* Rehabilitation of the Steppe Lygeum spartum in the Region of Naama (Western Algeria) Type Journal Article Author Benaradj Abdelkrim Author Boucherit Hafidha Author Hasnaoui Okkacha Author Mederbal Khalladi Author Sehli Abdelkrim URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876610213011260__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dveCOaFM8$ Volume 36 Pages 349-357 Publication TerraGreen 13 International Conference 2013 - Advancements in Renewable Energy and Clean Environment ISSN 1876-6102 Date January 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Energy Procedia DOI 10.1016/j.egypro.2013.07.040 Abstract In the steppe south-Oranian of Naama (Algeria), clearing, overgrazing and overexploitation of vegetation expose the soil surface pastoral rangeland desertification intense. Intervention measures to this alarming situation are to promote the process of reverse degradation reconstruction, restoration and rehabilitation of degraded steppe by the technique of exclosure. This technique of fencing which is to put the grazing of degraded areas in order to promote the restoration and it may be sufficient to reconstruct the condition she still have the ability to correct itself degradation effects these pathways. She favors natural regeneration, the most appropriate to induce biological recovery of natural steppe. With a number of transects inside and outside the exclosure. These transects is a grid that can scan the entire site and put some grazing routes nearby free range. Along these transects, phytoecological are placed every 200 m in an area of 100 m2. Following this assessment, remediation by technical exclosure the steppe of Lygeum spartum has a positive impact on biological recovery by a quantitative and qualitative increase in the rate of recovery of vegetation, floristic richness and of phytomass. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:34 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:34 PM Tags: o Algeria o biological recovery o desertification. o exclosure o Lygeum spartum o Naama o Steppe * The use of remote sensing to develop a site history for restoration planning in an arid landscape Type Journal Article Author Meshal M. Abdullah Author Rusty A. Feagin Author Layla Musawi Author Steven Whisenant Author Sorin Popescu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12289__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvoI_fSeg$ Rights © 2015 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 24 Issue 1 Pages 91-99 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2016 DOI 10.1111/rec.12289 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:43:37 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Developing a site history and ecological site description is one of the critical steps in restoration planning for arid landscapes. This study focuses on Umm Nigga, Northeast of Kuwait, which was damaged by various human activities. The northern portion of Umm Nigga falls within the boundaries of the demilitarized zone (DMZ) adjacent to Iraq, and was fenced off to restrict public access since 1994. The central objective of this project was to use remote sensing, field assessment, and Geographical Information System (GIS) spatial data to develop a site history for restoration planning of Umm Nigga. Field observation and GIS analysis indicated that the landscape could be divided into three units along a gradient ranging from the coast to inland locations, based on geology, soil properties, and dominant vegetation. Reference sites in the DMZ were also matched for each unit. Remote sensing was used to compare vegetation cover between damaged and reference sites at selected units. Results showed that vegetation cover increased in the unfenced damaged site after the 1991 Gulf War from 2% in 1988 to 37% in 1998, but then it decreased to 23% in 2013. In the DMZ reference site, the vegetation cover also increased from 0% in 1988 to 40% in 1998, but it continued increasing through 2013 to 64%. We conclude that overgrazing and destructive camping are the major source of disturbance in the damaged areas. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:43:37 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:43:37 PM Tags: o demilitarized zone o Kuwait o natural recovery o reference sites o restoration ecology o vegetation cover Attachments o Snapshot * Changes in watershed hydrological behavior due to land use comanagement scenarios Type Journal Article Author Maryam Adhami Author Seyed Hamidreza Sadeghi Author Rainer Duttmann Author Majid Sheikhmohammady URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022169419307218__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvEIdoKSk$ Volume 577 Pages 124001 Publication Journal of Hydrology ISSN 0022-1694 Date October 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Journal of Hydrology DOI 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2019.124001 Abstract The changes in runoff and sediment load due to various approaches in land use management have recently received considerable attention. In the present paper, the impact of land use change under collaborative management framework on water and sediment load was investigated by combined usage of hydrologic modelling and land use maps. Three groups of stakeholders viz. residents, policy makers and executive organizations were involved in decision making process. Three prioritization procedures of Condorcet, Borda scoring and Fallback bargaining were elected to rank sub-watersheds and managerial practices. The impact of different managerial scenarios was assessed by applying time-area concept and through analyzing changes in important components of output hydrographs and sediment graphs. Results demonstrated significant agreement among stakeholder’s attitudes and quantitative outcomes. The results illustrated obvious impact on runoff and sediment resulted from scenarios for land use management. So that, the impact on sediment load (with maximum reduction benefit of 19.41%) was significantly greater than that of runoff (with maximum reduction benefit of 8.07%). Manipulation of farmlands and poor rangelands and afforestation caused recognizable reduction on runoff and sediment. Rangelands restoration also satisfied socioeconomic status and environmental criterion of the study area. Considering basic differences in prioritization procedures, there were considerable agreement among stakeholders in land use management and practice prioritization. The results further indicated that the watershed management projects should focus on remediation of vegetation cover of the rangelands, which simultaneously tackles land degradation and improves economic condition. However, the present study revealed lack of proper connection between residents and authorities. Nevertheless, as a pioneer comanagement endeavor, the present qualitative and quantitative results facilitate group decision making and participated planning procedure at the watershed scale. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:39 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:04:39 PM Tags: o Integrated watershed management o Land use planning o Rainfall-runoff modeling o Soil and water conservation o Sustainable development * Evaluation of temporal changes in hydrostructural properties of regenerating permanent grassland soils based on shrinkage properties and μCT analysis Type Journal Article Author A.E. Ajayi Author R. Horn Author Jens Rostek Author D. Uteau Author S. Peth URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016719871831016X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvxOx76VE$ Volume 185 Pages 102-112 Publication Soil and Tillage Research ISSN 0167-1987 Date January 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Soil and Tillage Research DOI 10.1016/j.still.2018.09.005 Abstract In this study, structural recovery of degraded cropland, which was converted to permanent grassland and managed under no-till and no-renovation condition, was evaluated. We combined hydrostructural parameters with shrinkage characteristics and X-ray computed microtomography (μCT) analysis at three depths, to determine the mechanism for soil structural recovery over a 19-year period. The results showed that the total porosity and hydraulic properties were improved, with the age of the regenerating grassland, due to a better rearrangement of soil particles which in combination with the shrinkage induced realignment of pores in the soil matrix, resulted in better pore continuity. Changes in hydraulic stresses were most pronounced in the intensely rooted soil layers with further enhancement of the soil structure during restoration. This was similarly observed in the reconstructed images, which further highlight the strong contribution from the root development and organic matter conversion to the improved pore networks. Our result also showed that ignoring the depth and time dependent shrinkage behaviour of within the soil matrix resulted in overestimation of water retention potential in the first 8 years since the commencement of the restoration programme, and in the underestimation of water retention in the structurally stable soil beyond this period The results from these combined analyses; allowed a more methodical, detailed, quantitative and qualitative assessment of temporal soil structural recovery in naturally recovering grassland soil. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:35 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:35 PM Tags: o Amelioration o Hydraulic properties o Permanent grassland o Shrinkage o X-ray computed microtomography (μCT) * Agrobiodiversity and genetic erosion of crop varieties and plant resources in the Central Great Caucasus Type Journal Article Author Maia Akhalkatsi Author Annette Otte Author Natalia Togonidze Author Tamar Bragvadze Author Zezva Asanidze Author Giorgi Arabuli Author Natia Chikhelidze Author Lamar Mazanishvili URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1512188717300106__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvOX75tzg$ Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 11-16 Publication Annals of Agrarian Science ISSN 1512-1887 Date March 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Annals of Agrarian Science DOI 10.1016/j.aasci.2016.12.002 Abstract Kazbegi Municipality is located in the Central Great Caucasus at an altitude between 1250 and 5047 m a.s.l. Agriculture of this area is extreme internal variability and complexity, with a multiplicity of highly localized providing the habitats and agricultural lands for much genetic erosion of crop varieties, animals, plants, fungi, and other life forms for wild plant resources. Historically, Kazbegi producers had begun cultivating the land to prepare for planting in of distribution local varieties of wheat, barley, rye, oats, etc. In the only cereals, legumes, herbs and some fruits are cultivated in alpine zone as the upper limit till the location of 2160 m a.s.l. Genetic erosion has been determined historically of aboriginal crops from sheep and cattle grazing problem and reached extreme levels from 1970s in Kazbegi Municipality and causes a problem to maintain agriculture. Plant resources remained in forests and subalpine grasslands and shrub lands. The problems of these materials are habitat degradation by disturbance in many forest types with destroyed and burned. Tree seedlings are grazing by animals and forest is not restoring naturally. Forest planting is good relation for restoration of plant wild species resources. Investigation on exchange on mountain agriculture and plant resources will now be rapidly accelerated in the vital interests of mountain communities. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:05 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:05 PM Tags: o Cereal landraces o Crop erosion o Forest degradation o Medicinal plants o Wild fruits * Effects of open grazing and livestock exclusion on floristic composition and diversity in natural ecosystem of Western Saudi Arabia Type Journal Article Author Saud L. Al-Rowaily Author Magdy I. El-Bana Author Dhafer A. Al-Bakre Author Abdulaziz M. Assaeed Author Ahmad K. Hegazy Author Mohammed Basharat Ali URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1319562X15000832__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvYlJIlG4$ Volume 22 Issue 4 Pages 430-437 Publication Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences ISSN 1319-562X Date July 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences DOI 10.1016/j.sjbs.2015.04.012 Abstract Livestock grazing is one of the main causes of rangeland degradation in Saudi Arabia. Fencing to exclude grazers is one of the main management practices used to restore vegetation and conserve biodiversity. The main objectives of this study were to investigate the changes in plant diversity and abundance, floristic composition and plant groups of the major life forms in response to thirty-five years of grazing exclosure in western Saudi Arabia. These vegetation attributes and palatability were compared in 30 sampling stands located in the excluded and grazed sites. Our results showed that livestock exclusion significantly increased covers, density and species richness of annuals, grasses, perennial forbs, shrubs and trees. Exclosure enhanced the abundance and richness of palatable species and depressed the development of weedy species. About 66.7% of the recorded species at the excluded site were highly palatable compared to 34.5% at the grazed site. In contrary, about 55.2% unpalatable species were found in the grazed site compared to 25.8% in the protected site. Jaccard’s similarity index between the excluded and grazed sites showed lower values of 0.39%, 0.40% and 0.31% at levels of families, genus and species, respectively. The results suggest that establishing livestock exclusion may be a useful sustainable management tool for vegetation restoration and conservation of plant diversity in degraded rangelands of arid regions. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:45 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:04:45 PM Tags: o Fencing o Grazing impacts o Protection o Rangeland Steppes o Restoration * Data on different seed harvesting methods used in grassland restoration on ex-arable land Type Journal Article Author Ágnes-Júlia Albert Author Ondřej Mudrák Author Ivana Jongepierová Author Karel Fajmon Author Ivana Frei Author Magdalena Ševčíková Author Jitka Klimešová Author Jiři Doležal URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352340919303646__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dveLR_b4g$ Volume 25 Pages 104011 Publication Data in Brief ISSN 2352-3409 Date August 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Data in Brief DOI 10.1016/j.dib.2019.104011 Abstract We present data of the grassland restoration experiment performed in the Bílé Karpaty Mts. (White Carpathians, Czech Republic) in dry species-rich meadows. First we harvested seed material in a preserved source meadow (donor site hereafter) by brush harvesting the vegetation once (B1 hereafter), brush harvesting three times during the season (B3 hereafter), and by cutting green hay (GH hereafter). Then we determined the species composition and seed quantity of the harvested material. Furthermore, we transferred the seeds to an experimental site on ex-arable land (receptor site hereafter), and monitored the development of the meadow communities in the following five years. Data are interpreted in: Á-J. Albert, O. Mudrák, I. Jongepierová, K. Fajmon, I. Frei, M. Ševčíková, J. Klimešová, J. Doležal, Grassland restoration on ex-arable land by transfer of brush-harvested propagules and green hay. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 272 (2019), 74–82. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:44 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:44 PM Tags: o Bílé Karpaty o Functional traits o Grassland o Monitoring o Old field o Seed addition methods o Seed dispersal * Grassland restoration on ex-arable land by transfer of brush-harvested propagules and green hay Type Journal Article Author Ágnes-Júlia Albert Author Ondřej Mudrák Author Ivana Jongepierová Author Karel Fajmon Author Ivana Frei Author Magdalena Ševčíková Author Jitka Klimešová Author Jiří Doležal URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880918304626__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvU3NKBgo$ Volume 272 Pages 74-82 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date February 15, 2019 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2018.11.008 Abstract Effective restoration of meadows requires seeds of local provenance to preserve not only the species diversity but also the genetic identity of plant communities. We compared three different methods of seed harvesting from local meadow communities and assessed their efficiency in meadow restoration on ex-arable land. These methods were: brush harvesting once only, brush harvesting three times during a season, and green hay transfer. We observed the composition of species and functional traits of seed source meadows, sampled the three harvested seed mixtures and monitored plant communities restored on ex-arable land with this seed over the five following years. Green hay transfer was the method producing the highest amount of seeds (expressed as mass) and the highest number of species per unit of source-meadow area, followed by brush harvesting three times during one season and once only, respectively. This resulted in the highest establishment rate of species on ex-arable land in the green hay transfer method, followed by brush harvesting three times during one season and once only, respectively. Across all methods, species abundant in the seed mixture, having a low specific leaf area and a low capacity for lateral clonal spread, were the most successfully harvested and established ones. In the restored communities, mainly species number and cover of legumes but also of target meadow species increased with time, while ruderal weedy species decreased. Concerning species number and composition as well as trait spectrum, green hay transfer was the most successful method of restoration, resulting in a community most similar to the seed source meadow. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:51 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:51 PM Tags: o Bílé Karpaty o Functional traits o Grassland o Monitoring o Old field o Seed addition methods o Seed dispersal * Habitat suitability and herbivores determine reintroduction success of an endangered legume Type Journal Article Author Matthew A. Albrecht Author Quinn G. Long URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468265918300295__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvauTgpG8$ Volume 41 Issue 2 Pages 109-117 Publication Restoration of threatened plant species and their habitats ISSN 2468-2659 Date April 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Plant Diversity DOI 10.1016/j.pld.2018.09.004 Abstract Reintroductions of rare plants require detailed knowledge of habitat requirements, species interactions, and restoration techniques. Thus, incremental experimentation over many years may be required to develop adequate knowledge and techniques for successful reintroduction. To determine drivers of extinction in historical reintroductions of a federally endangered perennial (Astragalus bibullatus), we developed a reintroduction experiment to disentangle the relative importance of habitat quality, herbivores, and restoration technique on reintroduction success. In a factorial design, we manipulated access to vertebrate herbivores across different habitat types (mesic ecotone vs. xeric barren), and used founder populations comprised of more transplants and genetic sources than previous reintroduction attempts. In mesic ecotones where historical reintroductions failed, excluding herbivores, thinning woody encroachment to improve habitat quality, outplanting across a greater array of microhabitats, and increasing founder population size did not improve demographic rates over previous attempts. Compared to mesic ecotones, transplant survival rates and cumulative fruit production were more than two and ten times greater, respectively, in a xeric barren ecotone characterized by open, grassy, and dry microenvironmental conditions. Across all sites, herbivores decreased probabilities of survival and flowering of larger adult plants. Flowering rates were 80% greater inside relative to outside herbivore exclusion cages. Over a four-year period, only a single uncaged plant produced fruit. Our study demonstrates that habitat quality and vertebrate herbivory are key drivers of long-term persistence in rare plant reintroductions. Using incremental experiments that build on previous knowledge gained from long-term monitoring can improve reintroduction outcomes. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:36 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:36 PM Tags: o Conservation o Founder size o Grassland o Rare plant o Translocation * Effects of ecological compensation meadows on arthropod diversity in adjacent intensively managed grassland Type Journal Article Author Matthias Albrecht Author Bernhard Schmid Author Martin K. Obrist Author Beatrice Schüpbach Author David Kleijn Author Peter Duelli URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320709004947__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvWgNzHPE$ Volume 143 Issue 3 Pages 642-649 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date March 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2009.11.029 Abstract An important goal of ecological compensation areas (ECAs) is to increase biodiversity in adjacent intensively managed farmland and the agricultural landscape at large. We tested whether this goal can be achieved in the case of the agri-environmental restoration scheme implemented for Swiss grassland using five large arthropod taxa (bees, true bugs, orthopterans, ground beetles and spiders) representing different ecological and functional groups. The species richness and abundance of all groups and species, respectively, was measured along 100m transects from ECA-meadows into the adjacent intensively managed grassland at 24 sites. Species richness of all arthropod taxa except ground beetles, and the abundance of 63% of the 234 arthropod species sampled with at least five individuals were higher in ECA-meadows than in their surroundings, while the total abundance of spiders and ground beetles was higher in intensively managed meadows. The abundance of 8% of these species were only increased in the ECA-meadows themselves (“stenotopic” species) but 40% had increased abundance both in the ECA-meadows and the adjacent grassland, declining exponentially with increasing distance from ECA-meadows (“edge species”). The 90%-decay distances for these edge species differed among taxonomic groups (117±18m for true bugs, 137±24m for spiders, 152±34m for bees, 167±5.7m for orthopterans, 185±34m for ground beetles; mean ±1 standard error) and independent of taxonomic group were larger for large-sized or predacious species than for small-sized or phytophagous species. Because the average distance between neighbouring ECA-meadows in Swiss grassland is only 73±4m, the current agri-environment scheme very likely enhances arthropod diversity and possibly associated ecosystem services in the Swiss agricultural landscape at large. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:29 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:29 PM Tags: o Agri-environment schemes o Arthropod diversity o Body size o Meadow restoration o Positive edge effect o Trophic guild * Habitat change in insular grasslands: Woody encroachment alters the population dynamics of a rare ecotonal plant Type Journal Article Author Matthew A. Albrecht Author Rachel E. Becknell Author Quinn Long URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320716300337__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvWkygwJk$ Volume 196 Pages 93-102 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date April 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2016.01.032 Abstract Inferring habitat requirements of rare plants can be challenging when the few remaining populations occur in sites with divergent successional states. In island-like rock outcrop systems within forest landscapes, edaphic conditions are assumed to modulate successional patterns, but changes to disturbance regimes in the landscape matrix could alter ecotone microenvironments over time. We used demographic surveys and controlled experiments with a dispersal-limited and endangered ecotonal plant, Astragalus bibullatus, to test the hypothesis that woody encroachment from the forest matrix threatens rare plants in globally imperiled limestone cedar glades. Tree canopy cover was more important than edaphic conditions or ground-layer structure for explaining variation in demographic structure. As tree canopy cover increased, stem densities, flowering, and seed production declined. Over three-years, per plant inflorescence production, fruit production, and fruit set were markedly greater in open microhabitats than in edge or closed microhabitats. In contrast, seedling densities peaked in edge and closed microhabitats. Seedling recruitment and seed production were spatially decoupled across a canopy cover gradient, suggesting that shaded sites historically had lower tree canopy cover. Shade reduced growth rates and biomass of seedlings and adults under non-limiting moisture conditions. Although A. bibullatus can persist in degraded ecotones using multiple demographic strategies, growth, flowering and seed production depend on open microhabitats. Our results demonstrate that woody encroachment effects in temperate grasslands extend to island-like rock outcrop systems with unique edaphic conditions. Conservation and recovery programs with rare ecotonal plants should integrate restoration of historical disturbance regimes in the landscape matrix. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:43 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:43 PM Tags: o Cedar glades o Disturbance o Habitat suitability o Landscape matrix o Management o Succession * Orthoptera prove good indicators of grassland rehabilitation success in the first French Natural Asset Reserve Type Journal Article Author Jean-François Alignan Author Jean-François Debras Author Thierry Dutoit URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1617138118301237__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvwz3Rp1w$ Volume 44 Pages 1-11 Publication Journal for Nature Conservation ISSN 1617-1381 Date July 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Journal for Nature Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.jnc.2018.04.002 Abstract In the last few years, legislation in more and more countries has stipulated compensation for impacts on biodiversity. France was one of the first countries to include compensation in its national law on nature preservation (1976), but habitat banking was only recently introduced into the mitigation regulatory framework. It was applied for the first time in 2008, when the first French Natural Asset Reserve was created in the plain of La Crau (Southeastern France), the last semi-arid steppe in Western Europe. This project was realized through mitigation banking and involved the ecological rehabilitation of an abandoned conventional orchard to a dry Mediterranean grassland habitat for the rare and protected steppe birds typical of this area. Here, to measure habitat rehabilitation success and validate the mitigation banking principle, we use Orthoptera as rapid and integrative indicators. Performing a six-year study (2008–2013), we assessed Orthoptera assemblages before rehabilitation (2008), when the conventional orchard was abandoned; during rehabilitation (2009); and for four years after rehabilitation (2010–2013). Three areas were considered: the area that was rehabilitated, the surrounding undisturbed steppe considered as reference ecosystem and the edge between them. The rapid recovery of typical Orthoptera assemblages measured in terms of species richness, abundance and composition confirms the successful rehabilitation of the habitat, allowing the return of steppe birds, the objective of the compensation project. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:27 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:27 PM Tags: o Ecological equivalence o Insects o Mitigation banks o Offset o Restoration * Successful restoration of moth abundance and species-richness in grassland created under agri-environment schemes Type Journal Article Author Jamie Alison Author Simon J. Duffield Author Michael D. Morecroft Author Rob H. Marrs Author Jenny A. Hodgson URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000632071730174X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvSAWgWcI$ Volume 213 Pages 51-58 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date September 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2017.07.003 Abstract Restoring intensive agricultural fields to species-rich semi-natural grassland could have profound effects on biodiversity and ecosystem services. However, only a minority of European agri-environment scheme funding is currently devoted to such measures (<1% in the UK) and too few studies compare biodiversity on restored habitats with that on appropriate control and reference sites. As a result, there is a lack of advice for land managers on how to implement habitat restoration to maximise conservation outcomes, especially for insects. We present a landscape-scale field study in which we tested whether the abundance and species-occurrence of moths (Lepidoptera) differed between arable fields, fields restored to species-rich grassland, and semi-natural calcareous grassland (CG). We also tested whether moths were affected by the frequency of CG indicator wildflowers, age of restoration and habitat connectivity of restored grassland. We found that the abundance of CG-associated moths on restored grassland was almost eight times that on arable fields, and abundance and species-occurrence did not differ significantly from that on semi-natural CG. The only group of moths that was more abundant on CG than restored grassland was associated with late successional stage habitats (e.g. woodland), which shows that trees and shrubs are key features maintaining insect biodiversity on CG. CG moths were more abundant on restored grassland sites where CG indicator wildflowers had established, suggesting that active enhancement of the plant community can increase the abundance of target insect groups. Restoring arable fields to species-rich grassland benefits moths over short timescales (as little as 3years) and at great distances from semi-natural CG (up to 7km). It should play a pivotal role in future agri-environment schemes aiming to increase insect biodiversity. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:41 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:41 PM Tags: o Cropland o Habitat quality o Land sparing o Pollinator o Protected area o Specialist * ZEV NAVEH 1919–2011: A Lifetime of Leadership in Restoration Ecology and Landscape Ecology Type Journal Article Author Edith B. Allen Author Linda Olsvig‐Whittaker Author James Aronson URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2011.00812.x__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvfr8VHlw$ Rights © 2011 Society for Ecological Restoration International Volume 19 Issue 4 Pages 431-432 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2011 DOI 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2011.00812.x Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:33:31 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Short Title ZEV NAVEH 1919–2011 Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:33:32 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:33:32 PM Attachments o Snapshot * The role of herbivores in Great Plains conservation: comparative ecology of bison and cattle Type Journal Article Author Brady W. Allred Author Samuel D. Fuhlendorf Author Robert G. Hamilton URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1890/ES10-00152.1__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvck-C2gQ$ Volume 2 Issue 3 Pages art26 Publication Ecosphere ISSN 2150-8925 Date March 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Ecosphere DOI 10.1890/ES10-00152.1 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract The Great Plains of North America evolved with significant influence from bison (Bison bison), but is presently dominated by cattle (Bos taurus). While there are a variety of opinions concerning differences between these two species, there is a lack of scientific comparisons, including those that incorporate important ecological variation. We developed a framework to study and compare the grazing behavior and effects of bison and cattle within grassland ecosystems. Environmental (e.g., resource distribution, disturbance) and animal (e.g., number, social organization) factors play a critical role in determining grazing effects and should be incorporated into discussions that compare the effects of bison and cattle. Using this framework we specifically compare the grazing behavior of both species in tallgrass prairie and discuss the implications of these differences in the context of conservation. We collared bison and cattle with global positioning systems and used resource selection functions to estimate the importance of various environmental factors on site selection. Both species preferred recently burned areas and avoided steeper slopes. Cattle selected areas that were closer to water, while bison were not limited by distance to water; cattle also preferred areas with woody vegetation, while bison avoided them. Incorporating broad scale environmental complexity allows for an effective comparison of ecological differences between bison and cattle. While there are similarities and differences in these species, a comprehensive analysis of all conditions and scenarios is not possible. It is clear, however, that the greatest differences between these species will likely be evident from broad scale studies across complex landscapes. In addition to species, conservation and land managers need to consider other environmental factors that are critical to grazing effects and overall conservation. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:47:21 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:52:34 PM Tags: o fire o grassland o grazing o herbivory o restoration o species comparisons o tallgrass prairie Notes: o doi: 10.1890/ES10-00152.1 o doi: 10.1890/ES10-00152.1 * Landscape structural analysis of the Lençóis Maranhenses national park: implications for conservation Type Journal Article Author Yuri Teixeira Amaral Author Edyane Moraes dos Santos Author Milton Cézar Ribeiro Author Larissa Barreto URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1617138118303108__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvxCy30F0$ Volume 51 Pages 125725 Publication Journal for Nature Conservation ISSN 1617-1381 Date October 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Journal for Nature Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.jnc.2019.125725 Abstract Our work evaluated the anthropic effects on the landscape structure of the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park (LMNP) and its Buffer Zone, and proposed strategies for the region’s conservation. LMNP is an important protected area in Brazilian north coast which protects a unique wetland ecosystem composed of sand dunes fields and a coastal vegetation called restinga. Supervised mapping of LMNP and a surrounding buffer of 3 km was carried out through high resolution and fine scale (1:5000) satellite images. The mapped area was subdivided in 1000 ha hexagonal Analysis Units (AU) and the following landscape metrics were calculated for each one of them: cover area (CA) of each soil cover class - dune fields (CA-DUNES), water bodies (CA-WATER), dense restinga (CADENSE), scattered restinga (CA-SCATTER), grassland (CA-SANDY), mangroves (CA-MANG), anthropogenic activity (CA-ANTRO) and, secondary vegetation (CA-SECOND); Landscape Shannon Diversity Index (SHDI), and; percentage of native vegetation cover (NV−COV). Pearson correlations were performed between the CA of each class and SHDI to identify the classes most correlated to CA-ANTRO. Our results showed that anthropic classes (crops, trails, and villages) had a stronger correlation (Pearson Correlation, r ≈ 0.65) with phytophysiognomies of dense restinga, secondary vegetation and SHDI, thus indicating that the land use conversion occurs in dense restinga areas and promotes vegetation secondarization, as well as increasing fragmentation. At least, 42% of the dense restinga habitats was destroyed due to human activities. Five conservation and restoration strategies were proposed in a local scale depending on the percentage of native vegetation cover on each AU, from the most to less conserved: (a) only conservation; (b) conservation with management; (c) management; (d) management and restoration; and, (e) restoration. The implementation of Agroforestry Systems with agro-successional restoration goals was recommended as an alternative for land use. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:23:02 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:23:02 PM Tags: o Conservation strategies o Land use o Landscape metrics o Territorial planning * Monitoring rangeland degradation using a novel local NPP scaling based scheme over the “Three-River Headwaters” region, hinterland of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Type Journal Article Author Ru An Author Hui-Lin Wang Author Xue-Zhi Feng Author Hong Wu Author Zhe Wang Author Ying Wang Author Xiao-Ji Shen Author Cai-Hong Lu Author Jonathan Arthur Quaye-Ballard Author Yue-Hong Chen Author Ying-Hui Zhao URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1040618215302202__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvYYpRJP8$ Volume 444 Pages 97-114 Publication Third Pole: The Last 20,000 Years - Part 2 ISSN 1040-6182 Date July 15, 2017 Journal Abbr Quaternary International DOI 10.1016/j.quaint.2016.07.050 Abstract The “Three-River Headwaters” region (TRHR) rangeland ecosystem is extremely sensitive and fragile, and in recent years has undergone continuous degradation. The vast area and severe nature conditions inhibit data acquisition and field experiments, resulting in different understandings about the spatial characteristics and dynamics of rangeland degradation in the region. Therefore, a reliable monitoring method of rangeland degradation is urgently needed for the rangeland protection and management. In this paper, a novel rangeland degradation monitoring scheme based on Local NPP Scaling (LNS) is suggested; A suitable partition program of rangeland productivity unit is set up by using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). The spatio-temporal pattern of degradation in 1990 and 2004 were revealed and validated by multiple data sets including field measured data, land use and land cover maps and findings from related research. This research provides basis in the avoidance of intensive field work and labor costs for visual interpretation of remote sensing image. The results show that the percentage of rangeland degradation is 32.86% in 1990 and 36.7% in 2004, indicating 3.84% increase in 15 years. The eastern part of the study area, comprising of Banma, Gadê, Henan, Jigzhi, Tongde and Zêkog had minimal degradation. The most severely degraded area is Qumarlêb, and its degraded rangeland accounted for 63.33% of the total area in 1990 and increased to 77.47% in 2004. The degradation at Madoi and Chindu is over 40%. It is found that the results on the spatio-temporal distribution of the rangeland degradation at TRHR are reasonable through various verifications. Thus, the novel approach is effective in monitoring rangeland degradation in an inaccessible region and harsh environment. Date Added 2020-03-17, 6:59:58 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 6:59:58 PM Tags: o “Three-River Headwaters” region o Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau o Rangeland degradation o Rangeland productivity unit o Remote sensing monitoring o Scheme based on LNS * Woody plant encroachment restructures bird communities in semiarid grasslands Type Journal Article Author Erik M. Andersen Author Robert J. Steidl URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320719309528__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvRfBDvSI$ Volume 240 Pages 108276 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date December 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2019.108276 Abstract The abundance and distribution of woody plants have increased in grassland ecosystems worldwide. Robust generalizations about the consequences of this transformative process on animal communities have been elusive, especially in semiarid regions where populations of many species have declined. We evaluated how distributions and species richness of breeding birds responded to woody plant encroachment by using spatial variation in woody cover as a proxy for the temporal process by which grasslands transform into shrub savannas. Specifically, we surveyed breeding birds and vegetation on 140 10-ha plots in semiarid grasslands that spanned the gradient of cover by Prosopis (mesquite), a genus of shrubs that has proliferated in semiarid grasslands worldwide. We used a multispecies occupancy model to characterize distributions of breeding bird species along the encroachment gradient. Distributions of 29 of 35 species changed markedly in response to encroachment, with distributions of most obligate grassland species contracting and most facultative grassland species expanding. Species richness increased sharply as cover of woody plants increased and peaked at ∼22% cover; this increase was driven by recruitment of generalist and shrub-associated species, many of which are common at regional scales. Lastly, we identified thresholds of woody cover where distributions contracted or expanded markedly, which provide targets for conservation and restoration efforts. Our results highlight the importance of understanding species-specific responses to woody plant encroachment as the basis for explaining community-level patterns because increases in diversity at local scales might ultimately reduce diversity at broader scales as grassland specialists are displaced. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:35 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:52:36 PM Tags: o Avifauna o Dryland o Rangeland o Semidesert o Shrub invasion o State transition * Grassland degradation and restoration: a conceptual framework of stages and thresholds illustrated by southern Brazilian grasslands Type Journal Article Author Bianca O. Andrade Author Christiane Koch Author Ilsi I. Boldrini Author Eduardo Vélez-Martin Author Heinrich Hasenack Author Julia-Maria Hermann Author Johannes Kollmann Author Valério D. Pillar Author Gerhard E. Overbeck URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1679007315000341__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvD4ZEqzg$ Volume 13 Issue 2 Pages 95-104 Publication Natureza & Conservação ISSN 1679-0073 Date July 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Natureza & Conservação DOI 10.1016/j.ncon.2015.08.002 Abstract Land degradation is a complex concept that integrates different aspects, including changes in soil conditions, biodiversity, productivity and socio-economic implications, compared to a reference state. We propose a new conceptual framework to analyze degradation stages and restoration thresholds in species-rich natural grasslands. The framework integrates different degradation stages with their respective thresholds and describes key processes of land-use change that lead to certain stages and thresholds. Specifically, we discuss two scenarios of grassland degradation, i.e. unsuitable grassland management and complete change of land use, sometimes followed by spontaneous recovery. We illustrate the framework with the case of south Brazilian grasslands, which are rich in biodiversity, but suffer from a series of degradation processes and are poorly considered from a conservation perspective. The conceptual framework can be applied by studies on degradation and restorability of tropical and subtropical grasslands after changes in management or transition to other land use; it will facilitate decisions on alternative management and conservation. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:23 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:23 PM Tags: o Abiotic characteristics o Biodiversity o Conservation o Grazing o Land-use change o Restoration * Intraspecific trait variation and allocation strategies of calcareous grassland species: Results from a restoration experiment Type Journal Article Author Bianca O. Andrade Author Gerhard E. Overbeck Author Gabriele E. Pilger Author Julia-Maria Hermann Author Timo Conradi Author Ilsi I. Boldrini Author Johannes Kollmann URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1439179114001078__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvOYF5bT8$ Volume 15 Issue 7 Pages 590-598 Publication Basic and Applied Ecology ISSN 1439-1791 Date November 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Basic and Applied Ecology DOI 10.1016/j.baae.2014.08.007 Abstract Intra- and interspecific trait variation express the response of plants dealing with different environmental conditions. We measured root and leaf traits on 14 species of calcareous grasslands in a restoration experiment. We aimed at identifying intraspecific differences in biomass allocation and functional plant traits under contrasting soil conditions by comparing plants growing in ancient grassland and two restored grasslands on ex-arable land, one of them with topsoil removal. Relative importance of trait variation within and among species, and among site was assessed by variance partitioning. Interspecific variation was more important than intraspecific variation, but the contribution of the latter to total variation was considerable, especially for specific leaf area. Changes in soil properties due to topsoil removal resulted in lower values of plant height, specific leaf area and specific root length compared to the control (ancient grassland). Soil fertility found in the treatment without top soil removal did not affect plant plasticity compared to the control. The study species showed two allocation strategies in relation to resource stress, while the responses of individual traits to the soil treatments were consistent across species. We conclude that caution must be taken when using mean trait values for plastic species or when working with environmental gradients. Zusammenfassung Intra- und interspezifische Variation von Pflanzeneigenschaften (‚plant traits‘) ist Ausdruck der Reaktion von Pflanzenarten auf unterschiedliche Standortverhältnisse. Kontrastierende Standortbedingungen eines Renaturierungsexperimentes bildeten einen geeigneten Rahmen für eine Untersuchung der Wurzel- und Blatteigenschaften von 14 Kalkmagerrasenarten. Die Studie fokussierte auf Unterschiede in der Biomasse-Allokation und ausgewählten Pflanzenmerkmalen zwischen Individuen, die auf einem erhaltenen (historischen) Kalkmagerrasen wuchsen, und solchen auf zwei renaturierten Flächen (mit oder ohne Oberbodenabtrag) mit Acker als Vornutzung. Untersucht wurde die relative Variation der Pflanzeneigenschaften zwischen Individuen, Arten und Untersuchungsflächen. Die interspezifische Variation war stärker als die intraspezische, besonders bei der spezifischen Blattfläche. Oberbodenabtrag führte zu geringerer Pflanzenhöhe, und niedrigeren Werten für spezifische Blattfläche und spezifische Wurzellänge verglichen mit dem historischen Magerrasen. Die höheren Nährstoffgehalte der Ackerflächen ohne Bodenabtrag beeinflussten die Plastizität der Pflanzenarten nicht. Die Magerrasenarten zeigten zwei unterschiedliche Allokationsstrategien als Reaktion auf ungünstige Bodenverhältnisse, während die Veränderungen der einzelnen Pflanzeneigenschaften bei allen Arten ähnlich ausfielen. Die Ergebnisse legen nahe, dass die Verwendung von gemittelten Werten von Pflanzeneigenschaften bei plastischen Arten entlang von Umweltgradienten problematisch ist. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:48 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:48 PM Tags: o Biomass o Leaf traits o Multi-species experiment o Plasticity o Root traits o Topsoil removal * Integrated Grazing and Prescribed Fire Restoration Strategies in a Mesquite Savanna: II. Fire Behavior and Mesquite Landscape Cover Responses Type Journal Article Author R.J. Ansley Author W.E. Pinchak Author W.R. Teague Author B.A. Kramp Author D.L. Jones Author K. Barnett URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742410500320__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvEtp5EpA$ Volume 63 Issue 3 Pages 286-297 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date May 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/08-172.1 Abstract Prescribed fire is used to reduce the rate of woody plant encroachment in grassland ecosystems. However, fire is challenging to apply in continuously grazed pastures because of the difficulty in accumulating sufficient herbaceous fine fuel for fire. We evaluated the potential of rotationally grazing cattle in fenced paddocks as a means to defer grazing in selected paddocks to provide fine fuel for burning. Canopy cover changes from 1995 to 2000 of the dominant woody plant, honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa Torr.), were compared in three landscape-scale grazing and mesquite treatment restoration strategies: 4-paddock, 1-herd with fire (4:1F), 8-paddock, 1-herd with fire (8:1F), and 4:1 with fire or aerial application of 0.28kg · ha−1 clopyralid + 0.28kg · ha−1 triclopyr herbicide (4:1F/H), and a continuously grazed control with mesquite untreated (CU). Prescribed burning took place in late winter (February–March). Droughts limited burning during the 5-yr period to half the paddocks in the 4:1F and 8:1F strategies, and one paddock in each 4:1F/H strategy. Mesquite cover was measured using digitized aerial images in 1995 (pretreatment) and 2000. Mesquite cover was reduced in all paddocks that received prescribed fire, independent of grazing strategy. Net change in mesquite cover in each strategy, scaled to account for soil types and paddock sizes, was +34%, +15%, +5%, and -41% in the CU, 4:1F, 8:1F, and 4:1F/H strategies, respectively. Thus, rotational grazing and fire strategies slowed the rate of mesquite cover increase but did not reduce it. Fire was more effective in the 8:1F than the 4:1F strategy during drought because a smaller portion of the total management area (12.5% vs. 25%) could be isolated to accumulate fine fuel for fire. Herbaceous fine fuel and relative humidity were the most important factors in determining mesquite top-kill by fire. Resumen Las quemas prescritas se utilizan para reducir la tasa de invasión de plantas leñosas en ecosistemas de pastizales. Sin embargo, es un reto la aplicación de las quemas a potreros continuamente pastoreados, debido a la dificultad para que acumulen suficiente combustible fino para llevar a cabo la quema. Evaluamos el potencial del uso del pastoreo rotacional con ganado utilizando potreros cercados como un medio de aplazar el pastoreo en potreros seleccionados para proporcionar combustible fino para la quema. Se compararon los cambios de la cubierta aérea de la especie leñosa dominante, mezquite (Prosopis glandulosa Torr.), bajo tres tratamientos de pastoreo y estrategias de restauración: 4-potreros, 1-hato y quemas (4:1Q), 8-potreros, 1-hato y quemas (8:1Q), y 4:1 con quemas o aplicación aérea de 0.28kg · ha−1 de clopyralid + de 0.28kg · ha−1 de triclopyr (4:1Q/H), y un potrero con pastoreo contínuo como tratamiento control sin tratamiento al mezquite (CU). Las quemas prescritas se llevaron a cabo al final del invierno (Febrero–Marzo). Las sequías limitaron las quemas durante un periodo de 5 años a la mitad de los potreros en los tratamientos 4:1Q y 8:1Q, y en un potrero en cada uno de los tratamientos 4:1Q/H. La cobertura del mezquite se midió a través de imágenes aéreas digitalizadas en 1995 (antes de los tratamientos) y durante 2000. La cobertura del mezquite se redujo en todos los potreros que recibieron fuego, independientemente de la estrategia de pastoreo. El cambio neto en la cubierta del mezquite en cada estrategia, tomando en cuenta los tipos de suelos y tamaño de los potreros fue + 34%, +15%, +5%, y -41% en el CU, y para las estrategias 4:1Q, 8:1Q, y 4: 1Q/H, respectivamente. Por lo tanto, las estrategias del pastoreo y uso del fuego redujeron la tasa de aumento de la cobertura del mezquite pero no la redujo. El uso del fuego fue más efectivo en 8:1Q que en la estrategia de 4:1Q durante la sequía debido a que una zona menor del área total de manejo (12.5% vs. 25%) podría aislarse de forma que acumule combustible fino para llevar a cabo la quema. El combustible fino de las herbáceas y la humedad relativa fueron los factores en determinar la muerte superior del mezquite con el uso del fuego. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:32:15 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:32:15 PM Tags: o aerial imagery o brush management o cattle o grazing management o remote sensing * Not seeing the grass for the trees: Timber plantations and agriculture shrink tropical montane grassland by two-thirds over four decades in the Palani Hills, a Western Ghats Sky Island Type Journal Article Author M. Arasumani Author Danish Khan Author Arundhati Das Author Ian Lockwood Author Robert Stewart Author Ravi A. Kiran Author M. Muthukumar Author Milind Bunyan Author V. V. Robin URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0190003__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvYQoKUxo$ Volume 13 Issue 1 Pages e0190003 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Jan 10, 2018 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0190003 Accessed 2020-03-12, 3:17:16 PM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract Tropical montane habitats, grasslands, in particular, merit urgent conservation attention owing to the disproportionate levels of endemic biodiversity they harbour, the ecosystem services they provide, and the fact that they are among the most threatened habitats globally. The Shola Sky Islands in the Western Ghats host a matrix of native forest-grassland matrix that has been planted over the last century, with exotic timber plantations. The popular discourse on the landscape change is that mainly forests have been lost to the timber plantations and recent court directives are to restore Shola forest trees. In this study, we examine spatiotemporal patterns of landscape change over the last 40 years in the Palani Hills, a significant part of the montane habitat in the Western Ghats. Using satellite imagery and field surveys, we find that 66% of native grasslands and 31% of native forests have been lost over the last 40 years. Grasslands have gone from being the dominant, most contiguous land cover to one of the rarest and most fragmented. They have been replaced by timber plantations and, to a lesser extent, expanding agriculture. We find that the spatial pattern of grassland loss to plantations differs from the loss to agriculture, likely driven by the invasion of plantation species into grasslands. We identify remnant grasslands that should be prioritised for conservation and make specific recommendations for conservation and restoration of grasslands in light of current management policy in the Palani Hills, which favours large-scale removal of plantations and emphasises the restoration of native forests. Short Title Not seeing the grass for the trees Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:17:16 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:17:16 PM Tags: o Agriculture o Conservation science o Forests o Grasslands o Habitats o Invasive species o Mountains o Timber Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Quantifying changes in flooding and habitats in the Tonle Sap Lake (Cambodia) caused by water infrastructure development and climate change in the Mekong Basin Type Journal Article Author Mauricio E. Arias Author Thomas A. Cochrane Author Thanapon Piman Author Matti Kummu Author Brian S. Caruso Author Timothy J. Killeen URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479712003647__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv9Vr4-Yk$ Volume 112 Pages 53-66 Publication Journal of Environmental Management ISSN 0301-4797 Date December 15, 2012 Journal Abbr Journal of Environmental Management DOI 10.1016/j.jenvman.2012.07.003 Abstract The economic value of the Tonle Sap Lake Floodplain to Cambodia is arguably among the highest provided to a nation by a single ecosystem around the world. Nonetheless, the Mekong River Basin is changing rapidly due to accelerating water infrastructure development (hydropower, irrigation, flood control, and water supply) and climate change, bringing considerable modifications to the flood pulse of the Tonle Sap Lake in the foreseeable future. This paper presents research conducted to determine how the historical flooding regime, together with human action, influenced landscape patterns of habitats in the Tonle Sap Lake, and how these habitats might shift as a result of hydrological changes. Maps of water depth, annual flood duration, and flood frequency were created for recent historical hydrological conditions and for simulated future scenarios of water infrastructure development and climate change. Relationships were then established between the historical flood maps and land cover, and these were subsequently applied to assess potential changes to habitat cover in future decades. Five habitat groups were clearly distinguishable based on flood regime, physiognomic patterns, and human activity: (1) Open water, flooded for 12 months in an average hydrological year; (2) Gallery forest, with flood duration of 9 months annually; (3) Seasonally flooded habitats, flooded 5–8 months and dominated by shrublands and grasslands; (4) transitional habitats, flooded 1–5 months and dominated by abandoned agricultural fields, receding rice/floating rice, and lowland grasslands; and (5) Rainfed habitats, flooded up to 1 month and consisting mainly of wet season rice fields and village crops. It was found that water infrastructure development could increase the area of open water (+18 to +21%) and the area of rainfed habitats (+10 to +14%), while reducing the area covered with seasonally flooded habitats (−13 to −22%) and gallery forest (−75 to −83%). Habitat cover shifts as a result of climate change include a net increase of open water (2–21%), as well as a reduction of rainfed habitats by 2–5% and seasonally flooded habitats by 5–11%. Findings from this study will help guide on-going and future conservation and restoration efforts throughout this unique and critical ecosystem. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:09 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:09 PM Tags: o Flood pulse o GIS o Habitat modeling o Hydro-ecology o Mekong River Basin o Natural resources management o Tonle Sap Lake o Tropical floodplain * Are Socioeconomic Benefits of Restoration Adequately Quantified? A Meta-analysis of Recent Papers (2000–2008) in Restoration Ecology and 12 Other Scientific Journals Type Journal Article Author James Aronson Author James N. Blignaut Author Suzanne J. Milton Author David Le Maitre Author Karen J. Esler Author Amandine Limouzin Author Christelle Fontaine Author Martin P. De Wit Author Worship Mugido Author Philip Prinsloo Author Leandri Van Der Elst Author Ned Lederer URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2009.00638.x__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvLB72Cww$ Rights © 2010 Society for Ecological Restoration International Volume 18 Issue 2 Pages 143-154 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2010 DOI 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2009.00638.x Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:37:00 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Many ecosystems have been transformed, or degraded by human use, and restoration offers an opportunity to recover services and benefits, not to mention intrinsic values. We assessed whether restoration scientists and practitioners use their projects to demonstrate the benefits restoration can provide in their peer-reviewed publications. We evaluated a sample of the academic literature to determine whether links are made explicit between ecological restoration, society, and public policy related to natural capital. We analyzed 1,582 peer-reviewed papers dealing with ecological restoration published between 1 January 2000 and 30 September 2008 in 13 leading scientific journals. As selection criterion, we considered papers that contained either “restoration” or “rehabilitation” in their title, abstract, or keywords. Furthermore, as one-third of the papers were published in Restoration Ecology, we used that journal as a reference for comparison with all the other journals. We readily acknowledge that aquatic ecosystems are under-represented, and that the largely inaccessible gray literature was ignored. Within these constraints, we found clear evidence that restoration practitioners are failing to signal links between ecological restoration, society, and policy, and are underselling the evidence of benefits of restoration as a worthwhile investment for society. We discuss this assertion and illustrate it with samples of our findings—with regards to (1) the geographical and institutional affiliations of authors; (2) the choice of ecosystems studied, methods employed, monitoring schemes applied, and the spatial scale of studies; and (3) weak links to payments for ecosystem service setups, agriculture, and ramifications for public policy. Short Title Are Socioeconomic Benefits of Restoration Adequately Quantified? Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:37:00 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:37:00 PM Tags: o agriculture o ecological–economic interface o payment for ecosystem services o policy implications o restoration of natural capital Attachments o Snapshot * How have we studied seed rain in grasslands and what do we need to improve for better restoration? Type Journal Article Author André J. Arruda Author Elise Buisson Author Peter Poschlod Author Fernando A. O. Silveira URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12686__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv_F6pu8g$ Rights © 2018 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 26 Issue S2 Pages S84-S91 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2018 DOI 10.1111/rec.12686 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:11:44 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Seed rain, the number of seeds reaching an area, is a process that plays a key role in recruitment and regeneration in plant communities. A better understanding of seed rain dynamics is therefore a critical step for restoration practices. A wide variety of methods to study seed rain in grasslands are available, but there is little agreement to which is the most appropriate one. Here, we (1) assessed where, how, and why research on seed rain has been carried out; (2) examined how methodological design and results have been reported; and (3) provided guidelines for future research on seed rain in grasslands. We built a database of 185 papers from a systematic literature survey between 1980 and November 2016 and we found a remarkable unbalance of the numbers of studies between grassland types, which becomes even more dissimilar across global climatic ranges when the area covered by each grassland type is addressed. We also found a great disparity of methods and data being reported across studies. Despite recent progress in understanding seed rain dynamics, large knowledge gaps in important issues such as the role of native dispersers, method efficiency, and application of mechanistic models still persist. Finally, we propose guidelines for the implementation of minimum standardized methodology and data reporting, which will foster higher quality, transparency, reproducibility, and value of seed rain studies and grassland restoration. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:11:44 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:11:44 PM Tags: o meadow o prairie o rangeland o seed limitation o seed trap o steppe Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Diversity decrease due to loss of tidal influence at the Dove Elbe River between 1951 and 2016 Type Journal Article Author Mareike Asdonk Author Nikola Lenzewski Author Kai Jensen Author Kristin Ludewig URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0367253019304426__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv_O0p3h4$ Volume 258 Pages 151438 Publication Flora ISSN 0367-2530 Date September 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Flora DOI 10.1016/j.flora.2019.151438 Abstract Anthropogenic influence on riverine ecosystems has caused a drastic decline of natural floodplain ecosystems. Estuarine floodplains with their tidal influence are highly dynamic and harbour many rare and threatened plant species in Central Europe. This study focuses on the Dove Elbe River, which is an anabranch of the Elbe Estuary in Northwest Germany. In 1951, a sluice was built to disconnect the Dove Elbe River from the tidal influence of the Elbe River. This study aims to analyse changes in vegetation and environmental variables from 1951 to 2016. Therefore, 98 plots with vegetation records from 1951 along the Dove Elbe River were reassessed in 2016. 45 of the original plots were inventoried again, as 53 of the original plots were under water or majorly transformed, e.g. used as arable fields. Changes in vegetation type, diversity measures, species composition, and Ellenberg Indicator Values (EIV) for moisture and nutrition were analysed. The most remarkable outcome was the almost complete loss of wet pioneer vegetation types. While willows and other woody species were established on several plots with the former reed, Angelica archangelica community or Phalaris arundinacea community vegetation type, the intensification of agricultural land use caused a strong decline in species richness on grasslands. Overall, species richness per plot also decreased, and some threatened species were lost. The weighted average EIV for moisture clearly declined on all plots, which indicates drier conditions today compared to the mid-20th century. Our results reinforce the argument to restore the tidal influence along the Dove Elbe River. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:16 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:16 PM Tags: o Degradation o Elbe Estuary o Floodplain o Land-use intensification o Restoration o Species richness * Restoring working forests in human dominated landscapes of tropical South Asia: An introduction Type Journal Article Author Mark S. Ashton Author Uromi M. Goodale Author Kamal S. Bawa Author Peter S. Ashton Author J. David Neidel URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112714002680__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvJ2vLH3M$ Volume 329 Pages 335-339 Publication Forest Ecology and Management ISSN 0378-1127 Date October 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Forest Ecology and Management DOI 10.1016/j.foreco.2014.04.029 Abstract The resource issues around restoring human dominated landscapes in tropical South Asia are complex and can be divided into topics concerning forest fragmentation and restoration. Issues that focus on effects of forest fragmentation include studies that show declines in forest structure and standing carbon stocks within forest fragments as compared to contiguous forest; changes in bird composition and flock density in relation to land use – especially between forests, the forest buffer zones and agricultural lands (tea, coffee); and the potential origins of many sacred groves as forest fragments and their future roles as cultural, social and ecological centers of reforestation within deforested landscapes. Studies that focus on restoration have demonstrated the benefits of plantations as mechanisms to establish second growth forests and native species plantings for both economic and conservation purposes; the incorporation of indigenous plants that produce non-timber forest products in forest restoration programs; and the control of fire, soil preparation and protection from herbivory as treatments that can facilitate natural forest regeneration in montane grasslands. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:41 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:41 PM Tags: o Bird flocks o Forest carbon o Land use o Non-timber forest products o Restoration o Sacred groves * Building Taxon Substitution Guidelines on a Biological Control Foundation Type Journal Article Author Clare E. Aslan Author Austin Aslan Author Don Croll Author Bernie Tershy Author Erika Zavaleta URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12096__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvXVjkoFI$ Rights © 2014 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 22 Issue 4 Pages 437-441 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2014 DOI 10.1111/rec.12096 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:42:39 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract When a species becomes extinct, its ecological functions are lost as well. Taxon substitution is a controversial approach to restoring such functions via introduction of non-native species known to serve similar functions elsewhere. Due to the possibility of nontarget effects from such introductions, taxon substitution has been proposed and implemented in only a few systems, but these attempts have successfully restored functions. As a conservation tool, taxon substitution bears similarity to biological control, wherein species are also introduced for their ecological function with consideration of potential nontarget effects. To improve both the safety and efficacy of taxon substitution, regulatory bodies that currently issue guidelines for biological control can do the same for taxon substitution. Indeed, many biological control guidelines would apply well to taxon substitution. We examine the standard practices followed by biological control programs and propose corresponding taxon substitution guidelines. Integration of taxon substitution into the existing national and international environmental management conversation will improve the tool and has the potential to enhance conservation efforts across a wide diversity of systems if appropriate and stringent precautions are taken. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:42:39 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:42:39 PM Tags: o controlled release o ecological analogue o ecosystem function o regulatory framework o species introduction Attachments o Snapshot * Delayed and asymmetric responses of soil C pools and N fluxes to grassland/cropland conversions Type Journal Article Author E. Attard Author X. Le Roux Author X. Charrier Author O. Delfosse Author N. Guillaumaud Author G. Lemaire Author S. Recous URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0038071716300013__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvv9FjReQ$ Volume 97 Pages 31-39 Publication Soil Biology and Biochemistry ISSN 0038-0717 Date June 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Soil Biology and Biochemistry DOI 10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.02.016 Abstract Agricultural lands are subject to changes in use for a variety of environmental and economic reasons. Among these changes, shifts between crops and grasslands are particularly common. Understanding the effects of these changes on soil functioning is crucial to anticipating crop productivity and environmental impacts and yet has rarely been studied. The purpose of this study was to investigate the in situ temporal dynamics of soil N cycling and C pools after grassland/cropland conversions and risks of N losses from such systems. The experiment was conducted in western France at a long-term experimental site with a temperate oceanic climate. We followed soil N cycling and C pools for four experimental treatments over 36 months: (i) continuous grassland, (ii) continuous rotation of annual crops, (iii) conversion from grassland to a rotation of annual crops, and (iv) conversion from a rotation of annual crops to grassland. Gross N mineralization, potential N immobilization and potential nitrification were estimated using the 15N dilution/enrichment technique and FLUAZ model, based on samples from the 0–10 cm soil layer (0, 0.75, 3, 12, 24 and 36 months after change in land use) and 10–30 cm soil layer (after 24 and 36 months) in all 4 treatments. Nitrogen pools (NH4+, NO3−, and organic N), total carbon (C), dissolved organic C, microbial biomass C, and C mineralization were also determined on all soil samples. The continuous grassland soil had rates of N mineralization and N immobilization twice as high as a rotation of annual crops, as well as a slightly lower rate of nitrification and a higher organic C content. Ploughing the grassland led to a rapid shift of soil organic matter pools, N fluxes and microbial activities towards characteristics of the cropland. These effects were attributed to cultivation mixing the soil layers. In contrast, the restoration of grassland on soil previously cropped with annual species did not significantly change soil N or C characteristics within 24 months although changes began to appear after 36 months. This time lag corresponded to the time needed for the complete establishment of root systems for the grasses. Therefore we found a strong asymmetry in the patterns of change in gross N fluxes and C pools between the two conversions. Overall, we found that responses in N fluxes were strongly correlated to soil C pools, except for nitrification. The ratio of potential nitrification to gross ammonium immobilization, which indicates the risk of N losses in agricultural systems, was greater in annual crop rotation than grassland. This indicates that adding grasslands into a rotation of annual crops does not necessarily reduce the risk of N loss within 2 years but does reduce the risk after 3 years. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:19 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:19 PM Tags: o Mineralization-immobilization turnover (MIT) o N tracer technique o Nitrification o Soil organic carbon o Tillage * Thinking Like a Grassland: Challenges and Opportunities for Biodiversity Conservation in the Great Plains of North America Type Journal Article Author David Augustine Author Ana Davidson Author Kristin Dickinson Author Bill Van Pelt URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742419300697__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvx0czOWQ$ Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date November 6, 2019 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2019.09.001 Abstract Fauna of North America’s Great Plains evolved strategies to contend with the region’s extreme spatiotemporal variability in weather and low annual primary productivity. The capacity for large-scale movement (migration and/or nomadism) enables many species, from bison to lark buntings, to track pulses of productivity at broad spatial scales (> 1 000 km2). Furthermore, even sedentary species often rely on metapopulation dynamics over extensive landscapes for long-term population viability. The current complex pattern of land ownership and use of Great Plains grasslands challenges native species conservation. Approaches to managing both public and private grasslands, frequently focused at the scale of individual pastures or ranches, limit opportunities to conserve landscape-scale processes such as fire, animal movement, and metapopulation dynamics. Using the US National Land Cover Database and Cropland Data Layers for 2011−2017, we analyzed land cover patterns for 12 historical grassland and savanna communities (regions) within the US Great Plains. On the basis of the results of these analyses, we highlight the critical contribution of restored grasslands to the future conservation of Great Plains biodiversity, such as those enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program. Managing disturbance regimes at larger spatial scales will require acknowledging that, where native large herbivores are absent, domestic livestock grazing can function as a central component of Great Plains disturbance regimes if they are able move at large spatial scales and coexist with a diverse array of native flora and fauna. Opportunities to increase the scale of grassland management include 1) spatial prioritization of grassland restoration and reintroduction of grazing and fire, 2) finding creative approaches to increase the spatial scale at which fire and grazing can be applied to address watershed to landscape-scale objectives, and 3) developing partnerships among government agencies, landowners, businesses, and conservation organizations that enhance cross-jurisdiction management and address biodiversity conservation in grassland landscapes, rather than pastures. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:56 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:56 PM Tags: o Conservation Reserve Program o fire o fragmentation o grazing o landscape connectivity * Plant Species Composition and Forage Production 14 Yr After Biosolids Application and Grazing Exclusion Type Journal Article Author E. Avery Author M. Krzic Author B.M. Wallace Author R.F. Newman Author G.E. Bradfield Author S.M. Smukler URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742419300430__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvpx4YnHU$ Volume 72 Issue 6 Pages 996-1004 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date November 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2019.07.003 Abstract This paper examines the effects of a single surface application of biosolids (at 20 dry Mg ha−1) on plant species composition, forage quality and quantity, and C stocks after 14 yr of rest in rangelands of the Central Interior of British Columbia. More than two times the aboveground biomass of grasses and the percent cover of plant litter were found in the biosolids treatment relative to the control, along with reductions in bare soil and microbiotic crust cover. Significantly greater plant uptake of all macronutrients (C, N, P, K, S, Ca, and Mg); most micronutrients (B, Cu, Mn, Mo, and Zn); and Al occurred in the biosolids treatment. P and Cu were the only two nutrients to be more concentrated in the biosolids-treated forage relative to the control forage, while N, Mg, and protein were more concentrated in the control forage. No significant difference in forage digestibility was found between biosolids and control treatments. Bluebunch wheatgrass, the late-seral native grass species, had significantly increased cover and aboveground biomass in the biosolids treatment relative to the control; however, between 2006 and 2016, non-native Kentucky bluegrass had reached > 25% cover in the biosolids plots, perhaps restricting the full recovery of bluebunch wheatgrass. Our findings indicate that biosolids application to ungrazed rangeland can increase long-term forage production and reduce bare soil. However, at our study site biosolids application also led to a long-term shift in the plant community composition away from the late-seral (i.e., bluebunch wheatgrass) trajectory, and the effects of this shift on rangeland health and productivity require further investigation. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:23 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:52:37 PM Tags: o bluebunch wheatgrass o Kentucky bluegrass o native grassland o restoration o soil carbon * Long-term livestock exclosure did not affect soil carbon in southern Ethiopian rangelands Type Journal Article Author Ermias Aynekulu Author Wolde Mekuria Author Diress Tsegaye Author Kenea Feyissa Author Ayana Angassa Author Jan de Leeuw Author Keith Shepherd URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S001670611630444X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvvxn28h8$ Volume 307 Pages 1-7 Publication Geoderma ISSN 0016-7061 Date December 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Geoderma DOI 10.1016/j.geoderma.2017.07.030 Abstract Controlled grazing management is considered as an effective strategy to enhance soil carbon sequestration, but empirical evidences are scarce. Particularly, the role of livestock exclusion related to soil carbon sequestration is not well understood in arid and semiarid savannas of Africa. We investigated the effectiveness of long-term (14–36years old) exclosures in enhancing soil carbon in the semiarid savanna, southern Ethiopia. We tested for differences in soil carbon content between exclosures and adjacent open-grazed rangelands, while accounting for effects of age of exclosures and soil depths. We collected soil samples at two soil depths (0–20cm and 20–50cm depths) from 96 plots from 12 exclosure and adjacent open grazing sites. We found no significant differences (P>0.05) between exclosures and adjacent open-grazed rangelands in soil carbon content in both soil depths. The age chronosequence further suggested a weak non-linear trend in increasing soil carbon content with increasing duration of exclosures. These results thus challenge the opinion that controlled grazing enhances soil carbon sequestration in semiarid savannas. However, we remain cautious in regard to the conclusiveness of these findings given the paucity of information regarding other confounding factors which may disentangle the effects of the exclosure, and most importantly in the absence of soil data prior to exclosures. Date Added 2020-03-17, 6:59:57 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:52:39 PM Tags: o Carbon sequestration o Dry savanna o Ecosystem services o Grassland management o Land degradation o Soil restoration * Enhancing success in grassland restoration by adding regionally propagated target species Type Journal Article Author Annett Baasch Author Karina Engst Author Ralf Schmiede Author Konstanze May Author Sabine Tischew URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857416303871__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvolI_YW8$ Volume 94 Pages 583-591 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date September 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2016.06.062 Abstract The majority of grasslands of European interest are currently assessed as having an unfavorable conservation status. In order to fulfil the targets of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 effort to restore the diversity of species-poor grasslands are required. Besides the improvement of site conditions by management agreements the active introduction of target species by the transfer of on-site harvested plant material is recommended. Starting in 2009, we tested different methods to optimize species-introduction on example of a lowland hay meadow located in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. We set up an experiment to introduce target grassland species in prepared strips with four restoration variants: hay transfer, sowing of threshing material, and both methods combined with additional sowing of a regional seed mixture. We expected that (1) all applied methods lead to increasing number and cover of characteristic grassland species, (2) hay transfer is more successful than transfer of threshing material, (3) the highest number and cover of target species is reached after additional sowing of regional seed mixtures, and (4) species spread out from treated strips into the adjacent untreated grassland. We evaluated the success of the restoration measures yearly over a timeframe of six years. The transfer of hay and the use of threshing material moderately increased the target species number. However, there were only slight differences concerning the establishment of target species between both introduction methods. In contrast, additional seeding of the regional seed mixture had a significant positive effect on the number of established target species. Many of the target species were solely established by additional seeding or were more frequently found on additionally seeded plots. Species spread into the adjacent undisturbed grassland during a period of six years. The frequency of target species recorded in the adjacent undisturbed grassland was clearly related to the distance to treated strips, thus strips served as seed-source within the matrix of the existing low-diversity grassland. However, as high frequencies were mostly found only a few metres apart from strips, the spread of species across an existing low-diversity grassland have to be seen as long-term process and should be facilitated by appropriate management measures. Depending on the availability of suitable donor sites and regionally propagated seed material, restoration practitioners and farmers can choose the most advantageous method of species introduction as all applied methods led to an increase in number and cover of characteristic grassland species compared to the untreated control. We recommend additional seeding especially if the species inventory of the donor sites is not entirely consistent with the target community, when abundances of specific target species on available donor sites in the surrounding area are too low, target species are difficult to harvest on-site because of a very early, respectively late, seed-setting time, or the donor grasslands are simply lacking some specific target species. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:35 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:35 PM Tags: o Grassland restoration o Hay transfer o On-site threshing o Seedling establishment o Species introduction o Strip-Seeding * Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) root colonization dynamics of Molinia caerulea (L.) Moench. in grasslands and post-industrial sites Type Journal Article Author Wojciech Bąba Author Agnieszka Błońska Author Agnieszka Kompała-Bąba Author Łukasz Małkowski Author Barbara Ziemer Author Edyta Sierka Author Teresa Nowak Author Gabriela Woźniak Author Lynn Besenyei URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857416304645__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvDue6CBk$ Volume 95 Pages 817-827 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date October 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2016.07.013 Abstract The aims of this studies were: (i) to examine the influence of heavy metal content (Zn, Cd, Pb, Fe, Cu) and other physico-chemical soil parameters on the level of root colonization of Molinia caerulea and (ii) to relate root colonisation parameters and soil variables to Molinia caerulea abundance in two contrasting habitats (grasslands and heavy metal contaminated sites). The sites differ significantly in terms of bio-available heavy metal contents, particularly Zn (34 times more than grasslands), soil texture, CaCO3, organic matter (LOI%), Mg and nitrate content. Principal Component Analysis showed the strong negative correlations between frequency of mycorrhization (F), arbuscular abundance (A%) and intensity of root cortex colonisation (M%) and concentration of bio-available Zn and Cd. Moreover, no positive correlation between root colonization of Molinia and its abundance was found. The frequency of mycorrhization of root fragments (F%) was only slightly different between these two habitats, whereas the intensity of root cortex colonisation (M%) and relative arbuscular abundance (A%) were significantly lower (3 and 4 times respectively) on the post-industrial sites. The bioavailable Zn content in the substratum of post-industrial sites was strongly negatively correlated with species richness, Shannon diversity index and Evenness. In contrast, these relationships were not statistically significant in grasslands. Based on obtained results we could draw a model of possible relationships between root colonization of Molinia, HM content and Molinia abundance on grasslands and post-industrial sites. Bioavailable Zn content in the soil is a one of main factors influencing the Molinia community diversity. In the grasslands, lower amounts of bioavailable Zn, resulted in higher species richness (R) and species diversity (H) which in turn lead to higher root colonization. On the other hand, on the post-industrial sites, the elevated bioavailable Zn content strongly decreases the plant species richness (R) and species diversity (H) and this caused the decline in root colonization parameters. The low species richness on Zn-polluted sites allowed Molinia to reach higher abundance since the competition with other species is reduced. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:39 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:52:39 PM Tags: o Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi o Contaminated sites o Grasses o Heavy metals o Physico-chemical soil properties o Reclamation * Soil texture affects soil microbial and structural recovery during grassland restoration Type Journal Article Author Elizabeth M. Bach Author Sara G. Baer Author Clinton K. Meyer Author Johan Six URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0038071710003020__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv71C6bfg$ Volume 42 Issue 12 Pages 2182-2191 Publication Soil Biology and Biochemistry ISSN 0038-0717 Date December 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Soil Biology and Biochemistry DOI 10.1016/j.soilbio.2010.08.014 Abstract Many biotic and abiotic factors influence recovery of soil communities following prolonged disturbance. We investigated the role of soil texture in the recovery of soil microbial community structure and changes in microbial stress, as indexed by phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiles, using two chronosequences of grasslands restored from 0 to 19 years on silty clay loam and loamy fine sand soils in Nebraska, USA. All restorations were formerly cultivated fields seeded to native warm-season grasses through the USDA’s Conservation Reserve Program. Increases in many PLFA concentrations occurred across the silty clay loam chronosequence including total PLFA biomass, richness, fungi, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, and actinomycetes. Ratios of saturated:monounsaturated and iso:anteiso PLFAs decreased across the silty clay loam chronosequence indicating reduction in nutrient stress of the microbial community as grassland established. Multivariate analysis of entire PLFA profiles across the silty clay loam chronosequence showed recovery of microbial community structure on the trajectory toward native prairie. Conversely, no microbial groups exhibited a directional change across the loamy fine sand chronosequence. Changes in soil structure were also only observed across the silty clay loam chronosequence. Aggregate mean weighted diameter (MWD) exhibited an exponential rise to maximum resulting from an exponential rise to maximum in the proportion of large macroaggregates (>2000μm) and exponential decay in microaggregates (<250μm and >53μm) and the silt and clay fraction (<53μm). Across both chronosequences, MWD was highly correlated with total PLFA biomass and the biomass of many microbial groups. Strong correlations between many PLFA groups and the MWD of aggregates underscore the interdependence between the recovery of soil microbial communities and soil structure that may explain more variation than time for some soils (i.e., loamy fine sand). This study demonstrates that soil microbial responses to grassland restoration are modulated by soil texture with implications for estimating the true capacity of restoration efforts to rehabilitate ecosystem functions. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:28 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:28 PM Tags: o Aggregates o Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) o Microbial biomass o Phospholipid fatty acids o Soil microbial communities o Tallgrass prairie * Does climate adaptation of vulnerable households to extreme events benefit livestock production? Type Journal Article Author Yuping Bai Author Xiangzheng Deng Author Yue Zhang Author Chao Wang Author Yu Liu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652618332761__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvGz8FGrY$ Volume 210 Pages 358-365 Publication Journal of Cleaner Production ISSN 0959-6526 Date February 10, 2019 Journal Abbr Journal of Cleaner Production DOI 10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.10.250 Abstract Extreme climate events have become more frequent and severe as a result of climate change. In semi-arid pastoral regions, extreme drought is harmful to livestock production and to vulnerable human communities and livelihoods. In this study, we considered extreme drought in semi-arid regions and investigated climate adaptations taken by the local vulnerable households and their effects on livestock production. We first analyzed the characteristics of spatio-temporal variation of extreme drought in Hulun Buir, Inner Mongolia, China, during 1980–2015 by using the FAO Penman–Monteith model and then applied stochastic frontier analysis to evaluate the technical efficiency of livestock production of 126 pasturing households. We further explored the effects of climate adaptations to extreme drought on the technical efficiency of livestock production. The results showed that the average frequency of extreme drought in Hulun Buir was 4.6 month/year and displayed a decreasing trend varying from southwest to northeast during 1980–2015. Based on the survey data, the average technical efficiency of livestock production of the local households was 0.530 in 2015, which could be greatly improved. The adaptations of the households significantly positively increased the technical efficiency of livestock production. Purchasing more forage and selling more livestock were the two most frequently adopted and effective adaptive measures for the response of vulnerable households in Hulun Buir to extreme drought risks. Further policy options were provided to improve livestock production as well as rangeland protection and restoration for coping with extreme drought in the context of climate change in semi-arid pastoral regions. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:47 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:47 PM Tags: o Climate adaptation o Extreme drought o Hulun Buir o SFA o Technical efficiency of livestock production * Synthesis Paper: Targeted Livestock Grazing: Prescription for Healthy Rangelands Type Journal Article Author Derek W. Bailey Author Jeffrey C. Mosley Author Richard E. Estell Author Andres F. Cibils Author Marc Horney Author John R. Hendrickson Author John W. Walker Author Karen L. Launchbaugh Author Elizabeth A. Burritt URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742419300399__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvHnnXtUw$ Volume 72 Issue 6 Pages 865-877 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date November 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2019.06.003 Abstract Targeted livestock grazing is a proven tool for manipulating rangeland vegetation, and current knowledge about targeted livestock grazing is extensive and expanding rapidly. Targeted grazing prescriptions optimize the timing, frequency, intensity, and selectivity of grazing (or browsing) in combinations that purposely exert grazing/browsing pressure on specific plant species or portions of the landscape. Targeted grazing differs from traditional grazing management in that the goal of targeted grazing is to apply defoliation or trampling to achieve specific vegetation management objectives, whereas the goal of traditional livestock grazing management is generally the production of livestock commodities. A shared aim of targeted livestock grazing and traditional grazing management is to sustain healthy soils, flora, fauna, and water resources that, in turn, can sustain natural ecological processes (e.g., nutrient cycle, water cycle, energy flow). Targeted grazing prescriptions integrate knowledge of plant ecology, livestock nutrition, and livestock foraging behavior. Livestock can be focused on target areas through fencing, herding, or supplement placement. Although practices can be developed to minimize the impact of toxins contained in target plants, the welfare of the animals used in targeted grazing must be a priority. Monitoring is needed to determine if targeted grazing is successful and to refine techniques to improve efficacy and efficiency. Examples of previous research studies and approaches are presented to highlight the ecological benefits that can be achieved when targeted grazing is applied properly. These cases include ways to suppress invasive plants and ways to enhance wildlife habitat and biodiversity. Future research should address the potential to select more adapted and effective livestock for targeted grazing and the associated animal welfare concerns with this practice. Targeted livestock grazing provides land managers a viable alternative to mechanical, chemical, and prescribed fire treatments to manipulate rangeland vegetation. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:01 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:00:01 PM Tags: o focused grazing o livestock o prescriptive grazing o rangelands o targeted grazing o vegetation manipulation * Potential of Kochia prostrata and Perennial Grasses for Rangeland Restoration in Jordan Type Journal Article Author Derek W. Bailey Author Raed Al Tabini Author Blair L. Waldron Author James D. Libbin Author Khalid Al-Khalidi Author Ahmad Alqadi Author Mohammad Al Oun Author Kevin B. Jensen URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742410500757__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvKO3tCGY$ Volume 63 Issue 6 Pages 707-711 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date November 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/REM-D-09-00195.1 Abstract Six varieties of forage kochia (Kochia prostrata [L.] Schrad.), two Atriplex shrubs native to North America, and four drought-tolerant perennial grass varieties were seeded and evaluated under arid rangeland conditions in Jordan. Varieties were seeded in December 2007 and evaluated in 2008 and 2009 at two sites. Conditions were dry with Qurain receiving 110mm and 73mm and Tal Rimah receiving 58mm and 43mm of annual precipitation during the winters of 2007/2008 and 2008/2009, respectively. Plants were more abundant and taller (P < 0.001) at Qurain than Tal Rimah in 2008. Forage kochia frequency was 48% and 30% in 2008 at Qurain and Tal Rimah, respectively. However, no seeded plants were observed at Tal Rimah in 2009, suggesting that 58mm and 43mm of annual precipitation are insufficient to allow plants to persist over multiple years. At the wetter site, forage kochia abundance in 2009 was similar (P  =   0.90) to that observed in 2008 and plant height increased (P <  0.001) from 2008 (14.4cm ± 1.1 SE) to 2009 (38.4cm ± 1.1 SE). Sahro-select and Otavny-select were the most abundant forage kochia varieties (P < 0.05), suggesting that these experimental lines could be more adapted to the environmental conditions of Jordan than the commercially available cultivar Immigrant. Frequency of perennial grass varieties declined (P < 0.001) at Qurain from 82% ± 4 SE to 39% ± 4 SE between 2008 and 2009, respectively. Among grasses, Siberian wheatgrass had better stands than crested wheatgrass, with Russian wildrye being intermediate. Based on this study, forage kochia appears to have great potential for establishing palatable perennial shrubs in arid rangeland conditions in Jordan if annual precipitation is at least 70mm. Arid-adapted perennial grass varieties might also be useful in rangeland restoration if annual precipitation is over 100mm. Resumen Seis variedades de “kochia” forrajera (Kochia prostrata [L.] Schrad.), dos arbustos de Atriplex nativos de Norte América, y cuatro variedades de pastos perennes tolerantes a la sequía se sembraron y se evaluaron bajo condiciones de pastizales áridos en Jordania. Las variedades se sembraron en diciembre del 2007 y se hizo la evaluación en 2008 y 2009 en dos sitios. Las condiciones fueron secas, recibiendo 110mm y 73mm en Qurain y 58mm y 43mm de precipitación anual en Tal Rimah durante los inviernos de 2007/2008 y 2008/2009, respectivamente. Las plantas fueron más abundantes y altas (P < 0.001) en Qurain que en Tal Rimah en el 2008. La frecuencia de “kochia” forrajera fue 48% y 30% en 2008 en Qurain y Tal Rimah, respectivamente. Sin embargo, no se observaron plantas sembradas en Tal Rimah en 2009 sugiriendo que 58mm y 43mm de precipitación anual es insuficiente para permitir que las plantas persistan durante varios años. En el sitio más húmedo la abundancia de “kochia” forrajera en el 2009 fue similar (P  =  0.90) al observado en el 2008 y el tamaño de la planta incrementó (P <  0.001) del 2008 (14.4cm ± 1.1 SE) a (38.4cm ± 1.1 SE) en el 2009. “Sahro-select” y “Otavny-select” fueron las variedades más abundantes de “kochia” forrajera (P < 0.05) sugiriendo que las líneas de este experimento pueden adaptarse mejor a condiciones medioambientales de Jordania que el cultivar “Inmigrante” disponible comercialmente. La frecuencia de las variedades de los pastos perennes aminoró (P < 0.001) en Qurain de un 82% ± 4 SE a 39% ± 4 SE entre 2008 y 2009, respectivamente. Entre pastos, “Siberian wheatgrass” tuvo mejores poblaciones que “Crested wheatgrass,” siendo intermedio “Russian wildrye.” Con base en este estudio “kochia” forrajera parece tener un gran potencial para el establecimiento de un arbusto perenne palatable en condiciones de pastizales áridas en Jordania, si la precipitación anual es por lo menos 70mm. Variedades de pastos perennes adaptados a la sequía pueden ser también útiles en la restauración de pastizales si la precipitación anual es menos a 100mm. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:06 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:52:41 PM Tags: o alternate forage sources o crested wheatgrass o forage kochia o Middle East o Russian wildrye o Siberian wheatgrass * Development of microbial communities in organochlorine pesticide contaminated soil: A post-reclamation perspective Type Journal Article Author Helga E. Balázs Author Christoph A.O. Schmid Author Dorina Podar Author Gudrun Hufnagel Author Viviane Radl Author Peter Schröder URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929139319307978__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvZFC4dic$ Volume 150 Pages 103467 Publication Applied Soil Ecology ISSN 0929-1393 Date June 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Applied Soil Ecology DOI 10.1016/j.apsoil.2019.103467 Abstract In order to meet constantly increasing demands for land without damaging pristine environments like forests or grasslands, reclamation and re-purposing of historically contaminated areas should become a priority. Successful reclamation goes hand in hand with the soil functional recovery potential and with resilient microbial communities capable of performing the necessary ecosystem services. In this context, we designed a greenhouse pot experiment as a mock reclamation situation, where traces of lindane at hazard threshold and twice the concentration accepted for waste deposits are left in the soil after conventional clean-up by excavation and land filling. We assessed the effects of lindane at 50 and 100 mg kg−1 regarding crop growth and nutrient turnover (with focus on the nitrogen cycle) as two key parameters for soil functions. The bulk and rhizosphere soil bacterial community composition were chosen as parameters for soil resilience in lindane contamination conditions. Lindane severely affected plant growth and development. The potential nitrogen fixation, quantified as nifH gene copy number, suffered direct negative effects of lindane contamination in bulk soil, which could represent an additional obstacle for phytoremediation. Changes in rhizosphere bacterial community composition were related to lindane toxic effects towards the plants, which might have supported the growth of opportunists and saprophytes. In bulk soil, the bacterial community shifted towards lindane tolerant taxa like Sphingomonas and Porphyrobacter that are interesting with regard to their applications in bioremediation. We concluded that lindane at hazard threshold concentration left in soil after clean-up has negative effects both soil functionality, and the recovery of the bacterial communities to their original composition when lindane resistant plant crops are not involved. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:34 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:52:43 PM Tags: o Bacterial community o Lindane o Soil clean-up o Soil functions o Soil restoration * Predicting particle-size distribution using thermal infrared spectroscopy from reclaimed mine land in the semi-arid grassland of North China Type Journal Article Author Nisha Bao Author Shanjun Liu Author Yongchun Zhou URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816219303327__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvf9QytR0$ Volume 183 Pages 104190 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date December 1, 2019 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2019.104190 Abstract Particle-size distribution is one of the vital properties of semi-arid and reclaimed soils that closely correlates with desertification. The thermal infrared (TIR) spectrum between 8 and 14 μm has the potential for particle-size monitoring in remote sensing. This study aims to investigate the characteristic TIR spectra of reclaimed mine soils and establish a particle-size prediction model. The characteristics of the reststrahlen band (8–9.5 μm) could be used to distinguish the coarse soil content that occurs in various land use and reclamation areas. A significant negative correlation was noted between the coarse sand content and the TIR spectrum (8–14 μm). The support vector machine calibration model exhibited a higher prediction accuracy for estimating the coarse sand content, with a cross-validated R2 of 0.95 and root mean square error (RMSE) of 3.01%, than the partial least squares regression model. These outcomes provide a theoretical basis and technical support for particle-size distribution estimations using TIR spectroscopy in semi-arid and reclamation areas. Hence, this study proposes that the spectral characteristics and model undergo further testing and optimization before wider application for the observation of semi-arid and reclaimed mine land ecosystems. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:45 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:52:44 PM Tags: o Large surface mining o Particle-size distribution o PLSR o Reclamation o SVM o Thermal infrared spectroscopy * Assessing the effect of EWDP on vegetation restoration by remote sensing in the lower reaches of Tarim River Type Journal Article Author Anming Bao Author Yue Huang Author Yonggang Ma Author Hui Guo Author Yongqin Wang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X16306446__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv2S4gLnA$ Volume 74 Pages 261-275 Publication Ecological Indicators ISSN 1470-160X Date March 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2016.11.007 Abstract In this study, effect of ecological water diversion on vegetation restoration in the lower reaches of Tarim River is assessed by coupling remote sensing techniques and a field-based survey. Land use/cover and fractional vegetation coverage (Fvc) maps derived from remote sensing images, ground validation data, and hydrological observation data are adopted to analyze the responses of Ecological Water Diversion Project (EWDP). The results indicate that, the EWDP has showed a positive effect on vegetation restoration in the lower part of Tarim Basin. During 2001 to 2013, transformation from unused land to nature vegetation (i.e. forest land, grassland and scrubland) was the major process of land use/cover change; the area of natural vegetation showed a 4.7% increase, and the area of unused land reduced by 6.8%. Landscape patch size was decreased, the degree of fragmentation and diversity of landscape was increased, and landscape structure in the study area became more complex. Moreover, vegetation coverage promoted from 2001 to 2013; average Fvc in 2013 was 1.5 times greater than that in 2001. The results can provide not only an accurate assessment for the EWDP, but also a visual insight for the water resources management practices in the study area, such that the sustainability for local ecosystem can be facilitated. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:44 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:44 PM Tags: o Ecological water diversion o Remote sensing o Tarim river basin o Vegetation restoration * Cannot see the random forest for the decision trees: selecting predictive models for restoration ecology Type Journal Article Author David M. Barnard Author Matthew J. Germino Author David S. Pilliod Author Robert S. Arkle Author Cara Applestein Author Bill E. Davidson Author Matthew R. Fisk URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12938__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvRKxE6G4$ Rights Published 2019. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Volume 27 Issue 5 Pages 1053-1063 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2019 DOI 10.1111/rec.12938 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:21:57 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Improving predictions of restoration outcomes is increasingly important to resource managers for accountability and adaptive management, yet there is limited guidance for selecting a predictive model from the multitude available. The goal of this article was to identify an optimal predictive framework for restoration ecology using 11 modeling frameworks (including machine learning, inferential, and ensemble approaches) and three data groups (field data, geographic data [GIS], and a combination thereof). We test this approach with a dataset from a large postfire sagebrush reestablishment project in the Great Basin, U.S.A. Predictive power varied among models and data groups, ranging from 58% to 79% accuracy. Finer-scale field data generally had the greatest predictive power, although GIS data were present in the best models overall. An ensemble prediction computed from the 10 models parameterized to field data was well above average for accuracy but was outperformed by others that prioritized model parsimony by selecting predictor variables based on rankings of their importance among all candidate models. The variation in predictive power among a suite of modeling frameworks underscores the importance of a model comparison and refinement approach that evaluates multiple models and data groups, and selects variables based on their contribution to predictive power. The enhanced understanding of factors influencing restoration outcomes accomplished by this framework has the potential to aid the adaptive management process for improving future restoration outcomes. Short Title Cannot see the random forest for the decision trees Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:21:57 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:21:57 PM Tags: o ecological prediction o ensemble modeling o machine learning o model comparison o postfire restoration o predictive framework Attachments o Snapshot * Dispersal traits determine passive restoration trajectory of a Nigerian montane forest Type Journal Article Author Andrew D. Barnes Author Hazel M. Chapman URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1146609X14000277__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvMbZo8y0$ Volume 56 Pages 32-40 Publication Acta Oecologica ISSN 1146-609X Date April 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Acta Oecologica DOI 10.1016/j.actao.2014.02.002 Abstract Passive restoration methods offer great promise for tropical regions where resources are limited but the success of such efforts can be variable. Using trait-based theory, we investigated the likely trajectories of passive restoration efforts in a degraded Nigerian montane forest system recently protected from burning and cattle grazing. We quantified the density, species richness, and functional trait dispersion of dispersed seeds and seedling communities at increasing distances from the forest edge. We then determined which plant traits are responsible for colonisation by quantifying changes in functional-trait dispersion and relative frequencies of dispersal-linked traits with increasing distance from the forest. We found a rapid decrease in density and species richness, and significant species turnover in both seeds and seedlings just beyond the forest edge. This was mirrored by a significant decline in functional-trait dispersion and a shift in the relative frequencies of dispersal-linked traits. These findings suggest that the reassembly of plant communities adjacent to remnant forest is dependent on functional traits present in these remnant source populations, providing support for the incorporation of trait-based theory in restoration management. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:41 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:41 PM Tags: o Afromontane o Community assembly o Fruit traits o Passive restoration o Seed dispersal * Optimizing seed mixture diversity and seeding rates for grassland restoration Type Journal Article Author Stephanie Barr Author Jayne L. Jonas Author Mark W. Paschke URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12445__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvXykfP3k$ Rights © 2016 The Authors. Restoration Ecology published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Society for Ecological Restoration. Volume 25 Issue 3 Pages 396-404 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2017 DOI 10.1111/rec.12445 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:19:08 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Revegetation by seeding is an important tool in restoration. Seeding practices for restoration often rely on standard prescriptions for seed mix diversity and seeding rates. Seed mix diversity and rates are generally low within restoration projects and these practices are typically not informed by research. The objective of this study was to explore a new method for determining an optimal seed mix diversity and seeding rate for restoration of a semiarid grassland. We examined restoration success associated with differing seed mix diversity levels (5–50 species) and seeding rates (400–1,600 pure live seeds [PLS]/m2) using a response surface regression (RSR) experimental design at 12 disturbed sites in northeastern Colorado. Overall restoration success was evaluated based on optimizing desirability across nine individual responses: biomass and diversity of seeded, volunteer native, noxious, non-native species, and the density of seeded species. Greatest restoration success after four growing seasons occurred at a seed mix diversity of 35 species and a seeding rate of 1,366 PLS/m2. RSR experimental design and analysis has seldom been used to answer ecological questions. This novel approach to address a pressing restoration challenge provided unique insight into how seed mix diversity and seeding rate, singly or in combination, influence the first 4 years of plant community development and overall restoration success. These results suggest that including more native species and seeding at higher rates than current practice could lead to greater restoration success in grasslands. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:19:08 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:19:08 PM Tags: o multifactor optimization o plant diversity o response surface regression o seed mix diversity Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Pine vs. oaks revisited: Conversion of Madrean pine-oak forest to oak shrubland after high-severity wildfire in the Sky Islands of Arizona Type Journal Article Author Andrew M. Barton Author Helen M. Poulos URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112717318066__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv2fiooQY$ Volume 414 Pages 28-40 Publication Forest Ecology and Management ISSN 0378-1127 Date April 15, 2018 Journal Abbr Forest Ecology and Management DOI 10.1016/j.foreco.2018.02.011 Abstract Fire regimes have changed dramatically in most dry woodlands and forests of the American Southwest from frequent surface fires prior to Euro-American settlement, to fire suppression in the 20th century, to a current era characterized by large, higher-severity wildfires. The recent increase in fire activity and consequent changes in forest communities are key management concerns across the region. We use sampling from before and after the 1994 Rattlesnake and 2011 Horseshoe Two Wildfires in the Chiricahua Mountains to address the extent to which higher-severity fire is converting Madrean pine-oak forest to oak shrubland in the Sky Islands of Arizona. Plant communities changed from mixed pine-oak forest before the wildfires to oak shrublands and grasslands by 2016 where fires burned at high-severity. In those sites, nearly all stems were killed above ground, oaks regenerated vigorously, mainly by resprouting, and pines recruited at very low levels. These patterns were consistent after each fire and for up to 14 years after the Rattlesnake Fire. Across the Horseshoe Two Fire, seedling recruitment of pines and oaks declined with increasing fire-severity, but oak resprouting increased. Differential recruitment success of oaks over pines was amplified by their far greater juvenile height and more ramets per resprouting genet. Resprouting in Pinus leiophylla (Chihuahua pine) after top-kill was low, but sufficient to suggest that this behavior may maintain this species at low density after high-severity fire. The impact of fire depended on topography, as less exposed plots (e.g. in drainages) experienced lower-severity fire and less conversion to oak shrublands, suggesting that these sites provided refugia for species, such as pines, sensitive to high-severity fire. Low pine recruitment occurred in all plots, not only in sites subject to high-severity fire, suggesting that vegetation conversion may have been exacerbated by the extreme drought of the past two decades. Given the episodic nature of their regeneration, pine recovery is possible in the future, but projections call for intensification of aridity and fire activity in the Southwest, which could lead to continued transition of Madrean pine-oak forests to more fire- and drought-resilient communities dominated by oaks. The results of this study point to the need for protective vegetation management and restoration experiments targeting pines. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:07 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:07 PM Tags: o Alternative stable states o Fire-severity o Madrean pine-oak forest o Oak shrubland o Resprouting o Vegetation conversion * Trends in agricultural impact and recovery of wetlands in prairie Canada Type Journal Article Author Blake A. Bartzen Author Kevin W. Dufour Author Robert G. Clark Author F. Dale Caswell URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1890/08-1650.1__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvRBqkQXE$ Volume 20 Issue 2 Pages 525-538 Publication Ecological Applications ISSN 1051-0761 Date March 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Ecological Applications DOI 10.1890/08-1650.1 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Despite widespread recognition that they provide valuable ecosystem services and contribute significantly to global biodiversity, over half of the world's wetlands have been lost, primarily to agriculture. Wetland loss is evident in prairie Canada, but comprehensive information about causes of ongoing impact for existing wetlands is lacking. Habitat data collected for ?10?500 wetlands during annual waterfowl surveys (1985?2005) were analyzed using multistate models to estimate rates of wetland impact and recovery from agricultural activities in the Canadian prairies. An impact was defined as an agricultural activity that visibly altered a wetland margin (natural vegetation surrounding wetland interiors) or basin (interior depression capable of holding water), whereas recovery was deemed to have occurred if agricultural activities had ceased and effects were no longer visibly apparent. We estimated separate impact and recovery rates for wetland basins and wetland margins and considered covariates such as location, time, wetness indices, land use, and wetland permanence. Results indicate that impact rates for wetland margins have declined over time, likely due to a decreasing percentage of unaffected wetlands on the landscape. Recovery rates for margins were always lower than impact rates, suggesting progressive incidence of impacts to wetlands over time. Unlike margins, impact and recovery rates for basins fluctuated with May pond densities, which we used as a wetness index. Shallow ephemeral wetlands located in agricultural fields had the highest impact and lowest recovery rates relative to wetlands with higher water permanence or situated in areas of lower agricultural intensity. High rates and incidence of wetland impact in conjunction with low recovery rates clearly demonstrate the need for stronger wetland protection in prairie Canada. Date Added 2020-03-12, 4:06:20 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 4:06:20 PM Tags: o agriculture o covariates o impact rates o multistate models o prairie Canada o recovery rates o wetlands Notes: o doi: 10.1890/08-1650.1 * Effects of experimental prescribed fire and tree thinning on oak savanna understory plant communities and ecosystem structure Type Journal Article Author Tyler J. Bassett Author Douglas A. Landis Author Lars A. Brudvig URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112719319218__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvYEXS3y0$ Volume 464 Pages 118047 Publication Forest Ecology and Management ISSN 0378-1127 Date May 15, 2020 Journal Abbr Forest Ecology and Management DOI 10.1016/j.foreco.2020.118047 Abstract In the Midwestern United States, oak savannas have been reduced in area by at least 99% since European settlement, mirroring global trends for savannas, grasslands, and shrublands. Most remaining patches are highly degraded following decades of fire suppression and other anthropogenic impacts, and subsequent tree and shrub encroachment. Yet, reintroducing fire alone may not be sufficient to restore these ecosystems on desired timelines and mechanical thinning may be an important step in the restoration process, to increase understory light and promote the ground layer community. However, it is unclear how plant community dynamics develop under burn-only compared to thin-and-burn restoration scenarios. We investigated the impacts of prescribed fire and mechanical tree thinning on ecosystem structure and plant community dynamics over eight years in an oak savanna restoration experiment in southern Michigan. Established in 2010, this experiment utilized 15 0.4–1.2-hectare treatment units receiving either repeated prescribed fire alone, a combination of repeated prescribed fire and mechanical thinning, or no management. We used this design to test how differences in management affect understory and overstory structure, specifically understory vegetative cover and light availability associated with canopy openness, and plant community dynamics, specifically ground layer plant species richness and composition. We found that, over eight years of restoration, the response of ecosystem structure and the plant community was greatest in units where mechanical thinning was combined with prescribed fire. Thinned and burned units had greater canopy openness, vegetative cover, and plant species richness. Plant species composition also diverged between managed and unmanaged units. Canopy openness increased rapidly, within two years of restoration, while vegetative cover increased more gradually, over five years, and increases in richness were less pronounced overall. Composition diverged initially between managed and unmanaged units and continued to shift throughout the study period. Some effects of management peaked after four years, but were transient by the end of the study. Additional management will be necessary to capitalize on the initial response to restoration toward an oak savanna ecosystem. We predict that additional thinning will further increase light availability and development of graminoid fuels and in combination with prescribed fires will continue to promote open canopy structure and a ground layer dominated by savanna-associated species. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:19 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:19 PM Tags: o Canopy thinning o Community ecology o Composition o Experimental restoration o Fire suppression o Oak savanna o Plant diversity o Prescribed fire o Restoration ecology o Woodland * Lessons Learned from Bison Restoration Efforts in UtahiiThe 70th Annual Society of Range Management Annual Meeting will be held in St. George, Utah January 29 – February 2, 2017. This article highlights Utah range science and management. For more information on SRM Red Rock & Rangelands 2017 see https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://rangelands.org/srm17/__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvG9o2a2I$ . on Western Rangelands Type Journal Article Author Bill Bates Author Kent Hersey URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S019005281630058X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvuwrMaL8$ Volume 38 Issue 5 Pages 256-265 Publication Rangelands ISSN 0190-0528 Date October 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Rangelands DOI 10.1016/j.rala.2016.08.010 Accessed 2020-03-17, 5:54:15 PM Library Catalog ScienceDirect Language en Short Title Lessons Learned from Bison Restoration Efforts in UtahiiThe 70th Annual Society of Range Management Annual Meeting will be held in St. George, Utah January 29 – February 2, 2017. This article highlights Utah range science and management. For more information on SRM Red Rock & Rangelands 2017 see http Date Added 2020-03-17, 5:54:15 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:52:45 PM Tags: o bison o collaboration o public land o trust o Utah o wildlife restoration Attachments o ScienceDirect Full Text PDF o ScienceDirect Snapshot * Vegetation monitoring in a 100-year-old calcareous grassland reserve in Germany Type Journal Article Author Markus Bauer Author Harald Albrecht URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1439179119303032__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv3lchRos$ Volume 42 Pages 15-26 Publication From Nature Conservation to Ecosystem Restoration ISSN 1439-1791 Date February 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Basic and Applied Ecology DOI 10.1016/j.baae.2019.11.003 Abstract Calcareous grasslands harbor specialized species and are cultural relics. Therefore, they are prime habitates for conservation and restoration, but negative effects of inappropriate management, eutrophication and fragmentation continue to exist. These effects also influence grasslands which serve as target for restoration. Unfortunately, monitoring of long-term vegetation dynamics in calcareous grassland is rare. Here, we studied such changes over 35 years in the nature reserve ‘Garchinger Heide’, which is well known for its high abundance of rare species. Furthermore, it has been managed for conservation for more than 100 years. Therefore, species composition, total species richness, numbers of habitat specialists, red-list species and the proportion of graminoids were examined in 42 plots with frequency recording (1984–2018), and in 40 plots based on vegetation relevés (2003–2018). Ellenberg indicator values, specific leaf area, seed mass, and canopy height were analysed to detect patterns in trait response to environmental change. Within 35 years there were considerable vegetation dynamics. Specialist plants of calcareous grassland and red list species decreased, and insect-pollinated species declined in contrast to wind-pollinated species. Ellenberg N as well as graminoid abundance, canopy height, seed mass, and multi-trait functional dispersion increased, while specific leaf area showed no such change. Our results suggest that environmental change like deposition of atmospheric nitrogen, management regime, pollinator decline or isolation could be correlated with vegetation dynamics, while these correlations would need experimental confirmation. The grassland management certainly helped achieving several conservation goals, although it was not able to stop a decrease of rare species. The results show that also in nature reserves with long-term conservation management monitoring is essential to detect vegetation dynamics and to adjust the management to these changes. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:42 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:42 PM Tags: o Conservation o Garchinger Heide o Nitrogen deposition o Plant functional trait o Resurvey o Semi-natural grassland * Plant community development following restoration treatments on a legacy reclaimed mine site Type Journal Article Author Jenise M. Bauman Author Caleb Cochran Author Julia Chapman Author Keith Gilland URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S092585741530094X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvvq4qR5U$ Volume 83 Pages 521-528 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date October 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2015.06.023 Abstract Large-scale soil disturbances due to surface mining for coal have removed nearly one million hectares of native forests in the eastern deciduous forests of North America. Reclamation methods have induced long-term changes in soil properties by continual mechanical grading and heavy seeding of herbaceous plant species. Years after initial reclamation, many sites remain unproductive landscapes comprised of a few non-native, invasive plant species. Recently, various methods that employ deep-soil ripping have been used to alleviate soil compaction on these sites to prepare the substrate for tree planting. The objective of this study was to compare how herbaceous plant communities reassemble throughout the first five years of vegetation recovery after deep-soil ripping (1m), traditional plow and disking (30cm), and the combination of the two soil treatments. Vegetation cover increased over five years (P<0.0001) and varied among soil treatments (P=0.007). There was a significant treatment effect on native species abundance (P=0.01), while native and naturalized vegetation cover varied with time (P<0.001). Deep-soil ripping, in the absence of plow/disking, generally had the least vegetative cover but promoted an even distribution of native, naturalized, and invasive vegetation. Non-native reclamation species regenerate very quickly in plow and disked plots, and their composition was similar to the control plots. Shannon and Simpson diversity did not differ among the treatments, but it was negatively impacted by the presence of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and Chinese lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata; P<0.001), two common non-native species used in traditional mine-land reclamation practices. Continual monitoring of the temporal dynamics of novel, non-native systems following site reclamation will help select methods required to restore native plant communities. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:43 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:52:46 PM Tags: o Invasive species o Mine land restoration o Reclaimed grasslands o Subsoil methods o Vegetation community assembly * Reforesting the grasslands of Papua New Guinea: The importance of a family-based approach Type Journal Article Author Jack Baynes Author John Herbohn Author William Unsworth URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0743016717304072__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv9dv6MwI$ Volume 56 Pages 124-131 Publication Journal of Rural Studies ISSN 0743-0167 Date November 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Journal of Rural Studies DOI 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2017.09.012 Abstract The complexities of Melanesian customary land tenure greatly influence the adoption of community-based reforestation (CBR) in Papua New Guinea (PNG). CBR has recently become a focus for the PNG government due to declining yield from native forests which has renewed attention on developing timber plantations to augment villagers' livelihoods. In this paper, we investigate the factors which affect adoption of timber tree-growing by farmers and communities. We assess the efficacy of a policy frequently employed by non-government organisations (NGOs) in which single or multi-clan based seedling nurseries are used to encourage tree growing. A key finding is that people's need for technical assistance is subordinate to social and cultural factors, principally the need for community harmony. Farmers' motivation to plant trees is adversely influenced by uncertainties inherent in PNG's system of customary land tenure. Interventions – in this case extension assistance to grow trees – may create or exacerbate intra- and inter-clan conflict by bringing long term uncertainties into short term focus. For villagers in PNG, as in other cultures, we conclude that key enabling conditions for collective action revolve around strengthening villagers' bridging social capital in a manner which is sensitive to their longstanding social traditions. Targeted, do-it-yourself, family assistance may be as effective as attempts to encourage collective action. The implications of our findings for Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) which envisages a participatory approach to community engagement, are that cross-community initiatives may not be feasible without extensive investment in building social capital. Initiatives targeted at families or family-groups may be most successful. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:23 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:23 PM Tags: o Bonding social capital o Bridging social capital o Clan conflict o Collective action o Customary land tenure o Forest landscape restoration * Mine reclamation enhances habitats for wild ungulates in west-central Alberta Type Journal Article Author Meghan M. Beale Author Mark S. Boyce URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.13137__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvN4ofQPg$ Rights This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. Volume n/a Issue n/a Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X DOI 10.1111/rec.13137 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:35:22 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Surface mining is the most prevalent form of coal extraction in North America. Reclamation aims to transform former surface mines into self-sustaining ecosystems that support uses similar to pre-development conditions. Success of reclamation often is determined by assessing the re-establishment of landscape structure and vegetation communities. However, there is increasing interest in evaluating reclamation success in the context of higher trophic levels. We evaluated response to mining and reclamation by sympatric bighorn sheep (Ovis canadanesis), elk (Cervus elaphus), and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) on reclaimed coal mines in west-central Alberta. We used direct ground counts on a fixed survey route to obtain data on abundance and distribution of ungulates during 2004 to 2017. We created a grid of 200 x 200 m grid cells and assigned each group of ungulates to a grid cell. We assigned landscape and topographic features to these grid cells to represent changes due to mining and reclamation. We estimated resource selection functions for bighorn sheep, elk, and mule deer showing how their use of reclaimed features and landscapes increased access to quality forage and decreased predation risk. Ungulates also responded to mining and reclamation in ways that we did not anticipate, e.g., sheep and elk often selected areas near haul roads. Understanding spatial relationships between reclamation prescriptions and higher trophic levels is important when designing ‘bottom up’ reclamation to restore ecological functions including recruitment of wildlife. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:35:22 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:35:22 PM Tags: o Bighorn sheep o elk o mule deer o open-pit mining o resource selection function Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * RODENT-MEDIATED INTERACTIONS AMONG SEED SPECIES OF DIFFERING QUALITY IN A SHRUBSTEPPE ECOSYSTEM Type Journal Article Author Karen H. Beard Author Craig A. Faulhaber Author Frank P. Howe Author Thomas C. Edwards URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.jstor.org/stable/24644076__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvREPvryk$ Volume 73 Issue 4 Pages 426-441 Publication Western North American Naturalist ISSN 15270904, 19448341 Date 2013 Accessed 2020-03-17, 6:00:00 PM Abstract [Interactions among seeds, mediated by granivorous rodents, are likely to play a strong role in shrubsteppe ecosystem restoration. Past studies typically consider only pairwise interactions between preferred and less preferred seed species, whereas rangeland seedings are likely to contain more than 2 seed species, potentially leading to complex interactions. We examined how the relative proportion of seeds in a 3-species polyculture changes rodent seed selectivity (i.e., removal) and indirect interactions among seeds. We presented 2 rodent species, Peromyscus maniculatus (deer mice) and Perognathus parvus (pocket mice), in arenas with 3-species seed mixtures that varied in the proportion of a highly preferred, moderately preferred, and least preferred seed species, based on preferences determined in this study. We then conducted a field experiment in a pocket mouse–dominated ecosystem with the same 3-species seed mixtures in both "treated" (reduced shrub and increased forb cover) and "untreated" shrubsteppe. In the arena experiment, we found that rodents removed more of the highly preferred seed when the proportions of all 3 seeds were equal. Moderately preferred seeds experienced increased removal when the least preferred seed was in highest proportion. Removal of the least preferred seed increased when the highly preferred seed was in highest proportion. In the field experiment, results were similar to those from the arena experiment and did not differ between treated and untreated shrubsteppe areas. Though our results suggest that 3-species mixtures induce complex interactions among seeds, managers applying these results to restoration efforts should carefully consider the rodent community present and the potential fate of removed seeds. Las interacciones entre las semillas mediadas por roedores granívoros, podrían tener una gran influencia en la restauración del ecosistema de las estepas de arbustos. Estudios anteriores sólo consideran las interacciones en pares entre las especies de semillas preferidas y las especies de semillas menos preferidas, mientras que las siembras de pastizales pueden contener más de dos especies de semillas, lo cual generaría interacciones más complejas. Examinamos de qué manera la proporción relativa de semillas, en un policultivo de tres especies, modifica la selectividad de semillas de los roedores (lo cual equivale a eliminación) y las interacciones indirectas entre semillas. Presentamos dos especies de roedores, Peromyscus maniculatus (ratón ciervo) y Perognathus parvus (ratón de abazones), en áreas con mezclas de tres especies de semillas que variaban en la proporción de una especie de máxima, moderada o baja preferencia, según las preferencias que se determinaron en este estudio. Luego realizamos un experimento de campo en un ecosistema con predominancia de ratones de abazones con las mismas mezclas de semillas de tres especies, en estepas de arbustos "modificadas" (cantidad reducida de arbustos y mayor cantidad de cobertura de hierba de grandes hojas) y en estepas de arbustos "no modificadas." En la arena experimental, encontramos que los roedores eliminaron más semillas de alto grado de preferencia, cuando la proporción de los tres tipos de semillas era igual. Las semillas de preferencia moderada se eliminaron en mayor cantidad, y hubo una proporción mayor de semillas de baja calidad. La eliminación de las semillas de menor grado de preferencia se incrementó, y se registró una mayor proporción de semillas de alta calidad. Los resultados del experimento de campo fueron similares a los de la arena experimental y no se registraron diferencias entre las estepas de arbustos modificadas y las estepas de arbustos no modificadas. Los resultados indican que las mezclas de tres especies de semillas generan interacciones complejas entre las semillas, cuando se aplican estos resultados a los intentos de restauración, se deben tomar precauciones al considerar la comunidad de roedores existente y el destino posible de las semillas eliminadas.] Archive JSTOR Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:50:03 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:50:03 PM * Earthworms contribute to ecosystem process in no-till systems with high crop rotation intensity in Argentina Type Journal Article Author J.C. Bedano Author F. Vaquero Author A. Domínguez Author M.P. Rodríguez Author L. Wall Author P. Lavelle URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1146609X18302546__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvj_hVWA4$ Volume 98 Pages 14-24 Publication Acta Oecologica ISSN 1146-609X Date July 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Acta Oecologica DOI 10.1016/j.actao.2019.05.003 Abstract In the Pampas region of Argentina agriculture is dominated by intensive no-till (NT) soybean cropping which produce negative consequences on soil quality. A group of farmers started to use the Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) which include a higher crop rotation, use of winter cover crops and nutrient restoration. In this NT system earthworms have a significant role in soil functioning, particularly in organic matter cycling and soil structure formation. The aim of this paper was to examine the contribution of earthworm activity to the process of C incorporation and soil structure maintenance in soils with different NT variants of: NT with GAP for 30 years (NT + r30); NT with some of the GAP for 12 years (NT-r12) and NT with soybean monoculture (NTm). Also a natural grassland (NA) was sampled as a reference. Earthworm aggregates were obtained by gently separating them from surrounding soil. Fine (HOC) and coarse (POC) organic matter fractions, water-stable aggregates (WSA) and mean weight diameter (MWD) were calculated for earthworm aggregates and bulk soil. In all sites only one species (Aporrectodea caliginosa) was found, with higher density in the NA, followed by NT + r30, that had about 9 times more earthworms than NTm. The number of earthworm aggregates was higher in the NT + r30 followed by the NA, both showing differences with the other NT systems. The earthworm aggregates in NA and NT + r30 had significantly more POC than the surrounding soil (230% increase in NA and 100% NT + r30). Earthworm casts had higher values of MWD and WSA than physical soil aggregates in both NA and NT + r30 management treatments. Our results show the existence of a positive feedback loop we called earthworm-driven virtuous cycle. The increase in earthworm abundance promotes higher production of earthworm aggregates which are richer in organic matter and more water stable than the surrounding soil. This has favourable results in terms of soil quality but also increase crop yields (57% in maize and 18% in soybean), by means of biologically mediated soil processes, which is a highly desirable way to sustainability of agricultural production. Farmers, politicians and the whole society should pay more attention to soil as a key component supporting agricultural production by means of internal biological soil functioning. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:28:59 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:28:59 PM Tags: o Agricultural sustainability o C incorporation o Soil structure maintenance * Effect of surface roughness and mulch on semi-arid revegetation success, soil chemistry and soil movement Type Journal Article Author Holly M. Beggy Author Jeffrey S. Fehmi URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816216301485__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvcCR2zf4$ Volume 143 Pages 215-220 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date August 1, 2016 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2016.04.011 Abstract For the successful reclamation of disturbed land, the reduction of initial erosion risk must be balanced with later vegetation establishment. A combination of erosion control and revegetation practices was researched using commercial (full-sized) equipment on a semi-desert grassland site in southern Arizona, USA. Two soils with different parent materials were used to add a 30cm cap on sites at two elevations: 1646 and 1403masl. There were two surface roughness treatments: smooth and rough. Three straw mulch treatments were applied: no mulch, mulch incorporated into the surface soil, and mulch tackified onto the surface. Plots were planted with a 10-species native mix dominated by perennial grasses. After two growing seasons, the incorporated mulch treatment resulted in significantly more seeded grass aboveground biomass than the no mulch treatment while the no mulch treatment had more forb and volunteer biomass than the surface mulch treatment. There was significantly higher erosion on the rough surface treatment compared to the smooth surface. Increasing perennial grass biomass was correlated with reduced erosion while forb and volunteer biomass showed no relationship with erosion. The smooth surface with surface mulch best established perennial grasses, minimized weeds, and reduced erosion. This combination of practices both minimized erosion as well as maximized vegetation establishment. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:32 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:52:48 PM Tags: o Arizona o Erosion o Soil pH o Warm-season perennial grasses * The effects of salt stress on growth, water relations and ion accumulation in two halophyte Atriplex species Type Journal Article Author O. Belkheiri Author M. Mulas URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S009884721100164X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvgTrjv5k$ Volume 86 Pages 17-28 Publication Special Issue: Phytohormones and Stress ISSN 0098-8472 Date February 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Environmental and Experimental Botany DOI 10.1016/j.envexpbot.2011.07.001 Abstract Atriplex halimus is found in the Mediterranean Basin along the coastal areas of Sardinia, but few data are available on its adaptability to salinity. The effects of drought and salinity under controlled conditions on two clones of A. halimus, designated MOR2 and SOR4, originating from southern and northern Sardinia, respectively, were compared with those of seedlings of A. nummularia, an Australian species widely used in the restoration of arid areas. The effects of increasing NaCl salinity above seawater concentrations and of increasing the KCl concentration gradient were tested. Plants were harvested and analysed after 10 and 20 days of NaCl and KCl treatments. All plants remained alive until the end of treatment, although growth was strongly reduced, mainly for the A. halimus MOR2 clone, under increasing concentrations of KCl. The leaves and roots of both species responded positively to increasing NaCl concentrations up to 600mM NaCl for A. halimus, whereas the optimal growth of A. nummularia was recorded at 300mM NaCl. SOR4 was more sensitive to KCl toxicity. The Na+ concentration in the plants increased with increased salinity and was higher in A. halimus than in A. nummularia, suggesting that A. halimus is an ion accumulator and may be used for phytoremediation. The sodium accumulation in the roots of the A. halimus MOR2 clone was far greater than in its leaves. This suggests that MOR2 is an Na+ excluder, either by minimising the entry of salt into the plant or by an excretion mechanism via the vesiculated hairs that play a significant role in the removal of salt from the remainder of the leaf, thereby preventing its accumulation to toxic levels in the leaves, whereas SOR4 acted as an Na+ includer. Higher levels of proline were detected in the MOR2 clone under NaCl treatments, suggesting a more developed adaptative mechanism for the selection of this characteristic in the southern part of the island, which is more exposed to abiotic stresses, particularly water stress that is either generated by salinity or by other causes. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:35 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:35 PM Tags: o Halophytes o Salt stress o Semi-arid rangeland restoration o spp. * Productivity and Morphologic Traits of Thickspike Wheatgrass, Snake River Wheatgrass, and Their Interspecific Hybrids Type Journal Article Author B.P. Bell Author T.A. Jones Author T.A. Monaco URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742418301878__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvdiYiUKU$ Volume 72 Issue 1 Pages 73-81 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date January 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2018.09.002 Abstract Many rangeland restoration sites in the Intermountain West are environmentally challenging due to low precipitation and invasive species competition; thus, more effective native plant materials are needed. We aim to develop improved Snake River wheatgrass (Elymus wawawaiensis) germplasm through hybridization of this widely used bunchgrass with its nearest relative, the rhizomatous thickspike wheatgrass (E. lanceolatus), followed by backcrossing to Snake River wheatgrass. This approach can potentially introduce desirable adaptive traits from thickspike wheatgrass into Snake River wheatgrass. We measured shoot and root dry matter per plant (DMPP), specific leaf area, C:N ratio, and specific root length (SRL) of nine Elymus populations at two planting densities (25 and 7.8 plants m−2) in two repeated field experiments established from transplants in May 2005 and 2006, both at Millville, Utah. Populations included “Bannock” thickspike wheatgrass; “Secar,” “Discovery,” and three experimental Snake River wheatgrass populations; and three interspecific backcross hybrid populations. Compared with Snake River wheatgrass, the backcross hybrids displayed 10.4−33.7% greater shoot DMPP (P < 0.0001) but 12.5−16.5% lower root dry matter (DM) density (P < 0.05) across 6 and 2 comparisons, respectively, resulting in reduced root-to-shoot ratio. Compared with Snake River wheatgrass, Bannock displayed 38.6−158.2% greater shoot DMPP (P < 0.0001) across six comparisons. In addition, Bannock displayed 22.4% lower SLA (P < 0.01) and 11.1% higher C:N ratio (P < 0.05) than Snake River wheatgrass and the backcross hybrids, traits suggestive of a low-nutrient growth strategy. These data suggest that Bannock achieved its consistently greater shoot DMPP during each growth period despite such a strategy. Hence, its greater productivity likely relates to a superior temporal and/or spatial ability to sequester resources that fuel growth. In this regard, Bannock displayed similar (P > 0.05) or 17% greater (P < 0.05) root DM density and 13.4% greater (P < 0.05) SRL than Snake River wheatgrass, as well as rhizomes. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:33 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:33 PM Tags: o functional traits o interspecific hybridization * Introduced and Invasive Species in Novel Rangeland Ecosystems: Friends or Foes? Type Journal Article Author J.y.e. Belnap Author John A. Ludwig Author Bradford P. Wilcox Author Julio L. Betancourt Author W. Richard J. Dean Author Benjamin D. Hoffmann Author Sue J. Milton URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742412500953__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvcJ4xMjA$ Volume 65 Issue 6 Pages 569-578 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date November 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/REM-D-11-00157.1 Abstract Globally, new combinations of introduced and native plant and animal species have changed rangelands into novel ecosystems. Whereas many rangeland stakeholders (people who use or have an interest in rangelands) view intentional species introductions to improve forage and control erosion as beneficial, others focus on unintended costs, such as increased fire risk, loss of rangeland biodiversity, and threats to conservation efforts, specifically in nature reserves and parks. These conflicting views challenge all rangeland stakeholders, especially those making decisions on how best to manage novel ecosystems. To formulate a conceptual framework for decision making, we examined a wide range of novel ecosystems, created by intentional and unintentional introductions of nonnative species and land-use–facilitated spread of native ones. This framework simply divides decision making into two types: 1) straightforward–certain, and 2) complex–uncertain. We argue that management decisions to retain novel ecosystems are certain when goods and services provided by the system far outweigh the costs of restoration, for example in the case of intensively managed Cenchrus pastures. Decisions to return novel ecosystems to natural systems are also certain when the value of the system is low and restoration is easy and inexpensive as in the case of biocontrol of Opuntia infestations. In contrast, decisions whether to retain or restore novel ecosystems become complex and uncertain in cases where benefits are low and costs of control are high as, for example, in the case of stopping the expansion of Prosopis and Juniperus into semiarid rangelands. Decisions to retain or restore novel ecosystems are also complex and uncertain when, for example, nonnative Eucalyptus trees expand along natural streams, negatively affecting biodiversity, but also providing timber and honey. When decision making is complex and uncertain, we suggest that rangeland managers utilize cost–benefit analyses and hold stakeholder workshops to resolve conflicts. Resumen Mundialmente, nuevas combinaciones de plantas introducidas e inducidas y especies de animales han cambiado los pastizales a nuevos ecosistemas. Mientras que muchos de los interesados en los pastizales (personas que usan o tienen interés en los pastizales) ven un beneficio en la introducción de especies para el mejoramiento de la producción de forraje y control de la erosión, otros se interesan en los costos no planeados tales como el aumento en el riesgo de fuego, pérdida de biodiversidad en los pastizales y amenazas en los esfuerzos de conservación especialmente en reservas naturales y parques. Estos puntos de vista conflictivos son retos para todos los interesados en los pastizales, especialmente para la toma de decisiones en cómo manejar mejor los ecosistemas nuevos. Para formular un modelo conceptual para toma de decisiones, examinamos un amplio rango de ecosistemas nuevos, creados de manera intencional y no intencional de especies no nativas y el uso de tierras que facilitan la expansión de especies nativas. Este modelo simplemente divide la toma de decisiones en dos tipos: 1) francamente–seguro y 2) complejo–no seguro. Discutimos que las decisiones de manejo para mantener ecosistemas nuevos son seguras cuando los bienes y servicios proporcionados por el sistema sobrepasan por mucho el costo de restauración, por ejemplo en el caso de las praderas intensivas de Cenchrus. Las decisiones para devolver ecosistemas nuevos a sistemas naturales son también seguras cuando el valor del sistema es bajo y la restauración es fácil y barata como en el caso del control biológico de las infestaciones de Opuntia. En contraste, las decisiones ya sea de mantener o recuperar ecosistemas nuevos se complican y son inciertas en casos donde los beneficios son bajos y los costos altos, por ejemplo en el caso de detener la expansión del Prosopis y Juniperus en los pastizales semiáridos. También las decisiones para mantener o renovar un ecosistema nuevo son difíciles e inciertas cuando por ejemplo, especies no nativas como el Eucalipto se extienden sobre arroyos naturales afectando negativamente la biodiversidad pero también proveyendo madera y miel. Cuando el proceso de toma de decisiones es complejo e incierto sugerimos que los manejadores de pastizales usen el análisis de costo beneficio y talleres entre los interesados para resolver conflictos. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:48 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:52:49 PM Tags: o Cenchrus o decision framework o Eucalyptus o Juniperus o Opuntia o Prosopis o rinderpest o West Nile virus * Long-term effect of sheep and goat grazing on plant diversity in a semi-natural dry grassland habitat Type Journal Article Author Oda Benthien Author Matthias Braun Author Jana C. Riemann Author Caroline Stolter URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844017340094__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvkl_SPbo$ Volume 4 Issue 3 Pages e00556 Publication Heliyon ISSN 2405-8440 Date March 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Heliyon DOI 10.1016/j.heliyon.2018.e00556 Abstract Semi-natural dry grassland sites are of great importance for nature conservation because they support high species diversity and the abundance of “Red-List” species. Grazing has proved to be a successful management tool in terms of maintenance and restoration of biodiversity. For a deeper understanding of the effects of different grazers on species biodiversity in dry grasslands, it is necessary to study the long-term effects of major changes in grazing management. In a semi-natural dry grassland habitat, which was formerly grazed by cattle, we investigated the changes in plant species composition due to long term grazing by sheep and goats. Specifically we asked: a) How does long-term grazing by sheep and goats change the composition of all plant species and particularly those that are on the Red-List? Are changes caused mainly by species turnover? b) How does long-term grazing by sheep and goats influence the fertility and acidity of the soil? To address these questions, we compared the composition and diversity of plants as well deriving Ellenberg indicator values of the species. Long-term grazing by sheep and goats subsequent to a year-round cattle grazing changed the plant species composition of the dry grasslands resulting in a high species turnover rate. It did not, however, lead to an increase in plant species diversity even though Red-List species were considerably more abundant in 2013. Overall, the grazing regime studied positively influenced vegetation composition. The effects on local species composition due to species turnover might further be influenced by local factors like soil nitrogen availability. