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Ecological restoration is critical for recovering degraded ecosystems but is challenged by variable success and low predictability. Understanding which outcomes are more predictable and less variable following restoration can improve restoration effectiveness. Recent theory asserts that the predictability of outcomes would follow an order from most to least predictable from coarse to fine community properties (physical structure > taxonomic diversity > functional composition > taxonomic composition), and that predictability would increase with more severe environmental conditions constraining species establishment. We tested this “hierarchy of predictability” hypothesis by synthesizing outcomes along an aridity gradient with 11 grassland restoration projects across the United States. 

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This study was conducted in the Jonah Infill natural gas field (Sublette County, WY, USA).  Here we show insect abundance ranges from 3-22x higher on 

well pads undergoing ecological restoration compared to adjacent, undisturbed reference sites.  As creating spatial and temporal mosaics of flowering

plants is critical to pollinator conservation, this paper suggests utilizing native forbs which bloom at different times of the year in reclamation seed mixes

is beneficial to insects.  Of special interest — leaf beetles from the Chrysomelidae family were found on reclaimed sites with mass-flowering Rocky Mountain

bee plant at rates 180x higher than adjacent reference sites — these beetles are critical components of sage-grouse chick diet weeks 5-10 post-hatch.

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This paper compared insect abundance and family richness on reclaimed well pads vs. reference areas

within the Pinedale Anticline natural gas field in Wyoming.  We found significantly higher insect abundance

and richness on reclaimed areas. We found higher insect abundance on reclaimed sites which contained the

native annual forb Rocky Mountain bee plant (Cleome serrulata) than on reclaimed sites which contained only grass.

Insects play critical roles in providing ecosystem services, such as pollination and serving as a food resource to higher 

trophic levels.  In particular, 96% of terrestrial birds rely on insects as a primary source of protein.

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This paper was led by Dr. Nancy Shackelford (Univ. of Victoria).  Abnova’s Dr. Mike Curran helped write several sections

of the discussion and assisted with reviewing/editing the entire manuscript.  This study is a very useful read to anyone

involved with revegetation efforts in arid & semi-arid ecosystems.

Link to publication here

This paper compares handheld imagery vs. drone imagery in monitoring vegetation on reclaimed well pads.

We utilize a spatially balanced sampling design called Balanced Acceptance Sampling and solve the traveling

salesman problem to optimize the flight path.  With a drone, image collection took ~7.5 minutes.. with

handheld imagery, image collection took ~30 minutes.  There was good agreement between image analysis of the two

methods, with handheld imagery having a ground sample distance of 0.2 millimeters compared to ~2 mm with a drone. 

Identifying grass species without seed heads beyond functional group was challenging with the drone.

Link to publication here

This paper demonstrates the effectiveness of handheld imagery to satisfy regulatory criteria and collect species-specific

information to help improve reclamation practices (e.g., seed mixes). It also discusses how data from SamplePoint (a free

image analysis software) can be used to improve comparisons between reclamation sites and reference areas.

Balanced Acceptance Sampling is utilized to generate good spatial coverage on the area of interest and points are then 

plugged into a handheld GPS Device for field personnel to locate while on site.  Images are taken at each location and analyzed

after field collection.  This method provides robust data and permanent records which are linked to the location where data was

collected while reducing observer bias and is ~10x faster than traditional methods.

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This is the first study to utilize 3-D video cameras to count floral visits by insects.  A total of 8 observers viewed the

video with virtual reality (VR) headsets.  Observer bias in this study showed to be very similar to other studies, though

the permanent nature of the video allows for training opportunities.  This technology shows promise for counting insects

and observing insect and other animal behavior.  

Link to publication here

This paper provides a summary of Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) diet and discusses the importance

of restoring habitat for the bird species.  It gives a brief overview of its status related to the US Fish & Wildlife Service’s

Endangered Species Act.  We provide a list of forbs which sage-grouse are known to eat and show that many forbs associated

with sage-grouse diet are not commercially available for larger restoration projects.  We suggest including forbs in reclamation

and restoration seed mixes (especially forbs which increase sage-grouse preferred insects), and make a call for improving

seed availability.

Link to publication here

This publication discusses the benefits of utilizing a native, annual forb in reclamation efforts in the Rocky Mountain West.  Rocky

Mountain bee plant is widely available and its seeds do well in disturbed soils.  The plant does a great job attracting pollinators,

controlling erosion, competing with weeds, and setting the stage for perennial forbs to come in.  Environmental Connection is

published by the International Erosion Control Association.

Link to Publication Here

This paper compares handheld imagery vs. drone imagery in monitoring vegetation in a rangeland setting.

We utilize a spatially balanced sampling design called Balanced Acceptance Sampling and solve the traveling

salesman problem to optimize the flight path.  With a drone, image collection took 8 minutes 13 seconds to monitor

a 10 acre plot, whereas walking the area with a handheld camera took 29 minutes 55 seconds.  The methods had

similar precision and accuracy and are both significantly faster than traditional quantitative methods.

In 2018, Abnova’s Dr. Curran was able to modify this technique slightly to rapidly perform conservation bank

assessment over 66 square miles on private land, with approval from various State and Federal Gov’t agencies.

Link to Publication Here

This work highlights some collaborations among academia, consulting groups, industry and government agencies as they related to

what many consider the “greatest conservation effort in US history”.  Wyoming, as a leader in the western US, took an all-hands-on-deck

approach with conservation and restoration of Greater Sage-Grouse habitat.  Abnova’s Dr. Curran entered >50,000 acres of data related

to reclamation and restoration in Wyoming’s oil and gas fields to the US Fish & Wildlife Service’s Conservation Efforts Database and worked

with Gov’t officials to beta-test the data system in its initial stages of development up to its launch.    

Link to publication here

This publication lays out a data management framework aimed at assisting oil and gas pad reclamation efforts.  The framework is sound and has

been shared with the Bureau of Land Management at the Washington D.C. level.  While this manuscript utilized Microsoft Access, it evolved to become

more spatially oriented within ArcGIS as part of a larger project called One Steppe.

Link to Publication Here

This project was led by Dr. Jared Elmore and scientists at Mississippi State University and the USDA.  The manuscript lays out a protocol to develop a systematic map producing evidence on the effectiveness

of drone use to monitor wildlife in North America.  Dr. Curran was a post-doc at MSU at the time and assisted with search terms, vetting literature, writing and editing the manuscript.  Elmore and others published the

systematic map in 2023.

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