Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Laura G. G. van Galen, Janice M. M. Lord, David A. A. Orlovich, Tim Jowett, Matthew J. J. Larcombe
Summary: This study reveals how various factors interact to limit tree seedling establishment in grasslands and provides new insights into forest expansion into neighboring ecosystems. The study also assists restoration practitioners in selecting techniques to enhance seedling establishment and highlights the challenges of high seedling establishment rates through direct seeding approaches in open grasslands.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Wolfgang Lewandrowski, Jason C. Stevens, Bruce L. Webber, Emma L. Dalziell, Melinda S. Trudgen, Amber M. Bateman, Todd E. Erickson
Summary: The recruitment of arid-zone plant species is highly impacted by seed dormancy, temperature, and water stress. Understanding the vulnerability of the transition from seeds to established seedlings is crucial, as increased temperature and water stress can lead to recruitment failure.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Haobing Cao, Zhenchang Zhu, Zhan Hu, Heng Wang, Tjeerd J. Bouma
Summary: Identifying critical factors that drive seedling establishment is crucial for saltmarsh restoration. This study found that drainage can facilitate the establishment of Spartina anglica seedlings by consolidating sediments and increasing critical shear strength. These findings have important implications for saltmarsh restoration design.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Owen W. Baughman, Jay D. Kerby, Chad S. Boyd, Matthew D. Madsen, Tony J. Svejcar
Summary: Efforts to restore semiarid wildlands in the western United States predominantly use fall seeding. However, winter mortality can be a barrier to seeding success. This study tested the effectiveness of a hydrophobic seed coating in delaying germination and increasing seedling establishment. While the treatment successfully reduced pre-winter germination, it also consistently reduced final germination. Continued research is needed to further explore germination-delaying treatments and bet-hedging strategies.
RESTORATION ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Michala L. Phillips, Edith B. Allen
Summary: Type conversion from native shrubland to invasive annual grassland is increasing due to global change factors. Higher invasive grass cover is associated with higher rates of seedling mortality, while lower invasive cover results in higher richness of annual native plant species.
RESTORATION ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Michaeline B. N. Albright, Stilianos Louca, Daniel E. Winkler, Kelli L. Feeser, Sarah-Jane Haig, Katrine L. Whiteson, Joanne B. Emerson, John Dunbar
Summary: Microbiome engineering is increasingly utilized to address challenges in health, agriculture, and climate, but the failure to consider barriers to organism establishment, particularly in terms of biotic interactions, may hinder the long-term success of engineering solutions.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Gregory S. Fivash, Jim Belzen, Ralph J. M. Temmink, Karin Didderen, Wouter Lengkeek, Tjisse Heide, Tjeerd J. Bouma
Summary: Many vegetated ecosystems in environments frequently disturbed by wind and water face a high risk of restoration failure. Avoiding uniform planting designs can significantly improve the likelihood of restoration success by introducing spatial overdispersion.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Liz Koziol, Thomas P. McKenna, James D. Bever
Summary: This study investigated the effect of microbial communities on seedling biomass and diversity by seeding pots with native prairie seeds and a non-native competitor. The results showed that inoculating soil with prairie arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and ex-arable soil increased abundance and diversity of native and late successional plants, leading to decreased abundance of the non-native grass S. faberi.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dongdong Qiu, Xu Ma, Jiaguo Yan, Dongdong Shao, Junhong Bai, Baoshan Cui
Summary: BPS can impact plant growth and community structure, especially in coastal restoration areas. The study in the Yellow River Delta of China highlighted the importance of biogeomorphological structures, such as concave hollows from crab burrowing and around plant roots, in trapping seeds and influencing seedling establishment. Creating artificial concave hollows also proved beneficial in facilitating seedling establishment.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Robert S. Arkle, David S. Pilliod, Matthew J. Germino, Michelle Jeffries, Justin L. Welty
Summary: Seedling occupancy of sagebrush was uncommon in the first 1-2 years post-wildfire, but aerial seeding significantly increased seedling occupancy, especially in low resistance to invasive species and resilience to disturbance areas. However, high mortality rates were observed, with occupancy rates declining by up to 50% between the first and second years after the fire.
