
Conservation paleobiologists use fossils to establish pre-disturbance baselines, which can help us set goals for restoration projects. They can also document long-term patterns of habitat use and reveal previously unsuspected changes in ecosystems as a result of human activity. This information can help us identify priority areas for conservation and develop more effective management plans.
Examples of Conservation Paleobiology in Action
Tracing Caribou Migrations of the Past
Paleontological data can provide valuable insights into the long-term ecological patterns that are critical to conservation decisions. For example, paleoecologists have studied shed caribou antlers to document that caribou have relied for thousands of years on the same calving grounds along the Arctic coast. This information helps us understand the importance of these areas and can guide management decisions to protect them.
Cattle Grazing in Historic Los Angeles
The fossil record can also change the way we think about an ecosystem. For example, ecologists had assumed that the muddy seafloor off the coast of Los Angeles had always been that way. However, paleoecologists discovered remains of shelly creatures called brachiopods, which live on hard, sandy or gravelly bottoms. This discovery suggests that the seafloor was once a different type of ecosystem, and that human activities such as cattle grazing may have caused its degradation.
Fossils and Climate Change
Fossils can also suggest how plants and animals might respond to future events, such as climate change. For example, conservation paleobiologists have studied fossilized pollen grains to see how plants have responded to climate change over the past 18,000 years. They found that many plants shifted their ranges to follow their preferred climate, but that such shifts may be more difficult today due to loss and fragmentation of their habitats. This information can help us identify plant species that are most at risk from climate change and develop conservation strategies to protect them.
Limitations of Conservation Paleobiology
While conservation paleobiology has great potential to inform conservation efforts, it also has some limitations. Ecosystems change over time, so the fossil record may not always provide a perfect guide to restoring them to their original state. Additionally, the fossil record can be incomplete and blurred, making it difficult to track rapid changes in ecosystems.
