Lifeboat

Biological legacies are critical features that remain on a site after a disturbance and can act as ‘lifeboats’ that aid the continuation of a species. For example, living and dead trees with their hollows can constitute such a lifeboat.

Relevant in the context of temporary artificial or prosthetic props such as artificial hollow or artificial trees.

NB: Distinguish from Hardin's 'lifeboat ethics' and the criticism of this approach.

References

Bezzola, Aita, and Darwyn Coxson. ‘Lifeboat or Sinking Ship: Will the Size and Shape of Old-Growth Management Areas Provide Viable Future Habitat for Temperate Rainforest Lichens?’ Canadian Journal of Forest Research 50, no. 8 (2020): 774–87. https://doi.org/10/gqrxsv.

Hofmeister, Jeňýk, Jan Hošek, Jiří Malíček, Zdeněk Palice, Lada Syrovátková, Jana Steinová, and Ivana Černajová. ‘Large Beech (Fagus sylvatica) Trees as “Lifeboats” for Lichen Diversity in Central European Forests’. Biodiversity and Conservation 25, no. 6 (2016): 1073–90. https://doi.org/10/f8t5tt.