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:57 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:57 PM Tags: o Ecology o Environmental science * Phenotypes of Two Generations of Sporobolus airoides Seedlings Derived from Acroptilon repens-invaded and Non-invaded Grass Populations Type Journal Article Author Karin E. Bergum Author Ann L. Hild Author Brian A. Mealor URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2010.00754.x__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvtdJ5CJo$ Rights © 2010 Society for Ecological Restoration International Volume 20 Issue 2 Pages 227-233 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2012 DOI 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2010.00754.x Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:34:52 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Although the ecological impacts of invasive species are well known, the evolutionary impacts on recipient native grass communities are not. We suggest that remnant native plants may provide desirable seed sources for restoration and native plant production. Native populations exposed to the selective pressures associated with exotic invasion may retain traits that increase their ability to coexist with invasive species. Two generations of Sporobolus airoides Torr. (Alkali sacaton) plants derived from lineages collected from within long-term invaded areas of Acroptilon repens (L.) DC (Russian knapweed) and from adjacent non-invaded areas were propagated in a greenhouse to evaluate generational changes in phenotypic traits from the production environment. Given the difference in invasion history of the two populations, we hypothesized that invaded and non-invaded subpopulations would differ phenotypically. Phenotypic measurements revealed that invaded subpopulations had greater vegetative growth, whereas non-invaded subpopulations had increased sexual reproduction. Phenotypic expression changed from the first to the second generation, predominantly in the invaded subpopulation. Generational phenotypic shifts are disadvantageous for native seed production which requires a standard product to sell commercially. However, phenotypic variation may improve field seed survival. This research demonstrates the potential value of targeting post-invasion remnant grass populations for restoration. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:34:52 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:34:52 PM Tags: o alkali sacaton o basal growth o native grass o seed o tiller Attachments o Snapshot * Prescribed Fire Effects on Population Dynamics of an Annual Grassland Type Journal Article Author Sasha A. Berleman Author Katharine N. Suding Author Danny L. Fry Author James W. Bartolome Author Scott L. Stephens URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742416300525__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvSTd5hOw$ Volume 69 Issue 6 Pages 423-429 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date November 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2016.07.006 Abstract Medusahead (Elymus caput-medusae [L.] Nevski) is a highly damaging invasive annual grass in California rangelands. While it has been shown that prescribed fire can be a successful tool in controlling medusahead populations, fire treatments are not always successful. Given the sociological and economic constraints of prescribed fire use, it is critically important that we maximize likelihood of treatment success. We conducted experimental investigation of population dynamics of competing species from different functional groups: invasive annual medusahead, naturalized but forageable nonnative wild oat (Avena spp. Pott ex Link), and native perennial purple needlegrass (Stipa pulchra [Hitchc.] Barkworth). We observed population dynamics at the 1-m2 scale before and after treatments of prescribed fire and seed-limitation (weed whipping in a 1-m buffer area). We asked 1) what is the role of seed dispersal from burn edges on subsequent medusahead population size? and 2) how do density and fecundity of the dominant species respond to fire? Results showed that 1) seed dispersal is an important factor in recovery dynamics and 2) wild oat fecundity significantly increases in the year after fire while medusahead and needlegrass fecundity seem minimally affected. Ultimately, managers should consider fire as a preferable first-entry tool and should thoroughly consider shape and size of planned burns, as well as what vegetation is present to play a role in post-treatment seed-dispersal dynamics. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:32 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:52:53 PM Tags: o invasive o medusahead o prescribed fire o rangeland ecology o rangeland management o restoration * Twenty Years After the Dude Fire: Targeted Cattle Grazing of Weeping Lovegrass Through the Use of Protein Supplementation Type Journal Article Author Christopher R. Bernau Author Jim Sprinkle Author Ray Tanner Author John A. Kava Author Christine Thiel Author Vanessa Prileson Author Doug Tolleson URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190052814500879__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv6T9ENKo$ Volume 36 Issue 6 Pages 15-21 Publication Rangelands ISSN 0190-0528 Date December 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Rangelands DOI 10.2111/Rangelands-D-14-00013.1 Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:30 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:04:30 PM Tags: o cattle o Dude fire o Eragrostis curvula o protein supplementation o restoration o targeted grazing o weeping lovegrass o wildfire * Establishing Cool-Season Grasses on a Degraded Arid Rangeland of the Colorado Plateau Type Journal Article Author Eli J. Bernstein Author Christine M. Albano Author Thomas D. Sisk Author Timothy E. Crews Author Steve Rosenstock URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12023__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvBkQglQQ$ Rights © 2013 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 22 Issue 1 Pages 57-64 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2014 DOI 10.1111/rec.12023 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:04:20 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Reestablishing cool-season (C3) grass communities on low elevation rangelands of the Colorado Plateau is notoriously difficult, raising questions about the viability of restoring native species and continuing to actively graze these landscapes. We conducted a seeding experiment on an arid (15.4 cm rain/year), historically heavily-grazed rangeland in Northern Arizona to test the effects of seeding technique and simulated seasonal climate scenarios on germination and recruitment of four species of native, cool-season bunchgrasses: Achnatherum hymenoides, Hesperostipa comata, Poa secunda, and Elymus elymoides. Initial results indicated that C3 grasses germinated significantly more in drill-seeded treatments under simulated high precipitation years than in other treatment types. Five years post-treatment, P. secunda and E. elymoides were not observed but simulated drill-seeded treatments, had significantly higher densities of A. hymenoides and H. comata recruits relative to most other treatment types. Simulated drill seeding also increased soil disturbance which increased the establishment of the invasive weed Salsola tragus in year 1, but not thereafter. Although it appears critical to coordinate effective seeding techniques with high winter–spring precipitation, predicting such events may not be possible at some sites, suggesting that seeding low elevation, arid rangelands of the Colorado Plateau may not always be realistic under a future climate that is drier and less predictable. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:04:20 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:04:20 PM Tags: o Achnatherum hymenoides o climate change o cool-season o drill-seeding o grasses Attachments o Snapshot * Collaborative Approaches to Strengthen the Role of Science in Rangeland Conservation Type Journal Article Author Brandon T. Bestelmeyer Author Laura M. Burkett Author Leticia Lister Author Joel R. Brown Author Robert L. Schooley URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190052819300227__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvAR8O_GQ$ Volume 41 Issue 5 Pages 218-226 Publication Conservation Effects Assessment Project – Grazing Lands: Progress & Impacts of Efforts Toward a Grazing Lands National Assessment ISSN 0190-0528 Date October 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Rangelands DOI 10.1016/j.rala.2019.08.001 Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:08 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:00:08 PM Tags: o Brush management o Collaborative adaptive management o Ecological sites o Monitoring o State transition models * Seed maturation time influences the germination requirements of perennial grasses in desert climate of Arabian Gulf Type Journal Article Author Arvind Bhatt Author Prakash C. Phondani Author Marcelo F. Pompelli URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1319562X16000516__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvKiXpGLM$ Volume 25 Issue 8 Pages 1562-1567 Publication Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences ISSN 1319-562X Date December 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences DOI 10.1016/j.sjbs.2016.02.004 Abstract Qatar has a dry, subtropical desert climate, with minimum annual rainfall and intensely hot and humid summers. Using indigenous grass, those adapted to local conditions have the potential to be used for fodder and can also be used for restoration or rehabilitation of degraded rangelands. Chloris virgata, Coelachyrum brevifolium and Cenchrus ciliaris bloom twice a year from April to May (summer) and September to October (winter) under the nursery condition. Therefore, it is important to understand, how seeds produced in different seasons affect the dormancy as well as germination of these species. Seeds of C. virgata, C. brevifolium and C. ciliaris, three desert grasses, were collected from the plants growing on Shahniya nursery in two different seasons, summer (May) and winter (October). The seeds collected in May (summer) were stored up to winter. However seeds collected in October (winter) were immediately used for experiment. We compared the germination potential of seeds that matured in different season at different alternating temperatures at 15/25, 20/30 and 25/35°C. Lower temperatures correspond to the dark period, while higher temperatures reflect the light period. Seeds collected in summer season (old seeds) were heavier as compared to seeds collected in winter season (new seeds). Winter seeds of C. virgata seem to be dormant, while summer seeds, germinated well in all the tested temperature regimes. However, C. ciliaris seeds showed opposite trends. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:41 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:41 PM Tags: o Desert climate o Light o Native grasses o Old and new seeds o Storage seeds o Temperature * Germination and seedling performance of five native legumes of the Arabian Desert Type Journal Article Author Arvind Bhatt Author María Mercedes Carón Author Kris Verheyen Author Esam Elsarrag Author Yousef Alhorr URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0367253016300251__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvox2Lmj0$ Volume 220 Pages 125-133 Publication Flora - Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants ISSN 0367-2530 Date April 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Flora - Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants DOI 10.1016/j.flora.2016.03.002 Abstract Introducing nitrogen-fixing legumes in desert land could enhance rangeland productivity and help in soil reclamation. However, detailed information about germination and seedling performance of many desert legumes species is still lacking. We investigated these plant characteristics for five native legumes of the Arabian Desert in Qatar: Crotalaria aegyptiaca, Crotalaria persica, Rhynchosia minima, Senna alexandrina and Senna italica. Germination of the species was tested under laboratory conditions using different temperature and light treatments: 15/25, 20/30 and 25/35°C, in either continuous darkness or cycles of 12h light/12h darkness. The germination percentage recorded under the different temperature and light conditions was very low. Therefore, four scarification treatments, water soaking (12 and 24h) and concentrated sulfuric acid application (5 and 10min), were applied. The scarification treatments improved the germination of all the species. However, the different species did not equally respond to the scarification treatments tested. In general, the treatments with sulfuric acid were the most effective. Subsequent seedling survival and growth were evaluated under greenhouse and field (nursery) conditions. All the studied species exhibited higher seedling survival inside (69–96%) than outside the greenhouse (53–89%). Regarding growth, these species did not show much difference in terms of shoot and root length when placed in the greenhouse or the nursery. However, the species showed differences in biomass allocation (aboveground vs. belowground biomass) between greenhouse and nursery but with species-specific responses. The information provided here on scarification requirements and seedling survival and biomass allocation as dependent on the growth environment is helpful for conservation and landscape agencies interested in using these species for conservation, restoration and landscaping projects. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:51 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:52:52 PM Tags: o Arid desert o Biomass allocation o Dormancy break o Fabaceae o Scarification o Seedling survival * Effect of human disturbance on the prey of tiger in the Chitwan National Park – Implications for park management Type Journal Article Author Bishnu Prasad Bhattarai Author Pavel Kindlmann URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479713006518__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvQL8cq6w$ Volume 131 Pages 343-350 Publication Journal of Environmental Management ISSN 0301-4797 Date December 15, 2013 Journal Abbr Journal of Environmental Management DOI 10.1016/j.jenvman.2013.10.005 Abstract Chitwan National Park is surrounded by large settlements of people who exploit the areas where tigers and their prey occur. In this study, we measured the associations between the abundance of the prey of tiger with habitat, topographic, predator and human disturbance variables, using canonical correspondence analysis. We show that the abundance of hog deer is closely associated with areas of tall grassland and floodplains, while that of other ungulate species is associated with that of forests and short grasslands. Primates were mainly abundant in riverine and mixed forests. Abundances of most species, except hog deer and wild pig, were more closely associated with areas of forests than with open areas, because the latter were mainly occupied by humans and livestock. The presence of the species studied was closely associated with habitat and disturbance variables. Proximity of water holes was more closely associated with the presence of ungulates than primates. There were close associations between human disturbance and abundances of primates and muntjac, possibly because these species are more tolerant and adapted to human disturbance. However, the major prey species of tiger were negatively associated with human disturbance. As a consequence, human disturbance has resulted in a decline in the abundance of tigers and the lack of prey could result in their extinction in the Chitwan NP. Therefore, in terms of the conservation and management of the park, minimizing human disturbance of wildlife habitats and restoration of a buffer zone forest should be the prime objectives. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:22 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:22 PM Tags: o Conservation o Habitats o Human disturbance o Predators o Ungulates * Impacts of land use on Indian mangrove forest carbon stocks: Implications for conservation and management Type Journal Article Author R. K. Bhomia Author R. A. MacKenzie Author D. Murdiyarso Author S. D. Sasmito Author J. Purbopuspito URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1890/15-2143__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvam0R91I$ Volume 26 Issue 5 Pages 1396-1408 Publication Ecological Applications ISSN 1051-0761 Date July 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Ecological Applications DOI 10.1890/15-2143 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Abstract Globally, mangrove forests represents only 0.7% of world's tropical forested area but are highly threatened due to susceptibility to climate change, sea level rise, and increasing pressures from human population growth in coastal regions. Our study was carried out in the Bhitarkanika Conservation Area (BCA), the second-largest mangrove area in eastern India. We assessed total ecosystem carbon (C) stocks at four land use types representing varying degree of disturbances. Ranked in order of increasing impacts, these sites included dense mangrove forests, scrub mangroves, restored/planted mangroves, and abandoned aquaculture ponds. These impacts include both natural and/or anthropogenic disturbances causing stress, degradation, and destruction of mangroves. Mean vegetation C stocks (including both above- and belowground pools; mean ± standard error) in aquaculture, planted, scrub, and dense mangroves were 0, 7 ± 4, 65 ± 11 and 100 ± 11 Mg C/ha, respectively. Average soil C pools for aquaculture, planted, scrub, and dense mangroves were 61 ± 8, 92 ± 20, 177 ± 14, and 134 ± 17 Mg C/ha, respectively. Mangrove soils constituted largest fraction of total ecosystem C stocks at all sampled sites (aquaculture [100%], planted [90%], scrub [72%], and dense mangrove [57%]). Within BCA, the four studied land use types covered an area of ~167 km2 and the total ecosystem C stocks were 0.07 Tg C for aquaculture (~12 km2), 0.25 Tg C for planted/ restored mangrove (~24 km2), 2.29 teragrams (Tg) Tg C for scrub (~93 km2), and 0.89 Tg C for dense mangroves (~38 km2). Although BCA is protected under Indian wildlife protection and conservation laws, ~150 000 people inhabit this area and are directly or indirectly dependent on mangrove resources for sustenance. Estimates of C stocks of Bhitarkanika mangroves and recognition of their role as a C repository could provide an additional reason to support conservation and restoration of Bhitarkanika mangroves. Harvesting or destructive exploitation of mangroves by local communities for economic gains can potentially be minimized by enabling these communities to avail themselves of carbon offset/conservation payments under approved climate change mitigation strategies and actions. Date Added 2020-03-12, 4:06:21 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 4:06:21 PM Tags: o Bhitarkanika Conservation Area, India o blue carbon o carbon stocks o climate change mitigation o coastal ecosystems o Indian mangroves Notes: o doi: 10.1890/15-2143 * Hay and seed transfer to re-establish rare grassland species and communities: How important are date and soil preparation? Type Journal Article Author Armin Bischoff Author Sandy Hoboy Author Nadja Winter Author Guido Warthemann URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320717319304__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvKF3ydKg$ Volume 221 Pages 182-189 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date May 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2018.02.033 Abstract European floodplain grasslands are threatened by land use intensification or abandonment. Hay transfer using plant material from species-rich reference communities may be a valuable tool to restore such grasslands. However, large differences in seed production periods and strong competition are still obstacles that limit the efficiency of hay transfer. Using continental Cnidion meadows (FFH habitat type 6440) as a model system, we tested the effect of cutting date and of soil disturbance intensity on community and target species for eight years in a full-factorial hay transfer experiment. The cutting date treatments were early (June), late (October), combined and no hay. Soil disturbance included shallow, deep and no tillage prior to hay transfer. We estimated the plant cover on donor and restoration sites before and after hay transfer. We additionally counted the individual number of seven specialist species of Cnidion meadows considered as target species. In a sowing experiment, seedling establishment was recorded for a subset of target species and compared to establishment in the hay transfer experiment. Hay transfer was successful in transferring target species but community structure was still quite different from the reference grassland. Target species were only transferred with late hay but early hay added several non-specialist species of Cnidion meadows. Strong competition by pre-existing vegetation prevented target species from establishing without soil disturbance but differences were small between shallow and deep tillage. In conclusion, a combination of early and late hay and moderate soil disturbance were the most appropriate treatments to restore Cnidion meadows. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:40 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:40 PM Tags: o Cnidion meadow o Competition o Floodplain o Grassland restoration o Microsite limitation o Seedling recruitment * West African mixed farming systems as meta-ecosystems: A source-sink modelling approach Type Journal Article Author Anne Bisson Author Simon Boudsocq Author Céline Casenave Author Sébastien Barot Author Raphaël J. Manlay Author Jonathan Vayssières Author Dominique Masse Author Tanguy Daufresne URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304380019303114__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv-5kMtws$ Volume 412 Pages 108803 Publication Ecological Modelling ISSN 0304-3800 Date November 15, 2019 Journal Abbr Ecological Modelling DOI 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2019.108803 Abstract Nutrient availability is a major limitation of the production of West African mixed farming systems. The fertility of these systems was traditionally sustained by fallowing, and nutrient transfers by livestock from savanna to croplands. However, demographic growth and socio-economic constraints require the agro-ecological intensification of these systems. To understand how agricultural practices and landscape management affect crop production, we built a meta-ecosystem model of nitrogen stocks and fluxes, and we examined different scenarios of fallow management with or without livestock. Our results suggest that crop production is highly dependent on the source-sink dynamics of nitrogen. Without livestock, maximum crop production is obtained for an intermediate duration of fallowing, highlighting a trade-off between space devoted to production (cropland) and space devoted to fertility restoration (fallow). In presence of livestock, crop production is maximum for a shorter duration of fallowing; it is markedly higher with than without livestock. This result highlights the positive roles of livestock and fallows as pumps (vectors) of nitrogen from savanna rangeland to cropland, and from fallow land to cropland, respectively. However, it also highlights the negative relationship between livestock presence and fallowing, suggesting that the optimal configuration of livestock and fallow management is highly context-dependent. Overall, we argue that the meta-ecosystem approach is particularly relevant for the study of agro-ecosystems characterized by high spatial heterogeneity. This work can be seen as a first step toward an alternative approach, integrating tools from theoretical ecology for the study of agro-ecosystems which functioning strongly depends on spatial organisation. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:43 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:43 PM Tags: o African mixed-farming system o Crop production o Fallow o Livestock o Meta-ecosystem model o Nitrogen * Reintroduced bison diet changes throughout the season in restored prairie Type Journal Article Author Ryan C. Blackburn Author Nicholas A. Barber Author Holly P. Jones URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.13161__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvAZlH_X4$ Rights This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. Volume n/a Issue n/a Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X DOI 10.1111/rec.13161 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:36:45 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:36:45 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:36:45 PM Tags: o bison o diet o isotope o prairie o reintroduction o restoration Attachments o Snapshot * Hydroseeding tackifiers and dryland moss restoration potential Type Journal Article Author W. Dillon Blankenship Author Lea A. Condon Author David A. Pyke URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12997__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvTTH4dao$ Rights © 2019 The Authors. Restoration Ecology published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Society for Ecological Restoration Volume n/a Issue n/a Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X DOI 10.1111/rec.12997 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:15:35 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Tackifiers are long-chain carbon compounds used for soil stabilization and hydroseeding and could provide a vehicle for biological soil crust restoration. We examined the sensitivity of two dryland mosses, Bryum argenteum and Syntrichia ruralis, to three common tackifiers—guar, psyllium, and polyacrylamide (PAM)—at 0.5×, 1.0×, and 2.0× of recommended (×) concentrations for erosion control and revegetation. We measured moss shoot, gemma, and protonema production as well as moss organic matter and bound sand masses as indicators of growth and soil holding ability. We tested sand and tackifier chemistry to investigate potential nutrient and toxicant potential on moss growth. Groups of 10 fragments from field-collected mosses were grown on sand in open petri dishes arranged in a growth chamber in replicated blocks containing each tackifier and concentration combination plus a distilled water control. Bryum (n = 10) and Syntrichia (n = 9) growth were measured at the end of 6 and 5 weeks, respectively. Overall model tests yielded statistically significant results (p < 0.001) for every variable in each species. When compared to water, guar tended to decrease growth, psyllium tended to increase growth, and PAM's effects were generally neutral to positive. Within tackifier types, increasing concentrations of guar tended to decrease growth, while increasing concentrations of psyllium tended to increase growth. Changes in PAM concentrations had little effect on growth. Increases in guar and psyllium lowered pH and increased P and K. Psyllium and PAM yielded promising results as potential agents of dispersal and adherence of dryland mosses in field restoration. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:15:36 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:15:36 PM Tags: o biocrust o biological soil crust o dryland mosses o fragment growth o guar o hydroseeding o polyacrylamide o psyllium o soil retention o tackifiers Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Developing a restoration narrative: A pathway towards system-wide healing and a restorative culture Type Journal Article Author James Blignaut Author James Aronson URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921800919309127__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv3e4AOWg$ Volume 168 Pages 106483 Publication Ecological Economics ISSN 0921-8009 Date February 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Ecological Economics DOI 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2019.106483 Abstract The current generation of Homo sapiens is paying the bill for the foolishness of, among other things, the Ceteris paribus assumption which postulates that natural capital is infinite and the quality thereof constant. The outcome is an unprecedented ecological overshoot as well as rapid and widespread degradation and fragmentation of both ecological and social systems. Despite their international commitments, few nations currently pay more than lip-service to invest in the widely acknowledged need ö from economic as well as ecological perspectives ö to invest more heavily to assist the restoration and recovery of degraded ecosystems almost everywhere. There is good evidence from eight recently published meta-analyses of ecological restoration work done at over 1 400 sites, that show that human societies clearly benefit economically from ecological restoration and allied activities. Perversely ö or predictably ö global society’s indifference to or denial of this reality is short-sighted in the extreme, and flagrantly neglectful of future generations of all life on earth. We argue that the disjunction between the required and actual investment in restoration is attributable, in part, to both the dysfunction of our political economies and the fact that essentially all human and ecological systems are ‘wicked systems’ (i.e. complex and complicated, simultaneously). This in turn leads to ‘wicked problems’ for anyone concerned with making ecological restoration a part of daily life for the next generation. While rational, science-based observations, pilot studies, and modelling can help diagnose a wicked problem, and prescribe ways to launch and sustain large-scale and lasting ecological restoration and recovery of degraded ecosystems, this is patently not sufficient. Invariably people have varying beliefs about, and understanding of, the past, present, and future. This leads to ontological uncertainty when groups of disparate people try to work together on wicked problems, thanks to past conflict and trauma, and differing readings of what has happened, is happening, and may happen in the increasingly unknowable and unpredictable future. This uncertainty introduces risk in all human impacted systems. Scientists, especially those involved in ecological economics and ecological restoration, could help society cross this bridge of uncertainty towards a shared vision and action plan. Working together with people from varying inter-connected fields and disciplines, we call for greater use of structured dialogue, embedded within a restoration narrative, to nurture and promote a ‘restorative culture’. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:00 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:00:00 PM Tags: o Natural capital o Restoration narrative o Restorative culture o System-wide healing o Wicked systems * Restoring and managing natural capital towards fostering economic development: Evidence from the Drakensberg, South Africa Type Journal Article Author James Blignaut Author Myles Mander Author Roland Schulze Author Mark Horan Author Chris Dickens Author Catherine Pringle Author Khulile Mavundla Author Isaiah Mahlangu Author Adrian Wilson Author Margaret McKenzie Author Steve McKean URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921800910000327__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvmNh7Q5Y$ Volume 69 Issue 6 Pages 1313-1323 Publication Special Section - Payments for Environmental Services: Reconciling Theory and Practice ISSN 0921-8009 Date April 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Ecological Economics DOI 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2010.01.007 Abstract Can a payment for flows of ecosystem goods and services system, following appropriate management and restoration of natural capital produced in rural areas of a developing country, be developed in a way that benefits communities, the commercial sector and the environment? This fundamental question acts as rationale for conducting an in-depth assessment as to whether the development of markets for ecosystems is both appropriate and sufficient when dealing with the restoration of natural capital of two degraded study areas within the Maloti–Drakensberg mountain range in southern Africa, which is a fire-prone grasslands ecosystem. The mountain range is South Africa's most strategic source of fresh water. While occupying less than 5% of South Africa's surface area, it produces 25% of the country's runoff through rivers, major dams, and national and international inter-basin transfers. Addressing the question, the study develops an integrated hydrology–ecology–economic model based on the functional relationships between these three aspects in managing and restoring the natural capital of the two study areas. It was found that the benefits of introducing improved management practices exceeds cost in low to medium degraded quinaries, but not in heavily degraded quinaries. The economic return on the water (baseflow) produced by such a system of improved land use management, however, far exceeds that of conventional (construction-based) water development programmes and offers meaningful economic and market development opportunities. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:11 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:11 PM Tags: o Economic development o Land productivity o Natural resource management o Payments for ecosystem goods and services (PES) o Restoration * Effects of large-scale gold mining on migratory behavior of a large herbivore Type Journal Article Author Marcus E. Blum Author Kelley M. Stewart Author Cody Schroeder URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1890/ES14-00421.1__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv-ix6CMc$ Volume 6 Issue 5 Pages art74 Publication Ecosphere ISSN 2150-8925 Date May 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Ecosphere DOI 10.1890/ES14-00421.1 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Loss of migratory corridors has been identified as an important ecological issue among species that exhibit long-distance migration worldwide. Increased mineral exploration and development has raised the level of concern over the protection of terrestrial migration routes for ungulates. Mineral exploration and other types of development may adversely affect migratory corridors for large herbivores, but little is known about functional effects on migratory behavior and resource selection. To address these important questions we examined movement patterns and resource selection to understand the effects of an operating gold mine on migratory pathways of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus). We captured and applied radio collars to female mule deer (n = 43) on the migratory pathway and in the proximity of an active mine in the Ruby Mountains of eastern Nevada. We used Brownian Bridge Movement Models to delineate stopover sites for each individual during both the autumn and spring migrations. We calculated linear efficiency of movement along the migration path and movement rate between stopover locations outside and within the mining area to determine the effects of the mine on movement patterns. We also used resource selection functions to determine if mule deer avoided areas with extensive excavation and disturbance of the land surface when navigating through the mine complex. Our results indicated greater linear efficiency of movement along the migration path and movement rates between stopover locations outside the mine when compared with movement through the mine complex. Additionally, mule deer that migrated through the mine complex avoided the highest disturbance levels by spending the majority of their time in undisturbed habitat patches. These results suggest an increase in energy expenditure of mule deer navigating through highly disturbed areas, which may have fitness consequences for migratory animals. Such increases in energy expenditure during migration may decrease survival or productivity of migratory populations of large, terrestrial mammals. Date Added 2020-03-12, 4:06:21 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 4:06:21 PM Tags: o anthropogenic disturbances o Brownian Bridge Movement Model o migration o migration behavior o mining o mule deer o Nevada o Odocoileus hemionus o resource selection o Ruby Mountains Notes: o doi: 10.1890/ES14-00421.1 * Composted manure application promotes long-term invasion of semi-arid rangeland by Bromus tectorum Type Journal Article Author Dana M. Blumenthal Author Daniel R. LeCain Author David J. Augustine URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.1960__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvNZwBn5Y$ Volume 8 Issue 10 Pages e01960 Publication Ecosphere ISSN 2150-8925 Date October 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Ecosphere DOI 10.1002/ecs2.1960 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Abstract Nutrient-rich organic waste derived from sewage treatment facilities or livestock manure is often applied to rangelands of western North America to increase soil fertility, forage production, forage quality, and soil carbon storage. This practice can have a number of undesirable side effects, however, including plant invasion. While characteristics of both rangeland ecosystems and invasive plants suggest that organic waste application might often promote invasion, results to date are mixed, perhaps due in part to the paucity of long-term studies. Here, we describe the long-term (22 yr) effects of three types of organic waste?composted biosolids, composted cattle manure, and fresh cattle manure?on plant productivity and invasion in native mixed-grass prairie. Although composted manure and biosolids increased plant productivity and forage quality in the second year of the study, these effects did not persist. In contrast, Bromus tectorum (cheatgrass), which invaded the study site over the course of the experiment, was strongly facilitated by composted manure addition, with particularly large effects observed in years 17 and 22. These results show that nutrient-rich organic waste can favor invasive species even in the relatively invasion-resistant grasslands of the western Great Plains. They also demonstrate that effects of organic waste on invasion can become apparent quite gradually and persist for decades following the initial organic waste application. Together, results from experimental additions of organic and inorganic nutrients to native rangelands suggest that the risk of promoting invasive species is significant, and should be considered in programs that apply organic waste to rangelands of western North America. Date Added 2020-03-12, 4:06:18 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:52:54 PM Tags: o biosolids o Bromus tectorum o invasion o manure o nitrogen o phosphorus o rangelands Notes: o doi: 10.1002/ecs2.1960 o doi: 10.1002/ecs2.1960 * Grasslands of Western Europe Type Book Section Author Steffen Boch Author Idoia Biurrun Author John Rodwell URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780124095489120950__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvqEZLwGE$ Publisher Elsevier ISBN 978-0-12-409548-9 Date January 1, 2019 Extra DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-409548-9.12095-0 Abstract In Western Europe forests are the natural climax vegetation and only about 14% of the total area are grasslands. The largest part of Western European grasslands below the alpine zone are therefore secondary grasslands, originating from human land use. The floristic composition of the region's grasslands was largely shaped by repeated glaciations during the Pleistocene and is today mainly composed of perennial herb species. Grasslands of Western Europe can be placed in 18 phytosociological classes, and joined into nine broadly defined grassland types. These grasslands harbor a rich diversity of different taxa, including many endemic species. Moreover, seminatural grasslands of the region were repeatedly highlighted for their high vascular plant species densities. However, natural and seminatural grasslands are among the most negatively human-impacted terrestrial habitats in Western Europe with a strong long-term declining trend in habitat extent and integrity as well as species diversity and abundance since the industrial and agricultural revolutions but especially from the second half of the 20th century onwards. This resulted in a high proportion of threatened grassland types and species. Major direct drivers negatively affecting grasslands across the region were the large-scale conversion of seminatural grasslands to crops, the expansion of urban and industrial areas, the intensification of seminatural grassland to more productive meadows and pastures as well as the abandonment of traditional land-use regimes. Substantial subsidies for increasing agricultural productivity have greatly worsened such damage. A rethink and the development of appropriate tools to reverse this trend are urgently needed. Recently, various conservation and restoration efforts have been undertaken to maintain, promote and restore grassland extent and diversity. Book Title Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:37 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:37 PM Tags: o Biodiversity threats o Diversity patterns o Endangered species o Endemic species o Eurasian Dry Grassland Group (EDGG) o European Red List of Habitats o Grassland conservation o Grassland ecology o Land-use abandonment o Land-use intensification o Natural grasslands o Seminatural grasslands o Vegetation classification o Vegetation types o Western Europe * SOC content—An appropriate tool for evaluating the soil quality in a reclaimed post-mining landscape Type Journal Article Author Lubomír Bodlák Author Kateřina Křováková Author Martina Kobesová Author Jakub Brom Author Jakub Šťastný Author Emilie Pecharová URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857411002758__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvyH_GLVs$ Volume 43 Pages 53-59 Publication Restoration of Areas Affected by Mining ISSN 0925-8574 Date June 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2011.07.013 Abstract The new post-mining landscape of a waste rock dump is an ideal candidate for a carbon sink area. A quantitative evaluation of soil organic carbon (SOC) can provide information on the quality of the reclaimed post-mining landscape. The sampled sites in the older part of the Velká Podkrušnohorská dump were used for determining SOC and basic physical and chemical soil characteristics, e.g. cation exchange capacity (CEC), bulk density (ρ), pH, soil sorption capacity (S), total nitrogen content (TN) and sand grain (G). The sites are situated either on grassland (agricultural reclamation), or at the various age classes of deciduous or coniferous forest (forest reclamation), or on areas of both initial and advanced succession stages (natural reclamation). A statistically significant relation between SOC and the basic pedological parameters was identified. A positive correlation was observed for CEC, S and TN values. A negative correlation was determined for pH and bulk density. The positive correlation between SOC and coarse grain, and the negative correlation between SOC and fine grain, are interesting findings. The calculated Cpool ranged from 1.3kgm−2 (young forest) to 4.7kgm−2 (old forest), 5.4kgm−2 (natural succession), respectively. The point-related Cpool values were transformed to a carbon map, which can serve as a tool for evaluating reclamation quality. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:37 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:52:55 PM Tags: o Anthropogenic soils o Carbon map o Dump reclamation o Post-mining landscape o Soil organic carbon o Velká Podkrušnohorská dump * Effects of waterlogging levels on Holcus lanatus response traits in different created topsoils Type Journal Article Author Audrey Boigné Author Fabrice Bureau Author Aurélie Husté Author Stéphane Levesque Author Alain Delorme Author Laurent Quillet Author Estelle Langlois URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0367253017332668__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvM3ou6mA$ Volume 234 Pages 106-118 Publication Flora ISSN 0367-2530 Date September 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Flora DOI 10.1016/j.flora.2017.07.006 Abstract The effect of waterlogging was measured on the development of a wet grassland species, Holcus lanatus, grown on four recreated topsoils. Soils used for the experimental setup were collected from wet grasslands of the Seine floodplain to represent contrasting organic matter content and texture. Plants were submitted to no, medium and total waterlogging levels. The no waterlogging level, used as a control, was also performed to estimate the topsoil effects on H. lanatus growth. Morphological and functional response traits (e.g. shoot height, biomass, specific leaf area, nitrogen and carbon contents) were measured on harvested plants at the beginning of the experiment and after 3, 7, 30, and 90days of waterlogging. As expected, a topsoil effect was immediately recorded on plant development traits (i.e. biomass, number of ramets, and height) and carbon content. On three soils of the four tested, H. lanatus better developed on medium waterlogging level which represents the intermediate level of constraints of the waterlogging gradient tested. Finally, the study demonstrates that the effect of medium waterlogging applied on plants varied among different topsoils. Interestingly, the effect of medium waterlogging was the most beneficial for topsoil conditions where plant initial growth was the lowest. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:46 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:46 PM Tags: o Biomass production o Mortality o Plant functional traits o Plant morphology o Restoration ecology o Wet grasslands * Ecological niche distribution along soil toxicity gradients: Bridging theoretical expectations and metallophyte conservation Type Journal Article Author Sylvain Boisson Author Arnaud Monty Author Maxime Séleck Author Mylor Ngoy Shutcha Author Michel-Pierre Faucon Author Grégory Mahy URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304380019303692__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvzIl0zgI$ Volume 415 Pages 108861 Publication Ecological Modelling ISSN 0304-3800 Date January 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Ecological Modelling DOI 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2019.108861 Abstract Ecological niche modelling helps us to understand the spatial assembly of species in heterogeneous environments. Three patterns have been widely reported in the research literature regarding the relationship between realised niches and macronutrient concentration gradients: (1) species’ optima are unevenly distributed, with a higher frequency in mesic conditions; (2) species’ response curves are narrower when optima density is higher; and (3) species with optima at the extremes of the gradients have skewed response curves with a longer tail toward mesic conditions. This study aims to test the existence of these patterns on a vegetation model occurring in metalliferous soils comprising copper and cobalt along a toxicity gradient in south-eastern D.R. Congo. Realised niches of 80 taxa were modelled using generalised additive models. The niche optima and the niche widths were determined for each taxon. Results highlighted three groups which differ according to the niche optima location along the soil metal concentration gradients. The patterns found along macronutrient concentration gradients were, to some extent, transposable along micronutrient concentration gradients. Our findings on the diversity and assembly of realised niches has consequences for plant conservation strategies. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:08 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:08 PM Tags: o GAM o Micronutrient o Plant tolerance o Species response curve o Threatened oldgrowth grassland * Consequences of pinyon and juniper woodland reduction for wildlife in North America Type Journal Article Author Sara Bombaci Author Liba Pejchar URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112716000190__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvM73V0H0$ Volume 365 Pages 34-50 Publication Forest Ecology and Management ISSN 0378-1127 Date April 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Forest Ecology and Management DOI 10.1016/j.foreco.2016.01.018 Abstract Pinyon and juniper (Pinus spp., Juniperus spp.) woodlands are expanding into shrublands and grasslands throughout much of western North America. Woodland reduction is frequently used to mitigate the effects of conifer encroachment on game species (e.g. mule deer Odocoileus hemionus) and shrub and grassland-obligate species (e.g. sage grouse Centrocercus spp.). Although these practices are widespread, previous studies on the effects of woodland reduction on animal communities have not yet been synthesized, making it difficult to set priorities for future research and practice. To address this gap, we first summarize the history of pinyon and juniper reduction in western North America and characterize known wildlife habitat associations in pinyon and juniper ecosystems. We then review and synthesize evidence from the scientific literature on wildlife responses to pinyon and juniper woodland reduction. We tallied the outcomes of these studies to determine the relative proportions of positive, negative, and non-significant responses by different taxonomic groups and functional groups. The majority (69%) of animal species responses to woodland reduction treatments were non-significant. However, particular groups of species (taxonomic and/or functional) were more likely to respond positively or negatively, depending on the woodland reduction treatment method. Unexpectedly, investigators often found non-significant or negative responses by ungulates to woodland reduction, and non-significant responses by sagebrush obligate species. However, few studies measured effects on sagebrush obligate species, which limits inference for this group. Indeed, our review demonstrates that the effects of woodland reduction are well-understood for only a subset of taxonomic groups (e.g. birds and small mammals); whereas other groups (e.g. reptiles and terrestrial invertebrates) are consistently under-studied. Further, a shortage of large-scale and long-term research limits our ability to fully understand spatial and temporal wildlife responses to woodland reduction. We encourage practitioners to design and implement pinyon and juniper reduction projects to experimentally assess the effects of these practices on both target and non-target species. Adopting consistent monitoring protocols across projects would also facilitate greater understanding of how factors such as treatment type, size, location and duration result in positive or negative impacts to diverse wildlife of conservation concern. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:17 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:17 PM Tags: o Conifer removal o Habitat restoration o Pinyon juniper management o Sagebrush obligate o Woodland modification o Woodland species * Beyond the forest edge: Ecology, diversity and conservation of the grassy biomes Type Journal Article Author William J. Bond Author Catherine L. Parr URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320709005205__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvvJbf0yY$ Volume 143 Issue 10 Pages 2395-2404 Publication Conserving complexity: Global change and community-scale interactions ISSN 0006-3207 Date October 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2009.12.012 Abstract Forests and grassy vegetation (savannas and grasslands) are alternative ecosystem states in many tropical landscapes. Relative to forests the grassy ecosystems are poorly known and poorly conserved, partly because they were thought to be products of forest clearance. However many grasslands have proved to be ancient. Commensurate with their antiquity, grassy biomes have distinct suites of plant and animal species that contribute a large fraction of the diversity of forest–grassland mosaics. Grasslands differ strikingly from forests in their ecology and in the nature of threats to their future. Here we highlight the high biodiversity value of grassy biomes and, in contrast to tropical forests, we illustrate the importance of fire in maintaining these systems. We discuss the major threats to, and consequences for, biodiversity in these regions including land clearance and elevated CO2-driven forest expansion. Finally we focus on the difficulties of grassland restoration. A new approach to understanding and conserving grassy ecosystems, free from cultural prejudices of the past, is long overdue. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:42 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:42 PM Tags: o C4 grass o Campos o Cerrado o Fire regime o Forest–grassland mosaic o Savanna o Tropical grassland * Impacts of forests and forestation on hydrological services in the Andes: A systematic review Type Journal Article Author Vivien Bonnesoeur Author Bruno Locatelli Author Manuel R. Guariguata Author Boris F. Ochoa-Tocachi Author Veerle Vanacker Author Zhun Mao Author Alexia Stokes Author Sarah-Lan Mathez-Stiefel URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112718311836__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvP8OdYyg$ Volume 433 Pages 569-584 Publication Forest Ecology and Management ISSN 0378-1127 Date February 15, 2019 Journal Abbr Forest Ecology and Management DOI 10.1016/j.foreco.2018.11.033 Abstract Several Andean countries have planned to restore forest cover in degraded land to enhance the provision of multiple ecosystem services in response to international commitments such as the Bonn Challenge. Hydrological services, e.g. water supply, hydrological regulation and erosion mitigation, are particularly important to sustain the life of more than fifty million Andean people. While rapid and important forest cover changes have occurred during recent decades, critical information on the impact of forestation on hydrological services has not yet been synthesized in the context of Andean ecosystems. We define forestation as the establishment of forest by plantation or natural regeneration on areas that either had forest in the past or not. To help improve decision-making on forestation in the Andes, we reviewed the available literature concerning the impacts of forestation on water supply, hydrological regulation and mitigation of erosion and landslides. We also examined available data on the most relevant hydrological processes such as infiltration, evapotranspiration and runoff in forest stands. Hydrological services from native forests were also included as a reference state for comparing processes and services provided by forestation. Following systematic review protocols, we synthesized 155 studies using different methods, including meta-analyses and meta-regressions. Results show that forestation has had clear impacts on degraded soils, through reducing water erosion of soils and risk of moderate floods, increasing soil infiltration rate by 8 and topsoil organic matter (SOM). We found that 20 years of tree plantation was sufficient to recover infiltration rate and sediment yield close to the levels of native forests whereas SOM, soil water storage and surface runoff of native forests could not be recovered by forestation in the time scales examined. The benefits in terms of hydrological regulation are at the expense of a reduction in total water supply since forest cover was associated with higher water use in most Andean regions. Forestation with native species was underrepresented in the reviewed studies. The impact of forestation on landslides has also been largely overlooked in the Andes. At high elevations, exotic tree plantations on Andean grasslands (e.g. páramo and puna) had the most detrimental consequences since these grasslands showed an excellent capacity for hydrological regulation and erosion mitigation but also a water yield up to 40% higher than tree plantations. People engaged in forest restoration initiative should be aware that hydrological services may take some time for society and the environment to show clear benefits after forestation. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:45 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:45 PM * What can ecological science tell us about opportunities for carbon sequestration on arid rangelands in the United States? Type Journal Article Author Kayje Booker Author Lynn Huntsinger Author James W. Bartolome Author Nathan F. Sayre Author William Stewart URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959378012001148__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvWLPJnTI$ Volume 23 Issue 1 Pages 240-251 Publication Global Environmental Change ISSN 0959-3780 Date February 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Global Environmental Change DOI 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2012.10.001 Abstract Scientific interest in carbon sequestration on rangelands is largely driven by their extent, while the interest of ranchers in the United States centers on opportunities to enhance revenue streams. Rangelands cover approximately 30% of the earth's ice-free land surface and hold an equivalent amount of the world's terrestrial carbon. Rangelands are grasslands, shrublands, and savannas and cover 312 million hectares in the United States. On the arid and semi-arid sites typical of rangelands annual fluxes are small and unpredictable over time and space, varying primarily with precipitation, but also with soils and vegetation. There is broad scientific consensus that non-equilibrium ecological models better explain the dynamics of such rangelands than equilibrium models, yet current and proposed carbon sequestration policies and associated grazing management recommendations in the United States often do not incorporate this developing scientific understanding of rangeland dynamics. Carbon uptake on arid and semi-arid rangelands is most often controlled by abiotic factors not easily changed by management of grazing or vegetation. Additionality may be impossible to achieve consistently through management on rangelands near the more xeric end of a rangeland climatic gradient. This point is illustrated by a preliminary examination of efforts to develop voluntary cap and trade markets for carbon credits in the United States, and options including payment for ecosystem services or avoided conversion, and carbon taxation. A preliminary analysis focusing on cap and trade and payment for avoided conversion or ecosystem services illustrates the misalignment between policies targeting vegetation management for enhanced carbon uptake and non-equilibrium carbon dynamics on arid United States rangelands. It is possible that current proposed carbon policy as exemplified by carbon credit exchange or offsets will result in a net increase in emissions, as well as investment in failed management. Rather than focusing on annual fluxes, policy and management initiatives should seek long-term protection of rangelands and rangeland soils to conserve carbon, and a broader range of environmental and social benefits. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:20 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:00:20 PM Tags: o Additionality o Arid lands o Cap and trade o Non-equilibrium dynamics o Rangeland management o Soil carbon * Willow cover as a stream-recovery indicator under a conservation grazing plan Type Journal Article Author D. Terrance Booth Author Samuel E. Cox Author Gregg Simonds Author Eric D. Sant URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X12000027__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv0UdZjLY$ Volume 18 Pages 512-519 Publication Ecological Indicators ISSN 1470-160X Date July 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2011.12.017 Abstract Many rangeland streams and associated fisheries have suffered from livestock grazing as a cost of upland-forage utilization. Due to damage from intensive usage, restoration of damaged streams is now a common land-management objective. The Squaw Valley Ranch of Elko County, Nevada, US, in cooperation with the US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Barrick Gold Corp., is attempting to improve those portions of the Rock Creek watershed negatively affected by past ranch operations. The watershed includes both historical and occupied habitat for the threatened Lahonton cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki henshawi [Richardson]). From 2003, and continuing to the present, hot-season livestock grazing on Squaw Valley Ranch private and permitted public-land riparian areas was greatly reduced. To assess the effectiveness of this conservation effort, we (1) evaluated BLM archived images of riparian photo points in the watershed, (2) tested for change over time using data from systematic, intermittent, aerial sampling that acquired 2-cm resolution images from low-altitude surveys conducted in 2003, 2004 and 2006, and (3) compared Landsat scenes of the area from before and after 2003. Willow (Salix spp.) cover was chosen as the primary ecological indictor of riparian condition and we introduce willow canopy (m2) per m of stream length in the image field-of-view, as a practical measure of willow status. Archived images from photo points show mostly low-condition riparian plant communities, often with little or no willow canopy evident before 2003, but with conspicuous improvement thereafter. This subjective perception is supported by objective analyses finding, (1) the relative increase in willow cover nearly tripled on one stream, more than doubled on three others, and increased on all but one (fire affected) and (2) a highly significant post-2003 increase in willows in the Landsat record. Thus, the post-2003 increase in willow cover documented in three complementary lines of evidence from ground, air, and space support the predicted ecological benefits of reduced hot-season riparian grazing and the utility of 2-cm imagery as a tool for assessing watershed-wide conservation benefits from a federal cost-share-eligible conservation practice. This appears to be the first use of willow measurements from an aerial survey as a particular indicator of riparian condition and trend and the first demonstration of change detection based on objective measurements from a watershed-scale riparian monitoring effort that used systematic sampling (versus subjective selection) and high sample density to address the large Type II error (false negative) risk common to conventional land-management survey efforts. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:44 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:44 PM Tags: o Aerial imagery o Ecological indicators o Effectiveness monitoring o Objective measurements o Riparian management o Watershed-scale sampling * Biosolids Application and Long-Term Noxious Weed Dominance in the Western United States Type Journal Article Author Richard K. Borden Author Rick Black URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2010.00671.x__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvvhYW_II$ Rights © 2010 Society for Ecological Restoration International Volume 19 Issue 5 Pages 639-647 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2011 DOI 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2010.00671.x Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:48:54 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Vegetation characteristics were assessed on three sets of 10-year-old test plots and one set of 5-year-old plots that received 0, 34, 45, and 67 tons/ha (0, 15, 20, and 30 short tons/acre) of biosolids at a semiarid mine reclamation site in Utah. On average, noxious weed species such as Bromus tectorum L. (cheatgrass) provided two-thirds of the cover on the biosolids test plots, but only one-tenth of the cover on adjacent control plots that received no biosolids. Cheatgrass provided more than half of the total cover on every biosolids test plot. Seeded species provided about two times more cover at the control plots than at the biosolids plots. Surfaces treated with 45 tons/ha composted biosolids (one part biosolids and two parts wood chips) had a much lower percentage of noxious weed cover compared to biosolids alone. The relatively heavy initial nitrogen load associated with biosolids application may have promoted cheatgrass dominance. Although the available nitrogen eventually declines, once cheatgrass is established it may maintain its dominance indefinitely. Given the risk of weed invasion, heavy biosolids applications should be used with caution for reclamation projects in semiarid climates if perennial species establishment is desired. Consideration should instead be given to light applications (<45 tons/ha) of biosolids/wood chip compost or forgoing the use of biosolids entirely. The underapplication of nutrients may provide a slower, but ultimately more reliable, strategy for the establishment of a healthy, native perennial vegetation community. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:48:54 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:48:54 PM Tags: o biosolids o cheatgrass o invasive species o revegetation Attachments o Snapshot * Season of fire and nutrient enrichment affect plant community dynamics in subtropical semi-natural grasslands released from agriculture Type Journal Article Author Elizabeth H. Boughton Author Patrick J. Bohlen Author Christen Steele URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320712004181__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvMI39Qoo$ Volume 158 Pages 239-247 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date February 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2012.09.023 Abstract Semi-natural grasslands have become increasingly important to conservation in both temperate and subtropical regions due to their diversity and escalating pressures toward conversion or abandonment. As more semi-natural grasslands are incorporated into conservation easements or other protected areas, questions arise about appropriate management for maintaining biodiversity. We conducted an 8year split-plot experiment on the effect of season of burn and nutrient status on plant composition in semi-natural grassland released from ranchland management. Our objective was to find alternative approaches to manage semi-natural grasslands under varying nutrient enrichment when typical ranch management is ceased. We predicted that: (1) burning at high fertility would counteract competitive exclusion and increase diversity and that this increase would be greatest in the historical fire season (summer) to which species are adapted; and (2) that plant composition in plots released from disturbance would shift to greater abundance of competitive species, including shrubs, which would displace smaller grass and forb species and result in reduced diversity. Total species richness and graminoid richness were lowest in unburned, ungrazed plots. Graminoid richness was greatest in winter burned-grazed plots (due mainly to sedges) and forb richness was greatest in summer burn plots. In unburned plots, after 5years, a native shrub, Eupatorium capillifolium (Lam.) Small, and native forb, Lachnanthes caroliniana (Lam.) Dandy, became abundant and grasses declined. Winter burn plots were dominated by a small shrub, Euthamia graminifolia (L.) Nutt. var. hirtipes (Fernald) C. and J. Taylor. Our experiment suggests that maintaining grassland structure and reducing shrub cover in grasslands released from typical ranchland management in subtropical Florida requires burning, and that summer is the most beneficial season of burn to reduce shrub encroachment and encourage both graminoid and forb richness. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:52 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:52 PM Tags: o Agriculture o Grazing o Long-term monitoring o Management o Restoration o Split-plot experiment * Freezing Stress Influences Emergence of Germinated Perennial Grass Seeds Type Journal Article Author Chad S. Boyd Author Jarrod A. Lemos URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742413500297__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvRdYpRZk$ Volume 66 Issue 2 Pages 136-142 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date March 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/REM-D-12-00135.1 Abstract In sagebrush rangelands perennial bunchgrasses are typically seeded in fall and a high proportion of planted seeds germinate prior to winter onset but fail to emerge in spring. Our objectives were to evaluate freezing tolerance of germinated but nonemergent bluebunch wheatgrass seeds under laboratory conditions. We used data from a 2-yr pilot study to determine overwinter freezing temperature and duration for soils in southeastern Oregon. We then conducted two experiments to assess freezing tolerance. In experiment 1, bluebunch wheatgrass seeds were planted in control pots and compared to seeds planted at early, mid, or late postgermination stages. Pots from each treatment were placed in a grow room maintained at 12h 40min light/11h 20min dark photoperiod, with a constant temperature of 22°C for 30 d either immediately or following a 30-d freeze. In experiment 2, germinated bluebunch wheatgrass seeds were planted in pots that were left nonfrozen or were frozen for a specified duration prior to a 30-d period in the grow room. Emergence density and tillers · seedling−1 were quantified for both experiments. The number of days per year for freezing soil conditions in the pilot study ranged yearly from 25 to 51; maximum duration of continuous freezing was 16.5 and 11.2 d. Freezing reduced or eliminated seedling emergence at all postgermination stages (P < 0.001) and tiller density was reduced by at least 50% (P < 0.001). Maximum reduction in seedling density (P <  0.001) was realized within 4 d of initiation of freezing and tillers · seedling−1 were reduced 30–70% with > 6 d of freezing (P =  0.001). Our data indicate that freezing-associated mortality of germinated but nonemergent bluebunch wheatgrass seedlings can be extremely high and suggest that management practices to reduce prewinter germination of seeds could improve subsequent emergence and seeding success. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:38 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:38 PM Tags: o bluebunch wheatgrass o emergence o restoration o sagebrush steppe o seedling mortality * Challenges of Establishing Big Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) in Rangeland Restoration: Effects of Herbicide, Mowing, Whole-Community Seeding, and Sagebrush Seed Sources Type Journal Article Author Martha M. Brabec Author Matthew J. Germino Author Douglas J. Shinneman Author David S. Pilliod Author Susan K. McIlroy Author Robert S. Arkle URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742415000950__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvq_CX4jo$ Volume 68 Issue 5 Pages 432-435 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date September 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2015.07.001 Accessed 2020-03-17, 6:02:18 PM Library Catalog ScienceDirect Language en Abstract The loss of big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt.) on sites disturbed by fire has motivated restoration seeding and planting efforts. However, the resulting sagebrush establishment is often lower than desired, especially in dry areas. Sagebrush establishment may be increased by addressing factors such as seed source and condition or management of the plant community. We assessed initial establishment of seeded sagebrush and four populations of small outplants (from different geographies, climates, and cytotypes) and small sagebrush outplants in an early seral community where mowing, herbicide, and seeding of other native plants had been experimentally applied. No emergence of seeded sagebrush was detected. Mowing the site before planting seedlings led to greater initial survival probabilities for sagebrush outplants, except where seeding also occurred, and these effects were related to corresponding changes in bare soil exposure. Initial survival probabilities were > 30% greater for the local population of big sagebrush relative to populations imported to the site from typical seed transfer distances of ~320–800 km. Overcoming the high first-year mortality of outplanted or seeded sagebrush is one of the most challenging aspects of postfire restoration and rehabilitation, and further evaluation of the impacts of herb treatments and sagebrush seed sources across different site types and years is needed. Short Title Challenges of Establishing Big Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) in Rangeland Restoration Date Added 2020-03-17, 6:02:18 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:52:56 PM Tags: o big sagebrush o land treatments o restoration o seed sources o seedlings Attachments o ScienceDirect Snapshot * Corrigendum to “Challenges of establishing big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) in rangeland restoration: Effects of herbicide, mowing, whole-community seeding, and sagebrush seed sources” [Rangeland Ecology & Management 68 (2015) 432–435] Type Journal Article Author Martha M. Brabec Author Matthew J. Germino Author Douglas J. Shinneman Author David S. Pilliod Author Susan K. McIlroy Author Robert S. Arkle URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742415001232__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvM8_Wew0$ Volume 68 Issue 6 Pages 507 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date November 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2015.09.001 Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:45 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:04:45 PM * A 40-Year Record of Tree Establishment Following Chaining and Prescribed Fire Treatments in Singleleaf Pinyon (Pinus monophylla) and Utah Juniper (Juniperus osteosperma) Woodlands Type Journal Article Author Nathan A. Bristow Author Peter J. Weisberg Author Robin J. Tausch URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S155074241450067X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvdOJjTS8$ Volume 67 Issue 4 Pages 389-396 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date July 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/REM-D-13-00168.1 Abstract Chaining and prescribed fire treatments have been widely applied throughout pinyon–juniper woodlands of the western United States in an effort to reduce tree cover and stimulate understory growth. Our objective was to quantify effects of treatment on woodland recovery rate and structure and the relative dominance of the two major tree species in our Great Basin study area, singleleaf pinyon (Pinus monophylla Torr. & Frém.) and Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma [Torr.] Little). We resampled plots after a 40-yr interval to evaluate species-specific differences in tree survivorship and establishment from posttreatment age structures. Tree age data were collected in 2008 within four chained sites in eastern Nevada, treated in 1958, 1962, 1968, and 1969 and originally sampled in 1971. The same data were collected at five prescribed burn sites treated in 1975 and originally sampled in 1976. All chained sites had greater juniper survival than pinyon survival immediately following treatment. Chained sites with higher tree survival also had the greatest amount of new tree establishment. During the interval between treatment and the 2008 sampling, approximately four more trees per hectare per year established following chaining than following fire. Postfire tree establishment only occurred for the initial 15 yr and was dominated by juniper. Establishment after chaining was dominated by juniper for the first 15 yr but by pinyon for 15–40 yr following treatment. Results support an earlier successional role for juniper than for pinyon, which is more dependent upon favorable microsites and facilitation from nurse shrubs. Repeated chaining at short intervals, or prescribed burning at infrequent intervals, will likely favor juniper dominance. Chaining at infrequent intervals (> 20–40 yr) will likely result in regained dominance of pinyon. Chaining treatments can be rapidly recolonized by trees and have the potential to create or amplify landscape-level shifts in tree species composition. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:41 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:41 PM Tags: o Great Basin o pinyon–juniper o rangeland restoration o tree age structure o tree regeneration o woodland expansion * Exotic Grass Invasions: Applying a Conceptual Framework to the Dynamics of Degradation and Restoration in Australia’s Tropical Savannas Type Journal Article Author Kristine J. Brooks Author Samantha A. Setterfield Author Michael M. Douglas URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2008.00470.x__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv9Ygt72s$ Rights © 2008 Society for Ecological Restoration International Volume 18 Issue 2 Pages 188-197 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2010 DOI 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2008.00470.x Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:35:06 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Plant invasions can cause severe degradation of natural areas. The ability of an ecosystem to recover autogenically from degradation following weed control is in part determined by the type and magnitude of changes to both biotic and abiotic processes caused by the invasion and how these interact with structural and functional components of the ecosystem. Recently, a number of conceptual frameworks have been proposed to describe the dynamics of degradation and regeneration in degraded ecosystems. We assessed the utility of one of these frameworks in describing the degradation and restoration potential of Australia’s tropical savannas following exotic grass invasion. First, we identified easily measured structural characteristics of putative states. We found that a continuous cover of the exotic grasses Gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus Kunth.) and Perennial mission grass (Pennisetum polystachion (L.) Schult.) under an intact tree canopy was a common state with an understorey characterized by reduced species richness and abundance and a change in the relative contribution of functional groups. Further degradation led to a state where the canopy was severely reduced and the impacts on the understorey were more severe. In both states, the seed bank was substantially less degraded than the understorey vegetation. Guided by the framework, we combined our study with other studies to construct a conceptual model for degradation in exotic grass-invaded savannas. Short Title Exotic Grass Invasions Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:35:07 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:35:07 PM Tags: o alternative states o degradation o exotic grass invasion o restoration o thresholds o tropical savanna Attachments o Snapshot * Improving Estimates of Rangeland Carbon Sequestration Potential in the US Southwest Type Journal Article Author Joel Brown Author Jay Angerer Author Shawn W. Salley Author Robert Blaisdell Author Jerry W. Stuth URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742410500034__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvnBPgl_s$ Volume 63 Issue 1 Pages 147-154 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date January 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/08-089.1 Abstract Rangelands make an important contribution to carbon dynamics of terrestrial ecosystems. We used a readily accessible interface (COMET VR) to a simulation model (CENTURY) to predict changes in soil carbon in response to management changes commonly associated with conservation programs. We also used a subroutine of the model to calculate an estimate of uncertainty of the model output based on the similarity between climate, soil, and management history inputs and those used previously to parameterize the model for common land use (cropland to perennial grassland) and management (stocking rate reductions and legume addition) changes to test the validity of the approach across the southwestern United States. The conversion of small grain cropland to perennial cover was simulated acceptably (<20% uncertainty) by the model for soil, climate, and management history attributes representative of 32% of land area currently in small grain production, while the simulation of small grain cropland to perennial cover + legumes was acceptable on 73% of current small grain production area. The model performed poorly on arid and semiarid rangelands for both management (reduced stocking) and restoration (legume addition) practices. Only 66% of land area currently used as rangeland had climate, soil, and management attributes that resulted in acceptable uncertainty. Based on our results, it will be difficult to credibly predict changes to soil carbon resulting from common land use and management practices, both at fine and coarse scales. To overcome these limitations, we propose an integrated system of spatially explicit direct measurement of soil carbon at locations with well-documented management histories and climatic records to better parameterize the model for rangeland applications. Further, because the drivers of soil carbon fluxes on rangelands are dominated by climate rather than management, the interface should be redesigned to simulate soil carbon changes based on ecological state rather than practice application. Resumen Los pastizales naturales contribuyen de modo importante a la dinámica de carbono de los ecosistemas terrestres. Utilizamos una interface fácilmente accesible (COMET VR) de un modelo de simulación (CENTURY) para predecir los cambios de carbono orgánico que ocurren a raíz de cambios en el manejo de pastizales comúnmente asociados con programas de conservación. Asimismo utilizamos una subrutina para estimar el grado de certeza de las salidas del modelo basados en la similitud entre inputs de clima, suelo, e historia de manejo con aquellos utilizados anteriormente en la configuración del modelo para simular cambios comunes en el uso de la tierra (de cultivos a pasturas perennes) y el manejo (reducciones de la carga animal y agregado de leguminosas) a fin de probar la validez de este enfoque para pastizales del sudoeste de Estados Unidos. La simulación de conversión de tierras de cultivo de grano fino a pasturas permanentes fue aceptable (<20% de incertidumbre) para situaciones que representan los atributos del suelo, clima, y manejo del 32% del área actualmente utilizada para granos finos, mientras que la simulación de la conversión de cultivos de grano fino a pasturas permanentes +leguminosas produjo salidas aceptables para el 73% del área actualmente cultivada con cereales de grano fino. El comportamiento del modelo fue pobre en situaciones de pastizales naturales de zonas áridas y semiáridas para prácticas de manejo (reducción de la carga animal) y restauración (incorporación de leguminosas). Sólo un 66% del área de pastizales naturales poseía atributos de clima, suelo, y manejo que resultaron en niveles de incertidumbre aceptables. Sobre la base de estos resultados, creemos que resultará difícil predecir de modo creíble los cambios en el carbono orgánico en el suelo que resulten como consecuencia de prácticas de manejo comunes, tanto a escalas finas como gruesas. Para superar estas limitantes, proponemos un sistema integrado de medición espacialmente explícita de carbono en el suelo en lugares que posean historias de manejo bien documentadas y buenas series de datos climáticos que permitirían mejorar la configuración del modelo a fin de simular pastizales naturales. Más aun, dado que los flujos de carbono del suelo en pastizales naturales están controlados en gran medida por el clima más que por el manejo, la interface utilizada debería ser rediseñada para simular cambios en el carbono del suelo sobre la base del estado ecológico más que por la aplicación de prácticas de manejo. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:54 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:52:57 PM Tags: o CENTURY model o Conservation Reserve Program o greenhouse gas management o land use change * Plant Phenology: Taking the Pulse of Rangelands Type Journal Article Author Dawn M. Browning Author Keirith A. Snyder Author Jeffrey E. Herrick URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190052818301238__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvm12WDMU$ Volume 41 Issue 3 Pages 129-134 Publication Rangelands ISSN 0190-0528 Date June 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Rangelands DOI 10.1016/j.rala.2019.02.001 Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:40 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:52:59 PM Tags: o grasslands o invasive species o management tools o monitoring o phenocams o plant phenology * Opinions Toward Using Volunteers in Ecological Restoration: A Survey of Federal Land Managers Type Journal Article Author Matt C. Bruce Author Beth A. Newingham Author Charles C. Harris Author Edwin E. Krumpe URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12054__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvcPfmGMQ$ Rights © 2013 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 22 Issue 1 Pages 5-12 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2014 DOI 10.1111/rec.12054 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:25:04 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Land managers use a variety of labor sources to implement ecological restoration projects. Reasons why these land managers decide to use or not use volunteer labor are not well known; yet, this decision can significantly shape ensuing social, psychological, and ecological benefits. To better understand how land managers' opinions influence their intentions toward using volunteers, we surveyed ecological restoration project decision makers (n = 176) from three U.S. land management agencies (the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, and U.S. Forest Service) in Colorado, Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming using stratified random cluster sampling. Employing the Theory of Planned Behavior, we measured factors that likely influence intention to use volunteers, including land managers' attitudes, norms, and perceived behavioral control (PBC). We used multiple regression analysis to understand the relationships among constructs, which indicated PBC was the strongest predictor of intention. Based upon intention to use volunteers, an analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed differences among land managers in terms of (1) their opinions about building community support and accomplishing more work, (2) the influence of supervisors, coworkers, and environmental groups, and (3) their perceived barriers due to a lack of trained volunteers and a lack of tasks safe for volunteers. Our results suggest environmental stewardship organizations and others that want to increase the use of ecological restoration volunteers should find ways to alleviate employees' perceived barriers, encourage supervisors to advocate for using volunteers, and when possible provide tangible information demonstrating how using volunteers can generate community support for a restoration project. Short Title Opinions Toward Using Volunteers in Ecological Restoration Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:25:04 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:25:04 PM Tags: o agency employees o attitude o belief o intention o norm o theory of planned behavior o volunteerism Attachments o Snapshot * Yield Responses of Ruderal Plants to Sucrose in Invasive-Dominated Sagebrush Steppe of the Northern Great Basin Type Journal Article Author Jessi L. Brunson Author David A. Pyke Author Steven S. Perakis URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2009.00644.x__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvRGfkHQQ$ Rights © 2010 Society for Ecological Restoration International Volume 18 Issue s2 Pages 304-312 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2010 DOI 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2009.00644.x Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:23:13 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Restoration of sagebrush-steppe plant communities dominated by the invasive ruderals Bromus tectorum (cheatgrass) and Taeniatherum caput-medusae (medusahead) can be facilitated by adding carbon (C) to the soil, stimulating microbes to immobilize nitrogen (N) and limit inorganic N availability. Our objectives were to determine responses in (1) cheatgrass and medusahead biomass and seed production; (2) soil microbial biomass C and N; and (3) inorganic soil N to a range of C doses and to calculate the lowest dose that yielded a significant response. In November 2005, we applid 12 C doses ranging from 0 to 2,400 kg C/ha as sucrose to plots sown with cheatgrass and medusahead at two sites in the northern Great Basin. Other ruderal plants established in our plots, and this entire ruderal community was negatively affected by C addition. End-of-year biomass of the ruderal community decreased approximately by approximately 6% at each site for an increase in C dose of 100 kg C/ha. For the same increase in C, microbial biomass C increased by 2–4 mg/kg in November 2005 and March 2006, but not in July 2006. There was little, if any, microbial soil N uptake, as microbial biomass N increased by 0.3 mg/kg at only one site at the earliest date, in November 2005. Soil nitrate (NO3−) measured via resin capsules placed in situ for the study duration decreased at both sites with increasing C. Although we found no threshold dose of C, for a significant reduction in ruderal biomass, we calculated lowest significant doses of 240–640 kg C/ha. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:23:13 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:23:13 PM Tags: o Bromus tectorum o carbon addition o invasive annual grasses o sagebrush steppe o soil nitrogen o Taeniatherum-caput medusae . Attachments o Snapshot * Chapter 20 - Reclamation and Restoration of Disturbed Systems Type Book Section Author M. L. Brusseau Author E. P. Glenn Author I. L. Pepper Editor Mark L. Brusseau Editor Ian L. Pepper Editor Charles P. Gerba URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128147191000203__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvqSE1VGo$ Publisher Academic Press Pages 355-376 ISBN 978-0-12-814719-1 Date January 1, 2019 Extra DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-814719-1.00020-3 Accessed 2020-03-17, 6:41:50 PM Library Catalog ScienceDirect Language en Abstract Many different types of human activities can lead to disturbances that impair ecosystems and their functions, as covered in Chapters 14–17, and 251415161725. Major impacts include degraded soil quality, water and air pollution, scenic impairment, and habitat destruction. These disturbances occur over a vast range of scales, from a single site such as a manufacturing plant, mine, or agricultural field, to watershed systems, to entire regions (such as deforestation of the Amazon rainforest). Different approaches are used to address these different scales of problems. This chapter will focus primarily on disturbances associated with single sites, or what may be referred to as local-scale disturbances. Methods for dealing with regional and global-scale issues are discussed in Chapter 32. Book Title Environmental and Pollution Science (Third Edition) Date Added 2020-03-17, 6:41:50 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 6:41:50 PM Tags: o Amendments o Brownfields o Capping o Contouring o Dredging o Reclamation o Rehabilitation o Remediation o Restoration o Revegetation o Revitalization Attachments o ScienceDirect Snapshot * Plant ecotype affects interacting organisms across multiple trophic levels Type Journal Article Author Anna Bucharova Author Mark Frenzel Author Karsten Mody Author Madalin Parepa Author Walter Durka Author Oliver Bossdorf URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1439179116301475__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvs9nrSEM$ Volume 17 Issue 8 Pages 688-695 Publication Basic and Applied Ecology ISSN 1439-1791 Date December 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Basic and Applied Ecology DOI 10.1016/j.baae.2016.09.001 Abstract In plant conservation and ecosystem restoration, plants are often translocated to ensure or enhance plant survival and performance. While the effects of ecotype origin on the performance of translocated plants are increasingly acknowledged among researchers and practitioners, ecotype effects on associated communities and ecosystems have hardly been studied. This is critical because plants also constitute the habitat for a large number of interacting organisms, and many of them might be influenced by plant ecotype characteristics. Here, we studied different ecotypes of Centaurea jacea L., a plant species commonly used in grassland restoration, and their effects on seed herbivores and their parasitoids. We grew eight C. jacea ecotypes originating from different regions in Germany in a common garden and found that the ecotypes differed up to three-fold in the frequencies of seed herbivores. These differences appeared to be mainly driven by ecotype differences in flowering phenology. We also found that there were up to four-fold differences in the frequencies of parasitoids, and even up to nine-fold differences in the abundances of parasitoids among ecotypes. In summary, plants from different origins substantially differed in their effects on interacting organisms, potentially reflecting coevolutionary relationships across trophic levels. The introduction of foreign ecotypes in restoration projects may thus not only affect the plants themselves, but it may also disrupt the balance of their biotic interactions. Zusammenfassung In Artenschutzprojekten wie auch bei der Renaturierung von Ökosystemen werden Pflanzen häufig gebietsfremd angesiedelt, um ihr Überleben zu sichern oder ihr Gedeihen zu fördern. Während die Bedeutung der Herkunft des Ökotypen für das Gedeihen der umgesiedelten Pflanzen von Wissenschaftlern und Naturschutzpraktikern zunehmend anerkannt wird, wurden die Auswirkungen der Pflanzenherkunft auf Pflanzen-assoziierte Lebensgemeinschaften sowie Ökosysteme bisher kaum weitergehend untersucht. Dies ist problematisch, da Pflanzen Habitat und Nahrungsressource für eine große Zahl an interagierenden Organismen darstellen, von denen viele von Merkmalen der Pflanzen-Ökotypen beeinflusst werden können. In dieser Studie untersuchten wir die Beziehung verschiedener Ökotypen der Wiesen-Flockenblume (Centaurea jacea)-einer Pflanzenart, die häufig bei der Renaturierung von Grasland verwendet wird-zu Samenherbivoren und ihren Parasitoiden. Wir kultivierten acht Ökotypen von C. jacea aus unterschiedlichen Herkunftsregionen in Deutschland in einem common-garden-Experiment und fanden ein bis zu dreifach höheres Auftreten von Samenherbivoren auf einzelnen Ökotypen. Diese Unterschiede schienen hauptsächlich durch Unterschiede in der Blüh-Phänologie der Ökotypen erklärt zu werden. Wir fanden außerdem, dass sich das Auftreten von Parasitoiden bis zu vierfach und die Häufigkeit von Parasitoiden bis zu neunfach unterschieden. Zusammenfassend lässt sich feststellen, dass sich Pflanzen aus unterschiedlichen Herkunftsregionen deutlich in ihrer Auswirkung auf interagierende Organismen unterscheiden können, was möglicherweise koevolutionäre Beziehungen über verschiedene trophische Ebenen hinweg wiederspiegelt. Die Einbringung gebietsfremder Ökotypen in Renaturierungsprojekten kann daher nicht nur die Pflanzen selbst beeinflussen, sondern auch zur Störung biotischer Wechselbeziehungen führen. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:08 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:08 PM Tags: o Community genetics o Herbivores o Local adaptation o Parasitoids o Seed provenances * Effect of land use and climate change on the future fate of populations of an endemic species in central Europe Type Journal Article Author Anna Bucharová Author Jiří Brabec Author Zuzana Münzbergová URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320711003727__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv3qOAE6k$ Volume 145 Issue 1 Pages 39-47 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date January 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2011.09.016 Abstract The identification of optimal management strategies for a given species is a major challenge of species conservation. It becomes especially challenging when the environmental conditions are expected to change in the future, and the optimal management applied today may differ from the management that is optimal under the changed conditions (e.g. due to climate change). This study evaluates prospect of a rare plant species endemic to semi-natural grasslands in central Europe, Gentianella praecox subsp. bohemica. The number of populations of this species has declined rapidly in the last 60years; currently, a conservation action plan has been established in the Czech Republic, where most populations of this species occur. This study uses periodic matrix models to compare different management regimes under different scenarios of climate change and to identify the optimal management in each case. Without management, populations of the species are not able to survive. Flowering individuals can occur for a long time after the cessation of management, but the extinction of the population is inevitable within several decades. Without management, even very large populations (1000 flowering individuals) will go extinct in less than 50years. Total extinction (including seed bank) will follow several years after observation of the last flowering plant. The most suitable management is mowing and disturbance (by harrowing), which is also the best method for restoration of threatened populations. Mowing is less suitable, but it is fully sufficient for large prospering populations. When managed, even small populations (10–15 flowering individuals) are able to survive. When management is applied, future climate change may have a relatively small impact on the probability of survival of the species. Climate change will, however, increase the extinction probability of very small populations. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:27 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:27 PM Tags: o Conservation action plan o Extinction probability o Grassland management o Matrix model o Population viability analysis * Reprint of “Biodiversity in low-intensity pastures, straw meadows, and fallows of a fen area–A multitrophic comparison” Type Journal Article Author Roman Bucher Author Christian Andres Author Martin F. Wedel Author Martin H. Entling Author Herbert Nickel URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880916305163__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvI4hciWs$ Volume 234 Pages 58-64 Publication Grazing in European open landscapes: how to reconcile sustainable land management and biodiversity conservation? ISSN 0167-8809 Date October 16, 2016 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2016.10.015 Abstract Despite the Europe-wide protection of wetlands, knowledge on the performance of management strategies for biodiversity conservation across different trophic levels is still relatively scarce. Here, we compare old straw meadows with restored low-intensity pastures and with fallows in a fen area in the northern pre-Alps. We sampled biodiversity at three trophic levels including plants, leafhoppers and spiders. Plant species richness was significantly enhanced by grazing and mowing compared with fallows. In contrast, species numbers and abundances of leafhoppers and spiders were highest in pastures and lowest in meadows. Endangered plant species were relatively rare in the restored pastures, which were still nutrient rich compared with meadows. Thus, land-use history can constrain restoration success for dispersal limited plant species in the short term. Although fallow plots were poorer in terms of species richness, their leafhopper and spider assemblages were highly differentiated and comprised a number of exclusive species, some of which were endangered. Our results suggest that maximum biodiversity can best be maintained by the diversification of management types. Enhanced abundances of leafhoppers and spiders in pastures may improve prey availability for predators such as amphibians, reptiles, and birds. Low-intensity grazing is currently rather uncommon in Central European fens, but our results encourage more widespread use of cattle for managing this type of habitat. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:19 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:19 PM Tags: o Araneae o Auchenorrhyncha o Conservation o Fallows o Meadows o Pastures o Plants o Restoration o Wetland biodiversity * Biodiversity in low-intensity pastures, straw meadows, and fallows of a fen area–A multitrophic comparison Type Journal Article Author Roman Bucher Author Christian Andres Author Martin F. Wedel Author Martin H. Entling Author Herbert Nickel URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880915301948__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvo3B-hXk$ Volume 219 Pages 190-196 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date March 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2015.12.019 Abstract Despite the Europe-wide protection of wetlands, knowledge on the performance of management strategies for biodiversity conservation across different trophic levels is still relatively scarce. Here, we compare old straw meadows with restored low-intensity pastures and with fallows in a fen area in the northern pre-Alps. We sampled biodiversity at three trophic levels including plants, leafhoppers and spiders. Plant species richness was significantly enhanced by grazing and mowing compared with fallows. In contrast, species numbers and abundances of leafhoppers and spiders were highest in pastures and lowest in meadows. Endangered plant species were relatively rare in the restored pastures, which were still nutrient rich compared with meadows. Thus, land-use history can constrain restoration success for dispersal limited plant species in the short term. Although fallow plots were poorer in terms of species richness, their leafhopper and spider assemblages were highly differentiated and comprised a number of exclusive species, some of which were endangered. Our results suggest that maximum biodiversity can best be maintained by the diversification of management types. Enhanced abundances of leafhoppers and spiders in pastures may improve prey availability for predators such as amphibians, reptiles, and birds. Low-intensity grazing is currently rather uncommon in Central European fens, but our results encourage more widespread use of cattle for managing this type of habitat. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:11 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:11 PM Tags: o Araneae o Auchenorrhyncha o Conservation o Fallows o Meadows o Pastures o Plants o Restoration o Wetland biodiversity * Wild bees in urban grasslands: Urbanisation, functional diversity and species traits Type Journal Article Author Sascha Buchholz Author Anika K. Gathof Author Anita J. Grossmann Author Ingo Kowarik Author Leonie K. Fischer URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169204619306693__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvlGeM5uk$ Volume 196 Pages 103731 Publication Landscape and Urban Planning ISSN 0169-2046 Date April 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Landscape and Urban Planning DOI 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2019.103731 Abstract While cities are known as important habitats for wild bees, a conceptual understanding of how assemblages of wild bee species are shaped by urban environments is limited. We applied a functional approach to test how taxonomic and functional diversity within wild bee communities of urban grasslands, and traits of bee species, related to local habitat features (e.g., management, species richness, flower coverage) and characteristics of the surrounding urban matrix (e.g., urbanisation, isolation). Surprisingly, urbanisation was not related to any diversity measure. Yet, taxonomic and functional diversity in bee communities, and proportion of endangered bee species, responded negatively to the isolation of grasslands within the urban matrix—but positively to flower coverage. Urbanisation, previous restoration efforts and site type filtered the functional composition of bee communities in terms of species traits related to diet and nesting. Results substantiate the role of urban habitats for functionally diverse bee communities, including Red-Listed species, and indicate pathways towards enhancing habitat functions of urban grasslands for wild bees by (i) improving the connectivity of urban grassland patches within the urban matrix, and (ii) more locally by adjusting management to maintain flower coverage in grasslands. These approaches can support efforts to develop pollinator-friendly greenspaces within the urban green infrastructure. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:44 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:44 PM Tags: o Ecological restoration o Functional trait o Habitat filter o Habitat isolation o Insect conservation o Pollinators * Limiting processes for perennial plant reintroduction to restore dry grasslands Type Journal Article Author Elise Buisson Author Emmanuel Corcket Author Thierry Dutoit URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12255__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvWn98qGE$ Rights © 2015 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 23 Issue 6 Pages 947-954 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2015 DOI 10.1111/rec.12255 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:57:04 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract In restored grasslands of southern Europe, perennial plants remain highly underrepresented compared with the reference ecosystems. We tested various treatments to reintroduce common perennial plant species (Brachypodium retusum, Poaceae, and Thymus vulgaris, Lamiaceae), which are usually not or poorly reintroduced via soil and hay transfer. Treatments included microenvironmental manipulations (rock cover and plant interactions) and two grazing intensities. Target perennial species were transplanted in 2002 in the reference grassland ecosystem (intact grassland area used as a control) and in two abandoned fields. Survival was assessed in June 2003 and June 2004. Target species shoot and root biomass were measured in June 2004. Grazing greatly reduced the survival and biomass of both target species and its effects were reinforced by summer drought: plants that did not establish well enough during the autumn and spring did not survive summer. The restored rock cover had a mild positive effect, particularly on B. retusum. There were no negative or positive plant neighbor interactions in the steppe, while there was competition in both abandoned fields. Competition was particularly intense in the abandoned melon field, composed of a dense sward of annual grasses (Bromus sp.). In order to reintroduce perennial species to dry grasslands, the ideal combination of treatments is to exclude or reduce grazing during the first year to allow seedlings to establish and to recreate adequate microenvironmental conditions. Reducing competition from arable weeds may help but is not essential in such dry grasslands. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:57:04 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:53:00 PM Tags: o Brachypodium retusum o competition o grazing o Mediterranean steppe o plant interactions o rock o stone o Thymus vulgaris Attachments o Snapshot o Snapshot * A comparison of different soil transfer strategies for restoring a Mediterranean steppe after a pipeline leak (La Crau plain, South-Eastern France) Type Journal Article Author Adeline Bulot Author Erick Provost Author Thierry Dutoit URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857414003516__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvrk6-12U$ Volume 71 Pages 690-702 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date October 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2014.07.060 Abstract Among the techniques used for the restoration of terrestrial ecosystems, soil transfer has already produced encouraging results for re-establishing species-rich grassland plant communities. On August 7 2009, a serious oil pipeline leak occurred in the La Crau steppe in south-eastern France. In 2010, more than 5ha of steppe vegetation were then destroyed by the excavation, and removal of polluted soil. Restoration of the site was achieved by transferring 72000t of identical soil from a nearby quarry. Soil was applied in four treatments, each with a different degree of profile complexity. After three years (2011, 2012 and 2013), our results show that the replacement of the soil to include horizon similar to the reference steppe allows recovery of the vegetation in terms of composition, similarity and species richness of the steppe vegetation during this period. The ecological engineering guidelines aimed at limiting the transit time of the soil and the reconstitution of its vertical layer organisation resulted in the improved recovery of the vegetation without colonisation by non-target species. This system may further benefit from reintroduction of traditional sheep grazing to promote sustainability following the restoration of the steppe vegetation. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:43 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:43 PM Tags: o Community translocation o Dry grassland o Ecological engineering o Ecological restoration o Plant communities * Spatially-restricted plant material application creates colonization initials for flood-meadow restoration Type Journal Article Author Sandra Burmeier Author R. Lutz Eckstein Author Annette Otte Author Tobias W. Donath URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320710003757__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv3fpbXHs$ Volume 144 Issue 1 Pages 212-219 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date January 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2010.08.018 Abstract Plant material transfer is a well-established technique for overcoming dispersal limitation during grassland restoration. As restoration sites are frequently more abundant than donor sites, the plant material is often applied as patches or strips, with the assumption that these will act as colonization initials from which transferred species will spread and eventually cover the entire sites. Our aim was to test this assumption and to evaluate whether it is feasible to restore entire sites by spatially-restricted plant material application in a flood-meadow ecosystem. We established transverse transects consisting of eight 2×2m plots on five plant material strips 7–8years after plant material application. We monitored the above-ground vegetation development, analyzed the seed rain and determined the composition of the soil seed bank, i.e. we compared three different components of the emerging flood-meadow community. Transferred species were present in all three community components studied, and 88.6% of the 79 species we found in total had already spread from the plant material strips and colonized their surroundings. Detected dispersal distances differed between community components, and the share of colonizers was highest for the above-ground vegetation and lowest for the soil seed bank. We conclude that plant material transfer is a suitable technique for restoring flood-meadows as transferred species not only establish on the sites supplied with plant material, but also colonize their surroundings. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:58 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:58 PM Tags: o Alluvial grassland o Dispersal o Floodplain o Hay transfer o Seed traps o Soil seed bank * Germination and Seedling Emergence of Three Semiarid Western North American Legumes Type Journal Article Author B. Shaun Bushman Author Douglas A. Johnson Author Kevin J. Connors Author Thomas A. Jones URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742415001037__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvJXa80VQ$ Volume 68 Issue 6 Pages 501-506 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date November 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2015.08.002 Abstract Few seed sources of North American forbs are available for revegetation/restoration of degraded western rangelands adapted to annual precipitation zones less than 300 mm, and those that are available are mainly wildland collected. The amount of time and resources necessary to make wildland collections in quantity results in high seed prices and variable seed quality, such that forbs have been under-represented in rangeland seeding mixes. We have previously identified western prairie clover (Dalea ornata Douglas ex Hook.), Searls’ prairie clover (Dalea searlsiae A. Gray), and basalt milkvetch (Astragalus filipes Torr. ex A. Gray) as native species adapted to low precipitation zones in the western United States for which field-grown seed production would potentially reduce seed costs and increase availability. A series of glasshouse experiments were conducted to determine the effects of scarification, planting depth, and soil composition on germination and seedling emergence of these species. All three species produce hard seeds, and scarification was necessary to increase germination and seedling emergence. Compared with a 6-mm planting depth, a planting depth of 19 mm retarded the rate of emergence for all species but only reduced the total seedling emergence for basalt milkvetch. With seed scarification in sandy soils, prairie clover seedling emergence exceeded 80% while basalt milkvetch was less than 10%. With seed scarification in soils with higher clay content, prairie clover total seedling emergence reduced to 58–70% while basalt milkvetch increased to approximately 30%. Along with enhancing stand establishment in seed production fields, these data will assist land managers in planning for optimal establishment of these species in rangeland revegetation/restoration projects. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:29 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:04:29 PM Tags: o revegetation o seed germination o seed scarification * Integrating land surface phenology with cluster density and size improves spatially explicit models of animal density Type Journal Article Author Matthew J. Butler Author Steven E. Sesnie Author Jennifer M. Timmer Author Grant Harris URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0034425717303048__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvfFpmP1A$ Volume 199 Pages 51-62 Publication Remote Sensing of Environment ISSN 0034-4257 Date September 15, 2017 Journal Abbr Remote Sensing of Environment DOI 10.1016/j.rse.2017.06.046 Abstract Models of animal density often use coarse landcover categories that homogenize vegetation attributes, thereby limiting specificity of results. Alternatively, models including land surface phenology (LSP) metrics derived from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite imagery capture continuous time-series data describing plant growth and senescence. LSP metrics may better discriminate the vegetation conditions influencing species habitat and distribution. Additionally, applications modeling animal density often use clusters (i.e., groups of individuals) but omit differences in cluster sizes. Ignoring how cluster size varies with landscape characteristics risks misrepresenting the spatial distribution of an animals' density. Using lesser prairie-chickens (LEPC; Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) as an example, we integrated the spatial distributions of cluster density and cluster size with LSP metrics to better predict its density in Texas, USA. We modeled LEPC cluster density using hierarchical distance sampling and cluster size with zero-truncated generalized linear modeling. Variables included landcover categories, LSP metrics, human infrastructure and topography. Models incorporating LSP metrics received most support and identified conservation areas that landcover models missed. Cluster density associated with LSP metrics, road density, oil and gas well density, topography, and grassland to shrubland ratio. Cluster size associated with topography and LSP metrics. Omitting the spatial distribution of cluster size underestimated LEPC density. Our approach generates geospatial predictions for prioritizing LEPC protection, habitat restoration, and evaluating impacts from development or phenological change. This study demonstrates the utility of integrating LSP metrics, cluster density and cluster size for predicting species density across large and heterogeneous landscapes. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:19 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:19 PM Tags: o Aerial survey o Cluster size o Hierarchical distance sampling o Landcover o MODIS o NDVI o Oil and natural gas o Plant senescence o Prairie grouse o Zero-truncated negative binomial * Prestoration: using species in restoration that will persist now and into the future Type Journal Article Author Bradley J. Butterfield Author Stella M. Copeland Author Seth M. Munson Author Carla M. Roybal Author Troy E. Wood URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12381__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv4zgL3bg$ Rights © 2016 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 25 Issue S2 Pages S155-S163 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2017 DOI 10.1111/rec.12381 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:53:41 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Climate change presents new challenges for selecting species for restoration. If migration fails to keep pace with climate change, as models predict, the most suitable sources for restoration may not occur locally at all. To address this issue, we propose a strategy of “prestoration”: utilizing species in restoration for which a site represents suitable habitat now and into the future. Using the Colorado Plateau, United States, as a case study, we assess the ability of grass species currently used regionally in restoration to persist into the future using projections of ecological niche models (or climate envelope models) across a suite of climate change scenarios. We then present a technique for identifying new species that best compensate for future losses of suitable habitat by current target species. We found that the current suite of species, selected by a group of experts, is predicted to perform reasonably well in the short term, but that losses of prestorable habitat by mid-century would approach 40%. Using an algorithm to identify additional species, we found that fewer than 10 species could compensate for nearly all of the losses incurred by the current target species. This case study highlights the utility of integrating ecological niche modeling and future climate forecasts to predict the utility of species in restoring under climate change across a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. Short Title Prestoration Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:53:41 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:53:41 PM Tags: o biodiversity o climate envelope model o dispersal limitation o priority species o species distribution model Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * A factor-income approach to estimating grassland protection subsidy payments to livestock herders in Inner Mongolia, China Type Journal Article Author Anne T. Byrne Author Joleen C. Hadrich Author Brian E. Robinson Author Guodong Han URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264837719301449__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvW3TTQIw$ Volume 91 Pages 104352 Publication Land Use Policy ISSN 0264-8377 Date February 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Land Use Policy DOI 10.1016/j.landusepol.2019.104352 Abstract This paper contributes to the growing literature on land use policies designed to prevent livestock overgrazing. It offers a straightforward factor-income approach to calculating payments for ecosystem services (PES) to livestock producers who reduce or suspend grazing for the purpose of grassland restoration. Our approach requires only cross-sectional farm-level accounting data and is thus feasible where policies have either not yet been applied or specialized data is sparse, as is common in many developing regions. We apply and validate this approach with empirical analysis of sheep and goat herders in the Ulanqab prefecture in Inner Mongolia, China where herders currently receive payments in exchange for reduced grazing intensity on vulnerable land. However, observed stocking rates are still commonly higher than recommended. Our results suggest payments are currently insufficient to offset the financial loss incurred by herders who reduce their grazing intensity, a finding consistent with previous studies. Using an approach we refer to as the factor-income method, we estimate and validate new levels of recommended payments. This demonstrates how future payments could be tailored to meet the financial needs of individual herding communities using basic farm-level data. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:42 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:42 PM Tags: o Government subsidy o Grassland policy o Inner Mongolia o Livestock production o Payment for ecosystem services * Human-induced grassland degradation/restoration in the central Tibetan Plateau: The effects of ecological protection and restoration projects Type Journal Article Author Hongyan Cai Author Xiaohuan Yang Author Xinliang Xu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857415300835__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvqj_Cbbg$ Volume 83 Pages 112-119 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date October 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2015.06.031 Abstract Ecological projects are an important and vital method to help ecosystem adaptation and restoration in response to the environment change and human interference. The accurate and objective assessment of ecological projects will assist ecosystem management and adaption. This study took the central Tibetan Plateau as the study area, where a series of ecological projects has been implemented since 2005 to prevent grassland degradation by protecting and restoring the grasslands. Our aim is to explore where and to what extent the ecological projects influenced the grassland variation, using SPOT NDVI-based residual trend as an indicator. The results indicated that before the projects (between 1998 and 2004), human-induced degradation characterized the grassland. However, a general grassland restoration was detected after the projects from 2005 to 2012. Moreover, over 60% of project plots had positive trends in the NDVI residuals. From the spatial patterns, project-induced restoration was detected in the western and northern regions, such as Maduo, Dongde and Xinghai counties. For the eastern regions, the human-induced degradation has been generally mitigated and yet not reversed after the projects. Our results indicated that ecological protection and restoration projects in the central Tibetan Plateau have mitigated the grassland degradation and even reversed the degradation in some areas, and also suggested that the NDVI-based residual trend is a useful indicator for assessing the effectiveness of the ecological projects in alpine regions. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:36 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:36 PM Tags: o Alpine grassland o NDVI o Restoration project o Tibetan Plateau * Vegetation succession of abandoned croplands in Ruanliang and Yingliang in the Ordos Plateau Type Journal Article Author Wentao Cai Author Tianyu Guan Author Heyi Li Author Liming Lai Author Xiaolong Zhang Author Jihua Zhou Author Lianhe Jiang Author Yuanrun Zheng URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S187220321830012X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv9nFxX3Y$ Volume 38 Issue 1 Pages 21-28 Publication Acta Ecologica Sinica ISSN 1872-2032 Date February 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Acta Ecologica Sinica DOI 10.1016/j.chnaes.2018.01.004 Abstract Shrub encroachment has been a key phenomenon in arid and semi-arid grasslands over the last century. However, little research has been dedicated to vegetation dynamics in the abandoned croplands, which are surrounded by shrub-encroached grasslands. In this study, several abandoned croplands in Ruanliang and Yingliang in the Ordos Plateau were selected, and the biomass, coverage, density, root pattern, and plant litter dynamics were studied. The results showed that: (1) The abandoned croplands in Ruanliang experienced three community types, including weeds community, the subshrub Artemisia ordosica community, and the perennial grass community, while the abandoned croplands in Yingliang experienced three community types, including weeds community, perennial Stipa bungeana with Artemisia frigida community, and S. bungeana community. (2) The important value for the annual or biennial grass in abandoned croplands in Ruanliang declined during the restoration process, for the perennial grass it increased, and for the subshrub it first increased and then went down to zero. In Yingliang abandoned croplands, however, the perennial grass remained dominant during the succession process. (3) The root of A. ordosica in Ruanliang abandoned croplands was mainly distributed in soil depths of 0–30 cm; the root of the perennial grass was mainly in the 0–20 cm range, and S. bungeana was found at soil depths of 0–5 cm. To restore to a natural vegetation state, about 20 years would be needed to recover the total biomass, and 10 years would be needed to restore the vegetation coverage in Ruanliang abandoned croplands. For Yingliang abandoned croplands, about 15 and 20 years would be needed to restore the total biomass and vegetation coverage, respectively, to a state of natural vegetation. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:51 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:51 PM Tags: o Abandoned croplands o Ordos Plateau o Shrub encroachment o Vegetation dynamics * Market-based opportunities for expanding native seed resources for restoration: A case study on the Colorado Plateau Type Journal Article Author Ashley L. Camhi Author Charles Perrings Author Brad Butterfield Author Troy Wood URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479719313623__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvGORfJkU$ Volume 252 Pages 109644 Publication Journal of Environmental Management ISSN 0301-4797 Date December 15, 2019 Journal Abbr Journal of Environmental Management DOI 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109644 Abstract The National Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration aims to increase the use of native seeds in rehabilitation and restoration projects. This requires the development of a native seed supply industry. This paper examines the challenge of developing native seed supply for Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land holdings in the Colorado Plateau, USA. On the demand side of the market, native seed requirements are linked to events that trigger the need for restoration, such as wildfires, which are highly variable. The variability of demand is moderated somewhat by fire management and seed acquisition policies, but remains high. Acquisitions of native seeds are typically smaller in quantity and more variable than acquisitions of non-native seeds. Prices of native seeds are typically higher and more variable than prices of non-native seeds, while the price elasticity of demand for native seeds is typically lower than for non-native seeds. The variability of demand for native seeds has discouraged development of a native seed supply industry. We find that adoption of policies to stabilize demand, supported by contracts with growers, could help to encourage the emergence of a strong field-grown native seed sector in the Colorado Plateau. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:14 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:00:14 PM Tags: o Colorado plateau o Market-based o Native seed o Restoration o Wildfire * Techno-economic feasibility of the irrigation system for the grassland and farmland conservation in China: Photovoltaic vs. wind power water pumping Type Journal Article Author Pietro Elia Campana Author Hailong Li Author Jinyue Yan URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0196890415005750__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvWNXU3L8$ Volume 103 Pages 311-320 Publication Energy Conversion and Management ISSN 0196-8904 Date October 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Energy Conversion and Management DOI 10.1016/j.enconman.2015.06.034 Abstract Photovoltaic water pumping (PVWP) and wind power water pumping (WPWP) systems for irrigation represent innovative solutions for the restoration of degraded grassland and the conservation of farmland in remote areas of China. The present work systematically compares the technical and economic suitability of such systems, providing a general approach for the design and selection of the suitable technology for irrigation purposes. The model calculates the PVWP and WPWP systems sizes based on irrigation water requirement (IWR), solar irradiation and wind speed. Based on the lowest PVWP and WPWP systems components costs, WPWP systems can compete with PVWP systems only at high wind speed and low solar irradiation values. Nevertheless, taking into account the average specific costs both for PVWP and WPWP systems, it can be concluded that the most cost-effective solution for irrigation is site specific. According to the dynamic simulations, it has also been found that the PVWP systems present better performances in terms of matching between IWR and water supply compared to the WPWP systems. The mismatch between IWR and pumped water resulted in a reduction of crop yield. Therefore, the dynamic simulations of the crop yield are essential for economic assessment and technology selection. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:11 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:11 PM Tags: o Crop yield o Irrigation o Photovoltaic o Simulation o Water pumping o Wind * Analyzing vegetation cover-induced organic matter mineralization dynamics in sandy soils from tropical dry coastal ecosystems Type Journal Article Author Adolfo Campos C. Author Gabriela Suárez M. Author Javier Laborde URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816219304060__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvienXWYs$ Volume 185 Pages 104264 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date February 1, 2020 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2019.104264 Abstract To gain knowledge about carbon and nitrogen mineralization potentials and their interaction with sandy soil environment in tropical dry coastal ecosystems, we carried out a short-term laboratory incubation experiment. For this, soil surface (0–10 cm) samples were collected from tropical semi-deciduous forest (TSdF), secondary forest (SecF), coastal dune scrub_crest (DS_C), and coastal dune scrub_slack (DS_S). Soil samples were incubated at 25 °C with constant soil moisture (at field capacity) for 97 days, and over this time 10 and 11 sampling occasions were analyzed to determine carbon (CO2-C) and nitrogen (NH4+, NO3-) dynamics, respectively. We used a simple exponential model to estimate soil carbon and nitrogen mineralization pools. On average, soil organic carbon mineralization rates ranged between 0.017 and 0.053 mg CO2-C g−1 soil d−1 and varied in the following order: DS_S > SecF > TSdF > DS_C. Average net mineralization rates (mg N kg−1 soil d−1) ranged between 16.9 and 18.8 and varied in the following order: SecF > DS_S > TSdF, whereas in DS_C it was −0.44, indicating N immobilization. Co and No represented, on average, 1.08% and 5% of soil organic carbon and total organic nitrogen, respectively. On average, mineralization constants (k) for Co and No were 0.29 d−1 and 0.23 d−1, respectively, showing that SOM is easily mineralized. The proportion of NO3-/Nm was very high in SecF (89%) and TSdF (75%), while DS_C showed nitrate immobilization. The increase in NO3-/Nm ratio in SecF could be associated with legume species that have established in the nature restoration (SecF) on ex-grassland. Across all study sites, linear regression analyses suggested that soil physical and chemical properties may regulate SOM mineralization (p < 0.05). Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:06 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:06 PM Tags: o Dune scrub o Sandy soil properties o Secondary forest o Soil C and N mineralization o Tropical semi-deciduous forest * BREEDING BIOLOGIES, POLLINATORS, AND SEED BEETLES OF TWO PRAIRIE-CLOVERS, DALEA ORNATA AND DALEA SEARLSIAE (FABACEAE: AMORPHEAE), FROM THE INTERMOUNTAIN WEST, USA Type Journal Article Author James H. Cane Author Melissa Weber Author Stephanie Miller URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.jstor.org/stable/41718309__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvwJ9dQC8$ Volume 72 Issue 1 Pages 16-20 Publication Western North American Naturalist ISSN 15270904, 19448341 Date 2012 Accessed 2020-03-17, 6:00:00 PM Abstract [Two prairie-clovers, Dalea ornata (Douglas ex Hook.) Eaton & J. Wright and Dalea searlsiae (A. Gray) Barneby, are perennial forbs found sporadically in the U.S. Intermountain West. Their seed is desirable for use in rangeland restoration. We experimentally characterized the breeding biologies of D. ornata and D. searlsiae in a common garden, surveyed their pollinator guilds, and sampled their seed predators. The 2 Dalea species, being primarily xenogamous, have comparable pollination requirements. For flowers manually pollinated with outcross pollen, an average of 42% of D. ornata flowers and 39% of D. searlsiae flowers yielded plump large seeds filled with endosperm. Both species proved to be self-compatible, but far fewer seeds resulted from either manual pollination with self-pollen (11% seed set for D. ornata and 7% for D. searlsiae) or unassisted autogamy (5% and 6% seed set, respectively). Limited surveys of the prairie-clovers' pollinator guilds in ruderal or cheatgrass-infested habitats revealed sparse visitation solely by wild bees, primarily of the genera Anthidium, Colletes, Bombus, Eucera, and Melissodes. Beetles (Acanthoscelides oregonensis Johnson and Apion amaurum Kissinger) infested seed sampled from 18 of 25 D. ornata populations across a 3-state region. Productive farming of the seed of these prairie-clovers for rangeland restoration in the western United States will require supplementation of bees for pollination and exclusion of seed beetles. Dos especies de daleas, Dalea ornata (Douglas ex Hook.) Eaton & J. Wright y Dalea searlsiae (A. Gray) Barneby, son plantas herbáceas perennes que se encuentran esporádicamente en la región intermontañosa del oeste de los Estados Unidos. Sus semillas son útiles para la restauración de pastizales. Caracterizamos experimentalmente la biología de la reproducción de D. ornata y D. searlsiae en un experimento de jardín común; examinamos sus gremios de polinizadores y tomamos muestras de los depredadores de sus semillas. Las 2 especies de Dalea, siendo primordialmente xenógamas, tienen requisitos comparables para la polinización. En las flores que fueron polinizadas manualmente con polen ajeno, un 42% en promedio de las flores de D. ornata y un 39% de las flores de D. searlsiae produjeron semillas grandes y voluminosas llenas de endospermo. Ambas especies resultaron ser auto-compatibles, pero resultaron muchas menos semillas tanto de la polinización manual con polen propio (11% de semillas en D. ornata y 7% en D. searlsiae) como de autogamia no asistida (5% y 6% de semillas, respectivamente). Muestreos limitados de los gremios de polinizadores en hábitats dominados por plantas ruderales o por Bromus tectorum (cheatgrass) revelaron visitas escasas conformadas exclusivamente por abejas silvestres, principalmente de los géneros Anthidium, Colletes, Bombus, Eucera y Melissodes. Dos especies de escarabajos (Acanthoscelides oregonensis Johnson y Apion amaurum Kissinger) infestaron las muestras de semillas en 18 de las 25 poblaciones de D. ornata a lo largo de una región que abarca tres estados. Habrá que proporcionar abejas para la polinización y excluir o controlar los escarabajos depredadores de semillas para tener una cosecha productiva de las semillas de estas daleas con el fin de usarlas en esfuerzos por restaurar pastizales en el oeste de los Estados Unidos.] Archive JSTOR Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:49:59 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:49:59 PM * Cost–benefit analysis of ecosystem services in China Type Journal Article Author Shixiong Cao Author Zhongqi Yu Author Junze Zhang Author Fei Feng Author Duanyang Xu Author Xingmin Mu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857418303999__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvAu98xR0$ Volume 125 Pages 143-148 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date December 15, 2018 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2018.10.022 Abstract Environmental protection can maintain ecosystem health, improve the provision of ecosystem services, and increase human welfare. However, traditional calculations of the value of ecosystem services (VES) exclude their cost, thereby undermining plans to achieve a combination of environmental protection with sustainable socioeconomic development. To understand the difference between VES and the net value after accounting for costs (NES), we evaluated the evolution of the main ecosystem services in China. When costs are accounted for (i.e., when they are subtracted from VES), NES averaged 10.0 × 103 RMB·ha−1·yr−1 for China as a whole (35.1% of VES), with values of 39.0 × 103, −0.7 × 103, 27.7 × 103, and 13.0 × 103 RMB·ha−1·yr−1 for wetland, grassland, farmland, and forest ecosystems, respectively. These values represent decreases of 36.4, 114.9, 52.7, and 70.6% from the corresponding VES values. To achieve sustainable development and ecological restoration, China’s government must base decisions on NES, not VES, to ensure that they account for the associated costs. Applying the present results in China and elsewhere in the world should increase the net benefits of ecological restoration while still permitting socioeconomic development. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:21 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:21 PM Tags: o Cost–benefit analysis o Ecological restoration o Ecosystem services o Environmental conservation o Land management * The biophysical effects of the vegetation restoration program on regional climate metrics in the Loess Plateau, China Type Journal Article Author Qian Cao Author Jianguo Wu Author Deyong Yu Author Wei Wang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016819231930022X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvOEG_iaw$ Volume 268 Pages 169-180 Publication Agricultural and Forest Meteorology ISSN 0168-1923 Date April 15, 2019 Journal Abbr Agricultural and Forest Meteorology DOI 10.1016/j.agrformet.2019.01.022 Abstract The Grain to Green (GTG) program launched in 1999 by the Chinese government is one of the largest ecological restoration programs ever implemented in the world. Although the GTG program has been demonstrated to affect ecosystem services in the revegetated areas, its impacts on regional climate are seldom reported and poorly understood. Therefore, our study examined the impacts of revegetation owing to the GTG program on summer climate in the Loess Plateau, by incorporating near real-time remotely sensed land use/land cover data and vegetation characteristics of 2001 and 2010 into a coupled land-atmosphere model. From 2001 to 2010, a considerable portion of croplands was converted to forests and grasslands, with vegetation fraction and LAI increasing while surface albedo decreasing throughout the Loess Plateau. Compared with those from 2001, simulation results from 2010 indicated lowered 2-m air temperature in summer, with the magnitude of reduction in nighttime minimum (as high as 0.8–1.0 ℃) greater than that in daytime maximum (generally restricted to 0.4 ℃). The concurrent decrease in summertime 2-m specific humidity further led to widespread reduction of near-surface heat content (i.e., moist enthalpy). Summer precipitation decreased in northern Shanxi province and western Loess Plateau (up to 1.0–1.4 mm/day) while increasing in southeastern Loess Plateau (between 1.0–2.0 mm/day). Our findings underscore that vegetation restoration has exerted strong influences on regional climate, and provide useful information for the sustainable implementation of the GTG program. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:27 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:27 PM Tags: o Afforestation o Land use/land cover o Land-atmosphere interaction o The Grain to Green program o Vegetation characteristics o WRF * Restoring the fire–grazing interaction promotes tree–grass coexistence by controlling woody encroachment Type Journal Article Author Jane F. Capozzelli Author James R. Miller Author Diane M. Debinski Author Walter H. Schacht URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.2993__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv1IqsXGA$ Volume 11 Issue 2 Pages e02993 Publication Ecosphere ISSN 2150-8925 Date February 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Ecosphere DOI 10.1002/ecs2.2993 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Abstract Woody encroachment can convert grasslands and savannas to shrublands and woodlands, so understanding the processes which regulate woody encroachment is necessary to conserve or restore these ecosystems. We hypothesized that recreating the fire?grazing interaction would limit woody encroachment because focal grazing increases fuel accumulation on unburned areas and increases browsing on emergent woody plants in burned areas. This study was conducted in the Grand River Grasslands of Iowa and Missouri (USA) on 11 sites (15.4?35.0 ha). Each site was assigned to one treatment: patch-burn-graze (n = 4), with spatially discrete prescribed fires and free access by cattle (the fire?grazing interaction); graze-and-burn (n = 4), with free access by cattle and one burn of the entire site every 3 yr; or burn-only (n = 3), with one site-wide burn every 3?5 yr and no grazing. The burn-only treatment increased woody encroachment fourfold compared to the graze-and-burn and patch-burn-graze treatments (130.2, standard error [SE] = 16.0; 20.9, SE = 12.0; and 46.3, SE = 10.8; plants/200 m2). The patch-burn-graze treatment had 2?3 cm more accumulated fuel and woody plants which were 12% shorter, on average, than the other treatments (comparing eight common species). The movement of large herbivores also appeared to decrease the frequency of woody species which spread vegetatively. Our work illustrates how the fire?grazing interaction may control woody encroachment and shows that cattle substitute, at least partially, for endemic large herbivores. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:47:22 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:53:01 PM Tags: o cattle o environmental filtering o fire-trap o fire–grazing interaction o herbivory o patch-burn grazing o taxon substitution o tree–grass coexistence o woody encroachment Notes: o doi: 10.1002/ecs2.2993 o doi: 10.1002/ecs2.2993 o doi: 10.1002/ecs2.2993 * Landscape changes caused by high altitude ski-pistes affect bird species richness and distribution in the Alps Type Journal Article Author Enrico Caprio Author Dan E. Chamberlain Author Marco Isaia Author Antonio Rolando URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320711003430__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvLuspehA$ Volume 144 Issue 12 Pages 2958-2967 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date December 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2011.08.021 Abstract There is a paucity of research on the wider landscape-level effects of ski-piste construction on alpine fauna. In this study, the response of alpine bird communities to the landscape changes induced by the construction of ski-pistes was investigated in the western Italian Alps. The aims were: (i) to test the hypothesis that ski-pistes have a detrimental effect on alpine grassland bird communities at a landscape-scale; and, (ii) to model local probability distributions of bird species according to different scenarios of ski-piste restoration and ski-piste proliferation above the treeline. Species richness and presence/absence data from point counts were analyzed in relation to GIS-derived landscape variables based on a 16ha hexagon grid. Predictive variables were selected through the LASSO model selection procedure, and logistic regression was used to estimate the probability of occurrence of each species in each hexagon. Grassland species richness, and probability of occurrence of water pipit, wheatear and black redstart, significantly decreased with increasing extent of ski-piste edge. Length of ski-piste edge was in the set of best models considering a large range of habitat and landscape predictors, and are therefore clearly features that exert a strong negative effect on high alpine grassland bird communities. Predictions of species occurrence were made by applying the models to different scenarios of habitat change. These showed predicted detrimental impacts of a relatively small 10% increase in ski-piste extent, but also that grassland restoration on existing ski-pistes could result in significantly increased occurrence rates of alpine grassland species. This study suggests that ski-pistes are perceived by birds as detrimental features of the alpine landscape. To minimize their impact, new, environmentally–friendly ways of constructing pistes should be developed, which could include habitat restoration and management to obtain a level of grass cover such that edges of ski-pistes are no longer perceived by birds. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:39 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:39 PM Tags: o Alpine bird communities o Grasslands o Habitat conservation o High altitudes o Landscape o Ski-pistes * RESTOQUARRY: Indicators for self-evaluation of ecological restoration in open-pit mines Type Journal Article Author Vicenç Carabassa Author Oriol Ortiz Author Josep M. Alcañiz URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X1930175X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvF056bew$ Volume 102 Pages 437-445 Publication Ecological Indicators ISSN 1470-160X Date July 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2019.03.001 Abstract Several methods and criteria to evaluate and assess quarry restoration are available in the scientific literature, but they are very specialized and time consuming. Furthermore, there is a lack of evaluation tools appropriate for technicians involved in these types of activities, such as quarry engineers, restoration managers and quality control supervisors in public administration. The work presented attempts to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and practical needs by proposing a simplified methodology (RESTOQUARRY protocol), which enables the non-scientific public to evaluate restored areas. This procedure focused on five groups of parameters for zone (homogeneous portions within the whole restored area) evaluation: geotechnical risk, drainage network, erosion and physical degradation, soil quality and vegetation status and functionality. Moreover, three groups of parameters are proposed for area (whole restoration) evaluation: landscape integration, ecological connectivity and fauna, and anthropic impacts. This protocol has been tested in 55 open-pit mines located throughout Catalonia (NE Iberian Peninsula), covering a wide range of Mediterranean climatic conditions and geological substrates. Results indicate that the proposed methodology is suitable for detecting critical parameters that can determine the success of the restoration. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:09 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:00:09 PM Tags: o Ecological indicators o Ecological restoration o Open-pit mines reclamation o Quarry rehabilitation o Restoration evaluation * Enhancement of Late Successional Plants on Ex-Arable Land by Soil Inoculations Type Journal Article Author Vanesa Carbajo Author Bowy den Braber Author Wim H. van der Putten Author Gerlinde B. De Deyn URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0021943__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvSz7haRk$ Volume 6 Issue 7 Pages e21943 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Jul 8, 2011 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0021943 Accessed 2020-03-12, 3:14:24 PM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract Restoration of species-rich grasslands on ex-arable land can help the conservation of biodiversity but faces three big challenges: absence of target plant propagules, high residual soil fertility and restoration of soil communities. Seed additions and top soil removal can solve some of these constraints, but restoring beneficial biotic soil conditions remains a challenge. Here we test the hypotheses that inoculation of soil from late secondary succession grasslands in arable receptor soil enhances performance of late successional plants, especially after top soil removal but pending on the added dose. To test this we grew mixtures of late successional plants in arable top (organic) soil or in underlying mineral soil mixed with donor soil in small or large proportions. Donor soils were collected from different grasslands that had been under restoration for 5 to 41 years, or from semi-natural grassland that has not been used intensively. Donor soil addition, especially when collected from older restoration sites, increased plant community biomass without altering its evenness. In contrast, addition of soil from semi-natural grassland promoted plant community evenness, and hence its diversity, but reduced community biomass. Effects of donor soil additions were stronger in mineral than in organic soil and larger with bigger proportions added. The variation in plant community composition was explained best by the abundances of nematodes, ergosterol concentration and soil pH. We show that in controlled conditions inoculation of soil from secondary succession grassland into ex-arable land can strongly promote target plant species, and that the role of soil biota in promoting target plant species is greatest when added after top soil removal. Together our results point out that transplantation of later secondary succession soil can promote grassland restoration on ex-arable land. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:14:24 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:14:24 PM Tags: o Biodiversity o Biota o Edaphology o Grasslands o Plant communities o Plant growth and development o Plants o Seeds Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Can active restoration of tropical rainforest rescue biodiversity? A case with bird community indicators Type Journal Article Author Carla P. Catterall Author Amanda N.D. Freeman Author John Kanowski Author Kylie Freebody URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320711004496__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvfOqwlts$ Volume 146 Issue 1 Pages 53-61 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date February 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2011.10.033 Abstract There is vigorous debate about the potential for reforestation to offset losses in biodiversity associated with tropical deforestation, but a scarcity of good data. We quantified developmental trajectories following active restoration (replanting) of deforested pasture land to tropical Australian rainforest, using 20 different bird community indicators within chronosequences of multiple sites. Bird species composition in restored sites (1–24years old) was intermediate between that of reference sites in pasture and primary rainforest. Total species richness was much less sensitive to land cover change than composition indicators, because of contrasting species-specific response patterns. For example, open-country (grassland/wetland) bird species declined in richness and abundance with increasing site age, while rainforest-dependent species increased. Results from two different landscapes (uplands and lowlands) were remarkably consistent, despite differing bird assemblages. After 10years, restored sites averaged about half the number of rainforest-dependent bird species typical of rainforest. Mean values at around 20years overlapped with the “poorest” rainforest reference sites, but projections suggest that >150years are required to reach mean rainforest levels, and high variability among sites means that many were not on track towards ever achieving a rainforest-like bird community. Regional rainforest endemics were half as likely to occupy older revegetated sites as non-endemic rainforest-dependent species. Between-site variability and slow colonisation by regional endemics strongly constrain the potential of rainforest restoration to offset the biodiversity impacts of tropical deforestation. The results also mean that ongoing monitoring of biodiversity is an essential part of restoration management. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:12 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:12 PM Tags: o Developmental trajectory o Endemic species o Forest o Functional group o Pasture o Plantation * Chapter 2.3 - Trust Building and Mobile Pastoralism in Africa11The author thanks Meera Shah for significant contributions to this chapter from her postgraduate research on pastoralism in Kenya. Type Book Section Author Alan Channer Editor Ilan Chabay Editor Martin Frick Editor Jennifer Helgeson URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128012314000124__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv8DkuLEU$ Place Boston Publisher Academic Press Pages 107-117 ISBN 978-0-12-801231-4 Date January 1, 2016 Extra DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-801231-4.00012-4 Abstract Approximately 50% of Africa’s surface area consists of grassland. Mobile pastoralism—the movement of livestock according to the seasonal availability of pasture—is a traditional and widespread form of livelihood in semiarid regions. Mobile pastoralism has been neglected by policy makers, and mistrust is rife between pastoralist communities and governments, between pastoralists and sedentary farmers, and between different pastoralist groups. Increasing population pressures and climate change have led to widespread degradation of grasslands, particularly in already-dry areas. Conflict over access to grazing and water has increased, and insecurity has further hampered development. This section of the chapter offers examples from Darfur in Sudan and Kaduna State in Nigeria to illustrate why conflict mitigation and land restoration need to be implemented concurrently to ensure the sustainable management of grassland in these areas. An example from Baringo County in Kenya illustrates some success with this integrated approach. Book Title Land Restoration Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:40 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:40 PM Tags: o Africa o conflict o grasslands o Kenya o land restoration o livestock o Nigeria o Pastoralism o pasture management o Sudan o trust building * Cattle grazing and fish recovery on US federal lands: can social–ecological systems science help? Type Journal Article Author Susan Charnley Author Hannah Gosnell Author Kendra L Wendel Author Mary M Rowland Author Michael J Wisdom URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1002/fee.1751__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvk2tcw9U$ Volume 16 Issue S1 Pages S11-S22 Publication Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment ISSN 1540-9295 Date January 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment DOI 10.1002/fee.1751 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract In the western US, grazing management on federal lands containing habitat for fish species listed under the US Endangered Species Act (ESA) has sparked social conflict and litigation for decades. To date, the problem has been addressed through a top-down environmental governance system, but rangeland managers and grazing permittees now believe there is a need for more innovative management strategies. This article explores how social?ecological systems (SES) science can address rangeland management challenges associated with the survival and recovery of ESA-listed fish species on federal lands where cattle grazing is a dominant type of land use. We focus on the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon, where the Mountain Social Ecological Observatory Network's Blue Mountains Working Group is collaborating with diverse stakeholders to develop and test a novel grazing system designed to reduce the impact of cattle on riparian areas using an SES science approach. Although not a complete solution, SES science holds promise for improving rangeland management. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:52:05 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:52:05 PM Notes: o doi: 10.1002/fee.1751 * Do soil inoculants accelerate dryland restoration? A simultaneous assessment of biocrusts and mycorrhizal fungi Type Journal Article Author V. Bala Chaudhary Author Kristine Akland Author Nancy C. Johnson Author Matthew A. Bowker URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.13088__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv1Mpo3uI$ Rights © 2019 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume n/a Issue n/a Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X DOI 10.1111/rec.13088 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:50:23 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are communities of soil organisms often targeted to assist in the achievement of multiple ecological restoration goals. In drylands, benefits conferred from biocrust and AM fungal inoculation, such as improved native plant establishment and soil stabilization, have primarily been studied separately. However, comparisons between these two types of soil inoculants and investigations into potential synergies between them, particularly at the plant community scale, are needed to inform on-the-ground management practices in drylands. We conducted two full-factorial experiments—one in greenhouse mesocosms and one in field plots—to test the effects of AM fungal inoculation, biocrust inoculation, and their interaction on multiple measures of dryland restoration success. Biocrust inoculation promoted soil stabilization and plant drought tolerance, but had mixed effects on native plant diversity (positive in greenhouse, neutral in field) and productivity (negative in greenhouse, neutral in field). In greenhouse mesocosms, biocrust inoculation reduced plant biomass, which was antagonistic to % root length colonized by AM fungi. Inoculation with native or commercial AM fungi did not influence plant establishment, drought tolerance, or soil stabilization in either study, and few synergistic effects of simultaneous inoculation of AM fungi and biocrusts were observed. These results suggest that, depending on the condition of existing soil communities, inoculation with AM fungi may not be necessary to promote dryland restoration goals, while inoculation with salvaged biocrust inoculation may be beneficial in some contexts. Short Title Do soil inoculants accelerate dryland restoration? Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:50:23 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:50:23 PM Tags: o arid o community o diversity o drought o inoculation o invasive species o microbe o soil Attachments o Snapshot * Litter amendment rather than phosphorus can dramatically change inorganic nitrogen pools in a degraded grassland soil by affecting nitrogen-cycling microbes Type Journal Article Author Rongxiao Che Author Jinling Qin Author Iman Tahmasbian Author Fang Wang Author Shutong Zhou Author Zhihong Xu Author Xiaoyong Cui URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0038071718300403__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv-Mgs8YY$ Volume 120 Pages 145-152 Publication Soil Biology and Biochemistry ISSN 0038-0717 Date May 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Soil Biology and Biochemistry DOI 10.1016/j.soilbio.2018.02.006 Abstract Phosphorus fertilisation and increasing litter input are widely employed to restore the degraded grasslands. Despite the key roles of nitrogen-cycling microbes in determining the soil nitrogen dynamics and development of grassland degradation, little is known about their responses to these restoration efforts. Here, a microcosm experiment, with soils collected from a degraded Tibetan alpine meadow, was conducted to investigate the responses of nitrogen-cycling microbes to litter and phosphorus amendments, and their links with the changes in soil properties. Copies of the corresponding nitrogen-cycling genes (nifH, amoA, narG, nirK, and nirS genes) and their mRNAs were determined using real-time PCR. The results showed that the litter amendment significantly stimulated the transcription of nifH and nirS genes, but reduced the copies of amoA gene and bacterial amoA mRNA. It also significantly increased soil dissolved organic carbon, available phosphorus, ammonium nitrogen, and microbial biomass concentrations, but decreased soil inorganic and nitrate nitrogen concentrations. The phosphorus amendment exerted little effects on soil properties and nitrogen-cycling microbes, while the litter-phosphorus interactions significantly offset the individual negative effects of the litter and phosphorus amendments on the denitrifier abundance. The soil nitrate and inorganic nitrogen concentrations were positively correlated with the amoA genes and bacterial amoA mRNA copies, but negatively correlated with nirS mRNA copies. These results indicate that litter addition may decrease soil nitrate and inorganic nitrogen concentrations by suppressing nitrifiers and stimulating nirS gene expression, highlighting the vital roles of nitrogen-cycling microbes in determining the soil nitrogen dynamics during the restoration of degraded grasslands. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:34 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:34 PM Tags: o Grassland degradation o Grassland restoration o Meta-gene expression o Nitrogen cycling microbes o Soil inorganic nitrogen o Tibetan plateau * Shifts in Abundance and Diversity of Soil Ammonia-Oxidizing Bacteria and Archaea Associated with Land Restoration in a Semi-Arid Ecosystem Type Journal Article Author Zhu Chen Author Wenliang Wu Author Xiaoming Shao Author Li Li Author Yanbin Guo Author Guochun Ding URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0132879__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv25duQAM$ Volume 10 Issue 7 Pages e0132879 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Jul 14, 2015 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0132879 Accessed 2020-03-12, 3:26:01 PM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract The Grain to Green Project (GGP) is an unprecedented land restoration action in China. The project converted large areas (ca 10 million ha) of steep-sloped/degraded farmland and barren land into forest and grassland resulting in ecological benefits such as a reduction in severe soil erosion. It may also affect soil microorganisms involved in ammonia oxidization, which is a key step in the global nitrogen cycle. The methods for restoration that are typically adopted in semi-arid regions include abandoning farmland and growing drought tolerant grass (Lolium perenne L.) or shrubs (Caragana korshinskii Kom.). In the present study, the effects of these methods on the abundance and diversity of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) were evaluated via quantitative real-time PCR, terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism and clone library analysis of amoA genes. Comparisons were made between soil samples from three restored lands and the adjacent farmland in Inner Mongolia. Both the abundance and community composition of AOB were significantly different between the restored lands and the adjacent control. Significantly lower nitrification activity was observed for the restored land. Clone library analysis revealed that all AOB amoA gene sequences were affiliated with Nitrosospira. Abundance of the populations that were associated with Nitrosospira sp. Nv6 which had possibly adapted to high concentrations of inorganic nitrogen, decreased on the restored land. Only a slight difference in the AOB communities was observed between the restored land with and without the shrub (Caragana korshinskii Kom.). A minor effect of land restoration on AOA was observed. In summary, land restoration negatively affected the abundance of AOB and soil nitrification activities, suggesting the potential role of GGP in the leaching of nitrates, and in the emission of N2O in related terrestrial ecosystems. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:26:01 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:26:01 PM Tags: o Agricultural soil science o Ammonia o Archaea o Nitrification o Polymerase chain reaction o Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis o Ryegrass o Sequence analysis Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Shifts in Species Composition Constrain Restoration of Overgrazed Grassland Using Nitrogen Fertilization in Inner Mongolian Steppe, China Type Journal Article Author Qing Chen Author David U. Hooper Author Shan Lin URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0016909__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvpMxfaF0$ Volume 6 Issue 3 Pages e16909 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Mar 1, 2011 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0016909 Accessed 2020-03-12, 3:26:21 PM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract Long-term livestock over-grazing causes nitrogen outputs to exceed inputs in Inner Mongolia, suggesting that low levels of nitrogen fertilization could help restore grasslands degraded by overgrazing. However, the effectiveness of such an approach depends on the response of production and species composition to the interactive drivers of nitrogen and water availability. We conducted a five-year experiment manipulating precipitation (NP: natural precipitation and SWP: simulated wet year precipitation) and nitrogen (0, 25 and 50 kg N ha-1 yr-1) addition in Inner Mongolia. We hypothesized that nitrogen fertilization would increase forage production when water availability was relatively high. However, the extent to which nitrogen would co-limit production under average or below average rainfall in these grasslands was unknown. Aboveground net primary production (ANPP) increased in response to nitrogen when precipitation was similar to or higher than the long-term average, but not when precipitation was below average. This shift in limitation was also reflected by water and nitrogen use efficiency. Belowground live biomass significantly increased with increasing water availability, but was not affected by nitrogen addition. Under natural precipitation (NP treatment), the inter-annual variation of ANPP was 3-fold greater than with stable water availability (CVANPP = 61±6% and 17±3% for NP and SWP treatment, respectively) and nitrogen addition increased CVANPP even more (89±14%). This occurred in part because fertilizer nitrogen left in the soil in dry years remained available for uptake during wet years and because of high production by unpalatable annual species in wet years in the NP treatment. In summary, plant growth by residual fertilizer nitrogen could lead to sufficient yields to offset lack of additional production in dry years. However, the utility of fertilization for restoration may be constrained by shifts in species composition and the lack of response by belowground biomass, which reduces replacement of soil carbon and nitrogen. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:26:21 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:26:21 PM Tags: o Biomass (ecology) o Chemical precipitation o Ecosystems o Fertilizers o Grasslands o Plant growth and development o Rain o Water resources Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Soil C, N, and P Stocks Evaluation Under Major Land Uses on China’s Loess Plateau Type Journal Article Author Xianjiang Chen Author Fujiang Hou Author Cory Matthew Author Xiongzhao He URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S155074241630094X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv2KzlkBs$ Volume 70 Issue 3 Pages 341-347 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date May 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2016.10.005 Accessed 2020-03-17, 6:20:41 PM Library Catalog ScienceDirect Language en Abstract Loess Plateau covers 640 000 km2 in the central northern China. Despite a semiarid environment, harsh winters, and hot summers, agriculture has been practiced in this region for > 5 000 yr, and the food production systems are among China’s oldest. The environment is fragile because the loessial soils are prone to erosion. Sound scientific information is therefore required to underpin future land use planning in the region. To this end, total soil organic carbon (SOC), N, and P stocks were measured in Huanxian County of the wider Loess Plateau, representing five major land use categories. Sites were sampled three times over 3 yr. In all, almost 2 800 soil analyses were performed. A feature of these soils is low SOC content in the A horizon but comparatively small decline with soil depth. For example, SOC levels for the 0–20 cm and 70–100 cm soil depths averaged 6.1 and 4.1 Mg ha−1, respectively. Alfalfa and rangeland sites had 5.1 Mg ha−1 (10%) more total than cropland and 7.5 t ha−1 (16%) more total SOC to 100-cm soil depth than the two silvopastoral sites. For total soil N (0- to 100-cm soil depth) the averages of alfalfa and RL sites were 20% and 28%, respectively, higher than the cropland and silvopastoral site group means, although soil C, N, and P levels are very low, relative to those of typical soils elsewhere. When these observations are scaled up to a regional level, it can be calculated that a 5% shift in land use from cropping or silvopastoral systems to alfalfa-based systems could increase soil C sequestration by as many as 20 million t CO2 per yr, although some caution is needed in making extrapolations, as the present data are from a single locality on the Loess Plateau. Date Added 2020-03-17, 6:20:41 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 6:20:41 PM Tags: o land use conversion o semiarid region o soil organic carbon o soil total nitrogen o soil total phosphorus Attachments o ScienceDirect Full Text PDF o ScienceDirect Snapshot * Invasions by alien plant species of the agro-pastoral ecotone in northern China: Species-specific and environmental determinants Type Journal Article Author Chao Chen Author Ding Huang Author Qinghai Wang Author Juying Wu Author Kun Wang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1617138116301303__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvSCbIsVc$ Volume 34 Pages 133-144 Publication Journal for Nature Conservation ISSN 1617-1381 Date December 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Journal for Nature Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.jnc.2016.10.004 Abstract The establishment, reproduction, dispersal, and distribution of alien plants are affected by various factors during the transition from being newly introduced in a habitat to being invasive. In the agro-pastoral ecotone of northern China, comprising farmlands and natural grasslands, the biological characteristics of alien plant species were the key intrinsic factors (propagation characteristics and competitive ability), followed by such extrinsic factors as human interference and environmental heterogeneity. Among biological characteristics, the life form may be an important and useful indicator of the invasive ability of a species, and the risk of invasion is greater from alien species that are poisonous, inedible, and have traits that facilitate wide dispersal. Farmlands may serve as initial shelters for alien species, from which they spread into neighbouring habitats, whereas natural grassland may act as a barrier to plant invasions. Management practices detrimental to grasslands, including overgrazing, reclamation, and road construction, often facilitate the invasions; therefore, counter measures such as reseeding and a ban on grazing need special attention. Environmental factors including precipitation, nutrients, prevailing winds, fires, and topography may be other factors that promote or block the process of invasion. In studying ways of preventing or controlling such invasions, alien plants with short life cycle, prolific seed production, and strong competitiveness, deserve particular attention and so do human activities that may damage the environment and fragile habitats. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:50 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:53:02 PM Tags: o Alien plant species o Biological invasions o Grassland restoration o Life form o Overgrazing o Prevailing wind * The contribution of plateau pika disturbance and erosion on patchy alpine grassland soil on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau: Implications for grassland restoration Type Journal Article Author Jianjun Chen Author Shuhua Yi Author Yu Qin URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706116304566__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvC2117lU$ Volume 297 Pages 1-9 Publication Geoderma ISSN 0016-7061 Date July 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Geoderma DOI 10.1016/j.geoderma.2017.03.001 Abstract Patchy alpine grassland with soil excavated by plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) and with bald patches is common on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) where desertification has developed rapidly over the last few decades. This may have significant effects on alpine grassland restoration, by changing soil properties. In this study, the contribution of plateau pika disturbance and erosion on patchy alpine grassland soil were examined by classifying the surface of the patchy grassland into 4 types—vegetation patch, new pika pile, old pika pile and bald patch—and comparing the gravel content of the top layer of soil, soil moisture, soil hardness, soil organic carbon (SOC), and soil total nitrogen (TN) among them in the four study areas with different climatic conditions, altitudes, and grassland types on the QTP. We also analyzed the relationship between the amount of soil surface gravel and the Green Fractional Vegetation Cover (GFVC) using aerial photos. The results showed that (1) gravel content was significantly greater in bald patches and pika piles than in vegetation patches (p<0.05); (2) soil moisture, hardness, SOC and TN were the highest in vegetation patches, and significantly lower in pika piles than in vegetation patches (p<0.05); (3) GFVC was negatively and linearly correlated with the amount of soil surface gravel, with the amount of soil surface gravel in non-vegetation patches significantly greater than in vegetation patches (p<0.001). Our results suggested that pika burrowing activity may increase the gravel content of the top layer of soil and decrease soil moisture, hardness, SOC and TN, which can increase soil erosion and hinder vegetation restoration. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:36 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:36 PM Tags: o Alpine grassland o Bioturbation o Gravel content o Plateau pika o Soil properties o Vegetation restoration * Grassland productivity and diversity changes in responses to N and P addition depend primarily on tall clonal and annual species in semiarid Loess Plateau Type Journal Article Author Zhifei Chen Author Peifeng Xiong Author Junjie Zhou Author Quan Yang Author Zhi Wang Author Bingcheng Xu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S092585742030015X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvSdczqxs$ Volume 145 Pages 105727 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date February 15, 2020 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2020.105727 Abstract Ecological benefits and production of grassland on the Loess Plateau are limited by low soil N and P availability. Extraneous N and P fertilization is an efficient management measure to enhance grassland productivity and accelerate grassland restoration. However, biodiversity decline and species loss induced by N and P addition must be noticed. Two grassland communities dominated by tall clonal grass (TCG) and tall clonal forb (TCF) on Loess Plateau were selected. A two-year split-plot experiment (main-plot: 0, 25, 50, and 100 kgN ha−1 yr−1; subplot: 0, 20, 40 and 80 kg P2O5 ha−1 yr−1) was conducted to evaluate the effect of N and P addition on aboveground net primary production (ANPP), light availability, diversity and functional group composition. N and P addition slightly increased ANPP mainly benefiting from clonal species and had few effects on species composition and diversity due to the deficient precipitation during growing season in 2017. However, N or P addition alone resulted in significant ANPP increase, and adding N and P together had larger effects in 2018. The changes in ANPP and diversity after P alone addition were driven by legumes. The ANPP responses to 50 and 100 kg N ha−1 yr−1 combined with P addition in 2018 were mainly driven by pronounced increases in tall clonal or annual species. This large shift of species composition caused diversity decline only in TCF community. The extent of diversity decline was significantly correlated with the degree of light availability reduction. Diversity decline in TCF was a result of strong and uniform light availability reduction induced by increased tall annual forb. Tall clonal and annual species are the key functional groups that drive changes in productivity and diversity in the two communities. The optimum N and P amount to tradeoff productivity improvement and diversity decline were 50 kg N ha−1 yr−1 and 20 kg P2O5 ha−1 yr−1 combination for TCG and 25 kg N ha−1 yr−1 and 20 kg P2O5 ha−1 yr−1 combination for TCF. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:47 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:47 PM Tags: o ANPP o Functional group o Grassland restoration o Loess Plateau o Nutrient addition * Disentangling the relative impacts of climate change and human activities on arid and semiarid grasslands in Central Asia during 1982–2015 Type Journal Article Author Tao Chen Author Anming Bao Author Guli Jiapaer Author Hao Guo Author Guoxiong Zheng Author Liangliang Jiang Author Cun Chang Author Latipa Tuerhanjiang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004896971834405X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvGhKcMxE$ Volume 653 Pages 1311-1325 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date February 25, 2019 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.058 Abstract In recent decades, climate change and human activities have severely affected grasslands in Central Asia. Grassland regulation and sustainability in this region require an accurate assessment of the effects of these two factors on grasslands. Based on the abrupt change analysis, linear regression analysis and net primary productivity (NPP), the spatiotemporal patterns of grassland ecosystems in Central Asia during 1982–2015 were studied. Further, the potential NPP (NPPP) was estimated using the Thornthwaite Memorial model and the human-induced NPP (NPPH), which was the difference between NPPP and actual NPP, were used to differentiate the effects of climate change and human activities on the grassland ecosystems, respectively. The grassland NPP showed a slight upward trend during 1982–2015, while two obvious decreasing periods were found before and after the mutation year 1999. Additionally, the main driving forces of the grassland NPP variation for the two periods were different. During 1982–1999, climate change was the main factor controlling grassland NPP increase or decrease, and 84.7% of grasslands experienced NPP reduction, while the regions experiencing an increase represented only 15.3% of the total area. During 1999–2015, the areas of increasing and decreasing grassland NPP represented 41.6% and 58.4% of the total area, respectively. After 1999, human activities became the main driving force of the NPP reduction, whereas climate change facilitated grassland restoration. The five Central Asian countries showed widely divergent relative impacts of climate change and human activities on NPP changes. In Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, anthropogenic decreases in grassland NPP intensified during 1982–2015, while the negative anthropogenic effects on grassland NPP in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan moderated. Further analysis identified precipitation as the major climatic factor affecting grassland variation in most areas of Central Asia and overgrazing as the main form of human activity accelerating grassland degradation. This study improves the understanding of the relative impacts of climate change and human activities on grasslands in Central Asia. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:25 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:25 PM Tags: o Arid and semiarid grassland ecosystems o Change-year detection o Climate change o Human activities o NPP * Soil moisture ecological characteristics of typical shrub and grass vegetation on Shell Island in the Yellow River Delta, China Type Journal Article Author Yinping Chen Author Jiangbao Xia Author Ximei Zhao Author Yuping Zhuge URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706118324133__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv6fn_VEw$ Volume 348 Pages 45-53 Publication Geoderma ISSN 0016-7061 Date August 15, 2019 Journal Abbr Geoderma DOI 10.1016/j.geoderma.2019.04.011 Abstract The construction of a shrub-grass community is the main action of vegetation restoration and ecological reconstruction on Shell Island, which is located in the Yellow River Delta, China. Three vegetation types—a mixed shrub-grass pattern, pure shrub, and pure grass—were studied, with bare land as the control, to elucidate the water retention characteristics of shell sand and the factors influencing the typical shrub and grass vegetation on Shell Island in the Yellow River Delta. Soil moisture physical parameters, such as the bulk density, particle size composition, particle fractal dimension and water storage capacity, were measured and analysed under different vegetation types, and the potential and main factors influencing the soil water retention were comprehensively evaluated. The results showed that (1) the bulk densities of the 0–40 cm layer of soil under the shrub-grassland, shrub land, and grassland were significantly lower and the total porosity was significantly higher than that under bare land. The coarse sand particle content in the shell sand was the highest (55.32%), followed by the fine sand particles and gravel contents. The silt-clay content was low (2.37%). The planting of mixed shrub-grass could reduce the gravel and coarse sand contents and increased the fine sand and silt-clay contents. (2) The ranking of the soil particle fractal dimension, capillary water retention, soil water retention, effective retention and rainfall retention of the different vegetation types was as follows: mixed shrub-grassland > shrub land > grassland > bare land. In terms of the vertical structure, the soil water retention in the 0–20 cm soil layer was higher than that in the 20–40 cm layer under all vegetation types. (3) The improvements to the soil physical properties and water storage capacity under the three vegetation types on Shell Island, the mixed shrub-grassland was the best, followed by shrub land and then, grassland. Moreover, the improvement in the 0–20 cm layer of the shell sand was better than that in the 20–40 cm layer. The soil bulk density, coarse sand, fine sand, capillary porosity, void ratio and fractal dimension were closely related to the soil water retention capacity and can be used as indicators to evaluate the water storage capacity of shell sand. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:39 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:39 PM Tags: o Fractal dimension o Shrub-grass vegetation o Soil moisture o Water retention capacity o Yellow River Delta * Effects of landscape restoration on soil water storage and water use in the Loess Plateau Region, China Type Journal Article Author Liding Chen Author Jiping Wang Author Wei Wei Author Bojie Fu Author Dongping Wu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112709007671__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvgfwWfyU$ Volume 259 Issue 7 Pages 1291-1298 Publication Managing landscapes at multiple scales for sustainability of ecosystem functions ISSN 0378-1127 Date March 20, 2010 Journal Abbr Forest Ecology and Management DOI 10.1016/j.foreco.2009.10.025 Abstract Large-scale vegetation restoration in China's Loess Plateau has been initiated by the central government for controlling soil and water losses in the past three decades. However, there is virtually no guidance for plant species selection for the restoration purpose. We investigated the effects of planting trees and shrubs, land-use conversions from croplands to pastures and native grasslands on soil water dynamics and water stresses by using long-term field measurements from 1986 to 1999 in the semi-arid loess hilly area. Our research has led to the following three major findings. Firstly, the amount of soil water storage within a 100cm depth decreased as measured at both the beginning and the ending point of growing seasons regardless land cover types. The soil water replenishment by rainfall during rainy seasons was not sufficient to fully recharge the soil water storage. Landscape restoration through shrub planting may help retain more soil water than other land cover types. Secondly, the ratio of actual evapotranspiration (ET) and pan evaporation (PET) generally declined for all land cover types during the study period. Shrub lands had the largest ET/PET ratio, followed by native grassland, cropland/alfalfa, and pine woodland. The ET/PET ratio of native grasslands declined fastest, followed by pine woodlands, shrub lands, alfalfa, and croplands. Pine woodland's low ET/PET ratios were mainly caused by its higher runoff due to soil compaction resulted from soil desiccation. Lastly, we found that the soil water storage at the beginning of growing season was important in determining the ET/PET ratios. This study suggested that pine plantations may not be appropriate for landscape restoration in such a semi-arid loess hilly area while shrubs may be highly recommended. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:48 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:48 PM Tags: o China o Evapotranspiration o Land cover types o Loess Plateau o Soil water o Vegetation restoration o Water stress * Landscape and avifauna changes as an indicator of Yellow River Delta Wetland restoration Type Journal Article Author Ang Chen Author Xin Sui Author Dongsheng Wang Author Wengen Liao Author Huaifeng Ge Author Jie Tao URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857415302627__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvaUJGvD8$ Volume 86 Pages 162-173 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date January 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2015.11.017 Abstract Wetlands are important habitats on biodiversity protection. In this study, the relationship between wetland and avifauna changes in the Yellow River Delta Wetland was studied. Remote sensing and geographic information system provided an advanced platform for the research. After the avifauna survey was performed from 2012 to 2013, the birds’ variation and driving factors were analyzed. The results showed that the flow into the wetland increased continuously from 2000, and the increased of artificial wetland prevented the wetland degradation, although at the same time the total wetland area decreased. Medium grassland, tidal flat and pond are the three main landscapes which are beneficial for the habitation of birds. The migrating numbers of red-crowned crane increased significantly from 2005, and the overwintering numbers increased from 2009. The study results show that the key land use types for protecting endangered species of birds are medium grassland, tidal flat and pond landscapes. Wetland changes are sensitive to the birds and significantly affected by the flow. We suggest that the artificial wetland project should enhance the three land use type area to ensure the wetland restoration. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:53 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:53 PM Tags: o Avifauna survey o Landscape metrics o Wetland restoration o Yellow River * Modeling the regional grazing impact on vegetation carbon sequestration ability in Temperate Eurasian Steppe Type Journal Article Author Yi-zhao CHEN Author Zheng-guo SUN Author Zhi-hao QIN Author Pavel Propastin Author Wei WANG Author Jian-long LI Author Hong-hua RUAN URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095311916616143__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvHPnRqjM$ Volume 16 Issue 10 Pages 2323-2336 Publication Journal of Integrative Agriculture ISSN 2095-3119 Date October 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Journal of Integrative Agriculture DOI 10.1016/S2095-3119(16)61614-3 Abstract Abstract Anthropogenic activities profoundly influence carbon sequestration in the Eurasian Steppe. In particular, grazing has been identified as having a major effect on carbon sequestration. However, the extent to which grazing affects regional patterns or carbon sequestration is unknown. In this study, we evaluated the impact of regional grazing on grassland carbon sequestration using the Boreal Ecosystem Productivity Simulator (BEPS) and the Shiyomi grazing model. Model performances were validated against the results from field measurements and eddy covariance (EC) sites. Model outputs showed that in 2008, the regional net primary productivity (NPP) was 79.5 g C m−2, and the net ecosystem productivity (NEP) was −6.5 g C m−2, characterizing the region as a weak carbon source. The Mongol Steppe (MS) was identified as a carbon sink, whereas the Kazakh Steppe (KS) was either carbon neutral or a weak carbon source. The spatial patterns of grazing density are divergent between the MS and the KS. In the MS, livestock was mainly distributed in China with relatively good management, while in the KS livestock was mainly concentrated in the southern countries (especially Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan) with harsh environments and poor management. The consumption percentages of NPP in Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan were 5.3, 3.3 and 1.2%, respectively, whereas the percentages in other countries were lower than 1%. Correspondingly, grazing consumption contributed to the carbon sources of Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan by 11.6, 6.3 and 4.3%, respectively, while it weakened the carbon sink in Inner Mongolia, China and Mongolia by 1.6 and 0.5%. This regional pattern should be affected by different sub-regional characteristics, e.g., the continuous degradation of grassland in the southern part of the KS and the restoration of grassland in Inner Mongolia, China. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:36 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:36 PM Tags: o carbon sequestration ability o grazing activity o regional evaluation o Temperate Eurasian Steppe o terrestrial modeling * Organic carbon in soil physical fractions under different-aged plantations of Mongolian pine in semi-arid region of Northeast China Type Journal Article Author Fu-Sheng Chen Author De-Hui Zeng Author Timothy J. Fahey Author Peng-Fei Liao URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929139309001723__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvVxVYw0I$ Volume 44 Issue 1 Pages 42-48 Publication Applied Soil Ecology ISSN 0929-1393 Date January 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Applied Soil Ecology DOI 10.1016/j.apsoil.2009.09.003 Abstract In order to understand the changes of surface soil carbon (C) storage following the afforestation of sandy grasslands, we used physical fractionation procedures to quantify C concentrations and sucrase enzyme activity in bulk soil and different particle fractions along two replicate chronosequences of Mongolian pine (Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica Litv.) plantations in the southeastern Keerqin Sand Lands, Northeast China. Carbon concentration in bulk topsoil (0–15cm) initially decreased following afforestation of grassland and subsequently increased as the forest matured. In general, this pattern of C concentration changes was associated with all particle-size fractions (except clays) and both macro- and microaggregates. The patterns of topsoil C were also influenced by wind erosion and deposition, with marked increases in the relative mass of silt and fine sand fractions occurring during forest development. The loss of aggregates immediately following afforestation was counteracted by formation of aggregates as the forests developed, contributing to the stabilization of carbon. To enhance soil C storage during afforestation of sandy soils in such semi-arid regions it is recommended to minimize disruption of grassland vegetation during the planting stage. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:41 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:41 PM Tags: o Ecological restoration o Extracellular enzyme o Keerqin Sand Lands o Soil carbon storage o Soil physical fractionation o var. Litv. * Effect of reclamation of abandoned salinized farmland on soil bacterial communities in arid northwest China Type Journal Article Author Zhibo Cheng Author Yun Chen Author Fenghua Zhang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969718306594__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvl6X5ZSs$ Volume 630 Pages 799-808 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date July 15, 2018 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.02.259 Abstract Understanding the impact of reclamation of abandoned salinized farmland on soil bacterial community is of great importance for maintaining soil health and sustainability in arid regions. In this study, we used field sampling and 454 pyrosequencing methods to investigate the effects of 5-year reclamation treatments on soil properties, bacterial community composition and diversity. The four reclamation treatments are: abandoned salinized farmland (CK), cropland (CL), grassland (GL) and woodland (WL). We have found soil properties are significantly altered by abandoned salinized farmland reclamation. In particular, the lowest soil pH and electrical conductivity (EC) values are observed in CL (P<0.05). The dominant phyla are Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, Actinobacteria and Acidobacteria in all treatments. At the genus levels, the relative abundance of Bacillus, Lactococcus, Streptococcus and Enterococcus in CK, GL and WL is significantly higher than in CL. Bacterial diversity indices (i.e. ACE, Chao and Shannon) dramatically increase after the reclamation, with the highest in CL. Similar patterns of bacterial communities have been observed in CK, GL and WL soils, but significantly different from CL. Regression analyses indicate that the relative abundance of these phyla are significantly correlated with soil Fe, pH and EC. Results from non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) and redundancy analysis (RDA) indicate that soil Fe content, EC and pH are the most important factors in shaping soil bacterial communities. Overall, results indicate that abandoned salinized farmland reclaimed for CL significantly decrease soil pH and EC, and increase soil bacterial community diversity. Soil Fe concentration, EC and pH are the dominant environmental factors affecting soil bacterial community composition. The important role of Fe concentration in shaping bacterial community composition is a new discovery among the similar studies. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:50 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:53:04 PM Tags: o 454 pyrosequencing o Abandoned salinized farmland o Composition and diversity o Reclamation o Soil bacterial community * Long-term grazing exclusion effects on vegetation characteristics, soil properties and bacterial communities in the semi-arid grasslands of China Type Journal Article Author Jimin Cheng Author Guanghua Jing Author Lin Wei Author Zhaobin Jing URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857416305134__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvEvfN2K0$ Volume 97 Pages 170-178 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date December 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2016.09.003 Abstract Grazing exclusion is regarded as an effective way to restore degraded grasslands. However, it remains unclear if grazing exclusion could improve soil bacterial communities and how the soil bacteria affect soil organic carbon (SOC) in semi-arid grasslands over 33 years of continuous grazing exclusion. We studied the effects of 33 years of grazing exclusion on vegetation characteristics, soil properties, and the soil bacterial communities in the semi-arid grasslands. Our results showed that grazing exclusion significantly increased species diversity and richness, coverage, above- and belowground biomass and litter biomass. Total nitrogen (TN), soil organic carbon (SOC), total phosphorus (TP), soil available potassium (AK), and soil available phosphorus (AP) significantly increased. Grazing exclusion also improved the diversity and abundance of soil bacteria, which had a significant positive correlation with SOC. The dominant taxonomic groups of soil bacteria in grazed and grazing exclusion grasslands included Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Firmicutes, Planctomycetes, Chloroflexi, Gemmatimonadetes and Bacteroidetes. There was an interaction between SOC, TN, AK, AP and the relative abundances of some dominant groups. Long-term grazing exclusion had a negative effect on diversity and the abundance of soil bacteria. Our results may provide new insights for grassland management in the semi-arid regions. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:43 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:43 PM Tags: o Diversity o Grazing exclusion o Productivity o Semi-arid grasslands o Soil bacteria * Soil aggregation and intra-aggregate carbon fractions in relation to vegetation succession on the Loess Plateau, China Type Journal Article Author Man Cheng Author Yun Xiang Author Zhijing Xue Author Shaoshan An Author Frédéric Darboux URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816214002641__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvljcemMk$ Volume 124 Pages 77-84 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date January 1, 2015 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2014.09.006 Abstract Revegetation has been reported to be one of the most effective measures for reducing soil erosion on the Loess Plateau in China. The Yunwu observatory, located in the northwestern Loess Plateau of China, was selected to study the effect of vegetation succession on total carbon (C), aggregate C, and intra-aggregate particulate organic matter-carbon (iPOM-C) concentrations. The vegetation types studied, listed from the shortest to the longest enclosure duration order, were abandoned grazed grassland (Ab.G3), Hierochloe odorata Beauv. (Hi.O7), Thymus mongolicus Ronnm (Th.M15), Artemisia sacrorum Ledeb (At.S25), Stipa bungeana Trin Ledeb (St.B36), and Stipa grandis P. Smirn (St.G56) communities. Five sizes of aggregates were separated using the modified Yoder method (<0.25mm, 0.25–1mm, 1–2mm, 2–5mm and 5–8mm). Fine and coarse iPOM-C concentrations were isolated from the soil aggregates. The results showed that revegetation led to an increase in the percentage of aggregates in small macroaggregates (0.25–2mm) and thereby improved the uniformity of the soil aggregate size distribution. The concentration of bulk soil carbon ranged from 10.1gkg−1 to 29.7gkg−1 during vegetation succession. During the vegetation succession, with the exception of At.S25, the bulk soil carbon and aggregate carbon concentrations increased with recovery time. The fine iPOM-C concentrations were between 0.7 and 14.0gkg−1, which was significantly greater than the coarse iPOM-C concentrations. The coarse and fine iPOM-C concentrations exhibited different trends with vegetation restoration. In conclusion, vegetation restoration caused an increase in small macroaggregates, enhancing the uniformity of the soil aggregate size distribution and inducing greater soil organic carbon sequestration. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:07 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:07 PM Tags: o Aggregate stability o iPOM o Loess Plateau o Vegetation succession * Impacts of anthropogenic land use/cover changes on soil wind erosion in China Type Journal Article Author Wenfeng Chi Author Yuanyuan Zhao Author Wenhui Kuang Author Honglin He URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969719309945__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvprqi3Ro$ Volume 668 Pages 204-215 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date June 10, 2019 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.03.015 Abstract Assessing the impacts of land use/cover change (LUCC) on the aeolian process is crucial for improving regional ecosystem services and sustainable development. The objective of the study were to 1) examine the spatiotemporal patterns of the soil wind erosion modulus (SWEM) in China from 1990 to 2015, and 2) reveal the contributions of LUCC to SWEM dynamics. The annual SWEM derived by the revised wind erosion equation (RWEQ) was analyzed at regional and sub-regional scales using statistical analysis. The impacts of various LUCCs on SWEM were further assessed in each county. The results showed that the regions that experienced severe wind erosion (SWEM > 50 t/(ha·a)) accounted for 8.91% of all of China. The average SWEM generally decreased by half from 1990 to 2015. Large SWEM differences were found among various land use/cover types. The SWEM from desert was two times or higher than that from sparse grass, cropland, and woodland; moreover, that of dense grass was the lowest in arid/semiarid areas. The conversion of grassland/woodland to cropland and desert expansion during 1990–2000 induced a net increase in total soil wind erosion of approximately 1205 × 104 t. With the implementation of ecological projects starting in the early 2000s, woodland/grassland was reconverted from cropland, and the eco-restoration of sparse grass and desert induced a net decrease in wind erosion of 278 × 104 t. All these indicated that anthropogenic activities in ecological projects had positive impacts in terms of reducing aeolian erosion intensity. We suggest that eco-restoration should be protected and consolidated in the future. Adaptive management is required to control wind erosion and improve ecosystem services and human wellbeing for people in China. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:25 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:25 PM Tags: o Anthropogenic activities o Ecological project o Land use/cover change (LUCC) o Revised wind erosion equation (RWEQ) o Soil wind erosion * A new method for restoring ditches in peatlands: ditch filling with fiber bales Type Journal Article Author Rodney A. Chimner Author David J. Cooper Author Marcie D. Bidwell Author Anthony Culpepper Author Kay Zillich Author Koren Nydick URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12817__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvAa7Smh0$ Rights © 2018 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 27 Issue 1 Pages 63-69 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2019 DOI 10.1111/rec.12817 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:28:43 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Ditching is a common practice to dewater wetlands, including peatlands, and ditch blocking is a common method for restoring wetlands because substrate is often unavailable for filling the ditches. However, filling has many advantages compared to blocking ditches. Our goal was to test whether ditches could be filled in a Colorado sloping fen (Chattanooga Fen) using bales created from shredded aspen (Populus tremuloides) tree-fiber. We monitored water table levels before and after we filled two ditches (combined length of approximately 165 m × 3 m wide) as well as an undisturbed reference portion of Chattanooga fen. The reference site had stable water tables that rarely dropped more than 20 cm below the soil surface. The ditches had been dewatering large areas of the fen for at least 100 years. Filling the ditches with fiber bales resulted in a water table increase between 2 and 22 cm in an area up to 150 m below the ditch. Native sedges now cover the area where we filled the ditches, with no erosion or compression/settling of the ground observed and no water backing up behind the filled ditches. Filling the ditches with shredded fiber bales is a good option for restoration in wilderness areas, or areas lacking peat or mineral soil fill because it is a natural material that is easily transported and placed in the ditches. Short Title A new method for restoring ditches in peatlands Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:28:43 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:28:43 PM Tags: o Colorado o fens o hydrology o mountain peatlands o restoration Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * An overview of peatland restoration in North America: where are we after 25 years? Type Journal Article Author Rodney A. Chimner Author David J. Cooper Author Frederic C. Wurster Author Line Rochefort URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12434__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvz_Ftn_c$ Rights © 2016 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 25 Issue 2 Pages 283-292 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2017 DOI 10.1111/rec.12434 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:30:23 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Peatland restoration in North America (NA) was initiated approximately 25 years ago on peat-extracted bogs. Recent advances in peatland restoration in NA have expanded the original concepts and methodology. Restoration efforts in NA now include restoring peatlands from many diverse types of disturbances (e.g. roads, agriculture, grazing, erosion, forestry, and petrol industry infrastructure impacts) and occur in a greater array of peatland types (e.g. fens and swamps). Because fens are groundwater and surface flow driven, techniques to restore the hydrology of fens are generally more complicated than bogs. Restoring a greater variety of peatland types on a large-scale basis (>10 ha) commands new techniques for reestablishing a broader array of plants other than Sphagnum spp., including non-Sphagnum mosses, sedges, nonericaceous shrubs, and trees. The rationale for restoring peatlands has expanded to include legal requirements, wetland mitigation and banking, climate mitigation, water quality, and as part of responsible ecosystem management for industry or society. In the past 25 years, peatland restoration in NA has evolved from (1) trial and error to a more empirically based scientific approach, (2) small site-specific experiments to landscape-scale restoration (e.g. hydrological connectivity, ecological fragmentation), and (3) individual stakeholder (academic) to multiple stakeholders across jurisdictional boundaries (private, local, and regional governmental agencies, NGOs, and so on). However, many research gaps still exist that must be addressed to enhance our ability to restore peatlands successfully. Short Title An overview of peatland restoration in North America Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:30:23 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:30:23 PM Tags: o ditches o grazing o gullies o rehabilitation o revegetation o rewetting Attachments o Snapshot * The merits of artificial selection for the development of restoration-ready plant materials of native perennial grasses Type Journal Article Author Ian H. Chivers Author Thomas A. Jones Author Linda M. Broadhurst Author Ivan W. Mott Author Steve R. Larson URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12323__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvrxDz44U$ Rights © 2016 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 24 Issue 2 Pages 174-183 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2016 DOI 10.1111/rec.12323 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:31:05 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Although seed harvested from remnant, wildland perennial-grass populations can be used for restoration in humid and subhumid temperate regions, seed harvested in semiarid and arid environments is often of low quality and highly variable in quantity. In addition, ongoing harvest of indigenous populations can be unsustainable, especially for those that are small. In such environments, dependable and repeatable broad-scale restoration of degraded grasslands requires sufficient and consistent supplies of reliable, cost-effective seed sources that can only result from intensively managed cultivated stands. But does the harvest of intensively managed seed-production fields inadvertently compromise genetic diversity, thereby adversely affecting the restoration outcome? That is, are seed-production systems a part of the solution for restoration, or do they create new unintended management issues? This article discusses the potential impacts of cultivated seed-production systems and recurrent artificial selection for specific traits on genetic integrity and performance of native-species perennial-grass populations. Although genetic shift resulting from cultivated perennial-grass seed production may be inevitable, genetic shifts that change phenological expression may be limited in genotypes that exhibit high seed retention. Artificial selection can improve plant material performance on the often-harsh conditions of restoration sites, but sufficiently high-effective population sizes (Ne) must be maintained to conserve genetic diversity, thereby precluding the inbreeding depression that can compromise plant performance. Potentially useful traits of native perennial-grass species that respond to artificial selection include seed production, seed retention, seedling establishment, competitive ability against weeds, and herbicide tolerance. Potential trade-offs between traits should also be considered to avoid undesirable inadvertent responses to selection. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:31:05 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:31:05 PM Tags: o functional traits o genetic diversity o genetic drift o genetic shift o recurrent selection o seed shattering o seedling establishment o trade-offs Attachments o Snapshot * The Disconnect Between Restoration Goals and Practices: A Case Study of Watershed Restoration in the Russian River Basin, California Type Journal Article Author Juliet Christian‐Smith Author Adina M. Merenlender URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2008.00428.x__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvURslZCA$ Rights © 2008 Society for Ecological Restoration International Volume 18 Issue 1 Pages 95-102 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2010 DOI 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2008.00428.x Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:32:23 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Over the past two decades, watershed restoration has dramatically increased internationally. California has been at the forefront, allocating billions of dollars to restoration activities through legislation and voter-approved bonds. Yet, the implications of restoration remain ambiguous because there has been little examination of restoration accomplishments and almost no analysis of the political context of restoration. This article addresses these gaps, utilizing a case study of the Russian River basin in Northern California. We identify trends that shed light on both the ecological and the political implications of restoration at a basin scale by examining a database of 787 restoration projects implemented in the Russian River basin since the early 1980s. Although a total of over $47 million has been spent on restoration in the basin, dominant forms of restoration are limited in scope to small-scale projects that focus on technical solutions to site-specific problems. The majority of restoration efforts are devoted to road repair, riparian stabilization, and in-stream structures, accounting for 62% of all projects. These types of projects do not address the broader social drivers of watershed change such as land and water uses. We suggest that restoration can become more effective by addressing the entire watershed as a combination of social and ecological forces that interact to produce watershed conditions. Short Title The Disconnect Between Restoration Goals and Practices Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:32:23 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:32:23 PM Tags: o ecological restoration o geographic information systems o Mediterranean-climate streams o post project monitoring Attachments o Snapshot * Do we realize the full impact of pollinator loss on other ecosystem services and the challenges for any restoration in terrestrial areas? Type Journal Article Author Stefanie Christmann URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12950__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvLN8WegA$ Rights © 2019 The Author. Restoration Ecology published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 27 Issue 4 Pages 720-725 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2019 DOI 10.1111/rec.12950 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:52:12 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Pollinators are key agents for ecosystems and humankind concerning biodiversity, agriculture, climate change adaptation, and all other ecosystem services. Particularly in industrialized countries pollinator diversity is in decline. The bulk of research is on entomological or plant-pollinator network related topics, but the broad range of impacts of pollinator loss on coupled human and natural systems is not yet studied. As 87% of all flowering plants depend on pollinators, they are basic for all ecosystem services to some extent. Therefore, pollinator loss might cause simultaneous degradation of ecosystem services inducing counterproductive human responses and interlinked poverty spirals. The interaction of climate change, a main risk factor for pollinators, and unadvised human responses to pollinator decline are rarely studied. Tipping points of pollinator loss are not yet identified. Can counterproductive human responses to pollinator deficiency upscale pollinator decline toward a pollinator-loss syndrome in the course of climate change? The article argues for research on the impacts of pollinator loss on other ecosystem services, useful and counterproductive human strategies on pollinator-loss induced degradation, and the integration of pollinator protection into all terrestrial restoration efforts. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:52:12 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:52:12 PM Tags: o ecosystem services o interdisciplinary o poverty o simulation o tipping points Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Development of soil chemical and microbial properties in reclaimed and unreclaimed grasslands in heaps after opencast lignite mining Type Journal Article Author Barbara Čížková Author Bartłomiej Woś Author Marcin Pietrzykowski Author Jan Frouz URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857418303264__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvWKnU2Cw$ Volume 123 Pages 103-111 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date November 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2018.09.004 Abstract Understanding changes in soil chemical and microbial properties under different vegetation types on post-mining sites is an important step in developing management practices to enhance ecosystem functions. Changes in soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) stock, pH, bulk density and microbial properties (microbial biomass, respiration and ergosterol content) were studied in chronosequences on reclaimed and unreclaimed grasslands on heaps after lignite mining in the northwest of the Czech Republic. Reclaimed sites were established by applying topsoil and seeding cultural grasses and legumes. Unreclaimed sites were only levelled and spontaneously colonized by grassy vegetation dominated by bushgrass (Calamagrostis epigejos (L.) Roth). Topsoil application created more favourable conditions for organic matter accumulation in soil. The C and N contents in the soil of reclaimed sites increased with age, while no significant changes occurred in unreclaimed sites. The results indicated a high potential for C sequestration in reclaimed grasslands with topsoiling, estimated at up to 1.6 t ha y−1. The P content did not change with age in either reclaimed or unreclaimed sites. Microbial biomass and respiration increased with chronosequence in both sites. However, respiration did not differ between reclaimed and unreclaimed sites, while microbial biomass was significantly higher in reclaimed sites. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:43 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:53:05 PM Tags: o Carbon o Post-mining soil o Reclamation o Sequestration o Succession * Survivability of Wyoming Big Sagebrush Transplants Type Journal Article Author Charlie D. Clements Author Daniel N. Harmon URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190052818300981__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvY08F4bE$ Volume 41 Issue 2 Pages 88-93 Publication Rangelands ISSN 0190-0528 Date April 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Rangelands DOI 10.1016/j.rala.2018.11.008 Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:22 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:04:22 PM Tags: o habitat improvement o shrub restoration o transplanting * Native seeds incorporated into activated carbon pods applied concurrently with indaziflam: a new strategy for restoring annual-invaded communities? Type Journal Article Author Danielle R. Clenet Author Kirk W. Davies Author Dustin D. Johnson Author Jay D. Kerby URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12927__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvn9xgMr0$ Rights © 2019 Society for Ecological Restoration This article has been contributed to by US Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA. Volume 27 Issue 4 Pages 738-744 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2019 DOI 10.1111/rec.12927 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:27:57 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Reestablishing native perennial vegetation in annual grass-invaded rangelands is critical to restoring ecosystems. Control of exotics, often achieved with preemergent herbicides, is essential for successful restoration of invaded rangelands. Unfortunately, desirable species cannot be seeded simultaneously with preemergent herbicide application due to nontarget damage. To avoid this, seeding is commonly delayed at least 1 year. Delaying seeding increases the likelihood that annual grasses will begin reestablishing and compete with seeded species. Activated carbon (AC) can provide preemergent herbicide protection for seeded species because it adsorbs and deactivates herbicides. Previous studies suggest that a cylindrical herbicide protection pod (HPP), containing AC and seeds, allows desired species to be seeded simultaneously with the application of the preemergent herbicide imazapic. Unfortunately, imazapic is only effective at controlling annual grasses for 1–2 years. Indaziflam is a new preemergent herbicide which exhibits longer soil activity, with which HPPs may be useful. To assess this possibility, we evaluated seeding two native species (Wyoming big sagebrush [Artemisia tridentata Nutt ssp. wyomingensis] and bluebunch wheatgrass [Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) Á. Löve]), both incorporated into HPPs and as bare seed, at four application rates of indaziflam in a grow room study. HPPs protected seeded species at low, mid, and high rates of indaziflam. The abundance and size of plants was greater in HPPs compared to bare seed treatments. These results suggest that HPPs can be used to seed native grasses and shrubs simultaneously with indaziflam application. Short Title Native seeds incorporated into activated carbon pods applied concurrently with indaziflam Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:27:57 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:27:57 PM Tags: o herbicide protection pods o indaziflam o revegetation o sagebrush o seeding technologies Attachments o Snapshot * Quantifying and modeling sediment yields from interrill erosion under armouring Type Journal Article Author T.A. Cochrane Author D.C. Yoder Author D.C. Flanagan Author S.M. Dabney URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167198719302399__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvifdy4aQ$ Volume 195 Pages 104375 Publication Soil and Tillage Research ISSN 0167-1987 Date December 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Soil and Tillage Research DOI 10.1016/j.still.2019.104375 Abstract Surface soil properties can change as a result of soil disturbances, erosion, or deposition. When soils contain rock, surface soil properties can also change over time as a result of the process of soil armouring, which is the selective removal of finer particles by erosion, leaving an armoured layer of coarser particles that may reduce further soil loss. Rapid armouring is typically reported in steep and bare slopes on mine sites, construction sites, road embankments, and also rangelands. Changes in surface soil properties over time induced by armouring are not accounted for in current erosion models such as WEPP or RUSLE2 because little is known about rates of armouring over time as a function of rainfall intensity, rock content, slopes, and other factors. In this paper we simulate soil armouring induced by interrill erosion in two sets of experiments and propose ways to account for the process in WEPP and RUSLE2 without modifying the science behind the models. The first set of experiments was conducted to demonstrate and quantify the effect of armouring on sediment yields under varying rainfall intensities. Rainfall with intensities ranging from 22 to 80 mm h−1 was simulated on 0.56 m2 plots at slopes of 18 degrees (32.5%) using topsoil with high rock content from a mine restoration site. Results showed a clear relationship between rainfall intensity and armouring. There was an over 75% reduction in total soil loss under 22 mm h−1 rainfall between freshly applied soils and highly armoured soils at the same slope. A second set of experiments was conducted to understand the relationships between soil rock content, rate of surface rock cover change, slope change and sediment yields. Sediment yields and surface rock cover were quantified for non-cohesive soils consisting of glass beads with a diameter range of 45 to 90 μm and 0, 20 and 40% rock content in 0.22 m2 plots at a 15° (26.8%) slope under 80 mm h−1 simulated rainfall. Linear relationships were observed between cumulative sediment yields and rock cover, and exponential relationships between total runoff and rock cover. The armouring process was modeled at the experimental scale with WEPP and RUSLE2 by iteratively altering the rock cover and the slope over time. WEPP event based simulations at this scale resulted in reasonable predictions of sediment yields throughout the armouring process, and RUSLE2 required modification of soil erodibility values to account for high rock content and changes in runoff over time. Automation of this process, however, would require modifications of the models to expose rock cover and change slope over time. A method for doing this is discussed for interrill processes, but interactions between rill erosion and armouring need further study. The effect of long-slope high-energy rill flows on armouring also needs further investigation through field scale experiments, as this study did not examine the extent to which rock is uncovered and/or moved on long slopes differently from the residues already modeled in WEPP and RUSLE2. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:35 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:35 PM Tags: o Armouring o Interrill erosion o RUSLE2 o Soil erodibility o WEPP * Restoration Practices Have Positive Effects on Breeding Bird Species of Concern in the Chihuahuan Desert Type Journal Article Author John M. Coffman Author Brandon T. Bestelmeyer Author Jeffrey F. Kelly Author Timothy F. Wright Author Robert L. Schooley URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12081__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvIiXr9os$ Rights © 2014 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 22 Issue 3 Pages 336-344 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2014 DOI 10.1111/rec.12081 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:30:41 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Woody plant encroachment into grasslands is a global concern. Efforts to restore grasslands often assume that removal of woody plants benefits biodiversity but assumptions are rarely tested. In the Chihuahuan Desert of the Southwestern United States, we tested whether abundances of grassland specialist bird species would be greater in plant communities resulting from treatment with herbicides to remove encroaching shrubs compared with untreated shrub-dominated areas that represented pre-treatment conditions. In 2010, we surveyed breeding birds and vegetation at 16 treated–untreated pairs. In 2011, we expanded the survey effort to 21 treated–untreated pairs, seven unpaired treatment areas, and five reference grassland areas. Vegetation in treatment areas had higher perennial grass foliar and basal cover and lower shrub foliar cover compared with untreated areas. Several regionally declining grassland specialists exhibited higher occurrence and relative abundance in treated areas. A shrubland specialist, however, was associated with untreated areas and may be negatively impacted by shrub removal. Bird community composition differed between treated and untreated areas in both years. Our results indicate that shrub removal can have positive effects on grassland specialist bird species, but that a mosaic of treated and untreated areas might be most beneficial for regional biodiversity. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:30:41 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:30:41 PM Tags: o avian community analysis o grassland restoration o Peucaea cassinii o Polioptila melanura o rangeland management o shrub encroachment Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Hay transfer and sowing structuring species: Two complementary ecological engineering techniques to restore dry grassland communities Type Journal Article Author Clémentine Coiffait-Gombault Author Elise Buisson Author Thierry Dutoit URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1878029611007699__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvPhEfDSU$ Volume 9 Pages 33-39 Publication Ecological Engineering: from Concepts to Applications, Paris 2009 ISSN 1878-0296 Date January 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Procedia Environmental Sciences DOI 10.1016/j.proenv.2011.11.007 Abstract Exogenous disturbances change plant communities and sometimes the spontaneous vegetation that colonizes heavily disturbed areas remains very different even in the very long-term. To speed up a steppe plant succession, two experiments were conducted with or without the restoration of traditional sheep grazing: (1) hay transfer and (2) sowing of indigenous structuring species. Hay transfer significantly increases plant species richness and changes floristic composition reintroducing characteristic steppe species but fails to reintroduce perennials structuring the reference plant community. The second protocol enables to reintroduce these perennial species with the objective to improve changes in the plant community composition and structure. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:47 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:47 PM Tags: o ecological processes o ecological restoration o Mediterranean ecosystem o perturbation o plant communities o sheep grazing o sowing native species o species-richness o steppe * Transplant Survivorship of Bryophyte Soil Crusts in the Mojave Desert Type Journal Article Author Christina Cole Author Lloyd R. Stark Author Mary L. Bonine Author D. Nicholas McLetchie URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2008.00445.x__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvtDfwMeo$ Rights © 2008 Society for Ecological Restoration International Volume 18 Issue 2 Pages 198-205 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2010 DOI 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2008.00445.x Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:48:22 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Patches of the dominant biological soil crust moss (Syntrichia caninervis) in the Mojave Desert were subjected to transplant experiments to test the survivability of crustal transplantation due to source or destination microhabitat. After a period of 27 months, all the reciprocally transplanted and replanted sections had survived. However, percent cover of the reciprocally transplanted patches declined 20–50% relative to initial cover compared to a decline in cover of 36–52% for the replanted patches. Similarly, shoot density declined an average of 26% in the transplants and replants. Shoot mortality was essentially negligible through the first 21 months of the study and then declining across all treatments to approximately 5–10 dead shoots/cm2. However, this shoot death was also observed in equivalent densities in the host patches, indicative of a community-wide decline in plant health that was probably related to a regional rainfall deficit over this period. A tendency existed for plants moved from a shaded site to have reduced shoot density in the new site, and plants moved into exposed sites lost significantly more cover than plants moved into shaded sites. These seemingly conflicting trends result from one of the transplant treatments, the shaded to exposed, exhibiting a greater loss in shoot density and decline in cover than its reciprocal transplant, exposed to shaded. For soil restoration of disturbed bryophyte crusts, we recommend using as source material both the exposed and the shaded portions of the crust but avoiding moving Syntrichia from a shaded site into an exposed site. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:48:22 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:48:22 PM Tags: o biological soil crust o bryophyte o crust mortality o mosses o Syntrichia o transplants Attachments o Snapshot * Effects of local-scale management on herbaceous plant communities in Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) agroecosystems of southern Queensland, Australia Type Journal Article Author Stuart J. Collard Author Andrew F. Le Brocque Author Charlie Zammit URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016788091100140X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvtcOXp40$ Volume 142 Issue 3 Pages 176-183 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date August 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2011.05.001 Abstract Remnant vegetation in agricultural landscapes is assumed to contain the majority of biodiversity, although few Australian studies have considered the contribution made by the surrounding production matrix. In this study, herbaceous plant communities from Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) remnants and adjoining areas of the matrix were sampled to determine differences in plant species composition at the core and edge of four distinct land management categories. Nineteen sites consisting of Brigalow remnant and adjacent matrix were selected in the Brigalow Belt Bioregion of southern Queensland, Australia. This region has undergone recent agricultural development relative to the older, well studied landscapes of western Europe. Edge and core transects in four different land management categories were sampled for herbaceous plant species richness, composition and cover. Brigalow remnants contained significantly higher mean herbaceous richness than all other land management categories, and cultivated areas contained the lowest. Species richness, cover and composition did not differ between previously cultivated and uncultivated grasslands. Unlike other studies, there were no detectable edge effects for plant species richness, herbaceous cover and composition in any of the land management categories. Biodiversity conservation in agricultural landscapes in Australia should maintain a focus on the remnant vegetation components; however, our results suggest that there is the potential for enhancing plant biodiversity and ecological functioning by targeted management in modified grassland communities. Management and restoration efforts to conserve agroecosystem plant biodiversity should therefore integrate a range of different landscape elements. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:09 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:09 PM Tags: o Brigalow o Landscape context o Plant biodiversity o Production matrix * Grassland management impacts on soil carbon stocks: a new synthesis Type Journal Article Author Richard T. Conant Author Carlos E. P. Cerri Author Brooke B. Osborne Author Keith Paustian URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.1473__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvp6u6RCE$ Volume 27 Issue 2 Pages 662-668 Publication Ecological Applications ISSN 1051-0761 Date March 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Ecological Applications DOI 10.1002/eap.1473 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Abstract Grassland ecosystems cover a large portion of Earths? surface and contain substantial amounts of soil organic carbon. Previous work has established that these soil carbon stocks are sensitive to management and land use changes: grazing, species composition, and mineral nutrient availability can lead to losses or gains of soil carbon. Because of the large annual carbon fluxes into and out of grassland systems, there has been growing interest in how changes in management might shift the net balance of these flows, stemming losses from degrading grasslands or managing systems to increase soil carbon stocks (i.e., carbon sequestration). A synthesis published in 2001 assembled data from hundreds of studies to document soil carbon responses to changes in management. Here we present a new synthesis that has integrated data from the hundreds of studies published after our previous work. These new data largely confirm our earlier conclusions: improved grazing management, fertilization, sowing legumes and improved grass species, irrigation, and conversion from cultivation all tend to lead to increased soil C, at rates ranging from 0.105 to more than 1 Mg C·ha?1·yr?1. The new data include assessment of three new management practices: fire, silvopastoralism, and reclamation, although these studies are limited in number. The main area in which the new data are contrary to our previous synthesis is in conversion from native vegetation to grassland, where we find that across the studies the average rate of soil carbon stock change is low and not significant. The data in this synthesis confirm that improving grassland management practices and conversion from cropland to grassland improve soil carbon stocks. Date Added 2020-03-12, 4:49:49 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 4:49:49 PM Tags: o management o grassland o carbon o sequestration o soil land use Notes: o doi: 10.1002/eap.1473 * Biological soil crusts across disturbance–recovery scenarios: effect of grazing regime on community dynamics Type Journal Article Author L. Concostrina-Zubiri Author E. Huber-Sannwald Author I. Martínez Author J. L. Flores Flores Author J. A. Reyes-Agüero Author A. Escudero Author J. Belnap URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1890/13-1416.1__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvGcyn48Y$ Volume 24 Issue 7 Pages 1863-1877 Publication Ecological Applications ISSN 1051-0761 Date October 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Ecological Applications DOI 10.1890/13-1416.1 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Grazing represents one of the most common disturbances in drylands worldwide, affecting both ecosystem structure and functioning. Despite the efforts to understand the nature and magnitude of grazing effects on ecosystem components and processes, contrasting results continue to arise. This is particularly remarkable for the biological soil crust (BSC) communities (i.e., cyanobacteria, lichens, and bryophytes), which play an important role in soil dynamics. Here we evaluated simultaneously the effect of grazing impact on BSC communities (resistance) and recovery after livestock exclusion (resilience) in a semiarid grassland of Central Mexico. In particular, we examined BSC species distribution, species richness, taxonomical group cover (i.e., cyanobacteria, lichen, bryophyte), and composition along a disturbance gradient with different grazing regimes (low, medium, high impact) and along a recovery gradient with differently aged livestock exclosures (short-, medium-, long-term exclusion). Differences in grazing impact and time of recovery from grazing both resulted in slight changes in species richness; however, there were pronounced shifts in species composition and group cover. We found we could distinguish four highly diverse and dynamic BSC species groups: (1) species with high resistance and resilience to grazing, (2) species with high resistance but low resilience, (3) species with low resistance but high resilience, and (4) species with low resistance and resilience. While disturbance resulted in a novel diversity configuration, which may profoundly affect ecosystem functioning, we observed that 10 years of disturbance removal did not lead to the ecosystem structure found after 27 years of recovery. These findings are an important contribution to our understanding of BCS dynamics from a species and community perspective placed in a land use change context. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:52:06 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:52:06 PM Tags: o grazing o resilience o cyanobacteria o drylands o grassland o resistance o bryophyte o lichen Notes: o doi: 10.1890/13-1416.1 * Passive restoration of vegetation and biological soil crusts following 80 years of exclusion from grazing across the Great Basin Type Journal Article Author Lea A. Condon Author Nicole Pietrasiak Author Roger Rosentreter Author David A. Pyke URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.13021__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvgIgSltY$ Rights © 2019 The Authors. Restoration Ecology published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Society for Ecological Restoration. Volume n/a Issue n/a Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X DOI 10.1111/rec.13021 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:17:57 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Restoration targets for biological soil crusts are largely unknown. We surveyed seven 80-year-old grazing exclosures across northern Nevada for biocrusts to quantify reference conditions at relatively undisturbed sites. Exclosures were associated with the following plant communities: Wyoming big sagebrush, black sagebrush, and areas co-dominated by winterfat and Wyoming big sagebrush. Cover of biocrusts and shrubs were generally higher than other plant groups at these sites, regardless of being inside or outside of the exclosures, suggesting these groups make up most of the native flora across the region. Important in forming soil structure, cyanobacteria of the order Oscillatoriales were less abundant and diverse in black sagebrush communities. Grazing had a negative effect on the abundance of Oscillatoriales but not the number of algal taxa, including cyanobacteria. Abundance of light algal crusts were not influenced by plant community or grazing. Dark algal crusts were generally less abundant on grazed sites. Influences of plant community and grazing were most apparent when accounting for reproductive rates of lichens and mosses based on establishment mechanisms. Abundance of shrubs, perennial grasses, Oscillatoriales, fast reproducing biocrusts and the number of algal and cyanobacterial taxa, varied by plant community, suggesting that restoration should be plant community specific. We demonstrate the affinity of rapidly reproducing biocrusts for winterfat-Wyoming big sagebrush co-dominated plant communities, regardless of grazing pressure. Across sites, the effects of grazing were most evident on the abundance of Oscillatoriales and slowly reproducing biocrusts following 80 years of cessation from grazing. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:17:57 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:17:57 PM Tags: o algae o biocrusts o black sagebrush o cyanobacteria o livestock grazing o winterfat o Wyoming big sagebrush Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Grassland restoration in practice: Do we achieve the targets? A case study from Saxony-Anhalt/Germany Type Journal Article Author Mareike K. Conrad Author Sabine Tischew URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857411000759__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvKAt-aBE$ Volume 37 Issue 8 Pages 1149-1157 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date August 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2011.02.010 Abstract Grassland restoration on arable land is the second most implemented compensation measure in Germany to counteract impacts of infrastructural projects on nature. Most grassland restoration has been carried out using standardized commercial seed mixtures with large amounts of perennial generalists, cultivars and seeds of non-local origin. To evaluate whether this current practice is appropriate for developing regional types of species-rich mesophile grasslands, we analyzed four widely used treatments in a real-world setting (48 plots): (1) sowing a non-site-specific herb-poor mixture; (2) sowing a non-site-specific herb-enriched mixture; (3) sowing a site-specific herb-enriched mixture; and (4) spontaneous regeneration. After up to nine years, restored sites differed from target grasslands in: (1) number of species; (2) abundance and dominance of target species; and (3) dominance structure. Sown fields were dominated by sown species from the beginning. Because most differences were due to increasing cover of a small number of sown species, we found little development toward regional types of species-rich mesophile grasslands. In contrast, species composition on spontaneously regenerated sites changed to a greater degree and showed gradual development toward target grasslands. The limiting factor for successful restoration on all sites was availability of propagules. On sown sites, dominance patterns – particularly of Festuca rubra cultivars – had a negative effect on immigration and development of target species. For future restoration practice, we strongly recommend avoiding standardized commercial non-local seed mixtures. In particular, highly competitive cultivars should never be used. Even spontaneous regeneration should be preferred over standardized mixtures. However, in species-poor environments enrichment with selected species is necessary to reach target state. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:28 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:28 PM Tags: o Commercial non-local seed mixture o Compensation measures o Grassland restoration o Restoration practice o Spontaneous regeneration * Beta diversity of plant species in human-transformed landscapes: Control of community assembly by regional productivity and historical connectivity Type Journal Article Author Timo Conradi Author Vicky M. Temperton Author Johannes Kollmann URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1433831916300415__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvUXSrtDk$ Volume 24 Pages 1-10 Publication Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics ISSN 1433-8319 Date February 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics DOI 10.1016/j.ppees.2016.10.001 Abstract Spatial variation in species composition (‘beta diversity’) is comprised of two components, spatial turnover and nestedness. Disentangling the drivers of each component allows a refined evaluation of the community assembly mechanisms that generate regional diversity patterns. This study examines how environmental sorting as well as past and present dispersal processes regulate spatial turnover and nestedness of plant species in human-transformed grassland landscapes, and whether the relative importance of these drivers varies among two landscapes with contrasting regional soil productivity. We found that nestedness always resulted from differences in historical connectivity to the characteristic species pool of pre-transformed calcareous grassland landscapes, irrespective of regional productivity. This was probably due to dispersal limitation of numerous species from this rich species pool under current landscape configuration and management, the absence of which cannot be compensated for by contemporary immigration rates in modern landscapes. By contrast, spatial turnover was driven by opposing mechanisms in nutrient-rich vs. nutrient-poor landscapes. In the landscape with low soil fertility due to phosphorous (P) limitation, spatial turnover was generated by variation in past and present dispersal processes. In the fertile landscape, species turnover was driven by environmental factors and increased mainly with differences in P and nitrate supply. The findings are consistent with theoretical considerations and empirical evidence from small-scale experiments that often find a reduced importance of dispersal at higher soil resource supply, showing that this pattern also manifests at the landscape scale. In summary, our study indicates that contrasting assembly mechanisms generate spatial compositional turnover in landscapes with contrasting soil conditions, which has significant implications for conservation and habitat restoration. It also demonstrates that detailed reconstructions of the land-use history of individual sites and their surroundings are critical for understanding beta diversity in human-transformed landscapes. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:53 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:53 PM Tags: o Calcareous grasslands o Environmental filtering o Habitat fragmentation o Metacommunity o Nestedness o Species pools * Long-term trends in restoration and associated land treatments in the southwestern United States Type Journal Article Author Stella M. Copeland Author Seth M. Munson Author David S. Pilliod Author Justin L. Welty Author John B. Bradford Author Bradley J. Butterfield URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12574__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvd3m5xSU$ Rights © 2017 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 26 Issue 2 Pages 311-322 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2018 DOI 10.1111/rec.12574 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:19:35 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Restoration treatments, such as revegetation with seeding or invasive species removal, have been applied on U.S. public lands for decades. Temporal trends in these management actions have not been extensively summarized previously, particularly in the southwestern United States where invasive plant species, drought, and fire have altered dryland ecosystems. We assessed long-term (1940–2010) trends in restoration using approximately 4,000 vegetation treatments conducted on Bureau of Land Management lands across the southwestern United States. We found that since 1940, the proportions of seeding and vegetation/soil manipulation (e.g. vegetation removal or plowing) treatments have declined, while the proportions of prescribed burn and invasive species treatments have increased. Treatments in pinyon-juniper and big sagebrush communities declined in comparison to treatments in desert scrub, creosote bush, and riparian woodland communities. Restoration-focused treatment objectives increased relative to resource extraction objectives. Species richness and proportion of native species used in seeding treatments also increased. Inflation-adjusted costs per area rose 750% for vegetation/soil manipulation, 600% for seeding, and 400% for prescribed burn treatments in the decades from 1981 to 2010. Seeding treatments were implemented in warmer and drier years when compared to the climate conditions of the entire study period and warmer and wetter years relative to several years before and after the treatment. These results suggest that treatments over a 70-year period on public lands in the southwestern United States are shifting toward restoration practices that are increasingly large, expensive, and related to fire and invasive species control. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:19:35 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:19:35 PM Tags: o Bureau of Land Management (BLM) o drylands o fire o invasive nonnative species o Land Treatment Digital Library o land-use disturbance o public land o rehabilitation Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Potential impacts of overlapping land-use and climate in a sensitive dryland: a case study of the Colorado Plateau, USA Type Journal Article Author Stella M. Copeland Author John B. Bradford Author Michael C. Duniway Author Rudy M. Schuster URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.1823__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvkYzdrg0$ Volume 8 Issue 5 Pages e01823 Publication Ecosphere ISSN 2150-8925 Date May 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Ecosphere DOI 10.1002/ecs2.1823 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Abstract The combination of co-occurring climate change and increasing land-use is likely to affect future environmental and socioeconomic conditions in drylands; these hyper-arid to sub-humid landscapes are limited by water resources and prone to land degradation. We characterized the potential for geographic overlap among land-use practices and between land-use and climate change on the Colorado Plateau?a dryland region experiencing rapid changes in land-use and facing aridification. We characterized spatial patterns and temporal trends in aridification, land-use, and recreation at the county and 10-km2 grid scales. Increasing trends and overlapping areas of high intensity for use, including oil and gas development and recreation, and climate drying, suggest areas with high potential to experience detrimental effects to the recreation economy, water availability, vegetation and wildlife habitat, and spiritual and cultural resources. Patterns of overlap in high-intensity land-use and climate drying differ from the past, indicating the potential for novel impacts and suggesting that land managers and planners may require new strategies to adapt to changing conditions. This analytical framework for assessing the potential impacts of overlapping land-use and climate change could be applied with other drivers of change or to other regions to create scenarios at various spatial scales in support of natural resource planning efforts. Date Added 2020-03-12, 4:06:18 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:53:06 PM Tags: o agriculture o aridification o climate change o Colorado Plateau o ecosystem services o grazing o land-use o landscape attributes o oil and gas development o population growth o recreation o renewable energy Notes: o doi: 10.1002/ecs2.1823 o doi: 10.1002/ecs2.1823 * Restoration ability of seasonal exclosures under different woodland degradation stages in semiarid Chaco rangelands of Argentina Type Journal Article Author S.M. Cotroneo Author E.J. Jacobo Author M.M. Brassiolo Author R.A. Golluscio URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196318309698__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvZtWSVqM$ Volume 158 Pages 28-34 Publication Journal of Arid Environments ISSN 0140-1963 Date November 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Journal of Arid Environments DOI 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2018.08.002 Abstract Exclosures are widely used for rangeland restoration in semiarid woodlands. However, grass recovery could be hampered if degradation exceeded certain thresholds. In this study we assessed four years effects of seasonally grazed exclosures –vs. open rangelands– on understory cover (grasses, low shrubs and litter) and peak standing biomass in three increasing degradation stages –mature forests, secondary forests and shrublands– in semiarid Chaco woodlands. We found that grass cover and biomass increased tenfold in four years in mature and secondary forests but remained virtually null in shrublands. In rested forests, the grass cover increments remained relatively constant regardless the annual rainfall amount, both in the driest year 2013 (531 mm) and the wettest year 2015 (924 mm). Only in an extraordinarily wet year (2015) did grass biomass increased in rested shrublands. In that wet year, low shrubs cover –higher at higher overstory degradation– decreased in all woodlands. Our results suggest that shrublands may constitute a new steady state unable to recover by grazing exclusion itself, but probably by its combination with wet periods. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:21 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:53:08 PM Tags: o El niño southern oscillation (ENSO) o Rehabilitation o Xerophilous forest * Gypsum amendment of alkaline bauxite residue – Plant available aluminium and implications for grassland restoration Type Journal Article Author Ronan Courtney Author Luke Kirwan URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857412000754__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvvQb7gII$ Volume 42 Pages 279-282 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date May 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2012.02.025 Abstract An inherent property of bauxite refining residue is high pH and associated elevated levels of solubilised aluminium. High solubilised Al content of the residue can inhibit plant growth and under natural conditions significant reduction of aluminium levels is extremely slow. Various procedures have been employed globally to reduce the alkaline properties of bauxite residue. At the Aughinish Alumina Ltd. refinery gypsum is applied as an amendment to reduce pH and sodicity of the residue for restoration. An additional benefit of this procedure is a significant decrease in plant available Al in the residue and low herbage concentrations. Furthermore, deficiencies of nutrients such as Ca, a symptom of Al toxicity, are not evident. To avoid excessive Al uptake in restored residue it is recommended that adequate calcium and other nutrients are added to the residue and nutrient cycling is encouraged as part of the restoration programme. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:20 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:20 PM Tags: o Mine waste restoration o Revegetation o Sodic o Tailings * Macro-arthropod succession in grassland growing on bauxite residue Type Journal Article Author R. Courtney Author N. O’Neill Author T. Harrington Author J. Breen URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857410002120__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv9ZuLehQ$ Volume 36 Issue 12 Pages 1666-1671 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date December 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2010.07.006 Abstract Ecosystem functions such as nutrient cycling are crucial components of revegetation programmes for bauxite residues and other tailings. Whilst vegetation establishment on bauxite residue is well studied, little is known about the development of the soil-biota. Macro-arthropod assemblages have been used to monitor and evaluate restoration success on a variety of mine spoils, but there is no information on its presence in bauxite residues. In order to understand the colonization and community development of macro-arthropods in revegetated residue, we compared species from two revegetated residues with an unamended site using pitfall and pan trap techniques. Whilst relatively few immobile species were present in the unamended site, high diversity was recorded for the revegetated sites. A number of species representative of predatory and carnivorous trophic structure were identified for the two vegetated sites. Additionally, many species identified are indicative of later stages of succession. These findings indicate that bauxite residues can be successfully restored to a functioning grassland type ecosystem. Monitoring of key arthropod species is recommended as part of the restoration evaluation process. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:20 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:20 PM Tags: o Mine tailings o Restoration monitoring o Revegetation * Soil constraints for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi spore community in degraded sites of rupestrian grassland: Implications for restoration Type Journal Article Author Etiene Silva Coutinho Author Milton Barbosa Author Wallace Beiroz Author Denise L.C. Mescolotti Author Joice Andrade Bonfim Author Ricardo Luís Louro Berbara Author Geraldo W Fernandes URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1164556318301699__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvvjZz1Mk$ Volume 90 Pages 51-57 Publication European Journal of Soil Biology ISSN 1164-5563 Date January 1, 2019 Journal Abbr European Journal of Soil Biology DOI 10.1016/j.ejsobi.2018.12.003 Abstract The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are important organisms with enormous potential for use in ecological restoration due to their positive association to seedlings. We evaluated the effects of soil degradation on a species-rich AMF community that could hinder the restoration of rupestrian grassland sites whose soil had been removed. Soil samples were taken from reference and degraded sites. We assessed the density, species richness, and composition of AMF, as well as soil macronutrients, metals, and texture. We found lower AMF density and richness in degraded than in reference sites. AMF community seemed to be negatively affected by a low level of potassium (K) and a higher concentration of heavy metals and clay in degraded sites. Besides the shifts in AMF composition associated mainly with K concentration, we found that the lack of this nutrient in degraded sites was also related to a significant reduction in density of AMF species, which are thought to play important roles in plant development and, therefore, in ecological restoration. Thus, we emphasize that efforts to restore degraded areas of rupestrian grassland should contemplate the reestablishment of soil physical and chemical properties, such as a lower clay concentration, and levels of nutrients that are key for AMF colonization. In addition, we suggest the further development of protocols for inoculation of seedlings and soil with AMF species to improve the success of replantation. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:45 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:45 PM Tags: o Campo rupestre o Cerrado o Glomeromycetes o Microbial community o Restoration ecology * Influence of landscape-scale variables on vegetation conversion to exotic annual grassland in southern California, USA Type Journal Article Author Robert D. Cox Author Kristine L. Preston Author Robert F. Johnson Author Richard A. Minnich Author Edith B. Allen URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989414000444__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvIGIBGAU$ Volume 2 Pages 190-203 Publication Global Ecology and Conservation ISSN 2351-9894 Date December 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Global Ecology and Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.gecco.2014.09.008 Abstract In California, USA, coastal sage scrub (CSS) vegetation is being converted to exotic annual grassland, and several causes have been suggested. In order to investigate the importance of environmental variables in the conversion and recovery of CSS, particularly nitrogen deposition within the context of historical fire intervals, we employed an information theoretic approach. Prior studies have not assessed both conversion and recovery, and did not analyze nitrogen critical load for vegetation type conversion. We included measures of climate, topography, vegetation, land use, nitrogen deposition, and fire in our analysis, and found that 34% of CSS study sites were converted to exotic grassland between 1930 and 2009. Converted sites had higher nitrogen deposition with a critical load of 11 kg N ha−1 yr −1, also had shallower slopes, and were more west-facing. A smaller number of sites (24%) recovered to CSS, and these sites had about 2.5 times more CSS and 4.5 times less grassland in the surrounding landscape. CSS conservation and restoration efforts are most likely to be successful when focused on sites with <11.0 kg N ha−1 yr −1 and low invasion of exotic grasses. Analyses such as this that identify important threats may be useful in region-wide plans to conserve unique vegetation types. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:56 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:56 PM Tags: o Coastal sage scrub o Critical load o Exotic grass o Invasion o Nitrogen deposition o Vegetation type conversion * Controls on methane concentrations and fluxes in streams draining human-dominated landscapes Type Journal Article Author John T. Crawford Author Emily H. Stanley URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1890/15-1330__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv2_pvgac$ Volume 26 Issue 5 Pages 1581-1591 Publication Ecological Applications ISSN 1051-0761 Date July 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Ecological Applications DOI 10.1890/15-1330 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Abstract Streams and rivers are active processors of carbon, leading to significant emissions of CO2 and possibly CH4 to the atmosphere. Patterns and controls of CH4 in fluvial ecosystems remain relatively poorly understood. Furthermore, little is known regarding how major human impacts to fluvial ecosystems may be transforming their role as CH4 producers and emitters. Here, we examine the consequences of two distinct ecosystem changes as a result of human land use: increased nutrient loading (primarily as nitrate), and increased sediment loading and deposition of fine particles in the benthic zone. We did not find support for the hypothesis that enhanced nitrate loading down-regulates methane production via thermodynamic or toxic effects. We did find strong evidence that increased sedimentation and enhanced organic matter content of the benthos lead to greater methane production (diffusive + ebullitive flux) relative to pristine fluvial systems in northern Wisconsin (upper Midwest, USA). Overall, streams in a human-dominated landscape of southern Wisconsin were major regional sources of CH4 to the atmosphere, equivalent to ~20% of dairy cattle emissions, or ~50% of a landfill's annual emissions. We suggest that restoration of the benthic environment (reduced fine deposits) could lead to reduced CH4 emissions, while decreasing nutrient loading is likely to have limited impacts to this ecosystem process. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:47:24 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:53:11 PM Tags: o agriculture o climate o methane o nutrients o sediments o streams o urbanization Notes: o doi: 10.1890/15-1330 o doi: 10.1890/15-1330 * Re-establishment of Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull in an eight-year grazing experiment on upland acid grassland Type Journal Article Author C. Nigel R. Critchley Author Ruth J. Mitchell Author Rob J. Rose Author J. Bernard Griffiths Author Emily Jackson Author Heather Scott Author Owen D. Davies URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1617138112000970__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvvlzdRPs$ Volume 21 Issue 1 Pages 22-30 Publication Journal for Nature Conservation ISSN 1617-1381 Date February 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Journal for Nature Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.jnc.2012.08.005 Abstract Upland heathland is an internationally important habitat but a large area in the UK has been degraded to acid grassland by intensive livestock grazing. Re-establishment of dwarf shrubs, particularly Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull, is a key objective for restoring heathland on these sites. A replicated plot-scale experiment was set up to examine effects of disturbance and seed addition on C. vulgaris establishment in a Nardus stricta L. grassland under three grazing regimes: sheep only (1.5ewesha−1 for 10 months per year); cattle only (0.5heifersha−1 in summer only); and, the cattle regime combined with sheep (1.0ewesha−1 for 10 months per year). Early results of the experiment have been reported previously but it was not known if these results were an indication of the longer-term restoration success. Here we evaluate the success of the restoration methods (disturbance, seeding treatments and grazing regime) eight years after the treatments began. In seeded plots, young C. vulgaris plants had greatest above-ground height, dry weight and shoot length if grazing was excluded or the cattle-only regime was applied. C. vulgaris cover was greatest, and increased most, in plots that had been disturbed, seeded and ungrazed or subjected to the cattle-only regime. The vegetation in these plots also became more similar to reference sites with 50% or more cover of C. vulgaris. The invasive Juncus effusus L. was more frequent in disturbed and grazed plots but less frequent in plots with C. vulgaris established from added seed. Previous results that showed the benefits of disturbance and seeding treatments were still valid but changes in the vegetation composition were still occurring and longer-term studies will be needed to determine when grazing regimes including sheep might be reintroduced. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:39 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:39 PM Tags: o Cattle grazing o Heather moorland o Heathland o Restoration o Sheep grazing o Uplands o Vegetation management * Looking beyond rare species as umbrella species: Northern Bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) and conservation of grassland and shrubland birds Type Journal Article Author Andrew D. Crosby Author R. Dwayne Elmore Author David M. Leslie Author Rodney E. Will URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320715001299__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvT3VP5_c$ Volume 186 Pages 233-240 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date June 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2015.03.018 Abstract Changes in land use and land cover throughout the eastern half of North America have caused substantial declines in populations of birds that rely on grassland and shrubland vegetation types, including socially and economically important game birds such as the Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus; hereafter bobwhites). As much attention is focused on habitat management and restoration for bobwhites, they may act as an umbrella species for other bird species with similar habitat requirements. We quantified the relationship of bobwhites to the overall bird community and evaluated the potential for bobwhites to act as an umbrella species for grassland and shrubland birds. We monitored bobwhite presence and bird community composition within 31 sample units on selected private lands in the south-central United States from 2009 to 2011. Bobwhites were strongly associated with other grassland and shrubland birds and were a significant positive predictor for 9 species. Seven of these, including Bell’s Vireo (Vireo bellii), Dicksissel (Spiza americana), and Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum), are listed as species of conservation concern. Species richness and occupancy probability of grassland and shrubland birds were higher relative to the overall bird community in sample units occupied by bobwhites. Our results show that bobwhites can act as an umbrella species for grassland and shrubland birds, although the specific species in any given situation will depend on region and management objectives. These results suggest that efficiency in conservation funding can be increased by using public interest in popular game species to leverage resources to meet multiple conservation objectives. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:53 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:53 PM Tags: o Avian community o Bell’s vireo o Bewick’s Wren o Dicksissel o Grassland birds o Habitat restoration * Natural grassland as the optimal pattern of vegetation restoration in arid and semi-arid regions: Evidence from nutrient limitation of soil microbes Type Journal Article Author Yongxing Cui Author Linchuan Fang Author Xiaobin Guo Author Fu Han Author Wenliang Ju Author Luping Ye Author Xia Wang Author Wenfeng Tan Author Xingchang Zhang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969718331371__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvQYEXemM$ Volume 648 Pages 388-397 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date January 15, 2019 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.08.173 Abstract Soil microbial metabolism is vital for nutrient cycling and aboveground ecosystem stability. A general understanding of microbial metabolism and nutrient limitation under human disturbance in arid and semi-arid regions, which are the largest and most fragile oligotrophic ecosystems globally, however, is still limited. We quantified and compared the characteristics of nutrient limitation of soil microbes under natural/artificial grassland and shrubland, an ecological forest, an economic forest, and sloped cropland in typical arid and semi-arid ecosystems on the Loess Plateau, China. Vegetation restoration significantly affected the activities of extracellular enzymes and ecoenzymatic stoichiometry mainly by affecting soil nutrients and nutrient stoichiometry. A vector analysis of enzyme activity indicated that microbial communities were co-limited by carbon (C) and phosphorus (P) in all types of vegetation restoration. Linear regression indicated that microbial C and P limitations were significantly correlated with the stoichiometry of soil nutrient, suggesting that the balance of nutrient stoichiometry is an important factor maintaining microbial metabolism and elemental homeostasis. C and P limitations in the microbial communities were the lowest in the natural grassland. This implies that both vegetation and microbial communities under the restoration pattern of natural grassland were more stable under environmental stress, so the restoration of natural grassland should be recommended as the preferred option for ecosystem restoration in these arid and semi-arid regions. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:33 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:33 PM Tags: o Extracellular enzymes o Fragile ecosystems o Microbial nutrient limitation o Vector analysis o Vegetation restoration * Fine roots determine soil infiltration potential than soil water content in semi-arid grassland soils Type Journal Article Author Zeng Cui Author Gao-Lin Wu Author Ze Huang Author Yu Liu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022169419307504__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvzPpP03o$ Volume 578 Pages 124023 Publication Journal of Hydrology ISSN 0022-1694 Date November 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Journal of Hydrology DOI 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2019.124023 Abstract Soil water is the key limiting factor for achieving sustainable revegetation. Soil infiltration rate plays an important role in determining the inputs from precipitation, which is important for the plant growth and groundwater recharge in semi-arid regions. Soil infiltration rate is generally influenced by belowground biomass (BGB), soil water content (SWC) and other soil properties (total soil porosity, soil mean weight diameter and soil organic carbon). The aim of this study is to understand the effects of plant roots, SWC and other soil properties on soil infiltration rate, and to identify the main factor affecting soil infiltration rate. This study investigated the total soil porosity (TP), soil mean weight diameter (MWD), soil organic carbon (SOC), SWC and plant roots of five grasslands (Bromus inermis, Trifolium repens, Panicum virgatum, Medicago sativa and Miscanthus sinensis). An automatic measurement system of point source device was used to quantify the soil infiltration rate. Results showed that SWC significantly affected the initial infiltration rate (P < 0.05), but plant roots gradually became the main factor affecting soil infiltration rate as the increasing infiltration time. The percentage of root volume (PV) of 0–2 mm was positively correlated with infiltration rate, while the PV of >4.5 mm was negatively correlated with infiltration rate. Our results indicated that fine roots could increase soil organic matters and form soil pores, thus more determining the potential of soil infiltration than soil water content during the short-term vegetation restoration in semi-arid regions. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:42 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:42 PM Tags: o Infiltration process o Plant root diameter o Semiarid grassland o Soil infiltration o Soil water content * Impact of grasshoppers and an invasive grass on establishment and initial growth of restoration plant species Type Journal Article Author Catherine Cumberland Author Jayne L. Jonas Author Mark W. Paschke URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12430__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dve0ejc2I$ Rights © 2016 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 25 Issue 3 Pages 385-395 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2017 DOI 10.1111/rec.12430 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:12:41 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Exotic plant invasion can have dramatic impacts on native plants making restoration of native vegetation at invaded sites challenging. Though invasives may be superior competitors, it is possible their dominance could be enhanced by insect herbivores if native plants are preferred food sources. Insect herbivory can regulate plant populations, but little is known of its effects in restoration settings. There is a need to better understand relationships between insect herbivores and invasive plants with regard to their combined potential for impacting native plant establishment and restoration success. The objective of this study was to assess impacts of grasshopper herbivory and the invasive grass Bromus tectorum (cheatgrass) on mortality and growth of 17 native plant species used in restoration of critical sagebrush steppe ecosystems. Field and greenhouse experiments were conducted using moderate densities of a common, generalist pest grasshopper (Melanoplus bivittatus). Grasshoppers had stronger and more consistent impacts on native restoration plants in field and greenhouse studies than cheatgrass. After 6 weeks in the greenhouse, grasshoppers were associated with 36% mortality over all native restoration species compared to 2% when grasshoppers were absent. Herbivory was also associated with an approximately 50% decrease in native plant biomass. However, effects varied among species. Artemisia tridentata, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, and Coreopsis tinctoria were among the most negatively impacted, while Oenothera pallida, Pascopyrum smithii, and Leymus cinerus were unaffected. These findings suggest restoration species could be selected to more effectively establish and persist within cheatgrass infestations, particularly when grasshopper populations are forecasted to be high. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:12:41 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:12:41 PM Tags: o Bromus tectorum o exotic plant o indirect effects o Melanoplus bivittatus o revegetation o sagebrush Attachments o Snapshot * Understanding protected area resilience: a multi-scale, social-ecological approach Type Journal Article Author Graeme S. Cumming Author Craig R. Allen Author Natalie C. Ban Author Duan Biggs Author Harry C. Biggs Author David H. M. Cumming Author Alta De Vos Author Graham Epstein Author Michel Etienne Author Kristine Maciejewski Author Raphaël Mathevet Author Christine Moore Author Mateja Nenadovic Author Michael Schoon URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1890/13-2113.1__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvs2jZ7NQ$ Volume 25 Issue 2 Pages 299-319 Publication Ecological Applications ISSN 1051-0761 Date March 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Ecological Applications DOI 10.1890/13-2113.1 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Protected areas (PAs) remain central to the conservation of biodiversity. Classical PAs were conceived as areas that would be set aside to maintain a natural state with minimal human influence. However, global environmental change and growing cross-scale anthropogenic influences mean that PAs can no longer be thought of as ecological islands that function independently of the broader social-ecological system in which they are located. For PAs to be resilient (and to contribute to broader social-ecological resilience), they must be able to adapt to changing social and ecological conditions over time in a way that supports the long-term persistence of populations, communities, and ecosystems of conservation concern. We extend Ostrom's social-ecological systems framework to consider the long-term persistence of PAs, as a form of land use embedded in social-ecological systems, with important cross-scale feedbacks. Most notably, we highlight the cross-scale influences and feedbacks on PAs that exist from the local to the global scale, contextualizing PAs within multi-scale social-ecological functional landscapes. Such functional landscapes are integral to understand and manage individual PAs for long-term sustainability. We illustrate our conceptual contribution with three case studies that highlight cross-scale feedbacks and social-ecological interactions in the functioning of PAs and in relation to regional resilience. Our analysis suggests that while ecological, economic, and social processes are often directly relevant to PAs at finer scales, at broader scales, the dominant processes that shape and alter PA resilience are primarily social and economic. Date Added 2020-03-12, 4:49:52 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 4:49:52 PM Tags: o resilience o biosphere reserve o conservation o cross-scale o national park o nature reserve o protected areas o social-ecological system o socioecological system o spatial resilience Notes: o doi: 10.1890/13-2113.1 * Spatially balanced sampling and ground-level imagery for vegetation monitoring on reclaimed well pads Type Journal Article Author Michael F. Curran Author Samuel E. Cox Author Timothy J. Robinson Author Blair L. Robertson Author Karen J. Rogers Author Zoe A. Sherman Author Todd A. Adams Author Calvin F. Strom Author Peter D. Stahl URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12956__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv6emXYAw$ Rights © 2019 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 27 Issue 5 Pages 974-980 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2019 DOI 10.1111/rec.12956 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:46:31 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Land reclamation associated with natural gas development has become increasingly important to mitigate land surface disturbance in western North America. Since well pads occur on sites with multiple land use and ownership, the progress and outcomes of these efforts are of interest to multiple stakeholders including industry, practitioners and consultants, regulatory agents, private landowners, and the scientific community. Reclamation success criteria often vary within, and among, government agencies and across land ownership type. Typically, reclamation success of a well pad is judged by comparing vegetation cover from a single transect on the pad to a single transect in an adjacent reference site and data are collected by a large number of technicians with various field monitoring skills. We utilized “SamplePoint” image analysis software and a spatially balanced sampling design, called balanced acceptance sampling, to demonstrate how spatially explicit quantitative data can be used to determine if sites are meeting various reclamation success criteria and used chi-square tests to show how sites in vegetation percent cover differ from a statistical standpoint. This method collects field data faster than traditional methods. We demonstrate how quantitative and spatially explicit data can be utilized by multiple stakeholders, how it can improve upon current reference site selection, how it can satisfy reclamation monitoring requirements for multiple regulatory agencies, how it may help improve future seed mix selection, and discuss how it may reduce costs for operations responsible for reclamation and how it may reduce observer bias. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:46:31 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:46:31 PM Tags: o balanced acceptance sampling o chi-square o multiple land use o reclamation success o reference site o SamplePoint o stakeholders Attachments o Snapshot * Forbs and Greater Sage-grouse Habitat Restoration Efforts: Suggestions for Improving Commercial Seed Availability and Restoration Practices Type Journal Article Author Michael F. Curran Author Taylor M. Crow Author Kristina M. Hufford Author Peter D. Stahl URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190052815001169__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv2LN_NkI$ Volume 37 Issue 6 Pages 211-216 Publication Rangelands ISSN 0190-0528 Date December 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Rangelands DOI 10.1016/j.rala.2015.10.007 Accessed 2020-03-17, 5:53:49 PM Library Catalog ScienceDirect Language en Short Title Forbs and Greater Sage-grouse Habitat Restoration Efforts Date Added 2020-03-17, 5:53:49 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 5:53:49 PM Tags: o Native Seed Network o restoration ecology o sage-grouse conservation o sage-grouse diet o sage-grouse habitat restoration o seed source availability Attachments o ScienceDirect Snapshot * Soil evolution after land-reshaping in mountains areas (Aosta Valley, NW Italy) Type Journal Article Author Fabienne Curtaz Author Silvia Stanchi Author Michele E. D’Amico Author Gianluca Filippa Author Ermanno Zanini Author Michele Freppaz URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880914004502__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dve9lrlaQ$ Volume 199 Pages 238-248 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date January 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2014.09.013 Abstract Mountain agriculture needs to face several limitations related to climate and topography. Land levelling, reshaping, and terracing are widely adopted in Europe, in order to ease mechanization and make agriculture more profitable. However, while the economic and productive benefits of these operations are well known, the effects on soil chemical and physical properties are not always assessed, and need constant monitoring over time. Intense soil rebuilding has been carried out in Aosta Valley (NW Italian Alps) to improve the accessibility and mechanization, including irrigation, of mountain grasslands. In this research we considered 3 study sites established in grasslands subject to soil rebuilding practices. The aim was to investigate the effects of land-reshaping operations on soil chemical and physical properties, by comparing changes in some selected soil properties such as organic C and soil laboratory indexes for quantifying soil structural resistance. The soil profiles generally showed a simpler morphology after rebuilding. Soil structure and consistency, that are recognized as soil physical quality indicators, after a sharp negative effect of the disturbance (i.e. decrease in liquid limit, increased soil aggregates loss) generally showed a trend towards the restoration of the characteristics of the original soils in the medium or long-term time span. Despite the limited sample size, the results represent a first attempt to assess the effects of a technique which is being more and more applied in a mountain region, such as the Aosta Valley Region, where manufactured soils are a significant part of agricultural land. The main findings of our research indicated that: (1) structure and consistency of soils (i.e. aggregate loss, LL, PL) can be used as indicators of soil quality in response of anthropogenic soil disturbance due to land-reshaping operations, as they reflect the evolution of soil properties after intense disturbance; (2) after disturbance, soil recovery was relatively quick, despite the strong deterioration of the physical quality in the immediate (∼6–12 months) aftermath of the operations. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:18 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:18 PM Tags: o Anthropogenic soils o Manufactured soils o Soil rebuilding * The effect of tillage management and its interaction with site conditions and plant functional traits on plant species establishment during meadow restoration Type Journal Article Author Marek Czerwiński Author Ben A. Woodcock Author Barbara Golińska Author Wiktor Kotowski URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857418301022__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvSNjyq-o$ Volume 117 Pages 28-37 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date July 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2018.03.017 Abstract The restoration of grasslands is a key management practice that supports biodiversity across Europe. On species poor grasslands and ex-arable fields, the establishment of plant species is often limited by the availability of habitat niches, in particular space to germinate. We investigated the impacts of full inversion tillage and its interaction with site conditions and functional traits on the abundance of 51 plant species sown into a 2 ha ex-arable site in Poland. Soils of the donor site were characterized by high levels of heterogeneity in terms of water content and plant availability of N, P and K. One year after sowing the cover of species typical of semi-natural grasslands was significantly higher on the tilled plots than on the non-tilled plots. However, in the case of widespread generalist species the tillage of soil resulted in no significant effect on their establishing percentage cover. The establishment of plants on the tilled area was more successful where soils were relatively rich in mineral N. It was also more successful for species with low Ellenberg’s N values. Species indicative of moist soil established poorly where the soil was tilled. This study has clear implications for the applied restoration of grasslands, demonstrating a vital role of soil tillage to promote the establishment of species typical of semi-natural grasslands. This is particularly important where seed mixtures may contain both desirable and undesirable competitive species that would disproportionately benefit from the absence of tillage management. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:45 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:45 PM Tags: o Community assembly o Ecological filtering o Gaps o Plowing o Seed size o Species-rich grassland * Annual Landsat time series reveal post-Soviet changes in grazing pressure Type Journal Article Author Andrey Dara Author Matthias Baumann Author Martin Freitag Author Norbert Hölzel Author Patrick Hostert Author Johannes Kamp Author Daniel Müller Author Alexander V. Prishchepov Author Tobias Kuemmerle URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0034425720300365__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvdsMytr0$ Volume 239 Pages 111667 Publication Remote Sensing of Environment ISSN 0034-4257 Date March 15, 2020 Journal Abbr Remote Sensing of Environment DOI 10.1016/j.rse.2020.111667 Abstract Temperate grasslands are globally widespread, play an important role as carbon storage, and harbor unique biodiversity. Livestock grazing is the most widespread land use in temperate grasslands, and understanding the impact of grazing on grassland ecosystems is therefore important. However, monitoring grazing pressure and how it changes is hampered by a lack of adequate tools. The Eurasian steppe belt, extending from Eastern Europe to China has experienced marked changes in grazing pressure. Most notably, livestock numbers in the steppes of Kazakhstan and Russia declined by up to 80% after the breakdown of the Soviet Union in 1991, yet how this impacted spatial patterns of grazing pressure is unclear. To address this research gap, we used all available Landsat data from 1985 to 2017 together with extensive ground reference data on grazing pressure to evaluate a broad range of spectral-temporal metrics regarding their ability to capture grazing pressure. While Tasseled Cap-based disturbance indices performed best, combining all spectral-temporal metrics in a binary random forest classification yielded a grazing class membership probability that strongly outperformed all individual metrics. This new index of grazing pressure correlated well with a range of field-based grazing indicators (e.g., number of dung piles, herbaceous biomass) and yielded highly plausible spatial patterns of grazing pressure. We used this index to reconstruct annual changes in grazing pressure across our 360,000 km2 study region, and used LandTrendr time series segmentation to identify trends in grazing pressure. Aggregated grazing pressure followed closely known trends in total livestock numbers over the time period we studied. The spatial footprint of heavy grazing was very large before 1991, but decreased by 73 (±2) % until 2017. This now leaves large areas virtually ungrazed, even in close vicinity to settlements and agricultural areas, and despite a recent recovery of livestock numbers. Our analyses uncovered previously unknown hot-spots of heavy grazing during Soviet times (e.g., around watering points). Our findings suggest potential for a further revival of the livestock sector as well as for the restoration of steppe ecosystems. More broadly, our study highlights how the Landsat archive, in combination with field data on grazing, can be used to map grazing pressure reliably across large areas and over long time spans. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:52 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:52 PM Tags: o Class probabilities o Eurasian steppes o Grazing pressure o Land-use change o Landsat time series o LandTrendr o Random forests * Mapping the timing of cropland abandonment and recultivation in northern Kazakhstan using annual Landsat time series Type Journal Article Author Andrey Dara Author Matthias Baumann Author Tobias Kuemmerle Author Dirk Pflugmacher Author Andreas Rabe Author Patrick Griffiths Author Norbert Hölzel Author Johannes Kamp Author Martin Freitag Author Patrick Hostert URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0034425718302268__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvsI-Y71o$ Volume 213 Pages 49-60 Publication Remote Sensing of Environment ISSN 0034-4257 Date August 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Remote Sensing of Environment DOI 10.1016/j.rse.2018.05.005 Abstract Much of the world's temperate grasslands have been converted to croplands, yet these trends can reverse in some regions. This is the case for the steppes of northern Kazakhstan, where the breakdown of the Soviet Union led to widespread cropland abandonment, creating restoration opportunities. Understanding when abandonment happened and whether it persists is important for making use of these opportunities. We developed a trajectory-based change detection approach to identify cropland abandonment between 1988 and 2013 and recultivation between 1991 and 2013. Our approach is based on annual time series of cropland probabilities derived from Landsat imagery and resulted in reliable maps (89% overall accuracy), with abandonment being detected more accurately (user's accuracy of 93%) than recultivation (73%). Most of the remaining uncertainty in our maps was due to low image availability during the mid-1990s, leading to abandonment in the 1990s sometimes only being detected in the 2000s. Our results suggest that of the ~4.7 million ha of cropland in our study area in 1985, roughly 40% had been abandoned by 2013. Knowing the timing of abandonment allowed for deeper insights into what drives these dynamics: recultivation after 2007 happened preferentially on those lands that had been abandoned most recently, suggesting that the most productive croplands were abandoned last and recultivated first. Likewise, knowing the timing of abandonment allowed for more precise estimates of the environmental impacts of abandonment (e.g., soil organic carbon sequestration estimated at 16.3 Mt. C compared to 24.0 Mt. C when assuming all abandonment happened right after the breakdown of the Soviet Union, with the uncertainty around emission estimates decreasing by 63%). Overall, our study emphasizes the value of the Landsat archive for understanding agricultural land-use dynamics, and the opportunities of trajectory-based approaches for mapping these dynamics. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:19 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:19 PM Tags: o Agricultural abandonment o Change detection o Class probability o Data scarcity o Farmland o LandTrendr o Post-soviet land-use change o Temporal resolution * Landscape and organismal factors affecting sagebrush-seedling transplant survival after megafire restoration Type Journal Article Author Bill E. Davidson Author Matthew J. Germino Author Bryce Richardson Author David M. Barnard URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12940__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvjC2tedU$ Rights Published 2019. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Volume 27 Issue 5 Pages 1008-1020 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2019 DOI 10.1111/rec.12940 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:24:15 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Larger and more frequent disturbances are motivating efforts to accelerate recovery of foundational perennial species by focusing efforts into establishing island patches to sustain keystone species and facilitate recovery of the surrounding plant community. Evaluating the variability in abiotic and biotic factors that contribute to differences in survival and establishment can provide useful insight into the relative importance of these factors. In the western United States, severe degradation of the sagebrush steppe has motivated substantial efforts to restore native perennial cover, but success has been mixed. In this study, we evaluated survival of more than 3,000 sagebrush seedlings transplanted on 12 patches totaling 650 ha within a 113,000 ha burn area, and related the survival to organismal and subtaxonomic traits, and to landscape variables. Big sagebrush has high intraspecific diversity attributed to subspecies and cytotypes identifiable through ultraviolet (UV)-induced fluorescence, length:width of leaves, or genome size (ploidy). Of these organismal traits, survival was related only to UV fluorescence, and then only so when landscape variables were excluded from analyses. The most significant landscape variable affecting survival was soil taxonomic subgroup, with much lower survival where buried restrictive layers reduce deep water infiltration. Survival also decreased with greater slope steepness, exotic annual grass cover, and burn severity. Survival was optimal where perennial bunchgrasses comprised 8–14% of total cover. These soil, topographic, and community condition factors revealed through monitoring of landscape-level treatments can be used to explain the success of plantings and to strategically plan future restoration projects. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:24:15 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:24:15 PM Tags: o bunchgrass o cheatgrass o fire o rehabilitation o sagebrush steppe o subspecies o transplants Attachments o Snapshot * Incorporating Seeds in Activated Carbon Pellets Limits Herbicide Effects to Seeded Bunchgrasses When Controlling Exotic Annuals Type Journal Article Author K.W. Davies URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742417301859__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvJa0NRy8$ Volume 71 Issue 3 Pages 323-326 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date May 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2017.12.010 Abstract Revegetation of exotic annual grass−invaded rangeland with preemergent herbicides is challenging because seeding is delayed until herbicide toxicity has diminished, but at this time, exotic annuals can be reinvading. Incorporating seeds into activated carbon pellets may allow seeding to occur at the same time as exotic annuals are controlled with a preemergent herbicide because activated carbon can neutralize the herbicide in the microsite around seeds. I evaluated using activated carbon pellets with six species seeded at the same time imazapic was applied to control exotic annual grasses at two sites. Two of the six species establish enough at one site to evaluate the effects of pellets. These two bunchgrasses had greater density and growth (height, leaf length, number of stems and leaves) when incorporated into activated carbon pellets compared with seeded as bare seed. This demonstrates activated carbon pellets can be used to protect seeded bunchgrasses from imazapic applied to control exotic annuals. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:43 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:04:43 PM Tags: o annual grass o cheatgrass o herbicide protection pods o medusahead o restoration o seed enhancement technology * Revegetation of Medusahead-Invaded Sagebrush Steppe Type Journal Article Author Kirk W. Davies URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742410500575__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv-25nuNk$ Volume 63 Issue 5 Pages 564-571 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date September 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/REM-D-09-00127.1 Abstract Medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae [L.] Nevski) is an exotic annual grass invading western rangelands. Invasion by medusahead is problematic because it decreases livestock forage production, degrades wildlife habitat, reduces biodiversity, and increases fire frequency. Revegetation of medusahead-invaded sagebrush steppe is needed to increase ecosystem and economic productivity. Most efforts to revegetate medusahead-infested plant communities are unsuccessful because perennial bunchgrasses rarely establish after medusahead control. The effects of prescribed burning (spring or fall), fall imazapic application, and their combinations were evaluated for medusahead control and the establishment of seeded large perennial bunchgrasses. One growing season after treatments were applied, desert wheatgrass (Agropyron desertorum [Fisch. ex Link] Schult.) and squirreltail (Elymus elymoides [Raf.] Swezey) were drill seeded into treatment plots, except for the control treatment. Vegetation characteristics were measured for 2yr postseeding (second and third year post-treatment). Medusahead was best controlled when prescribed burned and then treated with imazapic (P < 0.05). These treatments also had greater large perennial bunchgrass cover and density compared to other treatments (P < 0.05). The prescribed burned followed by imazapic application had greater than 10- and 8-fold more perennial bunchgrass cover and density than the control treatment, respectively. Prescribed burning, regardless of season, was not effective at controlling medusahead or promoting establishment of perennial bunchgrasses. The results of this study question the long-term effectiveness of using imazapic in revegetation efforts of medusahead-infested sagebrush steppe without first prescribed burning the infestation. Effective control of medusahead appears to be needed for establishment of seeded perennial bunchgrasses. The results of this study demonstrate that seeding desert wheatgrass and squirreltail can successfully revegetate rangeland infested with medusahead when medusahead has been controlled with prescribed fire followed by fall application of imazapic. Resumen Taeniatherum caput-medusae (L.) Nevski es una gramínea anual exótica que está invadiendo los pastizales del oeste de los Estados Unidos. La invasión por esta especie es problemática porque genera una reducción en la producción de forraje para el ganado, degrada el hábitat para la fauna silvestre, genera una reducción en la biodiversidad, y promueve un incremento en la frecuencia de fuegos. La revegetación de estepas de Artemisia tridentata invadidas por T. caput-medusae es necesaria a fin de incrementar la productividad biológica y económica del ecosistema. La mayoría de los esfuerzos para revegetar comunidades vegetales invadidas por T. caput-medusae fracasan dado que las gramíneas perennes nativas rara vez se establecen luego del control de este especie invasora. Se evaluaron los efectos de quemas prescriptas (primavera u otoño), aplicación de un herbicida en otoño (imazapic), y la combinación de ambas sobre el control de T. caput-medusae y el establecimiento de gramíneas altas perennes sembradas. Una temporada luego de la aplicación de los tratamientos se sembraron Agropyron desertorum (Fisch. ex Link) Schult y Elymus elymoides (Raf.) Swezey en las parcelas tratadas exceptuando el control. Las características de la vegetación se midieron en el segundo y tercer año post-tratamiento. El mejor control de T. caput-medusae se logró en las parcelas que recibieron quema prescripta seguida de imazapic (P < 0.05). Estos tratamientos también tuvieron mayor cobertura y densidad de gramíneas altas perennes comparado con los otros tratamientos (P < 0.05). El tratamiento de quema prescripta seguida de la aplicación de imazapic tuvo 10 y 8 veces más cobertura y densidad de gramíneas perennes, respectivamente, que las parcelas de control. La quema prescripta en cualquiera de las dos temporadas ensayadas no fue efectiva en el control de T. caput-medusae ni en el establecimiento de gramíneas perennes nativas. Los resultados de este ensayo cuestionan la efectividad de largo plazo del uso de imazapic sin una quema prescripta previa en proyectos de revegetación de estepas de A. tridentata invadidos por T. caput-medusae. Aparentemente, es necesario el control efectivo de T. caput-medusae para lograr el establecimiento de gramíneas perennes sembradas. Los resultados de este ensayo demuestran que se pueden revegetar exitosamente pastizales invadidos por T. caput-medusae mediante la siembra de Agropyron desertorum y Elymus elymoides cuando el T. caput-medusae es controlado con una quema prescripta seguida de una aplicación de imazapic. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:43 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:43 PM Tags: o annual grass invasion o fire-herbicide control o invasive plants o prescribed burning o sagebrush community restoration o Taeniatherum caput-medusae * Attempting to Restore Herbaceous Understories in Wyoming Big Sagebrush Communities with Mowing and Seeding Type Journal Article Author Kirk W. Davies Author Jon D. Bates URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12110__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dviIeFbqA$ Rights Published 2014. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA Volume 22 Issue 5 Pages 608-615 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2014 DOI 10.1111/rec.12110 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:44:09 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Shrub steppe communities with depleted perennial herbaceous understories often need to be restored to increase resilience and resistance. Mowing has been applied to Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt. ssp. wyomingensis Beetle & Young) steppe plant communities to reduce sagebrush dominance and restore native herbaceous vegetation, but success has been limited and hampered by increases in exotic annuals. Seeding native bunchgrasses after mowing may accelerate recovery and limit exotics. We compared mowing followed by drill-seeding native bunchgrasses to mowing and an untreated control at five sites in southeastern Oregon over a 4-year period. Mowing and seeding bunchgrasses increased bunchgrass density; however, bunchgrass cover did not differ among treatments. Exotic annuals increased with mowing whether or not post-mowing seeding occurred. Mowing, whether or not seeding occurred, also reduced biological soil crusts. Longer term evaluation is needed to determine if seeded bunchgrasses will increase enough to suppress exotic annuals. Seeded bunchgrasses may have been limited by increases in exotic annuals. Though restoration of sagebrush communities with degraded understories is needed, we do not recommend mowing and seeding native bunchgrasses because this treatment produced mixed results that may lower the resilience and resistance of these communities. Before this method is applied, research is needed to increase our understanding of how to improve establishment of seeded native bunchgrasses. Alternatively, restoration practitioners may need to apply treatments to control exotic annuals and repeatedly seed native bunchgrasses. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:44:09 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:44:09 PM Tags: o brush management o drill seeding o exotic annual grass o invasion o resilience o resistance o understory restoration Attachments o Snapshot * Longer-Term Evaluation of Sagebrush Restoration After Juniper Control and Herbaceous Vegetation Trade-offs Type Journal Article Author Kirk W. Davies Author Jon D. Bates URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742418300447__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvxp4UDtc$ Volume 72 Issue 2 Pages 260-265 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date March 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2018.10.006 Abstract Degradation of shrublands around the world from altered fire regimes, overutilization, and anthropogenic disturbance has resulted in a widespread need for shrub restoration. In western North America, reestablishment of mountain big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt. ssp. vaseyana [Rydb.] Beetle) is needed to restore ecosystem services and function. Western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis Hook) encroachment is a serious threat to mountain big sagebrush communities in the northern Great Basin and Columbia Plateau. Juniper trees can be controlled with fire; however, sagebrush recovery may be slow, especially if encroachment largely eliminated sagebrush before juniper control. Short-term studies have suggested that seeding mountain big sagebrush after juniper control may accelerate sagebrush recovery. Longer-term information is lacking on how sagebrush recovery progresses and if there are trade-offs with herbaceous vegetation. We compared seeding and not seeding mountain big sagebrush after juniper control (partial cutting followed with burning) in fully developed juniper woodlands (i.e., sagebrush had been largely excluded) at five sites, 7 and 8 yr after seeding. Sagebrush cover averaged ~30% in sagebrush seeded plots compared with ~1% in unseeded plots 8 yr after seeding, thus suggesting that sagebrush recovery may be slow without seeding after juniper control. Total herbaceous vegetation, perennial grass, and annual forb cover was less where sagebrush was seeded. Thus, there is a trade-off with herbaceous vegetation with seeding sagebrush. Our results suggest that seeding sagebrush after juniper control can accelerate the recovery of sagebrush habitat characteristics, which is important for sagebrush-associated wildlife. We suggest land manager and restoration practitioners consider seeding sagebrush and possibly other shrubs after controlling encroaching trees where residual shrubs are lacking after control. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:02 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:00:02 PM Tags: o competition o conifer control o prescribed burning o sage-grouse habitat o seeding o shrub restoration * Longer-Term Evaluation of Revegetation of Medusahead-Invaded Sagebrush Steppe Type Journal Article Author K.W. Davies Author C.S. Boyd URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742418300228__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvlLnL0FM$ Volume 71 Issue 3 Pages 292-297 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date May 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2018.02.001 Abstract Medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae [L.] Nevski) and other exotic annual grasses have invaded millions of hectares of sagebrush (Artemisia L.) steppe. Revegetation of medusahead-invaded sagebrush steppe with perennial vegetation is critically needed to restore productivity and decrease the risk of frequent wildfires. However, it is unclear if revegetation efforts provide long-term benefits (fewer exotic annuals and more perennials). The limited literature available on the topic questions whether revegetation efforts reduce medusahead abundance beyond 2 or 3 yr. We evaluated revegetation of medusahead-invaded rangelands for 5 yr after seeding introduced perennial bunchgrasses at five locations. We compared areas that were fall-prescribed burned immediately followed by an imazapic herbicide treatment and then seeded with bunchgrasses 1 yr later (imazapic-seed) with untreated controls (control). The imazapic-seed treatment decreased exotic annual grass cover and density. At the end of the study, exotic annual grass cover and density were 2-fold greater in the control compared with the imazapic-seed treatment. The imazapic-seed treatment had greater large perennial bunchgrass cover and density and less annual forb (predominately exotic annuals) cover and density than the untreated control for the duration of the study. At the end of the study, large perennial bunchgrass density average 10 plant∙m−2 in the imazapic-seed treatment, which is comparable with intact sagebrush steppe communities. Plant available soil nitrogen was also greater in the imazapic-seed treatment compared with the untreated control for the duration of the study. The results of this study suggest that revegetation of medusahead-invaded sagebrush steppe can provide lasting benefits, including limiting exotic annual grasses. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:33 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:33 PM Tags: o exotic annual grass o imazapic o preemergent herbicide o prescribed burning o restoration o seeding * Promoting Native Vegetation and Diversity in Exotic Annual Grass Infestations Type Journal Article Author Kirk W. Davies Author Roger L. Sheley URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2009.00548.x__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvPHTnLDU$ Rights © 2009 Society for Ecological Restoration International Volume 19 Issue 2 Pages 159-165 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2011 DOI 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2009.00548.x Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:32:55 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Exotic plant invasions are especially problematic because reestablishment of native perennial vegetation is rarely successful. It may be more appropriate to treat exotic plant infestations that still have some remaining native vegetation. We evaluated this restoration strategy by measuring the effects of spring burning, fall burning, fall applied imazapic, spring burning with fall applied imazapic, and fall burning with fall applied imazapic on the exotic annual grass, medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae (L.) Nevski), and native vegetation at six sites in Oregon for 2 years post-treatment. Medusahead infestations included in this study had some residual native perennial bunchgrasses and forbs. Burning followed by imazapic application provided the best control of medusahead and resulted in the greatest increases in native perennial vegetation. However, imazapic application decreased native annual forb cover the first year post-treatment and density the first and second year post-treatment. The spring burn followed by imazapic application produced an almost 2-fold increase in plant species diversity compared to the control. The fall burn followed by imazapic application also increased diversity compared to the control. Results of this study indicate that native plants can be promoted in medusahead invasions; however, responses vary by plant functional group and treatment. Our results compared to previous research suggest that restoration of plant communities invaded by exotic annual grass may be more successful if efforts focus on areas with some residual native perennial vegetation. Thus, invasive plant infestations with some native vegetation remaining should receive priority for restoration efforts over near monocultures of invasive plant species. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:32:55 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:32:55 PM Tags: o herbicide o imazapic o invasion o medusahead o prescribed burning o Taeniatherum caput-medusae o weeds Attachments o Snapshot * Attempting to restore mountain big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana) four years after fire Type Journal Article Author Kirk W. Davies Author Jon D. Bates Author April Hulet URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12505__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvuyMyR6A$ Rights Published 2017. