Abstract
AbstractSeeding of native grasses is widely used to restore plant communities and prevent establishment of introduced species following wildfire and prescribed burns. However, there is a lack of long-term data to evaluate the success of native grass seeding. Here, in the interior valley shrublands of southwestern Oregon, we resurveyed plots that had been masticated and burned, and then seeded with bunchgrasses seven years previously. The prescribed fires had resulted in bare ground that increased opportunities for bunchgrass germination as well as for invasion by introduced plants. After two years, native grass seeding was successful, with increased bunchgrass cover that correlated with decreased cover of introduced species. However, five years later, bunchgrass cover had declined by 80%, and the frequency of plots with bunchgrasses had declined by 60%. Cover of surviving bunchgrasses in year 7 correlated positively with bunch-grass cover in year 2 (R2 = 0.34; P = 0.003). Seven years after prescribed fire and seeding, native cover, introduced cover, and species richness were unchanged, and bunchgrass persistence was minimal. Basically, seeding following mastication and prescribed burning had a minimal effect. This study highlights the importance of longer-term monitoring to determine the efficacy of seeding treatments.
Highlights
Seeding of native grasses is widely used to restore particular species, plant communities, and ecosystem services following wildfire and prescribed burns (e.g., Hardegree et al 2011)
There is a lack of long-term data to evaluate the success of native grass establishment and its effect in preventing introduced species invasions (Robichaud et al 2009, Peppin et al 2010, Endress et al 2012)
At a site with a Mediterranean climate (Hierro et al 2006), prescribed fire created a favorable environment for invasion by yellow star-thistle (Centaurea solstitialis L.)
Summary
Seeding of native grasses is widely used to restore particular species, plant communities, and ecosystem services following wildfire and prescribed burns (e.g., Hardegree et al 2011). There is a lack of long-term data to evaluate the success of native grass establishment and its effect in preventing introduced species invasions (Robichaud et al 2009, Peppin et al 2010, Endress et al 2012). Such studies are needed to evaluate the benefits of restoration projects and to improve restoration techniques (Duren and Muir 2010, Hardegree et al 2011, Peppin et al 2011). Lawson) forest, the combination of mastication plus burning resulted in greater native plant diversity with only a slight increase in introduced species (Kane et al 2010)
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