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Kapás RE, Kimberley A, Cousins SAO. The role of seed rain, seed bank, and clonal growth in plant colonization of ancient and restored grasslands. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11611. [PMID: 38903144 PMCID: PMC11186710 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding the establishment of plant species is important to inform management of restored grasslands and to preserve biodiversity in ancient grasslands. In grassland communities, plant species can establish from seeds arriving via spatial dispersal, from seeds in the soil seed bank or through vegetative spread from nearby source individuals. However, this colonization potential and the likelihood of species establishment can vary in grasslands with different land-use history. We investigated the relative importance of local species recruitment sources, such as dispersal in space and time and species presence in adjacent grasslands, in determining establishment of plant species in eight grasslands with different land-use history (paired ancient grasslands continuously managed as pasture vs. restored grasslands on former forest). At each grassland, we established plots (0.25 m2) to monitor seedling emergence from seed dispersal, seed bank, and recorded clonal growth over two growing periods. We found that the likelihood of species establishment was highest from local seed rain, and that species present in the local species pool were more able to germinate and establish in both type of grasslands. Species from the seed bank and clonal growth contributed to a lesser extent to species establishment, but represented a greater proportion of the recolonization and regeneration of species in ancient grasslands. These results demonstrate that surrounding grasslands serve as a source for colonizing species and that dispersal from the adjacent grasslands is the key process in regeneration and colonization of plants. These results imply that the recovery of grasslands depends heavily upon to links to species source in grasslands, especially in restored grasslands. Therefore, management plans should incorporate rotational livestock grazing and larger networks of grassland in restoration efforts, which will enable to desirable species to establish and persist in grasslands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rozália E. Kapás
- Department of Physical GeographyStockholm UniversityStockholmSweden
| | - Adam Kimberley
- Department of Physical GeographyStockholm UniversityStockholmSweden
- UK Center for Ecology & HydrologyLancasterUK
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Świerszcz S, Czarniecka-Wiera M, Szymura TH, Szymura M. From invasive species stand to species-rich grassland: Long-term changes in plant species composition during Solidago invaded site restoration. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 353:120216. [PMID: 38290260 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Biological invasions degrade ecosystems, negatively affecting human well-being and biodiversity. Restoration of invaded agricultural ecosystems is among specific goals of European Union Biodiversity Strategy. Successful restoration of invaded lands is a long-term process that requires monitoring to assess the effects of interventions. Here, we present the results of a long-term experiment (8 years) on restoration of semi-natural grassland on abandoned arable field overgrown by invasive Solidago species (S. gigantea and S. canadensis). We examined effect of different invaders removal methods (rototilling, turf stripping, herbicide application) and seed application practices (commercial seed mixture, fresh hay) on changes in species composition and taxonomic diversity of restored vegetation. Our results showed a positive effect of grassland restoration on taxonomic diversity and species composition, manifested by a decrease in Solidago cover and an increase in cover and richness of target graminoids and forbs characteristic of grassland. The seed source had a longer lasting and still observable effect on the vegetation composition than the Solidago removal treatments, which ceased to differ significantly in their influence after the first few years. Applying fresh hay as a seed source increased the cover of grassland species such as Arrhenatherum elatius and Poa pratensis. For commercial seed mixture, we observed the high cover of Lolium perenne and Schedonorus pratensis (introduced with seed mixture) at the beginning and the slow decrease along the experiment course. The most striking effect was the fresh hay with herbicide application, which resulted in the lowest Solidago cover and the highest cover of target graminoids. Nonetheless, with years the non-chemical methods, including no treatment, gives comparable to herbicide effectiveness of restoration. Overall, during the experiment, alpha diversity increased, while beta and gamma diversity reached a species maximum in the third year, and then decreased. In conclusion, this study gives guidance to successful restoration of species-rich grasslands on sites invaded by Solidago. It should be emphasised that short-term effect differ considerably from long-term outputs, especially highlighting the importance of seed source, as well as effectiveness of environmentally friendly methods such as regular mowing to control the invader.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Świerszcz
- Institute of Agroecology and Plant Production, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Grunwaldzki Sq 24a, 50-363, Wrocław, Poland; Botanical Garden, Center for Biological Diversity Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Prawdziwka 2, 02-976, Warszawa, Poland.
