Plant Species For Restoration Research Articles

Role of Vachellia karroo as a nurse plant in oldfields targeted for passive restoration

Background: In degraded environments such as oldfields, nurse plants can facilitate the growth of targeted restoration plant species through ameliorating them from extreme environmental conditions, creating nutrient rich microclimates, and protecting recruiting plants from grazing. Objectives: This study examined the role of Vachellia karroo nurse plant on soil physico-chemical properties and vegetation diversity in oldfields targeted for passive restoration at Tanglewood research farm in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Methods: Soil were quantified for physico-chemical properties in 48 plots measuring 25 m2 (5 m x 5 m) that were located under and outside 24 V. karroo nurse plants. In addition, detailed vegetation surveys were conducted in the above-mentioned plots. Results: Our results show that soil total N and C concentrations were higher under than outside V. karroo nurse plants. Soil penetration resistance and water repellency levels were lower under than outside V. karroo nurse plants, however monthly variations were also observed. Species richness and Shannon-Wiener diversity were higher under than outside V. karroo nurse plants, with species such as Searsia crenata, Azima tetracantha, Asparagus africanus, and Opuntia sp., frequently occurring under V. karroo nurse plants. Conclusion: The study concludes that V. karroo nurse plant has a positive effect on some soil physico-chemical properties and vegetation diversity underneath it. It is recommended that V. karro needs to be included in future oldfield restoration strategies if passive restoration at Tanglewood research farm is to be successful.

Response in Growth Geronggang (Cratoxylon arborescens Vahl. Blume) Seddling by Giving Chicken Manure

One potential plant species for restoration in peat swamp forests is Cratoxylon arborescens. A well-managed nursery includes the application of chicken manure. This study aims to determine the effect and best dose of chicken manure fertilizer on the growth of Cratoxylon arborescens seedlings on peat planting media. This research used RAL (Completely Randomized Design) experimental method, which consisted of 4 treatments (P0 = control, P1 = 10% chicken manure + 90% peat, P2 = 30% chicken manure + 70% peat and P3 = 50% chicken manure + 50% peat) with 5 replications. The data obtained were analyzed statistically using variance analysis, followed by Duncan's New Multiple Range Test (DNMRT) at the 5% level. The results showed that chicken manure had a significant effect on the growth of Cratoxylon arborescens seedlings, because it was able to increase fertility and nutrient availability, improve the physical, chemical and biological properties of peat. The most effective and best treatment for four-month-old Cratoxylon arborescens seedlings was P2 (30% chicken manure + 70% peat) with 100% survival percentage, average height increase of 14.39 cm, average diameter increase of 1.56 mm, dry weight of 7.41 g and seedling robustness of 8.35

Planting grass enhances relations between soil microbes and enzyme activities and restores soil functions in a degraded grassland.

Forage culture is a common way to restore degraded grasslands and soil functions, in which the reconstruction of the soil microbial community and its relationship with extracellular enzyme activity (EEAs) can characterize the recovery effects of degraded grasslands. However, the impacts of forage culture on the interaction between soil microbes and EEAs and whether the recovery effect of soil functions depends on the varying degradation statuses remain unclear. We conducted a plantation of a dominant grass, Leymus chinensis, in the soil collected from severe, moderate, light, and non-degradation statuses in the Songnen grassland in northeastern China. We measured soil microbial diversity and soil EEAs, and predicted microbial functional groups using FUNGuild. The results showed that L. chinensis culture promoted soil bacterial alpha diversity and soil EEAs only in the moderate degradation status, indicating a dramatic dependence of the recovery effects of the grass culture on degradation status of the grassland. After planting L. chinensis for 10 weeks, a decreasing trend in the chemoheterotrophy and nitrate-reduction microbial functional groups was found. In contrast, the abundance of the nitrogen (N)-fixing microbial functional group tended to increase. The positive correlation between soil EEAs and the nitrate-reduction and N-fixing microbial functional groups was enhanced by planting L. chinensis, indicating that grass culture could promote soil N cycle functions. We illuminate that grass culture may promote the restoration of soil functions, especially soil N cycling in degraded grasslands, and the recovery effect may depend on the grassland degradation status. We emphasized that selection of the plant species for restoration of grasslands needs to consider the restoration effects of microbial functional groups and soil functions.

