Transplanting turfs to facilitate recovery in a low‐alpine environment—What matters?

Abstract

Questions Restoration of disturbed alpine ecosystems is difficult due to harsh environmental conditions. Transplanting of vegetation turfs into disturbed areas has been used as a restoration method in disturbed alpine sites. The aim of this study is to investigate which environmental factors influence the vegetation recovery in turf surroundings and how turf attributes contribute to vegetation recovery. Location Restored roads in a former military training area, Dovrefjell mountain range, central Norway. Methods We recorded species richness, vegetation cover and soil characteristics of transplanted turfs and turf surroundings in roads restored between 3 and 14 years ago. Linear and generalized linear mixed models were used to investigate the relative importance of turf attributes and soil factors for recovery of turf surroundings. Results Time was the most important factor for vegetation recovery, but soil conditions in turf surroundings were also highly important. Species richness and vegetation cover in turf surroundings were almost twice as high on silt‐dominated soil and with presence of soil organic matter compared to on coarser soils and without organic matter. Species richness in turfs and turf surroundings was almost equal after 14 years, and the similarity of the species composition was high. Neither turf size, distance to the second closest turf or species richness and vegetation cover of the turfs were important factors for vegetation recovery in the turf surroundings. Conclusion This study demonstrates the importance of preparing the restoration sites before using turf transplants in road and infrastructure restoration. Of particular importance is ensuring soil organic content and a fine soil grain size to increase rates of vegetation recovery in short time scales. Time is the most important factor for recovery in this ecosystem, and this should be communicated to project owners and to the public to ensure realistic expectations on recovery time.

Comparison of methods for revegetation of vehicle tracks in High Arctic tundra on Svalbard

“…When revisiting the site shortly after adding the treatments it seemed many of the cuttings in treatment P had been removed by the wind. For future studies, this may be avoided by combining seeding/addition of cuttings with a net or garden cloth (treatment G); soil addition; water; or to transplant turfs instead (Bay and Ebersole 2006;Mehlhoop et al 2018). Notably, it was only in treatment S in 2011 and 2018 that we found S. acaulis (also found in treatment P in 2010) and S. oppositifolia.…”

“…Assisted regeneration may speed up natural regrowth and reduce or even reverse damage to the original vegetation (MEA 2005;Suding 2011). Many experiments have aimed to pinpoint the best techniques and methods to assist revegetation in the tundra biome in general (Babb and Bliss 1974;Firlotte and Staniforth 1995;Forbes and McKendrick 2002;Mehlhoop et al 2018). During the last decades, a refinement of the desired outcomes of such assisted regeneration activities has also been developed.…”

Ecosystem restoration as a boundary object, demonstrated in a large-scale landscape restoration project in the Dovre Mountains, Norway

“…(1) the removal of undetonated explosives and fouled matter; (2) removal of pollutants and prevention of pollution; (3) removal of buildings, roads, borrow pits, and other installations, and the restoration of landscape, vegetation and ecosystem processes (Fig. 2, Martinsen and Hagen 2010;Hagen and Evju 2013; Norwegian Defence Estate Agency 2020). Concurrent with the restoration project, the local municipalities developed a land-use plan that focused on local economic development under future management (Dovre Municipality 2012).…”

Alpine restoration: planting and seeding of native species facilitate vegetation recovery

“…Natural recovery of vegetation after disturbance in alpine ecosystems can take decades to centuries due to the harsh environmental conditions, short growing seasons, and slow rate of biological processes that characterize these high‐altitude areas (Willard et al 2007; Krautzer et al 2012). Recovery proceeds faster under favorable environmental conditions, such as a fine soil substrate and optimal soil moisture levels (Evju et al 2012; Rydgren et al 2013; Mehlhoop et al 2018) and can be accelerated through active restoration measures such as restoring terrain and soil conditions, fertilizing, seeding, or planting (Forbes & Jefferies 1999; Krautzer et al 2012; Hagen & Evju 2013).…”