Assessing translocation management techniques through experimental trials: a case study of the endangered shrub Persoonia hirsuta

Abstract

Translocation is commonly used in the conservation of threatened species to help mitigate the risk of local extinctions. However, translocations are often limited by knowledge of the species ecological requirements that promote persistence in the landscape. Small translocation trials with a strong experimental design can help to address species knowledge gaps and identify effective strategies for the successful establishment of a threatened species prior to implementing full‐scale planting regimes. In this study, we experimentally translocated 128 plants of the endangered Persoonia hirsuta (Proteaceae) at a dry sclerophyll mining offset in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, and investigated the effects of propagation type (seeds and vegetative cuttings), plant guards, and mulching on short‐term plant growth and survival. Transplants were impacted by herbivory and unprecedented extreme temperatures over summer 2019–2020 with 25 of the 128 plants surviving after 20 months of monitoring. Among the surviving individuals, all but one were seed propagated and 72% of survivors were protected by a plant guard. Short‐term survival and establishment of P. hirsuta translocants was increased by producing plants from seeds, and the use of plant guards with localized mulch. We also identified significantly greater root volume, projected area, and diameter for seedlings than cuttings grown plants. Our study successfully identified several key factors that should be considered for the ongoing management of P. hirsuta and vindicates the importance of small experimental trials when planning threatened plant translocations.

Translocations of threatened plants in the Mediterranean Basin: current status and future directions

“…Paradoxically, even the very definition of the success of a plant translocation could be a slippery matter; to determine the translocation success, the preparation of an operational translocation protocol, adapted to the biology and ecology of the plant species under consideration is essential (Maschinski and Albrecht 2017;Commander et al 2018;Fenu et al 2019;Silcock et al 2019), providing the scientific data to support on-ground actions and guide their implementation (Maslovat 2009;NSRF 2014;Abeli and Dixon 2016;Maschinski and Albrecht 2017;Commander et al 2018;Andres et al 2022). The estimation of the translocation success also depends on other considerations, such as the outputs of long-term demographic monitoring (e.g., IUCN/SSC 2013; Maschinski and Albrecht 2017;Commander et al 2018) that provides feedback on recruitment, plant survival, and reproductive success Commander et al 2018;Albrecht et al 2019;Fenu et al 2019), contributing significantly to improving future translocation protocols (Albrecht et al 2011;Jusaitis 2012;Silcock et al 2019).…”

Searching for Optimal Substitute Habitats for Plants by Biological Experiments—A Case Study of the Endangered Species Aldrovanda vesiculosa L. (Droseraceae)

“…Conservation translocation is the controlled placement of plants into natural or semi-natural habitats with the aim of preventing the extinction of species [ 8 ]. The experiences of both successful and unsuccessful reintroduction attempts conducted so far show clearly that knowledge of the species biology and the correct choice of habitat based on scientific data and practitioners’ assessments are extremely important while undertaking such activities [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ].…”

Translocation of the epiphytic bromeliad Vriesea incurvata: an efficient tool for biodiversity restoration in the Atlantic Forest

“…The translocation of plants is used for species conservation worldwide because it allows stabilizing and restoring declining plant populations by means of individuals grown in an ex situ environment that come from the same location or nearby natural populations, a practice named reinforcement (IUCN/SSC, 2013). This tool has been used mainly for the restoration of terrestrial plant populations, especially tree species (Duarte and Gandolfi, 2013;Silcock et al, 2019;Almeida et al, 2020;Braga et al, 2021;Doyle et al, 2021;Andres et al, 2022) to reestablish the phytophysiognomy (Bellotto et al, 2009). However, epiphytes do not effectively colonize these areas, due to restricted seed dispersal caused by fragmentation, and even areas restored decades ago remain with little contribution of the ecological functions of this plant group (Garcia et al, 2016).…”