Influence of Richness and Seeding Density on Invasion Resistance in Experimental Tallgrass Prairie Restorations

Nemec, Kristine T.; Allen, Craig R.; Helzer, Christopher J.; Wedin, David A.

doi:10.3368/er.31.2.168

Cited by 39 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…Such novel systems can be relatively stable and can enhance ecosystem services such as water protection, land stability, flood attenuation, and habitat provision (Ewel and Putz, 2004;Hobbs et al, 2009). In addition, high diverse systems may reduce encroachment from unwanted plant species (Fargione and Tilman, 2005;Nemec et al, 2013;Yurkonis, 2013) and thus, hold the niche for the establishment of other desirable species at a later successional stage.…”

Section: Anovamentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant community development following restoration treatments on a legacy reclaimed mine site

Bauman

Cochran

Chapman

et al. 2015

Ecological Engineering

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Section: Anovamentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant community development following restoration treatments on a legacy reclaimed mine site

Bauman

Cochran

Chapman

et al. 2015

Ecological Engineering

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“…Planning for restoration seeding involves determining both the number of species to use in the mix and seeding rate. However, few studies have simultaneously looked at the effect of these two variables on resulting plant communities and overall restoration success (Carter & Blair ; Nemec et al ) and of these few studies, none have been able to address questions regarding the interaction of seeding rate and seed mix diversity in restoration settings. Nemec et al () examined the effect of sowing high (97 species) and low (15 species) diversity seed mixtures at high (297 pure live seeds [PLS]/m 2 drill seeded) and low (148 PLS/m 2 drill seeded) rates on invasion resistance in mesic tallgrass prairie.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimizing seed mixture diversity and seeding rates for grassland restoration

Barr

Jonas

Paschke

2016

Restoration Ecology

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Revegetation by seeding is an important tool in restoration. Seeding practices for restoration often rely on standard prescriptions for seed mix diversity and seeding rates. Seed mix diversity and rates are generally low within restoration projects and these practices are typically not informed by research. The objective of this study was to explore a new method for determining an optimal seed mix diversity and seeding rate for restoration of a semiarid grassland. We examined restoration success associated with differing seed mix diversity levels (5-50 species) and seeding rates (400-1,600 pure live seeds [PLS]/m 2 ) using a response surface regression (RSR) experimental design at 12 disturbed sites in northeastern Colorado. Overall restoration success was evaluated based on optimizing desirability across nine individual responses: biomass and diversity of seeded, volunteer native, noxious, non-native species, and the density of seeded species. Greatest restoration success after four growing seasons occurred at a seed mix diversity of 35 species and a seeding rate of 1,366 PLS/m 2 . RSR experimental design and analysis has seldom been used to answer ecological questions. This novel approach to address a pressing restoration challenge provided unique insight into how seed mix diversity and seeding rate, singly or in combination, influence the first 4 years of plant community development and overall restoration success. These results suggest that including more native species and seeding at higher rates than current practice could lead to greater restoration success in grasslands.

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“…Non-native invasive species in North American tallgrass prairies have large ecological impacts (Nemec, Allen, Helzer, & Wedin, 2013). These invasive species can quickly evolve in areas of disturbance through founder effects and hybridization by responding to selection pressures in the environment (Mealor & Hild, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Competitive Response of Panicum virgatum Cultivars to Non-Native Invasive Species

Schwartz

Gibson²

2014

ENRR

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It is important to use the most appropriate plant cultivar in restoration or biofuel trials especially when plantings are likely to be invaded by undesirable species. In this study, the competitive response of two lowland and three upland cultivars of the dominant C 4 grass Panicum virgatum to three invasive species (Bromus inermis, Schedonorus phoenix, and Poa pratensis) was tested using a simple pair-wise greenhouse experiment. Response variables (height, number of leaves, tiller density, and biomass of P. virgatum) and resources (soil moisture and light intensity) were measured over a seven-month period. Performance of the different P. virgatum cultivars were differentially reduced by the three invasive species, especially the performance of the Kanlow (lowland) and Blackwell (upland) cultivars. Low soil moisture reduced the performance of P. virgatum in the presence of only one invasive (Bromus inermis) irrespective of cultivar source. Root, shoot, and total biomass depended on cultivar and did not show an interaction with invasive species identity. The results of this greenhouse study suggest that the P. virgatum cultivars differentially responded to the invasive species and that the cultivar used should be considered carefully in planning prairie restorations or biofuel trials in the context of likely invasive species.

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Influence of Richness and Seeding Density on Invasion Resistance in Experimental Tallgrass Prairie Restorations

Cited by 39 publications

References 49 publications

Plant community development following restoration treatments on a legacy reclaimed mine site

Plant community development following restoration treatments on a legacy reclaimed mine site

Optimizing seed mixture diversity and seeding rates for grassland restoration

The Competitive Response of Panicum virgatum Cultivars to Non-Native Invasive Species

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