THE ROLE OF PLANT INTERACTIONS IN RESTORING ARID ECOSYSTEMS

PROGRESS REPORT – MARCH 6 2015

Amanda Liczner, MSc Candidate

Restoration ecology

Species interactions

Competition and restoration

Facilitation and restoration

Study site

Study site

Purpose

Chapter 1

A systematic review of the use of interactions for restoring arid and semi-arid ecosystems

Questions

1. Are positive or negative interactions more frequent

2. What types of interactions are included

3. How frequently are net interactions included

4. Do we consider multiple taxa

5. What types of restoration methods are used

Search terms

(interact* OR facilitat* OR compet* OR mutal* OR nurse OR interfere*)

AND

(restor* OR rehabilitat* OR recla* OR remediat* OR reveget* OR reforest* OR afforest*)

AND

(arid OR semi-arid OR desert)

=290 articles

Data extraction

Sign, frequency, type of interaction Taxa, sample size Restoration method Geographical data

Progress to date

Processed 15% of articles will have processing complete by May 2015

Chapter 2

The use of shrubs as a tool for re-establishing native annuals to an invaded arid scrubland

Chapter 2 interactions

Hypothesis

In the absence of non-native competitors, shrubs facilitate the re-establishment of native annuals due to a reduction in abiotic stress and consumer pressure.

Predictions

1. Removing non-natives = increased native establishment

2. Open + exclosure will have greater relative effect

3. Shrub + non-native removal = greatest native establishment

Methods

Methods

Methods

shrub open y n present removal

me

an

num

ber

of

pla

nts

0

10

20

30

+ exclosure- exclosure

First census

***

*** ***

me

an n

umb

er

of

see

dlin

gs

0

10

20

30

40

50

shrubopen

+ exclosure - exclosure

First census

removal present

me

an n

umb

er

of

see

dlin

gs

0

10

20

30

40

50

shrubopen

First census

removal present

me

an n

umb

er

of

see

dlin

gs

0

10

20

30

40

50

+ exclosure- exclosure

First census

Chapter 3

The effect of shrub additions and removals on the blunt-nosed leopard lizard in a semi-arid scrubland

Chapter 3 interactions

Hypothesis

Shrubs and shrub mimics have a positive influence on the activity of Gambelia sila by providing shelter for hunting, light, or predators.

Predictions

1. Gambelia sila activity highest within shrub sites

2. Shrub removal sites will have an immediate decline in Gambelia sila activity

3. Shrub mimic sites will have a gradual increase in Gambelia sila activity

Methods

Methods

Shrub and scat locations

Chapter 4

The effect of shrub additions and removals on the plant community in a semi-arid scrubland

Chapter 4 project designs

Mono vs. mixed community

Seed density Annual removals Reciprocal soil treatment Decouple legacy vs.

canopy effects

Next steps

Timeline TasksEnd-March to early-April survey seed addition plotsEnd- April to early-May Prep for shrub removalEarly to mid -May shrub removal, lizard surveyEnd-May Process Ch 1 data Summer –Fall 2015 Ch 1 analysis + write-upNovember 2015 Add phytometer speciesApril 2016 Survey phytometer speciesMay 2016 Lizard activity survey

Thank you!

Dr. Christopher Lortie Dr. Suzanne MacDonald Bureau of Land Management Hollister office Lab members Working Dogs for Conservation

Phacelia eschsholzia amsinckia total

me

an

num

ber

of

see

dlin

gs

0

5

10

15

20

25

30shrubopen

***

*** ***

y n removal present

RII

-1

0

1

+ exclosure - exclosure

Restoration and net interactions

Fig 3. Gomez-Aparicio 2009

Purpose

Reduce abiotic stress and herbivory

Reduce abiotic stress, provide

shelter

open shrub

PA

R

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

***

First census

removal present

% s

oil m

oist

ure

0

5

10

15

20

25

**

First census results

Methods