| | - Marta Czarniecka-Wiera
- Institute of Agroecology and Plant Production, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Grunwaldzki Sq 24a, 50-363, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Tomasz H Szymura
- Botanical Garden, University of Wrocław, Przybyszewskiego 63, 51-148, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Magdalena Szymura
- Institute of Agroecology and Plant Production, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Grunwaldzki Sq 24a, 50-363, Wrocław, Poland
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Köhler M, Schmidt A, Hölzel N, Baasch A, Tischew S. Positive long-term effects of year-round horse grazing in orchid-rich dry calcareous grasslands–Results of a 12-year study. Front Ecol Evol 2023. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2023.1107987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
IntroductionDry calcareous grasslands are among the most species-rich habitats worldwide but strongly endangered by abandonment causing a severe decline of characteristic species such as orchids. To counteract further degradation, economically sustainable restoration tools such as megaherbivore grazing, that aim to substitute extinct wild grazers, should be considered. However, the long-term effects on target species of dry grasslands, and in particular for orchid populations, is still unclear.MethodsTo contribute to this knowledge gap, we applied vegetation surveys (5 m × 5 m), as well as large-scale census-based orchid observation and mapping of habitat structures (50 m × 50 m) in a year-round grazing scheme of a Natura 2000 site in Central Germany over 12 years. The horses and their grazing activity were observed via GPS telemetry. We fitted linear mixed models to evaluate whether Ophrys apifera density was affected by horse feeding frequency, habitat structure variables (bare soil patches, woody plant cover), grassland type or years.ResultsA The main results were that the target dry calcareous grassland vegetation significantly increased in species numbers and cover. The total abundance of O. apifera increased from 1,237 (2013) and 1,893 (2018), to 4,652 (2021) individuals. Ophrys apifera density was positively affected by horse feeding frequency as well as grazing-induced enhanced bare soil patches but underlying mechanisms varied between the three classified grassland types.DiscussionOur results indicate that low-intensity year-round horse grazing as a relatively new restoration tool in dry calcareous grasslands has the potential to enhance floristic biodiversity in general, and particularly O. apifera density in the long run. Furthermore, we showed that highvalue xeric grasslands with outstanding orchid abundances can be integrated into the year-round grazing system and that there is no need of fencing off such sections.
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Valkó O, Kelemen A, Kiss O, Deák B. Patch and matrix characteristics determine the outcome of ecosystem engineering by mole rats in dry grasslands. PeerJ 2022; 10:e14582. [PMID: 36540798 PMCID: PMC9760028 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Burrowing mammals are important ecosystem engineers, especially in open ecosystems where they create patches that differ from the surrounding matrix in their structure or ecosystem functions. Methods We evaluated the fine-scale effects of a subterranean ecosystem engineer, the Lesser blind mole rat on the vegetation composition of sandy dry grasslands in Hungary. In this model system we tested whether the characteristics of the patch (mound size) and the matrix (total vegetation cover in the undisturbed grassland) influence the structural and functional contrasts between the mounds and the undisturbed grasslands. We sampled the vegetation of 80 mounds and 80 undisturbed grassland plots in four sites, where we recorded the total vegetation cover, and the occurrence and cover of each vascular plant species. We used two proxies to characterise the patches (mounds) and the matrix (undisturbed grassland): we measured the perimeter of the mounds and estimated the total vegetation cover of the undisturbed grasslands. First, we compared the vegetation characteristics of the mounds and the surrounding grasslands with general linear models. Second, we characterised the contrasts between the mounds and the undisturbed grassland by relative response indices (RRIs) of the vegetation characteristics studied in the first step. Results Species composition of the vegetation of the mounds and undisturbed grasslands was well separated in three out of the four study sites. Mounds were characterised by lower vegetation cover, lower cover of perennial graminoids, and higher diversity, and evenness compared to undisturbed grasslands. The contrast in vegetation cover between mounds and undisturbed grasslands increased with decreasing patch size. Increasing vegetation cover in the matrix grasslands increased the contrasts between the mounds and undisturbed grasslands in terms of total cover, perennial graminoid cover, diversity, and evenness. Our results suggest that mole rat mounds provide improved establishment conditions for subordinate species, because they are larger than other types of natural gaps and are characterised by less intense belowground competition. The ecosystem engineering effect, i.e., the contrast between the patches and the matrix was the largest in the more closed grasslands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orsolya Valkó
