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Sarah Kimball, Megan Lulow, Quinn Sorenson

Native Functional Groups, Seeding Methods, and Maintenance Methods Determine Native Establishment in Trait -Based Restoration. Sarah Kimball, Megan Lulow, Quinn Sorenson. Functional Groups ( species grouped by their traits).

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Sarah Kimball, Megan Lulow, Quinn Sorenson

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  1. Native Functional Groups, Seeding Methods, and Maintenance Methods Determine Native Establishment in Trait-Based Restoration Sarah Kimball, Megan Lulow, Quinn Sorenson

  2. Functional Groups(species grouped by their traits) Ruderals: early seral, colonizers, annuals, high relative growth rate Perennials: late seral, competitors or stress tolerators, slower growth rate

  3. Plant Traits and Restoration Select plants based on traits (Pywell et al. 03) Communities resistant to invasion contain natives with traits similar to invasives (limiting similarityhypothesis, Emery 07) Plant natives with a range of traits and esp. with traits similar to invasives (Funk et al. 08)

  4. Research Questions What native functional group (ruderals, perennials, or a mix) results in the best native establishment? Mechanics of restoration (Seeding Method? Weed removal methods?)

  5. West Loma Ridge • Grow and kill cycle: • Mow Nov 2009 • Spray Feb2010 • Mow June 2010 • Spray Nov 2010 • Seed Dec 2010

  6. Seeding Methods Drill Seeding Hand Seeding & Tamping Seed Mixes Perennials Ruderals Weed Removal Techniques Manual & Mowing Wick Herbicide

  7. Seed Mixes

  8. Maintenance TreatmentsEvery 4 weeks-standardized time/plot 1. Man/Mow: Hand Weeding (Manual) & weed-eating (Mow) First hand weeding, later weed eating to height of natives 2. Wick: Herbicide-Wicking

  9. Experimental Design 6 replicates of all treatment combinations

  10. Data Collection & Analysis Emergent Seedlings- One month post-seeding Number of individuals- Late spring Cover- Late spring (point intercepts) Seed set & height - Summer Mixed-model ANOVAs with block as a random factor and seeding method, maintenance treatment, and seed mix as fixed factors

  11. Emergent Seedlings in Feb. Hand seeding resulted in greater emergence than drill seeding (F1,102=24.03, P<0.0001). More perennial seedlings than ruderals (F1,102=5.9, P=0.004).

  12. Emergent Seedlings: Seed Mixes • More perennials when seeded alone than in mixed group (F1,63=5.87, P=0.0183).

  13. Emergent Non-Native Seedlings in Feb. Hand seeding resulted in greater germination of BRNI (F1,97=55.37, P<0.001). Drill seeding resulted in greater germination of invasive grasses (F1,97=11.58, P=0.01).

  14. Cover in Late Spring: Maintenance Techniques Wick was most effective at reducing non-natives. Native Cover increased with weed removal (F2,85=42.06, P<0.0001).

  15. Late Spring Cover: Seed Mixes Ruderals had greater overall cover during first growing season Each functional group had greater cover when planted alone (Perennials F1,55=36.31, P<0.0001, Ruderals F1,55=10.38, P=0.002)

  16. Late Spring Density: Seed Mixes Perennials had greater overall density during first growing season Each group had greater density when planted alone (Perennials F1,55=29.67, P<0.0001, Ruderals F1,60=8.62, P=0.005)

  17. Late Spring: Ordination of Plots in Species Space Salvia apiana correlated with axis 1 (r=0.962) Phacelia ciliata negatively correlated with axis 1 (r=-0.72)

  18. Native Species Seed Production Phacelia had reduced seed production when grown with perennials (F1,40=6.68, P=0.014) Malacothrix had reduced seed production when grown with perennials (F1,40=11.9, P=0.002).

  19. Reproduction & Size of Perennials Eriogonumonly reproduced in the wick treatment plots without ruderals. ERFA individuals were taller in plots without ruderals (F1,32=9.21, P=0.005). Lemus was larger in plots without ruderals (F1,23=4.63, P=0.04).

  20. Conclusions Each native functional group did best alone Hand Seeding resulted in more native seedlings (and more BRNI) Wick herbicide removed more non-natives and resulted in higher reproduction of native species, but man/mow resulted in higher cover and density of natives

  21. Implications for Trait-based Restoration Importance of considering interactions among native functional groups (not just between natives and invasives) Contrary to coexistence theory, greater trait diversity increased competition Seeding methods

  22. Next Steps Collecting data this year on germination in plots. Return to marked perennials to measure survivorship, size, & fecundity Seeded much larger area surrounding initial experiment.

  23. West Loma Restoration

  24. Acknowledgements Irvine Ranch Conservancy Staff: Isaac Oliva, Isaac Ostmann, Yi-Chin Fang UCI CEB Faculty UC Irvine student interns: Rosemary Garcia, Roxanne Murillo, Ashley Brutto Funding: Orange County Parks, Donald Bren Foundation

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