Assessing the relative importance of nurse species on Mediterranean human-altered areas

One advantageous strategy for the restoration of human-disturbed landscapes is the use of ecologically important species such as nurse plants. We propose a field-based approach to measure the functional importance of nurse species (i.e. their relative facilitative effects on other plant species) and to identify which species will yield more efficient revegetation programs regarding their abundance. We identified 30 nurse-beneficiary spatial associations, with the functional importance varying largely among four nurse species and three human-disturbed areas. A Mediterranean endemic palm was the most important nurse species, thus showing its potential key role in revegetation programs by promoting spatial associations with late-successional plant species. We encourage restorers to use nurse species with a disproportionate (regarding their relative abundance) impact on ecosystems to save additional resources.

Automated summary

One advantageous strategy for landscape restoration is the use of nurse plants, with a study showing that a Mediterranean endemic palm is the most important nurse species. This species can promote spatial associations with late-successional plant species and save additional resources.