- Lendület Seed Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Vácrátót, Hungary
| | - András Kelemen
- Lendület Seed Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Vácrátót, Hungary,Department of Ecology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Orsolya Kiss
- Institute of Animal Sciences and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Szeged, Hódmezővásárhely, Hungary
| | - Balázs Deák
- Lendület Seed Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Vácrátót, Hungary
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Kiss R, Deák B, Tóth K, Lukács K, Rádai Z, Kelemen A, Miglécz T, Tóth Á, Godó L, Valkó O. Co-seeding grasses and forbs supports restoration of species-rich grasslands and improves weed control in ex-arable land. Sci Rep 2022; 12:21239. [PMID: 36481682 PMCID: PMC9732298 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-25837-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Sowing is widely used for the restoration of species-rich grasslands but still there are knowledge gaps regarding the most suitable application of different seed mixtures. We tested the effect of seed mixtures application timing on the establishment of sown forbs and weed control. 36 experimental plots with nine sowing treatments were established in an abandoned cropland in Hungary. Grass-seeds, diverse forb seed mixture and the combination of the two were applied: diverse forb mixture was sown simultaneously or 1, 2 or 3 years after grass sowing, in plots sown previously with grass or in empty plots (fallows). All sowing treatments supported the rapid establishment of the sown species in large cover and hampered weed encroachment. Forbs performed better when sown into fallows than in grass-matrix and forbs establishment was worse in older fallows than in younger ones. Grasses expressed a strong priority effect, especially when forbs were sown at least two years later than grasses. We also investigated the relation between seed germinability, weather parameters and establishment success. Germination rate in the greenhouse could not predict the establishment success of forbs in the field and showed great differences between years, hence we recommend sowing target forbs in multiple years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Réka Kiss
- 'Lendület' Seed Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Alkotmány str. 2-4, Vácrátót, 2163, Hungary
| | - Balázs Deák
- 'Lendület' Seed Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Alkotmány str. 2-4, Vácrátót, 2163, Hungary
| | - Katalin Tóth
- Department of Ecology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem sqr. 1, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary
| | - Katalin Lukács
- 'Lendület' Seed Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Alkotmány str. 2-4, Vácrátót, 2163, Hungary
- Department of Ecology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem sqr. 1, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary
- Juhász-Nagy Pál Doctoral School, University of Debrecen, Egyetem sqr. 1, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary
- Centre for Ecological Research, National Laboratory for Health Security, Karolina út 29, Budapest, 1113, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Rádai
- 'Lendület' Seed Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Alkotmány str. 2-4, Vácrátót, 2163, Hungary
| | - András Kelemen
- 'Lendület' Seed Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Alkotmány str. 2-4, Vácrátót, 2163, Hungary
- Department of Ecology, University of Szeged, Közép Fasor 52, Szeged, 6726, Hungary
| | - Tamás Miglécz
- Hungarian Research Institute for Organic Agriculture, Miklós tér 1, Budapest, 1033, Hungary
| | - Ágnes Tóth
- 'Lendület' Seed Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Alkotmány str. 2-4, Vácrátót, 2163, Hungary
- Department of Ecology, University of Szeged, Közép Fasor 52, Szeged, 6726, Hungary
| | - Laura Godó
- 'Lendület' Seed Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Alkotmány str. 2-4, Vácrátót, 2163, Hungary
- Department of Ecology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem sqr. 1, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary
- Juhász-Nagy Pál Doctoral School, University of Debrecen, Egyetem sqr. 1, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary
| | - Orsolya Valkó
- 'Lendület' Seed Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Alkotmány str. 2-4, Vácrátót, 2163, Hungary.
- Centre for Ecological Research, National Laboratory for Health Security, Karolina út 29, Budapest, 1113, Hungary.
