EDITOR'S CHOICE: Application of genetic diversity–ecosystem function research to ecological restoration

Abstract

Summary1. Three common goals for restoration are (i) rapid plant establishment, (ii) long-term plant persistence and (iii) restoration of functioning ecosystems. Restoration practitioners often use cultivars optimized for rapid plant establishment under highly disturbed conditions to achieve the first goal; locally adapted genotypes are championed for the second because they can be well suited for local environmental conditions. Restoring functioning ecosystems is considered a loftier goal that practitioners struggle to achieve because we lack proven techniques. 2. Similar to the demonstrated benefits of species, functional and phylogenetic diversity for ecosystem functions (EFs), recent genetic diversity (GD)-ecosystem function (EF) experiments have shown that increases in plant GD can positively influence many different EFs. Would the introduction of diverse plant genotypes of a given species into a restoration enhance ecosystem functioning and the evolutionary potential of restored populations? 3. In this review, we first examine three propagule-sourcing approaches: cultivar, local adaptation and GD. Next, we raise questions that if addressed, could help practitioners implement a GD approach in restoration: (i) How might the selection, relatedness and arrangement of genotypes be optimized to restore functioning ecosystems, (ii) How do traits that affect an EF relate to neutral or adaptive diversity, more common measures of GD and (iii) at which spatial and temporal scales does GD influence EFs in restorations? 4. Synthesis and applications. Although each propagule-sourcing approach may be best suited for a particular restoration goal, each approach may simultaneously benefit other goals. Yet cultivars and locally adapted populations that have experienced artificial and/or natural selection may not possess the levels of diversity that will confer expected benefits to different ecosystem functions. Future research should determine the relative value of each approach (or a combination of approaches) for simultaneously achieving multiple restoration goals. Restoration experiments, where plant genetic diversity (GD) is manipulated and monitored over scales relevant to restoration, could reveal the true promise of a GD approach to restoration.

Suppressing competitive dominants and community restoration with native parasitic plants using the hemiparasitic Rhinanthus alectorolophus and the dominant grass Calamagrostis epigejos

“…A more pragmatic approach to seed origin may be considered; e.g., the recently suggested genetic diversity approach, which involves sowing a mixture of seeds originating from multiple sources (Kettenring et al . ).…”

Long-term transformation of submontane spruce-beech forests in the Jizerské hory Mts.: dynamics of natural regeneration

“…The reproductive material is very important for transformation because it influences transformation success from both short-term and long-term aspects (Thomas et al 2014). Genetic suitability positively influences not only individual tree populations (Breed et al 2012) but also the general ecosystem function and resistance (Thompson et al 2010;Kettenring et al 2014).…”

Biodiversity and Resilience of Ecosystem Functions

“…environmental management in the face of conflicting land use pressures, there is an urgent 48 need to quantify and predict the spatial and temporal distribution of ecosystem functions 49 and services [see Glossary ; 4, 5, 6]. Progress is being made in this area, but a serious issue is 50 that monitoring and modelling the delivery of ecosystem functions has been largely based 51 on the current set of environmental conditions (e.g.…”

“…133 The impacts of environmental perturbations on ecosystem functions will depend on the population [18]. This reduces the population impacts of environmental perturbations [48] 201 and promotes resistance of ecosystem functions [49]. In addition, the persistence of 202 tolerant genotypes locally means that population recovery rates are likely to be higher, 203 leading to enhanced function recovery rates [48,50].…”