Abstract:
1. Restoration ecology has historically focused on reconstructing
communities of highly visible taxa whilst less visible taxa, such as
invertebrates and microbes, are ignored. This is problematic as
invertebrates and microbes make up the vast bulk of biodiversity and
drive many key ecosystem processes, yet they are rarely actively
reintroduced following restoration, potentially limiting ecosystem
function and biodiversity in these areas.
2. In this review, we discuss the current (limited) incorporation of
invertebrates and microbes in restoration and rewilding projects. We
argue that these groups should be actively rewilded during restoration
to improve biodiversity, ecosystem function outcomes, and highlight how
they can be used to greater effect in the future. For example,
invertebrates and microbes are easily manipulated, meaning whole
communities can potentially be rewilded through habitat transplants in a
practice that we refer to as “whole-of-community” rewilding.
3. We provide a framework for whole-of-community rewilding and describe
empirical case studies as practical applications of this
under-researched restoration tool that land managers can use to improve
restoration outcomes.
4. We hope this new perspective on whole-of-community restoration will
promote applied research into restoration that incorporates all biota,
irrespective of size, whilst also enabling a better understanding of
fundamental ecological theory, such as colonisation- competition
trade-offs. This may be a necessary consideration as invertebrates that
are important in providing ecosystem services are declining globally;
targeting invertebrate communities during restoration may be crucial in
stemming this decline.
Keywords: ecosystem function, invertebrates, microbes,
restoration, revegetation, rewilding