Article
Soil Science
Claire L. Phillips, Kylie M. Meyer, Chad V. Hanson, Sebastien C. Biraud, Kristin M. Trippe
Summary: The conversion of western juniper to biochar for restoration seeding did not significantly improve soil conditions or native seedling establishment. Seedling establishment was most successful in burn scars, possibly due to greater nitrogen availability. Biochar had minimal impact on soil characteristics and did not provide clear benefits for native seedling establishment.
SOIL SCIENCE SOCIETY OF AMERICA JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Trace E. Martyn, Albert Barberan, Joseph C. Blankinship, Mary Miller, Ben Yang, Albert Kline, Elise S. Gornish
Summary: Grasslands are crucial ecosystems that cover a significant portion of the Earth's surface. However, human activities have led to their degradation, resulting in negative impacts on plant communities and the environment. A study utilizing low-cost rock structures found that they can improve soil moisture, fungal richness, and spring seedling germination, suggesting their potential in restoring and enhancing grasslands.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Shuo Wang, Kelli M. Gowland, Loeske E. B. Kruuk, Adrienne B. Nicotra, Pieter A. Arnold
Summary: The study found that while parental warming slightly decreased germination rate, offspring warming greatly increased it. Spring-emerged seedlings grew slower than autumn-emerged seedlings, but were not detrimentally affected by warm offspring temperatures. Inbreeding magnified the negative effects of both parental and offspring warming in this species.
Article
Plant Sciences
Ahmed M. Abbas, Maryam M. Alomran, Nada K. Alharbi, Stephen J. Novak
Summary: Many studies have examined the impact of leaf litter depth on seed germination and seedling growth, especially in the vulnerable seedling stage of plant life cycle. Invasive plants can modify ecosystems by forming thick litter layers that suppress the emergence, survival, and recruitment of native plant seedlings, and sometimes even their own seedlings. This study evaluated the effect of leaf litter of Prosopis juliflora on its own seedling recruitment in Saudi Arabia, and found that increasing litter depth significantly reduced the emergence and germination of P. juliflora seeds. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms involved, such as the role of allelopathic compounds and seed dormancy in the soil seed bank.
Article
Ecology
Elena Karlsen-Ayala, Michelle A. Jusino, Romina Gazis, Matthew E. Smith
Summary: This study investigated the communities of ectomycorrhizal fungi in three different habitats in Florida and their association with the spore bank fungi and two species of pines. The dominant species in all habitats were Rhizopogon, and the community composition of fungal communities was influenced by habitat type and location. However, there were no significant differences in ectomycorrhizal communities between the two pine species.
Article
Ecology
Vanessa S. Brown, Alison L. Ritchie, Jason C. Stevens, Richard J. Harris, Matthew D. Madsen, Todd E. Erickson
RESTORATION ECOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Ecology
Alison L. Ritchie, Rodney J. Dyer, Paul G. Nevill, Elizabeth A. Sinclair, Siegfried L. Krauss
Article
Ecology
Leonie E. Valentine, Nancy Shackelford, Bridget A. Johnson, Michael D. Craig, Michael P. Perring, Kristin B. Hulvey, Lauren M. Hallett, Rebecca Campbell, Joan Dudney, Todd E. Erickson, Alison Ritchie, Hilary Harrop-Archibald, Cristina E. Ramalho, Rachel J. Standish
RESTORATION ECOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Ecology
Bianca Berto, Alison L. Ritchie, Todd E. Erickson
Summary: This study successfully improved germination and handling characteristics of two dominant Australian native grass species through the application of seed enhancement technologies, providing assistance for restoration and commercial success.
RESTORATION ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Bianca Berto, Todd E. Erickson, Alison L. Ritchie
Article
Ecology
Alison L. Ritchie, Carole P. Elliott, Elizabeth A. Sinclair, Siegfried L. Krauss
Summary: This study compared bird pollinators in natural and restored Banksia woodlands in Western Australia, finding similar species compositions between restored and adjacent natural sites, with proximity supporting pollinator re-establishment. Bird foraging behavior was influenced by territorial interactions, with more aggressive chases observed in restored sites leading to increased movements. Restored sites had re-established pollination services, albeit with clear differences from natural sites, as demonstrated by the variability in bird pollinator composition and behavior in natural sites serving as a competition target against which restored sites were assessed.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Lauren N. Svejcar, Vanessa S. Brown, Alison L. Ritchie, Kirk W. Davies, Tony J. Svejcar
Summary: Restoration efforts in dryland systems are hindered by environmental variables and low establishment of native species. Agricultural technologies such as seed enhancements offer potential solutions to overcome these limitations. Tailoring current agricultural technologies to restoration contexts is crucial for the development of seed enhancement technologies.