Ecological restoration for mega-infrastructure projects: a study based on multi-source heterogeneous data

PurposeThis research aims to propose a model for the complex decision-making involved in the ecological restoration of mega-infrastructure (e.g. railway engineering). This model is based on multi-source heterogeneous data and will enable stakeholders to solve practical problems in decision-making processes and prevent delayed responses to the demand for ecological restoration.Design/methodology/approachBased on the principle of complexity degradation, this research collects and brings together multi-source heterogeneous data, including meteorological station data, remote sensing image data, railway engineering ecological risk text data and ecological restoration text data. Further, this research establishes an ecological restoration plan library to form input feature vectors. Random forest is used for classification decisions. The ecological restoration technologies and restoration plant species suitable for different regions are generated.FindingsThis research can effectively assist managers of mega-infrastructure projects in making ecological restoration decisions. The accuracy of the model reaches 0.83. Based on the natural environment and construction disturbances in different regions, this model can determine suitable types of trees, shrubs and herbs for planting, as well as the corresponding ecological restoration technologies needed.Practical implicationsManagers should pay attention to the multiple types of data generated in different stages of megaproject and identify the internal relationships between these multi-source heterogeneous data, which provides a decision-making basis for complex management decisions. The coupling between ecological restoration technologies and restoration plant species is also an important factor in improving the efficiency of ecological compensation.Originality/valueUnlike previous studies, which have selected a typical section of a railway for specialized analysis, the complex decision-making model for ecological restoration proposed in this research has wider geographical applicability and can better meet the diverse ecological restoration needs of railway projects that span large regions.

Propagation of Some Indigenous Plant Species for Restoration of Degraded Landscapes of Cold Desert in North-West Himalaya

Propagation of Some Indigenous Plant Species for Restoration of Degraded Landscapes of Cold Desert in North-West Himalaya

Experimental extensification of mountain grasslands restores plant species richness but not species composition in the mid‐term

Abstract The traditional grasslands that characterize the cultural landscapes of the Palaeartic mountain massifs represent biodiversity hotspots. Yet, they are currently threatened by the intensification of farming practices, notably excesses in fertilization and irrigation. We experimentally investigated the passive restoration of montane and subalpine hay meadows after 6 years of management intensification, with different levels of fertilization and irrigation, followed by 5 years of release of intensive management, that is, extensification. More specifically, relying on a full randomized block‐design replicated at 11 Swiss study sites constituted of extensively managed meadows, we exposed during 6 years (2010–2015) four 20 m diameter plots to three levels of intensification (low, medium and high inputs), while a fourth plot served as a control (no inputs). In the second phase of the experiment (2016–2020), all study meadows underwent farming extensification. We monitored total species richness and plant diversity (Simpson diversity), indicator plant species as well as the composition and variability of the plant communities based on Bray–Curtis dissimilarity distances. We found that total species richness decreased in the most intensified plots after 6 years of intensification, but all plots retrieved their baseline species richness after 5 years of re‐extensification. In addition, we found no difference between the years in plant diversity (Simpson diversity) among the treatments. Yet, intensification led to different plants communities' compositions in all three levels of intensification in 2015 compared to the extensive plots, and this structural difference remained after 5 years of re‐extensification. Synthesis and applications. Land‐use intensification induces a rapid impoverishment of the flora of mountain meadows. Our results demonstrate the potential of mountain hay meadows to passively restore plant species richness after re‐extensification; however, plants communities did not fully recover. We recommend maintaining fertilization inputs as low as possible and operating active restoration on grasslands formerly intensified.

