Understanding the interplay of temperature and moisture on the germination niche to improve management of threatened species impacted by mining

Abstract

The return of vegetation to mined lands often requires broadcast seeding of diverse native seed mixes. However, seeds are highly adapted to germination windows with specific hydrothermal thresholds that maximize the likelihood of seedling survival, and post-mining landscapes typically offer markedly different hydrothermal conditions than pre-disturbance ecosystems. According to niche theory, generalist species should exhibit broader hydrothermal performance niches than specialist taxa, which may influence the success of recruitment from seeds in post-mining ecological restoration. To test this assumption, the impact of hydrothermal stress (incubation temperature (10-30 C) and osmotic potential (À0.8 to 0 MPa)) on the time to 50% germination (t 50 ) and maximum germination (G max ) was compared between two narrow-range species of conservation concern (Acacia woodmaniorum and A. karina) restricted to mining-impacted Banded Ironstone Formations (BIF) and three broadly distributed congenerics (A. assimilis, A. exocarpoides, and A. ramulosa). The hydrothermal germination niches of the study species were broadly congruent with hydrothermal conditions of their habitats. The two range-restricted taxa were more tolerant of hydrothermal stress compared to the three widely distributed taxa, suggesting that tolerance of greater hydrothermal stress by both range-restricted Acacia species is likely to be adaptive to establishment in uncontested niche space. Complex interactions between thermal and water stress suggest these environmental gradients may shape the germination niche as well as patterns of plant diversity in BIF ecosystems. This study highlights the importance of quantifying interactions between niche dimensions and their implications for species performance, which will aid future restoration efforts for micro-endemic species impacted by mining.

Advances in mining restoration

“…Niche theory dictates that generalist species should have broader hydrothermal performance niches than specialist taxa. Rajapakshe et al (2022) test this assumption and highlight the importance of incorporating mechanistic aspects of the seed germination niche into the management of rare and range‐restricted species, which may improve conservation and restoration outcomes, especially in the identification of prospective recipient landscapes for translocation.…”

“…Niche theory dictates that generalist species should have broader hydrothermal performance niches than specialist taxa. Rajapakshe et al (2022) test this assumption and highlight the importance of incorporating mechanistic aspects of the seed germination niche into the management of rare and range-restricted species, which may improve conservation and restoration outcomes, especially in the identification of prospective recipient landscapes for translocation. Conservation physiology, the quantification of the links between organisms and their environments, aims to apply an understanding of those mechanisms for mitigating biodiversity loss due to landscape degradation and accelerated global change.…”

Seed Dormancy and Germination Requirements of Torilis scabra (Apiaceae)

“…The timing of seed germination significantly affects the fitness and life cycles of plants [1], niche construction [2,3], species coexistence [4,5], and community composition in the presence of climate change [6,7]. Seed dormancy is assumed to be a bet-hedging mechanism in plants allowing them to prevent sibling competition [8,9].…”