Growth-survival trade-offs and the restoration of non-forested open ecosystems

Fantinato, Edy; Fiorentin, Roberto; Bella, A. Della; Buffa, Gabriella

doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2023.e02383

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 81 publications

(100 reference statements)

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“…The lack of management is also related to the uncontrolled trampling of dunes, which is one of the main causes of plant community destruction and homogenisation (e.g., [40,62,68,69]). Human trampling can directly damage plant species [40,70,71] and can also favour the establishment and spread of alien species by altering the physical and chemical conditions of the dunes [47,[72][73][74] or by increasing propagule pressure, as tourists may inadvertently carry seeds on their clothing [75,76].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coastal Dune Restoration: A Checklist Approach to Site Selection

Della Bella,

Del Vecchio,

Fantinato

et al. 2024

Land

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Coastal dune systems around the world have been severely degraded by human activities, especially in the last century. This has resulted in severe structural and functional damage to these dynamic yet fragile transitional ecosystems and a net loss of important ecosystem services, especially in the face of climate change threats. The implementation of measures for sustainable coastal management and the restoration of degraded ecosystems are urgently needed. In this context, we revised and used several indicators and indices on the geomorphology, biology, and ecology of the dune systems along the Venetian coast to define the current conservation status and assess the feasibility of dune restoration measures. The application of the indices provided important information about the sites and the measures needed to improve the functionality of the coastal dune systems. In addition, the indices provided useful insights for the implementation of management strategies aimed at ensuring the current and future provision of ecosystem services by coastal dune systems and promoting their sustainable use by translating scientific knowledge into management and restoration practices, which has been a bottleneck in ecosystem conservation and restoration so far.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coastal Dune Restoration: A Checklist Approach to Site Selection

Della Bella,

Del Vecchio,

Fantinato

et al. 2024

Land

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“…Therefore, phanerophytes are faced with a critical evolutionary dilemma, often documented as a trade-off: they can either prioritise survival by adapting to adverse conditions or focus on rapid growth to outcompete others in favourable environments. Hence, there is a well-documented trade-off among phanerophyte life history strategies between survival and growth (Fantinato et al, 2023).…”

Section: The Survival Vs Growth Tradeoffmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The competitive versus stress-tolerating trade-off is not unique to phanerophytes; some studies, such as one on dune plantings by Fantinato et al (2023), indicate similar trade-offs in non-phanerophytes plants as well. Moreover, according to the Stress Gradient Hypothesis, plants are more likely to exhibit facilitative interactions in harsher environments and competitive interactions in more benign conditions.…”

Section: The Survival Vs Growth Tradeoffmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hügelkultur at Wairarapa Moana: Exploring the effects of buried coarse woody debris on revegetation efforts in a high-stress growing environment