EVALUATING THE FUNCTIONAL TRAITS OF THE PIONEERING SPECIES: INSIGHTS TO FOREST RESTORATION

The influence of plant traits on interspecific demographic rates to growth and mortality has recently received an increasing attention because it allows understanding of the underlying determinants of species success especially in open degraded areas. This study examined the trait-based approach in selecting potential species for forest restoration. Five (5) native/indigenous pioneer species were evaluated for functional traits such as plant height, branching architecture, leaf dry matter content, specific leaf area, stem density, and bark thickness. All samples were collected from healthy and well grown mature trees growing in secondary forest of Central Mindanao University. The range of values for the various functional traits as observed by Ostertag and Perez-Harguindeguy were used to evaluate. Based on the result, three species such as Phyllantus albus, Polyscias nodosa, and Buchanania arborescence showed to fit in those values hence we recommend that these species should be considered as primary restoration species in various denuded areas of the Philippines. Our result suggests that multiple functional traits (i.e. Leaf anatomical traits, leaf morphological traits and leaf stomatal traits) are still required to be measured to select appropriate plant species for restoration.

Which traits are necessary to quickly select suitable plant species for ecological restoration?

Abstract Traditionally, restoration ecologists and land managers have used the trial‐and‐error method to select candidate restoration species. This method, however, is time consuming (usually more than 3 years) and has a relatively low success rate. Recently, Wang et al. (2020) developed a trait‐based species selection framework which can quickly (within 1 month) and successfully select many appropriate species for ecological restoration. They used 28 traits that are associated with tolerance to harsh environmental conditions to select candidate restoration species for a tropical coral island in Hainan Province, China. However, it is likely that some of the 28 traits used in this study may not be very important for species selection, providing the potential use of fewer overall traits. This is important since in many situations land managers will have limited data and resources on species traits. In this study, we used Wang et al. (2020)’s trait data to test which traits are necessary to achieve a similar success rate when screening species for restoration applications. We performed principal component analysis (PCA) to compute each trait's relative contribution. Then, we used the backward stepwise approach where the trait that had the least contribution among all remaining traits was removed one at a time, and the screening model was then run again using the smaller set of traits. Species which are proven very appropriate for ecological restoration in Wang et al. (2020) were the standard to quantify how many and which traits should be used to acquire similar screening results. We also classified all 28 traits into four types of functional traits to test if a small set of traits can mimic Wang et al. (2020)’s selection results. Our results indicate that it is hard to simultaneously reduce trait numbers and maintain the right screening results; especially for tree species. Likewise, vine species and herbaceous species still required most of the original traits used by Wang et al. (2020). Our results also indicate that multiple trait types are required, rather than one single group of functional traits. Our results reject the possibility of using fewer and more targeted traits for species screening. Although investigations in other ecosystems are needed to test the generality of the conclusion, our results suggest that multiple functional traits are still required to be measured to select appropriate plant species for the restoration of tropical coral islands.

Effect of priming on Carex Schmidtii seed germination and seedling growth: Implications for tussock wetland restoration

Seed priming is a well-established method for promoting seed germination and seedling growth. For Carex schmidtii, as a critical target plant species for restoration of degraded tussock wetlands in Momoge National Nature Reserve (MNNR) in northeast China, improving seed germination is critical to its large-scale population restoration. We conducted laboratory experiments to assess the effects of priming reagents, their concentrations and their interactions on seed germination and seedling growth to explore the most effective reagent and its optimum concentration. Priming significantly promoted C. schmidtii seed germination and seedling growth but significantly differed under varying priming treatments. Priming with GA3 (0.2 g·L−1) significantly enhanced seed germination rate, speed, potential, index, vigor index and shoot growth of C. schmidtii compared to control conditions. KNO3 treatments significantly promoted root biomass, total biomass (0.1%) and root length (0.2%). Additionally, shoot diameter of each priming treatment was significantly from the control. In conclusion, priming with 0.2 g·L−1 GA3 and 0.1–0.2% KNO3 significantly stimulated seed germination and promoted C. schmidtii seedling growth. These findings advance our understanding of the effect of priming on C. schmidtii germination and seedling growth and provide technical support for tussock wetland restoration in MNNR.

