Seed sourcing for climate‐resilient grasslands: The role of seed source diversity during early restoration establishment
Abstract Restoration advocates for the use of local seed in restoration, but theory suggests that diverse seed sources may enhance genetic diversity and longer term evolutionary potential within restored communities. However, few empirical studies have evaluated whether species and genetic diversity...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10756 |
| _version_ | 1797448614232981504 |
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| author | Jessica Lindstrom Marissa Ahlering Jill Hamilton |
| author_facet | Jessica Lindstrom Marissa Ahlering Jill Hamilton |
| author_sort | Jessica Lindstrom |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Restoration advocates for the use of local seed in restoration, but theory suggests that diverse seed sources may enhance genetic diversity and longer term evolutionary potential within restored communities. However, few empirical studies have evaluated whether species and genetic diversity within species impacts plant community composition following restoration. The goal of this research is to compare the effects of single and multi‐sourced seed mix treatments on plant community diversity following restoration. Species establishment, abundance, and diversity were compared following two restoration seed mix treatments created to include 14 species commonly used in grassland restoration. We compared the application of seed mixes designed using a single population per species with those containing five populations per species across sites in Minnesota and South Dakota, United States. Early plant establishment and richness mostly reflected non‐seeded species across both sites, although seeded species established at a slightly higher rate in year two following restoration. At the South Dakota site, community composition largely reflected changes associated with establishment across the growing season as opposed to seed mix treatment. This contrasted with the Minnesota site, where community composition appeared to be strongly influenced by seed mix treatment. While there is some evidence seed mix treatment may be influencing the emergent community across sites, spatial heterogeneity across the Minnesota restoration site likely influenced diversity in early emergence over that of seed mix treatment. Indeed, varying land‐use history across both sites likely contributed to differences in species composition observed at this early stage of the restoration. This suggests that seed mix treatment may have limited impact on early post‐restoration emergence diversity relative to the importance of land‐use history. However, future monitoring will be needed to evaluate whether the impact of seed mix treatment on community composition changes over time. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:14:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ae0f4cbe4174467b977a25ca56d7d572 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:14:01Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-ae0f4cbe4174467b977a25ca56d7d5722023-11-29T05:44:08ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582023-11-011311n/an/a10.1002/ece3.10756Seed sourcing for climate‐resilient grasslands: The role of seed source diversity during early restoration establishmentJessica Lindstrom0Marissa Ahlering1Jill Hamilton2Department of Biological Sciences North Dakota State University Fargo North Dakota USAThe Nature Conservancy Minneapolis Minnesota USADepartment of Biological Sciences North Dakota State University Fargo North Dakota USAAbstract Restoration advocates for the use of local seed in restoration, but theory suggests that diverse seed sources may enhance genetic diversity and longer term evolutionary potential within restored communities. However, few empirical studies have evaluated whether species and genetic diversity within species impacts plant community composition following restoration. The goal of this research is to compare the effects of single and multi‐sourced seed mix treatments on plant community diversity following restoration. Species establishment, abundance, and diversity were compared following two restoration seed mix treatments created to include 14 species commonly used in grassland restoration. We compared the application of seed mixes designed using a single population per species with those containing five populations per species across sites in Minnesota and South Dakota, United States. Early plant establishment and richness mostly reflected non‐seeded species across both sites, although seeded species established at a slightly higher rate in year two following restoration. At the South Dakota site, community composition largely reflected changes associated with establishment across the growing season as opposed to seed mix treatment. This contrasted with the Minnesota site, where community composition appeared to be strongly influenced by seed mix treatment. While there is some evidence seed mix treatment may be influencing the emergent community across sites, spatial heterogeneity across the Minnesota restoration site likely influenced diversity in early emergence over that of seed mix treatment. Indeed, varying land‐use history across both sites likely contributed to differences in species composition observed at this early stage of the restoration. This suggests that seed mix treatment may have limited impact on early post‐restoration emergence diversity relative to the importance of land‐use history. However, future monitoring will be needed to evaluate whether the impact of seed mix treatment on community composition changes over time.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10756grassland restorationplant community establishmentseed mixseed sourcespecies richness |
| spellingShingle | Jessica Lindstrom Marissa Ahlering Jill Hamilton Seed sourcing for climate‐resilient grasslands: The role of seed source diversity during early restoration establishment Ecology and Evolution grassland restoration plant community establishment seed mix seed source species richness |
| title | Seed sourcing for climate‐resilient grasslands: The role of seed source diversity during early restoration establishment |
| title_full | Seed sourcing for climate‐resilient grasslands: The role of seed source diversity during early restoration establishment |
| title_fullStr | Seed sourcing for climate‐resilient grasslands: The role of seed source diversity during early restoration establishment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Seed sourcing for climate‐resilient grasslands: The role of seed source diversity during early restoration establishment |
| title_short | Seed sourcing for climate‐resilient grasslands: The role of seed source diversity during early restoration establishment |
| title_sort | seed sourcing for climate resilient grasslands the role of seed source diversity during early restoration establishment |
| topic | grassland restoration plant community establishment seed mix seed source species richness |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10756 |
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