Panzarella

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In partnership with local government, the Featherston-based community restoration group Pai Tū Mōkai o Tauira led a revegetation trial at Lake Wairarapa, New Zealand. Using Hügelkultur, a technique that involves burying wood to improve soil fertility and moisture retention, this study examined the effects of the buried wood on the survival and growth of 800 native seedlings of eight species planted in a high-stress growing environment. Differences in soil properties and leaf traits were also assessed on and off Hügelkultur mounds.Plants within the Hügelkultur area exhibited a 71% survival rate, 43% higher than those planted in the control plots without buried wood. However, survival patterns during the first five months diverged significantly from those observed over the subsequent two years. Among the plants that did survive, those in the Hügelkultur plots showed a remarkable 140% higher average growth compared to their counterparts in the control plots. Curiously, the survival of Cordyline australis and the relative growth of Leptospermum scoparium were not significantly influenced by the Hügelkultur beds. When considering an overall performance score that combines growth and survival, Phormium tenax, Cordyline australis, and Austroderia fulvida performed relatively well in control plots as well as across the study. Muehlenbeckia astonii showed strong performance, specifically in Hügelkultur conditions, but not in the controls.When examining only the Hügelkultur plots without control plants as the reference, plants situated directly above the buried wood continued to demonstrate significantly higher survival rates. This effect was particularly pronounced for Leptospermum scoparium and Phormium cookianum. However, within the Hügelkultur plots, the presence of buried wood had no significant impact on overall relative growth rates. Conversely, Phormium tenax and Phormium cookianum did exhibit significantly higher growth when located on or near the buried wood.Initial soil tests in 2021 verified the soil's poor quality. Despite the addition of substantial amounts of buried wood and wood chip, further tests in 2023 showed a significant decline in soil conditions, with an especially pronounced decrease in organic matter at the shallow sampling depth. The buried wood appeared to have a significant impact only on potassium and pH levels. These were also the two soil properties significantly associated with both plant growth and survival rates. Austroderia fulvida and Cordyline australis showed growth rates sensitive to soil conditions, suggesting their potential as soil quality indicators.Coprosma robusta and Myoporum laetum exhibited extreme responses to the buried wood treatments: both species had poor overall survival but high growth rates among surviving individuals. This "grow or die" strategy was particularly evident in Myoporum, the only species to have an overall higher relative growth rate than survival rate.Coprosma robusta had a significant inverse relationship between specific leaf area (SLA) and relative growth rate (RGR), suggesting intraspecific variation. Along with a strong negative relationship between SLA and 2023 plant height, results hint at Coprosma potentially being highly adaptable when differentiated sunlight amount is not a factor. Mantel tests found no significant spatial patterns in plant survival or growth, and overall, edge effects were generally not evident across the study. This suggests that other, non-spatial variables likely drive these outcomes. However, Coprosma robusta exhibited a unique sensitivity to edge effects, enjoying higher survival rates away from the edges. Unmeasured variables like soil moisture and weed competition are suggested as likely proximate drivers of the main effects of the Hügelkultur beds observed in the data. Given the slow decay rate of wood, the study captures just a brief initial snapshot of a long-term process. The study has expanded current understanding, leading to new insights while laying a good foundation for further study.

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Ecological intensification: multifunctional flower strips support beneficial arthropods in an organic apple orchard

Favarin,

Sommaggio,

Fantinato

et al. 2024

Plant Ecol

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Flower strips are a fundamental part of agri-environment schemes in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Although vegetation is central for many arthropod groups, a few studies have evaluated the effects of flower strip structural and functional attributes on arthropod communities. In this study, we explored the relationship between flower strip attributes and the abundance of different arthropod functional groups in annual flower strips located in an organic apple orchard. We surveyed plant and arthropod communities in 30 1 m × 6 m plots. In each plot, we collected data on species composition and vegetation structure (e.g., total cover, density, number of floral displays). For each plant species, we also retrieved data on leaf palatability and nutritional value. Arthropods were collected using sweep netting technique. Structural and functional attributes of the flower strip revealed a crucial role in regulating arthropod abundance, which however depended on the specific arthropod functional group. We identified three main attributes (plant species richness, composition, and vegetation density) of flower strips that should be considered when implementing multifunctional flower strips. Specifically, plant species richness to ensure complementarity of resources and niches, plant species composition to ensure complementary floral resources, and vegetation density to ensure sheltering microhabitats and suitable microclimatic conditions and to increase the density of floral resources. Our results suggest that by considering structural and functional attributes of flower strips, it is possible to design multifunctional flower strips with greater effectiveness as measures for ecological intensification.

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Growth-survival trade-offs and the restoration of non-forested open ecosystems

Cited by 4 publications

References 81 publications

Coastal Dune Restoration: A Checklist Approach to Site Selection

Coastal Dune Restoration: A Checklist Approach to Site Selection

Hügelkultur at Wairarapa Moana: Exploring the effects of buried coarse woody debris on revegetation efforts in a high-stress growing environment

Ecological intensification: multifunctional flower strips support beneficial arthropods in an organic apple orchard

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