Soil sterilization alters interactions between the native grass Bouteloua gracilis and invasive Bromus tectorum

Emam, Taraneh M.; Espeland, Erin K.; Rinella, Matthew J.

doi:10.1016/j.jaridenv.2014.08.006

Cited by 18 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 38 publications

(47 reference statements)

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“…However, previous work has also shown that while natives may benefit from soil biota when grown alone, the presence of mycorrhizal non‐native competitors may negate those benefits (e.g. Callaway et al ; Emam et al ). Planting pre‐inoculated S. pulchra as seedlings may have given them a “head start” and lessened the effects of competition from non‐native plants, while reducing the positive effects of inoculum on non‐natives.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Local soil, but not commercial AMF inoculum, increases native and non‐native grass growth at a mine restoration site

Emam

2015

Restoration Ecology

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Soil communities are often degraded in mined sites, and facilitating the recovery of soil mutualists such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) may assist with the restoration of native plants. At a grassland mine restoration site, I compared a commercial AMF inoculum with soil collected from beneath native grasses as a source of inoculum, as well as a control treatment. Field plots were broadcast‐inoculated and seeded with native grasses, and biomass of native and non‐native species was measured in three consecutive years. In addition, greenhouse‐grown seedlings of a native bunchgrass (Stipa pulchra) were inoculated with similar treatments, transplanted into the field, and assessed after 18 months. When broadcast inoculation was used, the local soil inoculum tended to increase non‐native grass biomass, and marginally decreased non‐native forb biomass in the second year of study, but did not significantly affect native grass biomass. Broadcast commercial inoculum had no detectable effects on biomass of any plant group. Stipa pulchra transplants had greater N content and mycorrhizal colonization, and marginally higher shoot mass and K content, when pre‐inoculated with local soil (relative to controls). Pre‐inoculation with commercial AMF increased AMF colonization of the S. pulchra transplants, but did not significantly affect biomass or nutrient content. The findings indicate that at this site, the use of local soil as an inoculum had greater effects on native and non‐native plants than the commercial product used. In order to substantially increase native grass performance, inoculation of transplanted plugs may be one potential strategy.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Local soil, but not commercial AMF inoculum, increases native and non‐native grass growth at a mine restoration site

Emam

2015

Restoration Ecology

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“…Salinity also influences pH, one of the strongest environmental factors governing soil microbial community composition and structure (Fierer & Jackson, 2006). Given the levels of salinity observed on reclaims, it is possible plant recovery is limited both directly via the influence of salinity and indirectly due to altered microbial contributions to nutrient cycling dynamics (Emam et al, 2014). There does not appear to be any change in soil conditions with time since reclamation except for an increase in soil compaction at 7.5 cm.…”

Section: Soil Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Destruction of soil aggregates, increased infiltration rates, reductions in soil biota, and plant root growth into the stockpiled soil eventually leads to losses of carbon and nutrients, reducing accumulated topsoil productivity (Menta, 2012), although site to site variability is extremely high (Emam et al, 2014). Compaction during reclamation may also inhibit plant establishment and growth (Bassett et al, 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Peer Review #2 of "Decoupled recovery of ecological communities after reclamation (v0.2)"

Bach¹

2019

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Grassland restoration is largely focused on creating plant communities that match reference conditions. However, these communities reflect only a subset of the biodiversity of grassland systems. We conducted a multi-trophic study to assess ecosystem recovery following energy development for oil and gas extraction in northern U.S. Great Plains rangelands. We compared soil factors, plant species composition and cover, and nematode trophic structuring between reclaimed oil and gas well sites ("reclaims") that comprise a chronosequence of two-33 years since reclamation and adjacent, undeveloped rangeland at distances of 50 m and 150 m from reclaim edges. Soils and plant communities in reclaims did not match those on undeveloped rangeland even after 33 years. Reclaimed soils had higher salt concentrations and pH than undeveloped soils. Reclaims had lower overall plant cover, a greater proportion of exotic and ruderal plant cover and lower native plant species richness than undeveloped rangeland. However, nematode communities appear to have recovered following reclamation. Although total and omni-carnivorous nematode abundances differed between reclaimed well sites and undeveloped rangeland, community composition and structure did not. These findings suggest that current reclamation practices recover the functional composition of nematode communities, but not soil conditions or plant communities. Our results show that plant communities have failed to recover through reclamation: high soil salinity may create a persistent impediment to native plant growth and ecosystem recovery.

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“…For example, topsoil stockpiling and redistribution damages soil structure and depletes soil communities (Schuman, 2002; Menta, 2012). Destruction of soil aggregates, increased infiltration rates, reductions in soil biota, and plant root growth into the stockpiled soil eventually leads to losses of carbon and nutrients, reducing accumulated topsoil productivity (Menta, 2012), although site to site variability is extremely high (Emam, Espeland & Rinella, 2014). Compaction during reclamation may also inhibit plant establishment and growth (Bassett, Simcock & Mitchell, 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Decoupled recovery of ecological communities after reclamation

Sylvain

Branson

Rand

et al. 2019

PeerJ

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Grassland restoration is largely focused on creating plant communities that match reference conditions. However, these communities reflect only a subset of the biodiversity of grassland systems. We conducted a multi-trophic study to assess ecosystem recovery following energy development for oil and gas extraction in northern US Great Plains rangelands. We compared soil factors, plant species composition and cover, and nematode trophic structuring between reclaimed oil and gas well sites (“reclaims”) that comprise a chronosequence of two—33 years since reclamation and adjacent, undeveloped rangeland at distances of 50 m and 150 m from reclaim edges. Soils and plant communities in reclaims did not match those on undeveloped rangeland even after 33 years. Reclaimed soils had higher salt concentrations and pH than undeveloped soils. Reclaims had lower overall plant cover, a greater proportion of exotic and ruderal plant cover and lower native plant species richness than undeveloped rangeland. However, nematode communities appear to have recovered following reclamation. Although total and omni-carnivorous nematode abundances differed between reclaimed well sites and undeveloped rangeland, community composition and structure did not. These findings suggest that current reclamation practices recover the functional composition of nematode communities, but not soil conditions or plant communities. Our results show that plant communities have failed to recover through reclamation: high soil salinity may create a persistent impediment to native plant growth and ecosystem recovery.

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Soil sterilization alters interactions between the native grass Bouteloua gracilis and invasive Bromus tectorum

Cited by 18 publications

References 38 publications

Local soil, but not commercial AMF inoculum, increases native and non‐native grass growth at a mine restoration site

Local soil, but not commercial AMF inoculum, increases native and non‐native grass growth at a mine restoration site

Peer Review #2 of "Decoupled recovery of ecological communities after reclamation (v0.2)"

Decoupled recovery of ecological communities after reclamation

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