RESTORATION ECOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Vanessa S. Brown, Todd E. Erickson, David J. Merritt, Matthew D. Madsen, Richard J. Hobbs, Alison L. Ritchie
Summary: Seed enhancement technologies (SETs) offer a novel approach to address challenges in restoration projects and have mainly been researched in the agricultural sector; however, other sectors such as restoration and rangeland management are also increasing efforts in SET research. Further refinement is needed for SETs, including identifying ideal additives and concentrations, formulating coatings and extruded pellets, and developing flash flaming, to enhance their efficacy in overcoming various barriers in seed-based restoration.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Vanessa S. Brown, Alison L. Ritchie, Jason C. Stevens, Taylah D. Hanks, Richard J. Hobbs, Todd E. Erickson
Summary: This study aimed to optimize the position of seeds within pellets to improve emergence and survival rates of Jacksonia furcellata. The results showed that seeds positioned at the bottom of pellets without activated carbon (AC) had the highest emergence rate, while seeds in the middle of pellets with AC had lower emergence rate. Further research and testing are needed to refine pellet production for optimal emergence.
RESTORATION ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Thomas P. Munro, Alison L. Ritchie, Todd E. Erickson, Dale G. Nimmo, Jodi N. Price
Summary: Invasive plant species hinder the reestablishment of native species after land degradation. The use of postemergent herbicides in restoration is preferred, but recent studies show that these herbicides can negatively affect native seeds. Activated carbon seed enhancement technologies (SETs) have been effective against preemergent herbicides, but their effectiveness against postemergent herbicides remains untested.
RESTORATION ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Vanessa S. Brown, Todd E. Erickson, Richard J. Hobbs, Stanley Mastrantonis, Alison L. Ritchie
Summary: Combining carbon-based seed enhancement technologies and restoration management practices can alleviate plant recruitment barriers caused by invasive plant species and poor soil conditions. This study tested seven seed enhancement technologies and five management practices on Grey Stinkwood, a common shrub in Western Australia. The results showed that coins incorporating biochar had the highest seedling emergence at the Post-pine site, while extruded pellets containing activated carbon had the highest emergence at the Post-mine site. Using carbon-based seed treatments and management practices like herbicide application followed by soil ripping can help overcome seedling emergence bottlenecks in direct seeding programs. However, further investigation into seedling survival is needed before implementing seed enhancement technologies on a large scale.
ECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT & RESTORATION
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Bianca Berto, Todd E. Erickson, Alison L. Ritchie
Summary: Seed enhancement technologies (SETs) were used to improve seed handling and germination of Australian native grasses. Flash flaming and acid digestion were successful in reducing bulky floret structures while maintaining or improving germination. Hydropriming did not improve germination outcomes when applied after other treatments.
Review
Plant Sciences
Alison L. Ritchie, Lauren N. Svejcar, Bronwyn M. Ayre, Julian Bolleter, Aaron Brace, Michael D. Craig, Belinda Davis, Robert A. Davis, Eddie J. B. van Etten, Joseph B. Fontaine, William M. Fowler, Ray H. Froend, Christine Groom, Giles E. S. J. Hardy, Paula Hooper, Anna J. M. Hopkins, Michael Hughes, Siegfried L. Krauss, Matthias Leopold, Ben P. Miller, Russell G. Miller, Cristina E. Ramalho, Katinka X. Ruthrof, Christopher Shaw, Jason C. Stevens, Ryan Tangney, Leonie E. Valentine, Erik J. Veneklaas, Richard J. Hobbs
Summary: The rapid expansion of urban areas worldwide is causing native habitat loss and ecosystem fragmentation, leading to increased interest in the impact of urbanization on biodiversity. This study focuses on the Banksia Woodlands (BWs) ecosystem in Australia, highlighting key scientific advances made in understanding the ecological functions and mechanisms critical to ecosystem management over the past 30 years. Integration of research across disparate ecological disciplines has shown promising results, but there are still knowledge gaps and research priorities that need to be addressed to improve conservation efforts for this Threatened Ecological Community (TEC).
AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Alison L. Ritchie, Jason C. Stevens, Todd E. Erickson
ECOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS AND EVIDENCE
(2020)