Effects of hay management and native species sowing on grassland community structure, biomass, and restoration

Foster, Bryan L.; Kindscher, Kelly; Houseman, Gregory R.; Murphy, Cheryl A.

doi:10.1890/08-0849.1

Cited by 52 publications

(60 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Combined, these data suggest that changes in beta diversity with exotic species introductions could be associated with important changes in functional diversity. These differences may not always be permanent and altering management practices in exotic systems by seeding native species, mowing, or haying could increase functional diversity in some cases (Foster et al 2009, Weigelt et al 2009, Questad et al 2011. In contrast, native-dominated grasslands differed more gradually with distance, because some native species were found consistently across the gradient (e.g., A. gerardii [big bluestem] and S. nutans [Indian grass]).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differences in beta diversity between exotic and native grasslands vary with scale along a latitudinal gradient

Martin

Wilsey

2015

Ecology

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Biodiversity can be partitioned into alpha, beta, and gamma components, and beta diversity is not as clearly understood. Biotic homogenization predicts that exotic species should lower beta diversity at global and continental scales, but it is still unclear how exotic species impact beta diversity at smaller scales. Exotic species could theoretically increase or decrease beta diversity relative to natives depending on many factors, including abiotic conditions, community assembly history, management, dispersal rates of species, and connectivity among patches. We sampled plant species abundances in 42 novel, exotic-and native-dominated (remnant) grasslands across a latitudinal gradient in the tallgrass prairie region, and tested whether exotic and native grasslands differed in beta diversity at three scales: across sites within the entire biome, across sites within regions, and across locations within sites. Exotic-dominated grasslands differed from native-dominated grasslands in beta diversity at all scales, but the direction of the difference changed from positive to negative as scales went from large to small. Contrary to expectations, exotic-dominated grasslands had higher beta diversity than native-dominated grasslands at the largest scale considered. This occurred because the identity of dominant exotic species varied across the latitudinal gradient, with many exotic grassland pairs exhibiting zero similarity, whereas native-dominated grasslands differed more gradually with distance. Beta diversity among sites within a region was variable, with exotic-dominated grasslands having 29% higher beta diversity than native grasslands in the south and 33% lower beta diversity in the north. Within sites, beta diversity was 26% lower in exotic-dominated than native grasslands. Our results provide evidence that different regional identities and abundances of exotics, and lack of connectivity in fragmented landscapes can alter beta diversity in unexpected ways across spatial scales. Abstract. Biodiversity can be partitioned into alpha, beta, and gamma components, and beta diversity is not as clearly understood. Biotic homogenization predicts that exotic species should lower beta diversity at global and continental scales, but it is still unclear how exotic species impact beta diversity at smaller scales. Exotic species could theoretically increase or decrease beta diversity relative to natives depending on many factors, including abiotic conditions, community assembly history, management, dispersal rates of species, and connectivity among patches. We sampled plant species abundances in 42 novel, exotic-and native-dominated (remnant) grasslands across a latitudinal gradient in the tallgrass prairie region, and tested whether exotic and native grasslands differed in beta diversity at three scales: across sites within the entire biome, across sites within regions, and across locations within sites. Exotic-dominated grasslands differed from native-dominated grasslands in beta diversity at all scales, but the direc...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differences in beta diversity between exotic and native grasslands vary with scale along a latitudinal gradient

Martin

Wilsey

2015

Ecology

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“…Moderate disturbance can counteract competitive exclusion by reducing competitive dominance and increasing resource availability (Foster et al . ; Myers & Harms ). Cutting and grazing were found to control competitive dominants, resulting in higher species diversity owing to the availability of open space for germination, reduced competition for light and resources and reduced local seed rain (Walker et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to the shifting limitations hypothesis (SLH), dispersal vs. niche availability constrains change along gradients of soil fertility and productivity (Foster et al . ) that in terms of filters would mean that the dispersal and biotic filters interact along the gradients of abiotic factors.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The application of a filter‐based assembly model to develop best practices for Pannonian sand grassland restoration