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Gibson‐Roy P. Australian grassy community restoration: Recognizing what is achievable and charting a way forward. ECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT & RESTORATION 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/emr.12546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Török P, Brudvig LA, Kollmann J, Price J, Tóthmérész B. The present and future of grassland restoration. Restor Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Péter Török
- MTA‐DE Lendület Functional and Restoration Ecology Research Group Egyetem sqr. 1 Debrecen 4032 Hungary
- Department of Ecology University of Debrecen Egyetem sqr 1 Debrecen 4032 Hungary
| | - Lars A. Brudvig
- Department of Plant Biology and Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Michigan State University 368 Plant Biology Labs, 612 Wilson Road East Lansing MI 48824 U.S.A
| | - Johannes Kollmann
- Chair of Restoration Ecology Technical University of Munich, School of Life Sciences Emil‐Ramann‐Str 6 Freising‐Weihenstephan 85354 Germany
| | - Jodi Price
- Institute of Land, Water and Society Charles Sturt University Albury NSW, 2640 Australia
| | - Béla Tóthmérész
- Department of Ecology University of Debrecen Egyetem sqr 1 Debrecen 4032 Hungary
- MTA‐DE Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Research Group Egyetem sqr. 1 Debrecen 4032 Hungary
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Deák B, Rádai Z, Bátori Z, Kelemen A, Lukács K, Kiss R, Maák IE, Valkó O. Ancient Burial Mounds Provide Safe Havens for Grassland Specialist Plants in Transformed Landscapes—A Trait-Based Analysis. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.619812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to the intensified land use in transformed landscapes, grassland biodiversity is often restricted to habitat fragments inadequate for arable use or for urban development. In continental parts of Eurasia, the ~600,000 ancient burial mounds (called “kurgans”) built by nomadic tribes of the steppes are amongst the most widespread landmarks providing refuge for dry grassland species. In our study by using plant functional groups and functional traits, we aimed at gaining insight into the ecological and evolutionary processes shaping the structure and the composition of assemblages of grassland specialist plant species on kurgans embedded in the agricultural landscapes of East-Hungary. As a comparison, we also studied roadside verges and pristine extensive grasslands in the same region. We found that despite their small size, due to the lack of human disturbances and high microhabitat diversity kurgans can maintain a high species richness and percentage cover of specialists, especially when compared to verges. We revealed that assemblages of specialist plants on kurgans are characterized by traits typical to terrestrial habitat islands such as self-compatibility, large seed mass and tall stature. Kurgans and extensive grasslands were characterized by higher functional diversity (both at the level of single traits and multi-trait based functional dispersion) which is probably due to the higher level of environmental heterogeneity compared to the homogeneous environment in verges.
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Valkó O, Deák B, Török P, Tóth K, Kiss R, Kelemen A, Miglécz T, Sonkoly J, Tóthmérész B. Dynamics in vegetation and seed bank composition highlight the importance of post‐restoration management in sown grasslands. Restor Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Orsolya Valkó
- MTA‐ÖK Lendület Seed Ecology Research Group Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research Alkotmány út 2‐4, 2163 Vácrátót Hungary
| | - Balázs Deák
- MTA‐ÖK Lendület Seed Ecology Research Group Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research Alkotmány út 2‐4, 2163 Vácrátót Hungary
| | - Péter Török
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science and Technology University of Debrecen Egyetem sqr. 1, 4032 Debrecen Hungary
- MTA‐DE Lendület Functional and Restoration Ecology Research Group Egyetem sqr. 1, 4032 Debrecen Hungary
| | - Katalin Tóth
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science and Technology University of Debrecen Egyetem sqr. 1, 4032 Debrecen Hungary
| | - Réka Kiss
- MTA‐ÖK Lendület Seed Ecology Research Group Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research Alkotmány út 2‐4, 2163 Vácrátót Hungary
| | - András Kelemen
- MTA‐ÖK Lendület Seed Ecology Research Group Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research Alkotmány út 2‐4, 2163 Vácrátót Hungary
| | - Tamás Miglécz
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science and Technology University of Debrecen Egyetem sqr. 1, 4032 Debrecen Hungary
| | - Judit Sonkoly
- MTA‐DE Lendület Functional and Restoration Ecology Research Group Egyetem sqr. 1, 4032 Debrecen Hungary
| | - Béla Tóthmérész
- MTA‐DE Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Research Group Egyetem sqr. 1, 4032 Debrecen Hungary
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