02320nas a2200277 4500008004100000245016200041210006900203300001300272490000600285520145800291653002201749653002201771653001401793653001201807653001401819653000901833100001501842700001701857700002001874700001501894700001901909700001601928700001801944700001701962856006301979 2014 eng d00aNo effect of seed source on multiple aspects of ecosystem functioning during ecological restoration: cultivars compared to local ecotypes of dominant grasses0 aNo effect of seed source on multiple aspects of ecosystem functi a323 -3350 v73 a
Genetic principles underlie recommendations to use local seed, but a paucity of information exists on the genetic distinction and ecological consequences of using different seed sources in restorations. We established a field experiment to test whether cultivars and local ecotypes of dominant prairie grasses were genetically distinct and differentially influenced ecosystem functioning. Whole plots were assigned to cultivar and local ecotype grass sources. Three subplots within each whole plot were seeded to unique pools of subordinate species. The cultivar of the increasingly dominant grass, Sorghastrum nutans, was genetically different than the local ecotype, but genetic diversity was similar between the two sources. There were no differences in aboveground net primary production, soil carbon accrual, and net nitrogen mineralization rate in soil between the grass sources. Comparable productivity of the grass sources among the species pools for four years shows functional equivalence in terms of biomass production. Subordinate species comprised over half the aboveground productivity, which may have diluted the potential for documented trait differences between the grass sources to influence ecosystem processes. Regionally developed cultivars may be a suitable alternative to local ecotypes for restoration in fragmented landscapes with limited gene flow between natural and restored prairie and negligible recruitment by seed.
10agenetic diversity10agenetic structure10agrassland10aprairie10apropagule10asoil1 aBaer, S.G.1 aGibson, D.J.1 aBenscoter, A.M.1 aReed, L.K.1 aCampbell, R.E.1 aKlopf, R.P.1 aWilland, J.E.1 aWodika, B.R. uhttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/eva.1212402777nas a2200265 4500008004100000245010900041210006900150300001300219490000700232520196400239653002302203653002102226653002302247653001402270653001602284653001402300653002202314100001702336700001502353700001602368700001502384700001702399700001802416856007702434 2013 eng d00aLimited effects of dominant species population source on community composition during community assembly0 aLimited effects of dominant species population source on communi a429 -4400 v243 aQuestion To what extent do dominant species population sources and subordinate species pools affect diversity and composition of an assembling grassland community? Location Illinois, USA. Methods Percentage cover of all species were recorded annually in 36 1-m2 quadrats assigned to a factorial combination of dominant species population source (functionally distinct cultivar or non-cultivar seed source) and designed species pool (three levels varying in species identity, but with equal functional group representation and richness) during the first 4 yr of community assembly in an experimental grassland restoration. Results Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that individual species abundance, life form and community composition differed significantly among designed species pools, but were not strongly affected by population source of the dominant species (cultivar or non-cultivar). There were fewer C4 species in cultivar plots but only in one of three designed species pools during one of 4 yr of community assembly. The number of legume and forb species was higher in cultivar plots, but also only in one of the 4 yr of study. Other changes in species richness and abundance were solely related to successional change. Conclusions Non-dominant species introduced to restore plant communities strongly affects plant community composition, and composition can show fidelity to designed species pools. Only marginal or temporary effects of dominant species seed source were observed in the assembling plant community. Thus, we found no strong evidence that the source of dominant species, in this case cultivars compared to local ecotypes, has consequences for community assembly in the early stages of restoration (1–4 yr). The absence of a strong dominant species source effect may be exacerbated by the assembly of diverse plant communities, resulting in a stronger effect of subordinate species seed mixture in restoration.
10aCommunity assembly10adominant species10aExtended phenotype10agrassland10arestoration10aSeed pool10atallgrass prairie1 aGibson, D.J.1 aBaer, S.G.1 aKlopf, R.P.1 aReed, L.K.1 aWodika, B.R.1 aWilland, J.E. uhttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1654-1103.2012.01475.x