| Abstract Detail
Ecological Section Sluis, William [1]. Increasing seed density in restoration planting: greater richness or more of the same? The high richness of grasslands has been elusive in many grassland restorations. Theory predicts that richness should increase immediately after disturbance, and peak at a level that maximizes disturbance tolerant and disturbance intolerant species. We created plots with differential seed dispersal to determine whether small-scale species richness is dependent of the rate of dispersal. Twenty one 5 x 5 m2 plots were set up with 3 replicates of 6 seed densities and one unseeded control. Each successive treatment had twice the seed density of the next lower one, a 32-fold difference from least to greatest. Twenty mesic prairie species were used with seed densities ranging from 15 to 480 seeds per m2. Elymus canadensis was included in every treatment to provide grass establishment. Abundance (number of shoots) of each species was recorded from four 0.25m2 samples in each plot. Entire plots were search for all planted species. Unseeded controls exerted dramatic influence on results, often being outliers, and were removed from analysis. Twelve of the 20 planted species were found. As seed density increased, both the number of individuals and total species richness per 0.25m2 quadrat increased. Increased seed density did not increase species richness at the plot (5m x 5m) scale. There was a significant negative correlation between planted species abundance and adventive species abundance, but most adventives were eliminated at low densities, with higher densities being similar. The fact that nearly half of the species sown did not establish demonstrates that increasing seeding rates does not translate into more establishment. Other factors such as timing or specific weather condition may be more important than providing more seeds. Recruitment of some species may occur only infrequently when conditions are optimal.
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1 - 1304 Leawood ct., Naperville, Il, 60564, US
Keywords:
prairie
restoration
seeding rate
species diversity.
Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Sections
Session: P
Location: Exhibit Hall (Northeast, Southwest & Southeast)/Hilton
Date: Sunday, July 8th, 2007
Time: 8:00 AM
Number: P49030
Abstract ID:1195 |
