Ecological restoration across the Mediterranean Basin as viewed by practitioners

Nunes, Alice; Oliveira, Graça; Mexia, Teresa; Valdecantos, Alejandro; Zucca, Claudio; Costantini, E.; Abraham, Εleni M.; Kyriazopoulos, Apostolos P.; Salah, Ayman M.A.; Prasse, Ruediger; Correia, Otília; Milliken, Sarah; Kotzen, Benz; Branquinho, Cristina

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.05.136

Cited by 69 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 31 publications

(50 reference statements)

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“…In MTEs, the germination of winter annuals after short‐time storage is a prerequisite for successful restoration of degraded habitats, where annual forbs may have an important role in the sustainability of ecosystem services (Nunes et al . ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Hydrothermal thresholds for seed germination in winter annual forbs from old‐field Mediterranean landscapes

Frischie

Fernández-Pascual

Ramírez³

et al. 2018

Plant Biol J

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Under Mediterranean climates with dry-hot summers and cool-wet winters, many forbs with potential for habitat restoration are winter annuals, but there is little information about their germination. We performed laboratory germination experiments on 13 ruderal dicots native to Andalusia (southern Spain). We measured the germination of recently harvested seeds from natural populations across nine temperature treatments (from 5 to 35 °C, constant and alternate); two storage periods; and eight water stress treatments (from 0 to -1.0 MPa). We then calculated the hydrothermal thresholds for seed germination. Final germination ranged from 0-100% and results were mixed in response to temperature. Base temperature was below 6 °C, optimal temperature was around 14 °C and the ceiling temperature around 23 °C. For five species, 10 months of storage improved total germination, indicating a dormancy-breaking effect, but the other species did not respond or had their germination reduced. All species were relatively tolerant to water stress, with base water potential ranging from -0.8 to -1.8 MPa. Our results suggest that hydrothermal germination thresholds, rather than physiological dormancy, are the main drivers of germination phenology in annual forbs from Mediterranean semi-dry environments. The variation in germination responses of these forb species differs from winter annual grasses, but their seeds are all suitable for being stored before restoration.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Hydrothermal thresholds for seed germination in winter annual forbs from old‐field Mediterranean landscapes

Frischie

Fernández-Pascual

Ramírez³

et al. 2018

Plant Biol J

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“…A substantial part of current restoration ecology occurs in human‐disturbed habitats (Nunes et al ; Prach & Tolvanen ). The repair of degraded sites is achieved along a gradient of processes from passive restoration, in which recovery happens through natural succession, to technical reclamation, including plantings and sowings of target species (Prach & Hobbs ; Holl & Aide ; Cross et al ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Endozoochory of a dry‐fruited tree aids quarry passive restoration and seed soaking further increases seedling emergence

Salgueiro

Silva

Eufrázio

et al. 2020

Restoration Ecology

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As practitioners promote passive restoration as a complementary approach to technical reclamation, it is imperative to know its drivers. Although the consequences of endozoochory can be crucial to passive restoration success, few experimental studies assess the use of heavily disturbed sites by seed dispersers such as carnivores and how the seeds they bring in emerge and survive. Using an indoor sowing experiment conducted in a quarry located within a natural park in Portugal, we examined for the first time how carnivore endozoochorous seeds collected in the quarry potentially influence its passive restoration, through effects on plant emergence and survival. Also, we tested whether sowing date and water soaking, relevant factors when sowings are to be carried out, would affect seedling emergence and mortality rates when compared with the effect of endozoochory. Our target species were included in the revegetation plan of the quarry, of which endozoochorous seeds of Carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua) were collected in sufficient number for analysis. Irrespective of the carnivore species, endozoochorous carob seeds performed similarly to untreated seeds regarding emergence rates. Endozoochorous carob seedlings showed greater mortality rates but the net result for the plant can still be the colonization of recently vacant habitats by a large proportion of viable seeds. Concerning sowing date, the later carob seeds were sown over the fruit-ripening season the faster seedlings emerged. Water soaking increased emergence rate by 6.5 times. Broadly, sowings with previous soaking and carnivore-mediated seed dispersal of this dry-fruited tree can jointly enhance quarry restoration. Implications for Practice• Restorers can undertake pilot sowing experiments prior to large-scale revegetation campaigns to identify which species benefit the most from endozoochory. • Carnivores in the surroundings of a quarry contribute a large proportion of viable seeds, likely assisting quarry passive restoration. • Carnivores ingesting carob seeds later in the fruiting season may assist quarry passive revegetation more readily as seeds ingested around that time emerge earlier. • Immersion in tap water is a simple, inexpensive, and highly efficient method to break physical dormancy when carob seed sowings are to be carried out in degraded sites.

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“…Moreover, we still lack predictive ability concerning the trajectories and outcomes of restored ecosystems (Suding et al ). For instance, Nunes et al () concluded that 50% of the analyzed restoration projects in the Mediterranean Basin failed to commit to expected targets. The projects showed inadequate success on biodiversity restoration due to high plant mortality, unbalanced community structure, and low soil quality and erosion.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unraveling the dynamics of a ground‐dwelling beetle population exposed to quarry exploitation and restoration practices

Eufrázio

Oliveira

Miralto

et al. 2020

Restoration Ecology

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Quarry exploitation and restoration practices are expected to have overarching and contrasting impacts on animal communities. Although many studies describe these impacts, they generally overlook the effects on population dynamics and individual movements. We assessed the impacts of quarry exploitation and restoration activity on population dynamics, individual movement, and habitat use of a sand-dwelling specialist beetle (Scarites cyclops). The study was performed on three plots: one adjacent to the margin of quarry exploitation, another subjected to restoration practices, and a control plot with no disturbance. A capture-mark-recapture approach was undertaken to estimate population parameters, movement, and habitat use. In the exploitation plot S. cyclops exhibited lower probability of recapture and lower apparent survival, as well as many movements fleeing away from quarry limits. Habitat suitability modeling showed that the exploitation plot provided better habitat conditions for the species than the restoration plot. It exhibited higher bare ground cover with scattered clumps of vegetation and higher proportions of fine sand (<0.4 mm). In the restoration plot, S. cyclops population showed a lower abundance, with a higher rate of recaptures, and a more limited dispersal ability of the individuals. There is an apparent early stage of colonization by S. cyclops in the restoration plot, but movements may already be hampered by unsuitable habitat restoration (higher herbaceous cover and different soil texture). We suggest preserving suitable habitat patches in the vicinity of the impacted areas and providing dispersal routes. Beyond vegetation, soil texture must be considered to allow local animal communities to establish in restored areas.

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Ecological restoration across the Mediterranean Basin as viewed by practitioners

Cited by 69 publications

References 31 publications

Hydrothermal thresholds for seed germination in winter annual forbs from old‐field Mediterranean landscapes

Hydrothermal thresholds for seed germination in winter annual forbs from old‐field Mediterranean landscapes

Endozoochory of a dry‐fruited tree aids quarry passive restoration and seed soaking further increases seedling emergence

Unraveling the dynamics of a ground‐dwelling beetle population exposed to quarry exploitation and restoration practices

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