Promotie

Assessing Dryland Resilience: Bridging Theory, Observation and Practice

Promovendus Y (Yanning) Qiu
Promotor dr. M (Milena) Holmgren Urba
Externe promotor Zhiwei Xu
Organisatie Wageningen University, Natuurecologie en natuurbehoud
Datum

vr 13 oktober 2023 11:00 tot 12:30

Locatie Omnia, gebouwnummer 105
Hoge Steeg 2
6708 PH Wageningen
+31 (0)317 - 484 500
Zaal/kamer Auditorium

Samenvatting

Drylands are key ecosystems on earth but also have been suffering major degradation risks due to a combination of climate change and anthropogenic factors. Intensive restoration projects have therefore been implemented, although it could be challenging, costly and the outcomes can be uncertain.

My PhD research uses a combination of field surveys, remote sensing, and mathematical modelling to assess the large-scale ecological restoration practices of sand dune systems (a specific type of dryland) in China. It tries to advance our understandings of ecosystem resilience from a theoretical perspective, and also to provide practical guidance to future ecosystem managements.

The results suggest:

  1. Start restoration at environmentally favorable places
  2. Vegetation spatial patterns can be recovery indicators
  3. Restrict spatial interactions at initial stage of restoration

Although the main focus of this thesis is on sand dune ecosystems, but this research framework may also be used to understand ecological resilience in other ecosystems.