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Context-Dependency of Ecological Retoration Strategies
Lubin, Terra
Lubin, Terra
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Abstract
Grasslands and their ecosystem services are endangered due to human interventions. In Central North America, restoration of native prairies has thus become an important goal. In this dissertation, I focus on one important biotic factor in restoration: the soil microbial community. Past empirical work shows that plant and soil community structure influence each other in both remnant prairies and prairie restorations. Conceptual frameworks and models can inform restoration practice, however, the predictions that spring from these frameworks may not be generalizable in part due to variation in abiotic features across ecosystems where restorations are implemented and variations in restoration design.
In Chapter 1, I focus on abiotic variation in terms of moisture availability. I ask if the response of native prairie plant species to the soil community depends on matching origins of plant and soil species as well as abiotic conditions. I found that more xeric species’ survival depends on moisture availability and native prairie mycorrhizal fungi community origin, while more mesic species survival did not depend on either factor.
In Chapter 2, I explored effects of the same factors on plant community composition by focusing on categories of seeded, and non-seeded plant species relevant to restoration. I found that the increased cover of more xeric species in the plant community was dependent on matching origins of mycorrhizal inoculation.
In Chapter 3, I focus on two recommended strategies for prairie restoration design: increased forb seed density and inoculation with native prairie soil. I asked how plant community composition changes with each strategy separately and with both strategies together. I found that seeded grasses and forbs, as well as native and non-native weedy species, responded differently to each strategy. For example, increased forb seeding density increased seeded forb richness and decreased native non-seeded plant cover, while inoculation decreased non-native species cover.
Overall this dissertation shows that variations in restoration design and the abiotic environment are important to restoration outcomes. More long-term restoration studies which incorporate soil inoculation are needed in order to inform both ecological theory and best practices for restoration.
In Chapter 1, I focus on abiotic variation in terms of moisture availability. I ask if the response of native prairie plant species to the soil community depends on matching origins of plant and soil species as well as abiotic conditions. I found that more xeric species’ survival depends on moisture availability and native prairie mycorrhizal fungi community origin, while more mesic species survival did not depend on either factor.
In Chapter 2, I explored effects of the same factors on plant community composition by focusing on categories of seeded, and non-seeded plant species relevant to restoration. I found that the increased cover of more xeric species in the plant community was dependent on matching origins of mycorrhizal inoculation.
In Chapter 3, I focus on two recommended strategies for prairie restoration design: increased forb seed density and inoculation with native prairie soil. I asked how plant community composition changes with each strategy separately and with both strategies together. I found that seeded grasses and forbs, as well as native and non-native weedy species, responded differently to each strategy. For example, increased forb seeding density increased seeded forb richness and decreased native non-seeded plant cover, while inoculation decreased non-native species cover.
Overall this dissertation shows that variations in restoration design and the abiotic environment are important to restoration outcomes. More long-term restoration studies which incorporate soil inoculation are needed in order to inform both ecological theory and best practices for restoration.
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Date
2018-01-01
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University of Kansas
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This item contains archived web content.
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Lubin_ku_0099D_16206.pdf
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- Embargoed until 2168-05-31
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Keywords
arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, local adaptation, moisture availibility, plant ecology, prairie restoration, sowing density