Restoring pollination is not only about pollinators: Combining ecological and practical information to identify priority plant species for restoration of the Pampa grasslands of Argentina

Restoration of plant-pollinator interaction has emerged as a critical issue in the maintenance of resilient and healthy ecosystems. However, some challenges remain, such as integrating ecological and practical information in plant species' choices to restore mutualistic interactions. We present a case-based experience that combines ecological information (i.e., plant attractiveness to pollinators as a ranking of the interaction frequency and the species richness of interacting pollinators) and practical information (i.e., ease-of-restoration) to prioritise species for the restoration of pollination. We explore the importance of a set of 18 native plant species in the Argentinian Pampa grasslands. The selected species, representing 19% of the plant species present in the study system's pollination webs, were visited by 93% of the total insect pollinator species registered, which belonged to the most abundant and diverse entomophile plant families in the region. As could be expected, the plant species prioritised for restoring pollination interactions seemed to depend more on ecological (plant attractiveness to pollinators) than practical (ease-of-restoration) information. However, the practical information identified some critical species that may be difficult to propagate and introduce and are therefore unsuitable despite their ecological importance. This ecological and practical information may help prioritise plant species used to restore an essential but neglected ecosystem. We hope this practical case study will guide the planning of restoration projects for biodiversity conservation, contributing to sustaining the grassland biome’s ecosystem functions.

A Web-Based Software Platform for Restoration-Oriented Species Selection Based on Plant Functional Traits

Plant functional traits are fundamental to the understanding of plant adaptations and distributions. Recently, scientists proposed a trait-based species selection theory to support the selection of suitable plant species to restore the degraded ecosystems, to prevent the invasive exotic species and to manage the sustainable ecosystems. Based on this theory, in a previous study, we developed a species screening model and successfully applied it to a project where plant species were selected for restoring a tropical coral island. However, during this process we learned that a software platform is necessary to automate the selection process because it can flexible to assist users. Here, we developed a generalized software platform called the “Restoration Plant Species Selection (RPSS) Platform.” This flexible software is designed to assist users in selecting plant species for particular purposes (e.g., restore the degraded ecosystems and others). It is written in R language and integrated with external R packages, including the packages that computing similarity indexes, providing graphic outputs, and offering web functions. The software has a web-based graphical user interface that allows users to execute required functions via checkboxes and buttons. The platform has cross-platform functionality, which means that it can run on all common operating systems (e.g., Windows, Linux, macOS, and others). We also illustrate a successful case study in which the software platform was used to select suitable plant species for restoration purpose. The objective of this paper is to introduce the newly developed software platform RPSS and to provide useful guidances on using it for various applications. At this step, we also realized that the software platform should be constantly updated (e.g., add new features) in the future. Based on the existing successful application and the possible updates, we believe that our RPSS software platform will have broader applications in the future.

Selecting submerged macrophyte species for replanting in Mediterranean eutrophic wetlands

The criteria to select submerged plant species for restoration still need further evaluations for a better understanding of their suitability prior to undertaking large plantings which represent a large effort in terms of economical and human resources. In this study, previously to the restoration of a eutrophic area (Tancat de la Pipa) within the Albufera de València Natural Park, the growth of three submerged plants (Ceratophyllum demersum, Myriophyllum spicatum and Stuckenia pectinata), an amphibious species (Ranunculus sceleratus), and three charophytes species (Chara vulgaris, Tolypella glomerata and Nitella hyalina) has been evaluated under controlled laboratory conditions in order to rank their overall performance, based on their growth traits (total height reached, production of roots, etc.). The ranking was in the order of M. spicatum ~ S. pectinata > C. demersum and within the charophytes C. vulgaris > T. glomerata > N. hyalina. Moreover, considering the relationships of these species with other biotic factors (bird, fish and crayfish disturbance and herbivory) which can prevent the success of the revegetation, we propose starting the planting with M. spicatum, S. pectinata, R. sceleratus and C. vulgaris, which are available, are very easy to cultivate by vegetative reproduction from shoot tips and small specimens, have appropriate growth traits and certain degree of resistance to biotic factors. The other species (C. demersum, N. hyalina and T. glomerata) could be used subsequently once a suitable cover of submerged vegetation is settled in the area to enhance biodiversity, trying to reach the diversity which existed in the past in that area. Hence, the structural and functional complexity of the system under restoration might be achieved.