Halassy

Singh

Szabó³

et al. 2016

Journal of Applied Ecology

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1. The application of a filter-based assembly model is a promising concept to support ecological restoration. The filters illustrate dispersal, abiotic and biotic constraints that narrow down the species pool and determine the realized species composition. The aim of restoration interventions is the manipulation of filters to achieve a restoration target. 2. We tested the applicability of a filter-based assembly model in the restoration of endemic Pannonian sandy grassland on old-fields. We report the results of a six-year experiment to identify key filters and find possible interactions. Treatments included the following: (i) seeding (dispersal filter), (ii) carbon amendment to lower nitrogen availability (abiotic filter) and (iii) mowing (biotic filter). Treatments were carried out in 1 m 2 plots following the same Latin square design in three old-fields. 3. Seeding was the most important treatment increasing species richness, vascular cover and enhancing target species composition. Mowing played a secondary role, acting primarily in interaction with the other treatments. Carbon amendment significantly reduced soil mineral nitrogen, but played a subordinate role in determining vegetation composition. Significant interactions were found between the biotic and dispersal and the biotic and abiotic filters determining primarily the structural characteristics of the vegetation in terms of vascular cover, moss cover, litter and bare ground. Regarding species composition, synergistic links between the dispersal and biotic filters for seeded species and long-lived forbs, and antagonistic interaction between the dispersal and abiotic filters for seeded species were found. 4. Synthesis and applications. Based on the impact and interactions of filters uncovered in this experiment, we propose a scheme for Pannonian grassland restoration, which can be validated and also used for other oligotrophic systems. In the proposed conceptual model, the dispersal filter plays a key role in determining the outcome of restoration measures followed by the biotic filter if manipulated by mowing, while the abiotic filter altered by nitrogen immobilization proved to have a weak effect. Based on our results, targeting several filters in parallel would improve restoration outcome. We propose that filter interactions should form an integral part of filter-based assembly models and should be taken into account in restoration decisions.

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“…2003). Seeding native species can overcome this limitation and allow mangers to direct plant community assembly (Whisenant 1999; Martin & Wilsey 2006; Foster et al. 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Demographic processes limiting seedling recruitment in arid grassland restoration

James

Svejcar

Rinella

2011

Journal of Applied Ecology

276

252

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Summary 1.Seeding is an important management tool in aridland restoration, but seeded species often fail to establish. Previous research has largely focused on the technical aspects of seeding with little effort directed at identifying demographic processes driving recruitment failures. 2. In tilled plots, in each of 3 years, we estimated life stage transition probabilities for three species commonly used in sage steppe restoration. We also took similar measurements on seed sown by managers following four major fires. 3. Point estimates and associated Bayesian confidence intervals demonstrated germination probabilities that were consistently high, averaging 0AE72. However, estimates suggest only 17 and 7% of the germinated seeds emerged in the tilled plots and fire sites, respectively. Following emergence, survival across the seedling, juvenile and adult transitions averaged 0AE72. This suggests the transition from a germinated seed to an emerged seedling was the major bottleneck in recruitment. Although most individuals died during emergence, this was not always the principal source of variation in recruitment across sites. 4. Synthesis and applications. Processes occurring after emergence, such as mortality during spring and summer drought, may contribute to site-to-site variation in recruitment but are unlikely to be the main causes of restoration failures. Instead, recruitment may largely be determined by processes occurring during emergence, such as freezing and thawing of the seedbed, development of physical soil crusts and pathogen attack on germinated seeds. Using tools such as seed coatings and soil amendments to manage processes inhibiting emergence and developing seed mixes with higher emergence probabilities are likely to greatly improve restoration outcomes in the sage steppe and similar aridland systems.

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Effects of hay management and native species sowing on grassland community structure, biomass, and restoration

Cited by 52 publications

References 37 publications

Differences in beta diversity between exotic and native grasslands vary with scale along a latitudinal gradient

Differences in beta diversity between exotic and native grasslands vary with scale along a latitudinal gradient

The application of a filter‐based assembly model to develop best practices for Pannonian sand grassland restoration

Demographic processes limiting seedling recruitment in arid grassland restoration

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