Controlling the invaderUrochloa decumbens: Subsidies for ecological restoration in subtropical Campos grassland

AbstractQuestionsRestoration of grassy biomes is currently of large importance, and controlling invasive grasses is often key to restoring these ecosystems in the tropics and subtropics. We combined different ecological restoration techniques to evaluate potential to control the invasive grassUrochloa decumbensand restore plant species composition. Specific questions were: (a) are herbicide application and topsoil removal efficient to controlU. decumbenscover and allow native species establishment; and (b) are hay transfer and sowing native grass species efficient to reintroduce native species and increase their cover?LocationCampos grasslands, southern Brazil.MethodsWe combined the follow restoration techniques: (a) herbicide application or topsoil removal to control the invasive species, and (b) hay transfer or sowing of native grasses to reintroduce native species. We assessed and compared native plant species richness, vegetation cover, native species cover,U. decumbenscover and other exotic species cover in 2016 and 2017.ResultsHerbicide application reduced invasive species cover more than topsoil removal, even though both were effective. The decrease ofU. decumbenscover led to an increase in native species cover and native species richness. Hay transfer and sowing native grasses did not produce satisfactory results for native species reintroduction. Native species richness andU. decumbenscover increased from 2016 to 2017.ConclusionHerbicide application was a better option to controlU. decumbensand to allow recovery of native species. However, use of herbicides in restoration is controversial, and more detailed studies on impacts are necessary. Environmental filters appear to be a major cause for failure of hay transfer and seeding species. Recovery of the native plant community is a great challenge in invaded subtropical grasslands, and additional management actions and time are necessary to increase the establishment of native species.

Phytoremediation of heavy metals and PAHs at slag fill site: three-year field-scale investigation

Big Marsh is a 121-hectares site, representative of many other sites in the Calumet region (near Chicago, IL, USA), which has been significantly altered by the steel industry and decades of legal and illegal dumping and industrial filling. The slag-containing soil at the site has been found to be contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals. Due to the large size of the site to be remedied, and variable distribution of the contaminants throughout the shallow depth at slightly above the risk-based levels, phytoremediation is considered as a green and sustainable remedial option. The objective of this work was to investigate the use of phytoremediation in a three-year field-scale study, specifically determine plant survival and the fate of PAHs and heavy metals in soil and plant roots and stems. Replicate test plots were prepared by laying a thin layer of compost at the ground surface and then tilling and homogenizing the slag–soil fill to a depth of approximately 0.3 m. Nine native and restoration plant species were selected and planted at the site, and their survival and growth were monitored and fate of contaminants in soil and plants were also monitored for three growing seasons. Sequential extraction procedure was performed to determine the fractionation of the heavy metals in soils before and after planting. The results showed a decrease in PAHs concentrations in the soil, probably due to enhanced biodegradation within rhizosphere. No significant decrease in heavy metal concentrations in soil was found, but they were found to be immobilized. Contaminant concentrations were found below detection limits in the plant roots and shoots samples, demonstrating insignificant uptake by the plants. Overall, selected native grasses in combination with compost amendment to the soil proved to be able to survive under the harsh site slag fill conditions, helping to degrade or immobilize the contaminants and reducing the risk of the contaminants to public and the environment.

Field-Scale Phytoremediation of Mixed Contaminants in Upland Area of Big Marsh Site, Chicago, USA

The suitability of nine native restoration plant species has been evaluated for phytoremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals in upland area of Big Marsh site (Chicago, IL, USA). From the initial nine species planted in the experimental area, only the prairie grass Little Bluestem (Andropogon scoparius) survived the three growing seasons. Replicate test plots were prepared by tilling and homogenizing the surface soil and underlying fill materials to approximate depth of 0.3 m. The survival and growth of the plant species were monitored for the first two growing seasons. Soil samples from each plot were collected before and after preparing the test plots and after the second and third growing seasons. Plant root and shoot samples were also collected at the end of the second and third growing seasons. PAHs and heavy metals were analyzed in the soil and plant samples. In addition, sequential extraction procedure was followed to determine the fractionation of the heavy metals in soils before and after planting. Analysis of benzo-a-pyrene (typical PAH) concentrations in roots showed an uptake and accumulation of this contaminant in the below-ground part of the plant, while the presence of the organic contaminants in stems and leaves of the surviving plant were non-detectable. No significant decrease of heavy metals was found in the soil at the end of the experiment. Furthermore, the presence of plants did not affect the heavy metal mobility or speciation in the soil. However, the presence of chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) in the roots of Little Bluestem indicated the uptake and accumulation of these metals in the plant. The presence of Cr and Pb in stems and leaves was below detection limits, while concentrations of Mn and Zn were found to increase in the aerial part of the plant towards the end of the experiment. The survival of Little Bluestem and its high tolerance to the site conditions, makes it a suitable species for the phytoremediation of conditions representative of the upland areas of the field site.

Plant, soil and microbial controls on grassland diversity restoration: a long‐term, multi‐site mesocosm experiment

Summary The success of grassland biodiversity restoration schemes is determined by many factors; as such their outcomes can be unpredictable. There is a need for improved understanding of the relative importance of below‐ground factors to restoration success, such as contrasting soil type and management intensities, as well as plant community composition and order of assembly. We carried out an 8‐year mesocosm experiment across three locations in the UK to explore the relative and interactive roles of various above‐ground and below‐ground factors in the establishment of target species, to determine general constraints on grassland restoration. Each location had a series of mesocosms with contrasting soil types and management status, which were initially sown with six grasses typical of species‐poor grasslands targeted for restoration. Over 5 years, sets of plant species were added, to test how different vegetation treatments, including early‐coloniser species and the hemiparasite Rhinanthus minor, and soil type and management, influenced the establishment of target plant species and community diversity. The addition of early‐coloniser species to model grasslands suppressed the establishment of target species, indicating a strong priority effect. Soil type was also an important factor, but effects varied considerably across locations. In the absence of early‐coloniser species, low soil nutrient availability improved establishment of target species across locations, although R. minor had no beneficial effect. Synthesis and applications. Our long‐term, multi‐site study indicates that successful restoration of species‐rich grassland is dependent primarily on priority effects, especially in the form of early‐coloniser species that suppress establishment of slow‐growing target species. We also show that priority effects vary with soil conditions, being stronger in clay than sandy soils, and on soils of high nutrient availability. As such, our work emphasises the importance of considering priority effects and local soil conditions in developing management strategies for restoring plant species diversity in grassland.

Selecting plant species for practical restoration of degraded lands using a multiple-trait approach

Ecological restoration is essential in rehabilitating degraded areas and safeguarding biodiversity, ecosystem services and human welfare. Using functional traits to plan restoration strategies has been suggested as they are the main ecological attributes that underlie ecosystem processes and services. However, few studies have translated ecological theory into actual restoration practices that can be easily used by different stakeholders. In this article, we applied a multiple-trait approach to select plant species for the restoration of degraded lands inside the Brazilian Amazon Forests. We selected 10 traits encompassing ease of management, geographical distribution and interactions with animals and other ecosystem services and scored these traits using 118 native species. Then, we ranked all species according to the total number of traits that they exhibited to obtain a list of 53 highly ranked species. In addition, we employed non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) to assess the variation in these traits across the entire group of species. Based on the results, we selected a subset of species that maximizes functional diversity (high variability). We performed a sparse linear discriminant analysis (SLDA) to highlight a minimum set of traits to effectively discriminate botanical families. The final list of species and their traits highlight the importance of preserving not only the historical reference of a focused ecosystem but also its functional diversity to restore the interaction with local fauna, enrich the food chain and guarantee ecosystem services for local communities.

Impact of grasshoppers and an invasive grass on establishment and initial growth of restoration plant species

AbstractExotic plant invasion can have dramatic impacts on native plants making restoration of native vegetation at invaded sites challenging. Though invasives may be superior competitors, it is possible their dominance could be enhanced by insect herbivores if native plants are preferred food sources. Insect herbivory can regulate plant populations, but little is known of its effects in restoration settings. There is a need to better understand relationships between insect herbivores and invasive plants with regard to their combined potential for impacting native plant establishment and restoration success. The objective of this study was to assess impacts of grasshopper herbivory and the invasive grass Bromus tectorum (cheatgrass) on mortality and growth of 17 native plant species used in restoration of critical sagebrush steppe ecosystems. Field and greenhouse experiments were conducted using moderate densities of a common, generalist pest grasshopper (Melanoplus bivittatus). Grasshoppers had stronger and more consistent impacts on native restoration plants in field and greenhouse studies than cheatgrass. After 6 weeks in the greenhouse, grasshoppers were associated with 36% mortality over all native restoration species compared to 2% when grasshoppers were absent. Herbivory was also associated with an approximately 50% decrease in native plant biomass. However, effects varied among species. Artemisia tridentata, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, and Coreopsis tinctoria were among the most negatively impacted, while Oenothera pallida, Pascopyrum smithii, and Leymus cinerus were unaffected. These findings suggest restoration species could be selected to more effectively establish and persist within cheatgrass infestations, particularly when grasshopper populations are forecasted to be high.

Recovery of forest floor diversity after removal of the nonnative, invasive plantEuonymus fortunei1

Abstract The vine Euonymus fortunei (Turcz.) Hand.-Mazz. is invading forests of the eastern United States; as a result, removal of E. fortunei has become a priority of resource managers. This study examined the effectiveness of five techniques for eliminating E. fortunei, restoring plant species richness, and enhancing recolonization by woody species. In 2003, the following five treatments were applied: burn with a propane torch, light exclusion by plastic tarp, burn and glyphosate application, cut (simulated grazing) and glyphosate application, mow and glyphosate application, plus an untreated control. Each treatment was replicated four times in a randomized block design located in a heavily E. fortunei–invaded forest remnant in Lexington, KY. Vegetation was surveyed in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2013. Across years, most treatments were associated with reduced E. fortunei cover and increased total species richness. Over time, E. fortunei cover increased across treatments, such that by 2013, no differenc...

Conservation meets restoration – rescuing threatened plant species by restoring their environments and restoring environments using threatened plant species

Plant conservation biology needs a new approach to cope with the rapid disappearance of species and ecosystems. This paper is an attempt to introduce such an approach via conceptual integration of conservation biology and restoration ecology in what can be called conservation-oriented restoration. Use of this term is limited to cases when restoration is applied to a still-functioning ecosystem, excluding cases when the destroyed ecosystem must be recreated or altered to a desirable state. The paper demonstrates the importance of habitat restoration for the majority of threatened species, and, although it may seem paradoxical, advocates usefulness of threatened plant species for restoration of natural habitats. It is proposed that threatened plant species should become an important part of many restoration projects and be introduced not only into locations where they currently grow or grew in the recent past, but also into suitable locations within their potential distribution range. Because the number of potentially suitable locations can be close to zero if we consider only untouched natural habitats as suitable, the introduction sites should include those that require restoration efforts. The available literature is reviewed to show why and how ecological restoration should become an integral part of the conservation biologist's armory.