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Volume 25 Issue 5 Pages 717-722 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2017 DOI 10.1111/rec.12505 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:16:18 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Restoration of shrubs is needed throughout the world because of altered fire regimes, anthropogenic disturbance, and overutilization. The native shrub mountain big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt. ssp. vaseyana (Rydb.) Beetle) is a restoration priority because of its value to wildlife in western North America. One of the principal threats to mountain big sagebrush is encroachment by western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis Hook) and other conifers. Fire is frequently applied to control juniper; however, sagebrush recovery after fire can be variable. Seeding sagebrush postfire can hasten sagebrush recovery; however, seeding is not always necessary. Therefore, it may be advantageous to monitor postfire recovery to determine if seeding is needed. The effect of seeding sagebrush several years after fire is unknown. We evaluated the efficiency of seeding mountain big sagebrush four years after fire-controlled junipers at five sites. Sagebrush cover (<0.5%) and density (<0.07 plants/m2) was low in seeded plots and did not differ from unseeded controls in the three postseeding years. We conclude that seeding sagebrush four years after fire did not accelerate sagebrush recovery. We speculate that seeded sagebrush failed to establish because of competition from herbaceous vegetation that had four years to recover after fire. Although it would be beneficial to seed sagebrush only when needed, our results suggest postponing seeding until monitoring has determined that recovery is inadequate may not be advisable. We suggest researchers investigate methods to improve predicting sagebrush recovery to allow for seeding, when needed, before the first postfire growing season. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:16:18 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:16:18 PM Tags: o burning o conifer control o Juniperus o recovery o seeding o shrubs Attachments o Snapshot * Legacy microsite effect on the survival of bitterbrush outplantings after prescribed fire: capitalizing on spatial variability to improve restoration Type Journal Article Author Kirk W. Davies Author Chad S. Boyd Author Jon D. Bates Author Amanda Gearhart URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12506__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvT1l8EWo$ Rights Published 2017. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Volume 25 Issue 5 Pages 723-730 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2017 DOI 10.1111/rec.12506 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:26:41 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Restoration of shrubs in arid and semi-arid rangelands is hampered by low success rates. Planting shrub seedlings is a method used to improve success in these rangelands; however, it is expensive and labor intensive. The efficiency of shrub restoration could be improved by identifying microsites where shrub survival is greater. Bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata Pursh DC) is an important shrub to wildlife that has declined because of conifer encroachment, excessive defoliation, wildfires, and low recruitment. We investigated planting bitterbrush seedlings in western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis ssp. occidentalis Hook) encroached shrublands after prescribed fire was used to control trees. Bitterbrush seedlings were planted in under (canopy) and between (interspace) former juniper canopies at five blocks and evaluated for three growing seasons. Bitterbrush survival was greater than 50% in the former canopy, but only 5% in the interspace microsite by the third growing season. Growth of bitterbrush was also greater in the former canopy compared with the interspace, potentially due to markedly less perennial vegetation in this microsite. Exotic annual grasses and annual forbs became prevalent in the former canopy in the second and third growing season, suggesting that soil resource availability was greater in this microsite. These results suggest that restoration success will vary by specific locations within a burned landscape and that this variability can be used to improve restoration efficiency. In this situation, bitterbrush restoration can be improved by planting seedlings in former canopy compared with interspace microsites. Short Title Legacy microsite effect on the survival of bitterbrush outplantings after prescribed fire Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:26:41 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:26:41 PM Tags: o burning o canopy o cheatgrass o interspace o juniper o Purshia tridentata o seedling Attachments o Snapshot * Improving restoration success through microsite selection: an example with planting sagebrush seedlings after wildfire Type Journal Article Author Kirk W. Davies Author Jon D. Bates Author Danielle Clenet URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.13139__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvRaqw2wE$ Rights Published 2020. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Volume n/a Issue n/a Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X DOI 10.1111/rec.13139 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:28:29 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Post-fire restoration of foundation plant species, particularly non-sprouting shrubs, is critically needed in arid and semi-arid rangeland, but is hampered by low success. Expensive and labor-intensive methods, including planting seedlings, can improve restoration success. Prioritizing where these more intensive methods are applied may improve restoration efficiency. Shrubs in arid and semi-arid environments can create resource islands under their canopies that may remain after fire. Seedlings planted post-fire in former canopy and between canopies (interspace) may have different survival and growth. We compared planting Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt. ssp. wyomingensis Beetle & Young) seedlings post-fire in former sagebrush canopy and interspace microsites at five locations. Four growing seasons after planting, seedling survival was 46 and 7% in canopy and interspace microsites, respectively. Sagebrush cover was 5.8 times greater in canopy compared to interspace microsites. Sagebrush survival and cover were likely greater because of less competition from herbaceous vegetation as well as benefiting from resource island effects in canopy microsites. Initially, post-fire abundance of exotic annual grasses was less in canopy microsites, but by the third year post-fire it was substantially greater in canopy microsites, indicating that resource availability to seedlings was greater, at least initially, in canopy microsites. These results suggest microsites with greater likelihood of success should be identified and then utilized to improve restoration success and efficiency. This is important as the need for restoration greatly exceeds resources available for restoration. Short Title Improving restoration success through microsite selection Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:28:29 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:28:29 PM Tags: o Artemisia tridentata o canopy o interspace o outplanting o resource island o wildfire Attachments o Snapshot * Using Activated Carbon to Limit Herbicide Effects to Seeded Bunchgrass When Revegetating Annual Grass-Invaded Rangelands Type Journal Article Author K.W. Davies Author M.D. Madsen Author A. Hulet URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742417300398__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvoJgnKOo$ Volume 70 Issue 5 Pages 604-608 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date September 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2017.04.004 Abstract Revegetation of exotic annual grass−invaded rangelands is challenging as annuals rapidly reinvade after control treatments. The most effective control of exotic annual grass is usually achieved with pre-emergent herbicides; however, species seeded simultaneously with these herbicides will likely experience nontarget damage. Thus, seeding often occurs 1 yr later to reduce herbicide effects to seeded vegetation, but by this time annual grasses may already be reinvading and limiting revegetation success. Activated carbon can be used to protect seeded species from herbicide damage because it has a high absorption capacity that can deactivate many herbicides. A pot study in a grow-room suggested that a pod containing activated carbon and seeds, herbicide protection pods (HPPs), may allow desired species to be seeded simultaneously with annual grass control with the pre-emergent herbicide imazapic. However, HPPs have not been field tested. We evaluated two seeding treatments (crested wheatgrass (Agropyron desertorum [Fisch.] Schult.) incorporated into HPPs and bare seed, simultaneously with an imazapic application to control annual grasses at two sites invaded by cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.) and medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae [L.] Nevski). Crested wheatgrass abundance was 300% greater with HPPs compared with bare seed in late June. Imazapic application reduced exotic annual grass density at both sites by approximately half. These results suggest that HPPs can be used to allow desired species to be seeded simultaneously with imazapic application. This will allow seeded species a longer window to become established before experiencing pressure from exotic annuals and enable a single-entry approach compared with multiple entries currently employed to revegetate annual grass−invaded rangelands. Though further field testing is needed, in particular with multiple species and higher herbicide applications rates, these results suggest that HPPs could improve our ability to restore and revegetate exotic annual grass−invaded rangelands. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:02 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:53:12 PM Tags: o cheatgrass o herbicide protection pods o imazapic o medusahead o restoration o seed technologies * Restoration of Sagebrush in Crested Wheatgrass Communities: Longer-Term Evaluation in Northern Great Basin Type Journal Article Author Kirk W. Davies Author Chad S. Boyd Author Jon D. Bates Author Erik P. Hamerlynck Author Stella M. Copeland URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742419300454__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvE-bR-AU$ Volume 73 Issue 1 Pages 1-8 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date January 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2019.07.005 Abstract Crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum [L] Gaertm. and Agropyron desertorum [Fisch.] Schult.), an introduced bunchgrass, has been seeded on millions of hectares of sagebrush steppe. It can establish near-monocultures; therefore, reestablishing native vegetation in these communities is often a restoration goal. Efforts to restore native vegetation assemblages by controlling crested wheatgrass and seeding diverse species mixes have largely failed. Restoring sagebrush, largely through planting seedlings, has shown promise in short-term studies but has not been evaluated over longer timeframes. We investigated the reestablishment of Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata spp. wyomingensis [Beetle & A. Young] S.L. Welsh) in crested wheatgrass communities, where it had been broadcast seeded (seeded) or planted as seedlings (planted) across varying levels of crested wheatgrass control with a herbicide (glyphosate) for up to 9 yr post seeding/planting. Planting sagebrush seedlings in crested wheatgrass stands resulted in full recovery of sagebrush density and increasing sagebrush cover over time. Broadcast seeding failed to establish any sagebrush, except at the highest levels of crested wheatgrass control. Reducing crested wheatgrass did not influence density, cover, or size of sagebrush in the planted treatment, and therefore, crested wheatgrass control is probably unnecessary when using sagebrush seedlings. Herbaceous cover and density were generally less in the planted treatment, probably as a result of increased competition from sagebrush. This trade-off between sagebrush and herbaceous vegetation should be considered when developing plans for restoring sagebrush steppe. Our results suggest that planting sagebrush seedlings can increase the compositional and structural diversity in near-monocultures of crested wheatgrass and thereby improve habitat for sagebrush-associated wildlife. Planting native shrub seedlings may be a method to increase diversity in other monotypic stands of introduced grasses. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:23 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:00:23 PM Tags: o competition o restoration o seeding o seedlings * Are Early Summer Wildfires an Opportunity to Revegetate Exotic Annual Grass–Invaded Plant Communities? Type Journal Article Author Kirk W. Davies Author Aleta M. Nafus Author Dustin D. Johnson URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742413500261__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvQoZn2AI$ Volume 66 Issue 2 Pages 234-240 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date March 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/REM-D-12-00034.1 Abstract Medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae [L.] Nevski) is an exotic annual grass invading western rangelands. Successful revegetation of invaded-plant communities can be prohibitively expensive because it often requires iterative applications of integrated control and revegetation treatments. Prescribed burning has been used to control medusahead and prepare seedbeds for revegetation, but burning has been constrained by liability concerns and has produced widely varying results. Capitalizing on naturally occurring wildfires could reduce revegetation costs and alleviate liability concerns. Thus, our objective was to determine if early summer wildfires and fall drill seeding could be used as a treatment combination to decrease medusahead and increase perennial and native vegetation. Treatments were evaluated pretreatment and for 3yr postfire at six sites and included 1) an early summer wildfire combined with a seeding treatment (burn and seed) and 2) a nontreated (no burn, no seed) control. Perennial grass density was 4.6- to 10.0-fold greater in the burn-and-seed treatment compared to the control in the first 3yr posttreatment (P < 0.05). Exotic annual grass density and cover in the third year posttreatment were lower in the burn-and-seed treatment than in the control (P < 0.05). However, exotic annual grass density was still > 130 individuals ·  m‒2 in the burn-and-seed treatment. The density of exotic annual grass is of concern because over time medusahead may displace perennial grasses and annual forbs that increased with the burn-and-seed treatment. Though not directly tested in this study, we suggest that, based on other research, the burn-and-seed treatment may need to incorporate a preemergent herbicide application to further suppress medusahead and increase the establishment of seeded vegetation. However, it appears that early summer wildfires may provide an opportunity to reduce the cost of integrated programs to revegetate medusahead-invaded plant communities. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:34 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:34 PM Tags: o invasive plants o medusahead o restoration o sagebrush o weeds * Success of Seeding Native Compared with Introduced Perennial Vegetation for Revegetating Medusahead-Invaded Sagebrush Rangeland Type Journal Article Author K.W. Davies Author C.S. Boyd Author D.D. Johnson Author A.M. Nafus Author M.D. Madsen URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742415000561__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvMwciWCw$ Volume 68 Issue 3 Pages 224-230 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date May 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2015.03.004 Abstract Millions of hectares of Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt. subsp. wyomingensis Beetle &Young) rangeland have been invaded by medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae [L.] Nevski), an exotic annual grass that degrades wildlife habitat, reduces forage production, and decreases biodiversity. Revegetation of medusahead-invaded sagebrush plant communities is necessary to restore ecosystem services. Disagreement, however, exists over whether to seed native or introduced perennial species to revegetate communities after controlling medusahead. Though native species generally do not establish as well as introduced species, interference from co-seeded introduced species has often been attributed to the limited success of natives. The potential for seeding natives to revegetate communities after medusahead control is relatively unknown because they have been largely co-seeded with introduced species. We compared the results of seeding native and introduced perennial species after controlling medusahead with prescribed burning followed with an imazapic herbicide application at five sites. Perennial bunchgrass cover and density were 5- and 10-fold greater in areas seeded with introduced compared with native species 3 years post seeding. Furthermore, exotic annual grass cover and density were less in areas seeded with introduced compared with native species. Seeded introduced and native shrubs largely failed to establish. High perennial bunchgrass density (15 individuals · m-2) in areas seeded with introduced species in the third year post seeding suggests that the succession trajectory of these communities has shifted to becoming perennial dominated. Average perennial bunchgrass density of 1.5 individuals · m-2 with seeding native species will likely not limit medusahead and appears to already be converting back to exotic annual grass-dominated communities. These results suggest that seeding introduced compared with native species after medusahead control will likely be more successful. Our results also imply that if natives are selected to seed after medusahead control, additional resources may be necessary to recontrol medusahead and repeatedly sow native species. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:42 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:42 PM Tags: o Bunchgrasses o Crested wheatgrass o Exotic annual grasses o Forage kochia o Imazapic o Restoration o Wyoming big sagebrush * Mowing Wyoming Big Sagebrush Communities With Degraded Herbaceous Understories: Has a Threshold Been Crossed? Type Journal Article Author Kirk W. Davies Author Jonathan D. Bates Author Aleta M. Nafus URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742412500825__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv0mpZ-Ok$ Volume 65 Issue 5 Pages 498-505 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date September 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/REM-D-12-00026.1 Abstract Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis [Beetle & A. Young] S.L. Welsh) plant communities with degraded native herbaceous understories occupy vast expanses of the western United States. Restoring the native herbaceous understory in these communities is needed to provide higher-quality wildlife habitat, decrease the risk of exotic plant invasion, and increase forage for livestock. Though mowing is commonly applied in sagebrush communities with the objective of increasing native herbaceous vegetation, vegetation response to this treatment in degraded Wyoming big sagebrush communities is largely unknown. We compared mowed and untreated control plots in five Wyoming big sagebrush plant communities with degraded herbaceous understories in eastern Oregon for 3 yr posttreatment. Native perennial herbaceous vegetation did not respond to mowing, but exotic annuals increased with mowing. Density of cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.), a problematic exotic annual grass, was 3.3-fold greater in the mowed than untreated control treatment in the third year posttreatment. Annual forb cover, largely consisting of exotic species, was 1.8-fold greater in the mowed treatment compared to the untreated control in the third year posttreatment. Large perennial grass cover was not influenced by mowing and remained below 2%. Mowing does not appear to promote native herbaceous vegetation in degraded Wyoming big sagebrush plant communities and may facilitate the conversion of shrublands to exotic annual grasslands. The results of this study suggest that mowing, as a stand-alone treatment, does not restore the herbaceous understory in degraded Wyoming big sagebrush plant communities. We recommend that mowing not be applied in Wyoming big sagebrush plant communities with degraded understories without additional treatments to limit exotic annuals and promote perennial herbaceous vegetation. Resumen Las comunidades de plantas de artemisia Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis [Beetle & A. Young] S.L. Welsh) con degradadas coberturas herbáceas ocupan una gran extensión del oeste de los Estados Unidos. El restablecimiento de la cobertura herbácea nativa en estas comunidades es necesario para mejorar la calidad del hábitat para fauna silvestre, mitigar el riesgo de la invasión de plantas exóticas e incrementar la producción de forraje para ganado. A pesar de que comúnmente se hacen cortes en comunidades de artemisia con el objetivo de incrementar la vegetación nativa, se desconoce la respuesta de la vegetación al tratamiento en áreas con comunidades degradadas de Wyoming big sagebrush. Se compararon parcelas segadas y áreas control sin tratamientos en cinco comunidades de Wyoming big sagebrush con cobertura herbácea degradada en el este de Oregón durante tres años posteriores a la aplicación de los tratamientos. La vegetación perenne herbácea no respondió a la siega, pero las plantas exóticas anuales se incrementaron con esta práctica. La densidad de cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.), una especie problemática exótica fue tres veces mayor en áreas segadas que en áreas control sin tratamiento tres años después de la aplicación de los tratamientos. La cobertura herbácea anual en gran parte formada por especies exóticas fue 1.8 veces mayor en las zonas segadas que en las áreas control sin tratamiento tres años posteriores a la aplicación de tratamientos. La gran cobertura de pastos perennes no fue influenciada por la siega y permaneció debajo del 2%. La siega parece no promover la vegetación herbácea nativa en comunidades degradadas de Wyoming big sagebrush y podría facilitar el cambio de áreas de matorrales a pastizales anuales exóticos. Los resultados de este estudio sugieren que la siega, como un tratamiento independiente, no restablece la cobertura herbácea en comunidades de Wyoming big sagebrush. Nosotros recomendamos que la siega no se practique en comunidades de Wyoming big sagebrush con cobertura degradada sin tratamientos adicionales para limitar la presencia de plantas anuales exóticas y estimular la vegetación herbácea perenne. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:32:15 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:32:15 PM Tags: o annual grass o brush control o brush management o cheatgrass o invasion o restoration * Early recruitment dynamics in tropical restoration Type Journal Article Author Marinés de la Peña-Domene Author Cristina Martínez-Garza Author Henry F. Howe URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1890/12-1728.1__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvKoMUB_E$ Volume 23 Issue 5 Pages 1124-1134 Publication Ecological Applications ISSN 1051-0761 Date July 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Ecological Applications DOI 10.1890/12-1728.1 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Unassisted secondary succession in abandoned tropical pastures often results in species-poor forests of pioneer trees that persist for decades. We characterize recruitment rates of woody vegetation in planting treatments during the first 60 months of experimental restoration on thin, eroded soils at Los Tuxtlas, southern Mexico. We test the hypothesis that recruitment of later-successional trees is greater in fenced plots planted with native trees than in fenced controls that simulate natural succession, and further that recruitment of such species would be greater in plots planted with animal-dispersed trees than in those planted with wind-dispersed trees. Results indicated much greater recruitment of later-successional animal-dispersed trees in planted plots as compared with controls. Three censuses per year recorded 960 recruited individuals of 44 species of trees and shrubs from 20?60 months after cattle exclusion. Ninety-six percent of recruits were not of planted species. Repeated-measures analyses of variance indicated that recruited communities included more species of pioneers than of later-successional trees and shrubs, with more individuals and species dispersed by animals than by wind. Recruitment of pioneers did not differ between control and planted plots. Later-successional recruits dispersed by animals accumulated >10 times faster in planted than control plots, with apparent acceleration after planted Cecropia obtusifolia and Ficus yoponensis first produced fleshy fruits 48 months after cattle exclusion. Sparse later-successional wind-dispersed recruits did not differ by treatment. Our preliminary results over the first five years after cattle exclusion indicate that planted stands clearly accelerate succession through accumulation of later-successional trees and shrubs dispersed by animals. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:47:21 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:53:13 PM Tags: o agriculture o agro-ecosystems o alternative stables states o amphibians o avian conservation o Bayesian structural equation model o Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) o California o carbon sequestration o cattle o cattle exclosures o cattle grazing o cheatgrass o climate o clonal plant o Costa Rica o diet selection o dispersal mode o diversity o environmental filtering o experimental restoration o farm dams o farm ponds o feces decomposition o fire o fire effects o fire-trap o fire–grazing interaction o flowering phenology o forest management o global change o Golden Trout Wilderness o grassland o grazing o herbivory o invasive plant management o life history o livestock o livestock grazing o maintenance burning o management o mechanical disturbance o methane o Mexico o monitoring o mountain meadows o movement ecology o mule deer o N cycling o N mineralization o N:P stoichiometry o nitrogen limitation o novel ecosystems o nutrients o Oncorhynchus mykiss aguabonita o Oregon o Palo Verde National Park o patch-burn grazing o Pinus ponderosa o Populus tremuloides o prescribed fire o protected area o public lands o rangeland management o reconciliation ecology o recruitment o regime shift o resource diversity o restoration o riparian habitats o riparian vegetation o San Joaquin Valley o savanna o season of burn o seasonal exclusion o seasonal flooding and drought o sediments o seed bank o seed dispersal o seedling establishment o sheep o species comparisons o species restoration o state-and-transition models o streams o succession o tallgrass prairie o targeted grazing o taxon substitution o tipping points o tree–grass coexistence o tropical rainforest o Typha domingensis o urbanization o USA o Utah o vegetation o wetland restoration o wetlands o woody encroachment Notes: o doi: 10.1002/eap.1640 o doi: 10.1002/eap.1964 o doi: 10.1002/eap.1982 o doi: 10.1002/ecs2.1661 o doi: 10.1002/ecs2.1880 o doi: 10.1002/ecs2.2993 o doi: 10.1890/09-0981.1 o doi: 10.1890/10-0032.1 o doi: 10.1890/12-1728.1 o doi: 10.1890/12-1728.1 o doi: 10.1890/12-1728.1 o doi: 10.1890/15-1330 o doi: 10.1890/140052 o doi: 10.1890/ES10-00152.1 o doi: 10.1890/ES10-00183.1 o doi: 10.1890/ES14-00173.1 o doi: 10.1890/ES15-00218.1 * Developing a nationally appropriate mitigation measure from the greenhouse gas GHG abatement potential from livestock production in the Brazilian Cerrado Type Journal Article Author Rafael de Oliveira Silva Author Luis G. Barioni Author Tiago Zanett Albertini Author Vera Eory Author Cairistiona F.E. Topp Author Fernando A. Fernandes Author Dominic Moran URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308521X15300238__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvpFlYujs$ Volume 140 Pages 48-55 Publication Agricultural Systems ISSN 0308-521X Date November 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Agricultural Systems DOI 10.1016/j.agsy.2015.08.011 Abstract Brazil is one of the first major developing countries to commit to a national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions target that requires a reduction of between 36.1% and 38.9% relative to baseline emissions by 2020. The country intends to submit agricultural emissions reductions as part of this target, with livestock production identified as offering significant abatement potential. Focusing on the Cerrado core (central Brazilian savannah), this paper investigates the cost-effectiveness of this potential, which involves some consideration of both the private and social costs and benefits (e.g. including avoided deforestation) arising from specific mitigation measures that may form part of Brazil's definition of Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Measures (NAMAs). The analysis used an optimisation model to define abatement costs. A baseline projection suggests that beef production in the region will emit 2.6Gt CO2e (CO2 equivalent) from 2010 to 2030, corresponding to 9% of national emissions (including energy, transport, waste, livestock and agriculture). By implementing negative-cost measures identified in a marginal abatement cost curve (MACC) by 2030, the 2.6Gt CO2e could be reduced by around 24%. Pasture restoration, involving avoided deforestation, offers the largest contribution to these results. As the Brazilian Cerrado is seen as a model for transforming other global savannahs, the results offer a significant contribution by identifying alternatives for increasing productivity while minimizing national and global external costs. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:02 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:02 PM Tags: o Climate change o Grassland restoration o Linear programming o Marginal abatement cost curves o Mitigation measures o Sustainable intensification * Sustainable intensification of Brazilian livestock production through optimized pasture restoration Type Journal Article Author Rafael de Oliveira Silva Author Luis Gustavo Barioni Author J. A. Julian Hall Author Antonio Carlos Moretti Author Rui Fonseca Veloso Author Peter Alexander Author Mariane Crespolini Author Dominic Moran URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308521X16303845__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvYotjta8$ Volume 153 Pages 201-211 Publication Agricultural Systems ISSN 0308-521X Date May 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Agricultural Systems DOI 10.1016/j.agsy.2017.02.001 Abstract Grassland degradation compromises the profitability of Brazilian livestock production, and pasture recovery is a promising strategy for sustainable intensification of agriculture (SAI). Recovery increases carbon sequestration into the soil and can potentially avoid deforestation; thereby reducing emissions intensity (EI), but only at increased investment cost per unit of area. We develop a multi-period linear programming (LP) model for grazing beef production planning to represent a typical Cerrado stocking and finishing beef farm. We compare economic and environmental performance of two alternative optimized pasture management approaches relative to the traditional practice (TRP), which is based on restoring pasture after a full degradation cycle of 8years. The scenarios considered the difference made by access to subsidized credit through the Low Carbon Agriculture program (“Programa ABC”). The model estimates EI using upstream life cycle assessment (LCA), and dynamically estimates soil organic carbon (SOC) changes as a function of pasture management. The results show net present values (NPV) ranging from −67 Brazilian reals per hectare-year (R$·ha−1·yr−1) to around 300 R$·ha−1·yr−1, respectively for traditional and optimized pasture management strategies. Estimated EI of the TRP is 9.26 kgCO2 equivalent per kg of carcass weight equivalent (kgCO2e/kg CWE) relative to 3.59kgCO2e/kg CWE for optimized management. Highest emission abatement results from improved SOC sequestration, while access to credit could further reduce EI by around 20%. We consider the effects of alternative credit interest on both NPV and EI. The results provide evidence to inform the design of Brazil's key domestic policy incentive for low carbon agriculture, which is an important component of the country's Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) on emissions mitigation. The results also contribute to the global debate on the interpretation of SAI. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:09 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:09 PM Tags: o Grassland management o Linear programming o Soil organic carbon o Sustainable agricultural intensification * Continuous feral horse grazing and grazing exclusion in mountain pampean grasslands in Argentina Type Journal Article Author A.E. de Villalobos Author S.M. Zalba URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1146609X10000792__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvEBEtqkM$ Volume 36 Issue 5 Pages 514-519 Publication Acta Oecologica ISSN 1146-609X Date September 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Acta Oecologica DOI 10.1016/j.actao.2010.07.004 Abstract This paper evaluates changes in the composition and structure of plant communities and plant functional groups associated with the continuous presence of feral horses in mountain pampean grasslands in Argentina in order to explore the potential effects of horse removal on vegetation restoration. Specific and functional richness, diversity, evenness, spatial heterogeneity and above-ground biomass were compared between areas subjected to ten years of intensive grazing by horses and exclosures of the same age. Forbs, shrubs and rosettes were more abundant after ten years of grazing, while the spatial heterogeneity of perennial grasses was higher in long-term grazed areas. Nevertheless, grasslands showed good recovery after horse removal, with greater species diversity and evenness, higher abundance of perennial grasses, greater above-ground biomass and lower percentages of exotic species. An understanding of the effect of feral animals on plant communities will lead to the design of a strategy of adaptive management and monitoring tools for measuring the condition of grasslands. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:49 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:49 PM Tags: o Feral ungulates o Grasslands restoration o Grazing o Invasion resistance o Plant functional groups * Raising surface water levels in peat areas with dairy farming: Upscaling hydrological, agronomical and economic effects from farm-scale to local scale Type Journal Article Author J.A. de Vos Author P.J.T. van Bakel Author I.E. Hoving Author R.A. Smidt URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377410002222__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvYHmxRC4$ Volume 97 Issue 11 Pages 1887-1897 Publication Agricultural Water Management ISSN 0378-3774 Date November 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Agricultural Water Management DOI 10.1016/j.agwat.2010.06.017 Abstract Raising surface water levels in peat areas is a measure to reduce soil subsidence, to prevent decay of wooden foundations and to stimulate wet nature restoration and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, in these areas dairy farms are present and farming at wetter soils is difficult due to lower bearing capacity of the soil for cattle and machines. Water boards are responsible for the water management of peat areas and thus have to evaluate the effects of water management strategies for the different land use functions. Therefore the hydrological, agronomical and economic effects of different surface water levels are calculated for dairy farms. The ‘Waterpas’ model is used to simulate hydrological effects, dairy farm management and economic results for different meteorological years. The raised surface water level causes a decrease in gross grass yield and a reduction in grass quality. This leads to higher costs and less farmers’ income relative to a reference situation with a freeboard of 60cm. Raising the surface water increases the average costs for farmers with €89ha−1year−1 for a freeboard of 50cm, €170ha−1year−1 for a freeboard of 40cm and €239ha−1year−1 for a freeboard of 30cm. However, water boards are not only interested in the effects for individual farms, but also for an entire region. A new spatial method was developed for upscaling from farm to polder level. For grassland fields in a typical Dutch peat area classes can be distinguished using GIS data on soil type, soil surface elevation, surface water levels, locations of farms and farm characteristics. The classification is based on 4 classes of freeboards of the grassland fields and 7 typical distributions of grassland fields within a dairy farm. The farm economics were simulated for these typical classes. An increase in costs was simulated for the whole polder Zegveld (1400ha grassland) of €119,000year−1 at 10cm surface water level rise; €133,000year−1 at 20cm surface water level rise and €185,000year−1 at 30cm surface water level rise. For an integral environmental evaluation of changing hydrological conditions it is advised to incorporate effects on nutrient emission to groundwater and surface water and emission of ammonia and greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:11 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:11 PM Tags: o Farm economics o Grassland o Groundwater o Simulation models o Water management * Micro-topographic heterogeneity increases plant diversity in old stages of restored grasslands Type Journal Article Author Balázs Deák Author Orsolya Valkó Author Péter Török Author András Kelemen Author Tamás Miglécz Author Szilárd Szabó Author Gergely Szabó Author Béla Tóthmérész URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1439179115000274__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvmLitoXY$ Volume 16 Issue 4 Pages 291-299 Publication Basic and Applied Ecology ISSN 1439-1791 Date June 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Basic and Applied Ecology DOI 10.1016/j.baae.2015.02.008 Abstract It is a truism in ecology that environmental heterogeneity increases diversity. Supporting field studies are mostly concerned with a large-scale topographic heterogeneity, ranging from a couple of metres to landscape-scale gradients. To test the role of fine-scale micro-topography on plant diversity, we studied the initial vegetation of recently filled (1-year-old), and established vegetation on old (7-year-old) soil-filled channels in an alkali landscape, East-Hungary. We hypothesised that (i) recently filled channels are characterised by a high cover of ruderal species and high species diversity and (ii) high micro-topographic heterogeneity increases the diversity of species and plant strategy types (mixed C–S–R categories) in early stages but later on this effect diminishes. We found that diversity of species and plant strategy types was higher in recently filled channels compared to old filled channels. Micro-topographic heterogeneity had no effect on the studied vegetation parameters in recently filled channels. Conversely, in old filled channels higher micro-topographic heterogeneity resulted in higher diversity and lower cover of the dominant grass Festuca pseudovina. Higher micro-topographic heterogeneity resulted in increased ruderality and decreased stress-tolerance, but it did not increase the diversity of plant strategy types. In contrast with former studies, we found that a couple of centimetres of micro-topographic heterogeneity had no effect on vegetation in recently filled channels, but supported a high diversity in old filled channels. An important practical implication of our study is that in grassland restoration projects, micro-topographic heterogeneity has a crucial role in sustaining biodiversity. Zusammenfassung Es ist eine einfache ökologische Wahrheit, dass eine heterogene Umwelt die Diversität steigert. Freilandstudien, die dies unterstützen, betrachten meist großskalige topographische Heterogenität von einigen Metern bis hin zu Landschaftsgradienten. Um die Bedeutung feinskaliger Mikro-Topographie auf die Pflanzendiversität zu überprüfen, untersuchten wir, die anfängliche Vegetation von kürzlich (1 Jahr) verfüllten Entwässerungskanälen und die etablierte Vegetation von alten (7 Jahre) verfüllten Kanälen in einer Alkalilandschaft (Ost-Ungarn). Wir postulierten, dass (i) kürzlich verfüllte Kanäle durch eine hohe Bedeckung von Ruderalpflanzen und hohe Artendiversität charakterisiert sein sollten, dass (ii) hohe mikro-topographische Heterogenität die Artendiversität und die Diversität der Pflanzenstrategietypen (C–S–R-Kategorien) in frühen Stadien steigern sollte, während dieser Effekt später geringer wird. Wir fanden, dass die Diversität der Pflanzenarten und Strategietypen bei kürzlich verfüllten Kanälen höher war als bei alten Kanälen. Die mikro-topographische Heterogenität hatte bei kürzlich verfüllten Kanälen keinen Effekt auf die untersuchten Vegetationsparameter. Dagegen resultierte bei alten verfüllten Kanälen eine höhere mikro-topographische Heterogenität in höherer Diversität und geringerer Bedeckung durch das dominante Gras Festuca pseudovina. Höhere mikro-topographische Heterogenität bewirkte vermehrte Ruderalität und verminderte Stresstoleranz, aber sie erhöhte nicht die Diversität der Pflanzenstrategietypen. Im Gegensatz zu früheren Studien fanden wir, dass mikro-topographische Heterogenität von ein paar Zentimetern bei kürzlich verfüllten Kanälen keinen Einfluss auf die Vegetation hatte, dass aber eine hohe Diversität in alten verfüllten Kanälen unterstützt wurde. Eine wichtige praktische Schlussfolgerung aus unserer Studie ist, dass die mikro-topographische Heterogenität eine entscheidende Rolle für den Erhalt der Biodiversität in Grasland-Restaurationsprojekten spielt. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:08 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:08 PM Tags: o Alkali landscape o C–S–R strategies o Elevation o Functional diversity o Grassland restoration o Plant trait o Soil disturbance o Succession, Topography * Supplementing Seed Banks to Rehabilitate Disturbed Mojave Desert Shrublands: Where Do All the Seeds Go? Type Journal Article Author Lesley A. DeFalco Author Todd C. Esque Author Melissa B. Nicklas Author Jeffrey M. Kane URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2010.00739.x__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv-hhsb-k$ Rights © 2010 Society for Ecological Restoration International Volume 20 Issue 1 Pages 85-94 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2012 DOI 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2010.00739.x Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:59:22 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Revegetation of degraded arid lands often involves supplementing impoverished seed banks and improving the seedbed, yet these approaches frequently fail. To understand these failures, we tracked the fates of seeds for six shrub species that were broadcast across two contrasting surface disturbances common to the Mojave Desert—sites compacted by concentrated vehicle use and trenched sites where topsoil and subsurface soils were mixed. We evaluated seedbed treatments that enhance soil-seed contact (tackifier) and create surface roughness while reducing soil bulk density (harrowing). We also explored whether seed harvesting by granivores and seedling suppression by non-native annuals influence the success of broadcast seeding in revegetating degraded shrublands. Ten weeks after treatments, seeds readily moved off of experimental plots in untreated compacted sites, but seed movements were reduced 32% by tackifier and 55% through harrowing. Harrowing promoted seedling emergence in compacted sites, particularly for the early-colonizing species Encelia farinosa, but tackifier was largely ineffective. The inherent surface roughness of trenched sites retained three times the number of seeds than compacted sites, but soil mixing during trench development likely altered the suitability of the seedbed thus resulting in poor seedling emergence. Non-native annuals had little influence on seed fates during our study. In contrast, the prevalence of harvester ants increased seed removal on compacted sites, whereas rodent activity influenced removal on trenched sites. Future success of broadcast seeding in arid lands depends on evaluating disturbance characteristics prior to seeding and selecting appropriate species and seasons for application. Short Title Supplementing Seed Banks to Rehabilitate Disturbed Mojave Desert Shrublands Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:59:23 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:59:23 PM Tags: o arid land restoration o germination requirements o harvester ants o Messor pergandei o plant competition o rodents Attachments o Snapshot * Exotic-Dominated Grasslands Show Signs of Recovery with Cattle Grazing and Fire Type Journal Article Author John T. Delaney Author Raymond A. Moranz Author Diane M. Debinski Author David M. Engle Author James R. Miller URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0165758__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv6l0bBIQ$ Volume 11 Issue 11 Pages e0165758 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Nov 7, 2016 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0165758 Accessed 2020-03-12, 12:30:22 AM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract In grasslands, overgrazing by domestic livestock, fertilization, and introduction of exotic forage species leads to plant communities consisting of a mixture of native and exotic species. These degraded grasslands present a problem for land managers, farmers, and restoration ecologists concerned with improving biodiversity while continuing to use the land for livestock production. Here we assessed the response of butterfly and plant community composition to the use of fire and moderate grazing by domestic cattle on degraded grasslands dominated by exotic plants. We evaluated change by comparing experimental pastures to two reference sites that were grasslands dominated by native plants. We used two burning and grazing treatments: 1) patch-burn graze, a heterogeneously managed treatment, where one third of the pasture is burned each year and cattle have free access to the entire pasture, and 2) graze-and-burn, a homogenously managed treatment, where the entire pasture is grazed each year and burned in its entirety every three years. We tested for change in the butterfly and plant community composition over seven years using Bray-Curtis dissimilarity measures. Over the course of seven years, degraded pastures in both treatments became more similar to reference sites with respect to the butterfly and plant communities. Only two butterfly species and two plant functional guilds exhibited significant linear trends over time, with varying responses. Compositional changes in both the butterfly and plant communities indicate that the use of moderate grazing and fire may shift butterfly and plant communities of exotic-dominated grasslands to be more similar to reference tallgrass prairies over time. Date Added 2020-03-12, 12:30:22 AM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:53:18 PM Tags: o Cattle o Ecosystems o Grasses o Grasslands o Grazing o Moths and butterflies o Plant communities o Plants Attachments o Full Text PDF o Full Text PDF o Snapshot o Snapshot * Seasonal succession of pollinator floral resources in four types of grasslands Type Journal Article Author J. T. Delaney Author K. J. Jokela Author D. M. Debinski URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1890/ES15-00218.1__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvVqm1L0o$ Volume 6 Issue 11 Pages art243 Publication Ecosphere ISSN 2150-8925 Date November 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Ecosphere DOI 10.1890/ES15-00218.1 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Pollinators are declining globally, and this decline in ecosystem services threatens the stability of agricultural and natural systems. Pollinators depend on a diversity of floral resources that are primarily found in uncultivated areas of agro-ecosystems such as grasslands. Seasonal succession (the seasonal changes that occur in community composition and structure) of floral resources is an essential consideration for pollinator conservation within agro-ecosystems. Different types of grasslands common within agricultural landscapes could be expected to differ in their seasonal succession of floral resources. Here we investigated how different types of grasslands important for pollinator conservation in the tallgrass prairie ecoregion (remnant prairies, reconstructed prairies, conservation grazed cattle pastures, and old fields) differ in their seasonal succession of floral resources by sampling the plant community every two weeks from 3 May through 4 October 2013. We found remnant prairies had greater richness of inflorescences when summed over the growing season, and that remnants were least similar to the other grassland types in terms of composition. Reconstructed prairies had high richness of inflorescences and exhibited the most similarity in composition to remnant prairies only during the middle of the growing season. Conservation grazed cattle pastures had more periods where turnover in composition from one survey to the next was low, indicated by the coefficient of variation in turnover throughout the season. Old fields had the lowest richness of inflorescences and were significantly different from reconstructed and remnant prairies. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:47:23 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:53:15 PM Tags: o agro-ecosystems o flowering phenology o resource diversity o restoration o tallgrass prairie Notes: o doi: 10.1890/ES15-00218.1 o doi: 10.1890/ES15-00218.1 * Effectiveness of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria on Bromus tomentellus Boiss seed germination, growth and nutrients uptake under drought stress Type Journal Article Author S. Delshadi Author M. Ebrahimi Author E. Shirmohammadi URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0254629916343010__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvROp3l8U$ Volume 113 Pages 11-18 Publication South African Journal of Botany ISSN 0254-6299 Date November 1, 2017 Journal Abbr South African Journal of Botany DOI 10.1016/j.sajb.2017.07.006 Abstract The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of growth-promoting bacteria on the germination, growth and nutrient uptake by rangeland species Bromus tomentellus Boiss under drought stress. The research was conducted as a factorial experiment in a completely randomized design. The first factor was bio-fertilizer (Azotobacter vinelandii=A, Pantoea agglomerans+P. putida=P, combined A+P and control (without bio-fertilizer). The second factor was drought stress, which was applied at three levels of field capacity (FC), 0.7FC and 0.4FC. The results showed, under drought stress, that both treatments A and P+A at 0.7FC level increased the seed germination rate of B. tomentellus Boiss, while the control treatment at 0.7FC level had the lowest germination rate. Germination percentage in the treatment P at FC level was the highest. In the control treatment at 0.4FC level, the lowest germination percentage was measured. The results showed that both treatments A and A+P at FC level resulted in an increase in the root length. The P treatment at the level of 0.7FC showed the lowest root length. Also, the highest and lowest shoot lengths were observed in treatments A+P and A at 0.4FC level, respectively. In the control treatment, at FC level, the shoot dry weight was increased, but treatment P at FC level reduced the shoot dry weight. The highest and lowest root dry weights were observed in treatment A at 0.4FC and FC levels, respectively. The results showed that treatment A absorbed potassium, iron, zinc and manganese. P treatment increased the uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus, and Fe, while treatment A+P increased K and Fe in the root and shoot. In general, the results showed that the use of bio-fertilizers could increase the germination and growth of B. tomentellus Boiss. In particular, the fertilizers in 0.7FC and FC levels had increased traits and played no significant role in mitigating the effects of drought stress. The application of bio-fertilizers on B. tomentellus Boiss could be useful in the restoration and improvement of rangelands. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:50 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:50 PM Tags: o Bio-fertilizer o Drought stress o Germination rate o Plant growth * The Sap Flow Dynamics and Response of Hedysarum scoparium to Environmental Factors in Semiarid Northwestern China Type Journal Article Author Jifeng Deng Author Guodong Ding Author Guanglei Gao Author Bin Wu Author Yuqing Zhang Author Shugao Qin Author Wenhui Fan URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0131683__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvekzlFbQ$ Volume 10 Issue 7 Pages e0131683 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Jul 2, 2015 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0131683 Accessed 2020-03-12, 3:33:03 PM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract Hedysarum scoparium is an important, fast-growing and drought-resistant shrub that has been extensively used for grassland restoration and preventing desertification in semiarid regions of northwestern China. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the diurnal and seasonal variations in stem sap flow (Js) and its relation to environmental factors. The stem heat balance method was applied to plants that were approximately 17 years old (with diameters of 25, 16, 13, and 9 mm at ground level and heights of 3.1, 1.8, 1.7 and 1.4 m) and growing under natural conditions. The vertical soil temperature profile (ST), soil surface heat flux (SoilG), volumetric soil moisture content (SWC) and meteorological variables such as solar radiation (Rn), air temperature (Ta), vapour pressure deficit (VPD), wind speed (Ws) relative humidity (RH) and precipitation (P) were simultaneously measured at a meteorological station on site. Results indicated that Js varied regularly during the diurnal and seasonal term. The nocturnal Js was substantial, with a seasonal variation similar to the patterns of daytime Js. The magnitude of Js changed considerably between sunny and rainy days. Redundancy (RDA) and Kendall’s tau analysis suggested that daily Js in large plants was more sensitive to environmental factors, and the variation in daily Js during the growing season could be described by a multiple linear regression against environmental variables including Ta, VPD, Ws, RH, ST, and SoilG. While the nocturnal Js in smaller plants was more sensitive to meteorological factors. Ta, VPD, and Ws were significantly correlated with nighttime Js. The hourly nighttime sap flow rate of H. scoparium corresponded closely to Ta and VPD following a non-linear pattern. The results of this study can be used to estimate the transpiration of H. scoparium. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:33:03 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:33:03 PM Tags: o Deserts o Flow rate o Leaves o Plant physiology o Rain o Seasons o Shrubs o Solar radiation Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Land-use changes driven by ‘Grain for Green’ program reduced carbon loss induced by soil erosion on the Loess Plateau of China Type Journal Article Author Lei Deng Author Dong-Gill Kim Author Miaoyu Li Author Chunbo Huang Author Qiuyu Liu Author Min Cheng Author Zhouping Shangguan Author Changhui Peng URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S092181811830660X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvAsyt6tU$ Volume 177 Pages 101-115 Publication Global and Planetary Change ISSN 0921-8181 Date June 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Global and Planetary Change DOI 10.1016/j.gloplacha.2019.03.017 Abstract Vegetation restoration on degraded lands has been encouraged worldwide due to its ecological services and function of controlling soil erosion and improving carbon (C) stocks in terrestrial ecosystems. Although the processes of runoff and sediment detachment and transport are well recognized, the effects of vegetation restoration on organic C loss through soil erosion are not fully understood within a given landscape. This study conducted a synthesis from 66 sites to evaluate the effects of vegetation restoration on annual C loss induced by soil erosion across the key areas of the ‘Grain for Green’ Program (GGP) in the Loess Plateau, China. The results showed that vegetation restoration has significantly reduced the annual C loss in sediment and from runoff. Since 2000, a total of 8.6 × 106 ha degraded land has been converted to forests, shrubs and grasslands under the GGP, which has reduced runoff by 1.5 × 109 m3 and is associated with 7.3 × 103 Mg C; furthermore, lost sediment has reduced by 348.7 Tg, which is associated with 1.8 Tg C per year, across the Loess Plateau. In the zone with a mean annual precipitation (MAP) < 550 mm, the degraded lands that have been converted to grasslands and shrubs have reduced more soil and water losses than have the lands that have been converted to forests; additionally, in the zone with a MAP >550 mm, the degraded lands that have been converted to forests have less soil erosion than do the lands that have been converted to grasslands and shrubs. Moreover, C loss induced by soil erosion was mainly affected by plant cover, soil porosity, slope, land-use change, and rainfall intensity on the Loess Plateau. This study suggests that optimal vegetation restoration measures should be adopted based on local conditions to reduce C loss induced by soil erosion. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:31 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:31 PM Tags: o Ecological restoration o Land-use change o Organic carbon loss o Runoff o Sediment * Effects of age and land-use changes on soil carbon and nitrogen sequestrations following cropland abandonment on the Loess Plateau, China Type Journal Article Author Lei Deng Author Guo-liang Wang Author Guo-bin Liu Author Zhou-ping Shangguan URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857416300866__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvpFXkQgY$ Volume 90 Pages 105-112 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date May 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2016.01.086 Abstract Vegetation restoration and revegetation on land abandonment of cropland has a major impact on the landscape of the Loess Plateau in China. Such processes can alter soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pools and cycling. However, few studies have examined the effect of cropland abandonment on soil C and N sequestration in various land-use types over time. We studied the effects of age and land-use change types on soil C and N sequestration in top 1-m soil depth in the transition from forest to grassland in the center of the Loess Plateau. The results show that age as well as land-use change types had a significant effect on soil C and N sequestrations. Soil C and N sequestrations in the surface soils (0–10cm) had always increased since cropland abandonment. In the first 10 years, the orchard (OL) and man-made grassland (alfalfa) had higher soil C and N sequestrations than the other types of land uses, such as natural grassland (NG), shrubland (SL), orchard (OL) and woodland (WL). Moreover, in the later stage since cropland abandonment (>20 years), the SL had the high soil C and N sequestrations followed by WL and NG. In addition, the correlations between soil C and N sequestrations were greater in surface soil layers than that in deeper layers, and soil C sequestration was approximately 8–10 times that of soil N sequestration after cropland abandonment. Our study suggests that to get long-term (>20 years) soil C and N sequestration benefits, planting shrubs is a better restoration type in the transition from forest to grassland than natural grassland and woodland on the Loess Plateau, and orchard and man-made grassland (alfalfa) influenced by fertilization also have a good soil C and N sequestration benefits in the short time (<20 years) . Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:19 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:19 PM Tags: o Carbon–nitrogen correlation. o Dynamics o Land-use change o Restoration and revegetation o Soil depth * Drivers of soil microbial metabolic limitation changes along a vegetation restoration gradient on the Loess Plateau, China Type Journal Article Author Lei Deng Author Changhui Peng Author Chunbo Huang Author Kaibo Wang Author Qiuyu Liu Author Yulin Liu Author Xuying Hai Author Zhouping Shangguan URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706119304215__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvANv6u8o$ Volume 353 Pages 188-200 Publication Geoderma ISSN 0016-7061 Date November 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Geoderma DOI 10.1016/j.geoderma.2019.06.037 Abstract Soil extracellular enzymatic activity (EEA) stoichiometry could reflect the biogeochemical equilibrium between the metabolic requirements of microbial communities and environmental nutrients availability. However, the drivers of soil microbial metabolic limitation (SMML) changes remain poorly understood following vegetation restoration. We compared sites along a vegetation restoration chronosequence over a 30-year period on the Loess Plateau, China, and measured the potential activities of two C-acquiring enzymes (β-1,4-glucosidase (BG) and β-d-cellobiosidase (CBH)), two N-acquiring enzymes (β-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG) and l-leucine aminopeptidase (LAP)), and one organic-P-acquiring enzyme (alkaline phosphatase (AP)), to quantify and compare the variations in metabolic limitations for soil microorganisms using EEA stoichiometry. The results showed constant microbial P limitation, but not N limitation, and an open downward “unimodal” trend in microbial C limitation; however, the microbial P limitation displayed exactly the opposite trend during vegetation restoration. Restoration age and properties of plant, soil, and microorganisms contributed to 82.9% of microbial C limitation and 84.6% of microbial P limitation, with soil presenting the highest relative effects of 76.1% and 59.6% on microbial C and P limitations, respectively. Plant productivity and species diversity decreased microbial C limitation owing to increasing plant C inputs, but increased microbial P limitation owing to plant nutrients competition with soil microorganisms. When the fungi:bacteria ratio in the soil increased, the SMML increased. Vegetation restoration increased the soil nutrients content and reduced SMML, and a decrease in the soil water content increased microbial P limitation. Thus, the effects of long-term vegetation restoration on SMML were the result of combined influences of plants, soil, and microorganisms. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:41 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:41 PM Tags: o Enzymatic stoichiometry o Farmland abandonment o Grassland o Microbial C limitation o Microbial P limitation o Plant o Soil * Changes of soil carbon in five land use stages following 10 years of vegetation succession on the Loess Plateau, China Type Journal Article Author Lei Deng Author Kaibo Wang Author Guangyu Zhu Author Yulin Liu Author Lei Chen Author Zhouping Shangguan URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816218302856__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvig80VTI$ Volume 171 Pages 185-192 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date December 1, 2018 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2018.07.014 Abstract Changes in land use caused by natural vegetation succession can enhance the soil organic carbon (SOC) and carbon (C) stock of terrestrial ecosystems, as reported in many studies throughout the world. However, the dynamics of SOC and soil C stocks and their changes in each succession stage are not clearly following restoration age. Additionally, whether litter and fine roots have positive effects on SOC and soil C sequestration is unclear. We simultaneously studied litter and fine root production and SOC and C stocks along a natural vegetation succession – abandoned farmland, grassland, shrubland, pioneer woodland to natural climax forest – in 2005 and 2015 on the Loess Plateau of China. This allowed a better understanding of the variations of SOC and soil C stock in different land use stages in relation to soil layers and effects of litter and fine roots following vegetation restoration. The land use stages and soil layers significantly affected the rates of SOC and soil C sequestration change. The SOC and soil C stocks in the 0–60 cm soil profile rapidly increased over the course of the long-term natural vegetation succession. During 2005 to 2015, the topsoils (0–20 and 20–40 cm) had higher rates of SOC change (from 0.06 to 0.55 and from 0.23 to 0.51 g kg−1 yr−1, respectively) and soil C sequestration rates (from 0.37 to 1.09 and from 0.40 to 1.16 Mg ha−1 yr−1, respectively) than subsoils (40–60 cm, from 0.04 to 0.36 and from 0.05 to 1.16 Mg ha−1 yr−1). The litter and fine root production increased with age of the natural vegetation succession, and had significant positive effects on changes in SOC and soil C sequestration. Therefore, long-term natural vegetation restoration improved the SOC accumulation, and increased litter and fine root inputs were probably the main factors contributing to soil C sequestration. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:26 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:26 PM Tags: o Fine root o Litter o Rate o Restoration age o Soil carbon o Vegetation restoration * Insights from watershed simulations around the world: Watershed service-based restoration does not significantly enhance streamflow Type Journal Article Author P. James Dennedy-Frank Author Steven M. Gorelick URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959378018307283__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvP4Vb8Vg$ Volume 58 Pages 101938 Publication Global Environmental Change ISSN 0959-3780 Date September 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Global Environmental Change DOI 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2019.101938 Abstract Increased water yield and baseflow and decreased peak flow are common goals of watershed service programs. However, is the forest management often used in such programs likely to provide these beneficial watershed services? Many watershed service investments such as water funds typically change less than 10% of watershed land cover. We simulate the effects of 10% forest-cover change on water yield, low flow, and high flow in hydrologic models of 29 watersheds around the world. The forest-cover changes considered are: forest restoration from degraded natural lands or agriculture, forest conversion to agriculture, and forest conversion to urban cover. We do not consider grassland restoration by removal of alien tree species from riparian zones, which does increase water yield and low flow. Forest restoration from locally-predominant agricultural land resulted in median loss in annual water yield of 1.4%. Forest restoration reduced low flow and high flow by ∼3%. After forest restoration, low flow increased in ∼25% of cases while high flow and water yield declined in nearly all cases. Development of forest to agriculture or urban cover resulted in a 1–2% median increase in water yield, a 0.25–1% increase in low flow, and a 5–7% increase in high flow. We show that hydrologic responses to forest cover changes are not linearly related to climate, physiography, initial land cover, nor a multitude of watershed characteristics in most cases. These results suggest that enhanced streamflow watershed services anticipated from forest restoration or conservation of 10% or less of a watershed are generally modest. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:28 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:28 PM Tags: o Dry-season flow o Forest conservation o Forest restoration o Hydrological ecosystem services o Water yield o Watershed services * Taxon-specific associations of tallgrass prairie flower visitors with site-scale forb communities and landscape composition and configuration Type Journal Article Author Kathy R. Denning Author Bryan L. Foster URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320718302374__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv9mn2CZs$ Volume 227 Pages 74-81 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date November 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2018.08.023 Abstract Pollinators are integral to global plant biodiversity and agroecosystems, yet our understanding of the multi-scale drivers of pollinator community structure remains underdeveloped. In this study, we used a dataset comprising almost 7000 highly taxonomically resolved records of tallgrass prairie forbs and flower visiting insects to evaluate potential roles of site-scale forb communities as well as the composition and configuration of the surrounding landscapes, in structuring flower visitor communities. We examined the whole flower visitor community and three focal subgroups—bees (the principal pollinators worldwide), butterflies (often less efficient pollinators, but potentially useful as indicator taxa) and syrphid/bombyliid flies (which, as non-bee taxa, are often overlooked). At the site-scale, the composition of the entire flower visitor community was significantly associated with forb composition, but only bees were significantly, positively associated with forb α-diversity. Bee, butterfly, and fly diversity exhibited taxon-specific relationships with landscape composition and configuration. Butterfly richness was positively correlated with the combined extent of warm-season grasslands and woodlands, whereas bees were associated with the extent of warm-season grasslands, only. Bee and fly diversity was higher in landscapes with greater grassland edge density, indicating that habitat heterogeneity may be beneficial for these taxa. Our work adds to the growing body of research indicating that pollinators' responses to floral resources and land use in highly modified landscapes are often complex, taxon-specific and scale dependent, and our results highlight the importance of distinguishing among different types of natural and semi-natural lands when formulating pollinator conservation and restoration plans. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:23 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:23 PM Tags: o Bee o Butterfly o Community assembly o Fly o Grassland o Pollinator * Seedling Defoliation and Drought Stress: Variation in Intensity and Frequency Affect Performance and Survival Type Journal Article Author Elsie M. Denton Author Brenda S. Smith Author Erik P. Hamerlynck Author Roger L. Sheley URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742417300799__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvRS5XCW4$ Volume 71 Issue 1 Pages 25-34 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date January 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2017.06.014 Accessed 2020-03-17, 6:05:54 PM Library Catalog ScienceDirect Language en Abstract Our ability to restore rangelands is limited, and it is unknown if seedling herbivory on its own, or in interaction with other stressors, is a major contributor to restoration failure. To address this, we conducted two experiments: a No Defoliation (ND) experiment (n = 48), in which seedlings from three perennial grasses (crested wheatgrass [Agropyron cristatum {(L.} Gaertn.], bluebunch wheatgrass [Psuedoroegnaria spicata {Pursh} Á. Love], Sandberg bluegrass [Poa secunda J Presl]) were subjected to wet and dry water regimes for 4 mo, and a concurrent Defoliation (D) experiment (n = 95), in which seedlings were factorially assigned to two defoliation treatments—frequency (LOW, HIGH) and intensity (30% vegetation removal, 70% vegetation removal). Indicators of seedling performance were aboveground and belowground biomass (AGB and BGB), root:shoot ratio, tillering, and mortality. The effect size statistic, Hedge’s g, allowed for comparisons between performance measures. Water stress induced reductions in most performance measures: BGB (g = ND: –1.3; D: –1.6), root:shoot ratio (g = ND: n.s.; D: –0.2), and tillering (g= ND: –1.7; D: –1.2), though not significantly for all species. For ABG, water stress interacted with defoliation, reducing performance less at an intensity of 70% (g = –2.0) as opposed to 30% (g = –3.0), but not always significantly in the former. Water stress also caused less reduction in AGB when no defoliation occurred (ND: –0.8; g = D: –2.5). Intensity and frequency of defoliation interacted; seedlings were generally resistant to reductions in performance except at high frequency, 70% defoliation. Agropyron cristatum and P. spicata displayed similar sensitivity to treatments, mostly in terms of changes in AGB and BGB, while P. secunda also experienced increased mortality and reduced tillering. If these differences in sensitivity result in differential survival, herbivory could impact species postrestoration population demographics. Short Title Seedling Defoliation and Drought Stress Date Added 2020-03-17, 6:05:54 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:53:19 PM Tags: o defoliation o drought o establishment o herbivory o perennial grass o seedlings Attachments o ScienceDirect Snapshot * Undergraduate Range Management Exam: 1999-2014 Type Journal Article Author Justin D. Derner Author Jessica Crowder Author Mae Smith Author Tami Plechaty URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190052814000029__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvFwxLgm8$ Volume 37 Issue 1 Pages 26-38 Publication Rangelands ISSN 0190-0528 Date February 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Rangelands DOI 10.1016/j.rala.2014.12.001 Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:37 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:04:37 PM Tags: o critical thinking o education o rangeland management o rangeland science o Student Activities committee o synthesis of knowledge o undergraduate education o undergraduate students * Phytoremediation: Metal decontamination of soils after the sequential forestation of former opencast coal land Type Journal Article Author Mansi Desai Author Martin Haigh Author Helen Walkington URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969718346837__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvg-JAEvw$ Volume 656 Pages 670-680 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date March 15, 2019 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.327 Abstract Phytoremediation through forestry may be an effective means for reducing the metal loading in lands reclaimed after surface-coal-mining in the UK. Planted with mixed woodland, the soil loading of 5 key metals (Zn, Cd, Mn, Pb and Cu) decreased, significantly and progressively, compared to soils left as grassland through a 14 year forestation chronosequence on land reclaimed from the former Varteg opencast coalmine, South Wales. Fourteen years after initial tree planting, soil metal loadings decreased by 52% for Cd (4.3 mg∙kg−1 per year), 48% for Cu (2.1 mg∙kg−1 per year), 47% for Zn (7.3 mg∙kg−1 per year), 44% for Pb. (7.1 mg∙kg−1 per year) and 35% for Mn (45 mg.kg-1 per year). Analysis of metal loadings in the leaves of Alnus glutinosa (L. Gaertn) (Common Alder) and Betula pendula (Roth) (Silver Birch) found both to be involved in metal uptake with birch taking up more Cd, Cu, Zn and Mn and Alder more Pb. Concentrations of Zn, Mn and Cd (Birch only) increased significantly in leaves from, but not in soils, under older plantings. Since different tree species take up metals at different rates, mixed plantings may be more effective in forest phytoremediation. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:46 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:53:20 PM Tags: o Coal-land reclamation o Forest chronosequence o Metal loading in soils o Phytoremediation o Technosols o UK * Changes in the distribution of carabid beetles in Belgium revisited: Have we halted the diversity loss? Type Journal Article Author Konjev Desender Author Wouter Dekoninck Author Marc Dufrêne Author Dirk Maes URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320710001424__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvt3N5gIQ$ Volume 143 Issue 6 Pages 1549-1557 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date June 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2010.03.039 Abstract Twenty years ago, Desender and Turin (1989) analysed the changes in the composition of carabid beetles in four NW European countries between the periods <1950 and 1950–1985. Recently, a new distribution atlas of carabid beetles in Belgium was compiled using data collected during the period 1986–2008. In the light of the Countdown2010 target of halting the loss of biodiversity, we used these new data to test whether or not previously observed trends were altered. Since 1950, 46 species were no longer recorded in Belgium and seven species were added to the Belgian fauna. By relating the changes in distribution area to ecological and life history traits as well as to conservation priorities of the species, we examined which species characteristics were associated with the strongest changes in distribution. Comparing the period before 1950 with the period 1950–1985 showed that species from nutrient-poor dry biotopes and heathlands, threatened, rare and big species declined. Generalists, non-threatened species, species with a pan-European distribution range, species in the centre of their distribution range and common species, on the other hand, increased. From the period 1950–1985 to 1986–2008, mainly macropterous species, both rare and very common species and big species decreased, while generalists, dimorphic species, species with a pan-European distribution range and species that were already common in the second period increased. For the conservation of carabid beetles in a strongly industrialised and highly fragmented NW European landscape, we propose actions on two levels: first, the protection and adequate management of high quality biotopes, especially nutrient-poor grasslands and heathlands, in large core areas for specialist species and second, the creation and/or restoration of a ‘matrix’ that facilitates the exchange of individuals between core areas for the conservation of both generalist and specialist species. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:21 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:21 PM Tags: o Carabidae o Conservation o Countdown2010 o Ecological and life history traits * Establishment of a native bunch grass and an invasive perennial on disturbed land using straw-amended soil Type Journal Article Author Peggy Desserud Author M. Anne Naeth URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479712005865__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvWr9VWjs$ Volume 114 Pages 540-547 Publication Journal of Environmental Management ISSN 0301-4797 Date January 15, 2013 Journal Abbr Journal of Environmental Management DOI 10.1016/j.jenvman.2012.11.001 Abstract Native grasslands around the word face increased threats from non-native species. Fescue prairie in North America, in good rangeland condition, is dominated by the perennial bunch grass, Festuca hallii, whereas disturbances are often colonized by Poa pratensis, an introduced perennial rhizomatous grass which is competitive in nitrogen rich soils. F. hallii thrives in typical low nitrogen grassland soils and recovers poorly once disturbed. Disturbance to soil caused by well site construction may decrease organic carbon and potassium, and increase nitrogen, phosphorus, pH and electrical conductivity, creating conditions conducive to invasion by P. pratensis. This research tested the hypothesis that F. hallii would tolerate nitrogen depleted soil, through addition of carbon as a straw amendment to newly reclaimed well sites, better than P. pratensis. Our second hypothesis was that F. hallii is negatively affected by disturbed soil and P. pratensis is not. We treated three sites with three straw amendment rates, seeded monocultures of F. hallii and P. pratensis, and monitored establishment over three years. F. hallii biomass, root biomass, leaf length and cover increased in response to straw treatments, whereas P. pratensis showed little response. F. hallii was positively affected by prior-year soil water, and current-year ammonium and potassium. P. pratensis was positively affected by current-year soil water, potassium and nitrate. P. pratensis responded positively to higher pH and electrical conductivity found in disturbed soil and F. hallii responded poorly. The positive relationship of P. pratensis to pH above 7 could explain why it can invade reclaimed disturbed grassland; whereas the negative reaction of F. hallii might explain its failure to recover. We concluded the addition of straw as a soil amendment is a possible solution to poor establishment of F. hallii. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:40 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:53:22 PM Tags: o Grassland disturbance o Grassland restoration o Oil and gas site remediation o Soil treatment o Straw amendment * Restoration of foothills rough fescue grassland following pipeline disturbance in southwestern Alberta Type Journal Article Author Peggy Desserud Author C. Cormack Gates Author Barry Adams Author Richard D. Revel URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479710002549__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvtK6fMao$ Volume 91 Issue 12 Pages 2763-2770 Publication Journal of Environmental Management ISSN 0301-4797 Date December 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Journal of Environmental Management DOI 10.1016/j.jenvman.2010.08.006 Accessed 2020-03-17, 6:26:53 PM Library Catalog ScienceDirect Language en Abstract The effects of pipeline construction and reclamation techniques on the restoration of rough fescue plant communities following pipeline construction in southwestern Alberta, Canada were evaluated after 7–40 years. The pipeline construction right-of-way (ROW) sites varied from no recovery of rough fescue grassland to moderate recovery. The ROW sites had a higher proportion of introduced grasses and forbs, less topsoil, and poorer rangeland health than the adjacent undisturbed grassland. Within the ROW sites, less topsoil was present on those with larger diameter pipe and which had topsoil fully stripped from the ROW during construction. Introduced grasses, Festuca ovina (sheep fescue) and Poa compressa (Canada bluegrass), succeeded in establishment following seeding and persisted for at least 40 years. Poa pratensis (Kentucky bluegrass) dominated many of the ROW sites. Contributing factors to moderate recovery of rough fescue grassland were related to post-growing season pipeline construction, ideally, between August and March, summer or fall seeding, and minimum disturbance trench-only stripping. Reclamation practices appeared more important than time since restoration in the restoration of rough fescue grassland. Date Added 2020-03-17, 6:26:53 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:53:36 PM Tags: o Grassland restoration o Kentucky bluegrass o Pipeline construction o Pipeline reclamation o Rough fescue o Sheep fescue Attachments o ScienceDirect Snapshot * Deep seam and minesoil carbon sequestration potential of the South Wales Coalfield, UK Type Journal Article Author A. Detheridge Author L.J. Hosking Author H.R. Thomas Author V. Sarhosis Author D. Gwynn-Jones Author J. Scullion URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479719310333__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvgw945Pg$ Volume 248 Pages 109325 Publication Journal of Environmental Management ISSN 0301-4797 Date October 15, 2019 Journal Abbr Journal of Environmental Management DOI 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109325 Abstract Combustion of coal for energy generation has been a significant contributor to increased concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide. It is of interest to evaluate the potential of former coalfields for mitigating these increases by carbon sequestration and to compare different options to achieving this end. Here, carbon sequestration in residual coal seams and through reclamation of spoil tips is compared, and their carbon dioxide storage potential in the South Wales Coalfield estimated. Coal seam sequestration estimates come from an established methodology and consider the total unmined coal resource below 500 m deep with potential for carbon sequestration. The most likely effective deep seam storage capacity is 104.9 Mt carbon dioxide, taking account of reservoir conditions and engineering factors. Whilst many spoil tips in South Wales have been reclaimed, the focus has not been on carbon sequestration potential. Estimates of minesoil restoration sequestration capacity were based on a survey of restored minesoil and vegetation carbon stocks, mainly on sites 20–30 years after restoration; data from this survey were then extrapolated to the coalfield as a whole. Minesoil storage is estimated at 1.5 or 2.5 Mt (+2.2 Mt in tree biomass) carbon dioxide based on average grassland or woodland measurements, respectively; modelled data predicted equilibrium values of 2.9 and 2.6 Mt carbon dioxide respectively in grassland or woodland minesoils. If all sites achieved close to the maximum capacity in their land use class, minesoil storage capacity would increase to 2.1 or 3.9 Mt carbon dioxide, respectively. Combining the best woodland minesoil and standing biomass values, sequestration capacity increases to 7.2 Mt carbon dioxide. The wider social, economic, environmental and regulatory constraints to achieving this sequestration for each approach are discussed. Coal seam sequestration has a much higher capacity but sequestration in mine sites is less costly and has fewer regulatory constraints. Findings indicate a significant combined potential for carbon sequestration in the South Wales Coalfield and highlight challenges in achieving this potential. On a global scale, ex-coalfield sequestration could contribute to broader efforts to mitigate emissions. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:35 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:53:23 PM Tags: o Carbon sequestration o Coal o Minesoils o Storage capacity * Vegetation and edaphic factors influence rapid establishment of distinct fungal communities on former coal-spoil sites Type Journal Article Author Andrew Paul Detheridge Author David Comont Author Tony Martin Callaghan Author Jennifer Bussell Author Graham Brand Author Dylan Gwynn-Jones Author John Scullion Author Gareth Wyn Griffith URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1754504818300552__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv6WkyzO0$ Volume 33 Pages 92-103 Publication Fungal Ecology ISSN 1754-5048 Date June 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Fungal Ecology DOI 10.1016/j.funeco.2018.02.002 Abstract We investigated re-establishment of fungal communities on eight former colliery sites in South Wales following revegetation 22–27 y earlier. Regraded bare coal-spoil was seeded to sheep-grazed grasslands, with saplings planted into coal-spoil for woodlands. Metabarcoding (28S rRNA, D1 region) of soil fungal populations showed that woodland and grassland habitats were clearly divergent but edaphic variables only weakly affected fungal community structure. Root-associated basidiomycetes dominated all habitats, with ectomycorrhizal fungi more abundant in woodlands and Clavariaceae/Hygrophoraceae (‘CHEG’ fungi) in grasslands. The composition of coal-spoil grassland communities resembled that of a typical upland grassland site, suggesting that propagule immigration was not a limiting factor. However, fungal biomass (ergosterol) was 3-fold lower, reflecting high bulk density and poor structure. Re-establishment of fungal communities in coal-spoil soils represents an important barometer of restoration success. From a fungal conservation perspective, such sites represent important refugia for waxcap fungi subject to habitat loss from agricultural intensification. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:42 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:42 PM Tags: o Ergosterol o Immigration o Mycorrhiza o Next generation sequencing o Soil ecology o Waxcap * Western water and climate change Type Journal Article Author Michael Dettinger Author Bradley Udall Author Aris Georgakakos URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1890/15-0938.1__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv0m3jde8$ Volume 25 Issue 8 Pages 2069-2093 Publication Ecological Applications ISSN 1051-0761 Date December 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Ecological Applications DOI 10.1890/15-0938.1 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Abstract The western United States is a region long defined by water challenges. Climate change adds to those historical challenges, but does not, for the most part, introduce entirely new challenges; rather climate change is likely to stress water supplies and resources already in many cases stretched to, or beyond, natural limits. Projections are for continued and, likely, increased warming trends across the region, with a near certainty of continuing changes in seasonality of snowmelt and streamflows, and a strong potential for attendant increases in evaporative demands. Projections of future precipitation are less conclusive, although likely the northernmost West will see precipitation increases while the southernmost West sees declines. However, most of the region lies in a broad area where some climate models project precipitation increases while others project declines, so that only increases in precipitation uncertainties can be projected with any confidence. Changes in annual and seasonal hydrographs are likely to challenge water managers, users, and attempts to protect or restore environmental flows, even where annual volumes change little. Other impacts from climate change (e.g., floods and water-quality changes) are poorly understood and will likely be location dependent. In this context, four iconic river basins offer glimpses into specific challenges that climate change may bring to the West. The Colorado River is a system in which overuse and growing demands are projected to be even more challenging than climate-change-induced flow reductions. The Rio Grande offers the best example of how climate-change-induced flow declines might sink a major system into permanent drought. The Klamath is currently projected to face the more benign precipitation future, but fisheries and irrigation management may face dire straits due to warming air temperatures, rising irrigation demands, and warming waters in a basin already hobbled by tensions between endangered fisheries and agricultural demands. Finally, California's Bay-Delta system is a remarkably localized and severe weakness at the heart of the region's trillion-dollar economy. It is threatened by the full range of potential climate-change impacts expected across the West, along with major vulnerabilities to increased flooding and rising sea levels. Date Added 2020-03-12, 4:06:19 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:53:25 PM Tags: o Centennial Paper o climate change o Colorado River o Klamath River o Rio Grande o Sacramento–San Joaquin Bay Delta o water resources o western United States Notes: o doi: 10.1890/15-0938.1 o doi: 10.1890/15-0938.1 * Contemporary forest loss in Ireland; quantifying rare deforestation events in a fragmented forest landscape Type Journal Article Author John L. Devaney Author John J. Redmond Author John O'Halloran URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0143622815001733__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvuAXXuBI$ Volume 63 Pages 346-356 Publication Applied Geography ISSN 0143-6228 Date September 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Applied Geography DOI 10.1016/j.apgeog.2015.07.008 Abstract Accurate quantification of forest loss is required to meet international reporting requirements, even in countries where deforestation rates are low. In Ireland, recent evidence has suggested the rate of gross annual deforestation is increasing. However, no spatially explicit data on the extent and character of contemporary deforestation exists. Here, we quantify deforestation in a region where forest loss is rare. Deforestation estimates derived from wall-to-wall photointerpretation, official records (e.g. felling licences), the CORINE land-use/land cover changes dataset and a combined approach (hereafter termed “the Deforestation Map”) are compared in two regions in Ireland for the period 2000 to 2012. Deforestation area based on the Deforestation Map (1497 ha) was greater than estimates derived from using photo-interpretation (730 ha), official records (908 ha) and CORINE (139 ha) alone. Independent accuracy assessment highlighted high errors of omission for photo-interpretation (68.9%), official records (66.7%) and CORINE (91.84%) estimates compared to the Deforestation Map (20%). No general increase in the deforestation rate during the study period was recorded, despite regional variations. Post deforestation land-use transitions were principally to wetland, grassland and settlement although the magnitude and proportion of change varied regionally. Gross annual deforestation was higher in older broadleaf forests than in conifer plantation forests, a surprising finding considering the small area and conservation status of many broadleaf forests in Ireland. For countries with small forest area and/or low rates of deforestation, the use of methodologies employed herein can provide a valuable record of forest loss and be used to validate sample-based or remotely sensed deforestation estimates. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:24 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:24 PM Tags: o CORINE o Deforestation o Ireland o Land-use change o National Forest Inventory o UNFCCC * Habitat Overlap and Facilitation in Tamarisk and Box Elder Stands: Implications for Tamarisk Control Using Native Plants Type Journal Article Author John M. DeWine Author David J. Cooper URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2008.00494.x__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv4pucmBU$ Rights © 2009 Society for Ecological Restoration International Volume 18 Issue 3 Pages 349-358 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2010 DOI 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2008.00494.x Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:26:27 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Invasive plants are typically managed using top-down control techniques that focus on the removal of the target organism. Bottom-up control limits the resources available to the undesired species by manipulating disturbance, competition, and successional processes, and thus may prevent reinvasion. Tamarisk species (Tamarix sp.) have invaded riparian areas throughout western North America, resulting in expansive control efforts. A companion study has shown that a native competitor, Box elder (Acer negundo), is capable of outcompeting and killing established Tamarisk through light interception in canyons of Dinosaur National Monument (DNM), Colorado. The goal of this study was to determine the feasibility of using Box elder as a bottom-up control agent by (1) determining the distributional overlap of the two species in DNM; (2) determining if Tamarisk facilitates Box elder establishment; and (3) analyzing Box elder seedling survival across a range of physical gradients. The distribution of Tamarisk and Box elder overlapped considerably throughout the study area. Box elder seedlings were planted under Tamarisk canopies or areas with the canopy removed. Survival was significantly higher under Tamarisk canopies, indicating that Tamarisk facilitates Box elder seedling survival. Box elder seedling survival was tested across soil texture, litter depth, groundwater depth, and shade intensities indicative of conditions found in the canyons of DNM, and survival was high for all treatments. The manipulation of competitive and successional processes through the promotion of Box elder and other native tree establishment is suggested as a means of bottom-up Tamarisk control to complement traditional control techniques. Short Title Habitat Overlap and Facilitation in Tamarisk and Box Elder Stands Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:26:27 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:26:27 PM Tags: o bottom-up control o Box elder o facilitation o invasive species o non-native plants o Tamarisk Attachments o Snapshot * Tillage and haymaking practices speed up belowground net productivity restoration in the degraded Songnen grassland Type Journal Article Author Baba Diabate Author Xinyu Wang Author Yingzhi Gao Author Pujia Yu Author Zhengfang Wu Author Daowei Zhou Author Haijun Yang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167198717301459__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvoq8hqu8$ Volume 175 Pages 62-70 Publication Soil and Tillage Research ISSN 0167-1987 Date January 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Soil and Tillage Research DOI 10.1016/j.still.2017.08.003 Abstract The improvement of productivity and soil organic matter is a central issue for the restoration of degraded land. Belowground net primary productivity (BNPP) is a major source of soil organic matter. Therefore, understanding BNPP dynamics is crucial to improving our knowledge of belowground C allocation and storage in grasslands. However, how tillage and haymaking practices affect BNPP and belowground C allocation remains poorly understood. To investigate effects of tillage and haymaking practices on BNPP and root fraction (fBNPP), a field experiment set within three fenced areas, one each for maize cultivation, artificial grassland, and natural grassland, was carried out during 2012–2014. The treatments were: maize tillage; maize no-tillage, keeping residues; maize no-tillage, removing residues; artificial grassland, no haymaking; artificial grassland, haymaking; natural grassland, no haymaking; and natural grassland, haymaking. The ingrowth donuts method was used to determine BNPP. Across the years, BNPP varied from 220 to 1331gm−2. Tillage and haymaking practices significantly increased BNPP and fBNPP in maize cultivation and grassland managements, respectively, suggesting that more C is allocated to soil with BNPP in those land-use practices. On average, fBNPP ranged from 0.25 to 0.54 and was significantly higher in 2014 than in 2012 and 2013, irrespective of the practices, indicating that precipitation is the controlling factor for determining C allocation between belowground and aboveground. Our findings highlight that tillage and haymaking practices can enhance BNPP and belowground C allocation. Therefore, from the perspective of the whole plant, they should be considered as feasible management practices for restoration of degraded grassland. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:54 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:54 PM Tags: o Belowground net primary productivity o Grassland restoration o Haymaking practice o Root fraction o Tillage practice * Arid grassland bee communities: associated environmental variables and responses to restoration Type Journal Article Author Lauren A. Smith DiCarlo Author Sandra J. DeBano Author Skyler Burrows URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.13074__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv868fyo8$ Rights © 2019 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume n/a Issue n/a Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X DOI 10.1111/rec.13074 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:49:39 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract In recent years restoration project efforts in arid grasslands of the Pacific Northwest have increased; however, little is known about the bee communities in these areas or how restoration affects them. Native bees provide an essential ecosystem service through pollination of crops and native plants and understanding their response to restoration is a high priority. To address this issue, we conducted a three-year study in an arid bunchgrass prairie with three objectives: (1) describe the bee community of this unique grassland type and its temporal variability; (2) investigate environmental variables influencing the community; and (3) examine effects of restoration on the community. We identified 62 bee species and found strong seasonal and inter-annual variation in bee abundance, richness, diversity, and species composition. Unexpectedly, these temporal trends did not correspond with patterns in floral resources; however, several variables were associated with variation in bee abundance, richness, and diversity among sites. Sites with high levels of litter cover had more bees, while sites with taller vegetation or more blooming flowers had greater species richness but lower diversity. We found no detectable effect of restoration on bee abundance, richness, diversity, or composition. Species composition at native sites differed from those in actively and passively restored sites, which did not differ from each other. Restored sites also had fewer flowers and differing floral composition relative to native sites. These results suggest that if grassland restoration is to benefit bees, efforts should focus on both expanding floral resources and enhancing variables that influence nesting habitat. Short Title Arid grassland bee communities Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:49:39 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:49:39 PM Tags: o bunchgrass prairie o floral resources o Hymenoptera o nesting resources o temporal variability o vegetative structure Attachments o Snapshot * Use of shelter tubes, grass-specific herbicide, and herbivore exclosures to reduce stressors and improve restoration of semiarid thornscrub forests Type Journal Article Author Krysten Dick Author Heather D. Alexander Author Jonathan D. Moczygemba URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12373__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvtotjFT0$ Rights © 2016 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 24 Issue 6 Pages 785-793 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2016 DOI 10.1111/rec.12373 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:58:33 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract In semiarid south Texas, land conversion has reduced thornscrub forests by greater than 95%, and stressors, including competition with invasive grasses, mammalian herbivory, and drought, threaten the success of restoration efforts. This study assessed the effectiveness of multiple restoration treatments aimed at improving survival and growth of thornscrub forest seedlings planted in old agricultural fields. In January 2013, we treated greater than 1,100 seedlings with grass-specific herbicide, herbivore exclosures, and shelter tubes, used separately or combined. We further evaluated the effects of shelter tube duration (0, 6, 12, and 18 months). For each seedling, we quantified surrounding invasive grass cover, browse intensity, height, and basal diameter every 4 months until September 2014. Herbicide application decreased invasive grass cover approximately 5-fold and increased seedling survival (23%) and basal diameter (26%). Shelter tube application for 12 and 18 months increased seedling survival (10%) and height (43 and 74%, respectively), whereas seedlings treated with tubes for only 6 months performed similar to those left untreated. Exclosures had no impact on seedling survival but increased seedling height (23%) and basal diameter (26%). We found no significant interactive effects of treatments. Overall, herbicide most effectively increased seedling survival and basal diameter growth, whereas shelter tubes proved most useful for promoting height growth. Combined, these treatments increased implementation and maintenance costs 2-fold, but minimized seedling mortality and maximized restoration potential. These findings highlight the necessity of post-planting seedling management to reduce stress from invasive grasses, mammalian herbivory, and drought and improve restoration potential in semiarid thornscrub forests. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:58:33 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:58:33 PM Tags: o herbicide o revegetation o seedling o semiarid o shelter tube o thornscrub forest Attachments o Snapshot * Mitigation of environmental impacts of beef cattle production in southern Brazil – Evaluation using farm-based life cycle assessment Type Journal Article Author Milene Dick Author Marcelo Abreu da Silva Author Homero Dewes URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652614011305__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvCj5KnxI$ Volume 87 Pages 58-67 Publication Journal of Cleaner Production ISSN 0959-6526 Date January 15, 2015 Journal Abbr Journal of Cleaner Production DOI 10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.10.087 Abstract Numerous mitigation strategies have been proposed in order to reduce environmental impacts from beef cattle production. In this sense, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of additive changes in the animal and pasture management of a beef cattle production system typical of south Brazil (baseline scenario – BS), in terms of climate change, land use and fossil depletion. These changes included: increasing the forage production; improving the forage quality; introducing legumes to replace nitrogen fertilization; improving the reproductive rates and; increasing the forage utilization efficiency. It was also considered the stabilization of the soil carbon (C) stocks in a long-term perspective. In BS was estimated, per kg of live weight gain, the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission of 22.5 kg of CO2 equivalents; the land use of 234.8 m2a and; 0.004 kg of oil equivalents in fossil depletion. Changes in forage production and quality resulted in GHG emissions equivalent to 7.8–20.7% of the BS and, to 0.5–1.2% of the BS with reproductive animal improvements. Land use reduces 9.4–30.6 times with these changes. The introduction of legumes to replace the nitrogen fertilizers engendered negative values of fossil depletion. The intensification of pasture utilization results in GHG emissions corresponding to 0.5% of the BS, and in a land use 32 times lower. Considering the long-term stabilization of soil C stocks, the systems that received nutritional and reproductive improvements presented reductions of GHG emissions from 2.5 to 3.2 times. A sensitivity analysis indicated the possibility of all short term improved scenarios become net sinks of C if gradual increments of root/shoot ratios in the range of values suggested by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for Pampa Biome were applied. The scenarios confirm the hypothesis that productive improvements and environmental protection are not contradictory, and highlight the importance of biomass C dynamics and regional peculiarities in mitigation of environmental impacts from forage-livestock systems. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:32:11 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:32:11 PM Tags: o Global warming o Grassland restoration o LCA o Rotational grazing o Soil carbon stocks o Sustainable intensification * Relationship between groundwater levels and oxygen availability in fen peat soils Type Journal Article Author Jan Dickopp Author Andreas Lengerer Author Marian Kazda URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857418301952__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvELBRv4w$ Volume 120 Pages 85-93 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date September 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2018.05.033 Abstract Groundwater levels (GWL) are a major controlling factor for aeration and organic matter turnover in wetland soils but little is known about this relationship under field conditions. This study tested how the O2 availability in fen peat soils is related to groundwater levels. The study encompassed five sites over a wide range of land use intensity. Ground water levels and soil oxygen saturation in 5 cm and 20 cm depth were measured biweekly in three replicates per site over periods of 2–3 years. The O2 levels were not linearly proportional to the GWL, but changed sharply from anoxic to nearly atmospheric levels depending on the positions of water table. Binary logistic regression analyses (LRA) were calculated for the individual sites in order to predict the threshold GWL for defined probabilities of hypoxic or oxic conditions in 5 cm depth. The GWLs for 95% probability of oxic conditions were markedly lower for the managed grasslands (−116 cm and −89 cm to surface level, respectively) than for the unmanaged pasture and the sedge fen (−60 cm and −38 cm). Hypoxic conditions required GWLs close to the surface (7 cm and −2 cm for the pasture and the restored site, respectively) while in 5 cm soil depth managed grasslands remained hypoxic even at GWLs of −8 cm and −28 cm. In 20 cm soil depth, full oxygen saturation never occurred even at GWL as low as 80 cm. Threshold GWL required for 95% probability of oxic conditions was higher with increasing porosity and rooting density. The offset between GWL and oxic conditions can be used for hydrological wetland management, especially for restoration efforts. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:43 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:43 PM Tags: o Anoxia o Hypoxic conditions o Rooting density o Soil porosity o Wetland restoration * Phytometers are underutilised for evaluating ecological restoration Type Journal Article Author Anna L. Dietrich Author Christer Nilsson Author Roland Jansson URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1439179113000753__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvdS1uja8$ Volume 14 Issue 5 Pages 369-377 Publication Basic and Applied Ecology ISSN 1439-1791 Date August 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Basic and Applied Ecology DOI 10.1016/j.baae.2013.05.008 Abstract Ecological restoration increases, but evaluation of restoration efforts is inadequate because reliable performance indicators are lacking. As plants are important actors in ecological restoration, we suggest that they be used as metres, i.e. phytometers, of restoration success. Phytometer plants are transplanted to different conditions to integrate measures of the prevailing conditions. We analysed 109 studies for the use of phytometers and especially their applicability to evaluate ecological restoration. Most studies employed single species and life-stages and focused on habitat conditions and environmental impacts. Most experiments were conducted on grasslands in moist temperate regions. Growth was the dominant response variable, in long-term studies often combined with reproductive output and plant survival. Only five studies specifically evaluated ecological restoration, implying that its potential is not yet realised. We found phytometers promising in evaluating restoration outcomes given that they are easy to measure, can provide rapid results, and serve as integrative indicators of environmental conditions with the ability of covering many aspects of plant life and ecosystem processes. To evaluate restoration success with high resolution and generality, we suggest a combination of different phytometer species, life-forms and life-stages, and experimental periods >1 year to reduce effects of transplantation and between-year variation and to account for time lags in ecological processes and changes after restoration. Zusammenfassung Obwohl der Einsatz ökologischer Renaturierung stetig zunimmt, ist die qualitative Auswertung der angewendeten Maßnahmen unzureichend, u.a. da zuverlässige Erfolgsindikatoren fehlen. Pflanzen spielen eine wichtige Rolle in der ökologischen Renaturierung und können deshalb als Messinstrumente, so genannte Phytometer, des Renaturierungserfolges dienen. Phytometerpflanzen können in verschiedene Umweltverhältnisse “transplantiert” werden, um dort die vorherrschenden Lebensbedingungen zu erfassen. Hier stellen wir eine Analyse von 109 Studien vor, in denen Phytometer zur Beantwortung ökologischer Fragestellungen eingesetzt wurden, und werten insbesondere ihren Nutzen als Indikatoren erfolgreicher Renaturierungsmaßnahmen aus. Forschungsziele waren hauptsächlich die Auswertung der Habitatbeschaffenheit, sowie der Zugang zu natürlichen Rohstoffen und die Auswirkung von ökologischen Störfaktoren. Die meisten Experimente wurden in Graslandschaften in feucht-gemäßigten Regionen durchgeführt und verwendeten nur eine Art und eine Lebensphase. Gemessen wurde meist das Wachstum, in Langzeitstudien mitunter in Kombination mit der Überlebensrate und der Fortpflanzungsleistung. Nur in fünf Studien wurde die Auswertung ökologischer Renaturierung als spezifisches Forschungsziel genannt, was auf potentielle Verbesserungsmöglichkeiten der Phytometernutzung in diesem Bereich hindeutet. Der Einsatz von Phytometern hat unterschiedliche Vorteile, insbesondere da sie als integrative Indikatoren die Fähigkeit haben, mehrere Aspekte des pflanzlichen Lebenszyklus als auch Ökosystemprozesse gleichzeitig zu erfassen. Desweiteren sind Phytometer leicht messbar und ermöglichen schnelle Resultate. Um allgemeingültige Ergebnisse zu erhalten, empfehlen wir eine Kombination von verschiedenen Phytometerarten, Lebensformen und Lebensphasen. Zudem sollten experimentelle Langzeitstudien (> 1 Jahr) angestrebt werden, einerseits um die Auswirkung von Transplantationseffekten oder jährlichen Schwankungen zu verringern, und andererseits um mögliche Reaktionsverzögerungen ökologischer Prozesse nach der Störung durch Renaturierung zu berücksichtigen. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:24 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:24 PM Tags: o Bioassay o Ecosystem change o Environmental disturbance o Indicator o Plants o Transplants * The Utility of Animal Behavior Studies in Natural Resource Management Type Journal Article Author Lindsay A. Dimitri Author William S. Longland URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190052817300974__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvD2i5FTQ$ Volume 40 Issue 1 Pages 9-16 Publication Rangelands ISSN 0190-0528 Date February 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Rangelands DOI 10.1016/j.rala.2017.12.003 Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:54 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:54 PM Tags: o granivorous rodents o individual variation o livestock o mountain lions o rangeland management o sage-grouse * Effects of contrasting agricultural management on microbial residues in a Mollisol in China Type Journal Article Author Xueli Ding Author Xiaozeng Han Author Xudong Zhang Author Yunfa Qiao URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167198713000378__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvB2On7XE$ Volume 130 Pages 13-17 Publication Soil and Tillage Research ISSN 0167-1987 Date June 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Soil and Tillage Research DOI 10.1016/j.still.2013.02.001 Abstract Microbial residue represents a significant amount of soil organic matter, and its component amino sugar can serve as time-integrated indicators that reflect chronic effects of agricultural management. We evaluated the influence of different land-use and fertilization treatments on the amounts and patterns of amino sugars (glucosamine and galactosamine) and muramic acid in a Mollisol (Udolls, USDA Soil Taxonomy System) in northeastern China. The treatments included: BL, bareland, without any vegetation; GL, restored grassland which allows plants to re-vegetate naturally; AL, arable land without any fertilizer; ALF, arable land with chemical fertilizer; and ALMF, arable land with chemical fertilizer and pig manure. The amino sugar concentrations differed significantly between various treatments after 26 years, with the order of ALMF>GL>ALF>AL>BL. This suggests that long-term contrasting management changed microbial residue accumulation in soil, which is strongly related to soil organic carbon content. The larger ratios of glucosamine to muramic acid in the GL plots than the AL and BL plots indicated a shift toward fungal-derived residues after 26 years of natural restoration. Our results suggested that different land-use and fertilization treatments clearly influenced amounts and patterns of microbial residues and their contribution to SOM accumulation, primarily due to differences in organic C inputs. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:06 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:06 PM Tags: o Amino sugar o Fertilization o Land use o Microorganisms o Soil organic matter * Grazing ecology and the conservation of the Caldenal rangelands, Argentina Type Journal Article Author Roberto Alejandro Distel URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196316301203__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvKwE0LMQ$ Volume 134 Pages 49-55 Publication Journal of Arid Environments ISSN 0140-1963 Date November 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Journal of Arid Environments DOI 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2016.06.019 Abstract Grazing by domestic livestock in the Caldenal rangelands has been threatening the ecological balance of this unique biome located in the semiarid zone of central Argentina. The aim of this review was to describe and explain the floristic changes observed in grazed rangelands in the southern Caldenal, discuss management alternatives for the conservation of desirable plant communities, and identify gaps in current knowledge of this distinctive ecosystem. Grazing-induced modification in the species composition entails the replacement of palatable grasses by unpalatable grasses and/or woody plants. Coarse grass and shrub encroachment represents discontinuous stable changes that lead to undesirable regimes in terms of functionality of primary ecological processes, species diversity, carrying capacity, and the economic productivity of livestock operations. Recovery of the desirable regime dominated by palatable grasses requires active restoration technology, which is often constrained by climatic and economic factors. Conservation of the regime dominated by palatable grasses calls for flexible stocking rates and intermittent grazing in replacement of current fixed stocking rates and continuous grazing. However, there is a basic need for more research related to restoration alternatives, grazing management, and for the development of simulation models to encompass the complexity of the system and assess the ecological and economic consequences of different management options of the southern Caldenal rangelands. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:13 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:53:26 PM Tags: o Livestock o Regime shift o Rest o Restoration o Semiarid o Stocking rate * Assessment of northern bobwhite survival and fitness in the West Gulf Coastal Plain ecoregion Type Journal Article Author Jacob W. Doggett Author Alexandra Locher URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0200544__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvy9-4wDQ$ Volume 13 Issue 7 Pages e0200544 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Jul 17, 2018 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0200544 Accessed 2020-03-12, 3:34:45 PM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract In the West Gulf Coastal Plains (WGCP) northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) are declining faster than range-wide averages and such declines have been linked to the consequences of land management. Management for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis) has benefitted northern bobwhite by restoring mature pine-grassland ecosystems in some areas of the region. However, at Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge, Crossett, Arkansas, USA, the bobwhite population was not increasing despite the availability of seemingly suitable habitat from management for the endangered species. To understand factors that may be affecting bobwhite survival on Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge we conducted a telemetry study and assessed summer survival, brood survival, and nest success from 1 April– 11 August in 2013 and 1 April– 15 August in 2014. We also calculated home-range sizes and measured microhabitat characteristics around nests. Summer survival rates were 71% (SE = 0.17) and 47% (SE = 0.14); while nest success was 47% (SE = 0.02) and 100% for 2013 and 2014, respectively. Between years, both 95% and 50% kernel home-ranges were not different (pooled, 63.92±6.07 ha and 14.94±1.75 ha); however minimum convex polygon home-range sizes were (113.8 ± 20.1 ha in 2013; and 393.1 ± 49.0 ha in 2014, P < 0.001). Only numerical differences in microhabitat vegetation characteristics of nest sites and non- nest sites were observed. We suggest management for red-cockaded woodpeckers supports bobwhite populations but only as a buffer against more severe declines. Since bobwhites are declining range-wide, we believe areas federally managed for red-cockaded woodpeckers will become increasingly more important for sustaining regional bobwhite population levels. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:34:45 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:34:45 PM Tags: o Arkansas o Birds o Conservation science o Nesting habits o Pines o Predation o Seedlings o Wildlife Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Adapting mechanized vascular plant seed dispersal technologies to biocrust moss restoration Type Journal Article Author Kyle Doherty Author Matthew A. Bowker Author Rebecca A. Durham Author Anita Antoninka Author Philip Ramsey Author Daniel Mummey URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12998__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvE7Yq35c$ Rights © 2019 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume n/a Issue n/a Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X DOI 10.1111/rec.12998 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:10:47 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Biocrust restoration is an emerging field relevant to management of rangelands. Manual dispersal of biocrust is an effective approach, though there are few examples of biocrust restoration greater than a square meter, in part because specialized machinery has yet to be developed or adapted for dispersal across larger areas. Restoration with vascular plants is now conducted using a variety of equipment for work at small to large scales. We investigated the potential of two tractor draft implements, a rangeland seed drill and imprinter, to establish moss. We assessed three treatments: moss passed through a seed drill, manually broadcasted over imprinted soil, and manually broadcasted onto unaltered soil. We conducted these treatments at two sites that differed in management histories and vegetative cover. To use the seed drill to disperse moss we needed to amend moss materials to prevent jamming, which reduced application rate. Imprinted treatments established the most cover, a result we attribute to creation of favorable microsites for establishment. Broadcast methods established a comparable number of moss colonies to broadcast-over-imprinted soil, but less cover. Drill treatments were not effective by any metric, likely due to burial of moss. Final differences between our highest cover treatment and controls were positive, but small: 2.38% in imprinted versus 0.44% in controls. However, moss cover in imprinted areas increased during our two-year experiment at this site, while controls did not. Future work should focus on integrating biocrust and vascular plant treatments and identifying equipment to efficiently achieve these goals. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:10:47 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:10:47 PM Tags: o biological soil crust o imprinter o mechanized treatments o rangelands o seed drill o soil restoration Attachments o Snapshot * Alluvial grasslands along the northern upper Rhine – nature conservation value vs. agricultural value under non-intensive management Type Journal Article Author Tobias W. Donath Author Ralf Schmiede Author Annette Otte URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880914004915__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvG7f7o-o$ Volume 200 Pages 102-109 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date February 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2014.11.004 Abstract Semi-natural non-intensively managed grasslands are among the most species-rich and threatened ecosystems in Central Europe. Alluvial meadows along large European rivers are part of the European Union's Habitats Directive, and therefore part of conservation and restoration efforts. Sustainable management of these meadows should aim to reconcile the interests of both nature conservationists and farmers. In this context, we conducted a two-year comparative study in alluvial meadows of high and low nature conservation value, belonging to the alliances Arrhenatherion and Cnidion. Firstly, we aimed to assess how differences in fodder yield and quality are linked to abiotic and biotic factors. Secondly, we addressed the possibility of incorporating fodder from these meadows into livestock farming. Our results revealed that while yield tended to be higher in meadows of low nature conservation value, fodder quality (e.g. energy content) showed the reverse trend. These differences are most likely caused by differences in vegetation composition and soil fertility. In addition, the response seemed to be closely linked to the precipitation pattern. In 2006, when precipitation was evenly distributed, fodder quantity seemed to be mainly related to site conditions. In 2007, when a drought occurred in April, differences in the proportion of functional groups were additionally related to differences in yield. The degree to which this fodder can be integrated into farming systems depends on the intensity of livestock farming and marginal economic conditions. The present study confirms that under non-intensive management, meadows of high and low nature conservation value yield similar fodder qualities. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:22 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:22 PM Tags: o Arrhenatherion o Cnidion o Extensive management o Fodder quality o High nature value farmland o Restoration * Enhancing sustainability of grassland ecosystems through ecological restoration and grazing management in an era of climate change on Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Type Journal Article Author Shikui Dong Author Zhanhuan Shang Author Jixi Gao Author Randall B. Boone URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880919303007__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvASO_2Og$ Volume 287 Pages 106684 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date January 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2019.106684 Abstract The grassland ecosystems cover above 60% of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) and provide important ecosystem services and functions at local and regional scales. However, both anthropogenic and non-anthropogenic disturbances are challenging the sustainability of the QTP’s grassland ecosystems in the era of global change. In this review paper, we summarized the causes and effects of grassland degradation, restoration practices used on degraded grasslands, impacts of climate change and nitrogen deposition on plants and soils, adaptation strategies to climate changes, impacts of livestock grazing on plants and soils, and sustainable grazing management on the QTP. We believed that the integration of internal drivers of ecosystem fragility with external disturbances such as overgrazing are the major causes of grassland degradations on the QTP. The quantitative evaluation systems for grassland ecosystem health including plant, soil and livestock indicators are theoretically feasible and technically reliable. The major impacts of grassland degradation on the QTP are loss of biodiversity, increased water erosion, reduced carbon sequestration, decrease pastoral productivity and reduced local human well-being. The current restoration practices are mostly revegetation of “Bare Land” severely degraded grasslands using cultivated grasses. Other restoration practices such as grazing fallow and grassland fencing can be applied to restore the lightly or moderately degraded grasslands. We believed that the side effects from soil drying on plant productivity and diversity in manipulative warming experiments could be the main cause of controversial findings about the effects of climate change on plant productivity, diversity, phenology, soil physics, biochemistry and organisms. Many scholars argued the advances and delays in greening-up date, lengthening and shortening of the growth period in the phenological responses of alpine grassland plants to a warming climate. Multiple sources of remote sensing data and diverse interpretive approaches should be applied and ground-based observations and surveys should be performed to improve the accuracy and reliability of model predictions on plant phenology. Inconsistent conclusions of climate change impacts on soil biochemistry and organisms except soil acidification and eutrophication have been widely observed in most manipulated studies of nitrogen deposition. Adaptive strategies should be employed to promote grassland system’s sustainability of the QTP. Rotational grazing regime with moderate grazing intensity in the warm season may retain or promote plant height, cover, productivity and biodiversity, improve soil structure, fertility and microbial biomass, enhance carbon and nitrogen storage and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the alpine grassland ecosystems. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:40 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:40 PM Tags: o Climate change o Grassland degradation o Grassland ecosystems o Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau o Sustainable grazing * Effect of rest-grazing management on soil water and carbon storage in an arid grassland (China) Type Journal Article Author Wang Dong Author Liu Yu Author Wu Gao-Lin Author Ding Lu-Ming Author Yang Zheng Author Hao Hong-Min URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022169415003868__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvF6tvNko$ Volume 527 Pages 754-760 Publication Journal of Hydrology ISSN 0022-1694 Date August 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Journal of Hydrology DOI 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2015.05.036 Abstract Summary The appropriate grassland management practices play an important role for sustainable use of grassland. Rest grazing is beneficial to maintain higher grassland productivity and species diversity. However, little knowledge exists about the effects of rest grazing on soil water and carbon storages in arid regions. In the current study, we investigated the above- and below-ground community characteristics of the three-paired rest-grazing and grazing grasslands in an arid region of northern-west China. An 11-year rest grazing grassland and a continuous grazing grassland were studied to understand soil water and carbon storages. The results revealed that soil water content and carbon storage significantly increased after rest grazing, which was mainly attributable to increasing below-ground biomass density. At the 30–50cm soil layer depth of the continuously grazing grassland, bulk density was higher and below-ground biomass was lower than the rest of the grazing grassland. This layer significantly affected the water cycle by blocking water exchange between the upper and lower soil layers. Soil carbon content did not significantly increase after rest grazing. The results indicated that rest grazing has a great potential for the recovery of soil water storage, and is an effective way to enhance grassland restoration in the arid area. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:45 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:45 PM Tags: o Arid region o Carbon–water coupling o Eco-hydrology o Grassland management o Root system * Evaluation of soil treatment techniques on remediated brine spill sites in semi-arid rangelands Type Journal Article Author Megan J. Dornbusch Author Ryan F. Limb Author Hannah A.K. Tomlinson Author Aaron L.M. Daigh Author Kevin K. Sedivec URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479720300384__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv39JndFk$ Volume 260 Pages 110100 Publication Journal of Environmental Management ISSN 0301-4797 Date April 15, 2020 Journal Abbr Journal of Environmental Management DOI 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110100 Abstract Unconventional oil and gas development (UOG) generates high volumes of flowback and produced water, byproducts of hydraulic fracturing operations, that are often released or spilled on the soil surface. Soil contamination with these wastewaters, commonly referred to as brine, has the potential to inhibit vegetation growth indefinitely. Natural attenuation of brine is not expedient in arid and semi-arid regions where most United States UOG developments are located, including the Bakken region of North Dakota. In situ (at-site) and ex situ (off-site) soil treatment techniques are commonly employed to remediate brine-contaminated soils in the Bakken. However, little is known regarding each technique's efficacy despite differences in application, cost, and efficiency. We selected 10 sites previously remediated with chemical amendments (in situ) and 11 sites with topsoil excavation (ex situ) in the United States Forest Service Little Missouri National Grasslands. We paired each remediated site with a reference to examine the ability of each strategy to return brine-contaminated sites to conditions reflective of the current state of the surrounding semi-arid rangeland ecosystem. At each site, we quantified soil electrical conductivity (ECe) as an indicator of soil salinity and measured vegetation cover, biomass production, bare ground, and litter. The difference between paired reference and remediated sites was used for analysis. Brine contamination was still evident as soil ECe was similarly increased on chemical amendment and topsoil excavation remediated sites over paired references at all soil depths tested. Due to the nature of the topsoil excavation treatment, elevated ECe in the 0–15 cm depth suggested resalinization of the new topsoil. Remediation techniques also resulted in similar plant community composition marked by an increase in exotic forb biomass, largely due to the invasion of kochia (Bassia scoparia) which was absent from reference sites. However, remediation techniques differed substantially in vegetation establishment. We found 15% more bare ground on sites remediated with chemical amendment treatment than paired references and 55% more with topsoil excavation. Our results indicate that in situ strategies may be more suitable than ex situ strategies for brine-spill remediation in semi-arid rangelands like the Bakken in North Dakota as they cause less disturbance and likely require less post-remediation management to establish adequate vegetation cover to protect the soil from further erosion. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:15 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:00:15 PM Tags: o Brine spill remediation o Contaminated soil o Flowback and produced water o Remediation o Soil salinity o Unconventional oil and gas * Biological indicators provide short term soil health assessment during sodic soil reclamation Type Journal Article Author Heather L. Dose Author Ann-Marie Fortuna Author Larry J. Cihacek Author Jack Norland Author Thomas M. DeSutter Author David E. Clay Author Joel Bell URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X15003192__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvqVemFSo$ Volume 58 Pages 244-253 Publication Ecological Indicators ISSN 1470-160X Date November 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2015.05.059 Abstract Sodic soil remediation is an expensive, lengthy process during which producers need tools to demonstrate that sodium (Na+) remediation practices are improving soil health. The objective of this study was to determine if soil biological indicators can provide a short term assessment of the effectiveness of chemical management strategies used to remediate northern Great Plains sodium affected soils. This randomized complete block split-plot research experiment was conducted in a grassland which was converted to annual row crops. The soil at the site was an Exline (fine, smectitic, frigid Leptic Natrudolls). The experiment contained two drainage treatments (tile drained and no-drainage) and four chemical amendments (4.5 Mg ha−1 of gypsum, 9.1 Mg ha−1 of gypsum, 9.1 Mg ha−1 spent sugar beet lime, and a no amendment control). Base-line soil samples for biological assessment were collected in the fall of 2012 after tile drainage was installed. The sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) ranged from 0.4 to 16.7 with a range of electrical conductivity (EC) of 0.4–0.8dSm−1. Gypsum and lime amendments were applied in 2013. Soil samples were collected for assessing soil health before and after application of amendments and throughout the growing season. This study utilizes a novel application of successional vector trajectories to compare shifts in measured soil health parameters associated with land use change and remediation of sodicity. Soil samples were analyzed for percent total soil carbon (C), nitrifier and denitrifier gene copies, soil enzyme assays (nitrate reductase, ammonia monooxegenase, urease, β glucosidase, alkaline phosphatase, arylsulfatase and fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis), EC, pH, SAR, and soil texture. Gene copies and enzyme activities were successfully used to differentiate between land uses and amendment applications. Ammonia oxidizing bacterial gene copies were higher where cropland was amended with gypsum. Successional vectors verified a significant shift in soil health due to land use change and amendment application. Gypsum applications reduced SAR, but increased soil EC. This work demonstrates that soil enzyme activities and gene copy numbers can be used to detect improvements in soil health. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:34 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:53:29 PM Tags: o AOA o AOB o Bioindicators o Gene copy numbers o Gypsum o Nitrification o qPCR o Remediation o Sodicity o Soil enzyme o Soil health o Subsurface tile drainage * Assessing the influences of ecological restoration on perceptions of cultural ecosystem services by residents of agricultural landscapes of western China Type Journal Article Author Yuehan Dou Author Lin Zhen Author Xiubo Yu Author Martha Bakker Author Gerrit-Jan Carsjens Author Zhichao Xue URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969718326962__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dviONQUgA$ Volume 646 Pages 685-695 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date January 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.07.205 Abstract Landscape change caused by ecological restoration projects has both positive and negative influences on human livelihoods, yet surprisingly little research on the cultural consequences of ecological restoration in agricultural landscapes has taken place. Cultural consequences can be captured in the ecosystem services framework as cultural ecosystem services (CES). However, assessment and valuation of these services to support decision-making for this essential ecosystem is lacking. To help fill this gap, we assessed the opinions of Chinese rural communities about CES and the changes in their perception under the Grain for Green program (GFG), a nationwide program to relieve the pressure on ecosystems (soil erosion and land degradation) by converting cultivated land or barren land on steep slopes into grassland and forests. We used Guyuan City in China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region as a case study, using a workshop to identify the CES provided by the agricultural landscape, followed by semi-structured household interviews to quantify perceptions of these CES. We found that all eight CES types identified by the workshop were perceived by the rural communities. Reforestation changed their perceptions of CES directly due to land cover change and indirectly due to the resulting economic changes and migration of mostly young workers in search of better jobs. Cultivated land was perceived as more important than forest for CES provision. In addition, residential areas were perceived as providing significant CES because of local traditions that produce close and highly social neighborhood bonds in agricultural landscapes. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:24 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:24 PM Tags: o Agricultural landscapes o Cultural ecosystem services o Ecological restoration o Household survey o Human perception * Impacts of Imazapyr and Triclopyr Soil Residues on the Growth of Several Restoration Species Type Journal Article Author Cameron H. Douglass Author Scott J. Nissen Author Paul J. Meiman Author Andrew R. Kniss URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742416000087__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvx7CO4Uk$ Volume 69 Issue 3 Pages 199-205 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date May 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2016.01.006 Abstract Herbicides are frequently used in natural systems to control invasive plants, but nontarget impacts from persistent soil residues can result in unintended ecosystem effects. Imazapyr and triclopyr are herbicides that are widely used in noncrop areas such as rangelands to manage perennial weeds, especially woody species such as tamarisk (saltcedar). Due to widespread environmental and anthropogenic changes in the American southwest, tamarisk, which is commonly thought to co-occur only with riparian plants, is increasingly being found in communities of upland rangeland species. Using an in vitro study combined with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses, imazapyr and triclopyr degradation rates were determined in six Colorado soils. In addition, the relative sensitivity of desirable species to the two herbicides was determined in a field dose response study. Exponential decay models estimated that triclopyr degradation (half-lives of 5−16 days) was 20 times more rapid than imazapyr degradation (half-lives of 82−268 days). All species tested were sensitive to imazapyr residues, but the degree of sensitivity was strongly dependent on soil properties. Sensitive species (alkali sacaton and western wheatgrass) were tolerant of imazapyr residues in some soils 20−23 months after applications. Relatively insensitive species (slender wheatgrass) were tolerant of imazapyr residues in the same soils 10 months after applications. American licorice was sensitive to triclopyr residues up to 89 days after applications, and several grasses (including sideoats grama) showed minor sensitivity. Our study indicates that there is an interaction between the spatial variability in herbicide degradation driven by edaphic properties and the sensitivity of plants to a herbicide, which could be exploited by management practitioners to aid in site rehabilitation. Specifically, managers could stagger planting of species temporally on the basis of their sensitivity to herbicide residues or could target areas of treated sites for planting that are known to have soil types facilitating relatively rapid herbicide degradation. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:39 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:04:39 PM Tags: o active restoration seeding o herbicide degradation o herbicide dose response o minimum plant back intervals o tamarisk * Species, functional groups and community structure in seed banks of the arid Nama Karoo: Grazing impacts and implications for rangeland restoration Type Journal Article Author Niels Dreber Author Jens Oldeland Author Gretel M.W. van Rooyen URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880911001095__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv3RTXdYc$ Volume 141 Issue 3 Pages 399-409 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date May 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2011.04.004 Abstract The regeneration potential of grazing-affected Nama Karoo vegetation was evaluated by comparing soil seed banks of different microsites across a fence-line contrast in arid Namibia. Seed banks under low and high grazing pressure reflected the condition of the standing vegetation in terms of composition, community structure and species abundance distributions. However, a close concordance between vegetation and seed bank was restricted to the herbaceous and grassy vegetation within the inter-shrub matrix. The divergence of seed bank communities across the fence-line was low at community level but high at the level of species abundances. Continuous severe grazing increased the abundance of small-seeded, prostrate forbs with round seeds and favored unpalatable, annual grasses over palatable, perennial grasses. Microsites provided a source of small-scale variation in seed bank community composition and were dissimilar between the rangelands. Results indicated an advanced divergence in the vegetation at the degraded site with seed banks of species common under sustainable grazing being drastically reduced. Their low abundance, even in safe sites, suggests that long-distance dispersal is one of the main limiting factors for natural re-establishment after disturbance. The inertia in recovery of Namibian degraded rangelands through seed limitation can be overcome only by active species introduction. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:08 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:54:00 PM Tags: o Degradation o Regeneration strategy o Restoration potential o Seed bank composition o Similarity pattern o Species abundance distribution * Seed Production and Seedling Fitness Are Uncoupled from Maternal Plant Productivity in Three Aridland Bunchgrasses Type Journal Article Author Rebecca E. Drenovsky Author Megan L. Thornhill Author Matthew A. Knestrick Author Daniel M. Dlugos Author Tony J. Svejcar Author Jeremy J. James URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742416000051__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvnhyPCAc$ Volume 69 Issue 3 Pages 161-168 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date May 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2016.01.003 Abstract Maintaining self-sustaining populations of desired plants is fundamental to rangeland management, and understanding the relationships among plant growth, seed production, and seedling recruitment is critical to these efforts. Our objective was to evaluate how changes in maternal plant soil resource environment influences maternal plant biomass and seed production and seedling fitness in three widespread perennial bunchgrass species (Elymus elymoides [Raf.] Sezey, bottlebrush squirreltail; Festuca idahoensis Elmer, Idaho fescue; and Pseudoroegneria spicata [Pursh] A. Löve, bluebunch wheatgrass). We supplied water and nutrients to adult plants growing in the field and measured their productivity and fecundity. Then, in the laboratory, growth chamber, and field we assessed effects of the maternal water and nutrient additions on offspring performance. Across the three study species, vegetative traits were more plastic than reproductive traits, with resource addition measurably increasing plant growth but not seed production. Germination was high in both the laboratory and field across treatments, although seeds from irrigated maternal plants tended to have higher field germination. Seedling relative growth rate, leaf mass ratio, and relative root elongation rate (RRER) were highly variable, although RRER tended to be higher in seedlings derived from irrigated maternal plants. In the field, seedling survivorship was low across all species, but survivorship doubled in seedlings produced by P. spicata plants that received additional water through the growing season. Overall, our results suggest that biomass production and fecundity responses to nutrients are decoupled in the species and environment tested but maternal effects can have significant, although variable, impacts in some grassland species. As a result, biomass responses to natural and anthropogenic changes in resource availability may not be strong predictors of how altered resource supply may ultimately influence plant community dynamics in aridland systems. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:49 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:53:32 PM Tags: o fecundity o nitrogen o phosphorus o restoration o water amendment * Short-term grazing exclusion improved topsoil conditions and plant characteristics in degraded alpine grasslands Type Journal Article Author Chenjun Du Author Jie Jing Author Yuan Shen Author Haixiu Liu Author Yongheng Gao URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X19306739__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv0QQJBfM$ Volume 108 Pages 105680 Publication Ecological Indicators ISSN 1470-160X Date January 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2019.105680 Abstract Grazing exclusion by fencing is one of the most effective practices to recover the degraded alpine grasslands in Tibetan Plateau. In the present study, the effects of 8-year (GE8) and 4-year (GE4) grazing exclusion were studied in comparison with free grazing (FG) in the plant-soil ecosystems of alpine grasslands. Within fencing, improved plant characteristics such as aboveground biomass (AGB), belowground biomass (BGB) and plant total cover developed without grazing and trampling were observed. Also, there were significant improvements of soil organic carbon (SOC), ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations usually in the topsoil (0–30 cm) but a stable C:N ratio with the number of years of grazing exclusion. Fencing enhanced soil main enzyme (invertase, phosphatase, urease and β-glucosidase) activities by providing sufficient substrates for microbial activities. Unexpectedly, GE4 had higher soil invertase, phosphatase, urease and β-glucosidase activities than GE8, which had less plant diversity, richness and higher total cover causing a lowering of soil temperature. Additionally, the results supported the allometric allocation hypothesis for the ABG versus BGB in the grasslands of Tibetan Plateau. Our results indicated that SOC and BGB can be used as indicators of the restoration process of degraded alpine grassland. Cautions should be taken for a long-term fencing in degraded alpine grasslands because of the loss of plant richness, diversity and soil enzyme activities. The present results also suggested that a suitable grazing regime combined with fencing should be focused in the future study of the alpine grasslands. Research results obtained in the present study should, therefore, be helpful to offer a better guidance towards the management practices of the degraded alpine grasslands. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:42 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:42 PM Tags: o Enzyme activity o Fencing o Grassland degradation o Soil nutrients o Tibetan Plateau * Wind erosion and dust from US drylands: a review of causes, consequences, and solutions in a changing world Type Journal Article Author Michael C. Duniway Author Alix A. Pfennigwerth Author Stephen E. Fick Author Travis W. Nauman Author Jayne Belnap Author Nichole N. Barger URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.2650__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvT3xP0IY$ Volume 10 Issue 3 Pages e02650 Publication Ecosphere ISSN 2150-8925 Date March 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Ecosphere DOI 10.1002/ecs2.2650 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Abstract Erosion by wind is one of the principal processes associated with land degradation in drylands and is a significant concern to land managers and policymakers globally. In the drylands of North America, millions of tons of soil are lost to wind erosion annually. Of the 60 million ha in the United States identified as most vulnerable to wind erosion (arid and dominated by fine sandy soils), 64% are managed by federal agencies (37 million ha). Here we review the drivers and consequences of wind erosion and dust emissions on drylands in the United States, with an emphasis on actionable responses available to policymakers and practitioners. We find that while dryland soils are often relatively stable when intact, disturbances including fire, domestic livestock grazing, and off-highway vehicles can increase horizontal eolian flux by an order of magnitude, in some cases as much as 40-fold. A growing body of literature documents the large-scale impacts of deposited dust changing the albedo of mountain snow cover and in some cases reducing regional water supplies by ~5%. Predicted future increases in aridity and extreme weather events, including drought, will likely increase wind erosion and consequent dust generation. Under a drier and more variable future climate, new and existing soil- and vegetation-disturbing practices may interact in synergistic ways, with dire consequences for environments and society that are unforeseen to many but fairly predictable given current scientific understanding. Conventional restoration and reclamation approaches, which often entail surface disturbance and rely on adequate moisture to prevent erosion, also carry considerable erosion risk especially under drought conditions. Innovative approaches to dryland restoration that minimize surface disturbance may accomplish restoration or reclamation goals while limiting wind erosion risk. Finally, multidisciplinary and multijurisdictional approaches and perspectives are necessary to understand the complex processes driving dust emissions and provide timely, context-specific information for mitigating the drivers and impacts of wind erosion and dust. Date Added 2020-03-12, 4:49:47 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 4:49:47 PM Tags: o abatement o fugitive dust o land use o livestock o off-road vehicles o oil and gas o restoration o wind erosion Notes: o doi: 10.1002/ecs2.2650 * Generalizing Ecological Site Concepts of the Colorado Plateau for Landscape-Level Applications Type Journal Article Author Michael C. Duniway Author Travis W. Nauman Author Jamin K. Johanson Author Shane Green Author Mark E. Miller Author Jeb C. Williamson Author Brandon T. Bestelmeyer URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190052816300827__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvusWnXfY$ Series Ecological Sites for Landscape Management Volume 38 Issue 6 Pages 342-349 Publication Rangelands ISSN 0190-0528 Date December 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Rangelands DOI 10.1016/j.rala.2016.10.010 Accessed 2020-03-17, 5:58:31 PM Library Catalog ScienceDirect Language en Date Added 2020-03-17, 5:58:31 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 5:58:31 PM Tags: o biological soil crusts o drylands o erosion o grazing o land classification o MLRA 35 Attachments o ScienceDirect Full Text PDF o ScienceDirect Snapshot * Insights from Long-Term Ungrazed and Grazed Watersheds in a Salt Desert Colorado Plateau Ecosystem Type Journal Article Author Michael C. Duniway Author Erika L. Geiger Author Tamera J. Minnick Author Susan L. Phillips Author Jayne Belnap URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742418300320__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvTY4ximY$ Volume 71 Issue 4 Pages 492-505 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date July 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2018.02.007 Accessed 2020-03-17, 6:21:22 PM Library Catalog ScienceDirect Language en Abstract Dryland ecosystems cover over 41% of the earth’s land surface, and living within these important ecosystems are approximately 2 billion people, a large proportion of whom are subsistence agropastoralists. Improper grazing in drylands can negatively impact ecosystem productivity, soil conservation, hydrologic processes, downstream water quantity and quality, and ultimately human health and economic well-being. Concerns regarding the degraded state of western US rangelands in the 1950s resulted in an interagency committee to study the effects of land use on runoff and erosion processes. In 1953, a federal research group established four paired watersheds in western Colorado to study the interaction of grazing by domestic livestock, runoff, and sediment yield. Exclusion of livestock from half of the watersheds dramatically reduced runoff and sediment yield after the first 10 yr—primarily due to changes in ground cover but not vegetation. Here, we report results of repeated soils and vegetation assessments of the experimental watersheds after more than 50 yr of grazing exclusion. Results show that many of the differences in soil conditions between grazed and ungrazed watersheds observed in the 1950s and 1960s were still present in 2004, despite reduced numbers of livestock: few differences in vegetation cover but large differences in biological soil crusts, soil stability, soil compaction, and soil biogeochemistry. There were differences among soil types in response to grazing history, especially soil lichen cover and soil organic matter, nitrogen, and sodium. Comparisons of ground cover measured in 2004 with those measured in 1953, 1966, and 1972 suggest much of the differences between grazed and ungrazed watersheds likely were driven by high sheep numbers during droughts in the 1950s. Persistence of these differences, despite large reductions in stocking rates, suggest the combination of overgrazing and drought may have pushed these salt desert ecosystems into a persistent, degraded ecological state. Date Added 2020-03-17, 6:21:22 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 6:21:22 PM Tags: o erosion o lichens o livestock o Mancos Shale o salt desert o state change Attachments o ScienceDirect Snapshot * Seeding plants for long-term multiple ecosystem service goals Type Journal Article Author D.J. Eastburn Author Leslie M. Roche Author Morgan P. Doran Author Philip R. Blake Author Chip S. Bouril Author George Gamble Author Elise S. Gornish URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479718300719__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvkdbG_do$ Volume 211 Pages 191-197 Publication Journal of Environmental Management ISSN 0301-4797 Date April 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Journal of Environmental Management DOI 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.01.061 Abstract The historical management of agroecological systems, such as California's rangelands, have received criticism for a singular focus on agricultural production goals, while society has shifting expectations to the supply of multiple ecosystem services from these working landscapes. The sustainability and the multiple benefits derived from these complex social-ecological systems is increasingly threatened by weed invasion, extreme disturbance, urban development, and the impacts of a rapidly changing and increasingly variable climate. California's grasslands, oak savannas, and oak woodlands are among the most invaded ecosystems in the world. Weed eradication efforts are rarely combined with seeding on these landscapes despite support for the inclusion of the practice in a weed management program. Depending on seed mix choice, cost and long-term uncertainty, especially for native seed, is an impediment to adoption by land managers. We investigated four seeding mixes (forage annual, native perennial, exotic perennial, and exotic-native perennial) to evaluate how these treatments resist reinvasion and support the delivery of simultaneous multiple ecosystem services (invasion resistance, native richness, nitrogen fixing plants, pollinator food sources, plant community diversity, forage quality, and productivity). We found the increase of exotic and native perennial cover will drive resistance to an invading weedy summer flowering forb Centaurea solstitialis but provides a mixed response to resisting invasive annual grasses. The resistance to invasion is coupled with little tradeoff in forage productivity and quality and gains in plant diversity and native cover. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:42 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:53:37 PM Tags: o Ecosystem services o Grassland restoration o Invasion resistance o Range seeding * Short-term grazing exclusion from heavy livestock rangelands affects vegetation cover and soil properties in natural ecosystems of southeastern Iran Type Journal Article Author Mahdieh Ebrahimi Author Hamideh Khosravi Author Masood Rigi URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857416303949__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvM4XCpLc$ Volume 95 Pages 10-18 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date October 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2016.06.069 Abstract Grazing exclusion is an effective rangeland management practice used to achieve sustainability of natural ecosystems worldwide. To clarify the effects of short-term grazing exclusion on the plant community and soil characteristics, we investigated the plant and soil properties by comparing overgrazing and short-term grazing exclusion (underwent exclusion for 2, 4, 6 years) sites in an arid rangeland of southeastern, Iran. Soil samples were extracted at depth of 0–30cm. In total, 22 species from 9 families and 18 genera were observed along the plant communities. Results showed that the livestock exclusion significantly affected the community composition for species, genera, and families. The numbers of species, genera, and families increased slowly during exclusion, reaching their maximum value in the 6 years’ exclusion, while the minimum number of species, genera, and families were observed in the overgrazed site. The numbers of species and the proportion of annual and perennial species were significantly affected by the exclusion. The 6 years’ exclusion exhibited the highest numbers of plant species, of which approximately 63.63% were perennials. The soil nutrient values gradually increased during exclusion. Organic carbon, total nitrogen, available potassium, and available phosphorus attained significantly greater values under the 6 years’ exclusion. The pH level was significantly higher in the overgrazed soils compared to the grazing exclusions soils. The EC value was statistically similar under the four treatments. The particle size distribution showed more silt and clay and less sand in the soils of grazing exclusion sites compared with the soil of overgrazed site. The silt and clay values were the highest in the soils under 6 years’ exclusion. Totally, the results imply that short-term exclusion had a great influence on the vegetation restoration and soil conservation of degraded ecosystems in arid regions. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:16 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:53:37 PM Tags: o Arid rangelands o Grazing impacts o Plant species diversity o Soil physical and chemical properties * Sheep trampling on surface-lying seeds improves seedling recruitment in open sand ecosystems Type Journal Article Author Carsten Eichberg Author Tobias W. Donath URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12650__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv65KzZ68$ Rights © 2017 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 26 Issue S2 Pages S211-S219 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2018 DOI 10.1111/rec.12650 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:40:58 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Low-intensity grazing with domestic ungulates is an important tool in restoration to enhance habitat openness and foster light-demanding plant species. Ungulates affect plant regeneration in different ways; one important factor is trampling. We hypothesized that in dry open sand ecosystems sheep trampling is beneficial for seedling recruitment. Therefore, we set up a standardized laboratory experiment, where we simulated trampling on surface-lying seeds and measured the number of seedlings, mean germination time, synchrony of germination, and aboveground phytomass of seedlings. We studied seeds of 16 herbaceous species occurring in European open inland sand ecosystems, which depend on continuous disturbance dynamics. The species set comprised four plant families (Asteraceae, Caryophyllaceae, Fabaceae, and Poaceae) and two species groups (target and ruderal nontarget species). Across species, trampling had profound effects on seedling emergence, that is it induced a 3.5-fold increase in the number of emerging seedlings. In addition, germination synchrony and aboveground phytomass increased after trampling, whereas mean germination time decreased. Interestingly, ruderal species seemed to be more susceptible toward trampling than target species. We conclude that sheep trampling strongly promotes seedling emergence in grazed open sand ecosystems by pressing seeds into the uppermost soil layer and improving microclimatic conditions. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:40:58 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:40:58 PM Tags: o grazing o seed burial o seed fate o seed germination o seedling emergence o treading Attachments o Snapshot * Insights from a Cross-Disciplinary Seminar: 10 Pivotal Papers for Ecological Restoration Type Journal Article Author Melissa V. Eitzel Author Sibyl Diver Author Hillary Sardiñas Author Lauren M. Hallett Author Jessica J. Olson Author Adam Romero Author Gustavo de L. T. Oliveira Author Alex T. Schuknecht Author Rob Tidmore Author Katharine N. Suding URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2011.00840.x__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvoDX2g0Q$ Rights © 2011 Society for Ecological Restoration International Volume 20 Issue 2 Pages 147-152 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2012 DOI 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2011.00840.x Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:43:24 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Restoration ecology is a deepening and diversifying field with current research incorporating multiple disciplines and infusing long-standing ideas with fresh perspectives. We present a list of 10 recent pivotal papers exemplifying new directions in ecological restoration that were selected by students in a cross-disciplinary graduate seminar at the University of California, Berkeley. We highlight research that applies ecological theory to improve restoration practice in the context of global change (e.g. climate modeling, evaluation of novel ecosystems) and discuss remaining knowledge gaps. We also discuss papers that recognize the social context of restoration and the coupled nature of social and ecological systems, ranging from the incorporation of cultural values and Traditional Ecological Knowledge into restoration, to the consideration of the broader impacts of markets on restoration practices. In addition, we include perspectives that focus on improving communication between social and natural scientists as well as between scientists and practitioners, developing effective ecological monitoring, and applying more integrated, whole-landscape approaches to restoration. We conclude with insights on recurrent themes in the papers regarding planning restoration in human-modified landscapes, application of ecological theory, improvements to restoration practice, and the social contexts of restoration. We share lessons from our cross-disciplinary endeavor, and invite further discussion on the future directions of restoration ecology through contributions to our seminar blog site https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://restecology.blogspot.com__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvRExOWEE$ . Short Title Insights from a Cross-Disciplinary Seminar Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:43:24 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:43:24 PM Tags: o climate modeling o coupled social and ecological systems o ecological monitoring o ecosystem services markets o global change o novel ecosystems o restoration practice o Traditional Ecological Knowledge Attachments o Snapshot * The Use of Seedbed Modifications and Wood Chips to Accelerate Restoration of Well Pad Sites in Western Colorado, U.S.A. Type Journal Article Author Joshua D. Eldridge Author Edward F. Redente Author Mark Paschke URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2011.00783.x__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvlP3U_LU$ Rights © 2011 Society for Ecological Restoration International Volume 20 Issue 4 Pages 524-531 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2012 DOI 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2011.00783.x Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:18:47 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Semiarid ecosystems of Western North America are experiencing a boom in natural gas development. However, these systems are slow to recover from the disturbances created. The purpose of this study was to develop improved restoration techniques on natural gas well pads in Western Colorado. This study examined effects and interactions of seedbed modifications, soil amendments, seed mixtures, and seeding methods. The experiment was conducted in pinyon-juniper and semidesert shrub plant communities on five natural gas well pads beginning in 2006. Soil and plant cover data were collected to assess the effectiveness of 16 different treatment combinations. After two growing seasons, we found that patches of soil salinity (>4 dS/m) reduced plant cover to less than 20% on 55 of our 240 experimental plots. These patches of salinity, such as where reserve pits were buried, may need to be treated to completely restore cover on the total gas pad area, although causes of salinity patches needs further investigation. After removing the 55 saline plots from our data analyses, we found that wood chips (WC) as a soil amendment increased organic matter content and reduced non-native species. Rough seedbed modifications increased the establishment of native species, especially during years of below average precipitation. Island broadcasting resulted in an increase of noxious plant cover during the second growing season. From these findings we recommend that disturbed well pads in a similar environment be restored by seeding native species on sites that are amended with WC and physically modified to create a roughened seedbed. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:18:47 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:18:47 PM Tags: o ecological processes o microcatchments o native plants o natural gas o revegetation techniques o soil amendments Attachments o Snapshot * Goat pasturing—A biological solution to counteract shrub encroachment on abandoned dry grasslands in Central Europe? Type Journal Article Author Daniel Elias Author Sabine Tischew URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016788091630113X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvzA7cLlY$ Volume 234 Pages 98-106 Publication Grazing in European open landscapes: how to reconcile sustainable land management and biodiversity conservation? ISSN 0167-8809 Date October 16, 2016 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2016.02.023 Abstract Shrub encroachment is one of the main causes of dry grassland loss in Central Europe. Abandoned semi-natural grasslands are often overgrown by thorny or spiny shrubs. Such unpalatable shrubs have frequently established by selective foraging during periods with low grazing pressure, particularly if sheep herding was performed. Feeding behaviour and diet selection vary between different livestock species and especially browsing goats are increasingly recognized for preventing woody encroachment. However, little is known about the appropriate timing of the grazing regime and the selection of woody species on abandoned dry grasslands already dominated by thorny and spiny shrubs. We quantified the foraging behaviour of Boer goats by direct observation on three encroached paddocks in the lower Saale River valley (Central Germany), which were grazed yearly from spring to autumn with a high stocking rate (0.6–0.8 LU/ha/yr). Feeding activities, the proportion of browsed woody species and identity of the browsed species were recorded in five minute intervals during a total of 30days in spring and 30days in summer/autumn. Dry grassland vegetation and woody coverage were observed on grazed and ungrazed 25-m2 plots for seven years. Contrary to other studies on grazing animals, we found that goats frequently browsed on spiny or thorny shrub species, if these species exhibited a high share of the shrub coverage. Altogether we detected a significant relationship between the abundance of woody species and browsing time on the respective species. The goats tended to spend more time browsing in spring than in summer/autumn. As a result of the browsing activity, we observed a significant decrease of woody coverage within pastures from 69.8% to 37.4% over seven years, which was positively related to the frequency of typical and endangered dry grassland species. An opposite trend was recorded on ungrazed plots. Therefore, goat pasturing with high-stocking rates and an early start in spring can be an efficient method for improving shrub-encroached dry grasslands during the restoration phase. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:30 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:30 PM Tags: o Browsing behavior o Conservation management o Grazing o Shrub encroachment o Spring pasturing o Target species * Positive effects of goat pasturing on the threatened spring geophyte Gagea bohemica in formerly abandoned dry grasslands Type Journal Article Author Daniel Elias Author Norbert Hölzel Author Sabine Tischew URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0367253018302445__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvIvwGI34$ Volume 249 Pages 53-59 Publication Flora ISSN 0367-2530 Date December 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Flora DOI 10.1016/j.flora.2018.09.008 Abstract Goat pasturing is often recommended for managing shrub-encroached dry grasslands, but entails higher grazing pressure. However, there have been few studies about the effects of goats on assumedly grazing sensitive geophytes. Therefore, in conservation practice, low-intensity migratory herding is still preferred in dry grasslands inhabited by threatened geophytes, even when shrub encroachment is already advanced. We compared the effects of restorative goat paddock grazing and low-intensity migratory sheep herding on the performance of Gagea bohemica (Liliaceae) a threatened spring geophyte. For this purpose, we recorded G. bohemica cover as well as numbers of flowering and non-flowering individuals on a total of 24 permanent plots in 2013, 2014 and 2016 in three study areas in Central Germany. In 2014, all flowering plants were monitored weekly for mature seeds. In addition, we sampled litter layer cover as a proxy for grazing intensity to analyse the effects of this habitat feature on the abundance of G. bohemica. Overall, G. bohemica cover and individual numbers were higher in paddocks than in migratory herding sites. The best performance was recorded in plots with low litter layer cover. Only 5.9% of the observed individuals flowered and only 0.3% produced visible seed sets in 2014. In abandoned dry grasslands, G. bohemica benefits from a relatively high grazing pressure, resulting in a lower litter cover and subsequently higher light availability at ground level. Due to its low seed set and ability to reproduce vegetatively by subterranean bulbils, ground disturbance by livestock trampling may also constitute an important factor supporting short-distance dispersal of G. bohemica. Goat grazing is a successful tool to restore shrub-encroached dry grasslands with existing remnant populations of spring geophytes. We recommend paddock grazing by goats with a high grazing pressure starting in April after above-ground parts of G. bohemica have already withered. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:23:01 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:23:01 PM Tags: o Encroachment o Grassland restoration o Litter layer o Trampling o Vegetative reproduction * Can Imazapic Increase Native Species Abundance in Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) Invaded Native Plant Communities? Type Journal Article Author Adrien C. Elseroad Author Nathan T. Rudd URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742411500739__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvvJwMfGQ$ Volume 64 Issue 6 Pages 641-648 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date November 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/REM-D-10-00163.1 Abstract Native plant communities invaded by cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.) are at risk of unnatural high intensity fires and conversion to cheatgrass monocultures. Management strategies that reduce cheatgrass abundance may potentially allow native species to expand and minimize further cheatgrass invasion. We tested whether the selective herbicide imazapic is effective in reducing cheatgrass and “releasing” native species in a semiarid grassland and shrub steppe in north-central Oregon. The experiment consisted of a completely randomized design with two treatments (sprayed with 70g ai · ha−1 of imazapic and unsprayed) and three replicates of each treatment applied to either 2.5 or 4 ha plots. We repeated this experiment in three different sites dominated by the following native species: 1) bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata [Pursh] A. Löve ssp. spicata) and needle and thread (Hesperostipa comata [Trin. & Rupr.] Barkworth), 2) needle and thread and Sandberg bluegrass (Poa secunda J. Presl), and 3) big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt.). Nested frequency of all plant species in 1-m2 quadrats was collected for 1 yr pretreatment and 4 yr posttreatment. In all three sites, cheatgrass frequencies were significantly lower in sprayed plots than unsprayed plots for 3–4 yr posttreatment (P <  0.1). Other annual plant species were also impacted by imazapic, but the effects were highly variable by species and site. Only two native perennial species, hoary tansyaster (Machaeranthera canescens [Pursh] Gray) and big sagebrush, increased in sprayed plots, and increases occurred only at two sites. These results suggest that a short-term reduction in cheatgrass alone is not an effective strategy for increasing the abundance of most native perennial plant species. Resumen Las comunidades de plantas nativas que están invadidas del pasto cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.) están en riesgo de fuego intencionales de alta intensidad y convertirse en monocultivos de éste pasto. Estrategias de manejo que reduzcan la abundancia del pasto cheatgrass podrían tener el potencial de permitir que especies nativas se expandan y minimicen la posible invasión por el cheatgrass. Probamos sí el herbicida Imazapicis que es efectivo en reducir el pasto cheatgrass y “liberar” especies nativas en pastizales semiáridos y matorral estepario en la parte centro-norte de Oregon. El experimento consistió en un diseño completamente al azar con dos tratamientos (asperjar con 70g ia ·  ha−1 de Imazapic y sin asperjar) y tres repeticiones por cada tratamiento aplicado ya sea a parcelas de 2.5 o 4 ha. Repetimos el experimento en tres diferentes sitios dominados por las siguientes especies nativas: 1) (Pseudoroegneria spicata [Pursh] A. Löve ssp. spicata) y (Hesperostipa comata [Trin. &Rupr.] Barkworth), 2) (Hesperostipa comata [Trin. &Rupr.] Barkworth) y (Poa secunda J. Presl), y 3) Artemisa (Artemisia tridentata Nutt.). Se recolectaron todas las especies en un cuadrante de 1m2 en frecuencia anidada por un año como pre-tratamiento y cuatro años como post-tratamiento. En todos los sitios las frecuencias de pasto cheatgrass fueron significativamente más bajas en las parcelas asperjadas que en las parcelas de control en tres de cuatro años de post-tratamiento (P <  0.1). Otras especies anuales fueron impactadas por Imazapic pero los efectos fueron muy variables por especie y sitio. Solo dos especies perennes nativas (Machaeranthera canescens[Pursh] Gray) y la Artemisa aumentaron en solo dos de las parcelas asperjadas. Estos resultados sugieren que en el corto plazo la reducción de pasto cheatgrass por sí solo no es una estrategia efectiva para aumentar la abundancia de muchas especies de plantas nativas. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:32:10 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:32:10 PM Tags: o annual grass invasion o herbicide control o invasive plants o restoration * A social-ecological typology of rangelands based on rainfall variability and farming type Type Journal Article Author John-Oliver Engler Author David J. Abson Author Robert Feller Author Jan Hanspach Author Henrik von Wehrden URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196317301726__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvQsrpAtM$ Volume 148 Pages 65-73 Publication Journal of Arid Environments ISSN 0140-1963 Date January 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Journal of Arid Environments DOI 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2017.09.009 Abstract We present a social-ecological typlogy for the world's rangelands that integrates the much debated non-equilibrium concept from ecology with socio-economic characteristics of rangeland systems. We propose that, as a first approximation, the socio-economic properties can be adequately captured and differentiated by the distinction between the two main types of rangeland farming systems worldwide: subsistence and commercial farming. The resulting typology has four categories, which are ‘commercial equilibrium’, ‘commercial non-equilibrium’, ‘subsistence equilibrium’ and ‘subsistence non-equilibrium’. We provide and discuss examples for each category. Moreover, we point out how this typology might help to understand and address some of the problems related to unsustainable rangeland management. Finally, we provide and discuss a global map of rangelands that illustrates the geographic distribution of all four rangeland types. Date Added 2020-03-17, 6:59:57 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 6:59:57 PM Tags: o Biophysical degradation o Commercial agriculture o Non-equilibrium theory o Range management o Social-ecological systems o Subsistence agriculture * Habitat heterogeneity as a key to high conservation value in forest-grassland mosaics Type Journal Article Author László Erdős Author György Kröel-Dulay Author Zoltán Bátori Author Bence Kovács Author Csaba Németh Author Péter János Kiss Author Csaba Tölgyesi URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320718302106__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvHzi3fVA$ Volume 226 Pages 72-80 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date October 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2018.07.029 Abstract Forest-grassland mosaics are widespread features at the interface between tree- and grass-dominated ecosystems. However, the importance of habitat heterogeneity in these mosaics is not fully appreciated, and the contribution of individual woody and herbaceous habitats to the overall conservation value of the mosaic is unclear. We distinguished six main habitats in the forest-grassland mosaics of the Kiskunság Sand Ridge (Hungary) and compared the species composition, species richness, Shannon diversity, naturalness, selected structural features, environmental variables, and the number of protected, endemic, red-listed and specialist species of the plant communities. Each habitat had species that were absent or rare elsewhere. Grasslands had the highest conservation importance in most respects. North-facing forest edges had the highest species richness, while south-facing edges were primarily important for tree recruitment. Among the forest habitats, small forest patches were the most valuable, while large and medium forest patches had the lowest conservation importance. We showed that the current single-habitat focus of both research and conservation in the studied forest-grassland mosaics is not justified. Instead, an integrated view of the entire mosaic is necessary. Management practices and restoration projects should promote habitat heterogeneity, e.g., by assisting tree and shrub establishment and survival in grasslands. The legislative background should recognize the existence of fine-scale forest-grassland mosaics, which are neither grasslands nor forests, but a mixture. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:37 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:37 PM Tags: o Complexity o Conservation management o Forest edge o Forest patches o Forest-steppe o Landscape heterogeneity * Ecological and agronomic importance of the plant genus Lotus. Its application in grassland sustainability and the amelioration of constrained and contaminated soils Type Journal Article Author Francisco J. Escaray Author Ana B. Menendez Author Andrés Gárriz Author Fernando L. Pieckenstain Author María J. Estrella Author Luis N. Castagno Author Pedro Carrasco Author Juan Sanjuán Author Oscar A. Ruiz URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168945211000938__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvB494pn0$ Volume 182 Pages 121-133 Publication Abiotic stress tolerances ISSN 0168-9452 Date January 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Plant Science DOI 10.1016/j.plantsci.2011.03.016 Abstract The genus Lotus comprises around 100 annual and perennial species with worldwide distribution. The relevance of Lotus japonicus as a model plant has been recently demonstrated in numerous studies. In addition, some of the Lotus species show a great potential for adaptation to a number of abiotic stresses. Therefore, they are relevant components of grassland ecosystems in environmentally constrained areas of several South American countries and Australia, where they are used for livestock production. Also, the fact that the roots of these species form rhizobial and mycorrhizal associations makes the annual L. japonicus a suitable model plant for legumes, particularly in studies directed to recognize the mechanisms intervening in the tolerance to abiotic factors in the field, where these interactions occur. These properties justify the increased utilization of some Lotus species as a strategy for dunes revegetation and reclamation of heavy metal-contaminated or burned soils in Europe. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:47 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:54:05 PM Tags: o Abiotic stress o Restoration o Symbionts * Traditional grassland management and surrounding land use drive the abundance of a prairie plant species in urban areas Type Journal Article Author Javier Esparrago Author Vladimir Kricsfalusy URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169204615000821__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvvOwMO3U$ Volume 142 Pages 1-6 Publication Special Issue: Critical Approaches to Landscape Visualization ISSN 0169-2046 Date October 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Landscape and Urban Planning DOI 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2015.04.006 Abstract Data on species distribution and management requirements are increasingly being used in urban landscape and conservation planning. Prairie crocus (Anemone patens L.) is a perennial herb whose populations have disappeared from the vicinity of most European cities. However, it can still be found within some urban areas in North America. This allows the study of the factors affecting urban populations of this species, which can be effectively utilized in land-use planning and habitat management. The aim of this research was to identify the type of management of native remnants of grasslands that would preserve A. patens populations within an urban and semi-urban landscape, as well as the relationship of this species to surrounding land use and human population. A total of 187 locations of A. patens were mapped along the urban-rural gradient within the city of Saskatoon and its vicinity in Saskatchewan, Canada. The degree of disturbance associated with management practices was recorded. Land use and human population was calculated within a 500m radius of each location. These parameters were compared with the number of individuals of A. patens. It was revealed that urban populations of A. patens are positively correlated with grazing and burning. Proportion of urbanized land was negatively correlated with A. patens population size while natural habitat had a positive effect. It is argued that preservation of sufficiently large natural remnants, appropriate management and restoration projects are necessary for the conservation of populations of A. patens in urban landscapes. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:39 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:39 PM Tags: o Canada o Conservation planning o Prairies o Saskatoon o Urban grasslands * Choosing a Reclamation Seed Mix to Maintain Rangelands During Energy Development in the Bakken: A proper revegetation seed mix keeps land in livestock production and minimizes weed invasions Type Journal Article Author Erin K. Espeland URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S019005281450003X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvQNsYeQM$ Volume 36 Issue 1 Pages 25-28 Publication Rangelands ISSN 0190-0528 Date February 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Rangelands DOI 10.2111/RANGELANDS-D-13-00056.1 Accessed 2020-03-17, 5:53:04 PM Library Catalog ScienceDirect Language en Short Title Choosing a Reclamation Seed Mix to Maintain Rangelands During Energy Development in the Bakken Date Added 2020-03-17, 5:53:04 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:53:41 PM Tags: o cover crop o facilitation o grazing o plant competition o reclamation Attachments o ScienceDirect Snapshot * Managing risks related to climate variability in rangeland-based livestock production: What producer driven strategies are shared and prevalent across diverse dryland geographies? Type Journal Article Author Erin K. Espeland Author Laura Schreeg Author Lauren M. Porensky URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S030147971931607X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv-zxyNB4$ Volume 255 Pages 109889 Publication Journal of Environmental Management ISSN 0301-4797 Date February 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Journal of Environmental Management DOI 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109889 Abstract Rangeland-based livestock production (RBLP) primarily occurs in drylands where interannual variation in rainfall directly and indirectly affects economies, plant primary productivity (forage production), and livestock reproduction and mortality. Tight ecological and economic links to climate variation constrain production in dryland systems, but producers have a breadth of strategies to reduce climate-related risks and maintain RBLP. Research on these strategies has focused on context-specific tactics linked to specific systems and/or geographies. Inspired by studies that look for broader patterns to offer frameworks for discourse and to advance collective knowledge, we review global literature to identify risk management strategies related to climate variability that are in widespread use across dryland rangeland systems and geographies. We organize strategies within three key decision areas for producers engaged in RBLP: profit and return options, land use, and herd management. Across the decision areas, four strategies emerge as playing a strong role in risk management across the globe, with refinements based on local conditions. These shared and prevalent producer driven strategies are dynamic management of forage supply (in the decision area of land use), dynamic management of animal demand (in the area of herd management), and diversification and use of social networks (both of which apply across all three decision areas). Within each of the decision areas, we found diversification reduces climate related risks but has circumstances under which it is less effective; for example, large landholders already buffered to risk via landscape diversity benefit less from livelihood diversification. In practice, implementation of the four strategies often results in livestock producers who do not maximize short-term profits but instead prioritize land resilience, large herd sizes, lifestyle goals, and longer-term economic sustainability. In this synthesis, we considered existing producer strategies for reducing risk related to climate related variability -- an intrinsic and defining characteristic of dryland rangelands -- in order to highlight valuable areas in which research can support problem solving across diverse RBLP geographies and economies, especially in a changing climate. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:09 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:00:09 PM Tags: o Adaptation o Arid rangelands o Diversification o Forage demand o Forage supply o Social networks * Learning from scientific literature: Can indicators for measuring success be standardized in “on the ground” restoration? Type Journal Article Author Marianne Evju Author Dagmar Hagen Author Magni Olsen Kyrkjeeide Author Berit Köhler URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.13149__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvrIL5UAk$ Rights This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. Volume n/a Issue n/a Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X DOI 10.1111/rec.13149 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:52:59 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract The SER Primer identifies key ecosystem attributes for evaluating restoration outcome. Broad attribute categories could be necessary due to the large variety of restoration projects, but could make overall evaluations and assessments challenging and might hamper the development of sound and successful restoration. In this study we carry out a systematic review of scientific papers addressing evaluation of restoration outcome. We include 104 studies published after 2010 from Europe or North-America, representing different types of restoration projects in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. We explore the main ecological and socio-economic attributes used to evaluate restoration outcome, and related indicators and specific methods applied to measure this, in relation to ecosystem and type of restoration project. We identify a wide range of indicators within each attribute, and show that very different methods are employed to measure them. This complexity reduces the opportunity for meaningful comparison and standardization of evaluation of restoration outcome, within and between ecosystems. Socio-economic indicators are rarely used to evaluate restoration outcome, and studies including both ecological and socio-economic indicators are nearly absent. Based on our findings we discuss whether standardization and streamlining of indicators is useful to improve the evaluation of “on the ground” restoration, or if this is not appropriate given the diversity of goals and ecosystems involved. Species-specific traits are used in many projects and should be considered as an addition to the original SER attributes. Furthermore, we discuss the potential for restoration evaluation that encompasses not only assessment of ecological but also socio-economic indicators. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. Short Title Learning from scientific literature Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:52:59 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:52:59 PM Tags: o ecological restoration o freshwater and rivers o integration o SER Primer o socio-economic o standardize o terrestrial ecosystems Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Does Seeding a Locally Adapted Native Mixture Inhibit Ingress by Exotic Plants? Type Journal Article Author Anthony D. Falk Author Timothy E. Fulbright Author Forrest S. Smith Author Leonard A. Brennan Author Alfonso J. Ortega‐Santos Author Stephen Benn URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2012.00918.x__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvfRQGNTU$ Rights © 2012 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 21 Issue 4 Pages 474-480 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2013 DOI 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2012.00918.x Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:56:46 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Non-native plant species often colonize retired agricultural lands, creating monocultures with low species diversity that provide poor wildlife habitat. We assessed whether sowing a mix of 29 locally adapted native species reduced invasion of non-native plant species compared to allowing vegetation to colonize naturally following tillage. There was a sampling date × treatment interaction for canopy cover of perennial exotic plant species. Plots that were not sown to natives had two to six times greater canopy cover of exotic species than did plots with both preparation (woody vegetation removed, plowed, and disked) and control (no preparation or sowing) plots. Canopy cover of exotic plants was similar in prepared-only and control treatments from October 2008 to June 2010, ranging from 8 to 40%. Percent absolute canopy cover of native vegetation was 10–20 times greater on prepared and planted plots than on prepared-only plots during March 2009 to June 2010. Sowing a mix of locally adapted native species may inhibit encroachment by non-native species for up to two years after sowing on retired agricultural land in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:56:47 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:56:47 PM Tags: o bermudagrass o habitat o native plants o old world bluestems o post agricultural o sowing Attachments o Snapshot * Solving one problem by creating a bigger one: The consequences of ecological resettlement for grassland restoration and poverty alleviation in Northwestern China Type Journal Article Author Mingming Fan Author Yanbo Li Author Wenjun Li URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264837714001586__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvWcTMSBc$ Volume 42 Pages 124-130 Publication Land Use Policy ISSN 0264-8377 Date January 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Land Use Policy DOI 10.1016/j.landusepol.2014.07.011 Abstract Modernization has been regarded as the best way to solve ecological and poverty problems in many arid and semi-arid areas around the world, but is inevitably accompanied by changes in land-use patterns that can lead to new socio-ecological feedbacks. How people and ecosystems of an area respond to such feedbacks determines whether the changes sustainable or not. In this paper, we describe resettlement of nomadic pastoralists in Alxa Left Banner of western Inner Mongolia. We identified the dominant biophysical limiting factor in this region (water resources), and used amount and efficiency of water use as indicators of the ecological impacts of pastoralism before and after resettlement. We also conducted semi-structured interviews with households to collect information about household income, expenditures, and agricultural production risks caused by water shortages to analyze the impacts of resettlement on their livelihood. We found that resettlement greatly increased the usage of water resources, reduced the efficiency of water use, and exacerbated regional water shortages. Although household income increased after settlement, subsistence costs also increased because water shortages increased production costs and risks. Our results suggest that in this arid grassland area of China, ecological resettlement policy is ecologically and economically unsustainable, and may exacerbate local ecological and social problems. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:14 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:14 PM Tags: o Arid area o Ecology o Livelihoods o Resettlement o Water resources * Frozen soil change and adaptation of animal husbandry: a case of the source regions of Yangtze and Yellow Rivers Type Journal Article Author Yiping Fang Author Dahe Qin Author Yongjian Ding URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1462901111000463__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv-ADZi0g$ Volume 14 Issue 5 Pages 555-568 Publication Environmental Science & Policy ISSN 1462-9011 Date August 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Environmental Science & Policy DOI 10.1016/j.envsci.2011.03.012 Abstract This paper discusses the spatial and temporal change of different frozen soil types from 1980s to 2000s, and the impacts of frozen soil change on rangeland productivity and sustainable livelihood in the source regions of Yangtze and Yellow Rivers employed numerical model and GIS technology. Authors use the analytical framework of adaptation of animal husbandry according to national, regional, community and household scales, and release three key instruments of cryospheric change adaptation, including adaptive capacity of the policies, adaptive capacity of the people, and adaptive capacity of the grassland ecosystem. Analysis result shows that there is clearly a need, to develop institutional processes that support policy analysis to draw on existing information, that facilitate multidisciplinary research on topics of policy relevance, and that link the accumulation of credible cryosphere scientific evidence with policy making. Finally, Authors suggest that further support to mainstream climatic and cryospheric change concerns in adaptation policies and strategies of animal husbandry must include a focus on: (1) Formulating ecological compensation policy and mechanism for grassland ecosystem maintenance; (2) Strengthening vocational training, long-term essential-qualities-oriented education to improve indigenous people's professional skills and abilities; (3) Strengthening development of livestock replacement industries to broaden employment channels of indigenous people; (4) Strengthening the consciousness of ecosystem maintenance, improvement the social civilization level for indigenous people; (5) Continuous implementation the Ecological Protection and Restoration Program in the Three-River Source Region in national scale. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:37 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:53:42 PM Tags: o Adaptation o Animal husbandry o Cryospheric change o Frozen soil o The source regions of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers * Restoring Native Plants to Crested Wheatgrass Stands Type Journal Article Author Valerie A. Fansler Author Jane M. Mangold URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2010.00678.x__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvjeUzYYM$ Rights © 2010 Society for Ecological Restoration International Volume 19 Issue 101 Pages 16-23 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2011 DOI 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2010.00678.x Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:08:33 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn.) is a nonindigenous grass introduced to North America for improving degraded rangelands. It is often criticized for forming nearly monotypic stands. Our objective was to determine the feasibility of restoring native plant species to crested wheatgrass-dominated rangeland. We investigated methods for suppressing crested wheatgrass followed by revegetation with a mix of native species. We tested five suppression treatments: undisturbed, low rate of glyphosate (0.25× recommended rate), high rate of glyphosate (recommended rate), 1-pass mechanical (disked once), and 2-pass mechanical (disked twice). Procedures were repeated in two trials in separate years. We sampled density and canopy cover of crested wheatgrass and density of seeded species for three (trial 1) and two (trial 2) years. Mechanical treatments increased crested wheatgrass density by 30–50%, whereas most other treatments were similar to the undisturbed (6.8 plants/m2). Crested wheatgrass cover decreased in mechanical and full herbicide treatments in trial 1 and was variable across treatments in trial 2. Seeded species density in all treatments (29 plants/m2) was greater than in the undisturbed treatment (18 plants/m2) 1 year after seeding in trial 1 and was similar across treatments (26 plants/m2) in trial 2. By the end of the study, though, all treatments resulted in similar seeded species density (<5 plants/m2). Results suggest suppression treatments were not effective and therefore did not improve restoration of native species in crested wheatgrass stands. Native species establishment may require subsequent management to favor persistence of native species and retard crested wheatgrass. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:08:34 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:08:34 PM Tags: o Agropyron cristatum o disturbance o rangeland restoration o revegetation o succession Attachments o Snapshot * Does flowering synchrony contribute to the sustainment of dry grassland biodiversity? Type Journal Article Author Edy Fantinato Author Silvia Del Vecchio Author Antonio Slaviero Author Luisa Conti Author Alicia Teresa Rosario Acosta Author Gabriella Buffa URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0367253016300524__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvIvOcAcY$ Volume 222 Pages 96-103 Publication Flora - Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants ISSN 0367-2530 Date June 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Flora - Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants DOI 10.1016/j.flora.2016.04.003 Abstract Phenological relationships among entomophilous species for pollination may play an important role in structuring natural plant communities. The main aim of this work was to test whether in dry grassland communities there is a non-random flowering pattern and if the pattern influences the species richness, and the richness of subordinate and common species. Field sampling was carried out in temperate dry grasslands in NE Italy. Species composition and the flowering phenology were monitored in 45 2m×2m plots randomly placed over dry grasslands. To quantify the degree to which insect-pollinated species overlap in their flowering time we developed a “co-flowering index” (CF-index). The significance of the observed flowering pattern was tested using a null model. A positive correlation was found between the synchronic flowering and the number of subordinate species. Subordinate species showed shorter flowering length than the common species and a mostly specialized pollination system. Our findings suggest that flowering synchrony might be a key characteristic which may contribute to shape dry grassland composition by favouring the long lasting maintenance of rare species populations within the community. The comprehension of such functional relationships between species of different trophic levels is of great importance for the conservation of dry grasslands and the maintenance of the ecosystem services that pollination provides. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:49 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:49 PM Tags: o Co-flowering index o Generalists and specialists species o Pollinator sharing o Rare species o Species interactions * Coping Strategies During Drought: The Case of Rangeland Users in Southwest Iran Type Journal Article Author Shahram Moghaddas Farimani Author Valiollah Raufirad Author Richard Hunter Author Philippe Lebailly URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190052817300299__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvtOheN78$ Volume 39 Issue 5 Pages 133-142 Publication Rangelands ISSN 0190-0528 Date October 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Rangelands DOI 10.1016/j.rala.2017.06.004 Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:23 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:00:23 PM Tags: o drought o grazing capacity o indigenous knowledge o rangeland improvement o stocking rate o sustainable rangeland management * Disturbance is more important than seeding or grazing in determining soil microbial communities in a semi-arid grassland Type Journal Article Author Hannah L. Farrell Author Albert Barberán Author Rachel E. Danielson Author Jeffrey S. Fehmi Author Elise S. Gornish URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.13156__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvcd1__sk$ Rights This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. Volume n/a Issue n/a Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X DOI 10.1111/rec.13156 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:40:05 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract A primary goal of ecological restoration is often to return processes and functions to degraded ecosystems. Soil, while often ignored in restoration, supports diverse communities of organisms and is a fundamental actor in providing ecosystem processes and services. We investigated the impact of seeding and livestock grazing on plant communities, soil micro-organisms, and soil fertility three years after the restoration of a disturbed pipeline corridor in southeastern Arizona. The initial soil disturbance and topsoil treatment, regardless of seeding or grazing, was the most influential factor in determining differences in both plant and microbial communities. Compared with the control, the disturbed and restored sites had greater plant species richness, greater total herbaceous plant cover, greater soil organic matter, higher pH, and differed in soil nutrients. Bacteria and fungi appeared to generally correlate with micro-environment and soil physiochemical properties rather than specific plant species. The undisturbed control had a smaller proportion of bacterial functional groups associated with the breakdown of plant biomass (polysaccharide decomposition) and a smaller proportion of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi compared with disturbed and restored sites. The ability of the unseeded disturbed site to recover robust vegetation may be due in part to the high presence of AM fungi. These differences show selection for soil microorganisms that thrive in disturbed and restored sites and may contribute to increased plant productivity. Restoration of specific plant species or ecological processes and services would both benefit from better understanding of the impacts of disturbance on soil microorganisms and soil fertility. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:40:05 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:40:05 PM Tags: o bacteria o fungi o plant species o reclamation o restoration o soil nutrients o soil properties o top-soil o vegetation community Attachments o Snapshot * Three Bermudagrass-suppression techniques have little effect on soil-nutrient availability and microbial communities 200 days after application Type Journal Article Author Trevor S. Farthing Author James P. Muir Author Jeff A. Brady URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929139319302586__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvOA4ldqs$ Volume 145 Publication Applied Soil Ecology ISSN 0929-1393 Date January 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Applied Soil Ecology DOI 10.1016/j.apsoil.2019.09.002 Abstract Cynodon dactylon (Bermudagrass) is a highly competitive invasive plant dominating many southern grasslands. Glyphosate (N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine) is often used in conjunction with other herbicides and land-management practices to remove Bermudagrass in preparation for native-grassland restoration projects. Studies evaluating glyphosate-induced effects on soil ecology, however, often disregard potential for herbicide × or herbicide × mechanical treatment interactions. Therefore, our objective was to evaluate three chemical Bermudagrass-removal methods (i.e., repeated glyphosate application, repeated glyphosate application + imidazolinone herbicide use, repeated glyphosate application + mechanical above-ground biomass removal), previously described by Farthing et al. (2018), at research sites in Stephenville and McGregor, TX USA. We sought to determine if inter-treatment differences in soil pH, multiple element concentrations, and microbial diversity existed. We applied treatments to 355-m2 plots throughout summer 2015 and collected soil samples in April–July 2016 (216–249 and 218–259 days following final herbicide applications in Stephenville, and McGregor, respectively). We observed differences (P ≤ 0.05) in soil pH and NO3-N relative to untreated controls at the McGregor site, however, we were unable to observe differences directly related to treatments. Microbial communities differed (P ≤ 0.05) between locations, but treatments had no effect on soil-bacteria or archaea species richness and Shannon diversity. We did find that ≈1% of Operational Taxonomic Units appeared to be differentially abundant following treatments, but it is unclear whether differences are connected to glyphosate application. Our findings were generally consistent with previous research indicating herbicide use induces few-to-no long-term shifts in soil microbial communities, but our results highlight the necessity for microbiological field-study designs to include multiple locations. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:58 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:58 PM Tags: o Glyphosate o Grassland restoration o Imazapyr o Invasive species o Microbial diversity * Nitrogen deposition and the reduction of butterfly biodiversity quality in the Netherlands Type Journal Article Author Alan Feest Author Chris van Swaay Author Arjen van Hinsberg URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X13004986__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvIhFkiaQ$ Volume 39 Pages 115-119 Publication Ecological Indicators ISSN 1470-160X Date April 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2013.12.008 Abstract Butterfly decline in Northern Europe is a cause of concern and it has been hypothesised that this is due to nitrogen deposition inducing excess early growth of plants. It has also been changing the quality of the food available to larvae. We tested these hypotheses by linking butterfly biodiversity quality indices (species richness, population, biomass, conservation value, evenness (Simpson's Index) and modelled species richness (Chao 1 and 2)) with nitrogen Critical Load Exceedence (nCLE) data. An index of butterfly sensitivity to nitrogen was also created (Species Nitrogen Value Index (SNVI)). Using PCA, datasets were tested for associations and relationships. The results included multiple biodiversity quality indices based on 17 years of data (aggregated into three periods of six, six and five years to give 287 datasets) in four habitat types (grassland, heathland, woodland and farmland). With the exception of heathland the analysis showed that nitrogen deposition and all other indices (except SNVI) were in decline. For heathland the last 11 years did not show any significant decline. Heathland also showed an anomalous biodiversity quality profile for these last 11 years, suggesting that the sensitivity of heathland to nitrogen deposition will require further considerable efforts to achieve a nitrogen deposition that is not in exceedence of the critical load. Habitat restoration will take time due to the multiple hindrances to colonisation, which in the case of heathland might prevent successful butterfly colonisation for the foreseeable future. These results indicate the efficacy of butterfly biodiversity quality and nCLE as indicators for the SEBI 2020 process (Streamlining European Biodiversity Indicators) by showing the relationship between them. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:14 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:14 PM Tags: o Biomass o Colonisation o Heathland o Nitrogen sensitivity o Rarity o Species richness * Effects of soil type, rainfall, straw mulch, and fertilizer on semi-arid vegetation establishment, growth and diversity Type Journal Article Author Jeffrey S. Fehmi Author Taryn M. Kong URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857412001322__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvhb6gYvE$ Volume 44 Pages 70-77 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date July 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2012.04.014 Abstract Revegetation in arid and semi-arid environments often involves strategies to augment soil properties to promote plant establishment and growth while ameliorating the effects of variable rainfall. A southern Arizona USA greenhouse experiment evaluated the impact of rainfall, common amendments, and three soil types on grassland revegetation. Based on rainfall data from a nearby semi-arid site, three irrigation levels were used to simulate the rainfall of a dry (275mm), average (320mm), and wet (555mm) year. The three amendments were bare soil, straw (4.5Mg/ha with a tackifier), and straw plus slow-release fertilizer (7–2–3 NPK, 3.4Mg/ha). Three field-collected soil types were used: a very gravely sand, a very gravelly loamy sand, and a gravelly sandy loam. Four seed mixes were used as a blocking factor. There was a significant interaction between amendment and soil type, soil type and rainfall scenario, as well as amendment and rainfall scenario. Straw alone or with fertilizer increased aboveground biomass (72–177% increase) on the gravelly sandy loam, and very gravelly loamy sand soils but decreased biomass on the very gravely sand (13% and 54%). Straw with fertilizer did not change species richness and diversity significantly, but it resulted in a greater than 50% decline in establishment for all soil types. Straw alone significantly increased the aboveground biomass only in low (205%) and average rainfall scenarios (40%), but not when rainfall was high (11%). The specific site conditions ultimately determine which practices will result in successful revegetation. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:51 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:54:08 PM Tags: o Biomass o Reclamation o Revegetation o Semi-arid grasslands o Soil texture o Species richness * Biochar and woodchip amendments alter restoration outcomes, microbial processes, and soil moisture in a simulated semi-arid ecosystem Type Journal Article Author Jeffrey S. Fehmi Author Craig Rasmussen Author Rachel E. Gallery URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.13100__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvpo5qi7M$ Rights This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. Volume n/a Issue n/a Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X DOI 10.1111/rec.13100 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:51:53 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Amendments, such as woodchips or biochar, may improve success of arid and semi-arid wildland revegetation limited by unpredictable and insufficient rainfall as well as low soil water holding capacity. In an 116-day greenhouse experiment simulating a nearby savannah, response to four amendment treatments (no treatment, incorporated biochar, incorporated woodchips, and surface woodchips) was tested across two field soils (Chiricahua, Hathaway) and four simulated precipitation treatments (100%, 80%, 60%, and 40% of average), in a replicated design. Soil type, amendment treatments, and simulated precipitation all had significant (p < 0.01) effects on aboveground biomass. The surface woodchip treatment averaged the highest biomass production of the amendment treatments (489 kg/ha) and the incorporated woodchips had the lowest (298 kg/ha). Aboveground biomass decreased with decreasing precipitation (533, 468, 350, 216 kg/ha respectively). Biochar amended soils averaged 5 to 10% higher volumetric water content than the woodchip amendments and controls through a 28-day dry down. Microbial nitrogen and phosphorous acquiring activities were higher in Hathaway soils while carbon activities were higher in Chiricahua soils. The surface woodchip treatment resulted in a different species composition than the other amendment and control treatments (p < 0.01). None of the amendment treatments ameliorated low precipitation conditions for plants. Contrary to expectations, carbon and phosphorous exoenzyme activities were highest in the lower precipitation treatments (60% and 40%) and nitrogen exoenzyme activities remained high in Hathaway soils regardless of precipitation. Surface application of woodchips increased vegetation as well as carbon and phosphorous exoenzyme activities while incorporating woodchips suppressed vegetation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:51:53 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:51:53 PM Tags: o aboveground biomass o Arizona o drought o exoenzyme and extracellular enzyme activities o Sonoran desert o volumetric water content Attachments o Snapshot * Effects of surface coal mining and land reclamation on soil properties: A review Type Journal Article Author Yu Feng Author Jinman Wang Author Zhongke Bai Author Lucy Reading URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0012825217305925__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvv6FDY3o$ Volume 191 Pages 12-25 Publication Earth-Science Reviews ISSN 0012-8252 Date April 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Earth-Science Reviews DOI 10.1016/j.earscirev.2019.02.015 Accessed 2020-03-17, 6:27:38 PM Library Catalog ScienceDirect Language en Abstract Opencast coal mining has a series of consequences on land resources and places enormous pressure on the ecological environment. Stripping, excavation, transportation and dumping have different effects on soil physical, chemical and biological properties. Moreover, the reconstructed landscape produces increased small-scale spatial heterogeneity of mined soils. Currently, growing concerns for the negative consequences of mining have highlighted the importance of reclamation in minesoil studies. This review has examined the mechanisms of coal mining and reclamation that affect soil properties (physical, chemical, biological) and described soil development in reclamation, with an emphasis on the reclaimed minesoil (RMS) properties of reclamation sites. The major conclusions of this review were: (i) The randomness of soil dumping increased the heterogeneity of minesoil properties, which in turn increased the complexity of reclamation practice. (ii) The negative or positive consequences of mining and reclamation processes on RMS need to be recognized by scientific observations such as soil property multi-index analysis and soil chronosequences, on which the minesoil reconstruction practice are based. (iii) Five phases of reclamation (i.e., geomorphic reshaping, soil reconstruction, hydrological stability, vegetation restoration, and landscape rebuilding) should be considered as a comprehensive system for the reconstruction of minesoils. (iv) The application of new technologies (e.g., micro-terrain reshaping and soil non-destructive detection) and new studies (e.g., systematic study, rebuilding animal habitat, and biodiversity research) to minesoil recovery practice would enhance the new concepts of land reclamation and ecological restoration in mining areas. Short Title Effects of surface coal mining and land reclamation on soil properties Date Added 2020-03-17, 6:27:38 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 6:27:38 PM Tags: o Five phases of reclamation o Reclaimed mine soil (RMS) o Reclamation o Soil properties o Surface coal mining Attachments o ScienceDirect Snapshot * Trading-off ecosystem services for better ecological restoration: A case study in the Loess Plateau of China Type Journal Article Author Qiang Feng Author Wenwu Zhao Author Xiangping Hu Author Yue Liu Author Stefani Daryanto Author Francesco Cherubini URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652620305163__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvDJGwVZ0$ Volume 257 Pages 120469 Publication Journal of Cleaner Production ISSN 0959-6526 Date June 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Journal of Cleaner Production DOI 10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.120469 Abstract Balancing trade-off between multiple ecosystem services (ESs) is critical for restored ecosystem, including in the Loess Plateau of China where ESs are undergoing significant changes. In this study, the ESs were quantified by specialized models in Ansai watershed from 2000 to 2014, and regression and redundancy analysis were used to reveal the effects of selected key drivers on ESs and their trade-offs. The results were as follows: (1) soil erosion control (SEC) and carbon sequestration (TC) increased by 17.8% and 82.1%, while water yield (WY) declined by 37.6%. (2) Forest and shrub land are shared drivers, and slope gradient, grassland and construction land were independent drivers. Slope gradient and grassland had a dominant influence on SEC-WY trade-off in 2014. Quadratic function relationship can be found between slope gradient and trade-off. Moreover, reducing forest and expanding grassland can restrain trade-off. (3) There is a unidirectional interaction between TC and WY. Rainfall, grassland, farmland, and forest land are shared drivers. Rainfall and forest aggravated trade-off but grassland restrained tradeoff. Whereas construction land is independent driver. The forest and grassland proportion are dominant drivers affecting TC-WY trade-off in 2014. Quadratic function relationship also can be found between trade-off and forest and grassland. (3) Overall, forest and grassland proportions need to be controlled at 20–30% and 45–60% respectively. We proposed the mode of ecological restoration: taking the contiguous grassland as the matrix, in which the small forest patch with more edges can be set. Our study provides a better understanding for driving mechanism of ESs trade-offs. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:47 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:47 PM Tags: o Carbon storage o Drivers o Ecosystem services trade-off o Soil conservation o Water yield * Potential aboveground biomass in drought-prone forest used for rangeland pastoralism Type Journal Article Author R. J. Fensham Author R. J. Fairfax Author J. M. Dwyer URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.jstor.org/stable/23213925__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dviv-mo_8$ Volume 22 Issue 3 Pages 894-908 Publication Ecological Applications ISSN 10510761 Date 2012 Accessed 2020-03-17, 6:00:00 PM Abstract [The restoration of cleared dry forest represents an important opportunity to sequester atmospheric carbon. In order to account for this potential, the influences of climate, soils, and disturbance need to be deciphered. A data set spanning a region defined the aboveground biomass of mulga (Acacia aneura) dry forest and was analyzed in relation to climate and soil variables using a Bayesian model averaging procedure. Mean annual rainfall had an overwhelmingly strong positive effect, with mean maximum temperature (negative) and soil depth (positive) also important. The data were collected after a recent drought, and the amount of recent tree mortality was weakly positively related to a measure of three-year rainfall deficit, and maximum temperature (positive), soil depth (negative), and coarse sand (negative). A grazing index represented by the distance of sites to watering points was not incorporated by the models. Stark management contrasts, including grazing exclosures, can represent a substantial part of the variance in the model predicting biomass, but the impact of management was unpredictable and was insignificant in the regional data set. There was no evidence of density-dependent effects on tree mortality. Climate change scenarios represented by the coincidence of historical extreme rainfall deficit with extreme temperature suggest mortality of 30.1% of aboveground biomass, compared to 21.6% after the recent (2003–2007) drought. Projections for recovery of forest using a mapping base of cleared areas revealed that the greatest opportunities for restoration of aboveground biomass are in the higher-rainfall areas, where biomass accumulation will be greatest and droughts are less intense. These areas are probably the most productive for rangeland pastoralism, and the trade-off between pastoral production and carbon sequestration will be determined by market forces and carbon-trading rules.] Archive JSTOR Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:49:59 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:49:59 PM * Natural selection favors root investment in native grasses during restoration of invaded fields Type Journal Article Author Scot D. Ferguson Author Elizabeth A. Leger Author Jun Li Author Robert S. Nowak URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196315000105__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvgSBgZW4$ Volume 116 Pages 11-17 Publication Journal of Arid Environments ISSN 0140-1963 Date May 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Journal of Arid Environments DOI 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2015.01.009 Abstract Competitive interactions with invasive species can cause evolutionary changes in native populations. In the Great Basin, USA, the invasive annual grass Bromus tectorum pre-emptively accesses limiting soil resources through extensive root production. Here, we determined whether evolutionary changes in root traits occurred during re-seeding of Elymus elymoides, a native bunchgrass. We grew plants from seeds collected from survivors in two restoration sites and compared them with plants grown from the original seed, with and without competition from B. tectorum. We quantified competition, root allocation, and morphology over time. Relative to the original seed source, E. elymoides plants that established in restoration sites showed small but significant increases in root biomass fraction, and plants were smaller, both aboveground and belowground, with parallel results seen in both field sites. In contrast, E. elymoides seed sources were not significantly different in competitive response to or in competitive effect on B. tectorum. Thus, results are consistent with natural selection favoring traits that allowed plants to establish in B. tectorum invaded areas but not traits that increased competitive ability. Selecting or breeding restoration plants for smaller size but increased relative root investment could improve establishment under reduced soil resource conditions and hence native plant restoration. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:14 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:53:48 PM Tags: o Competitive response o Invasive species o Rangeland restoration o Root traits * Grasslands and Open Savannas of the Dry Chaco Type Book Section Author Pedro D. Fernández Author Baumann Matthias Author Baldi Germán Author Banegas R. Natalia Author Bravo Sandra Author Gasparri N. Ignacio Author Lucherini Mauro Author Marinaro Sofia Author Nanni A. Sofia Author José A. Nasca Author Tessi Torcuato Author Grau H. Ricardo URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780124095489120949__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvr_ILpW0$ Publisher Elsevier ISBN 978-0-12-409548-9 Date January 1, 2019 Extra DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-409548-9.12094-9 Abstract The Dry Chaco is mostly known as a forested ecosystem. However it includes natural grasslands, savannas, scrublands, and wetlands. With one of the highest global deforestation rates in the last two decades and only 12% of the area protected, the concern about land-use change in this ecoregion has raised exponentially; but conservation initiatives developed in last years almost exclusively targeted forests whereas natural grasslands and savannas remain as neglected ecosystem within scientific and governmental agendas. While currently the distribution of natural grassland and savanna area encompasses over 20,000km2, historical records and spatial models indicate that natural grassland and savannas were more widespread in pre-European era. Two main reasons drove this reduction in natural grasslands and savannas: woody encroachment by fire suppression and overgrazing, and conversion to agriculture and implanted pastures. In this article, through a combination of analyzes and bibliographic revisions, we describe biotic and abiotic components of natural grassland and savannas of the Dry Chaco. We also present the current distribution and conservation status of these ecosystems, and describe the process of change and the ecological consequences for biogeochemical cycles and biologic interactions. To provide basis for management, we estimate current grazing stocking rates on natural grasslands and savannas of Argentine Dry Chaco and we propose an alternative approach to sustainably intensify the use of these ecosystems and improve cattle rancher livelihoods. Despite the existent knowledge about natural grasslands and savannas in the region, we believe that is necessary to motivate the scientific community and national institutions to increase efforts to reconcile the restoration and conservation of these particular rangelands. Book Title Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:40 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:53:48 PM Tags: o Biodiversity conflicts o Dry Chaco o Ecosystem management o Fire ecology o Grasslands conservation o Grazing systems o Neglected ecosystems o Novel ecosystems o South American rangelands o Subtropical savannas o Woody encroachment * Can Invasive Species Enhance Competitive Ability and Restoration Potential in Native Grass Populations? Type Journal Article Author Ángel Ferrero‐Serrano Author Ann L. Hild Author Brian A. Mealor URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2009.00611.x__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv0MANXMA$ Rights © 2009 Society for Ecological Restoration International Volume 19 Issue 4 Pages 545-551 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2011 DOI 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2009.00611.x Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:34:37 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Native plant individuals often persist within communities dominated by exotics but the influence of this exposure on native populations is poorly understood. Selection for traits contributing to competitive ability may lead to native plant populations that are more tolerant of the presence of exotic invaders. In this way, long-term coexistence with an exotic may confer competitive advantages to remnant (experienced) native populations and be potentially beneficial to restoration. In past studies we have documented genetic differentiation within native grass populations exposed to the exotic invader Russian knapweed (Acroptilon repens). Here, we examine populations of a cool-season grass, needle-and-thread (Hesperostipa comata [Trin. & Rupr.]) and a warm season, alkali sacaton (Sporobolus airoides [Torr.]) collected from Russian knapweed-invaded sites and adjacent noninvaded sites to assess their relative competitive ability against a novel exotic neighbor, Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense). Experienced S. airoides (from within A. repens invasions) appear to better tolerate (accumulate biomass, leaf nitrogen content, and to initiate new tillers) the presence of a novel competitor (C. arvense). Experienced and inexperienced H. comata genets differ in their response to the presence of C. arvense. Relative neighbor effects of native grasses on C. arvense were generally greater from experienced grasses. The ability to compete with novel neighbors may be driven by general competitive traits rather than species-specific coevolutionary trajectories. Irrespective of competitive mechanisms, the conservation of native species populations within weed invasions may provide an important restoration tool by retaining unique components of native gene pools selected by competitive interactions with exotics. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:34:37 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:34:37 PM Tags: o Cirsium arvense o contemporary evolution o exotic o genetic differentiation o Hesperostipa comata o invasion o Sporobolus airoides Attachments o Snapshot * Biodiversity-rich European grasslands: Ancient, forgotten ecosystems Type Journal Article Author Angelica Feurdean Author Eszter Ruprecht Author Zsolt Molnár Author Simon M. Hutchinson Author Thomas Hickler URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320718307456__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvfzYvS9A$ Volume 228 Pages 224-232 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date December 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2018.09.022 Abstract Worldwide reforestation has been recommended as a landscape restoration strategy to mitigate climate change in areas where the climate can sustain forest. This approach may threaten grassland ecosystems of unique biodiversity as such policies are based on the false assumption that most grasslands are man-made. Here, we use multiple lines of evidence (palaeoecological, pedological, phylogenetic, palaeontological) from Central Eastern Europe and show that various types of grasslands have persisted in this area throughout the postglacial i.e., the past 11,700 years. A warm and dry climate, frequent fires, herbivore pressure and early Neolithic settlements kept forests open until widespread forest clearance beginning 4000 to 3000 years ago. Closed forest cover has been the exception for the last two million years. This long-term persistence has likely contributed to the high biodiversity of these grasslands. Consequently, we call for a more cautious prioritisation of the protection of what may be erroneously considered natural, i.e. forests, by many environmental specialists and managers. Instead we provide a new framework for a better understanding of the evolution and persistence of different grassland types and their biodiversity, so that grasslands can be better understood, valued and conserved. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:45 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:45 PM Tags: o Ancient grasslands o Anthropogenic disturbance o Climate change mitigation o Fire o Fossil records o Herbivores * Effects of enclosure management on carbon sequestration, soil properties and vegetation attributes in East African rangelands Type Journal Article Author Kenea Feyisa Author Sheleme Beyene Author Ayana Angassa Author Mohammed Y. Said Author Jan de Leeuw Author Aster Abebe Author Bekele Megersa URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816217302576__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvLsFir2Q$ Volume 159 Pages 9-19 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date December 1, 2017 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2017.08.002 Abstract The use of enclosures has globally gained popularity as an effective strategy to enhance soil carbon sequestration, but empirical evidence is lacking particularly in arid and semi-arid rangelands of Africa. This study addressed the effectiveness of long-term (15–37years old) enclosures in enhancing soil carbon sequestration in a semi-arid rangeland of Southern Ethiopia. We tested for differences in soil properties and vegetation characteristics between enclosures and adjacent open-grazed areas, while accounting for effects of age of enclosures and soil depths. Three enclosures age categories (<20, 20–30 and >30years) each paired with adjacent open-grazed areas were selected. We collected soil samples at three soil depths (0–5cm, 5–15cm and 15–30cm), and vegetation attributes from 90 plots within 9 enclosures and adjacent open grazing sites. The results showed that soil properties did not differ significantly (P>0.05) between the two management systems across the three soil depths. However, relatively higher soil organic carbon content and stock was recorded in the enclosures than open-grazed lands. We recorded an overall mean of soil organic carbon stock of 39.6±3.5Mgha−1 in enclosures of <20years old, 40.8±3.4Mgha−1 in enclosures of 20–30years old and 51.0±4.4Mg ha−1 in enclosures of >30years old. The soil organic carbon stock for the adjacent open-grazed areas ranged from 34.4±2.5 to 47.9±5.1Mgha−1. The age of enclosures did not show any significant effect on soil organic carbon stocks. However, enclosure management had a significant (P≤0.05) effect on vegetation attributes. We concluded that enclosure had a significant role in terms of soil carbon sequestration and adaptation to climate change. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:09 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:00:09 PM Tags: o Borana o Herbaceous biomass o Rangelands o Soil carbon stock o Total nitrogen stock * Microsite enhancements for soil stabilization and rapid biocrust colonization in degraded drylands Type Journal Article Author Stephen E. Fick Author Natalie Day Author Michael C. Duniway Author Sean Hoy‐Skubik Author Nichole N. Barger URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.13071__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvXIKz8Js$ Rights © 2019 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume n/a Issue n/a Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X DOI 10.1111/rec.13071 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:26:07 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract In dryland ecosystems, natural recovery of biological soil crusts (biocrusts) following disturbance may be slow or inhibited, necessitating active restoration practices. While biocrusts can be readily propagated under environmentally controlled conditions, rehabilitation in the field is complicated by environmental stresses which may be particularly acute in degraded, destabilized soils with harsh climatic conditions at the soil surface. In this study, we first present the results of a field trial at a severely degraded rangeland site examining the stabilizing effects of various soil amendments (polysaccharide glues and polyacrylamides) in combination with biocrust inoculum. We found that a psyllium compound was the only amendment to maintain effectiveness after 19 months, and the only treatment that maintained biocrust inoculum throughout the trial. In a subsequent short-term experiment where plots were shaded and watered, we examined how biocrust inoculation rate (0, 20, and 40% initial cover) and the psyllium-based amendment affected biocrust growth. After 4 months, visible biocrust cover in inoculated plots was greater than in controls, but only chlorophyll a exhibited a dosage-response to inoculum application rate, indicating preferential establishment of cyanobacteria. Psyllium did not affect biocrust development but did improve soil stability. Shade and watering buffered against temperature extremes (up to 15°C) and increased the duration of moist surface conditions necessary for biocrust growth by up to 30%, mimicking conditions more common in the fall and winter months. Our results suggest that inducing early successional biocrusts on a highly degraded site is possible with suitable microclimate conditions. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:26:08 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:26:08 PM Tags: o aggregate stability o bioinoculation o biological soil crust o Colorado plateau o microenvironment o psyllium o soil amendments Attachments o Snapshot * Creating novel urban grasslands by reintroducing native species in wasteland vegetation Type Journal Article Author Leonie K. Fischer Author Moritz von der Lippe Author Matthias C. Rillig Author Ingo Kowarik URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000632071200496X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv1U1SdVQ$ Volume 159 Pages 119-126 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date March 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2012.11.028 Abstract In many areas of the world, grassland species have declined due to intensified agriculture and abandonment of unproductive sites. In rural areas, restoration approaches seek to counteract this loss. Additional potential for grassland restoration arises in urban settings, especially on large-scale wastelands isolated from suitable species pools. We explored the potential of urban wastelands for the development of low-maintenance meadows. We expanded on restoration approaches of rural landscapes by working with altered urban soils and existing wasteland vegetation. We tested if grassland species of regional provenances can be successfully reintroduced by comparing different restoration treatments: (1) transfer of a threshed seed mixture (Heudrusch) from local hay meadows, (2) seeding of species of regional provenances, (3) the same seeding combined with mycorrhizal inoculation. We revealed higher total species richness in all treated plots compared to the control, with similar proportions of grassland species. Both seeding treatments showed increased proportions of target species. The proportion of target species was stable in the seeding/mycorrhiza treatment and increased in the seeding only treatment from the second to the third year of the study to the same level. Urban soil features including stone content were negatively related to target species richness. In contrast, human-mediated impacts (e.g., dog intrusion) showed no significant effect on target species richness. Our experiment demonstrates that urban wastelands are suitable habitats for grassland species. Including extant soils and resident vegetation results in novel urban meadows with a considerable share of ruderal species but where rare grassland species are able to persist. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:31 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:31 PM Tags: o Mycorrhizal inoculation o Novel ecosystems o Regional provenance o Reintroduction o Shrinking cities o Urban restoration * Informing native plant sourcing for ecological restoration: cold-hardiness dynamics, flowering phenology, and survival of Eriogonum umbellatum Type Journal Article Author Matthew R. Fisk Author Kent G. Apostol Author Amy L. Ross‐Davis Author Dexter O. Cahoy Author Anthony S. Davis URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12912__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvDWVx8VU$ Rights © 2018 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 27 Issue 3 Pages 616-625 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2019 DOI 10.1111/rec.12912 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:54:11 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Despite advances in restoration of degraded lands around the world, native plants are still underutilized. Selection of appropriate plant materials is a critical factor in determining plant establishment and persistence. To better inform decision-making, we examined cold-hardiness dynamics, flowering phenology, and survival among five geographically distinct sulfur-flower buckwheat (Polygonaceae: Eriogonum umbellatum Torr.) populations in a common garden. LT50 (a measure of freezing injury) was determined every 6 weeks across a complete year; one population was also evaluated at the source. Cold-hardiness dynamics were similar across populations, with annual fluctuations in mean LT50 exceeding 40°C. Rate of deacclimation (i.e. loss of cold tolerance) in spring varied across populations and was not related to the elevation from which a population came. Plants were less cold hardy in October 2014 compared to October 2013, likely reflecting a response to colder local conditions in 2013. Although the range of LT50 was similar for a single comparison of common garden versus wild-grown plants, wild-grown plants acclimated and deacclimated earlier than common garden-grown plants. Plants derived from a low-elevation population showed delayed flowering phenology, while high-elevation populations showed earlier flowering phenology, with one high-elevation population having the lowest survival rate in the common garden. These results suggest that while considerable plasticity in seasonal cold-hardiness dynamics occur, population variability in deacclimation and flowering phenology have implications for selection and movement of sulfur-flower buckwheat for ecological restoration. Short Title Informing native plant sourcing for ecological restoration Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:54:11 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:54:11 PM Tags: o cold hardiness o common garden o LT50 o native plant sourcing o population variability o sulfur-flower buckwheat Attachments o Snapshot * Influence of topography on soil organic carbon dynamics in a Southern California grassland Type Journal Article Author C. Fissore Author B.J. Dalzell Author A.A. Berhe Author M. Voegtle Author M. Evans Author A. Wu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S034181621630385X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv8r-jt-4$ Volume 149 Pages 140-149 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date February 1, 2017 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2016.09.016 Abstract Soil erosion and deposition processes play an important role influencing accumulation and long-term stability of soil organic carbon (SOC). Therefore, evaluations of landscape-scale magnitude and variability of SOC across topographically active landscapes will improve understanding about important drivers of SOC dynamics. In this study, we investigated the relationship between terrain attributes and quantity and spectroscopic characteristics of SOC for a hillslope system in Southern California. Thirteen soil cores were sampled at representative landscape positions with a history of intense erosion. We observed a strong relationship between slope, plan and profile curvature, and quantity and quality of SOC accumulation along the hillslope systems. Specifically, moderate slopes (<15%) combined with concave profile and plan curvature led to greater SOC accumulation. Spectroscopic analysis of water extractable organic carbon (WEOC) and bulk SOC shows greater presence of aromatics at eroding sites than at depositional sites, likely due to the contribution of eroded upslope materials. These differences in SOC and WEOC are the result of landscape-scale processes of SOC respiration by soil microflora. They likely reflect the potential for SOC stabilization via interaction with soil mineral surfaces. Our findings emphasize the role of specific terrain attributes rather than hillslope position alone in influencing the dynamics of SOC and its quality, information that can be also relevant in informing management and restoration practices. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:18 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:18 PM Tags: o Cs o Erosion o FTIR o Soil organic carbon (SOC) o Topography * Assessing habitat heterogeneity and vegetation outcomes of geomorphic and traditional linear-slope methods in post-mine reclamation Type Journal Article Author Kurt R. Fleisher Author Kristina M. Hufford URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479719315725__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvyOU1Dho$ Volume 255 Pages 109854 Publication Journal of Environmental Management ISSN 0301-4797 Date February 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Journal of Environmental Management DOI 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109854 Abstract Traditional reclamation consists of landform reconstruction characterized by uniform topography and linear slopes. Geomorphic reclamation improves on traditional reclamation by recreating heterogeneous landforms that blend into surrounding landscapes. Environmental heterogeneity created by geomorphic design is expected to increase the number of available ecological niches, and thus increase plant species diversity when compared with traditional reclamation practices. We sampled plant communities at two reclaimed surface mines in Wyoming using line-point intercept transects to compare vegetative diversity, composition, and structure between sites reclaimed using geomorphic and traditional methods. Greater species richness and Simpson's diversity were observed in geomorphic reclamation at the first site, but did not differ significantly at the second site, although geomorphic reclamation was more likely to resemble undisturbed controls. Shrub abundance was up to 10 times greater on geomorphic reclamation compared to traditional reclamation. Neither reclamation method achieved levels of vegetative diversity observed on nearby, undisturbed rangeland. Geomorphic methods have potential benefits for restoration of vegetative diversity and foundation species such as Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis). Our results suggest geomorphic reclamation may improve plant community diversity and wildlife habitat as a practical method for landscape-level restoration in post-mining sites. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:22 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:53:49 PM Tags: o Arid lands restoration o Geomorphic reclamation o ssp. o Surface mining * Inoculation of an ecosystem engineer (Earthworm: Lumbricus terrestris) during experimental grassland restoration: Consequences for above and belowground soil compartments Type Journal Article Author Estelle Forey Author Matthieu Chauvat Author Sekou F.M. Coulibaly Author Estelle Langlois Author Sebastien Barot Author Julia Clause URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929139317308302__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvzhVZWbc$ Volume 125 Pages 148-155 Publication Applied Soil Ecology ISSN 0929-1393 Date April 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Applied Soil Ecology DOI 10.1016/j.apsoil.2017.12.021 Abstract Although soil organisms might strongly affect the dynamics and composition of natural vegetation, relatively few studies have tried to in-situ manipulate soil fauna, especially in restoration ecology. The objective of this study was thus to observe the impact of a soil ecosystem engineer (Lumbricus terrestris L.) on plant communities as well as on soil organisms (springtails) in a reclaimed floodplain previously devoid of earthworms. Within a randomized factorial design based on buried frames (depth 0.45 m), half of the quadrats (1 m2) were inoculated with 100 earthworms, the other half served as control. After one year of experiment, earthworm inoculation doubled the plant biomass and favored grass species over forbs. Both abundance and diversity of Collembola (depending on functional groups) were negatively impacted by the presence of earthworms. Using a path analysis we found that this negative impact was probably indirect and due to an earthworm effect on plant community structure and plant functional groups. We suggest in our particular case that vegetation, and more precisely plant biomass and functional traits, may be more influential than soil properties in driving Collembola assemblages. Regarding restoration, we conclude that manipulating earthworms could be an interesting tool for increasing plant productivity but may disfavor soil biodiversity and alter above-belowground linkages. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:48 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:48 PM Tags: o Alkaline peat o Collembola o Disturbance o Functional types o In situ experiment o Plant productivity o Plant-soil interactions * Predicting micro-catchment infiltration dynamics Type Journal Article Author Michael J. Founds Author Kenneth C. McGwire Author Mark A. Weltz Author Sayjro K. Nouwakpo Author Paul S.J. Verburg URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816220300746__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvfVBHJFU$ Volume 190 Pages 104524 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date July 1, 2020 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2020.104524 Abstract Rainfall and concentrated flow experiments were carried out on seven micro-catchments (MCs) that were designed to limit soil erosion and allow for water-harvesting. Prediction of infiltration rates within MCs is necessary to design effective hillslope-scale restoration projects. Continuous stage measurements and 3-D models of MC geometry were used to calculate infiltration rates from field experiments. Soil samples and Guelph permeameter (GP) measurements were collected to parameterize a predictive infiltration model in Hydrus 2D/3D. The model result of water velocity into the soil profile was averaged by depth intervals and multiplied by the corresponding MC surface area to calculate a volumetric flow rate. Four parameterizations of changes in conductivity with depth were evaluated within the model framework to determine which would best account for spatial heterogeneity. Use of the maximum field-measured conductivity provided the least biased results, with average error between simulated and measured values across all sites of less than 1%. Model results illustrate the limitations associated with particle-size distribution or GP measurements when used to predict infiltration rates in a numerical model. GP measurements with single ponded heights allowed convenient field measurement of conductivity that worked better than predictions from soil texture. The maximum of several GP samples was more representative of MC infiltration than the mean, so a higher percentile value from a distribution of MC measurements may help to account for complex infiltration processes that are not included in numerical models. This modeling approach will allow testing of process-based hypotheses about rangeland infiltration dynamics, and the development of optimal configurations of MCs at sites being considered for rangeland restoration. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:25 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:04:25 PM * Temporal Changes in Forest Contexts at Multiple Extents: Three Decades of Fragmentation in the Gran Chaco (1979-2010), Central Argentina Type Journal Article Author Ludovico Frate Author Alicia T. R. Acosta Author Marcelo Cabido Author Laura Hoyos Author Maria Laura Carranza URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0142855__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvSmRSBQY$ Volume 10 Issue 12 Pages e0142855 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Dec 2, 2015 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0142855 Accessed 2020-03-12, 12:24:11 AM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract The context in which a forest exists strongly influences its function and sustainability. Unveiling the multi-scale nature of forest fragmentation context is crucial to understand how human activities affect the spatial patterns of forests across a range of scales. However, this issue remains almost unexplored in subtropical ecosystems. In this study, we analyzed temporal changes (1979–2010) in forest contexts in the Argentinean dry Chaco at multiple extents. We classified forests over the last three decades based on forest context amount (Pf) and structural connectivity (Pff), which were measured using a moving window approach fixed at eight different extents (from local, ~ 6 ha, to regional, ~ 8300 ha). Specific multi-scale forest context profiles (for the years 1979 and 2010) were defined by projecting Pf vs. Pff mean values and were compared across spatial extents. The distributions of Pf across scales were described by scalograms and their shapes over time were compared. The amount of agricultural land and rangelands across the scales were also analyzed. The dry Chaco has undergone an intensive process of fragmentation, resulting in a shift from landscapes dominated by forests with gaps of rangelands to landscapes where small forest patches are embedded in agricultural lands. Multi-scale fragmentation analysis depicted landscapes in which local exploitation, which perforates forest cover, occurs alongside extensive forest clearings, reducing forests to small and isolated patches surrounded by agricultural lands. In addition, the temporal diminution of Pf’s variability along with the increment of the mean slope of the Pf ‘s scalograms, indicate a simplification of the spatial pattern of forest over time. The observed changes have most likely been the result of the interplay between human activities and environmental constraints, which have shaped the spatial patterns of forests across scales. Based on our results, strategies for the conservation and sustainable management of the dry Chaco should take into account both the context of each habitat location and the scales over which a forest pattern might be preserved, altered or restored. Short Title Temporal Changes in Forest Contexts at Multiple Extents Date Added 2020-03-12, 12:24:11 AM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:53:50 PM Tags: o Agricultural land o Agriculture o Biodiversity o Conservation science o Ecosystems o Forest ecology o Forests o Habitats Attachments o Full Text PDF o Full Text PDF o Snapshot o Snapshot * Chapter 8 - Soil Organic Matter Accumulation in Postmining Sites: Potential Drivers and Mechanisms Type Book Section Author Jan Frouz Author Olga Vindušková Editor María Ángeles Muñoz Editor Raúl Zornoza URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128121283000082__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvcaW7VWo$ Publisher Academic Press Pages 103-120 ISBN 978-0-12-812128-3 Date January 1, 2018 Extra DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-812128-3.00008-2 Abstract Surface mining causes disturbances of large areas. Material excavated from above the mined deposit is transferred elsewhere, and new ecosystems are reconstructed here either with the help of technical reclamation or by natural processes. We present the main findings of research carried out in these postmining sites with a focus on carbon sequestration in soil. We briefly discuss the methodological issues of C sequestration studies in these soils. Further, we focus on the potential and dynamics as well as the main driving factors of C sequestration. The rates of soil carbon accumulation in post mining soils are higher than the typical rates for revegetated agricultural soils (~0.3tha−1yr−1); however, the rate of C sequestration decreases with increasing site age (2.5tha−1yr−1 after 10 years and 0.9tha−1yr−1 after 40 years). Substrate and type of vegetation belong to major drivers of soil development and C sequestration. Substrate toxicity may be a serious problem in the reclamation of postmining sites. However in nontoxic substrates, namely on substrates with adequate clay content, the vegetation development may be quite fast. Topsoil application may substantially improve soil conditions but may be also associated with compaction, which may slow down tree growth. On average, soil C storage is significantly lower in coniferous forests than in grasslands or in deciduous forests. The rate of C sequestration responds positively to site temperature in grassland and negatively in conifers. The accumulation of organic matter resulted in changes in a substrate pH increase of nutrient availability and water-holding capacity. Book Title Soil Management and Climate Change Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:44 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:53:53 PM Tags: o Geogenic C o Mine soils o Mining o Recultivation o Sequestration * Assessing the soil erosion control service of ecosystems change in the Loess Plateau of China Type Journal Article Author Bojie Fu Author Yu Liu Author Yihe Lü Author Chansheng He Author Yuan Zeng Author Bingfang Wu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1476945X11000602__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvyaCv9cY$ Volume 8 Issue 4 Pages 284-293 Publication Special Section: Complexity of Coupled Human and Natural Systems ISSN 1476-945X Date December 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Ecological Complexity DOI 10.1016/j.ecocom.2011.07.003 Abstract Soil erosion in terrestrial ecosystems, as an important global environmental problem, significantly impacts on environmental quality and social economy. By protecting soil from wind and water erosion, terrestrial ecosystems supply human beings with soil erosion control service, one of the fundamental ecosystem services that ensure human welfare. The Loess Plateau was one of the regions in the world that suffered from severe soil erosion. In the past decades, restoration projects were implemented to improve soil erosion control in the region. The Grain-to-Green project, converting slope croplands into forest or grasslands, launched in 1999 was the most massive one. It is needed to assess the change of soil erosion control service brought about by the project. This study evaluated the land cover changes from 2000 to 2008 by satellite image interpretation. Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) was employed for the soil erosion control assessment for the same period with localized parameters. Soil retention calculated as potential soil erosion (erosion without vegetation cover) minus actual soil erosion was applied as indicator for soil erosion control service. The results indicate that ecosystem soil erosion control service has been improved from 2000 to 2008 as a result of vegetation restoration. Average soil retention rate (the ratio of soil retention to potential soil loss in percentage) was up to 63.3% during 2000–2008. Soil loss rate in 34% of the entire plateau decreased, 48% unchanged and 18% slightly increased. Areas suffering from intense erosion shrank and light erosion areas expanded. Zones with slope gradient of 8°–35° were the main contribution area of soil loss. On average, these zones produced 82% of the total soil loss with 45.5% of the total area in the Loess Plateau. Correspondingly, soil erosion control capacity was significantly improved in these zones. Soil loss rate decreased from 5000tkm−2yr−1 to 3600tkm−2yr−1, 6900tkm−2yr−1 to 4700tkm−2yr−1, and 8500tkm−2yr−1 to 5500tkm−2yr−1 in the zones with slope gradient of 8°–15°, 15°–25°, and 25°–35° respectively. However, the mean soil erosion rate in areas with slope gradient over 8° was still larger than 3600tkm−2yr−1, which is far beyond the tolerable erosion rate of 1000tkm−2yr−1. Thus, soil erosion is still one of the top environmental problems that need more ecological restoration efforts. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:10 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:10 PM Tags: o Ecosystem services o Loess Plateau o Soil conservation o Soil erosion o USLE * Chinese ecosystem research network: Progress and perspectives Type Journal Article Author Bojie Fu Author Shenggong Li Author Xiubo Yu Author Ping Yang Author Guirui Yu Author Renguo Feng Author Xuliang Zhuang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1476945X10000097__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv6v4gjUE$ Volume 7 Issue 2 Pages 225-233 Publication Eco Summit 2007 Special Issue, Part Two ISSN 1476-945X Date June 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Ecological Complexity DOI 10.1016/j.ecocom.2010.02.007 Abstract As a national innovative scientific and technological facility that integrates monitoring, research and demonstrations, the Chinese Ecosystem Research Network (CERN) has become one of the largest networks in the world that consists of 40 field stations, 5 sub-centers and 1 synthesis center, covering almost all typical ecosystems in China: cropland, forest, grassland, desert, marshes, lakes, bays and urban ecosystem. Its unique features are the emphasis on understanding long-term structure and function, patterns and processes of ecosystems, combination of the inter-site comprehensive research or cross-site comparison research and the voluntary site-based exploration, and the data sharing both for domestic institutions and international networks at different levels. This paper provides a brief review of CERN by introducing its developing history, objectives and missions, summarizing its progress with the long-term ecological research in China including monitoring, scientific accomplishments in carbon cycle, ecosystem structure and functions, ecosystem restoration and data management. The paper also describes CERN's strategic plan to 2020 and its development perspectives in the future with focus on six core thematic areas. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:23 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:23 PM Tags: o Chinese ecosystem o Long-term ecological research o Planning and perspectives o Progress and accomplishments * Diversity of desert rangelands of Tunisia Type Journal Article Author Mouldi Gamoun Author Azaiez Ouled Belgacem Author Mounir Louhaichi URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468265918300301__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvbBXvqVw$ Volume 40 Issue 5 Pages 217-225 Publication Plant Diversity ISSN 2468-2659 Date October 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Plant Diversity DOI 10.1016/j.pld.2018.06.004 Abstract Plants are important components of any rangeland. However, the importance of desert rangeland plant diversity has often been underestimated. It has been argued that desert rangelands of Tunisia in good ecological condition provide more services than those in poor ecological condition. This is because rangelands in good condition support a more diverse mixture of vegetation with many benefits, such as forage for livestock and medicinal plants. Nearly one-quarter of Tunisia, covering about 5.5 million hectares, are rangelands, of which 87% are located in the arid and desert areas (45% and 42%, respectively). Here, we provide a brief review of the floristic richness of desert rangelands of Tunisia. Approximately 135 species are specific to desert rangelands. The predominant families are Asteraceae, Poaceae, Brassicaceae, Chenopodiaceae, and Fabaceae. These represent approximately 50% of Tunisian desert flora. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:22 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:00:22 PM Tags: o Dryland o Species richness o Vegetation * The Advances in the Carbon Source/Sink Researches of Typical Grassland Ecosystem in China Type Journal Article Author Chengcheng Gang Author Jie Zhang Author Jianlong Li URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1878029611004543__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvcNnb38o$ Volume 10 Pages 1646-1653 Publication 2011 3rd International Conference on Environmental Science and Information Application Technology ESIAT 2011 ISSN 1878-0296 Date January 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Procedia Environmental Sciences DOI 10.1016/j.proenv.2011.09.259 Abstract With the deepening research of global change, studies of carbon cycle of grassland ecosystem, one of the widely distributed vegetation type, is of great significance in estimating global carbon cycle. Grassland degradation and desertification caused by human activities(such as land reclamation and grazing etc) is becoming increasingly serious in our country, so it is urgency to study the effects of human on grassland soil carbon. Under the condition of increasing measuring precision and region density, it is superior to use remote sensing in grassland carbon storage measurement through acquisition and inversion vegetation information and related biophysics parameters, it is possible to monitor the space distribution of grassland carbon-fixed amount in large range and multi-scale timely and accurately. In this paper, the importance of carbon cycle of grassland ecosystem was discussed, and researches on carbon cycle of grassland ecosystem in China was summarized and analysed, including the three carbon pools(plants carbon pool, litterfall carbon pool and soil carbon pool), effects of natural or human activities on carbon storage and methods to estimate the carbon storage. Additionally, based on the principal of grass growth, together with analysis of various global ecosystem NPP estimation methods, we put forward a novel thought to establish an carbon estimation model and testify its accuracy with meteorological data and field observation data such as grassland biomass, NPP, net ecological productivity (NEP) etc, which is much more suitable for carbon source/sink estimation of grassland ecosystem in China. At last, the existing problems and prospects of carbon source/sink researches of main grassland in China were discussed. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:52 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:53:54 PM Tags: o carbon pools o carbon source/sink o grassland classification o grassland ecosystem o integrated data method * The impacts of land conversion and management measures on the grassland net primary productivity over the Loess Plateau, Northern China Type Journal Article Author Chengcheng Gang Author Wei Zhao Author Ting Zhao Author Yi Zhang Author Xuerui Gao Author Zhongming Wen URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969718326512__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv-FyhWz4$ Volume 645 Pages 827-836 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date December 15, 2018 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.07.161 Abstract In the 1990s, the Chinese government began implementation of a series of national-scale restoration programs to combat environmental degradation. As one of most important arid and semiarid regions of China, the Loess Plateau has attracted attention related to the effectiveness of these initiatives. The present study analyzed land use and cover change (LUCC) of the grassland in the Loess Plateau and the consequent change in net primary productivity (NPP) based on a consecutive land use data derived from the European Space Agency Climate Change Initiative land cover maps and the CASA (Carnegie-Ames-Stanford Approach) model driven by MODIS-NDVI data. The contributions of climate variation and human activities (including land conversion and management measures) to these changes were also quantitatively differentiated. The results indicated that the area of the Loess Plateau grassland experienced a net increase of 0.43 × 104 km2 over the study period. The total NPP of the Loess Plateau grassland increased by 11,325.13 Gg C·yr−1, of which the human activities and climate variation were responsible for 78.45% and 21.55%, respectively. The land conversion reduced the grassland NPP by 308.60 Gg C·yr−1, whereas management measures increased the NPP by 9197.97 Gg C·yr−1 in the otherwise unmodified grassland. Overall, ecological restoration programs have effectively increased grassland NPP in the Loess Plateau. However, human activities played both positive and negative impacts in this process. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:51 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:51 PM Tags: o Green-for-Grain Project (GGP) o Human activities o Land use and cover change (LUCC) o Loess Plateau o Net primary productivity (NPP) * Biomass carbon storage and net primary production in different habitats of Hunshandake Sandland, China Type Journal Article Author Li Gang Author Jiang Gaoming Author Li Yonggeng Author Liu Meizhen URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1872203211000308__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv-NnMGMo$ Volume 31 Issue 4 Pages 217-224 Publication Acta Ecologica Sinica ISSN 1872-2032 Date August 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Acta Ecologica Sinica DOI 10.1016/j.chnaes.2011.04.006 Abstract Terrestrial ecosystems are playing important roles in global carbon cycling. However, the information is still limited with regard to the semi-arid sandland or desert area, compared with the thorough studies on forest and grassland. We here estimated the biomass carbon storage, net primary production (NPP) and rain use efficiency (RUE) of Hunshandake Sandland, a semi-arid sandy region in Inner Mongolia covered with vegetation of Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila L.) sparse forest grassland. Five main habitats, i.e. fixed dunes, semi-fixed dunes, shifting dunes, lowland, and wetland, were compared to analyze the patterns of carbon storage and NPP distribution. The average biomass (9.19MgCha−1) and NPP (4.79MgCha−1yr−1) of the sparse forest grassland were respectively 82% and 54% higher than the mean level of the surrounding temperate grassland. Governed by the same climate, sparse forest grassland ecosystem had RUE almost twice that of surrounding grassland. The ratio of below to aboveground biomass was 3.5: 1 in the sandland, indicating that most of the vegetational carbon was stored in belowground pool. Although trees were functionally critical in maintaining the integrity of sparse forest grassland, they accounted for only 10.6% and 1.2% of the biomass and NPP, respectively. The sparse forest grassland in Hunshandake Sandland should be recognized as a temperate savanna ecosystem which is distinctively different from typical temperate grassland in the same region as evidenced by the higher NPP and vegetation carbon storage. Well designed management and restoration efforts can potentially sustain ecosystem services in both forage production and carbon sequestration. 摘要 目 前已知森林和草原等陆地生态系统在全球碳循环中扮演非常重要的角色, 而半 干旱地区的沙地或荒漠在这方面的信息还很缺乏. 我们对内蒙古浑善达克沙地 榆树 (Ulmus pumila L.) 疏林草地的生物量碳库、生产力 (NPP) 以及降水利 用效率 (RUE) 区分不同生境, 即固定沙地、半固定沙地、流动沙地、丘间低 地和低湿地进行了研究; 分析和比较了植被碳库及NPP的分配情况. 结果表明, 疏林草地的平均生物量 (9.19MgCha−1) 与 NPP (4.79MgCha−1yr−1) 分别比其 所处的典型草原地带高 82% 和 54%, RUE 近于后者的二倍. 沙地水平上的地 下与地上生物量之比为 3.5, 说明大量的植被碳贮藏于地下. 沙地中乔木对生 物量和 NPP 的贡献不大, 分别为 10.6% 和 1.2%, 但对于维持疏林草地的完 整性具有重要功能. 浑善达克沙地的疏林草地生态系统与地带性的典型温带草 原不同, 应属于一类温带萨王那生态系统类型. 合理的管理和恢复措施将有助 于其在畜牧业和碳固持方面生态系统服务功能的实现. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:15 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:15 PM Tags: o Biomass o Carbon storage o Net primary production o Rain use efficiency o Sandland * International principles and standards for the practice of ecological restoration. Second edition Type Journal Article Author George D. Gann Author Tein McDonald Author Bethanie Walder Author James Aronson Author Cara R. Nelson Author Justin Jonson Author James G. Hallett Author Cristina Eisenberg Author Manuel R. Guariguata Author Junguo Liu Author Fangyuan Hua Author Cristian Echeverría Author Emily Gonzales Author Nancy Shaw Author Kris Decleer Author Kingsley W. Dixon URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.13035__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvlf702Tc$ Rights © 2019 Society for Ecological Restoration. Restoration Ecology published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 27 Issue S1 Pages S1-S46 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2019 DOI 10.1111/rec.13035 Accessed 2020-03-12, 12:00:23 AM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Date Added 2020-03-12, 12:00:23 AM Modified 2020-03-12, 12:00:23 AM Tags: o biodiversity conservation o ecological restoration targets o global restoration policy o human wellbeing o reference ecosystems o restorative continuum Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Deforestation in Heilongjiang Province of China, 1896–2000: Severity, spatiotemporal patterns and causes Type Journal Article Author Jay Gao Author Yansui Liu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0143622812000823__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvHXKMYms$ Volume 35 Issue 1 Pages 345-352 Publication Applied Geography ISSN 0143-6228 Date November 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Applied Geography DOI 10.1016/j.apgeog.2012.08.001 Abstract This study attempts to ascertain the spatiotemporal patterns of de(re)forestation and its causes in Heilongjiang Province, China during the last century. In 1896, there were 308,020 km2 of forest covering 68% of the Province. Forest area was reduced to 247,256 km2 by 1949 at an annual rate of 1146 km2. By 1958 primary forest was reduced to 169,533 km2 while secondary forest remained at 68,801 km2. Thus, 9421 km2 of forest were logged at a rate of 1046 km2 per annum. From 1958 to 1980, forest as a whole was reduced by 22,326 km2 at an annual rate of 1014 km2. The amount of deforestation was reduced to 9211 km2 for dense forest, but sparse forest gained 831 km2 during 1980–2000. The net decrease of 8379 km2 represents an annual loss of 419 km2. Spatially, deforested areas used to be extensive and expansive, but have become fragmented with thousands of patches that have a shrinking mean size. These deforested sites were located in low-lying flat terrains with a close proximity to rivers and roads. Such land was replaced primarily by farmland and secondarily by grassland. Therefore, the causes of deforestation are identified as demand for timber, population-driven land reclamation up to 1980, and urbanisation in the last two decades. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:31 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:53:59 PM Tags: o Cause analysis o Change detection o Deforestation o Heilongjiang o Spatiotemporal pattern * Determination of land degradation causes in Tongyu County, Northeast China via land cover change detection Type Journal Article Author Jay Gao Author Yansui Liu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0303243409000695__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvDnEjDh4$ Volume 12 Issue 1 Pages 9-16 Publication International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation ISSN 0303-2434 Date February 1, 2010 Journal Abbr International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation DOI 10.1016/j.jag.2009.08.003 Abstract Tongyu County in Northeast China is highly prone to land degradation due to its fragile physical settings characterized by a flat topography, a semi-arid climate, and a shallow groundwater table. This study aims to determine the causes of land degradation through detecting the long-term trend of land cover changes. Degraded lands were mapped from satellite images recorded in 1992 and 2002. These land cover maps revealed that the area subject to land degradation in the form of soil salinization, waterlogging and desertification increased from 2400 to 4214km2, in sharp contrast to most severely degraded land that decreased by 122.5km2. Newly degraded land stems from productive farmland (263km2), harvested farmland (551km2), and grassland (468km2). Therefore, the worsened degradation situation is attributed to excessive reclamation of grassland for farming, over cultivation, overgrazing, and deforestation. Mechanical, biological, ecological and engineering means should be adopted to rehabilitate the degraded land. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:33 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:53:57 PM Tags: o Change detection o Land degradation o Landsat TM o Northeast China o Rehabilitation of degraded land * Resilience of revegetated grassland for restoring severely degraded alpine meadows is driven by plant and soil quality along recovery time: A case study from the Three-river Headwater Area of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Type Journal Article Author Xiaoxia Gao Author Shikui Dong Author Yudan Xu Author Shengnan Wu Author Xiaohui Wu Author Xi Zhang Author Yangliu Zhi Author Shuai Li Author Shiliang Liu Author Yu Li Author Zhanhuan Shang Author Quanmin Dong Author Huakun Zhou Author Paul Stufkens URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880919300222__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvHZHo9PM$ Volume 279 Pages 169-177 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date July 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2019.01.010 Abstract Resilience is crucial to promote the ecosystem sustainability and maintain ecosystem functions and services. Clarifying the variation regularity of the resilience can provide a theory foundation for the restoration and management of degraded ecosystems. Grassland cultivation has been largely used to restore extensively distributed “Black Beach”, the severely degraded alpine meadow on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP). However, few researchers have documented the resilience of the revegetated grasslands along the succession gradients. In this study, we surveyed the revegetated grasslands on the QTP at different restoration times: 4-year, 6-year, 9-year, 12-year, 13-year, 14-year, 16-year, 18-year by using chronosequence approach to identify the resilience of the revegetated grasslands from the perspectives of plant and soil quality. We treated “Black Beach” as the baseline for restoration, and non-degraded healthy alpine meadow as the target for the restoration. We used the MDS method to identify the appropriate indicators and created an integrated assessment system that quantified the resilience of plant, soil, plant-soil system of the revegetated grasslands at different recovery years. The results showed that the non-linear resilience of revegetated grasslands were identified for the plant, soil and plant-soil systems along the temporal gradients. The plant resilience of the revegetated grasslands peaked at the 12th recovery year. The soil of the revegetated grasslands was superior to severely degraded grasslands after 13 years of revegetation. Asynchrony existed between the resilience of soil and that of the plant along the temporal gradients. The plant-soil system resilience of the revegetated grasslands peaked at the 16th recovery year. From the perspectives of plant, soil, plant-soil system, the recovery time of severely degraded grassland should be at least 16–18 years to reach a relative stable state. Revegetated grassland can be used as an effective restoration approach to improve the quality and resilience of plant and soil in the severely degraded alpine meadow on the QTP. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:56 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:56 PM Tags: o MDS o Plant quality o Recovery time o Resilience o Revegetation o Soil quality * Vegetation change and its influence on runoff and sediment in different landform units, Wei River, China Type Journal Article Author Haidong Gao Author Zhao Wu Author Lianlian Jia Author Guowei Pang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857419303337__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvz41Dmo4$ Volume 141 Pages 105609 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date December 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2019.105609 Abstract China has been ranked first in its contribution to the newly increased green areas in the world since 2000. Because of the significant differences in natural and geographical conditions in China, the spatial variation of vegetation varies greatly. We selected the Wei River basin in the transition zone between the Qinling Mountains and the Loess Plateau as the research object. Based on MOD13Q1 normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data, the characteristics of and factors influencing vegetation restoration, and their effects on the process of runoff-sediment under various landform units (Loess Plateau, Guanzhong Plain and Qinling Mountain areas) were studied using statistical and trend analyses. Our results indicated that the NDVI in 68.02% of the total research area had significantly increased (p < 0.05), with the fastest vegetation restoration in the loess area. The Theil Sen slopes in the loess, mountain and plain areas were 0.0095/year, 0.0049/year and 0.0013/year, respectively, with significant differences among them (p < 0.05). In the loess area, vegetation restoration rate was slightly higher in the zone with an elevation of 1000–2500 m than 500–1000 m. The fastest vegetation restoration in the mountains was in mountainous areas at low altitude, and the rate tended to decrease with greater elevation. In addition, the fastest vegetation restoration in the loess and mountain regions was in areas with gentle slopes of 5–15°. The relationship between vegetation and precipitation was stronger in the mountains than in the loess area. The results also revealed that improvement in vegetation coverage of cultivated and grassland was the leading cause of vegetation restoration in loess and mountain areas, but urbanization was the main factor affecting vegetation degradation in the plain. In the context of vegetation restoration, change in precipitation was still the dominant factor affecting variation in runoff and sediment load. In the loess area, vegetation restoration has a greater impact on sediment load, while in the Qinling Mountains, vegetation restoration mainly affects runoff. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:30 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:30 PM Tags: o Precipitation o Runoff-sediment processes o Topographic factors o Trend analysis o Vegetation change * Feasibility evaluation of solar photovoltaic pumping irrigation system based on analysis of dynamic variation of groundwater table Type Journal Article Author Xuerui Gao Author Jiahong Liu Author Jun Zhang Author Jinyue Yan Author Shujun Bao Author He Xu Author Tao Qin URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261912008835__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvDYeHgQg$ Volume 105 Pages 182-193 Publication Applied Energy ISSN 0306-2619 Date May 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Applied Energy DOI 10.1016/j.apenergy.2012.11.074 Abstract Solar photovoltaic (PV) pumping irrigation system has become a widely applied solar energy technology over the past decades, in which the pump is driven by electricity produced by solar energy and lifts groundwater or surface water to irrigate the crop or grassland for agriculture. Qinghai Province, located in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, features abundant solar energy, but the problem of local grassland degradation and ecological deterioration has become increasingly serious. Using the clean solar energy to pump groundwater or surface water is of great significance for grassland recovery, environment protection and ecological restoration. In this study, we selected a demonstration site (with an area of 3.15ha) in Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Golog at the southern part of Qinghai Province and evaluated the feasibility and performance of the PV pumping irrigation system at field scale. Firstly, water demand of pasture was predicted in different hydrological level years to determine water deficiency, which should be replenished mainly by pumping groundwater according to the local water resources conditions. Secondly, through modeling the unsteady flow of partially penetrating well in unconfined aquifer, we analyzed the change of groundwater table of the pumping well in both irrigation season and non-irrigation season, and then evaluated whether the groundwater resources can satisfy the pumping water demand for the growth of grassland. Results show that groundwater resources in the demonstration area are satisfactory and water yield in the pumping well can generally fulfill the water demand of grassland. Finally, based on balance analysis between solar energy supply and demand, a set of technical parameters were given to design the PV pumping irrigation system in the demonstration area. We also made the benefit analysis for the PV pumping irrigation system. It is concluded that, the PV system has good economic and ecological performance in the demonstration site compared to the diesel engine irrigation system, showing promising prospects to be popularized in Western China at large scale. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:34 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:34 PM Tags: o Economic benefit o Grassland o Groundwater resources o PV pumping irrigation system o Unsteady flow of partially penetrating well o Water demand * Fractal approach to estimating changes in soil properties following the establishment of Caragana korshinskii shelterbelts in Ningxia, NW China Type Journal Article Author Guang-Lei Gao Author Guo-Dong Ding Author Yuan-Yuan Zhao Author Bin Wu Author Yu-Qing Zhang Author Shu-Gao Qin Author Yan-Feng Bao Author Ming-Han Yu Author Yun-Dong Liu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X14000934__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvLGqMesg$ Volume 43 Pages 236-243 Publication Ecological Indicators ISSN 1470-160X Date August 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2014.03.001 Abstract To identify the effects of shelterbelt establishment on soil recovery, we compared soil properties at depths of 0–5, 5–10, and 10–20cm as affected by Caragana korshinskii shelterbelts across a chronosequence of soil undergoing restoration for 7, 11, and 26 years, as well as reference grasslands in Ningxia, NW China. Fractal dimension of soil particle size distribution (PSD) was also integrated to describe variations in soil properties. The results indicated that (1) fine particles, total porosity, total nitrogen, phosphorous, and available nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium increased significantly with plantation age (p<0.05). Sand particles tended to decrease with restoration time, especially in the topsoil layers (0–5cm). (2) In most cases, selected physicochemical properties of soil in shelterbelts recovered more than in the reference grasslands; moreover, planting Medicago sativa had greatly positive effects on soil nitrogen accumulation due to azotification. (3) Fractal dimensions of soil PSD ranged from 2.3946 to 2.6351. Regression analyses showed fractal dimensions had significant linear correlations with soil physicochemical properties (R2=0.511–0.870, p<0.01), except total potassium (R2=0.248). Therefore, we suggest D as a considerable and reliable parameter to reflect variations in soil properties affecting vegetation restoration efforts, and additionally as an implication of desertification. This improved information will contribute to a better understanding of vegetation solutions for anti-desertification efforts. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:47 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:47 PM Tags: o Desertification o Fractal feature o Particle size distribution o Soil property o Vegetation restoration * Dominant plant species modulate responses to hydroseeding, irrigation and fertilization during the restoration of semiarid motorway slopes Type Journal Article Author Pablo García-Palacios Author Santiago Soliveres Author Fernando T. Maestre Author Adrián Escudero Author Andrea P. Castillo-Monroy Author Fernando Valladares URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S092585741000159X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvymc5-V0$ Volume 36 Issue 10 Pages 1290-1298 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date October 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2010.06.005 Abstract Restoring roadside slopes in semiarid regions of the Mediterranean Basin is often constrained by the difficulties arising when developing restoration projects (absence of nearby natural ecosystems serving as reference sites and slow natural colonization) and by the contradictions found between short-term (reduce soil erosion) and long-term (increase plant diversity) restoration goals. Restoration techniques developed in temperate climates are commonly applied in these regions without taking into account their specific characteristics; as a consequence, they often fail. We evaluated the effectiveness of three treatments widely used by practitioners (hydroseeding, fertilization and irrigation) to foster community composition changes that control soil erosion and increase species diversity (restoration goals) during the restoration of motorway embankments. The study was carried out during an 18-month period in five embankments from semiarid central Spain. The most outstanding result was that responses of the plant community to the treatments evaluated were site-specific. Several fast-growing dominant species, some hydroseeded and some already present in the study sites, were responsible for this idiosyncratic variation between sites. On embankments, where plant cover can easily reach values high enough to prevent erosion, the use of non-native herbs that can potentially dominate the community should be avoided. These fast-growing species, although effective as starters the first years following motorway building, can constrain vegetation dynamics in the long term. Our results indicate that these species should be controlled in the field, and their presence avoided in the commercial seed mixtures when the target is to enhance biodiversity and ecosystem stability and resilience. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:55 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:55 PM Tags: o Dominant species o Fertilization o Grasslands o Hydroseeding o Irrigation o Plant composition o Roadside slopes o Semiarid o Soil erosion * Soil nutrients of different land-use types and topographic positions in the water-wind erosion crisscross region of China's Loess Plateau Type Journal Article Author Jiamin Ge Author Sheng Wang Author Jun Fan Author Kate Gongadze Author Lianhai Wu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816219303856__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv_0dzXQQ$ Volume 184 Pages 104243 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date January 1, 2020 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2019.104243 Abstract The Grain-for-Green program was implemented in China in 1999 to reduce soil erosion, increase biodiversity, conserve natural resources and improve the natural environment by modifying patterns of land use. The located field experiment about the influence of different land-use types (LUTs) on nutrient contents and changes in the soil profile or the degree of influence over time was conducted for many years in Liudaogou watershed. The contents of soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), available P (AP) and two inorganic N forms, ammonium-N (AN) and nitrate-N (NN), were determined in 0–200 cm soil profiles in five terraced and three sloped LUTs. The terraced LUTs were bare land (BAT), farmland (FAT), abandoned land (ABT), forage land (FOT, with alfalfa) and shrubland (SHT, with the peashrub Caragana korshinskii), and the sloped LUTs were farmland (FAS), abandoned land (ABS) and forage land (FOS). All of these LUTs were converted from traditional farmland except for FAT and FAS and they are carefully maintained for the last 50 years. SOM and TN contents were significantly higher after conversion from farmland to shrubland or grassland (15.6–34.9%) and decreased (51.5–77.1% for SOM in 0–40 cm, 49.7–72.1% for TN in 0–60 cm) with depth for all LUTs. TP and AN contents throughout the profiles were not significantly affected by land use, but NN was leached and accumulated in farmland only. AP content was highest throughout the profile in ABS when TP and AP contents were higher in sloped land than terraced land. SOM, TN and AN contents did not differ significantly for the same land-use patterns in the two topographies. SOM and TN contents in the surface soil increased with the length of recovery. Our observations demonstrated that the Grain-for-Green program has improved the nutrient contents and fertility of the soil and has increased SOM and TN stocks over time and that these effects were not limited to the topsoil. Abandoned land may be the optimal choice for nutrient sequestration in terraced and sloped land. Shrubland and artificial grassland are also recommended for increasing soil nutrient content in the area. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:15 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:15 PM Tags: o Deep profile o Land-use types o Soil nutrient stocks o Topographic positions o Water-wind crisscross erosion * Let native species take their course: Ambrosia artemisiifolia replacement during natural or “artificial” succession Type Journal Article Author Rodolfo Gentili Author Chiara Montagnani Author Federica Gilardelli Author Maria Francesca Guarino Author Sandra Citterio URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1146609X16300789__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvhdRmk3A$ Volume 82 Pages 32-40 Publication Acta Oecologica ISSN 1146-609X Date July 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Acta Oecologica DOI 10.1016/j.actao.2017.05.007 Abstract Ambrosia artemisiifolia is able to dominate the early stages of vegetation succession in open/disturbed habitats, spreading out into available empty niches, after which it can be progressively replaced by perennial plants. In this study, we considered the time-span in which the species is suppressed during active (restoration actions) and passive (spontaneous) vegetation recovery. In particular, we envisaged that A. artemisiifolia growth and fitness may be strongly reduced and that the species may rapidly be suppressed within a short time during succession as a consequence of the increase of vegetation cover, both natural or artificially induced, in a disturbed area of northern Italy. Three different treatments were applied within an abandoned quarry area commonly invaded by A. artemisiifolia: (i) spontaneous succession i.e. (control), (ii) hayseed and (iii) a commercial seed mixture. We determined the effect of mixtures of grassland species, established from native hayseed or from a commercial seed mixture, on A. artemisiifolia growth and fitness traits over time in comparison to a non-seeded area left to spontaneous succession. The results demonstrated that, after the first growing season, compared with spontaneous succession, both commercial seed and hayseed resulted in a strong reduction of A. artemisiifolia abundance and growth rate, in terms of both vegetative and reproductive traits. After the second growing season, A. artemisiifolia was completely suppressed in the commercial seed treatment, and after the third growing season it was also suppressed in the spontaneous succession and hayseed treatments. This study indicated that both active and passive vegetation recovery (by niche filling and competitive exclusion) could be used as methods individually or in combination with other methods, such as mowing and biological control, to suppress A. artemisiifolia from anthropogenic habitats. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:15 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:15 PM Tags: o Biodiversity gain o Hayseed o Restoration o Seeding o Weed o Weed management * History of University of California Rangeland Extension, Research, and Teaching Type Journal Article Author Melvin R. George Author W. James Clawson URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190052814500715__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dveyh32Pc$ Volume 36 Issue 5 Pages 18-24 Publication Rangelands ISSN 0190-0528 Date October 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Rangelands DOI 10.2111/Rangelands-D-14-00018.1 Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:46 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:54:01 PM Tags: o Agricultural Experiment Station o Cooperative Extension o history o land grant o University of California * This side of subdivision: Individualization and collectivization dynamics in a pastoralist group ranch held under collective title Type Journal Article Author Laura German Author Elizabeth King Author Ryan Unks Author Naiputari Paul Wachira URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196317300769__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvVLJniSI$ Volume 144 Pages 139-155 Publication Journal of Arid Environments ISSN 0140-1963 Date September 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Journal of Arid Environments DOI 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2017.04.009 Abstract Many scholars of rangeland institutions have found fertile theoretical and empirical ground in early efforts by the Kenyan government and international development agencies to socially engineer a shift from open range to discrete territories held under collective freehold title. A rich literature on the dynamics of subsequent subdivision of these “Group Ranches” elucidates a complex interplay of exogenous and endogenous drivers. This paper, on the contrary, explores the dynamic tensions between individualization and collectivization of land and related benefit flows in a group ranch that has thus far not undergone formal subdivision. Research was conducted in Koija Group Ranch, one of 13 group ranches located in Mukogodo Division, on the Laikipia plateau. Drawing on key informant interviews and focus group discussions with those differentially positioned relative to the benefits of de facto processes of rangeland exclosure, and household surveys to document trends in participation and perception, we explore how these processes are perceived and governed. Cross-case comparison highlights the suite of factors shaping which forms of enclosure are contested; the diversity of legitimizing tactics that ensue from such contestation; and the balancing act these tactics represent between retention of privilege and restoration of peaceful relations among group ranch members. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:44 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:04:44 PM Tags: o Group ranches o Kenya o Maasai speakers o Pastoralism o Privatization o Rangelands * Terrestrial carbon stocks following 15 years of integrated watershed management intervention in semi-arid Ethiopia Type Journal Article Author Tigist Araya Gessesse Author Asia Khamzina Author Girmay Gebresamuel Author Wulf Amelung URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S034181622030093X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvGQDi6tY$ Volume 190 Pages 104543 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date July 1, 2020 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2020.104543 Abstract Our study investigated the total terrestrial stock of organic carbon and its controlling factors in prevalent land‐use systems in semi-arid Ethiopia (610 mm of annual rainfall), as part of the impact assessment of the national Integrated Watershed Management (IWM) program. Above- and below-ground biomass and soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks of major land-use systems (i.e., exclosure, cropland, rangeland, and bare land) were quantified after field sampling along a topographic gradient. We found that aboveground carbon stocks peaked in the 15-year-old exclosures (9.08 ± 1.44 Mg ha−1) owing to intact woody and grass vegetation as well as substantial litter cover (>20% of the total biomass). Croplands cultivated with wheat and rangelands vegetated with perennial grasses showed average aboveground carbon stocks of 3.16 ± 0.24 and 1.45 ± 0.19 Mg ha−1, respectively. The belowground biomass carbon stock was particularly low in croplands (0.76 ± 0.09 Mg ha−1), exceeded by that in both exclosures and rangelands, where values averaged 3.67 ± 0.06 and 3.04 ± 0.42 Mg ha−1, respectively. The topsoil (0–30 cm) SOC stocks also varied with land-use systems but showed a different order, peaking in rangelands (53.9 ± 10.1 Mg ha−1) and exclosures (41.4 ± 8.1 Mg ha−1), followed by bare lands (29.0 ± 11.5 Mg ha−1) and croplands (26.4 ± 4.6 Mg ha−1). The sub-soils (30–100 cm) added 40% to this SOC storage. The greatest total SOC stock identified in exclosures that had been established primarily on degraded hillslopes may signify a successful restoration effort under the IWM program. However, croplands exhibited the lowest SOC stock, which implies the need for urgent interventions to improve the soil fertility. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:41 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:04:41 PM Tags: o Biomass carbon o Carbon sequestration o Land-use system o Soil organic carbon stock o Tigray * Soil organic matter and microbial community responses to semiarid croplands and grasslands management Type Journal Article Author Rajan Ghimire Author Vesh R. Thapa Author Amanda Cano Author Veronica Acosta-Martinez URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929139318308928__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv1RuNn_4$ Volume 141 Pages 30-37 Publication Applied Soil Ecology ISSN 0929-1393 Date September 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Applied Soil Ecology DOI 10.1016/j.apsoil.2019.05.002 Abstract Livestock integration in cropping systems and conversion of croplands into grazing lands has been increasingly considered to improve agricultural sustainability, yet their roles in soil health and resilience are not clear due to the complex interactions of soil, climate, and agricultural systems. A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of cropland and grassland management systems on soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (N) across the soil profile (0–20, 20–40, 40–60, and 60–80 cm) and microbial community size, structure, and activity in the soil surface (0–20 cm) as indicators of soil health. Cropland systems compared included conventional-tilled winter-grazed cropland (CTGC) and no-tilled and strip-tilled croplands (NTC and STC) without livestock grazing. Grassland systems included grazed grassland (GGL) and ungrazed grassland (UGL). Grassland soils accumulated 18% greater SOC and 13% greater total N than cropland soils in the 0–80 cm profile. Microbial community size (sum of ester-linked fatty acid methyl esters [El-FAME]) in the surface 0–20 cm was 90% greater, and enzyme activities were 131–155% greater in the grasslands than in the croplands. Within grasslands, cattle (Bos taurus) grazing increased microbial community size by approximately 42%, which was mainly due to greater fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) markers for gram-positive bacteria (51%) and Actinobacteria (73%). Grazed cropland had 95% more β‑glucosaminidase activity than ungrazed croplands. This study suggests light grazing and grassland restoration has potential to improve soil health and resilience through an increase in SOC and microbial community responses related to nutrient cycling. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:40 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:40 PM Tags: o Dryland o Livestock-integrated agriculture o Microbial activity o Nutrient cycling o Soil health * N balance and cycling of Inner Mongolia typical steppe: a comprehensive case study of grazing effects Type Journal Article Author M. Giese Author H. Brueck Author Y. Z. Gao Author S. Lin Author M. Steffens Author I. Kögel-Knabner Author T. Glindemann Author A. Susenbeth Author F. Taube Author K. Butterbach-Bahl Author X. H. Zheng Author C. Hoffmann Author Y. F. Bai Author X. G. Han URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1890/12-0114.1__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvAcVbZKk$ Volume 83 Issue 2 Pages 195-219 Publication Ecological Monographs ISSN 0012-9615 Date May 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Ecological Monographs DOI 10.1890/12-0114.1 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Increasing grazing pressure and climate change affect nitrogen (N) dynamics of grassland ecosystems in the Eurasian steppe belt with unclear consequences for future delivery of essential services such as forage production, C sequestration, and diversity conservation. The identification of key processes responsive to grazing is crucial to optimize grassland management. In this comprehensive case study of a Chinese typical steppe, we present an in-depth analysis of grazing effects on N dynamics, including the balance of N gains and losses, and N cycling. N pools and fluxes were simultaneously quantified on three grassland sites of different long-term grazing intensities. Dust deposition, wind erosion, and wet deposition were the predominant but most variable processes contributing to N losses and gains. Heavy grazing increased the risk of N losses by wind erosion. Hay-making and sheep excrement export to folds during nighttime keeping were important pathways of N losses from grassland sites. Compared to these fluxes, gaseous N losses (N2O, NO, N2, and NH3) and N losses via export of sheep live mass and wool were of minor relevance. Our N balance calculation indicated mean annual net N losses of 0.9 ± 0.8 g N/m2 (mean ± SD) at the heavily grazed site, whereas the long-term ungrazed site was an N sink receiving mean annual inputs of 1.8 ± 1.1 g N/m2, mainly due to dust deposition. Heavy grazing reduced pool sizes of topsoil organic N, above- and belowground biomass, and N fluxes with regard to plant N uptake, decomposition, gross microbial N turnover, and immobilization. Most N-related processes were more intensive in seasons of higher water availability, indicating complex interactions between land use intensity and climate variability. The projected increase of atmospheric N depositions and changes in rainfall pattern imposed by land use change will likely affect N sink?source pathways and N flux dynamics, indicating high potential impact on grassland ecosystem functions. Land use practices will be increasingly important for the management of N dynamics in Chinese typical steppe and, therefore, must be considered as key component to maintain, restore or optimize ecosystem services. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:52:04 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:52:04 PM Tags: o grassland o semiarid o China o sheep o climate variability o land use o N dynamics o N pathways Notes: o doi: 10.1890/12-0114.1 * Human-induced edges alter grassland community composition Type Journal Article Author Tanis M. Gieselman Author Karen E. Hodges Author Mark Vellend URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320712003746__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvwg5tu5o$ Volume 158 Pages 384-392 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date February 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2012.08.019 Abstract Habitat fragmentation alters the edges of remnant habitat patches. We examined changes in the plant community and soil in relation to distance from edge and edge type for shrub-steppe and pine savannah grasslands in southern British Columbia, Canada. Community composition showed significant nonlinear relationships with distance-to-edge more frequently at paved roads and fruit crops than at dirt roads or control sites (i.e., in the interior of grassland patches), with changes typically extending 25–30m. More exotic species and fewer native species were found near edges, and edges showed decreased cryptogam cover and increased bare ground, especially near paved roads. The soil factors that best predicted compositional changes were soil pH and Cu/Mn at paved roads, soil pH and nitrogen at fruit crops, and soil resistance at dirt roads. Variation partitioning suggested that both direct (e.g., propagule pressure) and indirect (environmental change) factors mediated edge-related community changes, and provided evidence that nonlinear responses at developed edges were not due to natural gradients. Given the range of grassland patch sizes in this region (many patches 1–100ha), the edge effects we observed represent a considerable loss of “core” habitat, which must be accounted for in conservation planning and site restoration. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:26 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:26 PM Tags: o Cryptogamic crust o Edge effect o Exotic weed o Fragmentation o Grassland o Road * Mountain lions on the prairie: habitat selection by recolonizing mountain lions at the edge of their range Type Journal Article Author Laura C. Gigliotti Author Marc R. Matchett Author David S. Jachowski URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12952__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvhhfe620$ Rights © 2019 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 27 Issue 5 Pages 1032-1040 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2019 DOI 10.1111/rec.12952 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:47:34 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Mountain lions (Puma concolor) have historically experienced large-scale range contractions, but are beginning to recolonize portions of their former range. To reach potential suitable habitats in eastern North America, mountain lions need to move across the grassland and agriculture-dominated habitats of the Great Plains, which are different from the forested areas associated with mountain lions in western North America. To inform restoration planning in this area, it is important to understand differences in mountain lion habitat selection in this “nontraditional” grassland habitat. We tracked GPS-collared mountain lions in the Northern Great Plains of Montana and identified movement states (localized or exploratory) using behavioral change point analysis and net-squared displacement. We compared habitat selection between the different states using step-selection functions that included several environmental covariates. Similar to elsewhere throughout their range, across both movement states, mountain lions tended to select forested environments that were farther from human development. In contrast to more traditionally occupied mountainous regions, mountain lions in the Great Plains selected areas of lower elevations. They selected areas both near and far from water, but avoided riparian areas and selected more rugged environments when in exploratory movement states. This suggests that mountain lions in the Northern Great Plains are utilizing river corridors, particularly those with rough or broken topography during exploratory phases. To enhance future recolonization and connectivity of mountain lions to the east of our study area, we encourage managers to maintain and restore forest fragments along river corridors in the Great Plains. Short Title Mountain lions on the prairie Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:47:34 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:47:34 PM Tags: o dispersal o habitat use o movement state o Northern Great Plains o Puma concolor Attachments o Snapshot * Reconciling waste rock rehabilitation goals and practice for a phosphate mine in a semi-arid environment Type Journal Article Author Melina Gillespie Author Vanessa Glenn Author David Doley URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857415302020__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvpGfKS6s$ Volume 85 Pages 1-12 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date December 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2015.09.063 Abstract True restoration of highly disrupted native ecosystems is universally difficult, and has not been achieved on waste rock dumps at a rock phosphate mine in the resource-limited rangeland environment of semi-arid Queensland, Australia. Thirteen years after rehabilitation, there is general correspondence, but some temporal variation, in tree and shrub species richness between rehabilitated and analogue native vegetation sites. Large differences in the composition and extent of ground cover vegetation were associated with dominance of most sites by an introduced perennial pasture grass species and by periodic drought. Complete reinstatement of native ecosystems is shown to be inconsistent with the physical constraints of waste rock dumps, the erratic climate, the previous history of extensive grazing and a lack of effective rehabilitation planning. Revised goals of strict landscape stability and broad biodiversity attributes, based on those of relevant native ecosystem analogues, are proposed to enable the identification of appropriate native and novel ecosystem targets for the modified landscapes. Novel ecosystems combining tree and shrub components of the native vegetation, and ground cover (including introduced grasses) could provide the most effective targets for mined land rehabilitation in a semi-arid environment. Principles are suggested for the selection of vegetation targets for the rehabilitation of mine waste rock dumps, considering the new lithologies and landforms and the occurrence of a dominant introduced grass species. These principles should be applicable widely, but especially in resource-limited environments. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:48 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:48 PM Tags: o Analogue ecosystems o Closure criteria o Landform design o Mine planning o Novel ecosystems o Rehabilitation success * Effects of prescribed burning for pasture reclamation on soil chemical properties in subalpine shrublands of the Central Pyrenees (NE-Spain) Type Journal Article Author Antonio Girona-García Author Raquel Zufiaurre Galarza Author Juan Luis Mora Author Cecilia María Armas-Herrera Author Clara Martí Author Oriol Ortiz-Perpiñá Author David Badía-Villas URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969718324392__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvimZ4gXo$ Volume 644 Pages 583-593 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date December 10, 2018 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.06.363 Abstract The abandonment of the traditional pastoral activities in the subalpine grasslands of the Central Pyrenees (NE-Spain) has resulted in shrub encroachment processes that are dominated by species such as the Echinospartum horridum. Therefore, prescribed burning has been recently readopted in this region as a management tool to stop the spread of shrubs and recover grasslands. We aimed to assess the effect that this practice may have on soil chemical properties such as SOC, N, pH, EC, water-extractable and exchangeable cations (Ca2+, Mg2+ and K+), cation exchange capacity, inorganic N forms (N-NH4+ and N-NO3−) and available P. We studied two prescribed burnings conducted at the subalpine level of the Central Pyrenees in the municipalities of Tella-Sin (April 2015) and Buisán (November 2015). At each site, the topsoil was sampled in triplicate at soil depths of 0–1, 1–2 and 2–3 cm immediately before (U), immediately after (B0) and one year after (B12) burning, and litter and/or ashes were removed prior to sampling. The results indicate that in the B0 samples, burning significantly reduced the SOC and N contents as well as the exchangeable Ca2+ and Mg2+ at 0–1 cm, whereas the rest of the studied properties remained virtually unchanged. However, in the B12 samples we detected a decrease of nutrient content that was probably related to leaching and/or erosion processes. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:33 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:54:04 PM Tags: o Cation exchange capacity o Pasturelands o Prescribed fire o Shrub encroachment o Soil nutrients * Quantifying the spatial variability of soil physical and chemical properties in relation to mitigation of diffuse water pollution Type Journal Article Author Miriam Glendell Author Steve J. Granger Author Roland Bol Author Richard E. Brazier URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706113003613__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvi3vsLXk$ Volume 214-215 Pages 25-41 Publication Geoderma ISSN 0016-7061 Date February 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Geoderma DOI 10.1016/j.geoderma.2013.10.008 Abstract Understanding spatial variability of soil properties in response to land-use impacts is essential for evaluating the effectiveness of measures taken to address diffuse water pollution from agriculture. However, despite the growing emphasis on integrated catchment-scale implementation of land-use mitigation measures, the baseline landscape-scale evaluation of the spatial variability of key soil nutrients remains scarce. This study employs a high resolution geostatistical approach to characterise the spatial variability of parameters, including soil bulk density (BD), total soil carbon (TC), nitrogen (TN), phosphorus (TP), inorganic phosphorus (IP), organic phosphorus (OP), stable nitrogen isotope ratio (δ15N), C:N ratio, carbon storage and nitrogen storage in two study catchments with contrasting land uses (agricultural and semi-natural) that are subject to targeted management interventions to reduce flood risk and improve water quality. We found a stronger degree of spatial dependence of all soil properties in the agricultural than the semi-natural catchment, except for bulk density and δ15N. Furthermore, bulk density, TP, IP, OP, C:N ratio, δ15N and carbon storage showed a longer range or spatial auto-correlation in the agricultural catchment. The central tendency (median and mean) of all soil properties was also significantly different between the two catchments, with the exception of IP and δ15N. The spatial correlations between the soil properties pointed to the mechanisms that were responsible for the observed differences, whilst the krigged surfaces of soil variables identified most likely critical source areas for targeted land management interventions to improve water quality. Arable and intensive grasslands were identified as ‘high-impact’ land uses, associated with negative alteration of soil properties and increased diffuse water pollution, whilst moorland was a ‘low impact’ land use associated with improved water quality. A comparison with the national soil survey dataset shows that whilst it can be relied upon for the broad characterisation of carbon and TP stocks in the two study catchments, it underestimates the spatial variability of key soil properties in certain soil types and land uses. As the restoration of soil spatial heterogeneity may take several decades, a high resolution geostatistical approach should be included in the future design of catchment-scale monitoring schemes to inform catchment management strategies and elucidate the time frame over which landscape scale improvements in soil properties and corresponding ecosystem services can be achieved. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:32:13 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:32:13 PM Tags: o Bulk density o C:N ratio o Carbon storage o Land-use change o Soil macronutrients o Spatial variability * Three centuries of land cover changes in the largest French Atlantic wetland provide new insights for wetland conservation Type Journal Article Author Laurent Godet Author Alain Thomas URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0143622813001331__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv6K71ijs$ Volume 42 Pages 133-139 Publication Applied Geography ISSN 0143-6228 Date August 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Applied Geography DOI 10.1016/j.apgeog.2013.05.011 Abstract Grassland to cropland conversion has been a major land cover change in wetlands during recent decades. Many conservation strategies have therefore focused on the protection or restoration of grasslands considered the remnant fragments of nature in wetlands before agricultural development. Through the example of the largest French Atlantic wetland (the Marais Poitevin) and using high-resolution historical records documenting landscape changes since the beginning of the 18th century, we propose the first long-term analysis of a wetland conversion at a large spatial scale. We demonstrate that, although the last land cover changes corresponded to significant grassland to cropland conversions, the mid-20th century was characterized by an exceptional grassland cover (90% of the area). We also show that current surface areas covered by grasslands are similar to those of the 18th and 19th centuries, and that grassland to cropland conversion followed a massive decline in the most natural habitats of the wetland such as marshes, salt-marshes and other marine habitats. From a long-term perspective, grassland to cropland conversion is rather a recent change and grasslands can be viewed as the result of agricultural development in this wetland rather than pristine habitats. In contrast, marshes, salt-marshes and other marine habitats can be considered the remnant fragments of nature of conservation interest, although they are neglected in current conservation plans. We discuss the problem of the time-span and the reference state to be considered when analyzing land cover changes and assessing wetland conservation issues at large spatial scales. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:33 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:33 PM Tags: o Conservation o Grassland o Land cover o Map o Marais Poitevin o Wetland * NO-TILL DRILL PLANTING OF Texas bluegrass ON THE SOUTHERN PLAINS Type Journal Article Author Jason J Goldman URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.jstor.org/stable/43309871__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvJV3SoTE$ Volume 13 Issue 1 Pages 51-54 Publication Native Plants Journal ISSN 15228339, 15484785 Date 2012 Abstract Combining the use of a flail-vac harvester, a hammer mill, and the Woodward WW2000 cleaner, Texas bluegrass (Poa arachnifera Torr. [Poaceae]) seeds were successfully harvested, cleaned, and planted with a no-till drill at Woodward, Oklahoma. Texas bluegrass is one of only a few native, cool-season perennial grasses that withstand the region's heat, droughts, and grazing. It produces nutritious and palatable forage during the late fall, winter, and early spring when most warm-season rangeland forages are low in nutrients and least preferred by livestock. The use of Texas bluegrass has been severely limited because the extremely cottony seed head makes it difficult to harvest and clean the seeds so they will flow through a drill. Seeds were no-till drilled into clear ground or into herbicide-killed wheat stubble and Texas bluegrass stands were established on 22 March 2007 and 15 September 2008 when soil moisture was available on the drilling date and for 6 to 8 wk after planting. The cleaning and planting method presented here could enable more widespread use of Texas bluegrass for pasture establishment, inclusion in native mixed seedlots for rangeland restoration, or inclusion in warm-season native pastures lacking a cool-season component. Archive JSTOR Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:49:59 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:49:59 PM * Can ants be used as ecological indicators of restoration progress in dynamic environments? A case study in a revegetated riparian zone Type Journal Article Author John R. Gollan Author Lisa Lobry de Bruyn Author Nick Reid Author Derek Smith Author Lance Wilkie URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X09001551__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvSLqFfhk$ Volume 11 Issue 6 Pages 1517-1525 Publication Ecological Indicators ISSN 1470-160X Date November 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2009.09.007 Abstract Ant assemblages are focal ecological indicators of progress in mine-site restoration, often showing increasing species richness with restoration age. Certain functional groups also behave in predictable ways in response to disturbance and changes in the environment. Whether these ant responses can be applied to other types of restoration and ecosystems is unknown, especially in dynamic environments and where gradients may not be as severe as in mine-site restoration. Ant assemblages would be expected to perform poorly as ecological indicators in dynamic environments because such environs are subject to periodic disturbance of important habitat features. Indeed, periodic disturbance may limit the predictive power of any ecological indicator. In this study, we trapped ants on two separate occasions to compare ant assemblages among four riparian habitat types (Unplanted grassland, Young revegetation, Older revegetation and Mature woodland). These habitat types were assumed to represent progressive stages of restoration. In contrast to the findings of others, species richness was variable among replicate locations of the same habitat type, and did not differ among the four habitat types. Also in contrast to what others have found for functional groups, dolichoderines were equally abundant in all habitat types and did not decrease in abundance with vegetation maturity. While generalized myrmicines and opportunists became more common with maturation of the vegetation, they did not replace dolichoderines as the most common ants. Surprisingly, the relative abundance of Subordinate Camponotini, a functional group considered to be of limited use in discriminating structural types, increased across the restoration gradient. There were also fairly distinct species assemblages associated with unplanted grassland and mature woodland. Communities in revegetated habitats were intermediate of these extremes, suggesting there is a level of predictiveness to their response to revegetation in this system. While species richness and a functional group approach would be of little use in this environment, species composition would provide a useful gauge of restoration progress. Ant species richness and functional group metrics have repeatedly been advocated as ecological indicators. Given our results, we caution against the blind application of metrics that have not been validated in the context in which they are to be applied. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:41 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:41 PM Tags: o Bioindicators o Chronosequence o Formicidae o Hunter Valley o Secondary succession * Sub-tropic degraded red soil restoration: Is soil organic carbon build-up limited by nutrients supply Type Journal Article Author Xia Gong Author Yuanqiu Liu Author Qinglin Li Author Xiaohua Wei Author Xiaomin Guo Author Dekui Niu Author Wenyuan Zhang Author Junxia Zhang Author Lu Zhang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112712007256__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvvZpgEWg$ Volume 300 Pages 77-87 Publication Shaping Forest Management to Climate Change ISSN 0378-1127 Date July 15, 2013 Journal Abbr Forest Ecology and Management DOI 10.1016/j.foreco.2012.12.002 Abstract The long-term Forest Restoration Experimental Project (FREP) was established in 1991 on a subtropical, barren, degraded, red soil sparsely vegetated grassland in Taihe County, Jianxi province, China. The objective of the FREP was to evaluate the effects of restoration on ecological functions through afforestation by using various local species. This information will provide guidance for future restorations at severely deteriorated landscapes, which are very common in southern China. In this study, we selected five restoration forests: Chinese sweetgum (Liquidamber formosana), schima (Schima superb), masson’s pine (Pinus massoniana), slash pine (Pinus elliottii), Chinese sweetgum×slash pine mixtures, and one experimental control (grassland with low coverage of annual and perennial plants). These were selected to evaluate the differences in soil organic carbon (TC), soil nitrogen including total soil nitrogen (TN) and available nitrogen (Av-N), soil phosphorus including total phosphorus (TP) and available phosphorus (Av-P), and their molar ratios (C:N, C:P, and N:P). A similar assessment was also conducted on the species functional groups (coniferous forest, broad-leaved forest, and mixed-species forest) based on groupings of studied species. Furthermore, we evaluated the relationships between TC and soil N and P, and their stoichiometry to explore the biochemical mechanisms of soil organic matter buildup. Finally, we explored the recovery trajectory of TC and TN in the FREP’s evergreen broad-leaved forest by comparing it with local evergreen climax ecosystems. Over the 19-year study period, restoration significantly improved the TC and soil N and P compared to the control sites, but there were no significant differences in the TC and soil N and P among the restoration functional groups and among forest stand types. The TN and C:P ratios were closely related to soil organic carbon contents suggesting that they were good predicator of soil organic carbon. The overall data clearly demonstrated that the restoration through local species and nutrient cycling concentrating C, N, and P in topsoil. The recover trajectory suggests that the evergreen forest (schima) in FREP is still in the early developmental stages, and its projected rate of TC and TN growth is much slower than the average growth rate in the region. This case study clearly demonstrated that although the recovery is at its early stage with a very slow process, the active restoration can enhance soil carbon sequestration, nutrients availability, and the capability of soil organic carbon sequestration is regulated by the soil nutrients supply. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:34 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:34 PM Tags: o Ecosystem restoration o FREP o Nutrients o Red soil degradation o Soil organic carbon * Cost-effective compensation payments: A model based on Buying Green Cover to sustain ecological restoration Type Journal Article Author Cheng Gong Author Chenguang Xu Author Li Chen Author Shixiong Cao URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1389934111001511__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv0RfXpuU$ Volume 14 Issue 1 Pages 143-147 Publication Forest Policy and Economics ISSN 1389-9341 Date January 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Forest Policy and Economics DOI 10.1016/j.forpol.2011.08.007 Abstract Compensation payment schemes play an important role in conservation efforts around the world, particularly for implementing agri-environmental policy. Unfortunately, huge investments such as those conducted in China under the Grain for Green Program (GGP) and elsewhere around the world have historically provided few long-term benefits. To design a cost-effective compensation policy for ecological restoration, the approach must integrate economic and ecological components. Here, we describe such a policy model (“Buying Green Cover”) and compare it with an existing approach, the GGP, using data from China's Northern Shaanxi Province. The modified compensation program pays farmers to build terraced farmland or perform other “green” activities that will also sustain their livelihoods once the program ends. The resulting program costs 30% less than the GGP, and will take only 3 to 7years to achieve the GGP's 16-year goal of converting sloping farmland into forests and grassland. In contrast with the failures of the GGP and related programs, the new approach improves the management and restoration of rapidly degrading landscapes and should be applicable both in China and around the world. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:13 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:13 PM Tags: o Buying Green Cover o Cost-effectiveness o Grain for Green Program o Green activities o Payment for ecological services * Effects of bio-physical, economic and ecological policy on forest transition for sustainability of resource and socioeconomics development Type Journal Article Author Zhiwen Gong Author Li Gu Author Shunbo Yao Author Yuanjie Deng URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652619334419__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvLJZUwb0$ Volume 243 Pages 118571 Publication Journal of Cleaner Production ISSN 0959-6526 Date January 10, 2020 Journal Abbr Journal of Cleaner Production DOI 10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.118571 Abstract Forest transition is a product of the interaction among bio-physical characteristics, economic development, and ecological policies. Research on the process and the factors for forest transitions is important for resource protection and socioeconomic sustainability. In this paper, based on Landsat TM data and socio-economic panel data, we examined the dynamics and the spatial determinants of forest transition at the county level on the Loess Plateau (China) using spatial econometric regression models for a 15-year period (2000–2015). We reached the following conclusions: (1) Arable land, Grassland, and Forest land were the dominant land use types. The forested area increased 3262.41 ha from 2000 to 2015, and the increased land was primarily due to the conversion from arable land. (2) The global Moran’s I value was greater than 0.3 for the entire 15 years, and the proportion of positive and negative values were larger than 0 for the local Moran’s I values, which indicated that the spatial correlation were positive, and thus the spatial autocorrelation should be considered in quantitative analysis of the factors that influence forest transition. (3) The most suitable model for estimating the forested area for empirical analysis and interpretation was the spatial lag model with fixed effects. The forested area was primarily significantly positively correlated with the average annual rainfall and the per capita gross domestic product (significance level 1%). Ecological restoration project also positively affected the forested area, but was not significant. Based on the conclusion, we recommend creating policies for ecological environmental sustainability that were harmonious with economic development in Western China. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:23 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:23 PM Tags: o Forest transition o Land use change o Spatial autocorrelation o Spatial econometric o Sustainability * China’s Rangeland Management Policy Debates: What Have We learned? Type Journal Article Author Gongbuzeren Author Yanbo Li Author Wenjun Li URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742415000834__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvs2jNMu8$ Volume 68 Issue 4 Pages 305-314 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date July 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2015.05.007 Abstract In China, three major rangeland management policies have caused dramatic social, economic, and ecological changes for pastoral regions in the past 30yr: the Rangeland Household Contract Policy (RHCP), Rangeland Ecological Construction Projects (RECPs), and the Nomad Settlement Policy (NSP). The impacts of these policies are greatly debated. In this paper, we conduct a systematic review of academic perspectives on the impacts of the three policies and the causes of ineffective and negative effects. The findings demonstrate that academics increasingly report negative impacts of RHCP on the ecosystem, animal husbandry, pastoralist livelihoods, and pastoral society. An increasing number of scholars, although not the majority, attribute the negative impacts to improper policy itself rather than incomplete implementation. Regarding the RECPs, most academics believe that policies have improved the rangeland ecosystem but with obvious negative impacts on pastoralist livelihoods and pastoral society; they attribute the problems to incomplete policy implementation. For the NSP, most academics report positive impacts on pastoralist livelihoods and animal husbandry, although recent researchers have identified negative impacts on pastoral society and the ecosystem. Although they are not in the mainstream, more and more academics attribute the negative impacts to improper policy. Finally, we apply the concept of coupled social–ecological systems (SES) to further analyze the outcomes of these three policies and propose a more flexible and inclusive land tenure policy that recognizes the diverse local institutional arrangements; an integrated RECP framework that considers coadaptation between social and ecological systems; and facilitating voluntary choice in nomad settlement and developing innovative approaches to provide social services for pastoralists who would like to remain in pastoral areas. As these three policy approaches are applied in rangeland management and pastoral development worldwide, this paper may provide useful implications for future policy development in pastoral regions on a global scale. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:18 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:54:07 PM Tags: o coupled social–ecological system o nomad settlement o rangeland ecological restoration o rangeland management o rangeland tenure * Dwarf shrub facilitates seedling recruitment and plant diversity in semiarid grasslands Type Journal Article Author Sofía L. Gonzalez Author Luciana Ghermandi URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0212058__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv2djG5Lc$ Volume 14 Issue 2 Pages e0212058 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Feb 7, 2019 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0212058 Accessed 2020-03-12, 3:17:57 PM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract The facilitation mechanism maintains ecosystem richness by increasing seedling recruitment. Overgrazed grasslands of northwestern Patagonia are invaded by shrubs that could promote the seedling recruitment of forage species. We investigated the role of Acaena splendens shrubs on the maintenance of diversity and its usefulness as a nurse shrub in the recruitment of Festuca pallescens, a grass of high forage value present with a low cover in degraded grasslands. To test the performance of A.splendens as a nurse plant in non-degraded grassland, we recorded the species richness four years inside of A. splendens senescent shrubs and in gaps among dominant tussock grasses. Species were grouped in four functional groups: annual and biannual herbs and grasses, perennial herbs, perennial grasses and shrubs. To test the usefulness of A. splendens in the restoration of degraded grassland, we monitored the seedling emergence and survival of F. pallescens inside A. splendens and in gaps. We related seedling survival to meteorological and microenvironmental conditions. Species richness was higher in Acaena nurse plants than in gaps. The frequency of functional groups, with exception of annual and biannual herbs and grasses, were higher in Acaena than in gaps. Seedling emergence and survival of F. pallescens were higher in Acaena, but the seedlings died in summer in both microsites. Mean maximum temperature was higher and mean minimum humidity lower in gaps than in Acaena during spring. However, the spring-summer season in which we monitored F. pallescens survival, was exceptionally dry and hot, affecting the survival of F. pallescens seedlings. Our results show that A. splendens act as a nurse species increasing the richness in the non-degraded grassland and facilitating the seedling recruitment of an important forage species in the degraded grassland. Nevertheless, the facilitation mechanism will fail in drought conditions, indicating that this restoration tool is limited by climate. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:17:57 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:17:57 PM Tags: o Grasses o Grasslands o Herbs o Humidity o Seedlings o Shrubs o Species diversity o Spring Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Acceptance, Acceptability, and Trust for Sagebrush Restoration Options in the Great Basin: A Longitudinal Perspective Type Journal Article Author Ryan Gordon Author Mark W. Brunson Author Bruce Shindler URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742414500826__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv4fRRXCI$ Volume 67 Issue 5 Pages 573-583 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date September 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/REM-D-13-00016.1 Abstract In surveys of residents in three urban and three rural locations in the Great Basin we examined the social acceptability of six management practices showing promise for restoring sagebrush-dominated rangelands. Unlike most studies of range management perceptions that have relied on single measurements, we used longitudinal data from a questionnaire mailed in 2006 to residents that were resurveyed in 2010. Overall, 698 respondents comprised the panel. Respondents' self-reported levels of knowledge about the health and management of Great Basin rangelands decreased from 2006 to 2010. In both years, mean acceptance was greater for the use of prescribed fire, grazing, felling, and mowing, but relatively low for chaining and herbicide use. Overall, acceptability ratings were similar in 2006 and 2010 but individually about half of the acceptance responses differed between years. Practices were more acceptable to respondents who expressed greater concern about threats posed by inaction, except that the threat of wildfire was negatively associated with acceptance for prescribed burning. Acceptance was not significantly related to concern about overall health of Great Basin rangelands, or to self-reported knowledge level. Rural/urban residence and general attitudes toward environmental protection were sometimes influential, but more so in 2006 than in 2010. By far the best predictor of acceptance was trust in agencies' ability to implement the practice. In both years respondents were more likely to judge a practice acceptable than to trust agencies to use the practice. Positive or negative change in trust level was the most significant predictor of change in acceptability judgment from 2006 to 2010. Results suggest that efforts to increase acceptance of practices among Great Basin stakeholders should focus on activities designed to build trust rather than simply providing more or better information. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:29 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:04:29 PM Tags: o fuels reduction o mail survey o public perceptions o wildfire risk * Review of seed pelletizing strategies for arid land restoration Type Journal Article Author Elise Gornish Author Hannah Arnold Author Jeffrey Fehmi URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.13045__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvetFAzg4$ Rights © 2019 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 27 Issue 6 Pages 1206-1211 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2019 DOI 10.1111/rec.13045 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:32:02 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Arid lands face numerous restoration challenges due to infrequent and irregular precipitation which impacts plant germination, growth, and survival. Abundant seed predators, harsh surface conditions, and native seeds often poorly suited to mechanical distribution compound restoration challenges. Seed pellets (a.k.a. pods, seed balls, and seed bombs), an aggregation of clay, soil, water, and multiple seeds, have the potential to reduce some of the challenges. However, no formal guidelines based on an aggregated research review exist. Available publications, both peer-reviewed and any public domain, were reviewed. Of the 24 publications found (some describing multiple tests), seed pellets tested on rangelands had 9 negative effects, 10 neutral effects, and 8 positive effects. Greenhouse testing showed five negative effects, two neutral effects, and four positive effects. Forest systems had three neutral effects and two positive effects. Advantages in mechanical distribution were not well quantified and other effects were lumped together in germination and seedling establishment totals. The use of pelleted seed would benefit from a more mechanistic understanding of the interaction between the pellets and the systemic constraints. As long as the pellets themselves do not greatly reduce germination or establishment, they appear a potentially viable method for improving seed distribution and seeding efficiency, protecting seeds, and adding amendments. While the evidence is far from conclusive, seed pellets may also hold some advantages in increasing germination and establishment. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:32:02 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:32:02 PM Tags: o drylands o management o revegetation o seed ball o seed pellet o seeding Attachments o Snapshot * The effect of artificial vegetation recovery on the soil nutrients and enzyme activities in subhumid desert land on the southeast Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China Type Journal Article Author Xiaolin Gou Author Jian Hu Author Youjun Chen Author Xiaoxing Wei Author Zhong Du Author Qingping Zhou URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857419302204__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv0rS2pS4$ Volume 139 Pages 105528 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date November 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2019.06.023 Abstract Revegetation is an effective strategy for enhancing soil quality, but the impact of revegetation on soil processes is currently not well understood, especially in subhumid desert lands across a chronosequence of recovery. Therefore, this study aims to assess the soil nutrients and enzyme activities under successive (from 2013 to 2016) revegetation by Avena sativa, Festuca sinensis and Elymus nutans in subhumid desert on the southeast Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (STN), total phosphorus (STP), ammonium nitrogen (SAN), nitrate nitrogen (SNN), available phosphorus (SAP), saccharase, alkaline phosphatase and urease activities were measured in the 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm soil layers during the growing season in 2016. The results indicated that the restoration by grasses promoted soil nutrients and enzyme activities, but there was a sharp decrease in soil nutrients and enzyme activities after one-year of recovery in the subhumid desert. Compared to the control, revegetation significantly decreased the SOC (36.5%), STN (40.8%), STP (31.5%), saccharase (44.7%), urease (38.5%) and alkaline phosphatase (18.0%) activities in the 0–10 cm soil layer (P < 0.05) after one-year restoration. Recovering by grasses was an efficient way to restore the subhumid desert. However, this process might consume large amounts of soil nutrients and limit soil enzyme activities at the beginning succession stage, which was different from dry or semiarid desert land. Choosing a suitable mixing ratio of artificial grasses and adding fertilizer to the soil at the beginning stage of revegetation are advised for restoring desert lands in alpine areas. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:43 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:43 PM Tags: o Alpine area o Artificial recovery o Degraded grassland o Enzyme activities o Soil nutrients * Soil seed bank characteristics in rangelands with increasing invasion of Heteropogon contortus or Eragrostis Lehmanniana Type Journal Article Author Joshua L. Grace Author Sandra Rideout-Hanzak Author Randy Stanko Author Veronica Acosta-Martínez Author J. Alfonso Ortega-S Author David B. Wester URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196318318317__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvXwwusY0$ Volume 170 Pages 104009 Publication Journal of Arid Environments ISSN 0140-1963 Date November 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Journal of Arid Environments DOI 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2019.104009 Abstract Identifying impacts of invasive grasses on seed banks is critical in developing restoration strategies. Tanglehead (Heteropogon contortus) and Lehmann lovegrass (Eragrostis Lehmanniana) have increased throughout the Texas Coastal Sand Plain. We examined effects of tanglehead or lovegrass abundance (as reflected in cover) on seed banks in sites dominated by (1) invasives (tanglehead or lovegrass), (2) natives-without-invasives, or (3) natives-with-invasives (either tanglehead or lovegrass) in 3 consecutive years. The seedling emergence method was used to characterize seed banks. More tanglehead seedlings emerged in tanglehead-dominated sites than native-without-tanglehead sites in 2013 and 2014; seed bank size of native grasses (other than tanglehead) was unaffected by tanglehead; and there were fewer forbs in native-tanglehead mixtures than native-without-tanglehead or tanglehead-dominated sites. More lovegrass seedlings and fewer forbs emerged in lovegrass-affected sites. Tanglehead did not affect seed bank richness or diversity; richness and diversity were higher in native-lovegrass mixtures than in native-without lovegrass communities. Tanglehead and lovegrass affected species composition in 1 of 3 years and 2 of 3 years, respectively. Taken together, our results suggest that restoration of invasive-affected sites may be feasible without seed input. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:23 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:54:10 PM Tags: o Invasive species o Lehmann lovegrass o Seed banks o Tanglehead * Resiliency of Native Prairies to Invasion by Kentucky Bluegrass, Smooth Brome, and Woody Vegetation Type Journal Article Author Todd A. Grant Author Terry L. Shaffer Author Bridgette Flanders URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S155074241930096X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvcHo4BUA$ Volume 73 Issue 2 Pages 321-328 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date March 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2019.10.013 Accessed 2020-03-17, 6:03:32 PM Library Catalog ScienceDirect Language en Abstract Since Euro-American settlement of the region, biological diversity of the northern Great Plains has been adversely affected, mainly by agricultural conversion. The role of invasive plants in degradation of remaining prairies has gained attention in recent years but remains poorly understood. Floristic composition of US Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) prairies is significantly altered, mainly by invasion of smooth brome (Bromus inermis Leyss.), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), and woody vegetation. We measured floristic composition of about 90 000 ha of Service-owned mixed-grass and tallgrass prairie in North Dakota, South Dakota, and northeastern Montana. Our primary objective was to identify factors associated with greater native grass-forb plant assemblages, while conversely identifying features more aligned with Kentucky bluegrass, smooth brome, and low shrub invasion. Service-owned prairies had a higher frequency of native grass-forb farther from habitat edges, such as cropland boundaries and roads, and on harsher ecological sites composed of poorer soils, steeper slopes, or with southern and western exposures. Kentucky bluegrass, smooth brome, and low shrubs differed in their respective responses to explanatory variables we considered and also reportedly differ in response to management actions such as fire and grazing. Therefore, prairie managers can expect significant challenges during restoration management in cases where two or more of these invaders occur. By understanding patterns of invasion related to edaphic, edge, and landscape features, prairie restorationists can focus on areas where the probability of restoration success is greater and better understand how these features might influence restoration success or failure. Date Added 2020-03-17, 6:03:32 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:54:11 PM Tags: o grassland o invasive species o Kentucky bluegrass o Northern Great Plains o prairie o smooth brome Attachments o ScienceDirect Snapshot * Providing open forest structural characteristics for high conservation priority wildlife species in southeastern U.S. pine plantations Type Journal Article Author Rachel E. Greene Author Raymond B. Iglay Author Kristine O. Evans URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112719310394__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv8Ae_WxQ$ Volume 453 Pages 117594 Publication Forest Ecology and Management ISSN 0378-1127 Date December 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Forest Ecology and Management DOI 10.1016/j.foreco.2019.117594 Abstract The decline of early successional and open forests and their wildlife inhabitants has resulted in increased efforts to understand and conserve these communities. Natural and anthropogenic disturbances that historically created and maintained open forest conditions have been disrupted, necessitating wildlife use of alternative habitat sources (e.g., pine plantations, utility rights-of way, abandoned agricultural fields) to carry out their life history. We reviewed available literature to estimate the range of structural conditions suitable for four open forest species in regional decline and compared these ranges to available structure in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) forests managed for economic return. Species included Bachman’s sparrow (Aimophila aestivalis), northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus), prairie warbler (Dendroica discolor), and eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus). We estimated habitat availability and connectivity for each of these four species during a 60-year simulation on an economically- and operationally-feasible pine landscape (>22,000 ha) managed for sawtimber production in the West Gulf Coastal Plain. Habitat requirements, including minimum patch size and dispersal constraints, of Bachman’s sparrow, northern bobwhite, prairie warbler, and eastern diamondback rattlesnake are generally met by pine stands in stand establishment and thinned, mid-rotation stages. However, habitat availability in pine plantations may be highly ephemeral, tends to occupy the upper end of basal area and canopy closure tolerance, and may be more suitable for open woodland species (e.g., Bachman’s sparrow) than grassland species (e.g., northern bobwhite). The range of habitat associations in this literature review highlights the need to refine targets of structural metrics identified by open pine restoration initiatives to encompass the full range of conditions occupied by open forest species. Current literature is strongly biased to avian habitat associations. Few papers explore habitat associations of herpetofauna of conservation concern in the southeastern U.S., and these species tend to be less mobile and therefore, more vulnerable to landscape changes and the ephemeral nature of open vegetative structure in pine plantations. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:20 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:20 PM Tags: o Bachman’s sparrow o Early successional o Eastern diamondback rattlesnake o Forest management o Habitat management o Northern bobwhite o Open forest o Prairie warbler o Southeastern U.S. o spp. * Vegetation restoration stimulates soil carbon sequestration and stabilization in a subtropical area of southern China Type Journal Article Author Xiang Gu Author Xi Fang Author Wenhua Xiang Author Yelin Zeng Author Shiji Zhang Author Pifeng Lei Author Changhui Peng Author Yakov Kuzyakov URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816219302322__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvXKUaucQ$ Volume 181 Pages 104098 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date October 1, 2019 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2019.104098 Abstract Vegetation restoration affects the stability of soil organic carbon (SOC) by changing the composition of soil carbon pools, including active carbon (Ca), the labile pool of SOC; slow carbon (Cs), the physically stabilized pool of SOC; and resistant carbon (Cr), the chemically stabilized pool of SOC. The aims of this study were to determine how SOC pools changed during restoration of a subtropical forest and to what extent vegetation characteristics and soil properties affected the changes in SOC pools. Soil samples were collected to 40 cm in four plant communities along a restoration chronosequence: scrub-grassland (4–5 years), shrubs (10–12 years), coniferous and broadleaved mixed forest (45–46 years), and evergreen broadleaved forest (90–91 years). Laboratory incubations were used to measure CO2 production during SOC mineralization, and acid hydrolysis was used to measure Cr. The CO2 production and Cr data were fitted to a three-component first-order kinetic model to determine the Ca and Cs. Pearson's correlations, stepwise multiple line regressions, and variation partitioning analysis were used to determine the key factors that affected SOC pools. The results showed that vegetation restoration increased the contents of SOC from 1.67 to 47.6 g kg−1, Ca from 0.03 to 0.35 g kg−1, Cs from 1.32 to 24.5 g kg−1, and Cr from 0.33 to 22.8 g kg−1. During vegetation restoration, the increase in SOC was primarily due to carbon (C) stored in stable pools (i.e., Cs or Cr), and the portion of Cr in total SOC increased markedly from 18.5 to 56.3%. Fine root biomass was the primary driver that controlled SOC pools during vegetation restoration. The C/N ratio of litter had a greater effect on Ca and Cs than that of other factors, whereas the soil clay content contributed secondarily to Cr. The results suggest that vegetation restoration increases not only the amounts of SOC, Ca, Cs, and Cr but also the stability of the SOC pool in subtropical soil. The relatively rapid increases in Cs and Cr following vegetation restoration played a crucial role in C sequestration. Therefore, strong measures to preserve natural forests and facilitate vegetation restoration should be the primary approach to increase long-term soil C sequestration in this region. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:42 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:42 PM Tags: o Active carbon pool o Fine root biomass o Resistant carbon pool o Slow carbon pool o Soil organic carbon composition o Vegetation-soil interaction * Soil nutrient variations among different land use types after reclamation in the Pingshuo opencast coal mine on the Loess Plateau, China Type Journal Article Author Yanjun Guan Author Wei Zhou Author Zhongke Bai Author Yingui Cao Author Yuhan Huang Author Hongyuan Huang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816219305697__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvlXIcC1Y$ Volume 188 Pages 104427 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date May 1, 2020 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2019.104427 Abstract Soil nutrients are critical indicators of land reclamation effects and play significant roles in soil restoration in degraded mining areas; however, few studies have analyzed the characteristics and variations in soil nutrients after reclamation in ecologically fragile regions on the Loess Plateau. To analyze the spatial and temporal variations in reclaimed soil nutrients, an experimental field was established in an inner reclaimed dump consisting of four land use types (cultivated land (CL), forestland (FL), grassland (GL), and barren land (BL)) in the Antaibao mine on the Loess Plateau of China. Sampling was conducted in 2013 and 2017, with 78 and 81 sampling points, respectively. The soil available phosphorus (SAP), soil available potassium (SAK), soil total nitrogen (STN) and soil organic matter (SOM) contents at depths of 0–20 cm were measured at each sampling point, and the variations in soil nutrients were analyzed using two-way multivariate analysis of variance, geostatistical analysis, and correspondence analysis. This study revealed the following: (1) All the reclaimed soil nutrients tested increased between 2013 and 2017. (2) There were significant differences in the SAP, SAK, STN and SOM contents among land use types and reclamation ages, and land use type and reclamation age had an interaction effect on the reclaimed soil nutrients. (3) The spatial distributions of the SAP, SAK, STN and SOM contents in 2017 were significantly different from those in 2013 but were almost consistent with the distributions of soil nutrient changes between 2013 and 2017. (4) The most improved SAP, SAK, STN and SOM (SAP-VI, SAK-VI, STN-VI, and SOM-VI) were predominantly distributed in the GL, and there was no obvious trend for the other land use types. These findings are significant for the restoration of reclaimed soil nutrients and provide reasonable land use type options for land reclamation in coal mining areas, especially in ecologically fragile areas on the Loess Plateau. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:52 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:54:12 PM Tags: o Land use types o Opencast coal mine o Reclaimed dumps o Reclaimed soil nutrients o Spatiotemporal variability * Humans and climate as designers of the landscape in Serra da Bocaina National Park, southeastern Brazil, over the last seven centuries Type Journal Article Author Maria Carolina Guarinello de Oliveira Portes Author Hugh Safford Author Hermann Behling URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213305418300456__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvcLQ9ExA$ Volume 24 Pages 61-71 Publication Anthropocene ISSN 2213-3054 Date December 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Anthropocene DOI 10.1016/j.ancene.2018.11.004 Abstract Campos de altitude and Araucaria forest are unique and highly diverse ecosystems and focus areas for conservation and restoration in southeastern Brazil. This paper reports a high-resolution paleoecological study of an approximately 700-year Late Holocene core, a period that includes the influence of two highly distinct civilizations and the transition between them: Amerindian/pre-Columbian and European/post-Columbian. Results highlight the interworkings of regional climate change and local human agency in “designing” the Late Holocene forest-grassland mosaic in the Serra da Bocaina. Amerindians maintained more open highland habitats probably through slash and burn agriculture. The depopulation of the study region after European arrival in the 1500s plus increasing precipitation led to a marked and rapid rebound in forest cover. After 1720 CE, establishment of permanent European communities and farming in the study area led to forest loss and a renewed expansion of grassland. Based on current knowledge about forest-grassland relationships, and in light of projections for warmer and wetter conditions in southeast Brazil, we provide suggestions for management strategies that might better maintain the mosaic of Araucaria forest and campos de altitude in the southeastern Brazilian highlands. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:45 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:45 PM Tags: o Atlantic Forest o Campos de altitude o Conservation o forest o Human impact o Palaeoecology * Land-use land-cover change and ecosystem loss in the Espinal ecoregion, Argentina Type Journal Article Author Bárbara Guida-Johnson Author Gustavo A. Zuleta URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880913003010__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv7FmSonM$ Volume 181 Pages 31-40 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date December 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2013.09.002 Abstract Land-use land-cover (LULC) changes are one of the major threats to biodiversity worldwide, since their principal consequences are the loss, fragmentation or degradation of the habitat available for most species. Therefore, in order to provide guidelines for environmental management at the regional scale and thus reverse the trend in degradation, transformations of natural remnants into anthropogenic land uses must be identified and quantified. This study examines LULC transitions from 1987 to 2001 and from 2001 to 2009 in two adjacent watersheds located in the Espinal, one of the least protected ecoregions of Argentina. We detected a 20% loss in ecosystems for the period analyzed and, in particular, 60% of native forests were lost. Changes were mainly driven by the expansion of croplands, which directly transformed wetlands and also acted as an underlying cause of the displacement of ranching activities, which in turn replaced Espinal forests. We developed a conceptual model of observed LULC changes for the study area, which we then complemented by proposing an alternative scenario that reconciles agriculture and biodiversity conservation. These results have implications for provincial land use planning and could contribute to the participatory processes demanded by the recent national legislation sanctioned for the protection of native forests. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:12 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:12 PM Tags: o Biodiversity conservation o Change detection o Cross-tabulation matrix o Deforestation o Natural remnants o Sustainable agriculture * Overcoming ecological barriers to tropical lower montane forest succession on anthropogenic grasslands: Synthesis and future prospects Type Journal Article Author A.M.T.A. Gunaratne Author C.V.S. Gunatilleke Author I.A.U.N. Gunatilleke Author H.M.S.P. Madawala Author D.F.R.P. Burslem URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112714001893__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvm2YjpiQ$ Volume 329 Pages 340-350 Publication Forest Ecology and Management ISSN 0378-1127 Date October 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Forest Ecology and Management DOI 10.1016/j.foreco.2014.03.035 Abstract Understanding the ecological mechanisms that constrain forest succession in tropical degraded anthropogenic grasslands is a prerequisite for the design of techniques for restoring biodiversity and ecosystem processes. In this context, succession on post-agricultural lands may be arrested by a variety of site-specific biotic and abiotic factors. Here we synthesise our research on the effects of five biotic factors (seed dispersal, development of a soil seed bank, seedling emergence, herbivory, competition) and five abiotic factors (fire, microclimatic conditions, soil nutrients, water availability, disturbance) as constraints to forest succession on degraded anthropogenic grasslands in a tropical lower montane forest landscape in Sri Lanka. The aim of this research was to deduce ecologically and socially acceptable restoration techniques to accelerate forest recovery. Colonisation of grasslands by trees is constrained by limited seed dispersal from adjacent remnant forest patches and their incorporation into grassland soil seed banks. For the few tree seeds that are dispersed into grasslands, a combination of vertebrate herbivory and annual dry season fires reduces the likelihood that they emerge as seedlings. Removal of the grass canopy by clipping or tilling increases the emergence of woody plant seedlings close to the boundaries of forest patches, but has no effect beyond 20m into the established grassland. Our research shows that isolation of seedling root systems from those of competing grasses increases the growth and survival of tree seedlings transplanted directly into grassland swards, while above-ground competition and exclusion of vertebrate herbivores has no effects on seedling growth and survival. These experiments identified that the early-successional species Macaranga indica Wight and Symplocos cochinchinensis (Lour.) S. Moore are potential candidates for use in reforestation programmes on abandoned grasslands. We propose a strategy for a model forest restoration programme based on the creation of vegetation islands using early-successional native tree species, the application of a tilling treatment around remnant forest patches, creation of fire breaks around vegetation islands, and the protection of isolated individual trees and tree patches within established grasslands. We highlight the importance of further research on the ecology and biology of seed dispersers and seed predators, and expansion of knowledge on the regeneration traits of native tree species, for future refinements of this restoration strategy. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:50 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:50 PM Tags: o Competition o Fire o Herbivory o Native tree species o Seed availability o Seedling emergence * Analysis of soil microbial dynamics at a cropland-grassland interface in an agro-pastoral zone in a temperate steppe in northern China Type Journal Article Author Jianxin Guo Author Jinsheng Li Author Kesi Liu Author Shiming Tang Author Xiajie Zhai Author Kun Wang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816218302510__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvjcwB9FE$ Volume 170 Pages 257-265 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date November 1, 2018 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2018.06.019 Abstract Grassland conversion is common around the world, and numerous studies have documented the effect of grassland conversion on biotic and abiotic soil conditions. Soil microbes are a key component of the underground ecosystem and are important in the circulation of materials and energy. In this study, we investigated the variations in the microbial community structures at a cropland-grassland interface. We used the transect line method and phospholipid fatty acid analysis in an agro-pastoral zone in northern China. The results show that significant differences occurred in the soil microbial community structures between grassland and cropland environments. These differences had significant seasonal variations. The variation pattern of soil microbial communities was very different from that of soil physical and chemical properties. Three main conclusions are presented: (1) Significant differences in soil properties, phospholipid fatty acid contents and microbial community structures occurred between the grassland and cropland environments after decades of reclamation. (2) At the grassland-cropland interface, we found a transition zone where the soil microbial community showed dramatic variations. (3) In the transition zone, soil microbial community structures were subjected to a stronger influence from farmland environments before sowing, but grassland played a major role after the crops were harvested. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:35 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:54:13 PM Tags: o Cropland-grassland interface o Grassland conversion o Phospholipid fatty acid analysis o Soil microbial community * Differential responses of soil quality in revegetation types to precipitation gradients on the Loess Plateau Type Journal Article Author Shujuan Guo Author Yadong Xu Author Chao He Author Shaojun Wu Author Chengjie Ren Author Xinhui Han Author Yongzhong Feng Author Guangxin Ren Author Gaihe Yang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168192319302308__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvg7yJBac$ Volume 276-277 Pages 107622 Publication Agricultural and Forest Meteorology ISSN 0168-1923 Date October 15, 2019 Journal Abbr Agricultural and Forest Meteorology DOI 10.1016/j.agrformet.2019.107622 Abstract Vegetation restoration can control soil erosion and improve soil quality; however, these positive effects on soil quality can be challenged with inceasing aridity. It is vital to understand the mechanisms affecting soil quality along aridity gradients and to determine the appropriate revegetation types for soil restoration. In this study, we selected three revegetation types (forest, shrub, and grass) along four precipitation gradients (365, 452, 507, and 600 mm mean annual precipitation [MAP]) to analyze the changes in soil properties from two soil layers (0–10 and 10–20 cm). To quantify the variations in soil quality, a soil quality index (SQI) combining the chemical, physical, and biological properties was developed. The results showed that the SQI was formed based on total nitrogen, clay, urease, and pH. In both soil layers, SQI values increased significantly (P < 0.05), and the stage-dependent increase in rates of SQI were 0.24%–0.38%, 0.18%–0.26%, and 3.04%–5.23% for 452 mm, 507 mm, and 600 mm of MAP, respectively. Significant differences in SQI values were observed among the three revegetation types under the same precipitation gradients (P < 0.05), and Caragana korshinskii Kom (CK) and abandoned farmland (AL) had similar patterns of SQI response to altered precipitation, which were different from those of Pinus tabuliformis (PT). The increased rates of SQI at PT (0.67%–3.40%) sites were higher than those at CK (0%–2.74%) and AL (0.05%–3.01%) sites, suggesting that the magnitude of soil quality reduction in forestlands was larger than that in shrub/grasslands with a decrease in precipitation. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:21 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:21 PM Tags: o Precipitation gradient o Revegetation type o Soil quality index o Vegetation restoration * Preferential water flow: Influence of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) decayed root channels on soil water infiltration Type Journal Article Author Lei Guo Author Yu Liu Author Gao-Lin Wu Author Ze Huang Author Zeng Cui Author Zhen Cheng Author Rui-Qi Zhang Author Fu-Ping Tian Author Honghua He URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022169419307462__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvQlK_AJs$ Volume 578 Pages 124019 Publication Journal of Hydrology ISSN 0022-1694 Date November 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Journal of Hydrology DOI 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2019.124019 Abstract Soil water infiltration is an important part of the land surface hydrological cycle, and plays an important role in the hydrological response of the soil, such as soil erosion. High infiltration rates favor an increase in the soil water storage capacity that allows maintaining vegetation restoration in arid and semi-arid regions. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a quality perennial legume grassland, which is widely planted in semi-arid areas. In this study, the effects of the root channels formed by the decay of alfalfa on preferential flow were evaluated as a driving force to improve soil water infiltration and soil water supply. A double-ring infiltrometer (30-cm inner diameter and 60-cm outer diameter) was used to measure the infiltration process with the falling head method. Methylene blue was used to visualize the pathways followed by the infiltrated water. The results showed that the initial infiltration rate in the alfalfa grassland increased by 27.7%, compared with the control bare land, and the total cumulative infiltration was 1.13 times higher. The steady infiltration rate of the grassland increased by 31.8% compared to the bare land. The root channel diameters were measured with a Vernier caliper, and the average root channel area (RCA) was calculated through the average root channel diameter (ARCD). The values of ARCD and RCA were significantly and positively correlated with the infiltration rates, being the coefficients of determination 0.815 and 0.789, respectively. Our results indicated that root channels formed by the decayed roots of alfalfa played an important role in increasing soil water infiltration and soil water supply under semi-arid conditions. Our research improves the understanding of the hydrological cycle processes at the plant-soil interface in semi-arid areas. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:23:01 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:23:01 PM Tags: o Double-ring infiltrometer o Preferential flow o Root channels o Soil water infiltration rate o Soil water supply * Natural revegetation of a semiarid habitat alters taxonomic and functional diversity of soil microbial communities Type Journal Article Author Yanqing Guo Author Xiaotian Chen Author Yuanyuan Wu Author Lu Zhang Author Jimin Cheng Author Gehong Wei Author Yanbing Lin URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969718313469__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvC3NcVYQ$ Volume 635 Pages 598-606 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date September 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.04.171 Abstract Revegetation of degraded lands has a profound impact on the maintenance and stability of ecosystem processes. However, the impacts of this land use change on functional diversity of soil microbial communities are poorly understood. Here, using 16S rRNA gene amplicon and shotgun metagenomic sequencing, we compared the taxonomic and functional communities of soil microbiome, and analyzed the effects of plant diversity and soil chemical properties, in a chronosequence of restored ex-farmland that had been naturally revegetated to grassland over periods of 5, 15 and 30years with adjacent farmland, on the Loess Plateau, China. We found that microbial taxonomic diversity was positively correlated with plant diversity and was higher in the revegetated sites. Functional diversity increased significantly in the oldest grassland. Actinobacteria, commonly considered a copiotrophic phylum, was more abundant in the revegetated sites, while Acidobacteria, an oligotrophic phylum, was more abundant in farmland. Furthermore, the structure of taxonomic and functional communities was significantly different between revegetated sites and farmland, and organic matter was the best environmental predictor in determining these microbial communities. Compared with the farmland, revegetation increased the proportion of genes associated with energy metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism and xenobiotics biodegradation and metabolism. Notably, the higher proportion of carbohydrate degradation gene subfamilies in the revegetated sites indicated higher levels of soil nutrient cycling. These results elucidate the significant shifts in belowground microbial taxonomic and functional diversity following vegetation restoration and have implications for ecological restoration programs in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:33 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:33 PM Tags: o Functional diversity o Loess Plateau o Metagenomic sequencing o Revegetation o Soil microbial community * Distribution, morphology and influencing factors of rills under extreme rainfall conditions in main land uses on the Loess Plateau of China Type Journal Article Author Mingming Guo Author Bo Yang Author Wenlong Wang Author Zhuoxin Chen Author Wenxin Wang Author Man Zhao Author Hongliang Kang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169555X19303289__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv8VaUdzE$ Volume 345 Pages 106847 Publication Geomorphology ISSN 0169-555X Date November 15, 2019 Journal Abbr Geomorphology DOI 10.1016/j.geomorph.2019.106847 Abstract Rill erosion is one of the main forms of soil erosion of the hillslopes on the Loess Plateau of China. Few studies have evaluated the effects of land use on the distribution and morphology of rills under extreme rainstorms. A total of 50 rill survey sites were selected in a typical watershed of the Loess Plateau of China to investigate the rill distribution and morphology of three land uses (fallow land, FL; slope farmland, SF; and annual grassland, AG) under extreme rainstorm conditions (called “7·26” rainstorm). Seven parameters (rill width, rill depth, width-depth ratio, cross-section area, rill density, degree of rill dissection and rill erosion modulus) were used to characterize rill morphology, and the basic soil and vegetation properties (bulk density, particle size distribution, and vegetation coverage) and topographic factors (slope length, gradient, direction) were measured. It was found that rills developed on three land uses, and those with widths ranging from 5 to 20 cm accounted for >80%. Rills developed on FL were deeper than those on SF and AG. Almost all rills on FL had a depth of 5–20 cm (90.3%), while the depth of rills on SF and AG were mainly smaller than 15 cm (91.5% and 91.9%, respectively). In addition to width, rill depth and cross-section area of SF and AG were also significantly less than those of FL. SF and FL had a relatively high width-depth ratio and dissection degree. However, land use had no significant effect on rill density. Crop plantations (SF) and grass restoration (AG) significantly reduced rill erosion modulus (28.70% and 45.07% reduction, respectively). Land use, topography, soil, and vegetation factors significantly affected rill morphology (p = 0.001) based on redundancy analysis (RDA) and can explain 48.0% of the total variability of rill morphology, with slope length, vegetation coverage and slope gradient having the greatest influences. Most of the rill morphological parameters significantly decreased as the vegetation coverage increased but they significantly increased with increasing slope length and slope gradient. This study clearly illustrates the severe rill erosion caused by this rainstorm, and indirectly indicates that crop harvesting (FL) aggravates rill erosion and that revegetation (AG) can effectively contain rill erosion. Therefore, rehabilitation efforts should be focused on revegetation (grassland and/or woodland) on steep slopes to control soil erosion. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:49 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:49 PM Tags: o Extreme rainstorm o Land use o Loess Plateau of China o Rill erosion * The effects of defoliation on plant community, root biomass and nutrient allocation and soil chemical properties on semi-arid steppes in northern China Type Journal Article Author Y.-J. Guo Author L. Han Author G.-D. Li Author J-G. Han Author G.-L. Wang Author Z.-Y. Li Author B. Wilson URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196311003375__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvxZqQqSE$ Volume 78 Pages 128-134 Publication Journal of Arid Environments ISSN 0140-1963 Date March 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Journal of Arid Environments DOI 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2011.11.003 Abstract Semi-arid steppes in northern China have severely deteriorated over the past 50 years, mostly due to improper grazing management. A defoliation experiment was conducted on a Leymus chinensis-dominated semi-arid steppe to provide guidelines of grazing management and favor long-term restoration of degraded grasslands. There were five defoliation treatments: non-defoliation (no cutting during growing season) as control; light defoliation (cut 15 cm above ground level); medium defoliation (10 cm); hard defoliation (5 cm) and severe defoliation (2 cm). Results showed that hard and severe defoliation significantly reduced the concentrations of soluble carbohydrates in rhizomes and fibrous roots and decreased the belowground biomass and the ratio of below/aboveground biomass. Defoliation increased plant species diversity, but decreased biomass of L. chinensis significantly. The biomass of L. chinensis under light defoliation was lower than that in control, indicating L. chinensis was highly sensitive to defoliation. Defoliation intensity in general had no significant effect on soil chemical properties during the experimental period, suggesting that soil chemical properties might have a greater tolerance to short-term heavy defoliation compared to plant community. However, prolonged intensive defoliation would result in severe ecological consequences. Further studies are required to investigate the response of soil chemical properties to long-term defoliation. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:20 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:20 PM Tags: o Agro-pastoral transitional zones o Cutting o Degradation o Management * Restoration of Native Plants Is Reduced by Rodent-Caused Soil Disturbance and Seed Removal Type Journal Article Author Christopher M. Gurney Author Laura R. Prugh Author Justin S. Brashares URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742415000779__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvr52mwAc$ Volume 68 Issue 4 Pages 359-366 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date July 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2015.05.001 Abstract Granivory and soil disturbance are two modes by which burrowing rodents may limit the success of native plant restoration in rangelands. This guild of animals has prolific effects on plant community composition and structure, yet surprisingly little research has quantified the impact of rodents on plant restoration efforts. In this study, we examined the effects of seed removal and soil disturbance by the giant kangaroo rat (Dipodomys ingens) on native plant restoration in a California rangeland. Using experimental exclosures and stratifying restoration plots on and off rodent-disturbed soil, we assessed the individual and combined effects of seed removal and soil disturbance on seedling establishment of four native plant species. Across all species, biotic soil disturbance by kangaroo rats reduced seedling establishment by 19.5% (range = 1–43%), whereas seed removal reduced seedling establishment by only 6.7% (range = 4–12%). Rates of seed removal across species weakly paralleled kangaroo rat dietary preferences. These results indicate the indirect effects of burrowing rodents such as kangaroo rats on native seedling establishment via changes in soil properties may rival or exceed the direct effects of seed removal. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:12 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:54:16 PM Tags: o granivory o restoration o soil disturbance o valley grassland * Managing towards extinction: Diverging developments of plant and ground beetle assemblages following restoration of calcareous grasslands Type Journal Article Author Jan Christian Habel Author Bettina Augenstein Author Thomas Schmitt Author Werner Ulrich URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1439179116301219__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv0FOkjCs$ Volume 17 Issue 8 Pages 668-677 Publication Basic and Applied Ecology ISSN 1439-1791 Date December 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Basic and Applied Ecology DOI 10.1016/j.baae.2016.08.004 Abstract Central European calcareous grasslands are particularly rich in species, harbouring an endangered flora and fauna. In this study, we analyse how invertebrates, like ground beetles, react on vegetation changes in these habitats. We ask if and how species of both groups may react on local environmental changes associated with conservation management regimes. For this reason, vascular plant and ground beetle communities were assessed at six semi-natural calcareous grasslands in Luxembourg before (1988–1992) and after (2008–2010) restoration had started. All studied grassland sites are protected as nature reserves and managed to preserve an open and diverse plant species composition. Our data indicate diverging trends for plant and ground beetle composition: Richness and abundance of species increased for plants and decreased for ground beetles, particularly for forest and Red List species. Functional diversity of plants and ground beetles remained stable, although the abundance of nitrogen-loving plant species increased. In ground beetles, we identified increased proportions of species with strong habitat associations. These findings underline that plant species, in particular typical calcareous grassland species, benefited from ongoing conservation management, while many ground beetle species, mostly the non-grassland specialists, suffered under the applied management regimes. These results highlight the general dilemma in nature conservation of how to prioritise management regimes in situ. Zusammenfassung Kalkmagerrasen in Mitteleuropa beherbergen eine außerordentlich hohe Vielfalt seltener und gefährdeter Pflanzen- und Tierarten. In dieser Arbeit untersuchen wir, wie Invertebraten, hier Laufkäfer, auf Veränderungen in der Vegetationszusammensetzung reagieren. Wir analysieren, ob und wie die Arten der beiden Taxa auf lokale Umweltveränderungen reagieren, die durch Pflegemaßnahmen des Naturschutzes hervorgerufen werden. Hierfür wurde die Artenzusammensetzung von Gefäßpflanzen- und Laufkäfergemeinschaften auf sechs Kalkmagerrasen in Luxemburg aufgenommen, unter Berücksichtigung der Zeit bevor (1988–1992) und nachdem (2008–2010) die Pflegemaßnahmen durchgeführt wurden. Alle untersuchten Magerrasenstandorte sind aktuell als Naturschutzgebiete ausgewiesen und ihr offener Charakter mit einer großen Pflanzenvielfalt wird durch entsprechende Pflegemaßnahmen bewahrt. Unsere Ergebnisse zeigen unterschiedliche Trends der Artenzusammensetzung von Pflanzen und Laufkäfern. Während die Vielfalt und Abundanz der Gefäßpflanzenarten anstieg, nahm sie bei den Laufkäfern ab, hiervon sind besonders Wald- und Rote Liste-Arten betroffen. Die funktionelle Diversität blieb für beide Taxa (Gefäßpflanzen und Laufkäfer) stabil, allerdings stieg der Anteil stickstoffliebender Gefäßpflanzenarten deutlich an. Laufkäfer mit hoher Habitatspezialisierung und somit einer starken Bindung an intakte Kalkmagerrasen stieg deutlich an. Diese Daten zeigen, dass vor allem typische Kalkmagerrasenarten von den Pflegemaßnahmen profitieren, während Laufkäferarten, die nicht auf offene Magerrasenflächen spezialisiert sind, unter den Pflegemaßnahmen leiden. Diese Ergebnisse untermauern das generelle Dilemma der Priorisierung im angewandten Naturschutz, und die Notwendigkeit einer objektiven, wissenschaftlich fundierten Gestaltung von Pflegemaßnahmen. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:42 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:42 PM Tags: o Carabidae o Community shift o Conservation management o Ellenberg indicator values o Habitat changes o Habitat property o Species richness o Vascular plants * Passive recovery of small vertebrates following livestock removal in the Australian rangelands Type Journal Article Author Nerissa A. Haby Author Robert Brandle URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12542__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv6pIgAA8$ Rights © 2017 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 26 Issue 1 Pages 174-182 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2018 DOI 10.1111/rec.12542 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:10:09 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract In arid environments, grazing by exotic herbivores, including domestic livestock, can greatly influence native, small vertebrate assemblages. Whether the removal of livestock facilitates passive recovery of these assemblages depends on habitat condition and the species present. We explore changes in small mammal and reptile species richness, abundance, and composition in a degraded chenopod shrubland dominated by Acacia victoriae ssp. and open Acacia aneura (mulga) woodland destocked in 1976 and 1984, respectively. Data were obtained between 1997 and 2007, from two grazed and two ungrazed sites in each community. Species richness increased at a faster rate in ungrazed open A. aneura woodland, but did not differ significantly between ungrazed and grazed degraded chenopod shrubland. Subsequent analyses at a finer-scale detected disparate responses in richness and abundance for microhabitat. At this scale, a greater number of species-specific responses were also detected, including increased abundance of generalist species and decreased abundance of species requiring low cover. These results reiterate the potential for species-specific responses to livestock that are more apparent in particular microhabitats. Furthermore, this investigation provides evidence for the gradual passive recovery of small mammal and reptile assemblages in both communities, which is facilitated by the removal of livestock in open A. aneura woodland in fair condition, but not degraded chenopod shrubland in poor condition. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:10:09 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:10:09 PM Tags: o grazing o long-term monitoring o natural resource management o passive adaptive management o passive recovery o species-specific response Attachments o Snapshot * Duck Productivity in Restored Species-Rich Native and Species-Poor Non-Native Plantings Type Journal Article Author Ryan D. Haffele Author Michael W. Eichholz Author Cami S. Dixon URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0068603__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv2c2kJAY$ Volume 8 Issue 7 Pages e68603 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Jul 1, 2013 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0068603 Accessed 2020-03-12, 3:19:44 PM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract Conservation efforts to increase duck production have led the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to restore grasslands with multi-species (3-5) mixtures of introduced cool season vegetation often termed dense nesting cover (DNC). The effectiveness of DNC to increase duck production has been variable, and maintenance of the cover type is expensive. In an effort to decrease the financial and ecological costs (increased carbon emissions from plowing and reseeding) of maintaining DNC and provide a long-term, resilient cover that will support a diversity of grassland fauna, restoration of multi-species (16-32) plantings of native plants has been explored. We investigated the vegetation characteristics, nesting density and nest survival between the 2 aforementioned cover types in the Prairie Pothole Region of North Dakota, USA from 2010–2011 to see if restored-native plantings provide similar benefits to nesting hens as DNC. We searched 14 fields (7 DNC, 271 ha; and 7 restored native, 230 ha) locating 3384 nests (1215 in restored-native vegetation and 2169 in DNC) in 2010-2011. Nest survival was similar between cover types in 2010, while DNC had greater survival than native plantings in 2011. Densities of nests adjusted for detection probability were not different between cover types in either year. We found no structural difference in vegetation between cover types in 2010; however, a difference was detected during the late sampling period in 2011 with DNC having deeper litter and taller vegetation. Our results indicate restored-native plantings are able to support similar nesting density as DNC; however, nest survival is more stable between years in DNC. It appears the annual variation in security between cover types goes undetected by hens as hens selected cover types at similar levels both years. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:19:44 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:19:44 PM Tags: o Ducks o Grasses o Grasslands o Invasive species o Nesting habits o Predation o Seasons o Wetlands Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Slowing the tide of mesquite invasion: Using a bioindicator species to deliver conservation triage Type Journal Article Author Christian A. Hagen Author Kyle A. Taylor Author Anne M. Bartuszevige Author Alex B. Daniels Author Manuel T. De Leon Author Meghan Bogaerts URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196319300655__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvpDtyYHk$ Volume 168 Pages 46-55 Publication Journal of Arid Environments ISSN 0140-1963 Date September 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Journal of Arid Environments DOI 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2019.05.004 Abstract Global shifts in climate patterns and human land use practices have exacerbated the process of desertification in xeric grasslands of the continent. Although a formidable task to address these broad scale changes to grasslands, we use a bioindicator of the Southern Great Plains, the lesser prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) to deliver conservation triage. We outline an approach to improve the conservation of the prairies but perhaps save an imperiled species dependent upon such landscapes. We focus our efforts on removal of honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) as one method to improve ecosystem function, but we use the ecology of the lesser prairie-chicken to target conservation efforts. We modeled the occurrence of lesser prairie-chicken leks (i.e., breeding arenas, n = 711 from 2002 to 2012) and quantify the areas that will likely provide the greatest ecological return on conservation investment. Our models indicated that lesser prairie-chickens exhibited strong avoidance in the presence of low density mesquite. Combining ecological response of the vegetation and species needs, we identify that treating low density mesquite provides the most cost-effective first step in addressing this threat to prairie-ecosystems. We suggest using bioindicator species could target conservation efforts to slow the tide of desertification in other regions of the globe. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:19 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:19 PM Tags: o Desertification o Encroachment o Flagship species o Grassland o Prairie restoration * Determination the most important variations in plant traits related to livestock grazing using multivariate statistical methods in Baladeh-Noor rangeland, Mazandaran Province, Iran Type Journal Article Author Iman Haghiyan URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1872203218300635__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvPXsDoNo$ Volume 39 Issue 3 Pages 212-218 Publication Acta Ecologica Sinica ISSN 1872-2032 Date June 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Acta Ecologica Sinica DOI 10.1016/j.chnaes.2018.11.001 Abstract Animal grazing affect rangelands ecosystems by changing dimensional characteristics. The aim of this study is to determine the most important variations on plant traits in response to the livestock grazing in Baladeh-Noor rangelands located Mazandaran province in North of Iran. Various plant characteristics were measured in moderate and high grazing intensity and exclosure for three key and palatable species of Artemisia aucheri, Astragalus sp and Bromus tomentellus. In order to detect plant properties variation in three sites (exclosure, moderate grazing and critical grazing) and to determine their sensibility, the DCA and PCA analysis were used. According PCA analysis, the most changes of grazing effect in first principal component is related to the crown and basal large diameter, underground biomass and root. It was observed significant changes in five plant properties. Also, the results showed that 92.98% of changes are described by first and second axes and the most of Eigen value are crown and basal large diameter and root with 0.982, 0.977 and 0.968 respectively. As a result, the correct management of grazing according to the potential of soil and vegetation cover of each site could improve the condition of rangelands and produce the constant and dominant forages and livestock. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:05 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:00:05 PM Tags: o Baladeh-Noor rangeland o Crown area o Grazing intensity o Plant properties o Principal component analysis * Reconstructing pre-agricultural expansion vegetation cover of Ethiopia Type Journal Article Author Binyam T. Hailu Author Eduardo Eiji Maeda Author Janne Heiskanen Author Petri Pellikka URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0143622815001332__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvhC-ZQNc$ Volume 62 Pages 357-365 Publication Applied Geography ISSN 0143-6228 Date August 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Applied Geography DOI 10.1016/j.apgeog.2015.05.013 Abstract Landscape reconstructions can be used to define a reference condition from which to assess the magnitude of land changes caused by human influence. Since the beginning of the last century, the population of Ethiopia has increased drastically with large effects on the natural vegetation and biodiversity. However, the original land cover patterns in Ethiopia have not been precisely mapped, which hinder the identification of the biophysical and socio-economic factors that contributed to the current landscape patterns. The objective of this study was to reconstruct the past century vegetation landscapes of Ethiopia (i.e. vegetation cover before agricultural expansion) and identify which ecosystems have been most affected by land changes. First, the net primary productivity (NPP) was modelled based on the climatic constraints of natural vegetation growth (water availability, solar radiation and minimum temperature) derived from remote sensing and climate data. This analysis showed that water availability is the most critical constraint for vegetation growth for all regions and land cover types in Ethiopia. Then, the past vegetation was mapped based on predicted NPP. Our results show that i) the extent of broadleaved evergreen or semi-deciduous forest, open broadleaved deciduous forest, closed to open shrubland, mosaic forest-shrubland/grassland, sparse vegetation and grassland was 18.8%, 12.4%, 20.6%, 31.5%, and 16.8%, respectively, and ii) current agricultural landscapes were previously covered mainly by broadleaved evergreen and deciduous forest, which encompassed 38.9%. The least affected by agricultural expansion were sparse vegetation and grassland. Our study provides novel insights on pre-agricultural expansion landscapes in Ethiopia with critical information for scientists and other stakeholders working on the restoration and rehabilitation of degraded areas. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:18 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:18 PM Tags: o Ethiopia o Net Primary Productivity o Pre-agricultural expansion o Remote sensing * Modeling Invasive Annual Grass Abundance in the Cold Desert Ecoregions of the Interior Western United States Type Journal Article Author John C. Hak Author Patrick J. Comer URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742419300715__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv-IZ4UPo$ Volume 73 Issue 1 Pages 171-180 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date January 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2019.09.003 Abstract Invasive annual grasses, primarily Bromus tectorum, are a severe risk to native vegetation of the intermountain West. Once established, annual grasses alter natural fire regimes and outcompete natives until, in some places, they become the overwhelming dominant. We developed a regional spatial model encompassing eight ecoregions to indicate the relative abundance of invasive annual grass at five levels of canopy cover. We used field sample data representing invasive annual grass abundance to build and calibrate the model. Explanatory variables, represented as map inputs, included image indices, climate, landform, soil, and human-induced surface disturbance. As a novel modeling approach, we built multiple models based on classes of invasive annual grass cover abundance were developed individually and then combined into a final 90-m pixel resolution model that indicates locations relative to invasive annual grass abundance into classes of < 5%, 5−15%, 16−25%, 26−45%, and > 45% cover. Each component model was validated using held-out sample data, and relative accuracy was 86%, 74%, 62%, 62%, and 60%, respectively, with an overall kappa of 0.773. The Columbia Plateau, Northern Basin and Range, and Snake River Plain ecoregions appear to have the greatest overall proportions (48−62%) mapped within at least one of the invasive cover categories. Overlay of the resulting model with major vegetation types indicated > 50 major vegetation types that are affected by current distribution of annual grasses and are at risk of expansion. Among these, Intermountain Basins, Big Sagebrush Steppe, and Columbia Plateau Steppe and Grassland each consistently scored high for invasive risk where they occur. Spatial models of this type should assist with rangeland restoration and for decisions involving placement of infrastructure, vegetation treatments where further surface disturbance could trigger additional cheatgrass expansion. Options exist for extending this model, using climate projections over upcoming decades, to indicate areas of increasing risk for invasion. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:33 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:54:47 PM Tags: o ecological condition o ecological integrity o human footprint o human modification o invasive annual grass o weeds * Riparian plant isotopes reflect anthropogenic nitrogen perturbations: robust patterns across land use gradients Type Journal Article Author Steven J. Hall Author Rebecca L. Hale Author Michelle A. Baker Author David R. Bowling Author James R. Ehleringer URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1890/ES15-00319.1__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv3H6jqeY$ Volume 6 Issue 10 Pages art200 Publication Ecosphere ISSN 2150-8925 Date October 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Ecosphere DOI 10.1890/ES15-00319.1 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Riparian plants incorporate nitrogen (N) from aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric sources, and their stable isotope compositions (δ15N) may reflect land use impacts on N sources and transformations over scales of sites to watersheds. We surveyed leaf δ15N values of 11 common riparian tree, shrub, and herbaceous species from 20 streams and rivers spanning three fifth-order watersheds in northern Utah, USA (n = 255 sites and 819 leaf samples). Streams spanned undeveloped montane forests to suburban, urban, and agricultural lands. Mean species-specific differences in leaf δ15N values were relatively small within sites (1.2 ± 2.2?), although emergent aquatic macrophytes had higher within-site δ15N values than other growth forms. Leaf δ15N values varied significantly across land-use categories, and were lowest in undeveloped montane reaches (0.5 ± 1.9?; mean and standard deviation), intermediate in suburban and urban reaches (2.3 ± 2.6 and 3.2 ± 3.4?), and greatest in agricultural reaches (4.1 ± 3.1?). The substantial variation in leaf δ15N values within a land use category often corresponded with local management differences. In an undeveloped montane canyon permitting off-leash dogs, leaf δ15N values (1.5 ± 1.3?) exceeded similar canyons that strictly prohibited dogs (δ15N = ?0.7 ± 1.1?). Canyons with cattle grazing had leaf δ15N values enriched by 1.4 and 2.8? relative to similar, but un-grazed canyons. Variation in traffic between 0 and 5000 vehicles per day did not significantly affect leaf δ15N values, although a canyon with 50,000 vehicles per day showed a 5.7? increase relative to low-trafficked canyons. Urban leaf δ15N values were consistently enriched by 2.5 ± 0.6? relative to leaves in un-grazed montane reaches, and leaves in a septic-impacted suburban reach were enriched by 4.6? relative to upstream samples. Samples from a sewage-impacted urban river averaged 8.0 ± 4.1? and reached 22? adjacent to publicly owned treatment works (POTW). Another urban river displayed similar values in the absence of POTWs, implicating leaky sewers. Our results demonstrate the capacity of N isotopes from a diverse riparian plant community to inform our spatial understanding of watershed N-cycling perturbations, and illustrate the impact of human activities on N cycling even within protected watersheds. Date Added 2020-03-12, 4:06:18 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:54:19 PM Tags: o agriculture o grazing o isoscape o leaf nitrogen isotope o pet waste o plant species o riparian o septic o sewage o urban o water quality Notes: o doi: 10.1890/ES15-00319.1 o doi: 10.1890/ES15-00319.1 * Changes in Abundance of Eight Sagebrush-Steppe Bunchgrass Species 13 Yr After Coplanting Type Journal Article Author Erik P. Hamerlynck Author Kirk W. Davies URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742418301349__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvF39bo2Q$ Volume 72 Issue 1 Pages 23-27 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date January 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2018.07.001 Abstract Stable bunchgrass populations are essential to resilience and restoration of sagebrush steppe rangelands, yet few studies have assessed long-term variation in plant abundance from a known starting point. We capitalized on a previous paddock study by reestablishing in 2011 nine replicate blocks consisting of 29 × 29 grid of cells, each planted in 1998 with a single individual of one of eight sagebrush steppe bunchgrasses, including the widely planted exotic, crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum). Plant species and numbers were determined in 2011 for each cell, which were classified as holds or cedes, with ceded cells used to determine species-specific gains. We hypothesized the competitive crested wheatgrass would proportionally occur more in gained cells compared with native grasses. While crested wheatgrass did proportionally hold and gain the greatest number of cells, the relative number of plants within holds and gains was constant across all species, with most plants (80−87%) occurring outside cells originally planted with them. Crested wheatgrass had greater proportions of holds and gains where it was the only species within the cell and showed even presence across all cells planted with other grass species in 1998. Native grasses were underrepresented in 1998 crested wheatgrass cells and sometimes overrepresented in other native species cells. The ratio of total crested wheatgrass to native bunchgrass plants followed a sigmoidal step increase with increasing crested wheatgrass density. These results show population changes in sagebrush steppe bunchgrasses are determined by seed production and emergent seedling survival, both of which are stronger in the exotic bunchgrass. This study also showed that native grasses can maintain presence via seed in areas depending on crested wheatgrass density. This information could help shape management strategies capitalizing on the utility of crested wheatgrass and sustaining desirable levels of native grass productivity and diversity. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:35 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:04:35 PM Tags: o competition o crested wheatgrass o population o restoration o sagebrush steppe o seeds * Compensatory Photosynthesis, Water-Use Efficiency, and Biomass Allocation of Defoliated Exotic and Native Bunchgrass Seedlings Type Journal Article Author Erik P. Hamerlynck Author Brenda S. Smith Author Roger L. Sheley Author Tony J. Svejcar URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742416000026__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvQL5im9U$ Volume 69 Issue 3 Pages 206-214 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date May 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2015.12.007 Accessed 2020-03-17, 6:20:04 PM Library Catalog ScienceDirect Language en Abstract Compensatory increases in net photosynthetic assimilation rates (Anet) following herbivory are well documented in adult rangeland grasses but have not been quantified in bunchgrass seedlings, which may be more sensitive to tissue loss than established plants. To address this, we twice removed 30% and 70% leaf area of seedlings of crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum [L.] Gaertn., var. Hycrest II) and the native bluebunch wheatgrass (Psuedoroegnaria spicata [Pursh] Á. Love, var Anatone) and compared Anet and aboveground and belowground growth of these to unclipped control plants. Compensatory Anet occurred only after the second clipping, roughly 1 month after the first, and was similar in magnitude and duration between species and treatments, ca. 26% higher than control plant Anet for 2 weeks following clipping. Despite similar compensatory Anet between species, increases in Anet were more proportional with increased stomatal conductance to water vapor (gs) in crested wheatgrass. This resulted in higher intrinsic water use efficiency (WUEi = Anet/gs) integrated across the post-clipping recovery period compared with WUEi of bluebunch seedlings, which declined with clipping. Differences in WUEi were attributable to differences in root-to-shoot ratios and root tissue quality (specific root mass; g dry mass · m−2 root area), which were lower in crested wheatgrass. We concluded that compensatory photosynthesis is an important component of seedling herbivory tolerance, and that observed differences in post-herbivory WUEi could help improve management strategies by informing seedling selection criteria to help develop methods aimed at minimizing impacts of herbivory during the seedling stage. Date Added 2020-03-17, 6:20:04 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 6:20:04 PM Tags: o bluebunch wheatgrass o crested wheatgrass o herbivory o photosynthesis o root-shoot ratios o sagebrush steppe Attachments o ScienceDirect Snapshot * The WEPP Model Application in a Small Watershed in the Loess Plateau Type Journal Article Author Fengpeng Han Author Lulu Ren Author Xingchang Zhang Author Zhanbin Li URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0148445__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvcU-mKNw$ Volume 11 Issue 3 Pages e0148445 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Mar 10, 2016 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0148445 Accessed 2020-03-12, 3:27:04 PM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract In the Loess Plateau, soil erosion has not only caused serious ecological and environmental problems but has also impacted downstream areas. Therefore, a model is needed to guide the comprehensive control of soil erosion. In this study, we introduced the WEPP model to simulate soil erosion both at the slope and watershed scales. Our analyses showed that: the simulated values at the slope scale were very close to the measured. However, both the runoff and soil erosion simulated values at the watershed scale were higher than the measured. At the slope scale, under different coverage, the simulated erosion was slightly higher than the measured. When the coverage is 40%, the simulated results of both runoff and erosion are the best. At the watershed scale, the actual annual runoff of the Liudaogou watershed is 83m3; sediment content is 0.097 t/m3, annual erosion sediment 8.057t and erosion intensity 0.288 t ha-1 yr-1. Both the simulated values of soil erosion and runoff are higher than the measured, especially the runoff. But the simulated erosion trend is relatively accurate after the farmland is returned to grassland. We concluded that the WEPP model can be used to establish a reasonable vegetation restoration model and guide the vegetation restoration of the Loess Plateau. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:27:04 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:27:04 PM Tags: o Agricultural soil science o Erosion o Land use o Loess o Rain o Sediment o Soil ecology o Watersheds Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Changes in soil organic and inorganic carbon stocks in deep profiles following cropland abandonment along a precipitation gradient across the Loess Plateau of China Type Journal Article Author Xiaoyang Han Author Guangyao Gao Author Ruiying Chang Author Zongshan Li Author Ying Ma Author Shuai Wang Author Cong Wang Author Yihe Lü Author Bojie Fu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880918300707__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvcdH8dj4$ Volume 258 Pages 1-13 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date April 15, 2018 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2018.02.006 Abstract Determining changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) and inorganic carbon (SIC) stocks following ecological restoration is important for estimating the regional carbon budget and evaluating ecological effects. However, there is limited understanding on the interacting effects of vegetation restoration and climate gradients on SOC and SIC stocks in shallow and deep soil layers over large scales. This study selected seven sites along a climate transect from the east to the west of the Chinese Loess Plateau, and the SOC and SIC stocks were measured to a depth of 300 cm in sites covered by cropland and three vegetation restoration types (grassland, shrubland and woodland). The spatial variations and controlling factors of the SOC and SIC stocks at different depths following vegetation restoration along the precipitation gradient were investigated in detail. The results indicated that the SOC and SIC stocks in the 100–300 cm layers accounted for more than 50% of the total values in the 0–300 cm profile. The total SOC stock in the 0–300 cm profiles significantly increased along precipitation gradient (p < 0.01) in all vegetation types except woodland. The total SIC stock decreased, but the change was not significant, which caused little variation in the total carbon stocks along the precipitation gradient (p > 0.05). Shrubland and woodland plantation following cropland abandonment resulted in soil carbon accumulation, whereas grassland represented carbon loss in sites with mean annual precipitation (MAP) greater than 470 mm. The changes in the SOC stock (ΔSOC) in the surface layer (0–20 cm) and those in the SIC stock (ΔSIC) in the deep layers (100–300) following revegetation significantly decreased along precipitation gradient (p < 0.05). The interactions between ΔSOC and ΔSIC stocks were evident, especially in the upper soil layers. An accumulation of 1 kg SOC was accompanied by 0.73 kg loss of SIC in the 0–40 cm layer and 1.26 kg increase of SIC in the 40–300 cm layer per square meter following revegetation. MAP and mean annual temperature (MAT) mainly affected the spatial patterns of SOC and SIC in the upper layers, while land use and soil texture mainly affected soil carbon in the deep layers. This study indicates that vegetation restoration does not always result in soil carbon sequestration at every depth after cropland abandonment, which depends on climatic conditions and varies among different vegetation types. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:50 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:50 PM Tags: o Loess Plateau o Precipitation gradient o Shallow and deep layers o SOC and SIC o Vegetation restoration * Responses of plant–soil properties to increasing N deposition and implications for large-scale eco-restoration in the semiarid grassland of the northern Loess Plateau, China Type Journal Article Author Xiangwei Han Author Atsushi Tsunekawa Author Mitsuru Tsubo Author Hongbo Shao URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857413003042__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvPIybSMc$ Volume 60 Pages 1-9 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date November 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2013.07.053 Abstract Increasing nitrogen deposition influences natural and semi-natural ecosystems, especially nutrient-poor ecosystems. Grassland on the northern areas of Loess Plateau, China, suffers from both wind and water erosion resulting in a nutrient-poor ecosystem. However, experimental investigation of the effects of nitrogen deposition on grassland in this region is scarce. In the current study, an in situ experiment was initiated at the northern part of Loess Plateau, which is also a coalmine base, to investigate the responses of Stipa bungeana dominant grassland to nitrogen deposition. To indicate the ravine character of Loess Plateau, China, experiments were conducted on two slopes with opposite slope aspects. On each site, 3m×5m plots were exposed to either ambient N deposition (control) or ambient +2.5gm−2yr−1 (low N), +5gm−2yr−1 (medium N), and +10gm−2yr−1 (high N) added as NH4NO3. After 1 year of N addition, the plots exposed to the added N had significantly higher concentration of mineral N (NH4+-N+NO3−-N) in the 0–20cm soil layer compared to plots exposed to ambient N deposition. Soil organic carbon and soil total N were not altered by the N addition. S. bungeana exposed to the added N exhibited a significant increase in aboveground tissue N concentration on shady and sunny sites (p>0.05), as well as an increase in N/P ratio. N concentrations of S. bungeana and simulated N deposition levels had a clearly linear relationship (R2>0.9). The N recovered in S. bungeana aboveground tissue accounted for 16.4–27.2% of the added N at the shady site, and 22–35% at the sunny site. However, the tissue N or P concentration of Lespedeza davurica, a legume plant, was not altered by the added N. The effects of simulated N addition at the shady and sunny sites on the soil and the plants were very similar; however, they differed in the extent of soil and plant N concentration changes. Observations after 1 year of N addition suggest that N addition can significantly and rapidly affect N availability (mineral N) and gramineous plant tissue chemistry in the northern Loess Plateau, China, which provides important implications for large-scale eco-restoration of the northern Loess Plateau, China. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:37 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:37 PM Tags: o Eco-restoration o Grassland ecosystem o N cycle o Soil organic carbon * The history of widespread decrease in oak dominance exemplified in a grassland–forest landscape Type Journal Article Author Brice B. Hanberry Author Daniel C. Dey Author Hong S. He URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969714000576__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv1TlBd10$ Volume 476-477 Pages 591-600 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date April 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.01.048 Abstract Regionally-distinctive open oak forest ecosystems have been replaced either by intensive agriculture and grazing fields or by denser forests throughout eastern North America and Europe. To quantify changes in tree communities and density in the Missouri Plains, a grassland–forest landscape, we used historical surveys from 1815 to 1864 and current surveys from 2004 to 2008. To estimate density for historical communities, we used the Morisita plotless density estimator and applied corrections for surveyor bias. To estimate density for current forests, we used Random Forests, an ensemble regression tree method, to predict densities from known values at plots using terrain and soil predictors. Oak species decreased from 62% of historical composition to 30% of current composition and black and white oaks historically were dominant species across 93% of the landscape and currently were dominant species across 42% of the landscape. Current forest density was approximately two times greater than historical densities, demonstrating loss of savanna and woodlands and transition to dense forest structure. Average tree diameters were smaller than in the past, but mean basal area and stocking remained similar over time because of the increase in density in current forests. Nevertheless, there were spatial differences; basal area and stocking decreased along rivers and increased away from rivers. Oak species are being replaced by other species in the Missouri Plains, similar to replacement throughout the range of Quercus. Long-term commitment to combinations of prescribed burning and silvicultural prescriptions in more xeric sites may be necessary for oak recruitment. Restoration of open oak ecosystems is a time-sensitive issue because restoration will become increasingly costly as oaks are lost from the overstory and the surrounding matrix becomes dominated by non-oak species. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:28:00 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:28:00 PM Tags: o Fire suppression o Historical forest o Land use o Oak restoration o Savanna o Woodland * Assessing the landscape-dependent restoration potential of abandoned farmland using a hierarchical model of bird communities Type Journal Article Author Masashi Hanioka Author Yuichi Yamaura Author Masayuki Senzaki Author Satoshi Yamanaka Author Kazuhiro Kawamura Author Futoshi Nakamura URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880918302482__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv4c-eCno$ Volume 265 Pages 217-225 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date October 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2018.06.014 Abstract Expansion and intensification of agriculture have led to an immense decrease in biodiversity. However, the area of abandoned farmland has been increasing globally in recent years and is expected to provide novel habitats for various organisms. Despite the promising potential for biodiversity conservation in agricultural landscapes, few studies have compared biodiversity among multiple land use types, including abandoned farmland. We examined the effects of major land use types (wetland, grassland, forest, farmland, abandoned farmland) and the surrounding landscape openness (proportion of wetland/grassland in the surrounding area) on the abundance and species richness of bird communities and four functional groups (wetland, grassland, farmland, and forest species) in the agricultural landscape of central Hokkaido in northern Japan. The abundance of wetland/grassland species in abandoned farmland tended to be intermediate between those of their original habitats (wetland and grassland) and other land uses (forest and farmland), and to be positively associated with the landscape openness. The abundance of forest species tended to be higher in forest areas than in areas with other land use types and was not associated with the landscape openness. The abundance and species richness of the bird community were predicted to be high in large abandoned farmland areas surrounded by open land. For wetland species, whereas total abundance was predicted to be primarily mediated by landscape openness, species richness was predicted to be primarily mediated by the farmland abandonment area. The abandoned farmland in our study area would not currently have a high conservation value for forest birds. However, the abandonment of farmland surrounded by open land would significantly improve the conservation of wetland/grassland birds in the agricultural landscape. Given the decline in the area of grassland, wetland, and low-intensity farmland, farmland abandonment provides an opportunity to conserve and restore the declining populations of wetland and grassland birds. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:21 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:21 PM Tags: o Abandoned farmland o Abundance o Hierarchical community model o Landscape composition o Species richness o Wetland * Quantifying the effects of overgrazing on mountainous watershed vegetation dynamics under a changing climate Type Journal Article Author Lu Hao Author Cen Pan Author Di Fang Author Xiaoyu Zhang Author Decheng Zhou Author Peilong Liu Author Yongqiang Liu Author Ge Sun URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969718318758__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvpMj3e8Y$ Volume 639 Pages 1408-1420 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date October 15, 2018 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.224 Abstract Grazing is a major ecosystem disturbance in arid regions that are increasingly threatened by climate change. Understanding the long-term impacts of grazing on rangeland vegetation dynamics in a complex terrain in mountainous regions is important for quantifying dry land ecosystem services for integrated watershed management and climate change adaptation. However, data on the detailed long-term spatial distribution of grazing activities are rare, which prevents trend detection and environmental impact assessments of grazing. This study quantified the impacts of grazing on vegetation dynamics for the period of 1983–2010 in the Upper Heihe River basin, a complex multiple-use watershed in northwestern China. We also examined the relative contributions of grazing and climate to vegetation change using a dynamic grazing pressure method. Spatial grazing patterns and temporal dynamics were mapped at a 1 km × 1 km pixel scale using satellite-derived leaf area index (LAI) data. We found that overgrazing was a dominant driver for LAI reduction in alpine grasslands and shrubs, especially for the periods of 1985–1991 and 1997–2004. Although the recent decade-long active grazing management contributed to the improvement of LAI and partially offset the negative effects of increased livestock, overgrazing has posed significant challenges to shrub-grassland ecosystem recovery in the eastern part of the study basin. We conclude that the positive effects of a warming and wetting climate on vegetation could be underestimated if the negative long-term grazing effects are not considered. Findings from the present case study show that assessing long-term climate change impacts on watersheds must include the influences of human activities. Our study provides important guidance for ecological restoration efforts in locating vulnerable areas and designing effective management practices in the study watershed. Such information is essential for natural resource management that aims at meeting multiple demands of watershed ecosystem services in arid and semiarid rangelands. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:33 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:54:20 PM Tags: o Climate change detection o Grazing pressure o Leaf area index o Mountainous watershed management o Vegetation dynamics * Impacts of changes in climate and landscape pattern on ecosystem services Type Journal Article Author Ruifang Hao Author Deyong Yu Author Yupeng Liu Author Yang Liu Author Jianmin Qiao Author Xue Wang Author Jinshen Du URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969716324676__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvrdsNVXg$ Volume 579 Pages 718-728 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date February 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.11.036 Abstract The restoration of degraded vegetation can effectively improve ecosystem services, increase human well-being, and promote regional sustainable development. Understanding the changing trends in ecosystem services and their drivers is an important step in informing decision makers for the development of reasonable landscape management measures. From 2001 to 2014, we analyzed the changing trends in five critical ecosystem services in the Xilingol Grassland, which is typical of grasslands in North China, including net primary productivity (NPP), soil conservation (SC), soil loss due to wind (SL), water yield (WY) and water retention (WR). Additionally, we quantified how climatic factors and landscape patterns affect the five ecosystem services on both annual and seasonal time scales. Overall, the results indicated that vegetation restoration can effectively improve the five grassland ecosystem services, and precipitation (PPT) is the most critical climatic factor. The impact of changes in the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was most readily detectable on the annual time scale, whereas the impact of changes in landscape pattern was most readily detectable on the seasonal time scale. A win-win situation in terms of grassland ecosystem services (e.g., vegetation productivity, SC, WR and reduced SL) can be achieved by increasing grassland aggregation, partitioning the largest grasslands, dividing larger areas of farmland into smaller patches, and increasing the area of appropriate forest stands. Our work may aid policymakers in developing regional landscape management schemes. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:39 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:39 PM Tags: o Dynamics o Grassland restoration o Land use/cover change o Landscape index o Temporal scale o Trend analysis * Weather Variability and Adaptive Management for Rangeland Restoration Type Journal Article Author Stuart P. Hardegree Author Jeanne M. Schneider Author Corey A. Moffet URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190052812500659__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvWPNwrww$ Volume 34 Issue 6 Pages 53-56 Publication Rangelands ISSN 0190-0528 Date December 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Rangelands DOI 10.2111/RANGELANDS-D-12-00048.1 Accessed 2020-03-17, 5:55:35 PM Library Catalog ScienceDirect Language en Date Added 2020-03-17, 5:55:35 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:54:22 PM Attachments o ScienceDirect Snapshot * Assessment of Range Planting as a Conservation Practice Type Journal Article Author Stuart P. Hardegree Author Thomas A. Jones Author Bruce A. Roundy Author Nancy L. Shaw Author Thomas A. Monaco URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742416300252__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvapGCy1g$ Volume 69 Issue 4 Pages 237-247 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date July 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2016.04.007 Accessed 2020-03-17, 6:06:16 PM Library Catalog ScienceDirect Language en Abstract Natural Resource Conservation Service Range Planting−Conservation Practice Standards provide guidelines for making decisions about seedbed preparation, planting methods, plant materials selection, seeding rate, seeding depth, timing of seeding, postplanting management, and weed control. Adoption of these standards is expected to contribute to successful improvement of vegetation composition and productivity of grazed plant communities. Also expected are some specific conservation effects, such as improved forage for livestock; improved forage, browse, or cover for wildlife; improved water quality and quantity; reduced wind or water erosion; and increased carbon sequestration. The success of specific conservation practices and the magnitude of conservation effects are highly dependent on ecological-site characteristics, the initial degree of deviation from desired site characteristics, and weather, all of which are highly variable in both time and space. Previous research has produced few studies directly linking range planting conservation practices to conservation effects. Assessment of conservation effects attributed to rangeland planting practices must, therefore, be separated into two components: 1) evidence of the degree to which specific management practices have been shown to result in desirable vegetation change and 2) evidence supporting positive conservation effects of alternative vegetation states. The aggregate literature generally supports both 1) the existing conservation practice recommendations for rangeland seeding and 2) the inherent assumption that if these practices are successful, they will result in beneficial conservation effects. High spatial and temporal variability in these systems, however, may limit the success of generic or prescriptive management practices. Current conservation practice recommendations could be improved by incorporating more direct linkages to the ecologically based technical literature, more up-to-date information on adaptive management strategies in highly variable rangeland systems, and integration of monitoring strategies designed to directly test the efficacy of specific conservation practices. Date Added 2020-03-17, 6:06:16 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 6:06:16 PM Tags: o ecosystem services o microclimate o plant materials o seeding o site preparation o weather Attachments o ScienceDirect Snapshot * Weather-Centric Rangeland Revegetation Planning Type Journal Article Author Stuart P. Hardegree Author John T. Abatzoglou Author Mark W. Brunson Author Matthew J. Germino Author Katherine C. Hegewisch Author Corey A. Moffet Author David S. Pilliod Author Bruce A. Roundy Author Alex R. Boehm Author Gwendwr R. Meredith URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742417300817__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvNoB034o$ Volume 71 Issue 1 Pages 1-11 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date January 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2017.07.003 Abstract Invasive annual weeds negatively impact ecosystem services and pose a major conservation threat on semiarid rangelands throughout the western United States. Rehabilitation of these rangelands is challenging due to interannual climate and subseasonal weather variability that impacts seed germination, seedling survival and establishment, annual weed dynamics, wildfire frequency, and soil stability. Rehabilitation and restoration outcomes could be improved by adopting a weather-centric approach that uses the full spectrum of available site-specific weather information from historical observations, seasonal climate forecasts, and climate-change projections. Climate data can be used retrospectively to interpret success or failure of past seedings by describing seasonal and longer-term patterns of environmental variability subsequent to planting. A more detailed evaluation of weather impacts on site conditions may yield more flexible adaptive-management strategies for rangeland restoration and rehabilitation, as well as provide estimates of transition probabilities between desirable and undesirable vegetation states. Skillful seasonal climate forecasts could greatly improve the cost efficiency of management treatments by limiting revegetation activities to time periods where forecasts suggest higher probabilities of successful seedling establishment. Climate-change projections are key to the application of current environmental models for development of mitigation and adaptation strategies and for management practices that require a multidecadal planning horizon. Adoption of new weather technology will require collaboration between land managers and revegetation specialists and modifications to the way we currently plan and conduct rangeland rehabilitation and restoration in the Intermountain West. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:01 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:54:47 PM Tags: o adaptive management o climate o forecasting o planning o rehabilitation o restoration o revegetation o weather * Germination Syndromes and Their Relevance to Rangeland Seeding Strategies in the Intermountain Western United States Type Journal Article Author Stuart P. Hardegree Author Roger L. Sheley Author Jeremy J. James Author Patrick A. Reeves Author Christopher M. Richards Author Christina T. Walters Author Chad S. Boyd Author Corey A. Moffet Author Gerald N. Flerchinger URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742419301009__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv7c2_1GM$ Volume 73 Issue 2 Pages 334-341 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date March 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2019.11.004 Abstract Rangelands in the western United States exhibit extremely high temporal variability in seedbed microclimate, and this variability contributes to poor establishment of revegetation species that are typically planted in the fall. We conducted long-term simulations of cumulative germination as a function of planting date and identified alternative germination syndromes based on population-level responses to environmental variability. These germination syndromes reveal ecologically significant differences but also noteworthy similarities in species and seed lot response that can inform rangeland restoration planning and management. Seed germination may occur much sooner than assumed under the traditional paradigm of fall-planting/spring-emergence in the intermountain western United States, and seed germination per se does not appear to be a bottleneck for successful establishment in most years. Instead, simulations of germination response support recent hypotheses that postgermination/preemergent mortality may be the larger contributor to poor seedling establishment. Our data support two general strategies to improve the likelihood of seedling survival into the spring: seeding as late as possible in the fall and active diversification of germination syndromes within a given seed mix. Consistent application of these strategies could increase the probability that some seeds are always available to take advantage of any pulse of seedbed favorability in the late fall, winter, or early spring. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:01 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:54:27 PM Tags: o germination rate o germination syndrome o hydrothermal o seed o seedbed o weather variability * Forum: Iterative-Adaptive Management and Contingency-Based Restoration Planning in Variable Environment Type Journal Article Author Stuart P. Hardegree Author Roger A. Sheley Author Mark W. Brunson Author Michael H. Taylor Author Corey A. Moffet URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742418300927__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv_2wjHu4$ Volume 72 Issue 2 Pages 217-224 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date March 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2018.09.006 Abstract Millions of hectares of sagebrush/bunchgrass rangeland in the western United States are undergoing type conversion to systems dominated by introduced annual grasses that proliferate after wildfire. Postfire rehabilitation and restoration are problematic in these complex systems, but restoration difficulties are exacerbated by high annual and seasonal variability in precipitation and persistent drought. Successful restoration of compositional, structural, and functional diversity in these weather-limited systems may require relatively long-term, iterative management that incorporates flexibility in the definition of the aspirational/goal state. Restoration planning should also explicitly accommodate a lack of predictability of individual-year management results and expectations of only partial success of individual-year management treatments. This planning environment may require rapid assessment and contingency planning in the short term but also long-term persistence to overcome expected failures and setbacks. New methodologies are needed to increase biodiversity without damaging previously established plants, and new metrics need to be developed to monitor successional trajectories between initial and multiple-potential goal states. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:17 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:54:23 PM Tags: o adaptive management o planning o rehabilitation o restoration o weather * Semi-automated mapping of burned areas in semi-arid ecosystems using MODIS time-series imagery Type Journal Article Author Leonardo A. Hardtke Author Paula D. Blanco Author Héctor F.del Valle Author Graciela I. Metternicht Author Walter F. Sione URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S030324341400261X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvCHo-P0M$ Volume 38 Pages 25-35 Publication International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation ISSN 0303-2434 Date June 1, 2015 Journal Abbr International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation DOI 10.1016/j.jag.2014.11.011 Abstract Understanding spatial and temporal patterns of burned areas at regional scales, provides a long-term perspective of fire processes and its effects on ecosystems and vegetation recovery patterns, and it is a key factor to design prevention and post-fire restoration plans and strategies. Remote sensing has become the most widely used tool to detect fire affected areas over large tracts of land (e.g., ecosystem, regional and global levels). Standard satellite burned area and active fire products derived from the 500-m Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and the Satellite Pour l’Observation de la Terre (SPOT) are available to this end. However, prior research caution on the use of these global-scale products for regional and sub-regional applications. Consequently, we propose a novel semi-automated algorithm for identification and mapping of burned areas at regional scale. The semi-arid Monte shrublands, a biome covering 240,000km2 in the western part of Argentina, and exposed to seasonal bushfires was selected as the test area. The algorithm uses a set of the normalized burned ratio index products derived from MODIS time series; using a two-phased cycle, it firstly detects potentially burned pixels while keeping a low commission error (false detection of burned areas), and subsequently labels them as seed patches. Region growing image segmentation algorithms are applied to the seed patches in the second-phase, to define the perimeter of fire affected areas while decreasing omission errors (missing real burned areas). Independently-derived Landsat ETM+ burned-area reference data was used for validation purposes. Additionally, the performance of the adaptive algorithm was assessed against standard global fire products derived from MODIS Aqua and Terra satellites, total burned area (MCD45A1), the active fire algorithm (MOD14); and the L3JRC SPOT VEGETATION 1km GLOBCARBON products. The correlation between the size of burned areas detected by the global fire products and independently-derived Landsat reference data ranged from R2=0.01–0.28, while our algorithm performed showed a stronger correlation coefficient (R2=0.96). Our findings confirm prior research calling for caution when using the global fire products locally or regionally. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:39 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:39 PM Tags: o Burned area o Bushfires o Image segmentation o MODIS o Normalized burn ratio o Rangelands o Time series * Prairie restorations and bees: The potential ability of seed mixes to foster native bee communities Type Journal Article Author Alexandra N. Harmon-Threatt Author Stephen D. Hendrix URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1439179114001492__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv-JZnX7s$ Volume 16 Issue 1 Pages 64-72 Publication Basic and Applied Ecology ISSN 1439-1791 Date February 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Basic and Applied Ecology DOI 10.1016/j.baae.2014.11.001 Abstract Restoring native habitat is considered critical to conserving native pollinators threatened by habitat loss and degradation, but little is known about whether ecological restorations, most of which do not target pollinators, can predictably support pollinator communities. In this study we compare plant species richness in common commercial prairie seed mixes to remnant prairies, and we take a modeling approach to examine the ability of these seed mixes to attract bee communities relative to native prairie remnants. Using a large data set from native prairies in Iowa consisting of 70 bee species (≈2700 bee specimens) associated with 54 native prairie plants, we constructed species accumulation curves to model the number of bee species potentially attracted to a restoration with the addition of each plant in a seed mix. Our modeling results indicate commercial prairie mixes will accumulate species at rates similar to prairie remnants, but the bee species richness will be lower than remnants because the plant species richness in samples from prairie remnants is twice that of the average commercial seed mix. However, when commercially available seed mixes were modeled to always include four plant species that were exceptionally attractive to native bee species, most mixes attracted significantly more bees than predicted if random species were added. This further suggests that seed mixes and the resulting restorations do not adequately provide for pollinators and could be significantly improved with the addition of a small number of species. Although the particular optimal species additions to seed mixes will vary regionally, adding species functionally equivalent to those we identify may significantly improve restoration of ecological services provided by native bees. Zusammenfassung Die Wiederherstellung von natürlichen Lebensräumen ist entscheidend für den Schutz einheimischer Bestäuber, die durch Habitatverlust und -degeneration bedroht sind, aber wenig ist darüber bekannt, ob ökologische Renaturierungen, die meist nicht auf die Bestäubergemeinschaften abzielen, diese vorhersagbar fördern können. In dieser Untersuchung vergleichen wir den Artenreichtum der Pflanzen in üblichen Samenmischungen zur Prärierenaturierung, und wir wählten einen Modellierungsansatz, um die Attraktivität dieser Samenmischungen für Bestäuber im Vergleich zu natürlichen Präriefragmenten abzuschätzen. Wir nutzten einen großen Datensatz bestehend aus 70 Bienenarten (∼2700 Individuen) und 54 einheimischen Präriepflanzen in natürlichen Prärien in Iowa und konstruierten Artenakkumulationskurven, um die Zahl der Bienenarten zu bestimmen, die potentiell bei einer Renaturierung durch eine zusätzliche Pflanzenart in einer Saatmischung hinzugewonnen werden könnte. Unsere Modellierungsergebnisse zeigen, dass kommerzielle Präriemischungen Arten in ähnlicher Weise akkumulieren wie natürliche Präriefragmente. Dabei wird aber der Artenreichtum der Bienen geringer als in den Präriefragmenten sein, weil hier der Artenreichtum doppelt so hoch ist wie in kommerziellen Samenmischungen. Wenn indessen kommerziell angebotene Samenmischungen im Modell so verändert wurden, dass sie immer vier für Bienen außergewöhnlich attraktive Pflanzenarten enthielten, zogen die meisten Mischungen signifikant mehr Bienenarten an als bei Hinzufügung zufälliger Arten zu erwarten gewesen wäre. Dies legt desweiteren nahe, dass Samenmischungen und die resultierenden Renaturierungen Bestäuber nicht adäquat versorgen und durch die Zugabe von einigen wenigen Samenarten signifikant verbessert werden könnten. Wenn auch im Einzelnen die optimalen Ergänzungen regional variieren können, könnte die Ergänzung mit Pflanzenarten, die funktionell denen, die wir identifizierten, entsprechen, die Wiederherstellung von Ökosystemdiensten, die von einheimischen Bienen geleistet werden, signifikant verbessern. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:22 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:22 PM Tags: o Bee conservation o Bee richness o Grasslands. o Iowa o Native plants o Pollinator o Prairie * Using landscape habitat associations to prioritize areas of conservation action for terrestrial birds Type Journal Article Author Tyler M. Harms Author Kevin T. Murphy Author Xiaodan Lyu Author Shane S. Patterson Author Karen E. Kinkead Author Stephen J. Dinsmore Author Paul W. Frese URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0173041__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvCjLnVXc$ Volume 12 Issue 3 Pages e0173041 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Mar 16, 2017 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0173041 Accessed 2020-03-12, 3:29:50 PM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract Predicting species distributions has long been a valuable tool to plan and focus efforts for biodiversity conservation, particularly because such an approach allows researchers and managers to evaluate species distribution changes in response to various threats. Utilizing data from a long-term monitoring program and land cover data sets, we modeled the probability of occupancy and colonization for 38 bird Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) in the robust design occupancy modeling framework, and used results from the best models to predict occupancy and colonization on the Iowa landscape. Bird surveys were conducted at 292 properties from April to October, 2006–2014. We calculated landscape habitat characteristics at multiple spatial scales surrounding each of our surveyed properties to be used in our models and then used kriging in ArcGIS to create predictive maps of species distributions. We validated models with data from 2013 using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Probability of occupancy ranged from 0.001 (SE < 0.001) to 0.995 (SE = 0.004) for all species and probability of colonization ranged from 0.001 (SE < 0.001) to 0.999 (SE < 0.001) for all species. AUC values for predictive models ranged from 0.525–0.924 for all species, with 17 species having predictive models considered useful (AUC > 0.70). The most important predictor for occupancy of grassland birds was percentage of the landscape in grassland habitat, and the most important predictor for woodland birds was percentage of the landscape in woodland habitat. This emphasizes the need for managers to restore specific habitats on the landscape. In an era during which funding continues to decrease for conservation agencies, our approach aids in determining where to focus limited resources to best conserve bird species of conservation concern. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:29:50 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:29:50 PM Tags: o Agriculture o Birds o Conservation science o Forecasting o Grasslands o Species colonization o Wetlands o Wildlife Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Restoring productive rangelands: A comparative assessment of selective and non-selective chemical bush control in a semi-arid Kalahari savanna Type Journal Article Author Christiaan J. Harmse Author Klaus Kellner Author Niels Dreber URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196316301434__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv0ZFcT30$ Volume 135 Pages 39-49 Publication Journal of Arid Environments ISSN 0140-1963 Date December 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Journal of Arid Environments DOI 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2016.08.009 Abstract The chemical control of thickened woody savanna layers is a common practice applied in southern Africa to release the grass layer from competitive pressure and restore the economic viability of rangelands. We comparatively assessed the composition, density and production of the grass layer in relation to the woody vegetation structure following the selective control of increaser woody species (SC) and non-selective control of the whole woody layer (NSC) in a semi-arid Kalahari savanna. Vegetation states associated with bush-thickening preventative range management (PRM) served as a benchmark. The SC treatment created a well-structured woody layer and favored the development of a grassy savanna state with abundant valuable forage grasses, as found under PRM. Despite a high dry matter production and density of grasses, NSC rangelands appeared to be unstable. Results indicate that NSC facilitates the development of a dense woody recruitment layer that counteracts a favorable grass layer development. We conclude that SC is conditionally more effective in restoring a relatively stable and desirable bush-grass ratio for commercial farming purposes, whereas NSC increases the risk of vegetation transition back to a bush-dominated state. While essential in combination with both treatments, NSC demands an increased effort of follow-up control of woody recruits. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:09 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:54:27 PM Tags: o Arboricide o Bush encroachment o Rangeland management o Restoration o Tree-grass interactions * Herbivory and Competition of Tibetan Steppe Vegetation in Winter Pasture: Effects of Livestock Exclosure and Plateau Pika Reduction Type Journal Article Author Richard B. Harris Author Wang Wenying Author Badinqiuying Author Andrew T. Smith Author Donald J. Bedunah URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0132897__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvIvTXeFk$ Volume 10 Issue 7 Pages e0132897 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Jul 24, 2015 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0132897 Accessed 2020-03-12, 12:23:42 AM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract Rangeland degradation has been identified as a serious concern in alpine regions of western China on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau (QTP). Numerous government-sponsored programs have been initiated, including many that feature long-term grazing prohibitions and some that call for eliminating pastoralism altogether. As well, government programs have long favored eliminating plateau pikas (Ochotona curzoniae), assumed to contribute to degraded conditions. However, vegetation on the QTP evolved in the presence of herbivory, suggesting that deleterious effects from grazing are, to some extent, compensated for by reduced plant-plant competition. We examined the dynamics of common steppe ecosystem species as well as physical indicators of rangeland stress by excluding livestock and reducing pika abundance on experimental plots, and following responses for 4 years. We established 12 fenced livestock exclosures within pastures grazed during winter by local pastoralists, and removed pikas on half of these. We established paired, permanent vegetation plots within and outside exclosures and measured indices of erosion and biomass of common plant species. We observed modest restoration of physical site conditions (reduced bare soil, erosion, greater vegetation cover) with both livestock exclusion and pika reduction. As expected in areas protected from grazing, we observed a reduction in annual productivity of plant species avoided by livestock and assumed to compete poorly when protected from grazing. Contrary to expectation, we observed similar reductions in annual productivity among palatable, perennial graminoids under livestock exclusion. The dominant grass, Stipa purpurea, displayed evidence of density-dependent growth, suggesting that intra-specific competition exerted a regulatory effect on annual production in the absence of grazing. Complete grazing bans on winter pastures in steppe habitats on the QTP may assist in the recovery of highly eroded pastures, but may not increase annual vegetative production. Short Title Herbivory and Competition of Tibetan Steppe Vegetation in Winter Pasture Date Added 2020-03-12, 12:23:42 AM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:54:30 PM Tags: o Erosion o Grazing o Herbivory o Livestock o Pikas o Plants o Sheep o Tibetan people Attachments o Full Text PDF o Full Text PDF o Snapshot o Snapshot * Human impact on plant biodiversity in functional floodplains of heavily modified rivers – A comparative study along German Federal Waterways Type Journal Article Author Sarah Harvolk Author Lars Symmank Author Andreas Sundermeier Author Annette Otte Author Tobias W. Donath URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857415301610__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvwuWQSps$ Volume 84 Pages 463-475 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date November 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2015.09.019 Abstract Rivers and their floodplains have been strongly influenced by human actions, such as river training measures, flow regulation, bank stabilization, or intensive land use. These alterations threaten the biodiversity of floodplains. While the effects of individual factors on plant species composition and diversity in riparian systems have been frequently studied, it is yet unknown how multiple stressors act in concert and whether the effects remain visible across regions. We chose the floodplains of German Federal Waterways (rivers with a high frequency of shipping traffic) to study the main drivers of plant species composition and biodiversity along heavily modified rivers and aimed to show whether natural differences obscure the effects of human alterations. We recorded the vegetation of river banks, grassland, and alluvial forest fragments in 20 study sites distributed across Germany. Species composition differed from natural floodplain alliances and showed a trend towards terrestrialization and an increase of common species that show no specific preference for floodplain habitats. Despite natural differences such as topography and climate having the strongest influence on plant composition and diversity, the effects of anthropogenic influence (e.g. land use, shipping traffic) remained visible. River construction tended to increase species diversity since the terrestrial species pool is bigger than the one of floodplain specialists. For restoration and ecological river management not only species numbers but their composition and ecological specifics should be considered, and local conditions need to be taken into account. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:25 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:25 PM Tags: o Dynamics o Management o Multivariate statistics o Rare species o Riparian o River modification * Floodplain meadow restoration revisited: Long-term success of large scale application of diaspore transfer with plant material in restoration practice Type Journal Article Author S. Harvolk-Schöning Author D. Michalska-Hejduk Author M. Harnisch Author A. Otte Author T.W. Donath URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320719302575__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvMeRcmv8$ Volume 241 Pages 108322 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date January 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2019.108322 Abstract Rare and endangered floodplain meadows have been a focus of previous restoration projects, but knowledge about the long-term development of newly created meadows is scarce. We studied the long-term development of sites restored via the transfer of seed-containing plant material on former arable fields and former species-poor grassland. We analyzed the long-term development of the vegetation and tested the differences between former land-use types and former preparatory treatments. In former arable fields, we studied the influence of sowing with a grass seed mixture. In former species-poor grassland, we tested the effect of topsoil disturbance by rotovation to inhibit competition by the resident grassland vegetation. Restoration was generally successful with mean transfer rates (number of meadow species at restoration site/number of meadow species at donor site) of 60%, increased species richness, and high proportions of plant material species in the vegetation. Transfer rates were similar between arable fields and former species-poor grassland, though the number of target species for restoration (typical and/or endangered species) was higher in former arable fields. Communities on grassland sites developed more slowly but were more resilient against flooding. Sowing the grass seed mixture had no influence on restoration success on former arable fields, and the positive effects of rotovating on former species-poor grassland decreased over time. We conclude that the transfer of seed-containing plant material is an adequate method to restore species-rich grasslands that are resilient enough to persevere under floodplain dynamics. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:32 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:32 PM Tags: o Competition o Farming o Flood o Grassland o Resilience o Restoration * Desiccation crisis of saline lakes: A new decision-support framework for building resilience to climate change Type Journal Article Author Amirhossein Hassani Author Adisa Azapagic Author Paolo D'Odorico Author Amir Keshmiri Author Nima Shokri URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969719347096__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv1nIrciw$ Volume 703 Pages 134718 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date February 10, 2020 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134718 Abstract River flow reductions as a result of agricultural withdrawals and climate change are rapidly desiccating endorheic lakes, increasing their salinity and affecting the bio-diversity and human wellbeing in the surrounding areas. Here we present a new framework to guide eco-hydrological restoration of saline lakes and build their resilience to climate change by optimizing agricultural land use and related water withdrawals. The framework involves four steps: 1. selection of global circulation models for the basin under study; 2. establishment of a hydrological balance over the lake’s area to estimate the amount of water required for its restoration; 3. water allocation modeling to determine the water available for restoration and allocation of the remaining water across different users in the lake’s basin; and 4. basin-scale optimization of land use and cropping patterns subject to water availability. We illustrated the general applicability of the framework through the case of the second largest (by volume) hyper-saline lake globally, Lake Urmia, which lost 96% of its volume in only 20 years, primarily as a result of upstream water withdrawals. Through the application of the framework, we estimated the amount of water needed to restore the lake, either fully or partially, and proposed a sustainable land-use strategy, while protect farmers’ income in the basin. Considering future climate change projections under two representative concentration pathways (RCP) 4.5 and 8.5, we found that an average annual surface inflow of 3,648 Mm3 (∼70% increase in RCP 4.5) and 3,692 Mm3 (∼73% increase in RCP 8.5) would be required to restore the lake by 2050, respectively. This would require the respective conversion of 95,600 ha and 133,687 ha of irrigated land to rain-fed cropland or grassland across the basin by 2050. The proposed framework can be used for building resilience to climate change and mitigating human-induced threats to other declining saline lakes. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:23:00 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:23:00 PM Tags: o Ecosystem services o Lake restoration o Lake Urmia o Land use management o Optimal cropping patterns o Saline lakes * Assessing the effectiveness of riparian restoration projects using Landsat and precipitation data from the cloud-computing application ClimateEngine.org Type Journal Article Author Mark B. Hausner Author Justin L. Huntington Author Caroline Nash Author Charles Morton Author Daniel J. McEvoy Author David S. Pilliod Author Katherine C. Hegewisch Author Britta Daudert Author John T. Abatzoglou Author Gordon Grant URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857418302374__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvhtQzAqk$ Volume 120 Pages 432-440 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date September 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2018.06.024 Abstract Riparian vegetation along streams provides a suite of ecosystem services in rangelands and thus is the target of restoration when degraded by over-grazing, erosion, incision, or other disturbances. Assessments of restoration effectiveness depend on defensible monitoring data, which can be both expensive and difficult to collect. We present a method and case study to evaluate the effectiveness of restoration of riparian vegetation using a web-based cloud-computing and visualization tool (ClimateEngine.org) to access and process remote sensing and climate data. Restoration efforts on an Eastern Oregon ranch were assessed by analyzing the riparian areas of four creeks that had in-stream restoration structures constructed between 2008 and 2011. Within each study area, we retrieved spatially and temporally aggregated values of summer (June, July, August) normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and total precipitation for each water year (October-September) from 1984 to 2017. We established a pre-restoration (1984–2007) linear regression between total water year precipitation and summer NDVI for each study area, and then compared the post-restoration (2012–2017) data to this pre-restoration relationship. In each study area, the post-restoration NDVI-precipitation relationship was statistically distinct from the pre-restoration relationship, suggesting a change in the fundamental relationship between precipitation and NDVI resulting from stream restoration. We infer that the in-stream structures, which raised the water table in the adjacent riparian areas, provided additional water to the streamside vegetation that was not available before restoration and reduced the dependence of riparian vegetation on precipitation. This approach provides a cost-effective, quantitative method for assessing the effects of stream restoration projects on riparian vegetation. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:04 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:54:31 PM Tags: o Climate Engine o Google Earth Engine o In-stream structures o Landsat o NDVI o Precipitation o Remote sensing o Riparian vegetation o Stream restoration * Restoration potential of invaded abandoned agricultural fields: what does the seed bank tell us? Type Journal Article Author Natalie S. Haussmann Author Christopher Delport Author Vincent Kakembo Author Katlego K. Mashiane Author Peter C. le Roux URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12923__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvgzqt1cE$ Rights © 2019 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 27 Issue 4 Pages 813-820 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2019 DOI 10.1111/rec.12923 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:23:58 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Soil seed banks can play an important role in the restoration of degraded ecosystems, especially where indigenous species are well represented in, and invasive species are largely absent from, the seed bank. Here, we studied the potential contribution of the soil seed bank to the restoration of invaded, abandoned agricultural fields in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. We recorded the aboveground cover and belowground abundance of all vascular plant species from 120 quadrats that differ in cover of the extralimital woody invader, Pteronia incana. Our results show that higher cover of P. incana is associated with lower species richness, aboveground cover, and belowground seed abundance. Furthermore, community similarity between the above- and belowground component was low, with the seed bank and standing vegetation having only 15 species in common and 49 species being recorded only from the seed bank. We suggest that this large number of seed bank-only species is a relic of previous vegetation, prior to large-scale invasion by P. incana. The most important finding from our study is the absence of P. incana from the soil seed bank. This finding, combined with the large number of mostly native species from the seed bank, holds promise from a restoration perspective. However, given the susceptibility of the invaded systems to erosion, coupled with the low grazing value of the seed bank species, we suggest that P. incana removal should be accompanied by both erosion control measures and reseeding with palatable grass species, to secure the livelihoods of local communities. Short Title Restoration potential of invaded abandoned agricultural fields Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:23:58 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:23:58 PM Tags: o above- and belowground similarity o ecological disturbance o environmental degradation o Pteronia incana o rangeland restoration o shrub invasion Attachments o Snapshot * Local topography affects seed bank successional patterns in alluvial meadows Type Journal Article Author Alena Havrdová Author Jan Douda Author Jana Doudová URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0367253015001231__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvBX2y3Tc$ Volume 217 Pages 155-163 Publication Flora - Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants ISSN 0367-2530 Date November 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Flora - Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants DOI 10.1016/j.flora.2015.10.007 Abstract Seed banks may play a crucial role in the maintenance of community diversity, but their role on semi-natural grasslands, one of the most species rich habitats in Europe, is usually unexplored in population and community studies. We aim to clarify how local factors and topography influence seed bank successional patterns on semi-natural alluvial meadows. All 35 meadows were situated in the Eagle (Orlické) Mountains in the Czech Republic and were divided according to fallow time. Paired plots, represented low and high topography, were established on each meadow. We recorded plant species occurrence in vegetation and in the seed bank to ascertain how seed abundance, diversity and the similarity between seed bank and vegetation were influenced by topography and management. Seed abundance significantly changed, whereas seed diversity remained stable after meadow abandonment. Seed abundance was high in the low topography plots probably due to higher aboveground biomass which promoted seed accumulation. In the high topography plots, seed abundance was low in managed meadows, but seeds were accumulated after abandonment. Similarity between the seed bank and vegetation was low, but over half of the typical meadow species survived in the seed bank for long periods of time, even when they had disappeared from the aboveground vegetation. In conclusion, the local topography of alluvial meadows influenced seed bank successional patterns, mainly seed abundance, similarity between the seed bank and vegetation and responses of individual species in the seed bank. Seed bank successional patterns are dependent on specific habitat conditions and communities with high seed bank accumulation are more stable and better restored than communities where the seed bank has become severely depleted. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:12 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:12 PM Tags: o Land abandonment o Meadow restoration o Moisture o Plant biomass o Soil nutrients o Species diversity * Prescribed burning to affect a state transition in a shrub-encroached desert grassland Type Journal Article Author K.M. Havstad Author D. James URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196310001771__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv-G_Lbl4$ Volume 74 Issue 10 Pages 1324-1328 Publication Journal of Arid Environments ISSN 0140-1963 Date October 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Journal of Arid Environments DOI 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2010.05.035 Abstract Prescribed burning is a commonly advocated and historical practice for control of woody species encroachment into grasslands on all continents. However, desert grasslands of the southwestern United States often lack needed herbaceous fuel loads for effective prescriptions, dominant perennial graminoids may have poor fire tolerance, and some systems contain fire-tolerant invasive species. We examined long-term vegetation responses of a black grama (Bouteloua eriopoda Torr.) grassland that had been invaded by honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) following a single prescribed burn. Vegetation responses to a 1995 prescribed burn were evaluated in a replicated randomized complete block design with a 2×2 factorial treatment structure. Treatments were prescribed burning and livestock exclusion for both a grassland-dominated and a shrub-encroached grassland state within a complex of sandy and shallow sandy ecological sites. Vegetation responses were measured in 2008, 13 years after the burn treatment application. Neither black grama basal cover nor honey mesquite canopy cover were responsive (p<0.05) to any treatment. A single prescribed burn would be ineffective as a shrub control practice in this environment. Repeated but infrequent prescribed burning within shrub-encroached vegetative states, when used in combination with managed grazing, may be the management required for a transition to desert grassland states within these ecological sites. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:39 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:54:33 PM Tags: o Black grama o Ecological sites o Fire o Mesquite control o Rangeland restoration o Sandy ecological site * Grazing intensity impacts soil carbon and nitrogen storage of continental steppe Type Journal Article Author N. P. He Author Y. H. Zhang Author Q. Yu Author Q. S. Chen Author Q. M. Pan Author G. M. Zhang Author X. G. Han URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1890/ES10-00017.1__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvvtpI63k$ Volume 2 Issue 1 Pages art8 Publication Ecosphere ISSN 2150-8925 Date January 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Ecosphere DOI 10.1890/ES10-00017.1 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Recent studies have underscored the importance of grasslands as potential carbon (C) sinks. We performed a grazing experiment with seven stocking rates (SR0, SR1.5, SR3.0, SR4.5, SR6.0, SR7.5, and SR9.0 for 0, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5, 6.0, 7.5, and 9.0 sheep ha?1, respectively) to investigate the effect of increasing grazing pressure on soil C and nitrogen (N) storage in the temperate grasslands of northern China. The results revealed that C and N storage in both 0?10 cm and 10?30 cm soil layers decreased linearly with increasing stocking rates. Carbon storage in the 0?10 cm soil layer was significantly higher in lightly grazed grasslands than in heavily grazed grasslands after a 5-yr grazing treatment. Our findings suggest an underlying transformation from soil C sequestration under light grazing to C loss under heavy grazing, and that the threshold for this transformation is 4.5 sheep ha?1 (grazing period from June to September). Results confirmed that grasslands used for grazing in northern China have the capacity to sequester C in the soil under appropriate grazing pressure, but that they lose C under heavy grazing. Therefore, appropriate grazer densities will promote soil C sequestration in the grasslands of northern China. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:52:04 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:52:04 PM Tags: o grazing o grassland o carbon sequestration o carbon o carbon storage o nitrogen o soil fraction Notes: o doi: 10.1890/ES10-00017.1 * Spatial and seasonal variations of soil salinity following vegetation restoration in coastal saline land in eastern China Type Journal Article Author Bin He Author Yongli Cai Author Wenrui Ran Author Hong Jiang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816214000630__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvvBFr_sA$ Volume 118 Pages 147-153 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date July 1, 2014 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2014.02.007 Abstract Ecological restoration by plants on coastal saline lands affects salt accumulation, distribution patterns and related mechanisms. In Chongmind Island, eastern China, we explored the way vegetation restoration affected the profile distributions of soil moisture and salinity in various seasons in naturally salt-affected coastal saline land. In four types of vegetation, five soil cores were acquired in the ∼80cm depth range and the sampling depths of the five cores were respectively 0–10cm, 10–20cm, 20–40cm, 40–60cm, and 60–80cm. Soil moisture firstly decreased and then increased with the depth in woodland and shrubland, while soil moisture consistently increased in grassland and control plots. Salt profiles showed the higher values in surface soil in control plots, whereas the pattern of soil salinity showed the reverse trend under vegetation. The effect of vegetation restoration on the profile distributions of salt is significant. In control plots, soil moisture and salinity showed a clear seasonal trend. Soil moisture values were the highest in spring and the lowest in autumn, when values of soil salinity were the highest in summer and the lowest in winter. Relative to control plots, the seasonal trend of soil moisture and salinity under vegetation appeared to be complex for no clear trend was observed. It can be concluded that plant communities significantly affect the spatial–temporal distribution of soil salinity. The selection of plant species is important in the reclamation of costal saline land. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:33 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:54:34 PM Tags: o Coastal saline land o Profile distribution o Seasonal variation o Soil moisture o Soil salinity o Vegetation restoration * Evaluation of the environmental effects of intensive land consolidation: A field-based case study of the Chinese Loess Plateau Type Journal Article Author Meina He Author Yunqiang Wang Author Yongping Tong Author Yali Zhao Author Xiaoke Qiang Author Yougui Song Author Li Wang Author Yi Song Author Guangdong Wang Author Chunxiong He URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264837719310889__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvSjBXrd4$ Volume 94 Pages 104523 Publication Land Use Policy ISSN 0264-8377 Date May 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Land Use Policy DOI 10.1016/j.landusepol.2020.104523 Abstract The large-scale implementation of the Grain for Green project on the Chinese Loess Plateau since 1999 has greatly increased the vegetation coverage and rapidly decreased the agricultural land by converting slope cropland to planted vegetation (forest and grasslands). However, the geological, hydrological, ecological, and agricultural effects of the Gully Land Consolidation (GLC) project launched at Yan’an City in 2011 to address these land-use problems are not clearly understood. To assess the project outcomes in this region, we examined 71 of the 193 subprojects (61 treated gullies and 10 untreated gullies); measured geological, hydrological, ecological, and agricultural indices in the field; and tested disturbed (n = 447) and undisturbed (n = 142) soil samples (e.g., particle size distribution, saturated hydraulic conductivity, bulk density, and heavy metal contents). We found that: (1) slope stability improved for 67 % of the subprojects, (2) severe swamping was found only for 2 % of the subprojects, (3) the average increase in NDVI was 0.0231, 69 % of treated gullies NDVI was increased, and (4) crop yield was overall improved. There were no significant differences between the treated and untreated gullies in soil texture, saturated hydraulic conductivity, bulk density, or heavy metal contents (Cr, Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb), although particle size contents (range of 0.05 mm – 0.20 mm) differed significantly (p < 0.05). To promote successful gully land consolidation, the GLC project should (1) prioritize slope stability and long-term maintenance of water preservation facilities in gullies, (2) use bioengineering to accelerate the maturation of newly created land, or develop new cropping system after the GLC project; (3) on the basis of Grain for Green, integrate the GLC project, and modern agriculture to be complementary. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:24 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:24 PM Tags: o Eco-hydrological effect o Environmental factor o Gully land consolidation o Land management o Land restoration o Soil physicochemical property * 12.10 - Climate Regulation as a Service from Estuarine and Coastal Ecosystems Type Book Section Author S. Heckbert Author R. Costanza Author E.S. Poloczanska Author A.J. Richardson Editor Eric Wolanski Editor Donald McLusky URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780123747112012110__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvLL9oI6o$ Place Waltham Publisher Academic Press Pages 199-216 ISBN 978-0-08-087885-0 Date January 1, 2011 Extra DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-374711-2.01211-0 Abstract Coastal regions, at the interface between terrestrial and oceanic ecosystems, play an important role in global biogeochemical cycles. This chapter reviews the climate regulation services of estuarine and coastal ecosystems (ECEs) including tidal salt marshes, mangroves, seagrass beds, macroalgal forests, coral reefs, and coastal shelf ecosystems. ECEs regulate global and regional climates by sequestering or releasing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases (GHGs). ECEs are extremely productive biologically, with net primary production rates per unit area among the highest of any ecosystem. Consequently, ECEs play a globally significant role as carbon sinks, with carbon storage rates per unit area of many habitats far exceeding that of land habitats at the rate of about 10 times that of temperate terrestrial forests and 50 times that of tropical forests. Furthermore, sedimentation does not reach an equilibrium carbon balance as occurs in terrestrial systems, whose sequestration capacity is forecasted to decrease this century. Conversely, they are large potential sources of GHG’s if disturbed or mismanaged. Critically, carbon sequestration in many coastal habitats is superior to that of terrestrial habitats, as carbon is generally stored over long time frames (thousands of years) as a consequence of the large belowground biomass and the absence of fire threat. Furthermore, carbon is generally broken down anaerobically; hence, emissions of other potent GHGs such as methane and nitrous oxide are negligible. A review of literature provided sequestration rates for various coastal habitats. Using these in combination with global extent of selected habitats, this chapter finds that GHGs worldwide, mangroves, seagrass beds, and salt marshes combine to sequester a minimum of 136000 tonnes C annually into long-term carbon storage. Assuming prices of CO2e from $10 to $90 per tonne, the value of the annual sequestration is $5–45billion. This is an underestimate due to data gaps and, the limited assessment of the area of these three coastal ecosystem habitats, and relates only to long-term storage. The figures do not include short-term carbon storage in biomass, and further unaccounted for carbon sequestration occurs in kelp forests, estuaries, and coastal shelf seas. Many ECEs are under threat globally from sea-level rise, coastal development, pollution, and other anthropogenic stressors, and protection and restoration of ECEs may be an important tool for mitigating climate change. Currently, these habitats are not included in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) carbon accounting frameworks, and therefore are excluded from incentive schemes such as carbon markets and other incentive programs, but their inclusion deserves consideration due to their potential for mitigating global climate change. The global distribution of C sequestration in ECEs reveals that large areas of the tropics are home to the highest sequestration rates and occur in developing countries, which also have the highest rates of coastal habitat degradation. Schemes such as Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) may bring revenues and added benefits to developing countries for instigating projects and marine protected areas for conservation. Many small island nations and developing countries in the tropics are particularly vulnerable to climate change and contain large swathes of seagrasses and mangroves compared to overall land area, but do not contain large areas of forests or grasslands, which would apply to REDD in its current form. Coastal habitats thus not only present an untapped potential for inclusion in climate change mitigation schemes, but also present a little-recognized risk of loss of large carbon stocks if their degradation and destruction are not reduced or halted. Book Title Treatise on Estuarine and Coastal Science Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:32:09 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:32:09 PM Tags: o Carbon sequestration o Climate change mitigation o Coastal ecosystems o Ecosystem services o Mangrove o Salt marsh o Seagrass * New nature by sowing? The current state of species introduction in grassland restoration, and the road ahead Type Journal Article Author Petter Hedberg Author Wiktor Kotowski URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1617138110000051__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvs56GDik$ Volume 18 Issue 4 Pages 304-308 Publication Journal for Nature Conservation ISSN 1617-1381 Date December 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Journal for Nature Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.jnc.2010.01.003 Abstract Semi-natural grasslands are some of the most threatened habitats on the planet, due to the abandonment of small-scale farming and its replacement with intensive agriculture. The fragmented landscape of today has created dispersal limitation that makes improbable the natural dispersal of target species into the remaining patches of grassland. This paper reviews the current status of species introduction into semi-natural grasslands, and summarises the results of published literature in this field. Our review shows that restoration through species introduction is an effective method of establishing dispersal limited species. However, the field of species introduction in restoration ecology has yet to make use of the value that Functional Diversity can add to restoration. No single study in our search has followed up species introduction by measuring any of the currently available indices of functional diversity. This approach is necessary to gain knowledge on what traits are likely to be sorted out in species introduction cases in various environments. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:29 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:29 PM Tags: o Community o Community-assembly o Diaspore-transfer o Dispersal-limitation o Functional diversity o Hay-transfer o Review o Seed-transfer * Hemiparasite-density effects on grassland plant diversity, composition and biomass Type Journal Article Author Nico Heer Author Fabian Klimmek Author Christoph Zwahlen Author Markus Fischer Author Norbert Hölzel Author Valentin H. Klaus Author Till Kleinebecker Author Daniel Prati Author Steffen Boch URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1433831916301354__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv9GRSzgA$ Volume 32 Pages 22-29 Publication Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics ISSN 1433-8319 Date June 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics DOI 10.1016/j.ppees.2018.01.004 Abstract Hemiparasitic plants are considered ecosystem engineers because they can modify the interactions between hosts and other organisms. Thereby, they may affect vegetation structure, community dynamics and facilitate coexistence as they are able to reduce interspecific competition by parasitizing selectively on competitive species and promote subordinate ones. In agri-environmental schemes, introducing the hemiparasite Rhinanthus has therefore been suggested as a low-cost method to increase grassland plant diversity, which is still subject to debate. The majority of previous studies simply compared sites with and without hemiparasites. However, as hemiparasite effects are most likely density-dependent, we present a novel approach assessing the effect of Rhinanthus alectorolophus density on grassland plant diversity, yield and community biomass quality. Moreover, we investigated whether functional plant composition and community mean traits are affected by Rhinanthus density, which has been largely neglected in previous studies. The relationship between species richness and relative Rhinanthus biomass followed an optimum curve with highest values at 31% relative Rhinanthus biomass. At this Rhinanthus-biomass level, species richness was increased by 12% and yield decreased by 26% compared with plots without Rhinanthus. At relative Rhinanthus biomass >60%, species richness was even lower than in plots without Rhinanthus. Overall, the biomass of grasses and the cumulative cover of legumes decreased linearly with increasing relative Rhinanthus biomass. Community mean trait analysis revealed that an increasing Rhinanthus density shifts the community composition towards smaller plant species. Biomass quality was not affected by increasing relative Rhinanthus biomass. In summary, our results of increased plant diversity – in line with a slightly lower yield but similar community biomass quality – indicate that Rhinanthus is a suitable biological tool for grassland restoration. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:31 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:31 PM Tags: o Biomass quality o Community mean traits o Near infrared spectroscopy o Yield * Fragmentation and environmental constraints influence genetic diversity and germination of Stipa pennata in natural steppes Type Journal Article Author Steffen Heinicke Author Isabell Hensen Author Christoph Rosche Author Dennis Hanselmann Author Polina D. Gudkova Author Marina M. Silanteva Author Karsten Wesche URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0367253016300913__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv1HveYrY$ Volume 224 Pages 42-49 Publication Flora ISSN 0367-2530 Date September 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Flora DOI 10.1016/j.flora.2016.06.003 Abstract Human impact and fragmentation often have negative effects on plant population sizes. This can lead to declining genetic diversity due to restricted gene flow and genetic bottlenecks, and eventually result in reduced reproductive fitness. Environmental conditions can also influence the genetic structure of populations and directly affect their reproduction success. For Stipa pennata, the key species of largely natural steppes in southern Siberia, using AFLP we tested whether genetic variability and germination are negatively influenced by fragmentation, and assessed the influence of local environmental conditions. Genetic diversity was moderately high (mean percentage of polymorphic bands=38.4%), with high genetic differentiation occurring between populations (ΦST=0.547). Genetic variation was mainly partitioned (41.8%) between two distinct grassland types. Isolation negatively affected genetic diversity, highlighting that fragmentation had an impact on genetic structure. Higher mean precipitation negatively influenced population size, population density and genetic diversity. The speed of seed germination was correlated positively with population size and negatively with vegetation cover, while we found no evidence for negative effects of low genetic diversity on percentage of seed germination. The presence of different genetic groups shows that populations have adapted to a range of environments. Germination speed also differed between groups, as a consequence of maternal effects or of adaption to certain environmental conditions. Our results show that fragmentation can have potentially strong effects even in natural grasslands. We recommend that any future restoration schemes take the observed pronounced genetic differentiation into account. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:11 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:11 PM Tags: o Adaptation o AFLP o Kulunda-steppe o Population-genetic structure o Precipitation o Vegetation * Control of Molinia caerulea by cutting management on sub-alpine grassland Type Journal Article Author Michal Hejcman Author Michaela Češková Author Vilém Pavlů URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S036725301000068X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvp9FWoso$ Volume 205 Issue 9 Pages 577-582 Publication Flora - Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants ISSN 0367-2530 Date September 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Flora - Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants DOI 10.1016/j.flora.2010.04.019 Abstract There has been a considerable expansion of Molinia caerulea after the cessation of cutting management of Nardus stricta sub-alpine grasslands in the Giant Mts. (Krkonoše/Karkonosze/Riesengebirge, the Czech Republic) in the last 50 years. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the reestablishment of traditional management (one cut per year in late July) could reverse Molinia encroachment and help to restore the original Nardus grassland. The cover of Molinia significantly decreased from 79% to 7%, the height of the canopy from 45 to 14cm, biomass production from 313 to 54gm−2 and panicle density from 129 to 18/m2 after 6 years of cutting management. During the course of the experiment, no seedlings of Nardus were recorded in mown plots, although Nardus was common in the neighborhood. After Molinia retreat bare ground was partly colonized by Avenella flexuosa and partly remained free of vegetation. No significant effect of cutting management on species richness per 1m2 was recorded. Cutting significantly decreased K availability in the soil, although the amount of K removed was only 8g/m2 over 6 years. The N:P, N:K and K:P ratios in the plant biomass were not significantly affected by mowing compared to the unmanaged control, indicating P and K limitation but not N limitation in both treatments. Reestablishment of traditional management (one cut per year in late July) reversed Molinia encroachment but did not increase species richness or restore the original Nardus grassland over 6 years. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:56 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:56 PM Tags: o Avenella flexuosa o Mowing and defoliation o N:P ratio o Nardus stricta o Nitrogen o Phosphorus o Potassium o Restoration * Testing the generality of hemiparasitic plant effects on mesotrophic grasslands: A multi-site experiment Type Journal Article Author Kalle Hellström Author James M. Bullock Author Richard F. Pywell URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1439179111000259__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvNzTxGcw$ Volume 12 Issue 3 Pages 235-243 Publication Basic and Applied Ecology ISSN 1439-1791 Date May 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Basic and Applied Ecology DOI 10.1016/j.baae.2011.02.010 Abstract Restoration of species-rich, semi-natural grasslands is one of the key conservation challenges in Europe. Many of these grasslands have lost their diversity due to agricultural intensification. A new tool to facilitate restoration is to introduce hemiparasitic plants such as Rhinanthus species. R. minor accelerates restoration by decreasing the biomass of competitive plants and creating gaps which benefit colonising species. Questions remain about the generality of these impacts and whether R. minor can establish and facilitate community change in more productive grasslands. We addressed these questions by introducing R. minor into 13 mesotrophic grassland sites in southern England. These represented four main soil types and different ages of grasslands (eight permanent grasslands and five temporary ex-arable grasslands). We investigated two treatments using a factorial design: +/− Rhinanthus seed addition and +/− soil surface scarification. Rhinanthus populations established at all but one site. There was high variation in establishment success between the sites (range 0% to 25%), but productivity of the site or nutrient level did not affect establishment. However, scarification improved establishment. Rhinanthus decreased host (mainly grasses and legumes) biomass by between 27 and 37%. Scarification also decreased grass, legume, total and host biomass. There was a strong negative relationship between the abundance of hemiparasites and grass biomass. Non-leguminous herbs were not affected by the treatments, but grassland age had an effect as there were more herbs in permanent grasslands. The results show that it is possible to establish Rhinanthus into different mesotrophic grassland communities representing a variety of soil types and ages, suggesting it is a practical and widely applicable tool for restoration. The considerable variation in the rate of Rhinanthus establishment is unexplained. The factors behind this variation may lie in unfavourable weather conditions during germination and seedling stages, and herbivory. Zusammenfassung Die Wiederherstellung von artenreichen, naturnahen Grasländern ist eine der wichtigsten Herausforderungen für den Naturschutz in Europa. Viele dieser Grasländer haben ihre Vielfalt durch intensivierte Landwirtschaft verloren. Ein neues Werkzeug um die Wiederherstellung zu befördern, besteht darin, hemiparasitische Pflanzen, wie die Arten von Rhinanthus, anzusiedeln. R. minor beschleunigt die Restauration, indem die Biomasse von konkurrenzstarken Pflanzen verringert wird, und durch die Bildung von Lücken, die kolonisierende Arten begünstigen. Es ist aber fraglich, wie generell diese Einflüsse sind, und ob R. minor sich auch in produktiveren Grasländern etablieren und Änderungen in der Gemeinschaft begünstigen kann. Wir untersuchten diese Fragen, indem wir R. minor auf 13 mesotrophen Grasland-Standorten in Südengland aussäten. Diese repräsentierten vier wichtige Bodentypen und unterschiedlich alte Grasländer (acht permanente und fünf temporäre, ehemals beackerte Grasländer). Wir untersuchten zwei Behandlungen in einem faktoriellen Design: mit/ohne Rhinanthus-Saat und mit/ohne Vertikutieren. Rhinanthus-Populationen etablierten sich auf zwölf Standorten. Der Ansiedlungserfolg variierte stark zwischen den Standorten (0 bis 25% der Aussaat), aber Produktivität oder Nährstoffversorgung beeinflussten die Ansiedlung nicht. Dagegen verbesserte das Vertikutieren die Ansiedlung. Rhinanthus reduzierte die Wirtsbiomasse (vorwiegend Gräser und Leguminosen) um 27 bis 37%. Das Vertikutieren reduzierte ebenfalls die Biomasse der Gräser, Leguminosen und Wirtspflanzen sowie die Gesamtbiomasse. Es gab eine starke negative Beziehung zwischen der Abundanz der Hemiparasiten und der Grasbiomasse. Die krautigen Nicht-Leguminosen wurden von den Behandlungen nicht beeinflusst, aber das Alter der Grasländer hatte einen Effekt: Es gab mehr krautige Pflanzen in permanenten Grasländern. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass es möglich ist, Rhinanthus in verschiedenen mesotrophen Graslandgesellschaften anzusiedeln, die unterschiedliche Bodentypen und Altersklassen repräsentieren, was nahelegt, dass dies eine praktische und weithin anwendbare Restaurationsmethode ist. Die erhebliche Variation im Ansiedlungserfolg bleibt unerklärt. Die dahinterstehenden Faktoren könnten ungünstige Witterungsbedingungen während der Keimung und Keimlingsphase oder Herbivorie sein. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:43 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:43 PM Tags: o Agri-environment schemes o Conservation o Restoration * Rapid Buildup of Genetic Diversity in Founder Populations of the Gynodioecious Plant Species Origanum vulgare after Semi-Natural Grassland Restoration Type Journal Article Author Kenny Helsen Author Hans Jacquemyn Author Martin Hermy Author Katrien Vandepitte Author Olivier Honnay URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0067255__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv1Ug-uPc$ Volume 8 Issue 6 Pages e67255 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Jun 19, 2013 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0067255 Accessed 2020-03-12, 3:18:48 PM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract In most landscapes the success of habitat restoration is largely dependent on spontaneous colonization of plant species. This colonization process, and the outcome of restoration practices, can only be considered successful if the genetic makeup of founding populations is not eroded through founder effects and subsequent genetic drift. Here we used 10 microsatellite markers to investigate the genetic effects of recent colonization of the long-lived gynodioecious species Origanum vulgare in restored semi-natural grassland patches. We compared the genetic diversity and differentiation of fourteen recent populations with that of thirteen old, putative source populations, and we evaluated the effects of spatial configuration of the populations on colonization patterns. We did not observe decreased genetic diversity in recent populations, or inflated genetic differentiation among them. Nevertheless, a significantly higher inbreeding coefficient was observed in recent populations, although this was not associated with negative fitness effects. Overall population genetic differentiation was low (FST = 0.040). Individuals of restored populations were assigned to on average 6.1 different source populations (likely following the ‘migrant pool’ model). Gene flow was, however, affected by the spatial configuration of the grasslands, with gene flow into the recent populations mainly originating from nearby source populations. This study demonstrates how spontaneous colonization after habitat restoration can lead to viable populations in a relatively short time, overcoming pronounced founder effects, when several source populations are nearby. Restored populations can therefore rapidly act as stepping stones and sources of genetic diversity, likely increasing overall metapopulation viability of the study species. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:18:48 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:18:48 PM Tags: o Conservation genetics o Gene flow o Grasslands o Heterozygosity o Population genetics o Population size o Seeds o Species diversity Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Plant Community and Target Species Affect Responses to Restoration Strategies Type Journal Article Author John R. Hendrickson Author Corie Lund URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742410500411__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvVQECD80$ Volume 63 Issue 4 Pages 435-442 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date July 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/08-239.1 Abstract Increases in Kentucky bluegrass and smooth bromegrass on northern Great Plains rangelands have the potential to negatively impact ecosystem function, lower plant diversity, and alter seasonal forage distribution, but control strategies are lacking in the region. A project was initiated on a heavily invaded 16-ha grassland that had not been grazed or hayed for at least 20yr. Five restoration treatments and a control were initiated in 2003 on communities dominated by 1) smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.), 2) Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), 3) warm-season native grasses, 4) a mix of introduced species, and 5) smooth bromegrass and Kentucky bluegrass. Restoration treatments were 1) late-April burn, 2) late-April burn followed by imazapic at 511.62mL ai · ha−1, 3) imazapic only at the same rate, 4) mowing, 5) mowing followed by litter removal, and 6) control. We found that treatment responses were affected by target species, community category, and year. Generally, burning followed by the herbicide imazapic reduced Kentucky bluegrass in the species composition, but smooth brome was reduced by mowing followed by raking. Burning followed by imazapic reduced live grass biomass in all community categories except the native the year following treatment, but by the third year of the study live grass biomass was maintained across all treatments. In the third year of the study, responses of Kentucky bluegrass, other invasive species, and native grasses to restoration treatment differed depending on community. The use of burning plus imazapic was promising for control of Kentucky bluegrass but its use by producers may be limited by yield reductions in early years. Our data suggest management strategies should vary depending on whether the goal is to reduce one or several invaders, specific invader identity, and community type in which the invader is growing. We also found that the most effective strategy was an adaptive management approach, one where treatments are chosen in response to changes in community composition and depending on resource conditions. Resumen El aumento de Poa pratensis y Bromus inermis Leyss en los pastizales de la región norte de las planicies centrales de los EE.UU. podría tener un impacto negativo sobre las funciones del ecosistema, reducir la diversidad vegetal, y alterar la distribución estacional de forraje, sin embargo no existen estrategias de control en la región. Se inició un proyecto en una pradera intensamente invadida de 16ha que no había sido pastoreada ni henificada por 20 años. Cinco tratamientos de restauración se iniciaron en 2003 en comunidades dominadas por 1) B. inermis, 2) P. pratensis, 3) pastos megatérmicos nativos, 4) una mezcla de especies introducidas, y 5) B. inermis y P. pratensis. Los tratamientos de restauración fueron 1) quema hacia finales de abril, 2) quema hacia finales de abril seguida por imazapic a razón de 17.3oz ia ha−1, 3) imazapic utilizando la misma dosis, 4) corte, 5) corte seguido por la remoción de broza, y 6) control. La repuesta a los tratamientos fue afectada por la especie objetivo, la categoría de comunidad vegetal y el año. En general, las quemas seguidas por la aplicación del herbicida imazapic redujeron P. pratensis en la composición de especies, sin embargo B. inermis se redujo con corte seguido de rastrillado. La aplicación de quema seguida por imazapic redujo la biomasa viva de pastos en el año siguiente a la aplicación del tratamiento en todas las categorías de comunidad vegetal excepto en la comunidad nativa, sin embargo para el tercer año del ensayo la biomasa viva se mantuvo en todos los tratamientos. En el tercer año del ensayo, la respuesta de P. pratensis, otras especies invasoras, y pastos nativos al tratamiento de restauración dependió de la comunidad vegetal. La aplicación de quema seguida de imazapir fue promisoria, pero su uso por parte de productores podría estar limitado por la reducción de rinde en los años iniciales. Nuestros datos sugieren que las estrategias de manejo deberían variar dependiendo de si la meta es reducir una o varias especies invasoras, de la identidad de la especie invasora, y del tipo de comunidad en el que crece la especie invasora. También encontramos que la estrategia más efectiva incluye un enfoque de manejo adaptativo en el que los tratamientos se eligen en función de cambios en la composición de la comunidad y las condiciones del recurso. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:42 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:54:35 PM Tags: o ecological restoration o grassland management o grassland restoration o invasive grasses o restoration burns * Year-round cattle and horse grazing supports the restoration of abandoned, dry sandy grassland and heathland communities by supressing Calamagrostis epigejos and enhancing species richness Type Journal Article Author Katrin Henning Author Antje Lorenz Author Goddert von Oheimb Author Werner Härdtle Author Sabine Tischew URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1617138117302261__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv2bGKEc0$ Volume 40 Pages 120-130 Publication Journal for Nature Conservation ISSN 1617-1381 Date December 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Journal for Nature Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.jnc.2017.10.009 Abstract The spread of competitive grasses, changes in species composition and vegetation structure are direct consequences of grassland and heathland abandonment. As an alternative to more costly management measures such as traditional pastoralism, year-round low-intensity grazing with large herbivores is increasingly used to restore and maintain semi-open habitats. However, the suitability of this grazing regime has not yet been investigated for long-abandoned, highly degraded but nutrient-poor sandy grassland and heathland communities. In particular, it is unclear if year-round grazing is suitable for preventing the further spread of highly competitive grasses such as Calamagrostis epigejos while simultaneously maintaining or improving characteristic species richness and vegetation structure. Hence, we conducted a comprehensive field study on two spatial scales (plot-level: 25m2, macroplot-level: 1ha) to analyse the impacts of year-round low-intensity cattle and horse grazing on the development of the highly competitive grass Calamagrostis epigejos, as well as the vegetation structure and plant species richness of long-abandoned but nutrient-poor dry sandy grassland and heathland communities, their mosaics and Calamagrostis stands within an 800ha heathland between 2008 and 2015. Finally, we assessed the local conservation status of the habitat types after seven years of grazing in comparison to long-abandoned sites. Grazing successfully reduced the coverage of Calamagrostis epigejos, whereby Calamagrostis stands developed towards species-rich sandy grasslands after seven years of grazing. In addition, the quality of the vegetation structure was improved by enhancing the proportion of bare soil, while litter and grass cover, litter thickness and height of the field layer as well as the coverage of ruderal indicators were significantly reduced on grazed sites in comparison to ungrazed sites in 2015. Moreover, we found an overall positive grazing effect on species richness: Total species number, number of target species as well as subordinated target species significantly increased within the vegetation types over time. Thus, year-round low-intensity cattle and horse grazing is a suitable management tool for restoring, maintaining and even improving long-abandoned, nutrient-poor sandy grassland and heathland communities, and thus to enhance the local conservation status of the habitat types. However, if there is a high initial cover of woody species (e.g. shrubs, tree rejuvenation), then an extensive shrub and tree clearance will be necessary, with manual shrub cutting being crucial to reduce the heavy regrowth of the woody species. In addition, a one-time mowing should be implemented in highly degraded heaths to facilitate the vegetative rejuvenation of degenerate stands of Calluna vulgaris, thus improving its attractiveness for the grazing animals. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:38 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:38 PM Tags: o Large and small-scale surveys o Low-intensity grazing o Species richness o Vegetation structure * Topsoil removal enhances plant target species occurrence in sandy calcareous grassland Type Journal Article Author Natalie D. Henriksson Author Sofia Hydbom Author Barbara C. Schmid Author Pål Axel Olsson URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S036725301830639X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvt1VrWps$ Volume 256 Pages 7-15 Publication Flora ISSN 0367-2530 Date July 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Flora DOI 10.1016/j.flora.2019.03.014 Abstract Species-rich sandy calcareous grasslands are threatened by land use change, eutrophication and acidification. Disturbance is vital for the persistence of characteristic sandy calcareous grassland species because it provides habitats with low competition, and can lead to increased pH and decreased nutrient availability, which favour many threatened species. Today many sandy calcareous grasslands lack a proper disturbance regime. The outcome of topsoil removal, applied as restoration measure, was investigated in a multi-site study. Successful restoration was associated with colonisation of plants representing conservation target species, as well as increased pH and reduced amounts of nutrients and organic matter. The impact of topsoil removal on plant species composition and soil properties was examined, with adjacent degraded plots serving as controls. Non-degraded target vegetation was included as reference areas. Restored plots had a significantly higher mean proportion of target species compared to control plots. However, control plots had higher species richness. Topsoil removal increased the pH value and decreased contents of ammonium and organic matter in the newly established topsoil layer, while no effect was seen on nitrate, phosphate and lime. Restored plots had a high cover of bare sand, but in contrast to target plots, a rather low proportion of forbs in relation to graminoids. Control plots had a higher vegetation cover, mainly represented by graminoids, forbs and the dwarf shrub species Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull. Our study suggests that topsoil removal is an effective restoration measure due to its positive influence on soil characteristics and target species. However, the degraded sandy grasslands that were chosen as controls in this study should also be recognised as important habitats with conservation values due to the high species richness, suggesting that a mosaic pattern of the different successional stages is desirable. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:42 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:42 PM Tags: o Calcareous o Grassland restoration o Sandy grassland o Soil nutrients o Soil pH o Species diversity * Influence of Plant Community Composition on Biomass Production in Planted Grasslands Type Journal Article Author Max A. Henschell Author Christopher R. Webster Author David J. Flaspohler Author Chad R. Fortin URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0125758__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvnrrAKsU$ Volume 10 Issue 5 Pages e0125758 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date May 27, 2015 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0125758 Accessed 2020-03-12, 3:31:27 PM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract United States energy policy mandates increased use of renewable fuels. Restoring grasslands could contribute to a portion of this requirement through biomass harvest for bioenergy use. We investigated which plant community characteristics are associated with differences in biomass yield from a range of realistic native prairie plantings (n = 11; i.e., conservation planting, restoration, and wildlife cover). Our primary goal was to understand whether patterns in plant community composition and the Floristic Quality Index (FQI) were related to productivity as evidenced by dormant season biomass yield. FQI is an objective measure of how closely a plant community represents that of a pre-European settlement community. Our research was conducted in planted fields of native tallgrass prairie species, and provided a gradient in floristic quality index, species richness, species diversity, and species evenness in south-central Wisconsin during 2008 and 2009. We used a network of 15 randomly located 1 m2 plots within each field to characterize the plant community and estimate biomass yield by clipping the plots at the end of each growing season. While plant community composition and diversity varied significantly by planting type, biomass yield did not vary significantly among planting types (ANOVA; P >0.05). Biomass yield was positively correlated with plant community evenness, richness, C4 grass cover, and floristic quality index, but negatively correlated with plant species diversity in our multi-season multiple linear mixed effects models. Concordantly, plots with biomass yield in the lowest quartile (biomass yield < 3500 kh/ha) had 8% lower plant community evenness and 9% lower FQI scores than those in the upper quartile (biomass yield > 5800 kh/ha). Our results suggest that promoting the establishment of fields with high species evenness and floristic quality may increase biomass yield, while simultaneously supporting biodiversity. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:31:27 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:31:27 PM Tags: o Bioenergy feedstock o Biomass (ecology) o Grasses o Grasslands o Plant communities o Plants o Shannon index o Species diversity Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Effects of competition with Bromus tectorum on early establishment of Poa secunda accessions: can seed source impact restoration success? Type Journal Article Author Mollie E. Herget Author Kristina M. Hufford Author Daniel L. Mummey Author Brian A. Mealor Author Lauren N. Shreading URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12177__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvvmuc5Ss$ Rights © 2015 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 23 Issue 3 Pages 277-283 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2015 DOI 10.1111/rec.12177 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:43:53 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract When landscapes are heavily impacted by biological invasion, local populations of native plant species may no longer be adapted to altered environmental conditions. In these cases, it is useful to investigate alternative sources of germplasm, such as cultivated varieties, for planting at restoration sites. This study compared cultivated and wild (local) varieties of the native perennial bunchgrass, Poa secunda J. Presl, grown with and without the exotic, invasive Bromus tectorum L. in a greenhouse setting. While P. secunda cultivars emerged and grew more rapidly than wild seed sources, this advantage declined in the presence of B. tectorum and cultivated germplasm did not outperform wild accessions in the presence of an invasive species. Given the novel genetic background of cultivars and their potential to alter patterns of dominance in native plant communities, we recommend the use of local or regional wild seed sources when possible to conserve regional patterns of genetic diversity and adaptation. Use of multiple seed sources may increase the potential for capturing vigorous genotypes in the restoration seed mix. In cases where sites are heavily impacted by exotic, invasive species, other control measures will be necessary to improve establishment of native species in grassland restoration programs. Short Title Effects of competition with Bromus tectorum on early establishment of Poa secunda accessions Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:43:53 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:43:53 PM Tags: o cheatgrass o cultivar o greenhouse o local genotype o Sandberg bluegrass o wild population Attachments o Snapshot * Bouncing Back: Plant-Associated Soil Microbes Respond Rapidly to Prairie Establishment Type Journal Article Author Anna J. Herzberger Author David S. Duncan Author Randall D. Jackson URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0115775__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv4B8qTa0$ Volume 9 Issue 12 Pages e115775 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Dec 31, 2014 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0115775 Accessed 2020-03-12, 3:29:29 PM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract It is well established that soil microbial communities change in response to altered land use and land cover, but less is known about the timing of these changes. Understanding temporal patterns in recovering microbial communities is an important part of improving how we assess and manage reconstructed ecosystems. We assessed patterns of community-level microbial diversity and abundance in corn and prairie plots 2 to 4 years after establishment in agricultural fields, using phospholipid fatty acid biomarkers. Principal components analysis of the lipid biomarkers revealed differing composition between corn and prairie soil microbial communities. Despite no changes to the biomass of Gram-positive bacteria and actinomycetes, total biomass, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi biomass, and Gram-negative bacteria biomass were significantly higher in restored prairie plots, approaching levels found in long-established prairies. These results indicate that plant-associated soil microbes in agricultural soils can shift in less than 2 years after establishment of perennial grasslands. Short Title Bouncing Back Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:29:29 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:29:29 PM Tags: o Actinobacteria o Agricultural soil science o Bacteria o Biomass (ecology) o Fungi o Land use o Lipids o Maize Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Transition of Vegetation States Positively Affects Harvester Ants in the Great Basin, United States Type Journal Article Author Joseph D. Holbrook Author David S. Pilliod Author Robert S. Arkle Author Janet L. Rachlow Author Kerri T. Vierling Author Michelle M. Wiest URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S155074241630046X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvcUiGihY$ Volume 69 Issue 6 Pages 449-456 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date November 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2016.06.009 Abstract Invasions by non-native plants can alter ecosystems such that new ecological states are reached, but less is known about how these transitions influence animal populations. Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) ecosystems are experiencing state changes because of fire and invasion by exotic annual grasses. Our goal was to study the effects of these state changes on the Owyhee and western harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex salinus Olsen and P. occidentalis Cresson, respectively). We sampled 358 1-ha plots across the northern Great Basin, which captured unburned and burned conditions across 1−≥31 years postfire. Our results indicated an immediate and consistent change in vegetation states from shrubland to grassland between 1 and 31 years postfire. Harvester ant occupancy was unrelated to time since fire, whereas we observed a positive effect of fire on nest density. Similarly, we discovered that fire and invasion by exotic annuals were weak predictors of harvester ant occupancy but strong predictors of nest density. Occupancy of harvester ants was more likely in areas with finer-textured soils, low precipitation, abundant native forbs, and low shrub cover. Nest density was higher in arid locations that recently burned and exhibited abundant exotic annual and perennial (exotic and native) grasses. Finally, we discovered that burned areas that received postfire restoration had minimal influence on harvester ant occupancy or nest density compared with burned and untreated areas. These results suggest that fire-induced state changes from native shrublands to grasslands dominated by non-native grasses have a positive effect on density of harvester ants (but not occupancy), and that postfire restoration does not appear to positively or negatively affect harvester ants. Although wildfire and invasion by exotic annual grasses may negatively affect other species, harvester ants may indeed be one of the few winners among a myriad of losers linked to vegetation state changes within sagebrush ecosystems. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:53 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:53 PM Tags: o biological invasions o granivore o state transitions o wildfire * Wildlife Conservation on the Rangelands of Eastern and Southern Africa: Past, Present, and Future Type Journal Article Author Jerry Holechek Author Raul Valdez URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742417301161__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvtGw_1n0$ Volume 71 Issue 2 Pages 245-258 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date March 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2017.10.005 Abstract Our objective was to assess the status of the large native rangeland mammals in the eastern and southern African countries focusing on conservation strategies that will benefit the animals, their rangeland habitats, and the people who live in this region. Eastern and southern African rangelands are renowned for supporting a globally unique diversity and abundance of large mammals. This wildlife legacy is threatened by changing demographics, increased poaching, habitat fragmentation, and global warming, but there are reasons for optimism. After sharp declines from 1970 to 1990 across Africa, wildlife populations in some countries have subsequently increased due to incentives involving sport hunting and ecotourism. National parks and protected areas, which have been critically important in maintaining African wildlife populations, are being increased and better protected. Over the past 50 years, the number of parks has been doubled and the areas of several parks have been expanded. The major problem is that no more than 20% of the national parks and reserves set aside for wildlife are adequately protected from poaching. The southern African countries where wildlife has recently thrived have robust hunting and ecotourism programs, which economically benefit private landowners. Considerable research shows rural communities dependent on rangelands can be incentivized to participate in large mammal conservation programs if they can economically benefit from wildlife tourism, sport hunting, and the legal sale of animal by-products. Community-based wildlife conservation programs can be economically and ecologically effective in sustaining and enhancing African wildlife biodiversity, including rhinos, elephants, and lions. Low-input ranching wild ungulates for meat and hunting may be an economically viable alternative to traditional range livestock production systems in some areas. However, in many situations, common-use grazing of livestock and wildlife will give the most efficient use of rangeland forages and landscapes while diversifying income and lowering risk. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:20 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:00:20 PM Tags: o Africa o big five animals o ecotourism o hunting o localization o range management o ungulates o wildlife management * Plant community reassembly on restored semi-natural grasslands lags behind the assembly of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities Type Journal Article Author Olivier Honnay Author Kenny Helsen Author Maarten Van Geel URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320717302562__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvIYCRy7s$ Volume 212 Pages 196-208 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date August 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2017.06.017 Abstract The emerging plant communities on restored semi-natural grasslands are generally species poor subsets of the ancient target communities. Soil inoculation experiments suggest that the lack of suitable microbial communities, and especially of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF), may contribute to the low restoration success. To understand the limiting role that AMF play in mediating plant community assembly, we used pyrosequencing to investigate how entire AMF communities vary along a restoration gradient, covering 53 semi-natural grasslands in the Belgian Calestienne region. Soil AMF taxon richness, diversity and community composition of grasslands restored between 12 and 20years ago were not different from the ancient grassland target communities, but strongly deviated from afforested grasslands. Yet, some AMF taxa exclusively occurred in ancient grasslands. Soil AMF communities were highly nested, with AMF communities from afforested grasslands and the youngest restoration stages being subsets of the older restoration stages and ancient grasslands. AMF communities in the roots of two grassland species were large subsets of the AMF communities retrieved from the soil and showed no host specificity. Plant community reassembly on the same grasslands strongly lagged behind the assembly of the AMF communities. Our results suggest low dispersal limitation of AMF, and indicate that AMF communities do not follow changes in the plant community. From a restoration management perspective, our results show that AMF communities reassemble within a reasonable time frame, and that the success of the manual introduction of target species in restored grasslands will likely not be limited by the absence of AMF. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:39 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:39 PM * Conservation management of EU priority habitats after collapse of traditional pastoralism: Navigating socioecological transitions in mountain rangeland Type Journal Article Author João Pradinho Honrado Author Angela Lomba Author Paulo Alves Author Carlos Aguiar Author Tiago Monteiro‐Henriques Author Yvonne Cerqueira Author Paulo Monteiro Author Francisco Barreto Caldas Volume 82 Issue 1 Pages 101-128 Publication Rural Sociology Date 2017 Date Added 2020-03-17, 9:55:23 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 9:55:23 PM * Mapping to inform conservation: A case study of changes in semi-natural habitats and their connectivity over 70years Type Journal Article Author D.A.P. Hooftman Author J.M. Bullock URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320711003715__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvQO6b1Vg$ Volume 145 Issue 1 Pages 30-38 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date January 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2011.09.015 Abstract Intensification of human activities has caused drastic losses in semi-natural habitats, resulting as well in declining connectivity between remaining fragments. Successful future restoration should therefore increase both habitat area and connectivity. The first steps in a framework for doing so are addressed here, which involve the mapping of past habitat change. We present a method which is unique in: the large area covered (2500km2), the high resolution of the data (25×25m), the long period assessed (70years), and a system for translation of land use maps into Broad Habitat Types using soil surveys. We digitised land use maps from the 1930s for the county of Dorset in southern England. The resulting map was compared to the UK Land Cover Map of 2000. For our example area, land use shifted dramatically to more intensive agriculture: 97% of all semi-natural grasslands were converted into agriculturally-improved grassland or arable land as were large proportions of the heathlands and rough grasslands (−57%). The other important driver of change was afforestation (+25%). The larger habitat areas became fragmented, with average fragment size of different habitats falling by 31–94%. Furthermore, the connectivity between fragments dropped drastically, by up to 98%. Analyses such as those presented here not only quantify the scale and pattern of habitat loss, but are important to inform land-use planning to restore biodiversity by both increasing the available habitat and facilitating dispersal among habitat fragments. We discuss the possible steps for such a framework. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:50 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:50 PM Tags: o Grassland o Habitat loss o Habitat mapping o Land-use change o Restoration o Woodland * Seed conglomeration: a disruptive innovation to address restoration challenges associated with small-seeded species Type Journal Article Author Benjamin W. Hoose Author Ryan S. Call Author Thomas H. Bates Author Rhett M. Anderson Author Bruce A. Roundy Author Matthew D. Madsen URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12947__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dviLfDmXI$ Rights © 2019 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 27 Issue 5 Pages 959-965 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2019 DOI 10.1111/rec.12947 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:34:12 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Small-seeded species are an integral component of many natural systems. However, small-seeded species are often omitted from restoration projects due to limited flow through seeders, low broadcast distance, and inconsistent seeding rates. To address these problems, we developed a novel technique within a rotary coater that allows for the conglomeration of small, low-purity seeds using a combination of clay, compost, water, and a polymer binder. We used Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis), which has a seed size of approximately 1 mm or less, as a model species to evaluate the technology. We demonstrated improved flowability of conglomerates over untreated (control) seeds through measurements of the Hausner ratio (8% decrease), the angle of repose (21% decrease), and delivery through a broadcast seeder. Seeding rates of conglomerated seed were more consistent than control seed over rugged terrain. Conglomerates were also broadcast 2.2 times further than control seed, which may mitigate the overall cost of implementing this technology. Laboratory trials demonstrated that the final germination of conglomerated seed averaged 15% higher than control seed. Field trials at two sites demonstrated that seedling emergence was similar for control and conglomerated seed. With no deleterious effects observed from the conglomeration treatment, additional research is merited for using conglomerates as a platform to apply various additives, such as fungicides, plant growth hormones, fertilizers, and biologicals. The potential outcomes of these strategies may have a significant impact on future seeding attempts by improving seed delivery and increasing overall seeding success. Short Title Seed conglomeration Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:34:12 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:34:12 PM Tags: o broadcast seeding o flowability o germination o sagebrush o seed coating o seed enhancement Attachments o Snapshot * Effects of endophyte-infected and non-infected tall fescue residues on aggregate stability in four texturally different soils Type Journal Article Author F. Hosseini Author M.R. Mosaddeghi Author M.A. Hajabbasi Author A.I. Mamedov URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706116305572__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv5HWLSDg$ Volume 285 Pages 195-205 Publication Geoderma ISSN 0016-7061 Date January 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Geoderma DOI 10.1016/j.geoderma.2016.10.001 Abstract Fungal endophyte (Epichloë coenophiala) usually infects cool-season perennial forage grasses and enhances host plant resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses and, by potentially altering the litter quality and decomposition rate, can affect soil properties. Aggregate stability, as an important determinant of plant root growth and soil quality, may be affected by the endophyte status of plant residues. In this study, the effects of endophyte-infected (E+) and endophyte-free (E−) tall fescue residues (0%, 1% and 2%) on soil organic carbon (SOC), basal soil respiration (BSR) and aggregate stability were investigated in four texturally different soils in the laboratory. The aggregate stability indices were determined by the high energy moisture characteristic (HEMC) method. Moist soil samples were thoroughly mixed with either E+ or E− tall fescue residues before being incubated at 25°C. During the 2-month incubation period, the amended soil samples were subjected to ten wetting and drying cycles, after which soil properties were measured. The results indicated that SOC and aggregate stability were higher and that BSR was lower in the finer-textured soils. Furthermore, an increase in the application rate of plant residues significantly increased SOC, BSR and aggregate stability. Treating the soils with E+ tall fescue residues increased SOC and aggregate stability (i.e., stability ratio, SR, a dimensionless index defined as the ratio of the structural index for the fast wetting to the structural index for the slow wetting), and significantly decreased BSR due to the toxic effects of phenolic compounds on soil microbial communities and changes in the litter chemical quality. The interactive effect of soil type and endophyte status on the SOC and BSR values was significant but no clear trend was observed. Our findings indicated that tall fescue residues (especially E+ ones) can improve soil physical quality due to increased SOC storage and greater aggregate stability. Therefore, these plants have great potential for use in grassland reclamation and soil conservation plans in semi-arid pasture and agricultural lands. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:39 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:54:38 PM Tags: o Basal microbial respiration o High energy moisture characteristic o Soil organic carbon o Stability ratio * Sustainable rangeland management: Pastoralists' attitudes toward integrated programs in Iran Type Journal Article Author G. Hosseininia Author H. Azadi Author K. Zarafshani Author D. Samari Author F. Witlox URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196313000086__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvfLtR8tk$ Volume 92 Pages 26-33 Publication Journal of Arid Environments ISSN 0140-1963 Date May 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Journal of Arid Environments DOI 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2013.01.003 Abstract The goal of this survey study was to understand pastoralist attitudes toward sustainable integrated rangeland management (SIRM) in Tehran province, Iran. Using multi-stage stratified random sampling, 1280 pastoralists participated in the study. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire. A panel of experts approved the content validity and Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used to test the reliability of the questionnaire. Results revealed that most of the pastoralists held a positive attitude toward teamwork and collaborative behavior. Moreover, regression analysis indicated that education level, attitudes toward other pastoralists, teamwork and collaboration with administrative officials, significantly affected pastoralist attitudes toward SIRM. Furthermore, path analysis showed that attitudes to other pastoralists indirectly affects attitudes toward SIRM and collaboration with administrative officials. This study concluded that if sustainable rangeland management is a goal, human factors should be considered as a key element. Date Added 2020-03-17, 6:59:59 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 6:59:59 PM Tags: o Emic view o Human factor o Integrated management o Pastoralist attitudes o Sustainable rangeland management * Determining the optimal vegetation coverage for controlling soil erosion in Cynodon dactylon grassland in North China Type Journal Article Author Guirong Hou Author Huaxing Bi Author Yunmei Huo Author Xiaoyan Wei Author Yongjie Zhu Author Xiaoxian Wang Author Wenchao Liao URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652619336418__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvmhhzHDU$ Volume 244 Pages 118771 Publication Journal of Cleaner Production ISSN 0959-6526 Date January 20, 2020 Journal Abbr Journal of Cleaner Production DOI 10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.118771 Abstract Soil erosion has been a widely studied hydrological issue, and the further deterioration of soil and water environments caused by soil erosion has attracted extensive attention from global scholars. At present, there are relatively few studies on preventing and controlling soil erosion to avoid the introduction of pollutants from surface runoff in grasslands during rainfall events. To identify the optimal vegetation coverage of Cynodon dactylon grassland for controlling soil erosion during rainfall events, bare land (0%) was used as the control in this experiment. Simulated rainfall experiments were carried out with three levels of coverage (30%, 60% and 90%) under four slope conditions (0°, 5°, 10° and 20°) and four rainfall intensities (20 mm/h, 30 mm/h, 60 mm/h and 90 mm/h). The results suggested that the capacity of Cynodon dactylon grassland to reduce the runoff coefficient and sediment yield decreased with increasing rainfall intensity and slope but increased with increasing vegetation coverage. The results of the structural equation model revealed close relationships between vegetation coverage and the reduction rate of the runoff coefficient and the reduction rate of the sediment yield. The results of the response surface methodology suggested that the vegetation coverage of Cynodon dactylon grassland should be higher than 86% to ensure that the reduction rate of the runoff and sediment of grassland is greater than 60%, and it is advisable that the planting slope of grassland not exceed 10°. The results of this study serve as a guide for the recovery and restoration of grasslands to control soil erosion and prevent the production as well as further spreading of pollutants in China. This study highlights the need to consider the prevention and control of soil erosion as a source of pollutants. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:35 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:35 PM Tags: o Optimal vegetation coverage o Response surface methodology o Simulated rainfall o Soil erosion o Structural equation model * Farmers’ adaptability to the policy of ecological protection in China—A case study in Yanchi County, China Type Journal Article Author Caixia Hou Author Lihua Zhou Author Yan Wen Author Yong Chen URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0362331918300739__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvnChi98o$ Volume 55 Issue 4 Pages 404-412 Publication The Social Science Journal ISSN 0362-3319 Date December 1, 2018 Journal Abbr The Social Science Journal DOI 10.1016/j.soscij.2018.06.001 Abstract Due to long-term human activities, grassland ecosystems have been severely damaged. To protect grassland ecosystems, the prohibited grazing policy (PGP), a grassland ecological protection policy, was instituted for Chinese grasslands in 2002. However, it is unknown whether farmers have effectively adapted to the PGP. The adaptability of farmers to this policy has directly influenced the effective implementation of the policy and the sustainable development of the ecosystem. Previous research on adaptability has not focused on the adaptation to political change. This article uses a case study in Northwest China to investigate the adaptability of farmers to the policy. First, we study the restoration status of ecosystems. In addition, this paper studies the perceptions regarding farmers’ adaptability to the policy and explores the adaptation strategies of different types of farmers. Finally, this paper discusses the main factors that influence farmers’ choice of adaptation strategies. The implementation of the PGP has achieved remarkable ecological benefits. Farmers of different types had different adaptation perceptions, and their choices of adaptation strategies also varied. In addition to the farmers’ perception of the policy, the main factors that influenced farmers’ adaptation strategies also included livelihood capital. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:43 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:43 PM Tags: o Adaptability o China o Farmers o Perception o PGP o Yanchi County * Mounding alters environmental filters that drive plant community development in a novel grassland Type Journal Article Author Nate Hough-Snee Author A. Lexine Long Author Lacey Jeroue Author Kern Ewing URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S092585741100200X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvb4LCCVA$ Volume 37 Issue 11 Pages 1932-1936 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date November 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2011.06.013 Abstract Earthen mounds are commonly used in ecological restoration to increase environmental heterogeneity, create favorable microclimates and retain soil resources that promote plant establishment. Although mounding is commonly employed in restoration, few microtopography studies focus on the long-term effects of mounding on restored plant community development. We assessed the vegetation and physical environment of earthen mounds installed at a novel grassland ten years after restoration to look for patterns in plant community development. We used permutational multiple analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) to identify differences in plant community composition and the associated mound-driven environmental variables, summer soil moisture and height above peak soil inundation, in relation to mound position. We used indicator species analysis (ISA) to classify the species that defined mound top and intermound space plant communities. We found that mound position drove plot height above flooding and soil moisture while plant community composition was driven by plot height above flooding, summer soil moisture, and mound position. ISA showed that species colonized mound microsites differently: most wetland species occurred between mounds and xeric stress tolerators largely occupied dry mound tops. We visualized these differences with non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) ordination, finding that species sorted out in multivariate space based on mound position. We conclude that mounding can have relatively long-term effects on plant community development, even in highly disturbed, minimally maintained restoration projects. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:33 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:33 PM Tags: o Assembly rules o Grasslands o Indicator species o Landfill retirement o Microtopography o Novel ecosystems * Riparian vegetation communities change rapidly following passive restoration at a northern Utah stream Type Journal Article Author Nate Hough-Snee Author Brett B. Roper Author Joseph M. Wheaton Author Phaedra Budy Author Ryan L. Lokteff URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857413002930__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvhuW-L1Y$ Volume 58 Pages 371-377 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date September 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2013.07.042 Abstract Riparian vegetation may recover quickly from disturbance when the disturbance vector is removed or reduced. Grazing is a disturbance that removes plant biomass through herbivory, while overgrazing is a more severe disturbance that can deplete plant propagule pools and inhibit plant community recovery. We tested the hypothesis that riparian vegetation communities can shift quickly from ruderal grasslands to hydrophytic shrubs and graminoids when grazing is largely eliminated from riparian areas. We used a before-after-control study design to collect vegetation community data at six restored reaches and two grazed control reaches prior to and immediately following the construction of a cattle exclosure. We identified trends in Carex and Salix species abundance and quantified shifts in riparian vegetation community composition across time at each reach using PERMANOVA, multi-level pattern analysis and non-metric multidimensional scaling. Vegetation composition changed rapidly in the four years following removal of grazing disturbance. Indicator species for all impact reaches shifted away from grazing tolerant graminoids and forbs, and toward hydrophytic graminoid and shrub species. Over the same timespan control reach indicator species remained grazing-tolerant graminoids and forbs. There was little change in Salix abundance over time at control or impact reaches but Carex abundance increased at restored reaches. We conclude that herbaceous plant communities may recover rapidly following the removal of grazing disturbance, but that woody species may lag in recovery without active vegetation manipulation. We postulate that low woody-species recruitment may affect the potential of the riparian zone to quickly shade stream channels and facilitate undercut bank formation, common riparian restoration objectives. To prevent halted riparian succession, designers should proactively identify potential limitations to woody vegetation colonization. We close discussing active approaches to overcome stalled riparian ecosystem development and suggest metrics for assessing woody species recovery. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:03 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:03 PM Tags: o Community assembly o Grazing o Low-order streams o Passive restoration o Plant restoration o Riparian * Rhinanthus minor population genetic structure and subspecies: Potential seed sources of a keystone species in grassland restoration projects Type Journal Article Author Kelly Houston Author Kirsten Wolff URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1433831912000443__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv3huaHxU$ Volume 14 Issue 6 Pages 423-433 Publication Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics ISSN 1433-8319 Date December 20, 2012 Journal Abbr Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics DOI 10.1016/j.ppees.2012.08.001 Abstract In the last few decades unimproved semi-natural grasslands have been affected by intensification of land use and habitat fragmentation. Because of their biodiversity these species-rich grasslands are of high conservation importance and efforts are under way to restore such habitats. Detailed knowledge of within species diversity will aid deciding on the optimal seed source for such restoration projects, e.g. local genotypes or ecotypes. Rhinanthus minor is a species that is typically found in semi-natural grasslands and is commonly used in grassland restoration projects. This is because R. minor is a hemiparasitic plant that takes minerals and nutrients from its host, which in turn decreases the host's biomass and leads to opportunities for less competitive species in the vegetation. Here, we investigate genetic diversity within and between R. minor populations. This allowed us to test whether the six different subspecies of R. minor that have been described in the UK, based on their morphology, flowering time, and habitat, can be differentiated using molecular markers. We identified moderate levels of genetic differentiation between R. minor populations within the UK. In addition, R. minor individuals from the UK appear to be distinct from R. minor and Rhinanthus angustifolius individuals from other European countries based on microsatellite genotyping and DNA sequencing of cpDNA and rDNA ITS. The molecular markers used in the current study did not separate populations of R. minor based on either their subspecies or habitat. The implication for the use of R. minor in grassland restoration projects seems to be that it is not necessary to use local seeds or seeds from the same subspecies. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:31 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:31 PM Tags: o Habitat restoration o Hemiparasite o Population genetics * Dynamic Disturbance Processes Create Dynamic Lek Site Selection in a Prairie Grouse Type Journal Article Author Torre J. Hovick Author Brady W. Allred Author R. Dwayne Elmore Author Samuel D. Fuhlendorf Author Robert G. Hamilton Author Amber Breland URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0137882__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvpi3uD1Q$ Volume 10 Issue 9 Pages e0137882 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Sep 22, 2015 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0137882 Accessed 2020-03-12, 3:29:12 PM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract It is well understood that landscape processes can affect habitat selection patterns, movements, and species persistence. These selection patterns may be altered or even eliminated as a result of changes in disturbance regimes and a concomitant management focus on uniform, moderate disturbance across landscapes. To assess how restored landscape heterogeneity influences habitat selection patterns, we examined 21 years (1991, 1993–2012) of Greater Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus cupido) lek location data in tallgrass prairie with restored fire and grazing processes. Our study took place at The Nature Conservancy’s Tallgrass Prairie Preserve located at the southern extent of Flint Hills in northeastern Oklahoma. We specifically addressed stability of lek locations in the context of the fire-grazing interaction, and the environmental factors influencing lek locations. We found that lek locations were dynamic in a landscape with interacting fire and grazing. While previous conservation efforts have treated leks as stable with high site fidelity in static landscapes, a majority of lek locations in our study (i.e., 65%) moved by nearly one kilometer on an annual basis in this dynamic setting. Lek sites were in elevated areas with low tree cover and low road density. Additionally, lek site selection was influenced by an interaction of fire and patch edge, indicating that in recently burned patches, leks were located near patch edges. These results suggest that dynamic and interactive processes such as fire and grazing that restore heterogeneity to grasslands do influence habitat selection patterns in prairie grouse, a phenomenon that is likely to apply throughout the Greater Prairie-Chicken’s distribution when dynamic processes are restored. As conservation moves toward restoring dynamic historic disturbance patterns, it will be important that siting and planning of anthropogenic structures (e.g., wind energy, oil and gas) and management plans not view lek locations as static points, but rather as sites that shift around the landscape in response to shifting vegetation structure. Acknowledging shifting lek locations in these landscapes will help ensure conservation efforts are successful by targeting the appropriate areas for protection and management. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:29:12 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:29:12 PM Tags: o Birds o Conservation science o Ecosystems o Grasslands o Grazing o Grouse o Site selection o Trees Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Fungal Facilitation in Rangelands: Do Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Mediate Resilience and Resistance in Sagebrush Steppe? Type Journal Article Author Matthew Hovland Author Ricardo Mata-González Author R. Paul Schreiner Author Thomas J. Rodhouse URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S155074241830085X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvZPV6X3E$ Volume 72 Issue 4 Pages 678-691 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date July 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2019.02.004 Abstract Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) may exert profound influences on ecosystem resilience and invasion resistance in rangelands. Maintenance of plant community structure through ecological feedback mechanisms such as facilitation of nutrient cycling and uptake by host plants, physical and chemical contributions to soil structural stability, and mediation of plant competition suggest AMF may be important facilitators in stressful arid environments. Plant-AMF interactions could influence succession by increasing native plant community resilience to drought, grazing, and fire and resistance to exotic plant invasion. However, invasive exotic plants may benefit from associations with, as well as alter, native AMF communities. Furthermore, questions remain on the role of AMF in stressful environments, specifically the mycorrhizal dependency of sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) steppe plant species. Here, we review scientific literature relevant to AMF in rangelands, with specific focus on impacts of land management, disturbance, and invasion on AMF communities in sagebrush steppe. We highlight the nature of AMF ecology as it relates to rangelands and discuss the methods used to measure mycorrhizal responsiveness. Our review found compelling evidence that AMF mediation of resilience to disturbance and resistance to invasion varies with plant and fungal community composition, including plant mycorrhizal host status, plant functional guild, and physiological adaptations to disturbance in both plants and fungi. We conclude by outlining a framework to advance knowledge of AMF in rangeland invasion ecology. Understanding the role of AMF in semiarid sagebrush steppe ecosystems will likely require multiple study approaches due to the highly variable nature of plant-AMF interactions, the complex mechanisms of resilience conference, and the unknown thresholds for responses to environmental stressors. This may require shifting away from the plant biomass paradigm of assessing mycorrhizal benefits in order to obtain a more holistic view of plant dependency on AMF, or lack thereof, in sagebrush steppe and other semiarid ecosystems. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:24 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:00:24 PM Tags: o arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi o biological invasion o ecological feedbacks o plant-fungi interactions o resilience-based management o sagebrush steppe * Preparation of topsoil alternatives for open-pit coal mines in the Hulunbuir grassland area, China Type Journal Article Author Zhenqi Hu Author Qi Zhu Author Xueran Liu Author Yong Li URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929139319306237__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv6bsZ4-k$ Volume 147 Pages 103431 Publication Applied Soil Ecology ISSN 0929-1393 Date March 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Applied Soil Ecology DOI 10.1016/j.apsoil.2019.103431 Abstract To solve topsoil shortages caused by the thinner topsoil layer resulting from open-pit land reclamation in northwestern Chinese grassland areas, the overlying rock and soil layer of an open-pit coal mine in Inner Mongolia was used as a matrix, and different additives were incorporated to improve topsoil alternatives for dump reclamation. The physical and chemical properties and nutrient composition of the undisturbed matrix and the weathering substances in layers II and III of the topsoil were compared and analyzed, with local topsoil as the control. The results showed that the III layer of the matrix after weathering had higher nutrient content, pH of 7.83, EC of 83 μS/m, and as such was more suitable as a substitute for topsoil. Given the limitations of overlying strata, such as excessive viscosity, an imbalanced nutrient content and a lack of soil microorganisms, additives composed of vermiculite, peat, livestock manure, nitrohumic acid and microbial agents in different proportions were incorporated. Field experiments showed that the optimal formula of substitute material was a ratio of m (subclay):m (peat) = 20:1 and an applied microbial agent concentration of 0.15 kg/m2. Compared to the original topsoil, the substitute material had a higher moisture content (32% for substitute and 20% for original topsoil), significantly higher phosphorus and potassium contents, and similar or greater numbers of microorganisms. The greatest increase in alfalfa plant height was 72%, the dry weight of the aboveground part increased by 26%. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:40 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:54:39 PM Tags: o Land reclamation o Open-pit coal mine o Soil improvement o Topsoil alternatives * Moss-dominated biological soil crusts modulate soil nitrogen following vegetation restoration in a subtropical karst region Type Journal Article Author Peilei Hu Author Wei Zhang Author Lumei Xiao Author Rong Yang Author Dan Xiao Author Jie Zhao Author Wenlin Wang Author Haisheng Chen Author Kelin Wang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706119304434__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvPAyP-fY$ Volume 352 Pages 70-79 Publication Geoderma ISSN 0016-7061 Date October 15, 2019 Journal Abbr Geoderma DOI 10.1016/j.geoderma.2019.05.047 Abstract Vegetation restoration often promotes the development of biological soil crusts (biocrusts), which have a significant role in the terrestrial nitrogen (N) cycle. However, biocrusts are not always considered when assessing soil N responses to restoration efforts, especially in subtropical regions. We assessed the effect of various restoration strategies on moss-dominated biocrust properties and soil N variables (0–5 cm topsoil and 5–10 cm sub-topsoil) in the subtropical karst region of southwestern China. Four restoration strategies were included: restoration with plantation forest, forage grass, and a combination of forest and grass, and spontaneous regeneration to natural grassland. Cropland under maize-soybean rotation (CR) was used as reference. The biocrust under combination restoration strategy had significantly higher biomass, saturated water adsorption ratio, and carbon content than did the other strategies; and the soil generally had the highest total N, ammonium, and microbial biomass carbon and N content but the lowest nitrate content. Redundancy analysis, variation partitioning, and stepwise multiple linear regression all indicated that biocrust properties play an important role in affecting soil N variables, especially in the topsoil. Vegetation restoration strategies that use various plant functional group assemblages, such as forest and grass, are preferable in enhancing the development of biocrusts and thus improving soil N properties. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:26 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:26 PM Tags: o Biocrust o Cropland abandonment o Ecological restoration o Karst ecosystem o Nitrogen availability * Winter Grazing and Rainfall Synergistically Affect Soil Seed Bank in Semiarid Area Type Journal Article Author A. Hu Author J. Zhang Author X. Chen Author S. Chang Author F. Hou URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742418300393__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvyt4_zDI$ Volume 72 Issue 1 Pages 160-167 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date January 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2018.07.012 Abstract The soil seed bank is an important ecological component of grassland restoration and renewal. In semiarid regions, grassland restoration and renewal are highly affected by annual variations in precipitation and grazing activity because these variations can affect the composition, density, richness, and diversity of seeds in the soil. This study aimed to characterize and compare these parameters of the germinable seed bank under different stocking rates in a winter grazing system in a semiarid area of China in 2015 and 2016 (dry and near-average rainfall condition, respectively). The composition, density, richness, and diversity of seeds were determined by the method of seedling emergence. The results showed that a total of 18 species belonging to nine families germinated from the soil. Drought significantly reduced the density, richness, and diversity of the soil seed bank, but grazing was able to significantly increase the richness and diversity of the soil seed bank by increasing the richness and diversity of the aboveground vegetation. The similarity between the soil seed bank and aboveground vegetation was influenced by the rainfall conditions: in the dry year, it was higher at the lower stocking rates (0 and 0.4 animal unit months [AUM] ha–1), and in the near-average rainfall condition year, it was higher at the higher stocking rates (0.8 and 1.3 AUM ha–1). Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:28 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:28 PM Tags: o diversity o grassland o grazing o rainfall o similarity * Influence of ecological restoration on vegetation and soil microbiological properties in Alpine-cold semi-humid desertified land Type Journal Article Author Yu-Fu Hu Author Jia-Jia Peng Author Shu Yuan Author Xiang-Yang Shu Author Shuang-Long Jiang Author Qin Pu Author Ke-Ya Ma Author Cheng-Ming Yuan Author Guang-Deng Chen Author Hai-Hua Xiao URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S092585741630297X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvB2MAULE$ Volume 94 Pages 88-94 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date September 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2016.05.061 Abstract Recently desertification of Alpine-cold semi-humid grassland has become increasingly serious on the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. However, the restoration and control of desertified land in these areas have not received enough attention as in arid and semi-arid areas, and little is known about the vegetation community and soil microbiological properties during the ecological restoration in Alpine-cold semi-humid desertified areas. In this paper, the method of fencing, removing grazing and planting Tamarix ramosissima was taken as the measure for ecological restoration of Alpine-cold desertified land in Northwest Sichuan. The results showed ecological restoration resulted in significant improvement in the height, coverage, density, biomass, and diversity of vegetation communities, numbers of soil microorganisms (including bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi). Microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen, and urease, invertase and protease activities increased after the restoration, especially in the 0–20cm layer. These trends increased with increasing restoration age but decreased with increasing soil depth. Ecological restoration by fencing, non-grazing and planting T. ramosissima is therefore considered an effective and applicable measure to restore vegetation and soil microbiological properties and control desertification in the Northwest Sichuan, and is recommended for adoption in Alpine-cold semi-humid sandy areas on a large scale. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:38 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:38 PM Tags: o Desertification o Ecological restoration o Northwest Sichuan o Soil microbial o Vegetation * Soil carbon and nitrogen accumulation following agricultural abandonment in a subtropical karst region Type Journal Article Author Peilei Hu Author Shujuan Liu Author Yingying Ye Author Wei Zhang Author Xunyang He Author Yirong Su Author Kelin Wang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929139318303755__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvdCUFuEw$ Volume 132 Pages 169-178 Publication Applied Soil Ecology ISSN 0929-1393 Date December 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Applied Soil Ecology DOI 10.1016/j.apsoil.2018.09.003 Abstract Vegetation restoration following agricultural abandonment is an effective method for soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration. However, SOC dynamics during post-agriculture succession in different soil layers, and its regulation by soil nitrogen (N), are not well understood. We investigated SOC and soil N dynamics during post-agriculture succession at soil depths of 0–10, 10–20, 20–30, and 30–50 cm in a subtropical karst area in southwest China. The succession sequence included grassland (∼9 years), shrubland (∼25 years), secondary forest (∼52 years), and primary forest, with cropland as a reference. In the 0–50 cm soil profile, the SOC and soil N stocks will recover to the primary forest level in ∼74 years at a rate of 112.35 g C m−2 yr−1 and in ∼100 years at a rate of 12.07 g N m−2 yr−1, respectively. The accumulation rate of SOC and soil N was higher in the topsoil (0–20 cm) than in the subsoil (20–50 cm). The estimated time for SOC stock to recover to the primary forest level in topsoil and subsoil was similar (72 and 76 years, respectively), whereas that for soil N stock require more time in topsoil than in subsoil (106 and 89 years, respectively). The higher rate of relative N stock change than that of SOC suggests that progressive N limitation does not occur in the long term following agricultural abandonment. Our results highlight the importance of soil depth and soil N in determining SOC change for secondary succession. Furthermore, the results suggest that, compared to that of previous studies, which considered only surface soil in the karst regions of southwest China, the recovery period of C and N in soil profile may be longer than that assumed previously. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:13 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:13 PM Tags: o Dynamics o Karst area o Post-agriculture succession o Soil depth o Soil nitrogen o Soil organic carbon * Effects of grassland restoration programs on ecosystems in arid and semiarid China Type Journal Article Author Lin Huang Author Tong Xiao Author Zhiping Zhao Author Chaoyang Sun Author Jiyuan Liu Author Quanqin Shao Author Jiangwen Fan Author Junbang Wang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479713000108__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvkCFzjyM$ Volume 117 Pages 268-275 Publication Journal of Environmental Management ISSN 0301-4797 Date March 15, 2013 Journal Abbr Journal of Environmental Management DOI 10.1016/j.jenvman.2012.12.040 Accessed 2020-03-17, 6:26:03 PM Library Catalog ScienceDirect Language en Abstract We explored the ecological effects of grassland restoration programs using satellite imagery and field plots sampling data and analyzing the patterns and mechanisms of land cover change and vegetation activities in arid and semiarid China during the period from 1982 to 2008. The grassland cover in the 1980s, 2000 and 2005 was compared before and after the restoration programs. The variability of net primary production (NPP) and rain use efficiency (RUE) were analyzed as indicators of vegetation productivity. Our study showed that changes in grassland cover were closely related to the relative area of farmland, with increases in grassland being caused by returning farmland to grassland and decreases being caused by reclamation for agriculture. The results of NPP and RUE measurements over the past 30 years showed systematic increases in the area of grassland in most regions, especially from 2000 to 2008. This fact was reflected by intensified vegetation activity and cannot be completely explained by the warmer and wetter climate, which suggested a contribution from restored, ungrazed grasslands. Our analysis indicates that both vegetation activity and grassland cover increased in regions in which grassland and rangeland restoration programs were implemented. Date Added 2020-03-17, 6:26:03 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:54:41 PM Tags: o Climate change o Ecological restoration o Farmland to grassland o Rangeland to grassland Attachments o ScienceDirect Snapshot * Natural grasslands maintain soil water sustainability better than planted grasslands in arid areas Type Journal Article Author Ze Huang Author Yi-Fan Liu Author Zeng Cui Author Yu Liu Author Dong Wang Author Fu-Ping Tian Author Gao-Lin Wu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880919302993__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv8-Pt7cI$ Volume 286 Pages 106683 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date December 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2019.106683 Abstract Planted grassland is one of the most quickly and effective way for vegetation restoration in arid and semi-arid regions. However, inappropriate grasslands construction can cause soil water deficit and soil drying in arid areas. In the present study, we evaluated the soil water storage deficit and soil water balance characteristics of different grassland types under natural conditions. The relative growth rates of planted grasslands, especially the planted legume grasslands, were approximately double higher than that of the natural grassland. Soil water storage deficit degree was the highest in the 0–50 cm soil layers than below the 50 cm layers. Soil water deficit degree was higher in legume grasslands than in gramineous grasslands below the depth of 50 cm, and it was significantly lower in the natural grassland than in planted grasslands below the depth of 200 cm (P < 0.05). The precipitation (P) was lower than the evapotranspiration (ET) in planted grasslands, thus resulting in soil water deficiency and soil desiccation. The average ET/P value was significantly higher in planted grasslands than in the natural grassland, and followed the order of planted gramineous grasslands> planted legume grassland and shrubland > natural grassland. None of the grasslands got sufficient water supply during the growing season for transpiration and growth. Our findings provided evidence that natural grasslands have lower water consumption, and indicated which vegetation types can maintain more soil water and facilitate vegetation sustainability when undertaking restoration in water-limited environments. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:54 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:54 PM Tags: o Evapotranspiration o Relative growth rate o Soil water deficit degree o Soil water storage * Linking the benefits of ecosystem services to sustainable spatial planning of ecological conservation strategies Type Journal Article Author Lin Huang Author Wei Cao Author Xinliang Xu Author Jiangwen Fan Author Junbang Wang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479718305978__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvlpkSbVg$ Volume 222 Pages 385-395 Publication Journal of Environmental Management ISSN 0301-4797 Date September 15, 2018 Journal Abbr Journal of Environmental Management DOI 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.05.066 Abstract The maintenance and improvement of ecosystem services on the Tibet Plateau are critical for national ecological security in China and are core objectives of ecological conservation in this region. In this paper, ecosystem service benefits of the Tibet Ecological Conservation Project were comprehensively assessed by estimating and mapping the spatiotemporal variation patterns of critical ecosystem services on the Tibet Plateau from 2000 to 2015. Furthermore, we linked the benefit assessment to the sustainable spatial planning of future ecological conservation strategies. Comparing the 8 years before and after the project, the water retention and carbon sink services of the forest, grassland and wetland ecosystems were slightly increased after the project, and the ecosystem sand fixation service has been steadily enhanced. The increasing forage supply service of grassland significantly reduced the grassland carrying pressure and eased the conflict between grassland and livestock. However, enhanced rainfall erosivity occurred due to increased rainfall, and root-layer soils could not recover in a short period of time, both factors have led to a decline in soil conservation service. The warm and humid climate is beneficial for the restoration of ecosystems on the Tibet Plateau, and the implementation of the Tibet Ecological Conservation Project has had a positive effect on the local improvement of ecosystem services. A new spatial planning strategy for ecological conservation was introduced and aims to establish a comprehensive, nationwide system to protect important natural ecosystems and wildlife, and to promote the sustainable use of natural resources. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:31 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:31 PM Tags: o Ecological Conservation Project o Ecosystem services o Spatial planning o Targeted assessment o Tibet Plateau * Improving ecological conservation and restoration through payment for ecosystem services in Northeastern Tibetan Plateau, China Type Journal Article Author Lin Huang Author Quanqin Shao Author Jiyuan Liu Author Qingshui Lu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212041616303680__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvAHr4jaE$ Volume 31 Pages 181-193 Publication Ecosystem Services ISSN 2212-0416 Date June 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Ecosystem Services DOI 10.1016/j.ecoser.2018.04.005 Abstract To protect biodiversity, restore ecosystems and improve the livelihoods of indigenous herders, a payment for ecosystem services program has been implemented in the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau. We monitored and assessed its effectiveness and analysed the factors that may contribute to the success or failure of the program. By comparing ecosystem changes between project and non-project regions, we found that the increased area of grassland and wetland, the proportion of restored grassland, and the enhanced net primary production and forage yields were higher in project regions, which indicated that the majority of restoration measures are effective at the local scale. However, the soil erosion modulus and ecosystem soil conservation service were ineffective owing to unrecovered root systems and increased precipitation. The results of interviews with herdsmen demonstrated a slight increase in annual net income for herder households, especially for eco-immigrants compensated by the program. However, it was difficult to reduce overgrazing dramatically because eco-immigrants mainly included elderly herders and herders with less livestock. Therefore, the eco-immigrants and their livelihoods need to be reconsidered in targeting for subsequent programs. Furthermore, this study reinforced the need to apply multiple sources of funds and measurements to benefit ecological conservation in alpine regions. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:41 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:41 PM Tags: o Alpine regions o Ecological restoration and conservation o Ecosystem change o Payment for ecosystem services * Effect of Abandonment on Diversity and Abundance of Free-Living Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria and Total Bacteria in the Cropland Soils of Hulun Buir, Inner Mongolia Type Journal Article Author Huhe Author Shinchilelt Borjigin Author Yunxiang Cheng Author Nobukiko Nomura Author Toshiaki Nakajima Author Toru Nakamura Author Hiroo Uchiyama URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0106714__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv1FeaFKs$ Volume 9 Issue 9 Pages e106714 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Sep 30, 2014 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0106714 Accessed 2020-03-12, 3:23:47 PM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract In Inner Mongolia, steppe grasslands face desertification or degradation because of human over activity. One of the reasons for this condition is that croplands have been abandoned after inappropriate agricultural management. The soils in these croplands present heterogeneous environments in which conditions affecting microbial growth and diversity fluctuate widely in space and time. In this study, we assessed the molecular ecology of total and free-living nitrogen-fixing bacterial communities in soils from steppe grasslands and croplands that were abandoned for different periods (1, 5, and 25 years) and compared the degree of recovery. The abandoned croplands included in the study were natural restoration areas without human activity. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and quantitative PCR (qPCR) were used to analyze the nifH and 16S rRNA genes to study free-living diazotrophs and the total bacterial community, respectively. The diversities of free-living nitrogen fixers and total bacteria were significantly different between each site (P<0.001). Neither the total bacteria nor nifH gene community structure of a cropland abandoned for 25 years was significantly different from those of steppe grasslands. In contrast, results of qPCR analysis of free-living nitrogen fixers and total bacteria showed significantly high abundance levels in steppe grassland (P<0.01 and P<0.03, respectively). In this study, the microbial communities and their gene abundances were assessed in croplands that had been abandoned for different periods. An understanding of how environmental factors and changes in microbial communities affect abandoned croplands could aid in appropriate soil management to optimize the structures of soil microorganisms. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:23:47 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:23:47 PM Tags: o Agricultural soil science o Bacteria o Biodiversity o Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis o Edaphology o Grasslands o Ribosomal RNA o Shannon index Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Prefire (Preemptive) Management to Decrease Fire-Induced Bunchgrass Mortality and Reduce Reliance on Postfire Seeding Type Journal Article Author April Hulet Author Chad S. Boyd Author Kirk W. Davies Author Tony J. Svejcar URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742415001025__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvgxFZQPA$ Volume 68 Issue 6 Pages 437-444 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date November 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2015.08.001 Abstract Western rangelands are currently under severe threat from exotic annual grasses. To successfully manage rangelands that are either infested with or susceptible to exotic annual grasses, we must focus on increasing resilience to disturbance and resistance to exotic annual grass invasion. Here, we present a fuel-based model and research framework for Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis Beetle & Young) rangelands that focuses on increasing resilience to fire and resistance to exotic annual grasses through the maintenance of perennial bunchgrasses. By maintaining perennial bunchgrass, exotic annual grasses have limited resources, thus decreasing the invasibility of the site. In order for the fuel-based model to be effective in guiding land management practices, research that evaluates the interactions between biotic and abiotic factors that influence fire-induced bunchgrass mortality is needed. Hence, we propose a research framework to identify and fill potential gaps in current scientific knowledge. We also suggest potential research objectives that are necessary to make informed management decisions before wildfire, with a goal to ultimately decreasing our reliance on marginally successful postfire restoration practices through preemptive management strategies. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:22 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:04:22 PM Tags: o fuel attributes o fuel-based model o perennial bunchgrass o resistance and resilience o wildfire o Wyoming big sagebrush * Restoration islands: a tool for efficiently restoring dryland ecosystems? Type Journal Article Author Kristin B. Hulvey Author Elizabeth A. Leger Author Lauren M. Porensky Author Leslie M. Roche Author Kari E. Veblen Author Adam Fund Author Julea Shaw Author Elise S. Gornish URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12614__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvc78Y7MQ$ Rights © 2017 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 25 Issue S2 Pages S124-S134 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2017 DOI 10.1111/rec.12614 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:28:13 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Restoration islands are concentrated plantings in strategic locations, created to efficiently use resources to achieve restoration goals. These methods have been used effectively in mesic ecosystems, particularly tropical forests, where the goal of island plantings is often to “nucleate” across a degraded area, providing a seed source for spread outside the planted area. Here, we consider how an island strategy might be used to achieve restoration goals in dryland ecosystems, where limited resources and large areas of degraded land make restoration extremely challenging. In contrast to more productive areas, spread or “nucleation” from restoration islands in drylands may not occur or occur more slowly than required by most management time frames. Despite this, small-scale, more intensive island plantings may still be useful for achieving short-term goals, such as weed control, fire management, erosion control, and creation of wildlife habitat. Over the long term, island plantings could serve the same nucleation function as in other ecosystems and serve as repositories for genetic diversity within highly fragmented native systems. Here, we highlight the opportunities for using these high-intensity, targeted planting methods in dryland ecosystems, provide the guidelines for establishing islands to achieve short- and long-term restoration goals, and identify the areas where additional research is needed to understand the value of restoration islands in dryland ecosystems. Short Title Restoration islands Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:28:13 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:28:13 PM Tags: o arid climate o ecosystem function o greenstrip o nucleation o restoration barrier o revegetation Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Uncut grass refuges mitigate the impact of mechanical meadow harvesting on orthopterans Type Journal Article Author Jean-Yves Humbert Author Jaboury Ghazoul Author Nina Richner Author Thomas Walter URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320712001589__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvcMRCQzs$ Volume 152 Pages 96-101 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date August 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2012.03.015 Abstract Semi-natural grasslands require regular harvesting (cutting) or grazing to avoid vegetation succession, and this is well known to promote plant diversity. However, recent studies have shown that meadow harvesting has a severe direct negative impact on orthopterans and other grassland invertebrates. In view of this, leaving areas of uncut grass as refuges has often been recommended as a mitigation measure. Yet to date no studies have tested this hypothesis. We experimentally investigated the direct influence of leaving a 10% uncut grass refuge in the centre of 50m diameter meadow plots on orthopteran population. During harvest, orthopteran densities dramatically declined within mown areas and doubled within refuges, showing that during the mowing stage some individuals actively moved to uncut areas, safe from the impact of post-mowing stages. After baling, final orthopteran population sizes were on average 53% higher in plots with an uncut refuge, compared to plots without. To maximise the benefit of refuges, we recommend mowing towards the refuge, as this is likely to drive field invertebrates into the refuge. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:48 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:48 PM Tags: o Agri-environment schemes o Grass strip o Grasshoppers o Grassland management o Landscape heterogeneity o Restoration * Assessing the role of climate and resource management on groundwater dependent ecosystem changes in arid environments with the Landsat archive Type Journal Article Author Justin Huntington Author Kenneth McGwire Author Charles Morton Author Keirith Snyder Author Sarah Peterson Author Tyler Erickson Author Richard Niswonger Author Rosemary Carroll Author Guy Smith Author Richard Allen URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0034425716302619__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv3stG6D0$ Volume 185 Pages 186-197 Publication Landsat 8 Science Results ISSN 0034-4257 Date November 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Remote Sensing of Environment DOI 10.1016/j.rse.2016.07.004 Abstract Groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs) rely on near-surface groundwater. These systems are receiving more attention with rising air temperature, prolonged drought, and where groundwater pumping captures natural groundwater discharge for anthropogenic use. Phreatophyte shrublands, meadows, and riparian areas are GDEs that provide critical habitat for many sensitive species, especially in arid and semi-arid environments. While GDEs are vital for ecosystem services and function, their long-term (i.e. ~30years) spatial and temporal variability is poorly understood with respect to local and regional scale climate, groundwater, and rangeland management. In this work, we compute time series of NDVI derived from sensors of the Landsat TM, ETM+, and OLI lineage for assessing GDEs in a variety of land and water management contexts. Changes in vegetation vigor based on climate, groundwater availability, and land management in arid landscapes are detectable with Landsat. However, the effective quantification of these ecosystem changes can be undermined if changes in spectral bandwidths between different Landsat sensors introduce biases in derived vegetation indices, and if climate, and land and water management histories are not well understood. The objective of this work is to 1) use the Landsat 8 under-fly dataset to quantify differences in spectral reflectance and NDVI between Landsat 7 ETM+ and Landsat 8 OLI for a range of vegetation communities in arid and semiarid regions of the southwestern United States, and 2) demonstrate the value of 30-year historical vegetation index and climate datasets for assessing GDEs. Specific study areas were chosen to represent a range of GDEs and environmental conditions important for three scenarios: baseline monitoring of vegetation and climate, riparian restoration, and groundwater level changes. Google's Earth Engine cloud computing and environmental monitoring platform is used to rapidly access and analyze the Landsat archive along with downscaled North American Land Data Assimilation System gridded meteorological data, which are used for both atmospheric correction and correlation analysis. Results from the cross-sensor comparison indicate a benefit from the application of a consistent atmospheric correction method, and that NDVI derived from Landsat 7 and 8 are very similar within the study area. Results from continuous Landsat time series analysis clearly illustrate that there are strong correlations between changes in vegetation vigor, precipitation, evaporative demand, depth to groundwater, and riparian restoration. Trends in summer NDVI associated with riparian restoration and groundwater level changes were found to be statistically significant, and interannual summer NDVI was found to be moderately correlated to interannual water-year precipitation for baseline study sites. Results clearly highlight the complementary relationship between water-year PPT, NDVI, and evaporative demand, and are consistent with regional vegetation index and complementary relationship studies. This work is supporting land and water managers for evaluation of GDEs with respect to climate, groundwater, and resource management. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:52 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:52 PM Tags: o Complementary relationship o Cross-sensor calibration o Evaporative demand o Groundwater dependent ecosystems o Groundwater pumping o Landsat o NDVI o Phreatophytes o Riparian restoration * Topsoil removal reduced in-situ methane emissions in a temperate rewetted bog grassland by a hundredfold Type Journal Article Author Vytas Huth Author Anke Günther Author Anna Bartel Author Bernd Hofer Author Oona Jacobs Author Nele Jantz Author Mareike Meister Author Eva Rosinski Author Tim Urich Author Micha Weil Author Dominik Zak Author Gerald Jurasinski URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969720312742__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvuu16j44$ Pages 137763 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date March 5, 2020 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137763 Abstract Peatland restoration is seen as an effective contribution to help achieve the aims of the Paris Agreement because currently huge amounts of peatlands in Northern Central Europe are under unsustainable drainage-based land use. If net zero greenhouse gas emissions from peatlands shall be reached by 2050, restoration measures have to be done as soon as possible. However, rewetting drained peatlands that were under intensive grassland use frequently results in high methane (CH4) emissions, which is often seen as a counter-argument against rewetting. To find the source of high CH4 emissions after rewetting and to explore the best possible way of peatland restoration (i.e., low CH4 emissions after rewetting) under near-natural conditions, we installed a field trial in a drained bog in north-western Germany. The trial consists of seven plots (~8 × 24 m2) representing the status quo—intensive grassland use— and six restoration approaches with combinations of rewetting either on the original surface or after topsoil removal (TSR), biomass harvesting or spreading Sphagnum spp. to initiate vegetation succession. On all seven plots we measured CH4 fluxes using closed chambers. In addition, we investigated CH4 production potential by incubating soil samples and determining methanogen abundance by quantitative PCR. Compared to rewetting on the original surface, CH4 emissions were reduced on TSR plots by factor 30 to 400. Spreading of Sphagnum spp. had only little effect on CH4 emissions during the first year of establishment. TSR also reduced CH4 production potential and methanogen abundance. Further, the response of CH4 fluxes to methanogen abundance was lower after TSR. This suggests that both reduction in labile substrate and in methanogen abundance contribute to near-zero CH4 emissions after TSR. These are the first field-scale results that demonstrate the efficiency of removing degraded topsoil to avoid high CH4 emissions after rewetting. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:40 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:40 PM Tags: o Greenhouse gases o Methanogenesis o Peatland o Restoration o Rewetting o Sphagnum * Occurrence of Epichloë fungal endophytes in the sheep-preferred grass Hordeum comosum from Patagonia Type Journal Article Author L.J. Iannone Author J.G.N. Irisarri Author P.D. Mc Cargo Author L.I. Pérez Author P.E. Gundel URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196314002535__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvooomv0k$ Volume 115 Pages 19-26 Publication Journal of Arid Environments ISSN 0140-1963 Date April 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Journal of Arid Environments DOI 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2014.12.008 Abstract Grazing by exotic herbivores on native vegetation in Patagonian steppes has led to the deterioration of forage resources, where grasses are replaced by shrubs and preferred grasses by non-preferred ones. In this region, Hordeum comosum is one of the widely spread native-grasses highly preferred by sheep. Contrary to other preferred grasses, H. comosum establishes symbiosis with vertically-transmitted fungi of genus Epichloë. However, the level of incidence of the fungus and the phylogenetic diversity of the endophyte remained unclear. We found that endophyte incidence ranged from 0 to 100%, with higher incidence in populations from more arid sites. This would suggest an endophyte-conferred drought tolerance to host. Although the isolates presented several morphological differences, phylogenetic analyses of tubB and tefA genes separated them into only two lineages. One of these lineages was Epichloë tembladerae, the most common endophyte in temperate grasses of southern South America. Strikingly, the other lineage was a hybrid between Epichloë typhina and Epichloë amarillans detected for the first time in this part of the world and opening new questions about the grass-endophyte co-evolution. These results represent a starting-point in the potential use of fungal endophytes in breeding programs and natural grassland restoration in marginal environments. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:07 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:07 PM Tags: o Endophytes o Epichloë o Incidence o Native forage species o Patagonia o Phylogeny * Reprint of “Unruly grasses: Affective attunements in the ecological restoration of urban native grasslands in Australia” Type Journal Article Author Lesley Instone URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1755458614000590__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvrJ4P7Qg$ Volume 14 Pages 57-64 Publication Emotion, Space and Society ISSN 1755-4586 Date February 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Emotion, Space and Society DOI 10.1016/j.emospa.2014.10.001 Abstract This paper explores affect as an ’angle of approach’ for re/considering the work of ecological restoration in urban spaces. My focus is on the more-than-human affective dimensions of the reintroduction of native grasses in Melbourne’s (Australia) urban parklands. Sara Ahmed suggests that ’affect is what sticks or sustains or preserves the connection between ideas, values and objects’ (2010, 29), and here I extend this notion to think about the restoration of grasslands not as primarily material transformations (to which we might react), but as the recomposition of the ’ideas, values and objects’ that constitute urban park naturecultures. The paper highlights the role of affective relations in the inheritance of landscapes that do not attract widespread positive affection. It employs Sara Ahmed’s concept of the affect alien as a figure of nonconformity, to uncover how the affective resonances of grasslands might open new possibilities for attuning to the complex and multiple naturecultures of postcolonial lands. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:18 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:18 PM Tags: o Affect o Ecological restoration o Human-plant relations o Inheritance o More-than-human geographies o Urban grasslands * Unruly grasses: Affective attunements in the ecological restoration of urban native grasslands in Australia Type Journal Article Author Lesley Instone URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1755458613001205__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvGXWOrzU$ Volume 10 Pages 79-86 Publication Emotion, Space and Society ISSN 1755-4586 Date February 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Emotion, Space and Society DOI 10.1016/j.emospa.2013.12.013 Abstract This paper explores affect as an ‘angle of approach’ for re/considering the work of ecological restoration in urban spaces. My focus is on the more-than-human affective dimensions of the reintroduction of native grasses in Melbourne's (Australia) urban parklands. Sara Ahmed suggests that ‘affect is what sticks or sustains or preserves the connection between ideas, values and objects’ (2010, 29), and here I extend this notion to think about the restoration of grasslands not as primarily material transformations (to which we might react), but as the recomposition of the 'ideas, values and objects' that constitute urban park naturecultures. The paper highlights the role of affective relations in the inheritance of landscapes that do not attract widespread positive affection. It employs Sara Ahmed's concept of the affect alien as a figure of nonconformity, to uncover how the affective resonances of grasslands might open new possibilities for attuning to the complex and multiple naturecultures of postcolonial lands. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:40 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:40 PM Tags: o Affect o Ecological restoration o Human–plant relations o Inheritance o More-than-human geographies o Urban grasslands * Assessing the provision of carbon-related ecosystem services across a range of temperate grassland systems in western Canada Type Journal Article Author Majid Iravani Author Shannon R. White Author Daniel R. Farr Author Thomas J. Habib Author Jahan Kariyeva Author Monireh Faramarzi URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969719321011__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvK_8EDnU$ Volume 680 Pages 151-168 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date August 25, 2019 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.05.083 Abstract Reliable data on the provision of ecosystem services (ES) is essential to the design and implementation of policies that incorporate ES into grassland conservation and restoration. We developed and applied an innovative approach for regional parameterization, and calibration of the CENTURY ecosystem model. We quantified spatiotemporal variation of soil organic carbon stock (SOC) and aboveground plant biomass production (AGB) and examined their responses to the recent climate change across a diverse range of native grassland systems in Alberta, western Canada. The simultaneous integration of SOC and AGB into calibration and analysis accounted for most of the spatiotemporal variability in the SOC and AGB measurements and resulted in reduced simulation uncertainty across nine grassland regions. These findings suggest the importance of the systematic parameterization and calibration for the reliable assessment of carbon-related ES across a wide geographic area with heterogeneous ecological conditions. Simulation results showed a pronounced variation in the spatial distribution of SOC and AGB and their associated uncertainty across grassland regions. Under baseline grazing intensity regime, an overall negative effect of recent climatic changes on the SOC, and a less consistent effect on the AGB were found. While, an overall positive or slightly negative impact of recent climate change on the SOC and AGB was found under a proposed 10% lower grazing intensity regime. These heterogeneities in the magnitude and direction of climate change effects under different grazing regimes suggest needs for a range of climate change adaptation strategies to maintain carbon-related ES in Alberta's grasslands. The modeling framework developed in this study can be used to improve the spatially explicit assessment of carbon-related ES in other geographically vast grassland areas and examine the effectiveness of alternative management scenarios to ensure the long-term provision of carbon-related ES in grassland systems. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:17 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:17 PM Tags: o Biogeochemical processes o Calibration and uncertainty o Climate change o Grazing management o Plant biomass production o Soil carbon stock * Persistence of Native C4 Grasses under High-Intensity, Short-Duration Summer Bison Grazing in the Eastern Tallgrass Prairie Type Journal Article Author Randall D. Jackson Author Laura K. Paine Author Julie E. Woodis URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2008.00439.x__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvurGIm20$ Rights © 2008 Society for Ecological Restoration International Volume 18 Issue 1 Pages 65-73 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2010 DOI 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2008.00439.x Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:47:48 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Disturbances such as burning or grazing maintain the herbaceous nature of eastern tallgrass prairie. These disturbances are also known to affect the relative abundance of warm-season (C4) and cool-season (C3) grasses in native prairie. Although burning is a commonly used tool, the utility of livestock grazing to manage restored prairie is less understood. We established five monocultures and one mixture of C4 grass species of the eastern tallgrass prairie in southern Wisconsin. To examine their persistence under high-intensity, short-duration summer grazing, we estimated cover of several functional groups and C4 species over a 6-year period (2000 through 2006) in a randomized complete block design. After a 2-year establishment phase (1998–1999), bison were rotated through paddocks two or three times annually during late June, July, or early August. All C4 grasses declined over time but at different rates depending on the species. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) decreased at the lowest rate, whereas Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) cover declined faster than Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans), and Sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), whose rates of decline were not significantly different from each other. Succession followed a predictable trajectory with annual grasses initially colonizing interstitial space among C4 grasses, followed by legumes, which ultimately gave way to exotic C3 forage grasses. The focal C4 grasses remained the dominant functional group 8 years postseeding, but recolonization by non-native C3 grasses increased over the study period. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:47:48 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:47:48 PM Tags: o functional groups o grassland o linear mixed-effects models o livestock o prairie Attachments o Snapshot * Management effects on the vegetation and soil seed bank of calcareous grasslands: An 11-year experiment Type Journal Article Author Hans Jacquemyn Author Carmen Van Mechelen Author Rein Brys Author Olivier Honnay URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320710004192__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvtgFGw4M$ Volume 144 Issue 1 Pages 416-422 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date January 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2010.09.020 Abstract Calcareous grasslands, most of which are man made and therefore depend on some kind of human interference for their maintenance, are among the most species-rich communities on Earth at a small scale. For many centuries, most of these grasslands have been used as extensive pasture. However, after 1900, and particularly from 1940 onwards, livestock grazing has declined throughout Europe leading to the abandonment of low intensity grasslands over large areas. To conserve the remaining grasslands or to restore recently abandoned grasslands, better insights about the effects of grassland management on above and belowground species diversity are needed. Here, we describe the results of an 11-year experiment to investigate the role of grassland management (grazing, mowing and abandonment) in determining species composition and diversity both in the aboveground vegetation and the seed bank of a calcareous grassland in Belgium. Species diversity declined by about 60% 11 years after abandonment, from 29 species m−2 to as few as 12 species m−2. Plots that were grazed remained constant in species richness, whereas mown sites lost about 20% of their original species. Abandoned plots were largely dominated by a few grass species, in particular Festuca rubra. Concomitant with changes in the aboveground vegetation, both the number of species found in the seed bank and seed density (number of seeds m−2) had changed significantly 11years after abandonment. Species diversity and seed density were significantly lower in abandoned plots than in grazed or mown plots. We conclude that abandonment of calcareous grasslands may lead to rapid decline of plant species diversity both in the aboveground vegetation and in the seed bank. As a result, seed banks probably have a limited role to play in the restoration of recently abandoned grasslands. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:39 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:39 PM Tags: o Calcareous grassland o Grassland management o Restoration o Seed bank o Species diversity * Which spatial distribution model best predicts the occurrence of dominant species in semi-arid rangeland of northern Iran? Type Journal Article Author Zeinab Jafarian Author Mansoureh Kargar Author Zeinab Bahreini URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1574954118301675__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvmDv2mfc$ Volume 50 Pages 33-42 Publication Ecological Informatics ISSN 1574-9541 Date March 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Ecological Informatics DOI 10.1016/j.ecoinf.2018.12.011 Abstract Rangelands with more than 8000 plant species occupy nearly 54.6% of the land area of Iran and thus are accounted for a rich plant genetic storage. Mazandaran province has 378,000 ha of rangelands with high plant species richness and diversity due to its climate conditions but plants distribution is at risk because of non-principle management, land use change and as a result changing environmental factors. Vegetation management strategies can be guided by models that predict plant species distribution based on governing environmental variables. This is especially useful for the dominant species that determine ecosystem processes. In fact, modelling algorithm in each SDM determines its suitability for different ecosystems. Our aim was to compare the predictive power of a number of SDMs and to evaluate the importance of a range of environmental variables as predictors in the context of semi-arid rangeland vegetation. The selected study area, the Sarkhas rangelands (northern Iran, 36°10′ 42˝ N - 51°19′ 11˝ E), covers approximately 4358.9 ha of Mazandaran province. The efficacy of four different modelling techniques as well as Ensemble model was evaluated to predict the distribution of five dominant forage plant species (Vicia villosa, Stachys lavandulifolia, Coronilla balansae, Sanguisorba minor and Alopecurus textilis). The used models included artificial neural network (ANN), boosted regression trees (BRT), classification and regression trees (CART), and random forest (RF). Ensemble, RF and CART had the highest area under curve. The AUC obtained for Vicia villosa, Stachys lavandulifolia, Coronilla balansae, Sanguisorba minor and Alopecurus textilis, were 0.90, 0.72, 0.76, 0.69 and 0.75 respectively. Ensemble model was the model that most consistently demonstrated high predictive power across species in the rangeland context investigated here. BRT exhibited the least predictive power. An importance analysis of variables showed that soil organic C according to the CART model (0.396) and K according to the RF model (0.396) were the most important environmental variables. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:00 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:00:00 PM Tags: o Environmental factors o Modelling o Random forest o Spatial prediction * Economic analysis of land use changes in forests and rangelands: Developing conservation strategies Type Journal Article Author Komeil Jahanifar Author Hamid Amirnejad Author Hossein Azadi Author Ademola A. Adenle Author Jürgen Scheffran URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264837718303594__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvPlmw0og$ Volume 88 Pages 104003 Publication Land Use Policy ISSN 0264-8377 Date November 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Land Use Policy DOI 10.1016/j.landusepol.2019.05.022 Abstract Forests and rangelands are economically and environmentally important due to the production of goods and ecosystem services, and any changes in their nature requires a comprehensive evaluation and analysis. The objectives of this study include: a) conducting a cost-benefit analysis of land use change in the forests and rangelands of the Caspian vegetative area with regard to the environmental costs along with other costs and benefits, b) estimating the environmental damage of land use change, and c) developing appropriate strategies for the conservation of the forests and rangelands. The value of costs and benefits of the change was calculated from 2005 to 2016 using the average annual inflation rate up to 2035. The results of the evaluation model show that among the 6 scenarios of land use change, 4 scenarios are completely economically non-viable and two scenarios (forest and rangeland change to residential) are viable with regard to environmental considerations. Moreover, during this period, the change of forest and rangeland for other uses were respectively 43,732 and 33,466 ha. Accordingly, considering the average annual value of hectares of forest and rangeland in terms of producing goods and ecological services, the loss incurred was about 334 and 160 million USD. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:14 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:00:14 PM Tags: o Ecosystem goods and services o Fuzzy analytic hierarchy process o Green cost-benefit analysis o SWOT * Toward quantitative dryland restoration models Type Journal Article Author Jeremy J. James Author Peter J. Carrick URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12393__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvzIgIDIA$ Rights © 2016 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 24 Issue S2 Pages S85-S90 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2016 DOI 10.1111/rec.12393 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:11:14 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Developing solutions to restore degraded drylands is one of the largest research challenges of our time. If we are to meet even a fraction of the restoration goals outlined in numerous international programs, we need to find ways to catalyze systematic knowledge development across disciplines that generate cost-effective, repeatable, and scalable solutions for our dryland restoration needs. Ecological models are fundamental to this effort and in this opinion article, we describe the opportunities for building a conceptual understanding of dryland ecosystem function to create realistic systems models to improve seedling establishment in restoration. We do this by first discussing trade-offs among different modeling approaches and then discussing specific recent efforts to develop a systems model for seed enablement for sagebrush steppes systems in the Western United States. We conclude by outlining broader opportunities for integrating systems models to address related dryland restoration challenges and emphasizing the potential complementary aspects that conceptual and systems models may represent in our global efforts to mitigate dryland degradation. As outlined in this special issue, creation of practical solutions will require careful coordination among diverse disciplines. Systems models have been widely used to transcend disciplines to tackle many issues in related fields such as conservation biology and global climate change and should be helpful in making progress toward our dryland restoration goals over the coming decades. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:11:14 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:11:14 PM Tags: o arid o degradation o invasive plant o rangeland o seed ecology Attachments o Snapshot * Limitations to Postfire Seedling Establishment: The Role of Seeding Technology, Water Availability, and Invasive Plant Abundance Type Journal Article Author Jeremy J. James Author Tony Svejcar URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742410500496__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvxew4j0s$ Volume 63 Issue 4 Pages 491-495 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date July 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/REM-D-09-00124.1 Abstract Seeding rangeland following wildfire is a central tool managers use to stabilize soils and inhibit the spread of invasive plants. Rates of successful seeding on arid rangeland, however, are low. The objective of this study was to determine the degree to which water availability, invasive plant abundance, and seeding technology influence postfire seedling establishment. Across four fire complexes, whole plots were either seeded using a rangeland drill, seeded by hand where seeds could be placed at an exact depth, or left as unseeded controls. Irrigation and weeding treatments were applied to subplots within whole plots in an incomplete factorial design. In three of the four fires, seeding method was the single factor limiting establishment with seedling density over sevenfold higher in the hand-seeded compared to the drill-seeded treatments. In contrast to our hypotheses, water and weeding had no positive effect on seedling establishment in any of the four fires; however, background weed density was relatively low. The native community recovered at all sites with minimal bunchgrass mortality. These results strongly suggest a need for a decision framework that evaluates postfire seeding needs relative to natural recovery. Based on these initial results, it appears modest improvements in seeding technology may yield substantial increases in seeding success. Resumen La siembra en pastizales después de haberse dado una quema no controlada es una herramienta central que los manejadores usan para estabilizar el suelo e inhibir la expansión de plantas invasivas. Sin embargo, las tasas de siembras exitosas en pastizales áridos, son bajas. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar el grado al cual la disponibilidad de agua, abundancia de plantas invasoras y la tecnología de siembra influencian el establecimiento de plántulas después de la ocurrencia del fuego. A través de cuatro complejos de incendios, se sembraron parcelas enteras, ya sea usando una sembradora de pastos o sembradas a mano donde las semillas podrían ser colocadas a una profundidad exacta o utilizar controles sin siembra. Tratamientos de riego y escarda fueron aplicados a sub-parcelas dentro de las parcelas en un diseño factorial, en tres de los cuatro incendios, el método de siembra fue el único factor que limitó el establecimiento, con una densidad de siembra de 7 veces mayor en parcelas sembradas a mano comparadas con las sembradas con la sembradora de pastos. En contraste con nuestras hipótesis, agua y escarda no tuvieron un efecto positivo en el establecimiento de plántulas en ninguno de los cuatro incendios; sin embargo, la densidad de las malezas fue relativamente baja. La comunidad nativa recubrió todos los sitios con una mínima mortalidad de pastos amacollados. Estos resultados sugieren fuertemente la necesidad por un marco de decisión que evalúe las necesidades del establecimiento de siembras después de la ocurrencia de incendios relativas a la recuperación natural. Basado en estos resultados iniciales, parece que modestas mejoras en la tecnología de siembra pueden producir un aumento substancial en el éxito de siembra. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:42 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:42 PM Tags: o cheatgrass o disturbance o fire o restoration o revegetation o seed drill * Managing Medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae) on Rangeland: A Meta-Analysis of Control Effects and Assessment of Stakeholder Needs Type Journal Article Author Jeremy J. James Author Elise S. Gornish Author Joseph M. DiTomaso Author Josh Davy Author Morgan P. Doran Author Theresa Becchetti Author David Lile Author Philip Brownsey Author Emilio A. Laca URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742415000585__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvUGHMCrI$ Volume 68 Issue 3 Pages 215-223 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date May 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2015.03.006 Abstract Invasive plant response to control efforts is strongly modified by site-specific factors, treatment timing, and environmental conditions following treatment, making management outcomes challenging to predict. Systematic reviews, which involve quantitative synthesis of data, can address this challenge by identifying general patterns of treatment effects across studies and quantifying the degree to which these effects vary. We conducted a systematic review of medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae [L.] Nevski) control treatments that couples a meta-analysis on control data with an assessment of stakeholder needs to identify critical medusahead management knowledge gaps. With the meta-analysis we generated effect size estimates of how combinations of herbicide, burning, seeding, and grazing impacted medusahead on rangeland dominated by either annual or perennial vegetation. All combinations of treatments in both rangeland systems provided significant short-term control of medusahead, although treatment effects were highly transient on perennial rangeland, particularly for seeding treatments. Stakeholders listed grazing as a preferred management tool, and on annual rangeland an almost twofold reduction in medusahead abundance was achieved by timing high stocking rates to match phenological stages when medusahead was most susceptible to defoliation. Insufficient data were available to evaluate effects of grazing on medusahead on perennial rangeland. On the basis of these data and our stakeholder survey, four major information needs emerged, including the need to better understand 1) seedbank response to burning and herbicide treatments, 2) how to optimize grazing animal impacts on medusahead given ranch enterprise constraints, 3) costs and benefits of control and risk of practice failure, and 4) impacts of adaptive management treatments conducted on larger scales and at longer time intervals. Addressing these knowledge gaps should help overcome key ecological and economic barriers inhibiting implementation of medusahead and other invasive plant management programs on rangeland and provide a positive step toward conserving the critical ecosystem services these systems provide. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:10 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:55:00 PM Tags: o annual grassland o California o ecosystem services o invasive o restoration o seeding * Grass Seedling Demography and Sagebrush Steppe Restoration Type Journal Article Author J.J. James Author M.J. Rinella Author T. Svejcar URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742412500606__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvKXfm8RY$ Volume 65 Issue 4 Pages 409-417 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date July 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/REM-D-11-00138.1 Abstract Seeding is a key management tool for arid rangeland. In these systems, however, seeded species often fail to establish. A recent study in Wyoming big sagebrush steppe suggested that over 90% of seeded native grass individuals die before seedlings emerged. This current study examines the timing and rate of seed germination, seedling emergence, and seedling death related to this demographic bottleneck. We seeded monocultures of two native perennial bunchgrasses, Pseudoroegenaria spicata (Pursh) Á. Löve and Elymus elymoides (Raf.) Swezey, and one introduced bunchgrass, Agropyron desertorum (Fisch. ex Link) Schult., in 2007, 2008, and 2009 and tracked sown seed and seedling fate. Across the study years and species we found that germination was rapid and high, with species obtaining 50% germination by December, less than 2 mo after planting. Emergence of germinated seed did not occur until late February for A. desertorum and March for the two native grasses. In 2007 the majority of emergence and death was constrained to several weeks, whereas in 2008 and 2009 emergence and death was distributed across several months. The timing of seedling emergence did not influence survival probability or midday plant water potential (probability of exceedance &spilt; 0.05). Survival probabilities once seedlings emerged were greater for native species (0.71) than A. desertorum (0.51) in 2 of the 3 study yr (probability of exceedance &spigt; 0.98). The early germination of grasses following fall seeding, and the long 2- to 3-mo period that germinated grass seed remain in the soil before emerging, support the hypothesis that seedling recruitment might be limited largely by ecological processes and conditions during winter or early spring (such as soil freeze–thaw events, seed pathogens, or physical crusts). Delaying seeding to early winter or spring and other management tools that mitigate these factors driving this bottleneck might greatly improve restoration outcomes in these systems. Resumen Las resiembras son una herramienta clave de manejo para pastizales áridos. En estos sistemas, sin embargo, las especies sembradas a menudo no se establecen. En un estudio reciente en un pastizal de Artemisia en Wyoming se sugiere que más del 90% de los individuos sembrados de pastos nativos mueren antes que la plántula germine. Este estudio examina la época y tasa de germinación de las semillas, la aparición de la plántula, y la muerte de plántula relacionadas con el cuello de botella demográfico. Se sembraron monocultivos de dos especies nativas de pastos amacollados, Pseudoroegenaria spicata (Pursh) Á. Löve y Elymus elymoides (Raf.) Swezey, y también un pasto amacollado introducido, Agropyron desertorum (Fisch. ex Link) Schult., durante 2007, 2008, y 2009 y se le dio seguimiento a las semillas sembradas así como el destino de las plántulas. A través de los años de estudio y especies se vio que la germinación fue rápida y alta, con la obtención de la germinación del 50% en diciembre, menos de 2 meses después de la siembra de especies. La aparición de semillas germinadas no ocurrió hasta finales de febrero para A. desertorum y en marzo para las dos especies de pastos nativos. En 2007 la mayoría de aparición y muerte estaba limitada a varias semanas mientras que en 2008 y 2009 el surgimiento y la muerte se distribuyeron a través de varios meses. El tiempo de aparición de las plántulas no influyó en la probabilidad de la supervivencia o al potencial de agua de la planta al mediodía o (probabilidad de superación &spilt; 0.05). Las probabilidades de supervivencia una vez que surgieron las plántulas fueron mayores para las especies nativas (0.71) que A. desertorum (0.51) en dos de los tres años de estudio (probabilidad de superación &spigt; 0.98). La germinación temprana de gramíneas después de que cae la semilla y el periodo tardo de dos a tres meses la semilla germinada permanece en el suelo antes de emerger y apoya la hipótesis que el reclutamiento de plántulas puede estar altamente limitado por el proceso ecológico y las condiciones durante el invierno o el inicio de la primavera tales (como la descongelación del suelo, los patógenos de la semilla, o las costras físicas). Retrasando la siembra a principios del invierno o primavera y usando otras herramientas de manejo que mitiguen los factores que impulsan este cuello de botella se puede mejorar considerablemente los resultados de la restauración en estos sistemas Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:54 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:54:44 PM Tags: o cheatgrass o fire o seed o seedling establishment * Development of soil microbial communities during tallgrass prairie restoration Type Journal Article Author Kamlesh Jangid Author Mark A. Williams Author Alan J. Franzluebbers Author John M. Blair Author David C. Coleman Author William B. Whitman URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0038071709004222__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvzzWhoPg$ Volume 42 Issue 2 Pages 302-312 Publication Soil Biology and Biochemistry ISSN 0038-0717 Date February 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Soil Biology and Biochemistry DOI 10.1016/j.soilbio.2009.11.008 Abstract Soil microbial communities were examined in a chronosequence of four different land-use treatments at the Konza Prairie Biological Station, Kansas. The time series comprised a conventionally tilled cropland (CTC) developed on former prairie soils, two restored grasslands that were initiated on former agricultural soils in 1998 (RG98) and 1978 (RG78), and an annually burned native tallgrass prairie (BNP), all on similar soil types. In addition, an unburned native tallgrass prairie (UNP) and another grassland restored in 2000 (RG00) on a different soil type were studied to examine the effect of long-term fire exclusion vs. annual burning in native prairie and the influence of soil type on soil microbial communities in restored grasslands. Both 16S rRNA gene clone libraries and phospholipid fatty acid analyses indicated that the structure and composition of bacterial communities in the CTC soil were significantly different from those in prairie soils. Within the time series, soil physicochemical characteristics changed monotonically. However, changes in the microbial communities were not monotonic, and a transitional bacterial community formed during restoration that differed from communities in either the highly disturbed cropland or the undisturbed original prairie. The microbial communities of RG98 and RG00 grasslands were also significantly different even though they were restored at approximately the same time and were managed similarly; a result attributable to the differences in soil type and associated soil chemistry such as pH and Ca. Burning and seasonal effects on soil microbial communities were small. Similarly, changing plot size from 300 m2 to 150 m2 in area caused small differences in the estimates of microbial community structure. In conclusion, microbial community structure and biochemical properties of soil from the tallgrass prairie were strongly impacted by cultivation, and the microbial community was not fully restored even after 30 years. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:32 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:32 PM Tags: o 16S rRNA o Bacterial community o Cropland o PLFA o Prairie o Restoration * Prairie wetlands confer consistent migrant refueling conditions across a gradient of agricultural land use intensities Type Journal Article Author Adam K. Janke Author Micheal J. Anteau Author Joshua D. Stafford URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320718311819__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv3DQbYS8$ Volume 229 Pages 99-112 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date January 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2018.11.021 Abstract Increasing global demands for land to produce food, fiber, and energy threatens temperate grassland and wetland ecosystems, catalyzing a need to inform strategic and efficient approaches to conserve ecological function in these ecosystems. In the Prairie Pothole Region of North America, an extensive agricultural footprint has grown since the late 19th century and recently expanded in extent and intensity of cultivation in response to improved technology and global demands. Despite extensive modifications, many wetlands remain in a matrix of intensively farmed uplands in this landscape. We comprehensively evaluated contributions of those wetlands to spring-migrating ducks by studying two wetland-obligate foragers—lesser scaup (Aythya affinis) and blue-winged teal (Anas discors)—as they migrated to northern breeding ranges. We measured a comprehensive suite of physiological, ecological, and behavioral metrics important during migration in wetlands across a range of upland cultivation intensities at fine and coarse spatial extents. We found no systematic negative responses in invertebrate prey abundance, abundance of migrants, or lipid metabolism of migrant females across the cultivation intensity gradient. Further, abundance and physiology of blue-winged teal and some key invertebrate prey densities were higher in more intensively cultivated landscapes. Our results demonstrated extant wetlands in modern, intensively farmed landscapes make meaningful contributions to spring-migrating ducks despite likely negative impacts of proximate upland cultivation. This insight raises questions about the consequences of agricultural perturbations and the baseline functionality of wetlands in agriculturally productive landscapes that have implications for wetland restoration and conservation strategies employed here and in intensively farmed landscapes globally. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:03 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:03 PM Tags: o Agriculture o Aquatic invertebrates o Avian physiology o Spring migration o Waterfowl o Wetlands * Role of nurse shrubs in restoration of an arid rangeland: Effects of microclimate on grass establishment Type Journal Article Author M. Jankju URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196312002510__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvMS28P7c$ Volume 89 Pages 103-109 Publication Journal of Arid Environments ISSN 0140-1963 Date February 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Journal of Arid Environments DOI 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2012.09.008 Abstract A perennial forage grass, Agropyron desertorum was sown under the canopies of four shrub species or in open areas to test for facilitation during seedling establishment in an arid rangeland in Karnakh, Northeast Iran. Height, area and volume of shrubs were measured. Microclimate conditions and seedling establishment were assessed three times within two consecutive growing seasons. Near surface light intensity and air temperature were lower under shrubs, which led to initially higher soil moisture and grass establishment under the canopy of some shrub species. The leguminous shrub (Astragalus gossypinus) showed facilitation during moderate stress (summer 2009), but shifted to a negative effect during the severe drought (summer 2010). Competition, possibly for light, reduced the establishment of Agropyron seedlings under the cushion-like shrub (Acantholimon prostegium). Salsola arbusculiformis and Artemisia kopetdaghensis respectively showed a neutral and a facilitation effect in the first season, but a combined effect of allelopathy and drought led to the high mortality of Agropyron seedlings under their canopy. In conclusion in this arid rangeland, shrubs may facilitate establishment of understory plants under moderate drought stress, and for non-resource factors (light and temperature), but these positive effects are suppressed due to competition under severe drought conditions. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:00 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:55:01 PM Tags: o Canopy facilitation o Competition o desertorum o Iran o Rangeland o Soil moisture * Soil quality and land capability of reclaimed oil and gas well pads in southern Alberta: long-term legacy effects Type Journal Article Author Arnold Janz Author Ivan Richard Whitson Author Randi Lupardus Volume 99 Issue 3 Pages 262–276 Publication Canadian Journal of Soil Science Date 2019 Date Added 2020-03-17, 9:55:39 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:55:03 PM * Incorporating Hydrologic Data and Ecohydrologic Relationships into Ecological Site Descriptions Type Journal Article Author C. Jason Williams Author Frederick B. Pierson Author Kenneth E. Spaeth Author Joel R. Brown Author Osama Z. Al-Hamdan Author Mark A. Weltz Author Mark A. Nearing Author Jeffrey E. Herrick Author Jan Boll Author Peter R. Robichaud Author David C. Goodrich Author Phillip Heilman Author D. Phillip Guertin Author Mariano Hernandez Author Haiyan Wei Author Stuart P. Hardegree Author Eva K. Strand Author Jonathan D. Bates Author Loretta J. Metz Author Mary H. Nichols URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742415001244__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvKM7Ou8Q$ Volume 69 Issue 1 Pages 4-19 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date January 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2015.10.001 Abstract The purpose of this paper is to recommend a framework and methodology for incorporating hydrologic data and ecohydrologic relationships in Ecological Site Descriptions (ESDs) and thereby enhance the utility of ESDs for assessing rangelands and guiding resilience-based management strategies. Resilience-based strategies assess and manage ecological state dynamics that affect state vulnerability and, therefore, provide opportunities to adapt management. Many rangelands are spatially heterogeneous or sparsely vegetated where the vegetation structure strongly influences infiltration and soil retention. Infiltration and soil retention further influence soil water recharge, nutrient availability, and overall plant productivity. These key ecohydrologic relationships govern the ecologic resilience of the various states and community phases on many rangeland ecological sites (ESs) and are strongly affected by management practices, land use, and disturbances. However, ecohydrologic data and relationships are often missing in ESDs and state-and-transition models (STMs). To address this void, we used literature to determine the data required for inclusion of key ecohydrologic feedbacks into ESDs, developed a framework and methodology for data integration within the current ESD structure, and applied the framework to a select ES for demonstrative purposes. We also evaluated the utility of the Rangeland Hydrology and Erosion Model (RHEM) for assessment and enhancement of ESDs based in part on hydrologic function. We present the framework as a broadly applicable methodology for integrating ecohydrologic relationships and feedbacks into ESDs and resilience-based management strategies. Our proposed framework increases the utility of ESDs to assess rangelands, target conservation and restoration practices, and predict ecosystem responses to management. The integration of RHEM technology and our suggested framework on ecohydrologic relations expands the ecological foundation of the overall ESD concept for rangeland management and is well aligned with resilience-based, adaptive management of US rangelands. The proposed enhancement of ESDs will improve communication between private land owners and resource managers and researchers across multiple disciplines in the field of rangeland management. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:42 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:04:42 PM Tags: o adaptive management o ecological site o erosion o infiltration o monitoring o multiple stable states o rangeland o rangeland health o Rangeland Hydrology and Erosion Model o resilience o runoff o state-and-transition models * Can ecological engineering restore Mediterranean rangeland after intensive cultivation? A large-scale experiment in southern France Type Journal Article Author Renaud Jaunatre Author Elise Buisson Author Thierry Dutoit URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857413005223__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv_L6W2bM$ Volume 64 Pages 202-212 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date March 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2013.12.022 Abstract Ecological restoration has been identified as one of the possible ways to replace biodiversity loss. While ecological engineering methods can successfully restore some ecosystem attributes, restoration is generally incomplete, mainly due to lack of target species propagule dispersal, unsuitable abiotic conditions and negative biotic interactions, especially after intensive cultivation. How best to restore reference ecosystems is therefore a vital research objective, not only on a small experimental scale but also on a large scale. This study aimed to determine which ecological engineering techniques are the most suitable for large-scale restoration of a low-productive species-rich ecosystem after intensive cultivation. Experiments were carried out at La Crau in southern France, within a 357ha land rehabilitation project whose aim was to recreate a herbaceous sheep-grazed habitat. We investigated: (i) covering species seeding, (ii) topsoil removal, (iii) hay transfer, and (iv) soil transfer as methods to restore a steppe plant community in this rehabilitated area, using the last remaining French Mediterranean steppe as a reference ecosystem. Species-richness, diversity and composition of vascular plant communities were monitored over three years. The rehabilitation made it possible to recover a large area dominated by grasses but with vegetation different from that of the steppe. Hay transfer was successful in transferring some target species, but the number of target species did not significantly increase by the end of the third year. Covering species seeding seemed to provide a suitable area for target species colonization, but probable competition with grasses needs to be monitored. The greatest similarity in richness, diversity, and composition with the reference ecosystem was obtained with topsoil removal and soil transfer, which made it possible to recover the species-richness and, to some extent, the composition of the steppe. Our findings show that current ecological restoration and ecological engineering techniques can lead to at least partial restoration of some ecosystem attributes. However, they also underline the importance of in situ conservation of natural habitats rather than restoring them after their destruction. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:32 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:32 PM Tags: o Covering species seeding o Ecological restoration o Hay transfer o Plant community composition o Soil transfer o Topsoil removal * Topsoil removal improves various restoration treatments of a Mediterranean steppe (La Crau, southeast France) Type Journal Article Author Renaud Jaunatre Author Elise Buisson Author Thierry Dutoit URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.jstor.org/stable/24030777__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvsGxs2vk$ Volume 17 Issue 2 Pages 236-245 Publication Applied Vegetation Science ISSN 14022001, 1654109X Date 2014 Accessed 2020-03-17, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Question: Can topsoil removal improve restoration efficiency of several ecological engineering techniques (nurse species seeding, hay transfer and soil transfer) for restoring a Mediterranean steppe, species-rich plant community? Location: La Crau area, southeast France (Provence). Methods: After the rehabilitation of a 357-ha herbaceous, sheep-grazed rangeland suitable for threatened steppe birds in a formerly abandoned industrial orchard in the last French Mediterranean steppe (La Crau area), four experimental treatments were applied, with or without topsoil removal. Topsoil was removed on a 5000-m2 area and the four treatments (control, nurse species seeding, hay transfer and soil transfer) were applied within this area where topsoil was removed and within the area where topsoil was not removed. Three years later, soil chemistry, soil seed bank, vegetation cover and height, plant species richness, composition and diversity were compared. Results: Removing topsoil partly restored soil conditions and significantly reduced the non-target seed bank. Moreover, species richness and similarity to the reference steppe was significantly increased with topsoil removal. Topsoil removal, combined with soil transfer and hay transfer, created a community that most closely resembled the reference during the study period. Conclusion: In order to restore plant community composition, topsoil removal is a relevant method to increase the efficiency of other ecological restoration techniques, especially those that strengthen dispersal processes. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:49:56 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:49:56 PM * Bush encroachment influences nocturnal rodent community and behaviour in a semi-arid grassland in Gujarat, India Type Journal Article Author Anisha Jayadevan Author Shomen Mukherjee Author Abi Tamim Vanak URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196317302422__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvBEdrmBk$ Volume 153 Pages 32-38 Publication Journal of Arid Environments ISSN 0140-1963 Date June 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Journal of Arid Environments DOI 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2017.12.009 Abstract Bush encroachment is one of the major threats to grasslands globally. The increased cover due to bush encroachment can strongly influence the behaviour of animals adapted to a more open habitat. In this study, we explored the effects of bush encroachment on the foraging behaviour of nocturnal rodents the semi-arid Banni grasslands of western India, once one of India's largest tropical grassland habitats. We quantified foraging behaviour using the giving-up density (GUD) framework, across two sites that differed in the extent of bush encroachment. Rodents in the site with high bush encroachment (the dense site) exhibited higher foraging costs (higher GUD) in early summer compared to the site with low bush encroachment (the sparse site). Rodents in the dense site also had lower activity. The dense site supported higher richness and relative abundance of generalist rodents than the sparse site. Our results suggest that bush encroachment may be associated with higher foraging costs for nocturnal rodents and result in a change in species composition of rodents. Given the ecosystem engineering services performed by native grassland species, these results can have negative implications for grassland restoration. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:32 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:32 PM Tags: o Bush encroachment o Foraging behaviour o Giving-up density o Semi-arid grasslands * Soil degradation and recovery – Changes in organic matter fractions and structural stability Type Journal Article Author Johannes L. Jensen Author Per Schjønning Author Christopher W. Watts Author Bent T. Christensen Author Peter B. Obour Author Lars J. Munkholm URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706119310572__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvexQxLc0$ Volume 364 Pages 114181 Publication Geoderma ISSN 0016-7061 Date April 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Geoderma DOI 10.1016/j.geoderma.2020.114181 Abstract The combination of concurrent soil degradation and restoration scenarios in a long-term experiment with contrasting treatments under steady-state conditions, similar soil texture and climate make the Highfield land-use change experiment at Rothamsted Research unique. We used soil from this experiment to quantify rates of change in organic matter (OM) fractions and soil structural stability (SSS) six years after the management changed. Soil degradation included the conversion of grassland to arable and bare fallow management, while soil restoration comprised introduction of grassland in arable and bare fallow soil. Soils were tested for clay dispersibility measured on two macro-aggregate sizes (DispClay 1–2 mm and DispClay 8–16 mm) and clay-SOM disintegration (DI, the ratio between clay particles retrieved without and with SOM removal). The SSS tests were related to soil organic carbon (SOC), permanganate oxidizable C (POXC) and hot water-extractable C (HWC). The decrease in SOC after termination of grassland was greater than the increase in SOC when introducing grassland. In contrast, it was faster to restore degraded soil than to degrade grassland soil with respect to SSS at macro-aggregate scale. The effect of management changes was more pronounced for 8–16 mm than 1–2 mm aggregates indicating a larger sensitivity towards tillage-induced breakdown of binding agents in larger aggregates. At microscale, SSS depended on SOC content regardless of management. Soil management affected macroscale structural stability beyond what is revealed from measuring changes in OM fractions, underlining the need to include both bonding and binding mechanisms in the interpretation of changes in SSS induced by management. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:30 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:30 PM Tags: o Rate of change o Soil degradation o Soil management o Soil organic carbon o Soil restoration o Soil structural stability * Short-term changes in soil pore size distribution: Impact of land use Type Journal Article Author Johannes L. Jensen Author Per Schjønning Author Christopher W. Watts Author Bent T. Christensen Author Lars J. Munkholm URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167198719309894__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvo3A06Vk$ Volume 199 Pages 104597 Publication Soil and Tillage Research ISSN 0167-1987 Date May 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Soil and Tillage Research DOI 10.1016/j.still.2020.104597 Abstract Changes in land use affect the pore size distribution (PSD) of the soil, and hence important soil functions such as gas exchange, water availability and plant growth. The objective of this study was to investigate potentially damaging and restorative soil management practices on soil pore structure. We quantified the rate of change in PSD six years after changes in land use taking advantage of the Highfield land-use change experiment at Rothamsted Research. This experiment includes short-term soil degradation and restoration scenarios established simultaneously within long-term contrasting treatments that had reached steady-state equilibrium. The land-use change scenarios comprised conversion to grassland of previously arable or bare fallow soil, and conversion of grassland to arable and bare fallow soils. In the laboratory, we exposed intact soil cores (100 cm3) to matric potentials ranging from −10 hPa to -1.5 MPa. Based on equivalent soil mass, the plant available water capacity decreased after conversion from grassland, whereas no change was observed after conversion to grassland. Structural void ratio decreased after termination of grassland and introduction of grassland in bare fallow soil, while no change was seen when changing arable to grassland. Consequently, it was faster to degrade than to restore a complex soil structure. The study illustrates that introducing grassland in degraded soil may result in short-term increase in soil density. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:39 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:39 PM Tags: o Land-use change o Pore size distribution o Soil degradation and recovery * Unbalanced forest displacement across the coastal urban groups of eastern China in recent decades Type Journal Article Author Yingying Ji Author Jiaxin Jin Author Qingsong Zhu Author Shijie Zhou Author Ying Wang Author Pengxiang Wang Author Yuanyuan Xiao Author Fengsheng Guo Author Xudong Lin Author Jianhui Xu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969719358954__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvquiUIcM$ Volume 705 Pages 135900 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date February 25, 2020 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135900 Abstract The Jing-Jin-Ji urban group (JJJug), the Yangtze River Delta urban group (YRDug) and the Pearl River Delta urban group (PRDug) are major urban groups of eastern China that play crucial roles in the economy and ecology. With rapid urbanization, demand for land for urban construction has significantly increased, causing direct and indirect losses of forests. At the same time, forest protection and restoration are being promoted in the construction of forested urban groups in response to the 13th Five-Year Plan for forestry development of China in the abovementioned regions. These inevitable contradictory demands for land may inhibit regional sustainable development. However, how forest coverage changed and its ecological impacts in recent decades have rarely been systematically evaluated. To address this issue, this paper quantitatively investigated the spatial and temporal variations in forest coverage and the evolution of landscape patterns using remote sensing data across the JJJug, the YRDug and the PRDug from 1992 to 2015. The results show that forest coverage in the JJJug first increased and then decreased, while that in the YRDug and the PRDug showed a sustained decline during the study period. In the case of land displacement, on the one hand, the three urban groups exhibited a transition from forest to farmland in the forest-farm ecotone at medium and high altitudes. On the other hand, grassland and shrubland were changed into forest mainly in the outer suburbs. Furthermore, in general, the landscape fragmentation in the urban groups significantly increased because of urban expansion. Besides, that of the JJJug exhibited an obvious spatial heterogeneity with a decline in the north while an increase in the south. Overall, unbalanced forest displacement, which could lead to a negative effect on both forest-coverage quantity and landscape quality, should be given more attention in the future development of forested urban groups. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:24 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:24 PM Tags: o Forest o Land cover change o Landscape diversity o Remote sensing o Urbanization * Traditional dry soil layer index method overestimates soil desiccation severity following conversion of cropland into forest and grassland on China’s Loess Plateau Type Journal Article Author Xiaoxu Jia Author Chunlei Zhao Author Yunqiang Wang Author Yuanjun Zhu Author Xiaorong Wei Author Ming’an Shao URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880919304116__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvOk_dLFs$ Volume 291 Pages 106794 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date April 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2019.106794 Abstract Due to severe soil erosion and low crop yield, sloping croplands have been converted into forests and grasslands during the past decades on China’s Loess Plateau (CLP). The introduced exotic high-water consumption plants cause soil water deficit that leads to the formation of dry soil layer (DSL). The traditional index method used to determine the existence of DSL considers only soil hydraulic property of “stable field capacity” and fails to fully reflect the interactions between soil water and vegetation. A new index method that considers physiological response of vegetation to drought is needed for DSL research. Here, we proposed a new method to identify and quantify the severity of DSL and compared the proposed method with the traditional method using field data for the 5 m soil depth in typical tree (R. pseudoacacia, n = 85) and grass (M. sativa, n = 20) plantations on CLP. The number of sites detected with DSL through the new method was less than the traditional method for both species. Based on the traditional method, the level of DSL was even more severe; with mean DSL thickness of 3.2 for R. pseudoacacia and 3.9 m for M. sativa. Then for the new index method, it was only 2.4 m for both plantations. DSL formation depth was much deeper under the new method than the traditional method. Also mean plant available soil water (PASW) stored in the identified DSL by the traditional method was ∼44.1 and 37.8 mm; accounting for 37.2 and 88.9% of total PASW in the 1–5 m soil profile under R. pseudoacacia and M. sativa, respectively. Thus, the traditional DSL index method overestimated DSL severity as it fails to account for plant soil water availability, especially in areas with coarser soil texture. The proposed new index method that is based on soil water potential is more suitable for characterization of DSL conditions under different soil types. This is critical for application in reclamation of DSLs and optimization of vegetation cover in the study area and beyond. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:37 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:55:06 PM Tags: o Agricultural land-use change o China’s loess plateau o Plant available soil water o Soil drought * Re-evaluation of organic carbon pool from land surface down to bedrock on China’s Loess Plateau Type Journal Article Author Xiaoxu Jia Author Haiming Wu Author Ming’an Shao Author Laiming Huang Author Xiaorong Wei Author Yunqiang Wang Author Yuanjun Zhu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016788092030027X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvC0n3aiM$ Volume 293 Pages 106842 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date May 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2020.106842 Abstract Large reservoirs of organic carbon (OC) store in deep soils (>1 m below land surface) are not usually included in regional and global terrestrial C inventories. Chinaös Loess Plateau (CLP), which has the worldös deepest loess deposit and has experienced long-term, intensive agricultural and revegetation activities, could contain large stores of OC. In this study, the distribution of OC concentration and stock across the entire loess profile from the ground surface down to the bedrock (56–205 m) was assessed at five sites (Yangling, YL; Changwu, CW; Fuxian, FX; Anösai, AS; and Shenmu, SM) under three land use types (farmland, grassland and shrubland). There was pronounced decrease in mean OC concentration with increasing depth along loess profiles at all the investigated sites. OC concentration in the topmost 20 m of the loess was much higher and fluctuated more significantly than that in the deeper layers at YL, CW, FX and AS, where mean annual precipitation was >550 mm. In contrast, OC concentration was low and stable at SM with mean annual precipitation <450 mm. The restoration of vegetation with deep roots following the abandonment of farmlands resulted in deep OC accumulation at YL and AS, whereas natural grassland recovery did not result in the accumulation of OC at SM. Our results suggested that land use change could alter OC distribution in deep soils, of which degree depended on climatic condition and vegetation type. The estimated OC storage varied significantly across the sites (859–5044 Mg ha–1), which mainly depended on the thickness of loess deposit. OC store on the CLP and other areas around the world with deep soils or sediments could be underestimated and need re-consideration in future C budget studies. This is the first estimate of regional OC stock across loess profile, spanning from the land surface down to the bedrock. The findings could have significant implications for biogeochemical cycling of C in surface and deep soil layers down to the bedrock. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:56 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:56 PM Tags: o Carbon pool o Carbon sequestration o Deep loess deposit o Earth’s critical zone o Vertical distribution * Estimating total net primary productivity of managed grasslands by a state-space modeling approach in a small catchment on the Loess Plateau, China Type Journal Article Author Xiaoxu Jia Author Mingan Shao Author Xiaorong Wei Author Robert Horton Author Xuezhang Li URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706110002879__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvQ5JVTYk$ Volume 160 Issue 3 Pages 281-291 Publication Geoderma ISSN 0016-7061 Date January 15, 2011 Journal Abbr Geoderma DOI 10.1016/j.geoderma.2010.09.016 Abstract Managed grasslands are important for stabilizing soil and reducing soil erosion on sloping lands. In order to obtain information for better grassland management and soil protection at small scales, managed grassland total net primary productivity (TNPP) data were collected and analyzed with a first order state-space approach and a classical linear regression approach. The objective was to determine the effects of soil properties and site elevation on managed grassland TNPP. Soil water content (SWC), soil bulk density (BD), saturated soil hydraulic conductivity (Ks), soil temperature (T), soil clay content (CC), soil organic carbon (SOC), soil NO3–N, soil NH4–N, soil Olsen phosphorus concentration (OP) and site elevation (SE) data were collected along a 300-m transect in the China Loess Plateau. Soil properties and site elevation were evaluated in bi- and multivariate autoregressive state-space analysis to clarify the key factors affecting the spatial distribution of TNPP. Results show that most of the measured variables contributed to the variation of TNPP. CC and OP were especially helpful in describing the spatial pattern of TNPP. The state-space modeling results were compared with classical statistics methodologies, indicating that the state-space approach described the spatial pattern of TNPP much better than the equivalent classical regression methods. All of the TNPP variation was represented by state-space models that included soil NO3–N and OP or soil CC and OP. Only 76% of the variance of the TNPP was represented by classical statistics analysis because the classical statistics did not include sampling position and assumed sample independence. State-space models are recommended for studying spatial relations between vegetation and soil variables in natural soil-plant systems on the China Loess Plateau. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:21 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:21 PM Tags: o Classical statistics o Spatial heterogeneity o State-space models o Total net primary productivity o Vegetation restoration * Variance components and heritability of biomass yield in switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) grown in the Southern Great Plains Type Journal Article Author Qingzhen Jiang Author Stephen L. Webb Author Charles R. Yesudas Author Hem S. Bhandari Author Brindha Narasimhamoorthy Author Joseph H. Bouton Author Malay C. Saha URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378429014002226__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv3R5KQlU$ Volume 168 Pages 148-155 Publication Field Crops Research ISSN 0378-4290 Date November 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Field Crops Research DOI 10.1016/j.fcr.2014.07.016 Abstract Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is an important feedstock for biofuel production and also used for rangeland restoration and as a forage crop. Wide variability has been observed in switchgrass at both ecotypic and population levels. Variance component analysis can identify the relative contribution of different factors which can be used as guidance in selection of genotypes in breeding programs. The objectives of this study were to estimate and partition the sources of variance components and to estimate heritability of biomass yield in switchgrass. A total of 36 accessions including 31 plant introduction accessions collected from the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) and five improved populations developed at the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation were used for estimating the variance components. Fourteen of these were lowland and 22 upland accessions. The accessions and populations were evaluated in Ardmore, Oklahoma from 2007 to 2011. Average biomass yield of lowland accessions was 2.41±0.05kgplant−1 and that of upland accessions was 0.57±0.01kgplant−1. Biomass yield increased up to 526% from 2008 to 2010; however, it decreased up to 88% from 2010 to 2011 growing seasons due to severe drought. Variance component analysis revealed that accessions accounted for 48.5 and 37.2% of the total variation in the lowland and upland ecotypes, respectively. Biomass yield was moderately heritable for switchgrass (0.5) and for lowland (0.6) and upland (0.44) ecotypes, indicating that biomass yield could be improved through selection. In general, lowland ecotypes are more productive; however, a few upland accessions (e.g., PI 476294, PI 657660, PI 642193) were found productive even during dry years, albeit less biomass was produced than lowland ecotype. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:36 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:36 PM Tags: o Biomass yield o Diversity o Heritability o Lowland and upland ecotypes o Switchgrass o Variance components * Impacts of LUCC on soil properties in the riparian zones of desert oasis with remote sensing data: A case study of the middle Heihe River basin, China Type Journal Article Author Penghui Jiang Author Liang Cheng Author Manchun Li Author Ruifeng Zhao Author Yuewei Duan URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969714015861__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvOMNPYHA$ Volume 506-507 Pages 259-271 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date February 15, 2015 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.11.004 Abstract Large-scale changes in land use and land cover over long timescales can induce significant variations in soil physicochemical properties, particularly in the riparian zones of arid regions. Frequent reclamation of wetlands and grasslands and intensive agricultural activity have induced significant changes in both land use/cover and soil physicochemical properties in the riparian zones of the middle Heihe River basin of China. The present study aims to explore whether land use/land cover change (LUCC) can well explain the variations in soil properties in the riparian zones of the middle Heihe River basin. To achieve this, we mapped LUCC and quantified the type of land use change using remote sensing images, topographic maps, and GIS analysis techniques. Forty-two sites were selected for soil and vegetation sampling. Then, physical and chemical experiments were employed to determine soil moisture, soil bulk density, soil pH, soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, total potassium, total phosphorous, available nitrogen, available potassium, and available phosphorous. The Independent-Samples Kruskal–Wallis Test, principal component analysis, and a scatter matrix were used to analyze the effects of LUCC on soil properties. The results indicate that the majority of the parameters investigated were affected significantly by LUCC. In particular, soil moisture and soil organic carbon can be explained well by land cover change and land use change, respectively. Furthermore, changes in soil moisture could be attributed primarily to land cover changes. Changes in soil organic carbon were correlated closely with the following land use change types: wetlands–arable, forest–grasslands, and grasslands–desert. Other parameters, including pH and total K, were also found to exhibit significant correlations with LUCC. However, changes in soil nutrients were shown to be induced most probably by human agricultural activity (i.e. fertilize, irrigation, tillage, etc.), rather than by simple conversions from one land use/cover types to the others. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:49 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:55:07 PM Tags: o Arid inland basin o Heihe River o Land use/land cover change o Soil properties * Evaluating the coupling effects of climate variability and vegetation restoration on ecosystems of the Loess Plateau, China Type Journal Article Author Chong Jiang Author Haiyan Zhang Author Zhipeng Tang Author Lev Labzovskii URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264837716311723__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvw2llAJQ$ Volume 69 Pages 134-148 Publication Land Use Policy ISSN 0264-8377 Date December 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Land Use Policy DOI 10.1016/j.landusepol.2017.08.019 Abstract Restoring disturbed and over-exploited ecosystems is an important part of mitigating human pressures on natural ecosystems. An ambitious ecological restoration program, the Grain for Green Program (GFGP), was launched in 1999 in China. We selected the Loess Plateau (LP) as a case study, and evaluated ecosystem changes between 2000 and 2012 using biophysical models, observation records, and literature data. It was observed that both the warming and wetting of climate and the ecological program promoted vegetation growth and biomass production (i.e., carbon sequestration). Overall ecosystem patterns were relatively stable; grassland, residential land, and forest increased in area, while farmland area decreased slightly. Increasing precipitation throughout the study period was related to fluctuations in soil retention and hydrological regulation. Vegetation restoration induced by climate variability and the ecological program played a significant role in soil retention enhancement, which also substantially reduced sediment load. The land-use conversion in ecological restoration program promoted soil carbon sequestration, but featured differences in conversion types and rainfall zones. The ecosystem changes recorded in the LP, which resulted from both the ecological program and climate variability, might be temporary improvements rather than fundamental ecosystem shifts. The success of this ecological restoration in the LP exemplifies the positive effects of environmental policies and the necessity of adopting an adaptive management approach. However, the current assessment was not comprehensive, as it involved only three dominant regulating services, and there were still trade-offs among multiple ecosystem services. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the interactions and trade-offs among ecosystem services is required to explore in the context of emerging climate change, so as to support environmental management that maximizes ecosystem benefits to human well-being. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:27 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:27 PM Tags: o China o Climate variability o Coupling effects o Ecosystem change o Loess plateau o Vegetation restoration * Assessing land degradation and quantifying its drivers in the Amudarya River delta Type Journal Article Author Liangliang Jiang Author Guli Jiapaer Author Anming Bao Author Yaoming Li Author Hao Guo Author Guoxiong Zheng Author Tao Chen Author Philippe De Maeyer URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X19305874__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv--Sayz4$ Volume 107 Pages 105595 Publication Ecological Indicators ISSN 1470-160X Date December 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2019.105595 Abstract The shrinking of the Aral Sea is one of the most shocking environmental disasters in the world. The Amudarya River delta (AD) is highly vulnerable to land degradation. In this research, NDVI and albedo, which represent vegetation and soil conditions, were applied in change vector analysis (CVA) to monitor land degradation. The vegetation degradation and soil exposure characteristics of land degradation were considered. Furthermore, based on boosted regression trees (BRTs), eight potential driving factors (precipitation, temperature, drought, water withdrawal, canal, livestock, salt discharge and population) were chosen to explore their relative importance to land degradation. The results revealed that some land areas have gradually degraded and fell into high land degradation in the AD, especially in the downstream areas near the Aral Sea. Soil salinization is a major consequence of high land degradation in this region. Subsequently, 920.75 km2 and 183.10 km2 of abandoned croplands were converted to sparse vegetation and grasslands, respectively. The BRT model indicated that water withdrawal availability and decreased precipitation were the most influential factors explaining the land degradation of croplands and natural vegetation from 1990 to 2000, respectively. In contrast, the salt discharge to the field plot was a major force causing land degradation of different vegetation types in the subsequent time interval (2000–2015). Because an increase in the groundwater level resulted in secondary soil salinization, a large proportion (45%) of the increased salinization occurred during this time period. Notably, due to the accelerated shrinking of the Aral Sea, some land areas surrounding the sea have fallen into high land degradation. Our findings can contribute to the implementation of the land degradation neutrality initiative to deploy restoration plans in the AD. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:28:59 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:28:59 PM Tags: o Amudarya River delta o Anthropogenic disturbances o Climate change o Land degradation * Assessing the Ecological Success of Restoration by Afforestation on the Chinese Loess Plateau Type Journal Article Author Juying Jiao Author Zhenguo Zhang Author Wenjuan Bai Author Yanfeng Jia Author Ning Wang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2010.00756.x__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv52KxX_U$ Rights © 2010 Society for Ecological Restoration International Volume 20 Issue 2 Pages 240-249 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2012 DOI 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2010.00756.x Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:49:55 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Afforestation has been accepted as a key measure for preventing soil erosion on the Chinese Loess Plateau for 40 years. In this study, we assessed the ecological success of afforestation by comparing afforested with pre-afforested (croplands) and natural recovery sites in a typical watershed on the Loess Plateau. We evaluated the ecosystem response in terms of vegetation structure, plant diversity, and several key ecological processes of soil moisture, soil nutrients, and soil anti-erodibility. Compared with the croplands, we found that the following indexes were significantly enhanced in afforested sites: vegetation structure and species diversity (species richness, Margalef index, Shannon–Wiener index, and Sorensen's similarity index), soil nutrients (organic carbon, total nitrogen, extractable ammonium nitrogen, available potassium, and available phosphorous), and soil anti-erodibility indexes (water-stable soil aggregates, mean weight diameter, and the ratio of soil structure dispersion). Afforestation offered few additional advantages when compared with natural recovery sites. More importantly, afforestation had significant negative effects on soil desiccation, with negative impacts on the long-term sustainability of these ecosystems. In order to develop self-sustaining and functional ecosystems, our results suggest that natural revegetation offers a more adaptive and appropriate method of ecological restoration on the Loess Plateau. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:49:55 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:49:55 PM Tags: o afforestation o plant diversity o soil anti-erodibility o soil desiccation o soil nutrients o vegetation structure Attachments o Snapshot * Soil C, N, and P distribution as affected by plant communities in the Yellow River Delta, China Type Journal Article Author Shuying Jiao Author Junran Li Author Yongqiang Li Author Jiwen Jia Author Ziyun Xu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0226887__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv25AcFEM$ Volume 14 Issue 12 Pages e0226887 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Dec 20, 2019 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0226887 Accessed 2020-03-12, 3:32:22 PM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract Soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are important soil properties linked to nutrient limitation and plant productivity in terrestrial ecosystems. Up to 90% of the Yellow River Delta (YRD), China has been affected by soil salination due to groundwater overdraft, improper irrigation, land use and land cover change. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of different plant communities on soil quality in a saline-alkaline system of the YRD. We investigated the vertical distribution and seasonal variation of soil C, N, and P, and C:N ratio by choosing four dominant plant communities, namely, alfalfa grassland (AG), Chinese tamarisk (CT), locust forest (LF) and cotton field (CF). The results showed that the concentrations of soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) in CT and LF were always higher than that in AG and CF, especially in the topsoil layer (p<0.05), then gradually decreased with soil depth increasing (p<0.05). The C:N ratio was generally lower, and the average C:N ratio was higher in LF (11.55±1.99) and CT (11.03±0.47) than in CF (10.05±1.25) and AG (9.11±1.11) (p<0.05). The available phosphorus (AP) was highest in CT in Spring, while it was highest in CF in Summer and Autumn. It is worth noting that the soil AP concentrations were always low, particularly in AG (< 6.29 mg kg-1) and LF (< 4.67 mg kg-1), probably linked to P poorly mobile in the saline-alkaline region. In this study, soil nutrients in natural plant communities are superior to farmland, and are significantly affected by the types of plant community; therefore, we suggest that protection of natural vegetation and development of optimal vegetation are critical to restoring land degradation in the YRD. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:32:22 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:32:22 PM Tags: o Alfalfa o Cotton o Edaphology o Grasslands o Locusts o Plant communities o Soil ecology o Spring Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Changes in soil properties across a chronosequence of vegetation restoration on the Loess Plateau of China Type Journal Article Author Feng Jiao Author Zhong-Ming Wen Author Shao-Shan An URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816211000531__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv8szkAcU$ Volume 86 Issue 2 Pages 110-116 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date August 1, 2011 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2011.03.001 Abstract Soil fertility is important for vegetation growth and productivity. The relationship between vegetation and soil fertility is important for both scientific and practical reasons. However, the effects of soil fertility on vegetation development and succession are poorly documented on the Loess Plateau. In this study, we compared soil properties of the Yanhe Watershed in northern Shaanxi across five different land uses (shrubland, farmland, natural grassland, woodland and artificial grassland) and a chronosequence of soils undergoing restoration for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45years. We found that revegetation had a positive effect on soil bulk density decrease, total porosity and capillary porosity increase in the surface soil layers but not in the subsurface layer. Additionally, soil organic matter, total nitrogen, available nitrogen and available potassium were greater at shrubland and woodland sites compared with other land uses. Total phosphorus and available phosphorus were greater at farmland sites. Results of the study indicate that revegetation on eroded soil can produce important increases in soil fertility on older plantations and in areas with natural succession. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:44 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:44 PM Tags: o Land use o Loess Plateau o Soil bulk density o Soil organic carbon o Soil property o Vegetation restoration * Natural vegetation restoration is more beneficial to soil surface organic and inorganic carbon sequestration than tree plantation on the Loess Plateau of China Type Journal Article Author Zhao Jin Author Yunshe Dong Author Yunqiang Wang Author Xiaorong Wei Author Yafeng Wang Author Buli Cui Author Weijian Zhou URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969714004458__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv1jBa7gI$ Volume 485-486 Pages 615-623 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date July 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.03.105 Abstract Natural vegetation restoration and tree plantation are the two most important measures for ecosystem restoration on the Loess Plateau of China. However, few studies have compared the effects of the two contrasting measures on soil organic and inorganic carbon (SOC and SIC) sequestration or have further used SOC and SIC isotopes to analyze the inherent sequestration mechanism. This study examined a pair of neighboring small watersheds with similar topographical and geological backgrounds. Since 1954, natural vegetation restoration has been conducted in one of these watersheds, and tree plantation has been conducted in the other. The two watersheds have now formed completely different landscapes (naturally restored grassland and artificial forestland). Differences in soil bulk density, SOC and SIC content and storage, and SOC and SIC δ13C values were investigated in the two ecosystems in the upper 1m of the soil. We found that SOC storage was higher in the grassland than in the forestland, with a difference of 14.90Mgha−1. The vertical changes in the δ13CSOC value demonstrated that the two ecosystems have different mechanisms of soil surface organic carbon accumulation. The SIC storage in the grassland was lower than that in the forestland, with a difference of 38.99Mgha−1. The δ13CSIC values indicated that the grassland generates more secondary carbonate than the forestland and that SIC was most likely transported to the rivers from the grassland as dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC). The biogeochemical characteristics of the grassland were favorable for the formation of bicarbonate. Thus, more DIC derived from the dissolution of root and microbial respired CO2 into soil water could have been transported to the rivers through flood runoff. It is necessary to study further the transportation of DIC from the grassland because this process can produce a large potential carbon sink. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:30 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:30 PM Tags: o DIC o Ecosystem restoration o Pedogenic carbonate o Soil carbon distribution o δC * Impact of variations in vegetation on surface air temperature change over the Chinese Loess Plateau Type Journal Article Author Kai Jin Author Fei Wang Author Quanli Zong Author Peng Qin Author Chunxia Liu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969720304770__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvHfFSMaQ$ Volume 716 Pages 136967 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date May 10, 2020 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136967 Abstract Studying the drivers and combating the effects of climate change is more urgent than ever, particularly in regions with limited water and sensitive ecosystems. This study evaluated the effect of vegetation variation on surface air temperature (SAT) change in the Chinese Loess Plateau over 1982–2015 based on the ‘observation minus reanalysis’ (OMR) method. Observed temperature, ERA-Interim reanalysis temperature, and Global Inventory Modeling and Mapping Studies normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) 3rd generation were used to analyze the relationship between OMR temperature (representing vegetation impact on SAT) and NDVI. Results showed that the Loess Plateau, especially its central-east areas, has undergone a rapid increase in NDVI and rapid decrease in OMR temperature during 1982–2015. This implies a strong cooling effect of vegetation restoration on SAT change. The mean annual NDVI (MNDVI) and NDVI trend (SlopeNDVI) were negatively correlated with OMR temperature trend (SlopeOMR) on the Loess Plateau (P < 0.001). However, the relationships between MNDVI (SlopeNDVI) and SlopeOMR varied among the arid, semi-arid, and semi-humid regions. As a result, the impacts of restoration of vegetation condition on SAT change during 1982–2015 were estimated to be 0.04, −0.01, and −0.07 °C decade−1 in the arid, semi-arid, and semi-humid regions, respectively. For the entire Loess Plateau, the restoration of its vegetation condition led to a cooling effect of −0.02 °C decade−1 during 1982–2015 and a cooling effect of −0.05 °C in the period following the implementation of the Grain for Green Project (GGP). Moreover, among the three major land use types of the Loess Plateau (i.e., grassland, farmland, and forest), vegetation restoration of forest demonstrated the most obvious cooling effect (−0.06 °C decade−1 during 1982–2015). These results are the first quantitative estimation of the impact of vegetation variation on SAT across the entire Loess Plateau, and demonstrate the ecological effect of afforestation efforts in the southeastern areas in terms of climate warming alleviation. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:38 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:38 PM Tags: o ‘Observation minus reanalysis’ method o Loess Plateau o Normalized difference vegetation index o Temperature change o Vegetation cover * Land system evolution of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau under various development strategies Type Journal Article Author Xiaolong Jin Author Penghui Jiang Author Danxun Ma Author Manchun Li URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0143622818306775__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvBU5jBYA$ Volume 104 Pages 1-9 Publication Applied Geography ISSN 0143-6228 Date March 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Applied Geography DOI 10.1016/j.apgeog.2019.01.007 Abstract Land use and land cover (LULC) is one of the most representative criteria used to evaluate the global environment and terrestrial ecosystem change. LULC plays an important role in the ecological and environmental protection of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP), which is a unique geographical location. The LULC of the QTP has undergone drastic changes during the past few decades due to local planning and policy implementation. Projects such as reforestation and grassland restoration are exerting pressure on land resources and may affect future land use patterns considerably. Current assessments of future land use changes rarely focus on the multiple demands for commodities and services. This study employed the CLUMondo model to predict future land use change trajectories for the period 2010–2030 under three different scenarios. The results indicate that land system changes varied notably under different land management strategies and exhibited large locational discrepancies. Moreover, future land system changes are mainly demonstrated in the form of management intensification under all three scenarios. High demand for livestock in the TREND scenario leads to grassland expansion as well, resulting in corresponding increase in the grassland cover density. Additionally, the expansion of forest area under the FOREST scenario suggests that caution should be exercised during afforestation in the QTP. The results of this study can guide and support future land-use planning, management, and policy formulation in the QTP. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:23:03 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:23:03 PM Tags: o Afforestation o Biodiversity protection o CLUMondo model o Land system o Land use and land cover * Effects of afforestation on soil and ambient air temperature in a pair of catchments on the Chinese Loess Plateau Type Journal Article Author Zhao Jin Author Li Guo Author Bihang Fan Author Henry Lin Author Yunlong Yu Author Han Zheng Author Guangchen Chu Author Jing Zhang Author Isaac Hopkins URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816218305800__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvC7EyKf8$ Volume 175 Pages 356-366 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date April 1, 2019 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2018.12.036 Abstract Climate models and satellite remote sensing have been used to determine the effects of afforestation on soil temperature at regional and global scales. However, the coarse spatial resolution of both methods have made them insensitive to local topography, which is a controlling factor of the surface energy budget, especially in areas with complex topography. While typically applied only locally at representative sites, long-term field measurements can shed light on the role of topography on soil temperature after afforestation and provide direct evidence to verify and calibrate the results from modeling and satellite observation. In this study, a pair of neighboring catchments (one afforested and the other with natural regrowth of grasses) on the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP) was selected to assess the effects of afforestation on soil and ambient air temperature at different slope positions with an entire year of continuous measurements collected every 10 min. The results showed that the uphill slope in both catchments experienced higher soil and air temperatures than the downhill gully, where less solar radiation was received at the ground surface due to canopy interception and topographic shading. For example, the annual average soil (10–100 cm depth) and air temperature in the uphill slope in the forestland catchment was 1.09 and 1.22 °C higher than in the downhill gully, respectively. The effects of topography on soil and air temperature varied at different times of the year, and these effects interacted with the growth status of vegetation. In winter and spring, topography significantly affected soil and air temperature due to varied solar radiation received at different slope positions. By contrast, in summer, the effect of vegetation increased along with higher evapotranspiration and more solar radiation interception by the canopy, especially in the forestland catchment, which showed cooler soils than the other catchment during both the days and nights at all investigated slope positions. However, compared with the grassland catchment, the uphill slope of the forestland catchment had cooler air temperatures during the day, but warmer temperatures at night. We have concluded that both topography and afforestation influence the spatial variation and temporal dynamics of soil and air temperature, and they thereby the surface energy balance of the CLP. More local studies are warranted in order to continue to calibrate regional models and remote sensing data. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:24 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:24 PM Tags: o Field measurement o Soil moisture sensor o Solar radiation o Surface energy budget o Topography o Vegetation restoration * Community-weighted mean traits play crucial roles in driving ecosystem functioning along long-term grassland restoration gradient on the Loess Plateau of China Type Journal Article Author Guanghua Jing Author Jimin Cheng Author Jishuai Su Author Lin Wei Author Tianming Hu Author Wei Li URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196318307547__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvHs0ooOs$ Volume 165 Pages 97-105 Publication Journal of Arid Environments ISSN 0140-1963 Date June 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Journal of Arid Environments DOI 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2019.01.018 Abstract The relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning (BEF) is a central issue in ecology. Recent empirical and theoretical studies have shown that ecosystem functioning is strongly affected by the community-weighted mean (CWM) traits and functional traits diversity (FTD). However, little is known about the relative roles of CWM traits and FTD in explaining ecosystem functioning along a grassland restoration gradient on the Loess Plateau of China. We set up a grassland restoration gradient on the Loess Plateau of China applying the chronosequence approach. Using community biomass and soil carbon stock (SCS) as proxies for ecosystem functioning, we measured 13 functional traits on 28 common plant species and identified the dominant functional traits through principal component analysis (PCA). Our results showed that: (1) Specific leaf area (SLA), mature plant height (MPH) and leaf dry matter content (LDMC) loaded on separate principle components, which could be regarded as dominant functional traits to assess ecosystem functioning. (2) The variation of species diversity was not obvious, but FTD changed significantly along the restoration gradient. Following initial increases, FTD, CWM-SLA and SCS then declined, with the threshold occurring at the 18-year restoration. (3) Community biomass increased significantly through more biomass allocation to the below-ground in the latter stage of restoration. Community biomass was significantly correlated with CWM-MPH while SCS was positively correlated with CWM-SLA. We conclude that community-level functional traits are better than species diversity and FTD in predicting ecosystem functioning, and specifically restoration for 18 years could be the turning point for the degraded grassland ecosystem on the Loess Plateau of China. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:52 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:52 PM Tags: o Ecosystem functioning o Functional trait o Mass ratio hypothesis o Plant diversity o The loess plateau * Assessment of vegetative ecological characteristics and the succession process during three decades of grazing exclusion in a continental steppe grassland Type Journal Article Author Zhaobin Jing Author Jimin Cheng Author Ao Chen URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857413001535__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvHjimUJg$ Volume 57 Pages 162-169 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date August 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2013.04.035 Abstract Stipa bungeana steppe widely distributes in western China and Loess Plateau region, and is mainly used for soil and water conservation. Because of serious degradation, a 30 years (1982–2011) experiment has been carried out involving long-term grazing exclusion. What impacts will climate change have on vegetative ecological characteristics, ecosystem productivity and the succession of semiarid grasslands? The temperature, rainfall, soil moisture, vegetation characteristics, biomass and succession process were analyzed using 5 reference years in the period of grazing exclusion. Our results showed that the temperature increased gradually, but annual rainfall decreased gradually during the years 1982–2011. For soil moisture in the 0–60cm soil layer, the main changes were an initial increase in the early stages of restoration (from 0 to 15 years), followed by a gradual decrease (from 16 to 30 years). The coverage, numbers of plants, plant density, and the Shannon–Wiener index showed similar variation tendencies as they increased during the plant community restoration process and all reached peak values in the 20th year. Above- and below-ground biomass also initially increased and then decreased with time of restoration, with highest values observed in the 20th year. The coverage, numbers of plants, plant density, Shannon–Wiener index, and above- and below-ground biomass all significantly increased with increasing annual mean temperature, growing season temperature and soil moisture in each sampled soil layer, but were not related to rainfall. The plant communities were composed of Gramineae, Leguminosae, and Compositae. Perennial species, C3 plants and xerophytes were the main indicators of the succession process and vegetation restoration. Long-term grazing exclusion could exert a negative influence on the species renewal and productivity. Therefore, time is a very important factor for ecological restoration. These results provide reliable reference information for the similar natural world grasslands. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:40 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:40 PM Tags: o Climate o Grassland o Succession o The Loess Plateau o Vegetative characteristics * Changes in plant community composition and soil properties under 3-decade grazing exclusion in semiarid grassland Type Journal Article Author Zhaobin Jing Author Jimin Cheng Author Jishuai Su Author Yu Bai Author Jingwei Jin URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857413005235__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvpvfO0CA$ Volume 64 Pages 171-178 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date March 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2013.12.023 Abstract Grazing exclusion is an effective way to restore the degraded grassland, and significantly influences the vegetation compositions and soil properties. Plant–soil interaction plays an important role in the maintenance of both plant community composition and soil properties. However, there is littler information on the changes and feedback plant community and soil properties in the semiarid grassland on the time series of the long-term scale that has been continuous grazing exclusion grassland for thirty years. Using the monitoring data of five reference years from 1982 to 2011, we studied the effects of long-term grazing exclusion on plant community and soil properties, the grazing management treatment was as the control. Our results showed that the coverage, plant density, species richness above- and belowground biomass, and Shannon–Wiener index are higher in the mid- and transitional stage of succession in arid and semiarid grassland and then decreased with increasing restoration time. The plant density, coverage and aboveground biomass of plant functional groups showed similar results. Soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), available potassium (AK), available phosphorus (AP), and available nitrogen (AN) significantly increased with the increase of restoration time. There was an interaction between coverage, species richness, total productivity and some soil properties. For plant functional groups, only perennial bunchgrasses was significant positively related to SOM, TN, AN, and AK. This implies that perennial bunchgrasses may be an indicator of soil properties and improve soil nutrient. Our studies provide new sights into the plant–soil interactions and grassland management in semiarid region. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:29 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:29 PM Tags: o Community o Grazing exclusion o Semiarid grassland o Soil nutrient o Succession * Indiscriminate devegetation under improper farming system: a root cause for surface and underground water and food crisis in Ethiopia Type Journal Article Author Dechasa Jiru URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1642359310701567__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvN0zVELY$ Volume 10 Issue 2 Pages 201-209 Publication Invited contributions from the International Symposium Ecohydrology for water ecosystems and society in Ethiopia Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 18-20 November 2009 ISSN 1642-3593 Date January 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Ecohydrology & Hydrobiology DOI 10.2478/v10104-011-0029-0 Abstract Deforestation has caused surface and underground water imbalance in the hydrologic cycle followed by subsequent food, feed and wood productivity crisis. This paper reviews the role of traditional farming systems in wet and dry agroecology. It further compares it with existing improper farming practice, which productivity is examined from agroecology based climatic and edaphic perspective. Experiments were carried out to determine the amount of rainfall intercepted by dominant trees on farm, namely by Cordia africana, Afrocarpus falcatus, Millettia ferruginea, Jimiperus procera, Syzygium guineense, Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata, Acacia albida, Albizia gummifera and Moringa stenopetala. Deep rooted trees planted on farms are found to be sources of feed, food and moisture conservers, that sustain and boost production in moisture scarce agriculture. Under irrigation they are found to be good for salinity protection and marginal land reclamation. Soil infiltration data from secondary sources were examined for cultivated area, wood land and open overgrazed pasture in central Rift Valley. The relative infiltration rates are highest for grasslands. This research work is intended to initiate interdisciplinary networking approach in water and natural resource conservation, proper land use potential development and environmental sustainability. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:38 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:55:09 PM Tags: o deforestation o farming system o infiltration o interception o on-farm trees o water balance crisis * Development of secondary woodland decreases epiphyte metapopulation sizes in wooded grasslands Type Journal Article Author Victor Johansson Author Thomas Ranius Author Tord Snäll URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320714000706__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv8uYvE3U$ Volume 172 Pages 49-55 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date April 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2014.02.012 Abstract Abandoned management of wooded grasslands leads to development of secondary woodland. We investigated how this development affects the colonization–extinction dynamics and persistence of epiphytic lichens associated with old trees. We modelled colonization probability based on observed colonizations (turnover data) during four years of two old-oak-associated lichens on 1236 oaks. Persistence was assessed by projections of future dynamics. We also used the turnover models to validate models fitted to snapshot data (from one point in time). Epiphyte colonization probabilities were lower on trees in closed than in open conditions, and the probabilities increased with increasing connectivity to surrounding occupied trees. The additional four study species had too few colonizations to be modelled, and thus, very low colonization rates. Local extinctions occurred only deterministically through patch destruction processes. In projections of future metapopulation dynamics, when assuming that all trees were in closed conditions, the metapopulations decreased slowly; new equilibria had not been reached after 200years. In contrast, when assuming open conditions for all trees, to test for effects of clearing vegetation around oaks in closed conditions, the metapopulations increased comparatively fast. The turnover models and the snapshot models, gave similar projections of metapopulation sizes, when assuming that the present level of secondary woodland remained constant over time. Development of secondary woodland in wooded grassland has negative impacts on epiphyte metapopulations. However, the slow metapopulation declines suggest that restoration will be successful. High priority should be given to resumed grazing and clearing vegetation around old trees, in particular close to dispersal sources. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:28:01 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:28:01 PM Tags: o Bayesian inference o Lichens o Management o Quercus o Snapshot model o Turnover model * Re-introduction of target species into degraded lowland hay meadows: How to manage the crucial first year? Type Journal Article Author Henriette John Author Sandra Dullau Author Annett Baasch Author Sabine Tischew URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857415302573__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvYvBgyRA$ Volume 86 Pages 223-230 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date January 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2015.11.001 Abstract In grassland restoration, the first year after species re-introduction by sowing in former species poor grasslands is a crucial period for the restoration progress. Despite the preparation of the restoration site by ploughing or grubbing, the establishment window is usually open for only a short time period and germination as well as establishment of the sown target species is often hampered by dense vegetation stands and related low above-ground light-availability. However, concepts how to manage freshly sown sites differ widely. In the Elbe lowland plain (Saxony-Anhalt, Germany), we tested the effects of three different cutting treatments (cut once, twice, three times), three nitrogen fertilization treatments (120kgNha−1yr−1, 60kgNha−1yr−1, without fertilization), rolling versus no rolling as well as species-trait affiliation on the establishment of sown target species in a species-poor, grass-dominated hay meadow using a split-split-plot design. Eighteen target species were sown into ploughed and grubbed plots in autumn. In the following year, individuals of each sown species were counted in microplots before the first and after the last cutting date. The treatment effects as well as the species-trait affiliation were tested using generalized linear mixed models and principal component analysis. Cutting three times significantly enhanced the number of established target species compared to cutting once showing the importance of biomass removal after species re-introduction into productive hay meadows. Compared to control plots, the 120kgNha−1yr−1 fertilization led to a lower number of established target species as well as individuals, whereas moderate fertilization did not hamper the establishment success significantly. Rolling did not show a significant effect. In addition, species traits, such as the potential to build large hemirosettes close to the ground, specific leaf area, and species height are good predictors for the establishment success under the different treatments. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:31 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:31 PM Tags: o Cutting treatments o Fertilization treatments o Grassland restoration o Seeding o Seedling establishment o Species traits * Restoring Tallgrass Prairie and Grassland Bird Populations in Tall Fescue Pastures With Winter Grazing Type Journal Article Author Tracey N. Johnson Author Brett K. Sandercock URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742410500691__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvpi3_0m0$ Volume 63 Issue 6 Pages 679-688 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date November 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/REM-D-09-00076.1 Abstract Restoration of grasslands dominated by tall fescue (Schedonorus phoenix [Scop.] Holub) to native tallgrass prairie usually requires burning, herbicides, or reseeding. We tested seasonal grazing by livestock in winter, combined with cessation of fertilization, as a restoration tool for modifying the competitive dynamics among herbaceous plants to restore tallgrass prairie communities in southeastern Kansas. In 2004–2005, we compared responses of grassland plants and birds across a chronosequence of pastures that were winter-grazed from 1yr to 5yr. We compared winter-grazed pastures to pastures grazed year-round and to local native prairie remnants as starting and endpoints for restoration, respectively. Abundance of native warm-season grasses increased from 2% to 3% mean relative frequency in pastures grazed year-round to 18% to 30% in winter-grazed pastures, and increased with duration of winter-grazing. Native warm-season grasses accounted for 1–6% of total live aboveground biomass in pastures grazed year-round, 1–34% in winter-grazed pastures, and 31–34% in native prairie remnants. Tall fescue abundance and biomass were similar among grazing treatments, with a trend for tall fescue to be less dominant in winter-grazed pastures. Tall fescue made up 9–40% of total aboveground biomass in year-round grazed pastures and 10–25% in winter-grazed pastures. Grassland birds showed variable responses to winter-grazing. Dickcissels (Spiza americana) and Henslow’s sparrows (Ammodramus henslowii) were more abundant in winter-grazed pastures, whereas eastern meadowlarks (Sturnella magna) and grasshopper sparrows (A. savannarum) had similar abundance in pastures grazed year-round and during winter. Winter-grazing of pastures dominated by tall fescue combined with suspension of nitrogen fertilization could be an effective restoration technique that allows use of prairie rangeland while improving habitat for sensitive grassland birds. Resumen La rehabilitación de los pastizales dominados por festuca alta (Schedonorus phoenix [Scop.] Holub) a pastizales nativos generalmente requiere el uso de fuego, herbicidas, o resiembras. Utilizamos el pastoreo estacional con ganado durante el invierno, combinado con el cese de fertilización como una herramienta rotacional de rehabilitación para modificar la dinámica competitiva entre plantas herbáceas y con esto rehabilitar las comunidades de pastizales de pastos altos en el sudeste de Kansas. En 2004–2005, se compararon las respuestas de las plantas en estos pastizales y las aves a través de una cronosecuencia de los potreros que se pastorearon durante el invierno de uno a cinco años. Comparamos los potreros que se pastorearon durante el invierno a los que se pastorearon todo el año, con los remanentes de la vegetación nativa del pastizal como punto inicial y final para la rehabilitación respectivamente. La abundancia de pastos nativos de crecimiento de verano aumentó de un 2–3% de la media de la frecuencia relativa en los potreros pastoreados todo el año, a 18–30% de los potreros pastoreados en el invierno, y se incrementó con la duración del pastoreo de invierno. Los pastos de crecimiento de verano representaron del 1–6% de la biomasa aérea total en potreros pastoreados todo el año, del 1–34% en los potreros pastoreados en el invierno, y de 31–34% en el remanente de la vegetación nativa. La abundancia y biomasa de festuca alta fueron similares entre los tratamientos, con una tendencia hacia festuca alta a ser menos dominante en los potreros pastoreados en el invierno. Festuca alta representó de 9–40% de la biomasa aérea total en los potreros pastoreados todo el año y de 10–25% en los potreros pastoreados durante el invierno. Las aves de los pastizales presentaron una respuesta variable al pastoreo del invierno. Dickcissels (Spiza americana) y Henslow’s sparrows (Ammodramus henslowii) fueron más abundantes en los potreros pastoreados en el invierno, mientras que eastern meadowlarks (Sturnella magna) y grasshopper sparrows (A. savannarum) tuvieron un abundancia similar en los potreros pastoreados todo el año, así como el de invierno. El pastoreo de invierno de los potreros dominados por festuca alta en combinación con la suspensión de fertilización de nitrógeno podría ser una técnica eficaz de rehabilitación que permita el uso de estos pastizales a la vez que mejora el hábitat para las aves más sensibles de los pastizales. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:43 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:55:10 PM Tags: o compositional and structural changes o ground-nesting birds o habitat quality o plant community o prairie restoration o rangeland management * The virtuous circle: predator-friendly farming and ecological restoration in Australia Type Journal Article Author Chris N. Johnson Author Arian D. Wallach URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12396__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvQK3uHaE$ Rights © 2016 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 24 Issue 6 Pages 821-826 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2016 DOI 10.1111/rec.12396 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:44:24 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract In Australia, dingoes are widely regarded as enemies of livestock, and accordingly livestock producers commonly attempt to reduce or eradicate them by lethal control. This can have two forms of perverse outcomes: lethal control often does not succeed in reducing dingo populations and can even result in increased attacks on livestock; and the environmental benefits provided by dingoes, some of which are valuable to livestock production, are lost. We describe these outcomes and suggest mechanisms by which tolerance of dingoes could provide benefits to livestock enterprises, at the same time widening the scope of ecological restoration, and humane treatment of wildlife in Australia. Short Title The virtuous circle Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:44:24 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:44:24 PM Tags: o Canis dingo o human-wildlife conflict o livestock protection o predation o trophic cascades Attachments o Snapshot * Rough Soil Surface Lessens Annual Grass Invasion in Disturbed Rangeland Type Journal Article Author Danielle B. Johnston URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742418301441__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvUG1j2Ww$ Volume 72 Issue 2 Pages 292-300 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date March 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2018.10.010 Abstract Effective manipulations to prevent the spread of invasive species are needed. Downy brome (Bromus tectorum L.) is an annual invader that often expands after disturbances, compromising restoration of big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt.) communities in western North America. This study examined the effects of two manipulations that may slow seed dispersal: soil microtopography (roughened with 50-cm relief or flat) and woody debris (0.024 m3·m−2 or none) on restoration of four disturbed mountain big sagebrush (A. tridentata Nutt. ssp. vaseyana) sites in Colorado. Treatments were crossed with seeding in a fully factorial experiment (n = 3). Microtopography and woody debris treatments were also crossed in a seed dispersal experiment using fluorescently marked downy brome seeds. In the restoration study, downy brome invaded two sites, one pervasively and one patchily. Seeding limited downy brome cover at both of these sites and also increased perennial grass and forb cover while limiting shrub cover. At the pervasively invaded site, the rough surface reduced unseeded plot downy brome cover from 13% to 3% by 5 yr post treatment. Woody debris increased shrub and perennial grass cover but had little effect on downy brome. In the seed dispersal experiment, the rough surface reduced downy brome mean dispersal distance twofold to threefold and 95% quantile distance threefold to sixfold. Woody debris slightly reduced downy brome dispersal only within rough surface plots. A rough surface may aid restoration by trapping downy brome seeds near the parent plant, limiting their spatial distribution, increasing intraspecific competition, and reducing propagule pressure. Designing landscapes to slow seed dispersal may help control invasives and promote establishment of seeded species. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:22 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:55:11 PM Tags: o greater sage-grouse o Piceance Basin o priority effects o propagule pressure o restoration o weed control * Responses of Native Plants and Downy Brome to a Water-Conserving Soil Amendment Type Journal Article Author Danielle B. Johnston Author Magda Garbowski URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742419300752__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dveXjJLO0$ Volume 73 Issue 1 Pages 19-29 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date January 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2019.10.001 Abstract Restoring native plants in rangelands threatened by downy brome (Bromus tectorum L.) presents a serious challenge to land managers. Higher, more consistent soil moisture, as well as slightly compacted soils, may reduce the competitive abilities of downy brome. We manipulated these factors with three treatments: superabsorbent polymer (SAP), a soil-binding agent, and roller compaction at two restoration sites, Wagon Road Ridge (WRR) and Sagebrush (SGE), in northwestern Colorado. SAPs absorb water when soils are wet and then gradually release it, often reducing plant water stress. The binding agent we used is purported to increase water infiltration while reducing soil movement. In Experiment 1, we crossed an SAP, a binding agent, and rolling and found that SAP benefitted perennial grass establishment at the WRR site only. SAP also decreased downy brome cover and biomass at WRR. The binding agent increased soil moisture at both sites, and the highest level of binding agent reduced downy brome cover in the absence of SAP at the SGE site. In Experiment 2, we examined only SAP, with larger plots and a more complex seed mix. Again, SAP benefitted perennial grass establishment at WRR only. SAP reduced initial perennial forb density at both sites but did not affect forb cover in subsequent years. SAP effects on downy brome were site-specific. There was a trend for reduced downy brome cover with SAP at WRR, but SAP caused a large increase in downy brome cover in yr 3 at SGE. Granulated SAP can be applied easily along with drill seeding, making it potentially applicable for dryland restoration. However, site specific factors may influence whether perennial grasses or downy brome most benefit from SAP application. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:37 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:04:37 PM Tags: o arid lands o cheatgrass o drought o hydrogel o restoration o superabsorbent polymer * Native Seeds in the Marketplace: Meeting Restoration Needs in the Intermountain West, United States Type Journal Article Author Thomas A. Jones URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742419300557__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvDfpUDFU$ Volume 72 Issue 6 Pages 1017-1029 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date November 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2019.07.009 Accessed 2020-03-17, 6:01:13 PM Library Catalog ScienceDirect Language en Abstract The scale of ecological restoration in the Intermountain West (IW), United States is likely greater than anywhere else in the world. This is largely driven by response to accelerating ecological disturbances and government programs that divert privately owned cropland into soil, water, and wildlife conservation use. While restoration in the IW is challenging due to the region’s aridity, over the past few decades considerable improvement in restoration seeding success has been achieved using native plants instead of the exotic species that have predominated previously. The IW is blessed with an extensive research infrastructure for native plant material development through the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Agricultural Research Service, and the US Forest Service. A high demand for native seeds in the IW allows for a large and diverse product base of grasses, shrubs, and forbs in the form of cultivars, selected-class prevariety germplasms, and source-identified populations. Two sister native seed industries, one based on field cultivation and another based on collection from public wildlands, are likely the largest of their kind in the world. Seed is offered, mostly on a speculative basis, to major markets (e.g., Bureau of Land Management consolidated seed buy, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources seed buy, Conservation Reserve Program). Elements of the IW native seed marketplace (e.g., plant material development and cultivated seed production), may be instructive for the development of broadscale-restoration models appropriate for other parts of the world. Short Title Native Seeds in the Marketplace Date Added 2020-03-17, 6:01:13 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:55:12 PM Tags: o Conservation Reserve Program o ecological restoration o native plant materials o native seeds o seed production area o wildland seed harvest Attachments o ScienceDirect Snapshot * Factors Influencing Germination of a Functionally Important Grassland Plant, Iris tenax Type Journal Article Author Katherine D. Jones Author Thomas N. Kaye URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0090084__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvTu1g-Js$ Volume 9 Issue 2 Pages e90084 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Feb 28, 2014 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0090084 Accessed 2020-03-12, 3:22:43 PM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract Grassland prairies of western Oregon and Washington are among the most endangered ecosystems in the United States. Active management and restoration are needed to promote biodiversity in the region. To support plant production for use in habitat restoration, we developed germination protocols for greenhouse propagation of Iris tenax (Oregon iris). Dormancy was most effectively overcome (63% germination) by four weeks of warm stratification at 20/30°C followed by 6–12 weeks of cold stratification at 5°C suggesting that I. tenax may have morphophysiological dormancy. This result was consistent across multiple source populations. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:22:43 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:22:43 PM Tags: o Embryos o Grasslands o Heat treatment o Oregon o Pigeons o Radicle o Seed germination o Seeds Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Seed Dormancy Mechanisms in Basalt Milkvetch and Western Prairie Clover Type Journal Article Author Thomas A. Jones Author Douglas A. Johnson Author B. Shaun Bushman Author Kevin J. Connors Author Robert C. Smith URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742415001694__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvV-q23X4$ Volume 69 Issue 2 Pages 117-122 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date March 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2015.12.004 Abstract A greater diversity of native legumes and forbs is desirable for rangeland restoration practice in the Intermountain Region of the western United States. But for such diversity to materialize in the seed marketplace and to be effective in restoration practice, seeds that germinate reliably in seed fields and on restoration sites are needed. We measured germination response of two native legumes, basalt milkvetch (Astragalus filipes Torr. ex A. Gray) and western prairie clover (Dalea ornata [Douglas] Eaton & Wright), after eight germination treatments. Treatments were a factorial combination of 1) seed scarification with sandpaper (or unscarified), 2) a substrate of moist sand (or blotter paper), and 3) a 3-wk prechill at 5° (or nonprechilled). Cumulative germination increased linearly throughout the 10-wk course of the experiment for all treatment combinations in both species. Scarification increased germination of western prairie clover, but prechilling and substrate had no effect. In contrast, prechilling, scarification, and a sand substrate all increased germination of basalt milkvetch. Hence, for this species the prechilled/scarified/sand treatment combination displayed the numerically highest germination for all 10 wk (30−43%), and the nonprechilled/unscarified/blotter paper treatment combination always germinated lowest (1−3%). Results were consistent with physical dormancy (hard-seededness) limiting germination of western prairie clover and combinational dormancy (i.e., co-occurrence of physical and physiological dormancy) limiting germination of basalt milkvetch. Of the two species, we have found basalt milkvetch to be the more difficult to establish from seed. By prechilling acid-scarified seed in moist sand, basalt milkvetch was successfully established in two field trials seeded in mid-April. Nonprechilled mechanically (sandpaper) scarified seed germinated as high as prechilled acid-scarified seed. By scarifying and prechilling basalt milkvetch seed to address physical and physiological dormancy mechanisms, respectively, this seed-treatment protocol may be “scaled up” to produce large quantities of germinable seed. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:38 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:04:38 PM Tags: o germination o prechill o rangeland legumes o rangeland plant materials o scarification o stratification * Latent soil effects of grazing and ammonium deposition on Deschampsia flexuosa tillers inserted and grown in heather moorland soil Type Journal Article Author Rosalind Jones Author David Causton Author Bridget Emmett Author Luis Mur Author Dylan Gwynn-Jones URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0098847212000457__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvF6mCFFs$ Volume 81 Pages 72-78 Publication Environmental and Experimental Botany ISSN 0098-8472 Date September 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Environmental and Experimental Botany DOI 10.1016/j.envexpbot.2012.02.006 Abstract Upland heather moorlands support a range of increasingly rare and threatened biota, making them a priority habitat for conservation and restoration. Over-grazing and nitrogen deposition are two of the most important threats to maintaining these heather moorlands, yet there remains a paucity of research into their combined long-term effects. During the summer of 2008, we established an experiment within an existing research site at Pwllpeiran, mid-Wales. The original site, established in 1996, investigated long-term grazing and N deposition treatments (ammonium and nitrate) on heather moorland. Previous findings from the site, following a decade of treatment, suggested no significant, detectable impacts of treatments on soil C:N ratio and the foliar nitrogen of vegetation. The aim of our study was to investigate short- (2008) and long-term (1996–2008) N deposition treatment impacts, in combination with past grazing (1990–2007), on soil nutrient bioavailability. Soil cores were harvested and aboveground vegetation removed. Tillers of the grass Deschampsia flexuosa were planted into these cores which were then reciprocally transplanted back into the field experiment. The N deposition treatment was continued but grazing was excluded. D. flexuosa biomass changes were next assessed and leaf chemistry investigated using the metabolic fingerprinting method Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) following three months of growth in the field (May–August 2008). Grazing treatment (on its own) had significant negative impacts on aboveground biomass and significant changes in plant chemistry were also revealed through the metabolic fingerprinting method Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Short-term N deposition treatments during 2008 had no impacts on D. flexuosa growth or chemistry. There were also no detectable latent effects of long-term nitrate treatments on either growth or chemistry of D. flexuosa. However, plants grown in plots that had received long-term treatments of ammonium (NH4+) had significantly lower poly-phenolic contents (revealed by FTIR) than plants grown in either nitrate (NO3−) or control plots, suggesting detectable latent effects of N application in its reduced form. Further work needs to be undertaken to assess the relevance of residual soil nitrogen pools post N deposition and grazing. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:32:14 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:32:14 PM Tags: o Bioindicator o FTIR o Grazing o Metabolic fingerprinting o Nitrogen deposition * Ecological consequences and restoration potential of abandoned wet grasslands Type Journal Article Author Chris B. Joyce URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857413001997__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv9sYSzRY$ Volume 66 Pages 91-102 Publication Wetland Restoration– Challenges and Opportunities ISSN 0925-8574 Date May 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2013.05.008 Abstract Wet grasslands of nature conservation importance have been maintained for centuries by agricultural management such as grazing and mowing for hay, but are now threatened by abandonment despite recent restoration initiatives. This paper is the first to synthesise published information to elucidate the main patterns, timescales, and consequences of wet grassland abandonment with an international perspective, and to evaluate restoration success. Results showed that abandonment is a particular concern in Europe, especially in central European and Baltic countries, but is also a factor in the deterioration of North American wet grasslands. In Europe, abandonment peaked in the second half of the 20th century, driven by inter-related political and socio-economic changes. Nearly all ecological studies of wet grassland abandonment (94%) focus upon vegetation and they reveal that community changes have been measured within three years, including species elimination as competitors expand and woody plants encroach. However, some wet grasslands show resilience as dominant herbaceous species can persist for up to 50 years, restricting woody invasion. Herbaceous species dominating abandoned grasslands are typically native, tall, productive and competitive grasses or sedges, while small, stress-tolerant, rare species characteristically decrease. Few studies have measured soil properties (11%) or animals (6%) during abandonment, although it seems that invertebrates may increase (for up to 20 years) and then decline in unmanaged wet grasslands. Evidence suggests that wet grasslands that have been abandoned for <40 years can be rehabilitated within 10 years by reinstating vegetation management, but fully successful restoration to a previous condition is elusive. Long-abandoned grasslands may need more interventionist restoration efforts to create regeneration niches and introduce species. Although managers should assess specific site characteristics and potential constraints before restoring abandoned wet grasslands, it is recommended that restoration initiatives should generally prioritise treeless wet grasslands with low soil nutrients that have been abandoned for <20 years. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:53 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:53 PM Tags: o Abandonment o Plant traits o Restoration o Succession o Vegetation management o Wet grassland * Future wet grasslands: ecological implications of climate change Type Journal Article Author Chris B. Joyce Author Matthew Simpson Author Michelle Casanova URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1002/ehs2.1240__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvUD6tZIM$ Volume 2 Issue 9 Pages e01240 Publication Ecosystem Health and Sustainability ISSN 2332-8878 Date September 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Ecosystem Health and Sustainability DOI 10.1002/ehs2.1240 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Abstract Wet grasslands are threatened by future climate change, yet these are vital ecosystems for both conservation and agriculture, providing livelihoods for millions of people. These biologically diverse, transitional wetlands are defined by an abundance of grasses and periodic flooding, and maintained by regular disturbances such as grazing or cutting. This study summarizes relevant climate change scenarios projected by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and identifies implications for wet grasslands globally and regionally. Climate change is predicted to alter wet grassland hydrology, especially through warming, seasonal precipitation variability, and the severity of extreme events such as droughts and floods. Changes in the diversity, composition, and productivity of vegetation will affect functional and competitive relations between species. Extreme storm or flood events will favor ruderal plant species able to respond rapidly to environmental change. In some regions, wet grasslands may dry out during heatwaves and drought. C4 grasses and invasive species could benefit from warming scenarios, the latter facilitated by disturbances such as droughts, floods, and possibly wildfires. Agriculture will be affected as forage available for livestock will likely become less reliable, necessitating adaptations to cutting and grazing regimes by farmers and conservation managers, and possibly leading to land abandonment. It is recommended that agri-environment schemes, and other policies and practices, are adapted to mitigate climate change, with greater emphasis on water maintenance, flexible management, monitoring, and restoration of resilient wet grasslands. Date Added 2020-03-12, 4:06:21 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:55:13 PM Tags: o agricultural production o biodiversity o climate extremes o disturbance o drought o ecosystem services o flooding o mitigation o Special Feature: Wetlands and Global Climate and Land-use Change o wetland Notes: o doi: 10.1002/ehs2.1240 o doi: 10.1002/ehs2.1240 * Recovering More than Tree Cover: Herbivores and Herbivory in a Restored Tropical Dry Forest Type Journal Article Author Iris Juan-Baeza Author Cristina Martínez-Garza Author Ek del-Val URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0128583__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvmNjEl7E$ Volume 10 Issue 6 Pages e0128583 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Jun 1, 2015 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0128583 Accessed 2020-03-12, 12:29:08 AM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract Intense and chronic disturbance may arrest natural succession, reduce environmental quality and lead to ecological interaction losses. Where natural succession does not occur, ecological restoration aims to accelerate this process. While plant establishment and diversity is promoted by restoration, few studies have evaluated the effect of restoration activities on ecological processes and animal diversity. This study assessed herbivory and lepidopteran diversity associated with two pioneer tree species growing in 4-year-old experimental restoration plots in a tropical dry forest at Sierra de Huautla, in Morelos, Mexico. The study was carried out during the rainy season of 2010 (July-October) in eleven 50 x 50 m plots in three different habitats: cattle-excluded, cattle-excluded with restoration plantings, and cattle grazing plots. At the beginning of the rainy season, 10 juveniles of Heliocarpus pallidus (Malvaceae) and Ipomoea pauciflora (Convolvulaceae) were selected in each plot (N = 110 trees). Herbivory was measured in 10 leaves per plant at the end of the rainy season. To evaluate richness and abundance of lepidopteran larvae, all plants were surveyed monthly. Herbivory was similar among habitats and I. pauciflora showed a higher percentage of herbivory. A total of 868 lepidopteran larvae from 65 morphospecies were recorded. The family with the highest number of morphospecies (9 sp.) was Geometridae, while the most abundant family was Saturnidae, with 427 individuals. Lepidopteran richness and abundance were significantly higher in H. pallidus than in I. pauciflora. Lepidopteran richness was significantly higher in the cattle-excluded plots, while abundance was significantly higher in the non-excluded plots. After four years of cattle exclusion and the establishment of plantings, lepidopteran richness increased 20 –fold in the excluded plots compared to the disturbed areas, whereas herbivory levels were equally high in both restored and disturbed sites. Restoration with plantings and exclusion of cattle and plantings was shown to be a successful strategy for attracting lepidopterans and cattle exclusion was the main factor explaining lepidopteran diversity. Short Title Recovering More than Tree Cover Date Added 2020-03-12, 12:29:08 AM Modified 2020-03-12, 12:29:08 AM Tags: o Cattle o Forest ecology o Forests o Herbivory o Larvae o Leaves o Plant-herbivore interactions o Trees Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Toward sustainable soil and water resources use in China's highly erodible semi-arid loess plateau Type Journal Article Author Fan Jun Author Shao Mingan Author Wang QuanJiu Author Scott B. Jones Author Klaus Reichardt Author Cheng Xiangrong Author Fu Xiaoli URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706109003784__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvrjlRkZE$ Volume 155 Issue 1 Pages 93-100 Publication Geoderma ISSN 0016-7061 Date February 15, 2010 Journal Abbr Geoderma DOI 10.1016/j.geoderma.2009.11.027 Abstract The water–wind crisscross region of the Loess Plateau in China is comprised of 17.8million hectares of highly erodible soil under limited annual rainfall. This requires a sustainable water balance for the restoration of dryland ecosystems to reduce and manage soil erosion. In this region, alfalfa has been one of the main legumes grown to minimize soil erosion. However, alfalfa yields were significantly lower in years of reduced rainfall suggesting that high water use and deep rooting alfalfa make it an unsustainable crop due to the long-term decline in soil water storage and productivity. Our objectives in this study were to evaluate the soil water balance of Loess Plateau soils during vegetative restoration and to evaluate practices that prevent soil desiccation and promote ecosystem restoration and sustainability. Field observations of soil moisture recovery and soil erosion were carried out for five years after alfalfa was replaced with different crops and with bare soil. Soil water content changes in cropland, rangeland, and bare soil were tracked over several years, using a water balance approach. Results indicate that growing forages significantly reduced runoff and sediment transport. A forage–food–crop rotation is a better choice than other cropping systems for achieving sustainable productivity and preventing soil erosion and desiccation. However, economic considerations have prevented its widespread adoption by local farmers. Alternatively, this study recommends consideration of grassland crops or forest ecosystems to provide a sustainable water balance in the Loess Plateau of China. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:37 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:55:15 PM Tags: o Neutron probe o Runoff o Soil desiccation o Soil water storage o TDR o Water balance * Niche separation of larks (Alaudidae) and agricultural change on the drylands of the former Soviet Union Type Journal Article Author Johannes Kamp Author Tatyana V. Siderova Author Albert R. Salemgareev Author Ruslan S. Urazaliev Author Paul F. Donald Author Norbert Hölzel URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880912001417__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvVc0Kbyk$ Volume 155 Pages 41-49 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date July 15, 2012 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2012.03.023 Abstract Variation in the distributions of different species of lark was assessed along the two main agricultural gradients in the steppe and semi-desert zones of Kazakhstan: the intensity of grazing and the time since abandonment of cereal fields. Vegetation structure and composition varied significantly with time since abandonment, and with changing grazing pressure. The studied lark species responded in non-linear ways to both these gradients and showed a high degree of niche separation, with black lark, calandra lark and skylark preferring denser and taller vegetation compared to white-winged lark and short-toed lark. Lark populations generally are likely to have benefited from agricultural abandonment and a decline in livestock numbers over large parts of the steppes and semi-deserts of the former Soviet Union. The results suggest that an assessment of future changes in steppe bird communities based upon projections of changes in the area of gross habitat types can be improved by a better understanding of the responses of different species to more subtle environmental gradients. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:42 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:55:17 PM Tags: o Grassland o Land reclamation o Steppe birds o Succession * Post-Soviet agricultural change predicts future declines after recent recovery in Eurasian steppe bird populations Type Journal Article Author Johannes Kamp Author Ruslan Urazaliev Author Paul F. Donald Author Norbert Hölzel URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320711002631__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvaRVdU0o$ Volume 144 Issue 11 Pages 2607-2614 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date November 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2011.07.010 Abstract The socioeconomic impacts of the break-up of the Soviet Union after 1991 have resulted in massive changes in agriculture on the Eurasian (Pontian) steppe, most of which is now confined to Kazakhstan. Recent trends in agriculture are well documented but their impacts on the characteristic bird community of this vast region, which contains over 10% of the world’s remaining grasslands, are poorly understood. We modelled bird population density in a representative region in central Kazakhstan along a land-use gradient ranging from pristine steppe to arable fields and heavily grazed pastures. Long-abandoned arable fields and ungrazed pristine steppe were the most important habitats for most species, and post-1991 abandonment of arable agriculture suggests that many species have enjoyed a period of significant population growth. Livestock concentration effects, leading to high grazing pressure in small areas, are also likely to have benefitted several species of high conservation concern. However, analysis of land-use statistics and socioeconomic surveys among land managers suggest that recent and predicted future trends in agriculture in the steppe zone, particularly the reclamation of abandoned cereal fields and reduced grazing pressure, may cause populations of most species, including a number of biome-restricted species, to decline in the near future. We discuss possible conservation solutions, including improvements in the protected area system and land-sparing options. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:48 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:55:18 PM Tags: o Distance sampling o Grassland o Grazing o Kazakhstan o Land-use change * Farmland bird responses to land abandonment in Western Siberia Type Journal Article Author Johannes Kamp Author Aline Reinhard Author Markus Frenzel Author Steffen Kämpfer Author Johanna Trappe Author Norbert Hölzel URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880918303906__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvWXfYNjw$ Volume 268 Pages 61-69 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date December 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2018.09.009 Abstract Land abandonment is an important driver of biodiversity changes. Nearly 60 million ha of cropland and huge areas of managed grassland were abandoned after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. We compared community structure and abundances of farmland birds on used and abandoned cropland, pastures and hay meadows in a study area situated in the Western Siberian crop belt. Abandoned land hosted distinct communities of farmland birds that were similar to those of abandoned farmland elsewhere in the former Soviet Union. More species profited from abandonment than suffered, but the densities of a distinct group of ‘meadow birds’, a group of high conservation concern in Eurasia, were lower on abandoned land compared to managed pastures and hay meadows. Abandoned land had taller, but not denser vegetation and higher plant litter cover than used pastures and hay meadows. The vegetation structure of abandoned land explained differences in bird abundance well, and responses to vegetation parameters were non-linear and species-specific. Future land-use trends are difficult to predict, but cropland recultivation and intensification seem likely. Conservation strategies should entail minimized reclamation of abandoned cropland (perhaps coupled with sustainable intensification on existing farmland), and low-input management of pastures and hay meadows. As a large proportion of the grassland is managed for subsistence farming, measures to slow down further rural human outmigration would also benefit bird biodiversity. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:52 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:55:16 PM Tags: o Cropland o Forest steppe o Livestock grazing o Meadow birds o Russia o Sustainable intensification * Potential of temperate agricultural soils for carbon sequestration: A meta-analysis of land-use effects Type Journal Article Author Immo Kämpf Author Norbert Hölzel Author Maria Störrle Author Gabriele Broll Author Kathrin Kiehl URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969716309974__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dviYMNivY$ Volume 566-567 Pages 428-435 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date October 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.05.067 Abstract Restoring depleted soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks of arable land to remove carbon from the atmosphere and offset fossil fuel emissions is a promising strategy for the mitigation of climate change. In agroecosystems conservational tillage practices and the abandonment of formerly plowed fields (ex-arable land) are shown to have the highest potential to sequester SOC. Nevertheless reported sequestration rates vary and the effects of environmental site conditions remain poorly understood. Our results are based on a meta-analysis of 273 paired SOC estimates from 65 publications which included only mineral soils from the temperate zone. SOC stocks of ex-arable grasslands with an average of 14years since abandonment were 18% larger compared to the SOC of arable land. Likewise, SOC stocks of never-plowed grassland plots were 11% larger than the SOC stocks of abandoned fields. The average sequestration rate was 0.72t Cha−1yr−1. Semi-arid and sub-humid climate as well as low initial SOC stocks positively affected proportional SOC gains suggesting that the recovery of carbon stocks is not limited by low primary production. Therefore, the northward shift of cultivation areas in the temperate zone will lead to the abandonment of soils with high SOC recovery potential. However, if native soils are opened up elsewhere to compensate for yield losses due to abandonment the surplus of SOC in ex-arable land can easily be overcompensated by cultivation losses. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:48 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:48 PM Tags: o Agricultural abandonment o Carbon sequestration o Ex-arable o Grassland restoration o No-till farming o SOC * The effects of gap disturbance on the seedling emergence, survival and growth of two different native species in Inner Mongolia Type Journal Article Author Haiming Kan Author Juying Wu Author Yingjun Zhang Author Guixia Liu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1872203216300609__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvQygL5nc$ Volume 37 Issue 1 Pages 38-47 Publication Acta Ecologica Sinica ISSN 1872-2032 Date February 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Acta Ecologica Sinica DOI 10.1016/j.chnaes.2016.09.002 Abstract A field study was conducted to investigate the effects of gap disturbance on the seedling establishment process of two native species. Seeds of Agropyron cristatum and Stipa krylovii were reseeded to artificially created gaps in a degraded steppe in North China. There were seven treatments: shoot gaps and root gaps (10cm, 20cm and 40cm in diameters), no gaps (control). Shoot gaps were formed by removing above ground vegetation and below ground biomass without restricting the re-growth of neighbor roots back into the gap. The root gaps were accomplished by using polyvinyl chloride pipes sunk in the soil of shoot gaps to exclude neighboring roots. Seedling emergence, survival and growth performance after 90days of growing were recorded for both species. Gap significantly increased soil moisture, especially for root gaps. Emergence increased significantly for both species as gap size increased. Seedling emergence and survivorship of both species were greater in gaps than in controls. However, the gap size showed a significantly negative effect on Agropyron cristatum's survivorship. Growth performance of Agropyron cristatum and Stipa krylovii differ in their response to gap disturbance. Gap had positive effects on seedling growth (including seedling height, dry weight, and numbers of tillers and leaves) of Stipa krylovii, but had negative effects on seedling growth of Agropyron cristatum. The two species have significantly different responses to gap disturbance. All results suggest that Stipa krylovii is a gap-enhanced species, and Agropyron cristatum is not. Predation by insects may be one of the key reasons to explain the stand dominance in this grassland. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:21 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:21 PM Tags: o Gap disturbance o Gap size o Reseeding management o Restoration ecology * Assessing land condition as a first step to achieving land degradation neutrality: A case study of the Republic of Srpska Type Journal Article Author Marijana Kapović Solomun Author Nichole Barger Author Artemi Cerda Author Saskia Keesstra Author Mihajlo Marković URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1462901118306580__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvcaAEqD0$ Volume 90 Pages 19-27 Publication Environmental Science & Policy ISSN 1462-9011 Date December 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Environmental Science & Policy DOI 10.1016/j.envsci.2018.09.014 Abstract Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) is a key voluntary and aspirational target of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15 which urges countries to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss. A first and critical important step in the implementation of LDN is assessing the current land condition using not only active restoration of degraded land, but also targeting land degradation drivers behind the land degradation process. In a first step to achieve these goals, countries were provided a global dataset for three sub-indicators of land degradation: land cover (LC), land productivity dynamics (LPD) and soil organic carbon (SOC). Here, we report on trends in these sub-indicators for the Entity Republic of Srpska (RS) as a part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is a key analysis to inform the frame of reference or baseline conditions for the region to evaluate LDN across this region. Global data for LC for the RS indicates a 0.5% loss of forests (6400 ha) over the time period from 2000 to 2010. Of this area, 5000 ha were converted to cropland and an additional 1400 ha was converted to shrubs, grasslands and sparsely vegetated areas. LPD declined over 2.5% (63,500 ha) of the region. SOC declined on land use changed areas by 15.6% (74,609 Mg ha−1) over the same time period. Based on global data, we estimated that 3% of the country is in a degraded state. Based on interviews with local stakeholders in 31 local communities, the primary land degradation drivers were identified and validated by team experts. Depopulation and migration to urban centers were identified as the important underlying drivers of land degradation that most municipalities are facing. The most frequent direct drivers of land degradation across this region were land abandonment, floods, drought, erosion and urbanization. Land abandonment, more specifically, has resulted in conversion of agriculturally productive lands to lands dominated by a wide range of invasive species over the last 25 years. Continued land degradation is underpinned by the lack of understanding by stakeholders of the importance of land as a resource. In evaluating the status, trends and drivers of land degradation for this region, we have identified key areas or "hot spots" that may be targeted for restoration options and may be used to achieve LDN targets by 2030. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:26 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:26 PM Tags: o Challenges o Hot spots o Indicators o LDN target o Opportunities o Trends * Soil seed-bank composition reveals the land-use history of calcareous grasslands Type Journal Article Author Petr Karlík Author Peter Poschlod URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1146609X14000320__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvr_YI6jg$ Volume 58 Pages 22-34 Publication Acta Oecologica ISSN 1146-609X Date July 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Acta Oecologica DOI 10.1016/j.actao.2014.03.003 Abstract We compared soil seed banks and vegetation of recent (established on abandoned arable fields) and ancient (continuously managed as pastures at least since 1830) calcareous grasslands if there is any impact of former arable field use. The study was carried out in two regions of Southern Germany with well-preserved dry grassland vegetation: the western Jurassic mountains (Kaltes Feld) and the climatically drier eastern part of Southern Germany (Kallmünz). Total number of species in the seed bank was similar in both regions, but species composition partly differed, reflecting phytogeographical differences between the regions. The total number of emerged seedlings showed a large disparity (5457 compared to 2523 seedlings/m2 in Kaltes Feld and Kallmünz, respectively). Though there were differences in seed bank composition and size, we found a uniform pattern of plant traits (affiliation to phytosociological groups, Raunkiaer plant life-forms and seed longevity), which depended on the age of the grassland. The main conclusion is that seed banks in contemporary calcareous grasslands still reflect the history of former land use – in this case arable cultivation, even though it occurred a long time ago (up to 150 years). Indicators of former arable fields are germinable seeds of weeds which have persisted in the soil to the present. By contrast, weedy species are completely absent from the seed banks of ancient grasslands. Soil seed banks of recent grasslands may be of substantial conservation importance because they may store seeds of rare and endangered weed species such as Kickxia spuria, Silene noctiflora and Stachys annua, the majority of which have already gone extinct from the current vegetation of the study sites. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:38 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:38 PM Tags: o Ancient grasslands o Calcareous grasslands o Jura o Rare weeds o Recent grasslands o Similarity index * Direct and indirect loss of natural habitat due to built-up area expansion: A model-based analysis for the city of Wuhan, China Type Journal Article Author Xinli Ke Author Jasper van Vliet Author Ting Zhou Author Peter H. Verburg Author Weiwei Zheng Author Xiaoping Liu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264837716314028__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv6QAAXFA$ Volume 74 Pages 231-239 Publication Land use and rural sustainability in China ISSN 0264-8377 Date May 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Land Use Policy DOI 10.1016/j.landusepol.2017.12.048 Abstract Urbanization has been responsible for the loss of cropland worldwide, especially in China. To guarantee national food security, China has implemented a series of policies to protect cropland. One of these policies requires that one-hectare cropland should be reclaimed when urban expansion occupies one-hectare cropland. Since most cropland reclamation leads to a conversion of natural habitat, such as wetland and grassland, urban expansion may lead to (indirect) natural habitat loss in addition to direct loss from conversion of into urban area. While several studies assessed the direct habitat loss resulted from built-up area expansion, few studies investigated the indirect losses caused by cropland displacement. In this paper, a model-based approach is applied to explore both direct and indirect impacts of built-up area expansion on natural habitat loss for the city of Wuhan, China, between 2010 and 2020 using different scenarios. Our scenarios differ in the implementation of strict cropland protection policies and ecosystem conservation strategies. Results show that the indirect loss of natural habitat due to cropland displacement under strict cropland protection policies far outweighs the direct loss due to built-up area expansion alone. Moreover, we found that ecosystem conservation strategies mainly influence the type of natural habitat that is affected, while the total amount of natural habitat loss remains relatively constant. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:36 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:55:20 PM Tags: o Built-up area expansion o Cropland protection o Land displacement o Land use change o Land use policy o Natural habitat loss * To what extent can and should revegetation serve as restoration? Type Journal Article Author Douglas A. Kelt Author Peter L. Meserve URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12371__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvltmpsWk$ Rights © 2016 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 24 Issue 4 Pages 441-448 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2016 DOI 10.1111/rec.12371 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:53:27 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Desertification and climate change are degrading large areas of arid and semiarid habitat in many regions. In response, many countries have implemented revegetation programs, commonly using Atriplex nummularia, native to Australia. Although not intrinsically targeted at habitat restoration, these programs aim to restore (stabilize) erosional processes and provide livestock forage (usually goats, sheep). Few investigators have assessed the utility of these novel habitats for native fauna. In a recent, extensive survey of small mammal communities in lands revegetated with A. nummularia in north-central Chile, we captured a single animal, the marsupial (Thylamys elegans). We also captured no birds in our live traps and saw numerous darkling beetles in traps. These striking results contrasted with data from a nearby ungrazed park with natural vegetation where 10 small mammal species are known with total abundances ranging from 15 to 80 animals in similar sampling efforts. These revegetated lands provide poor habitat for native mammals, and we argue that revegetation efforts should include proactive risk assessment and cost-benefit analyses in a structured decision-making framework. In addition, managers should target increased plant species diversity to support broader biological diversity in addition to the need to control erosion. Although our work has focused on revegetation with Atriplex, numerous other plant species have been intentionally introduced to arid lands, usually for economic reasons; many of these, like Atriplex, have unintended consequences for native biota. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:53:27 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:53:27 PM Tags: o Atriplex o desertification o invasive species o plant introductions o small mammals Attachments o Snapshot * Reintroducing fire into a ponderosa pine forest with and without cattle grazing: understory vegetation response Type Journal Article Author Becky K. Kerns Author Michelle Buonopane Author Walter G. Thies Author Christine Niwa URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1890/ES10-00183.1__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dviXlhWTo$ Volume 2 Issue 5 Pages art59 Publication Ecosphere ISSN 2150-8925 Date May 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Ecosphere DOI 10.1890/ES10-00183.1 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Reestablishing historical fire regimes is a high priority for North American coniferous forests, particularly ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) ecosystems. These forests are also used extensively for cattle (Bos spp.) grazing. Prescribed fires are being applied on or planned for millions of hectares of these forests to reduce fuel loads, alter forest structure, and maintain and enhance the productivity of native plant communities. However, cattle grazing is ubiquitous in ponderosa pine forests and the consequences of post-fire cattle grazing on plant communities are not well understood. We evaluated cattle grazing effects (grazing, no grazing) on upland bunchgrass and Carex geyeri dominated ponderosa pine plant communities over five growing seasons after prescribed fires (spring reburn, fall reburn, no burn). Vegetation was measured prior to a 5-year interval reburn and the subsequent exclusion of cattle, and in the second and fifth growing seasons thereafter. We found no interactions between reburning and grazing for the understory response variables. For all reburn treatments, including unburned areas, five growing seasons of cattle grazing exclusion significantly increased: (1) total vegetative cover, (2) native perennial forb cover, (3) grass stature, (4) grass flowering stem density, and (5) the cover of some shrub species and functional groups. Grazing exclusion did not strongly affect plant compositional patterns, although differences were detected. Compared to unburned areas, neither spring nor fall reburning increased perennial native species cover or richness, and reburning reduced sedge cover. Fall reburning increased cover of native colonizers, and exotic species cover and richness (largely Bromus tectorum and Cirsium vulgare), although overall exotic cover remains low (<1%). We document several potentially chronic impacts of cattle grazing in both burned and unburned areas, and show that the understory release from a long history of cattle grazing caused a greater degree of change than the initial reintroduction of fire. If a goal of ecological restoration in these forests is increased cover of native perennial plants, and the potential for increased native perennial grass reproduction, then cattle grazing exclusion, or a change in cattle management, could provide critically important options in restoration plans. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:47:22 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:55:21 PM Tags: o cattle grazing o cheatgrass o fire effects o forest management o maintenance burning o Oregon o Pinus ponderosa o prescribed fire o season of burn o vegetation Notes: o doi: 10.1890/ES10-00183.1 o doi: 10.1890/ES10-00183.1 o doi: 10.1890/ES10-00183.1 * Socio-ecological assessment of threats to semi-arid rangeland habitat in Iran using spatial models and actor group opinions Type Journal Article Author Azam Khosravi Mashizi Author Francisco J. Escobedo URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196320300495__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvVoE4iaU$ Volume 177 Pages 104136 Publication Journal of Arid Environments ISSN 0140-1963 Date June 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Journal of Arid Environments DOI 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2020.104136 Abstract Key to the sustainable management of rangelands is identifying socioeconomic and ecological threats to the structure and function of historically grazed ecosystems. We studied how recent anthropogenic factors associated with globalization and urbanization could affect habitat quality and biodiversity as well as actors in a historically grazed rangeland basin in Iran. We used an approach that integrated field data, a spatially explicit ecosystem service model, and actor group opinions concerning threats to rangelands. We found low habitat quality in downstream areas where agriculture predominates. Significant relationships were also found between the Simpson diversity index and habitat quality; thus corroborating our modeling results. Actors and experts ranked grazing and agricultural activities as the greatest threats to habitat quality. Upstream areas with the highest habitat quality had the highest social value in terms of conservation efforts and ecosystem service provision. Modeling scenarios indicated that agriculture was the main threat to habitat quality, more so than grazing. Our approach shows that the historical legacy of past land use objectives that prioritized increased fodder must now be weighed against other current and future societal needs and management objectives such as food security and dust abatement. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:04 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:00:04 PM Tags: o Ecosystem disservices o Habitat quality o InVEST model o Rangeland management o Rangeland threats * Exploring management objectives and ecosystem service trade-offs in a semi-arid rangeland basin in southeast Iran Type Journal Article Author Azam Khosravi Mashizi Author Gholam Ali Heshmati Author Abdol Rasool Salman Mahini Author Francisco J. Escobedo URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X18309294__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvsLXe8jU$ Volume 98 Pages 794-803 Publication Ecological Indicators ISSN 1470-160X Date March 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2018.11.065 Abstract Ecosystem services are increasingly being included as rangeland management objectives along with grazing, restoration, and conservation. These often conflicting objectives can interact and result in tradeoffs where managing for one ecosystem service (ES) can result in the detriment of another. However, there is scarce information for rangeland systems of central Asia. This study aims to assess tradeoffs interactions between different ES in a semi-arid watershed in Iran with centuries of grazing history. We use field data, the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services model, and spatial analyses to explore the interaction and spatial distribution of rangeland health and its effects on: forage production, water yield, carbon stock, soil retention, and soil formation. We summarized ESs into two bundles: 1. forage production and carbon storage and 2. water yield, soil retention and soil formation. Rangeland health across the study area’s three different physiographic regions was determined and ES interaction groups mapped. A classification system of win-win (W-W), win-lose (W-L) and lose-lose (L-L) interactions under current management regimes was also developed using field data and statistical analyses. Findings show a W-L interaction among ESs in the mid-watershed region. Although this region provided the most forage and carbon storage; grazing management practices need to consider the sustainable provision of water yield, soil retention and soil formation. Interaction classes were however W-W in upstream regions where conservation objectives were a priority. Downstream, interaction classes were L-L due to overgrazing and urbanization; thus, restoration and improved management need prioritization. Understanding the spatial distribution of ES interactions can help managers plan for and balance resources with their sustainable supply. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:20 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:55:22 PM Tags: o Ecosystem service interactions o InVEST o Rangeland health o Rangeland management o Synergies * Species introduction in restoration projects – Evaluation of different techniques for the establishment of semi-natural grasslands in Central and Northwestern Europe Type Journal Article Author Kathrin Kiehl Author Anita Kirmer Author Tobias W. Donath Author Leonid Rasran Author Norbert Hölzel URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1439179109001455__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvc0bZWis$ Volume 11 Issue 4 Pages 285-299 Publication Basic and Applied Ecology ISSN 1439-1791 Date June 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Basic and Applied Ecology DOI 10.1016/j.baae.2009.12.004 Abstract During recent decades, many studies have shown that the successful restoration of species-rich grasslands is often seed-limited because of depleted seed banks and limited seed dispersal in modern fragmented landscapes. In Europe, commercial seed mixtures, which are widely used for restoration measures, mostly consist of species and varieties of non-local provenance. The regional biodiversity of a given landscape, however, can be preserved only when seeds or plants of local provenance are used in restoration projects. Furthermore, the transfer of suitable target species of local provenance can strongly enhance restoration success. We review and evaluate the success of currently used near-natural methods for the introduction of target plant species (e.g. seeding of site-specific seed mixtures, transfer of fresh seed-containing hay, vacuum harvesting, transfer of turves or seed-containing soil) on restoration sites, ranging from dry and mesic meadows to floodplain grasslands and fens. Own data combined with literature findings show species establishment rates during the initial phase as well as the persistence of target species during long-term vegetation development on restoration sites. In conclusion, our review indicates that seed limitation can be overcome successfully by most of the reviewed measures for species introduction. The establishment of species-rich grasslands is most successful when seeds, seed-containing plant material or soil are spread on bare soil of ex-arable fields after tilling or topsoil removal, or on raw soils, e.g. in mined areas. In species-poor grasslands without soil disturbance and on older ex-arable fields with dense weed vegetation, final transfer rates were the lowest. For future restoration projects, suitable measures have to be chosen carefully from case to case as they differ considerably in costs and logistic effort. Long-term prospects for restored grassland are especially good when management can be incorporated in agricultural systems. Zusammenfassung Während der letzten Jahrzehnte haben zahlreiche Untersuchungen gezeigt, dass die erfolgreiche Wiederherstellung artenreicher Graslandvegetation vielerorts durch die mangelnde Verfügbarkeit von Diasporen limitiert wird, da Zielarten in der Samenbank von Renaturierungsflächen fehlen und die Diasporenausbreitung in fragmentierten Landschaften erschwert ist. Handelsübliche Saatmischungen, die in Europa häufig im Rahmen von Begrünungsmaßnahmen verwendet werden, enthalten oftmals Arten oder Unterarten nicht-heimischer Herkunft. Die Biodiversität einer Region kann jedoch nur erhalten werden, wenn im Rahmen von Renaturierungsmaßnahmen gebietseigenes Saatgut oder Pflanzenmaterial verwendet wird. Durch die Einbringung standortangepasster Zielarten gebietseigener Herkunft kann der Renaturierungserfolg deutlich gesteigert werden. Die vorliegende Veröffentlichung analysiert und bewertet unterschiedliche Verfahren zur Ansiedlung von Zielarten (z. B. Ansaat mit gebietsheimischem Saatgut, Übertragung von Mahd- oder Sauggut, Übertragung von Soden oder samenhaltigem Oberboden) im Rahmen der Wiederherstellung artenreicher Graslandvegetation (von Trocken- und Halbtrockenrasen bis hin zu Feuchtgrünland und Niedermoor). Eigene Daten in Kombination mit Literaturangaben dokumentieren sowohl die Artentransferraten in der Initialphase der durchgeführten Maßnahmen als auch die langfristigen Etablierungsraten der eingebrachten Zielarten. Zusammenfassend zeigen die Ergebnisse, dass die meisten der untersuchten Artentransfermaßnahmen das Problem der Diasporenlimitierung erfolgreich lösen. Die Etablierung artenreicher Graslandvegetation ist am erfolgreichsten, wenn Saatgut oder samenhaltiges Pflanzen- oder Bodenmaterial auf offenem Boden ehemaliger Äcker (nach Bodenbearbeitung oder Bodenabtrag) oder auf Rohböden (z.B. auf Abgrabungs- oder ehemaligen Bergbauflächen) ausgebracht werden. Bei der Ansiedlung in bestehenden artenarmen Grasländern oder auf älteren Ackerbrachen mit dichter Vegetation waren die Etablierungsraten der eingebrachten Arten am niedrigsten. Für künftige Projekte zur Wiederherstellung artenreicher Graslandvegetation müssen die jeweils geeigneten Verfahren sorgfältig ausgewählt werden, da sie sich hinsichtlich des logistischen Aufwands und der Kosten deutlich unterscheiden. Die langfristigen Perspektiven für neu angelegte Grasländer sind besonders gut, wenn notwendige Managementmaßnahmen in landwirtschaftliche Systeme eingebunden werden können. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:19 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:19 PM Tags: o Ex-arable fields o Habitat transfer o Hay transfer o Local provenance o Review o Seed mixture o Seeding o Soil translocation o Topsoil removal * Dormancy and germination: making every seed count in restoration Type Journal Article Author Olga A. Kildisheva Author Kingsley W. Dixon Author Fernando A. O. Silveira Author Ted Chapman Author Alice Di Sacco Author Andrea Mondoni Author Shane R. Turner Author Adam T. Cross URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.13140__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvbKaMm5A$ Rights This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. Volume n/a Issue n/a Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X DOI 10.1111/rec.13140 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:41:13 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract From 50 to 90% of wild plant species worldwide produce seeds that are dormant upon maturity, with specific dormancy traits driven by species' occurrence geography, growth form, and genetic factors. While dormancy is a beneficial adaptation for intact natural systems, it can limit plant recruitment in restoration scenarios because seeds may take several seasons to lose dormancy and consequently show low or erratic germination. During this time, seed predation, weed competition, soil erosion, and seed viability loss can lead to plant re-establishment failure. Understanding and considering seed dormancy and germination traits in restoration planning are thus critical to ensuring effective seed management and seed use efficiency. There are five known dormancy classes (physiological, physical, combinational, morphological, and morphophysiological), each requiring specific cues to alleviate dormancy and enable germination. The dormancy status of a seed can be determined through a series of simple steps that account for initial seed quality and assess germination across a range of environmental conditions. In this article, we outline the steps of the dormancy classification process and the various corresponding methodologies for ex situ dormancy alleviation. We also highlight the importance of record-keeping and reporting of seed accession information (e.g. geographic coordinates of the seed collection location, cleaning and quality information, storage conditions, and dormancy testing data) to ensure that these factors are adequately considered in restoration planning. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. Short Title Dormancy and germination Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:41:13 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:41:13 PM Tags: o dormancy classification o dormancy cycling o seed fill o seed quality o seed testing Attachments o Snapshot * Rangeland Condition Monitoring: A New Approach Using Cross-Fence Comparisons of Remotely Sensed Vegetation Type Journal Article Author Adam D. Kilpatrick Author Megan M. Lewis Author Bertram Ostendorf URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0142742__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvGwvwGB0$ Volume 10 Issue 11 Pages e0142742 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Nov 13, 2015 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0142742 Accessed 2020-03-12, 12:23:21 AM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract A need exists in arid rangelands for effective monitoring of the impacts of grazing management on vegetation cover. Monitoring methods which utilize remotely-sensed imagery may have comprehensive spatial and temporal sampling, but do not necessarily control for spatial variation of natural variables, such as landsystem, vegetation type, soil type and rainfall. We use the inverse of the red band from Landsat TM satellite imagery to determine levels of vegetation cover in a 22,672km2 area of arid rangeland in central South Australia. We interpret this wealth of data using a cross-fence comparison methodology, allowing us to rank paddocks (fields) in the study region according to effectiveness of grazing management. The cross-fence comparison methodology generates and solves simultaneous equations of the relationship between each paddock and all other paddocks, derived from pairs of cross-fence sample points. We compare this ranking from two image dates separated by six years, during which management changes are known to have taken place. Changes in paddock rank resulting from the cross-fence comparison method show strong correspondence to those predicted by grazing management in this region, with a significant difference between the two common management types; a change from full stocking rate to light 20% stocking regime (Major Stocking Reduction) and maintenance of full 100% stocking regime (Full Stocking Maintained) (P = 0.00000132). While no paddocks had a known increase in stocking rate during the study period, many had a reduction or complete removal in stock numbers, and many also experienced removals of pest species, such as rabbits, and other ecosystem restoration activities. These paddocks generally showed an improvement in rank compared to paddocks where the stocking regime remained relatively unchanged. For the first time, this method allows us to rank non-adjacent paddocks in a rangeland region relative to each other, while controlling for natural spatio-temporal variables such as rainfall, soil type, and vegetation community distributions, due to the nature of the cross-fence experimental design, and the spatially comprehensive data available in satellite imagery. This method provides a potential tool to aid land managers in decision making processes, particularly with regard to stocking rates. Short Title Rangeland Condition Monitoring Date Added 2020-03-12, 12:23:21 AM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:55:24 PM Tags: o Australia o Domestic animals o Ecosystems o Geographic information systems o Grazing o Rabbits o Rain o Soil ecology Attachments o Full Text PDF o Full Text PDF o Snapshot o Snapshot * Low-cost grass restoration using erosion barriers in a degraded African rangeland Type Journal Article Author David W. Kimiti Author Corinna Riginos Author Jayne Belnap URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12426__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvTB-XSpE$ Rights © 2016 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 25 Issue 3 Pages 376-384 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2017 DOI 10.1111/rec.12426 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:02:23 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Rangeland degradation, typified by extensive bare ground and soil erosion, is a serious problem around the world. In sub-Saharan Africa, rangeland degradation threatens the food security of millions of people who depend on livestock and the region's large mammalian wildlife diversity. We tested the ability of five simple, low-cost erosion barriers to promote grass and forb establishment in a bare ground-dominated rangeland in Kenya. These treatments were: (1) trenches with small berms; (2) bundles of branches; and bundles of branches with (3) elephant dung balls, (4) burlap sacking, or (5) nylon mesh sacking inside them. We also tested whether barrier performance depended on (1) supplemental seeding with the grass Cenchrus ciliaris and (2) whether a barrier was located next to existing vegetation patches versus in the open. Within months, the trench and nylon mesh barriers had accumulated 20–50% more sediment than other treatments and had greater grass and forb seedling establishment. Seeding with Cenchrus resulted in higher herbaceous cover but was not necessary for other grasses to establish. After 3 years, the trench and nylon mesh barriers had created patches of new vegetation averaging 18–63% larger than patches created by the other treatments. Barriers that were initially adjacent to existing vegetation had created new vegetation patches averaging 65% larger than those created by solitary barriers. Results suggest that all barrier types increase grass cover but that trenches—especially if placed next to existing vegetation patches—are a particularly cost-effective way to reduce bare ground and erosion in degraded rangelands. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:02:23 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:02:48 PM Tags: o bare ground o connectivity o Kenya o livestock o runoff o wildlife Attachments o Snapshot * Responses of grassland snakes to tallgrass prairie restoration Type Journal Article Author Richard B. King Author John P. Vanek URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.13119__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvVQRMOsE$ Rights © 2020 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume n/a Issue n/a Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X DOI 10.1111/rec.13119 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:44:36 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Understanding faunal responses to habitat restoration is important in assessing restoration success. We investigated occupancy and abundance of snakes at Nachusa Grasslands, a large-scale grassland restoration in the midwestern United States. Using artificial cover objects, we sampled within a chronosequence of 12 units converted from row-crop agriculture 2–25 years before the start of our study. Recaptures of marked snakes revealed that movement distances differed among species in accordance with differences in body size, being least in Dekay's Brownsnakes, intermediate in the Plains Gartersnakes and Common Gartersnakes, and greatest in Eastern Foxsnakes. Consistent with this result, occupancy increased with restoration age in Dekay's Brownsnakes but was unrelated to restoration age in the three larger, more mobile species. Similarly, abundance increased with restoration age in Dekay's Brownsnake but was unrelated to restoration age in other species. The Smooth Greensnake, another small-bodied snake with limited mobility, and an Illinois species of greatest conservation need, was not detected at Nachusa Grasslands. Given detection probabilities observed during a parallel study at a nearby large grassland-dominated preserve, we infer that the Smooth Greensnake is truly absent from Nachusa Grasslands. Taken together, our results demonstrate that establishment of faunal components following restoration may be time-dependent with more sedentary species colonizing only slowly (e.g. Dekay's Brownsnakes) or not at all (e.g. Smooth Greensnakes). These results emphasize the need to clearly identify faunal restoration goals and the means to achieve them. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:44:36 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:44:36 PM Tags: o abundance o chronosequence o movement o occupancy o Opheodrys o Pantherophis o Storeria o Thamnophis Attachments o Snapshot * Short-Term and Long-Term Effects of Soil Ripping, Seeding, and Fertilization on the Restoration of a Tropical Rangeland Type Journal Article Author David Kinyua Author Lauren E. McGeoch Author Nicholas Georgiadis Author Truman P. Young URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2009.00594.x__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvJESYme4$ Rights © 2009 Society for Ecological Restoration International Volume 18 Issue s1 Pages 226-233 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2010 DOI 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2009.00594.x Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:04:50 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Rangeland degradation is a serious problem in semiarid Africa. Extensive areas of bare, compacted, nutrient-poor soils limit the productivity and biodiversity of many areas. We conducted a set of restoration experiments in which all eight combinations of soil tilling, fertilization, and seeding with native perennial grasses were carried out in replicated plots. After 6 months, little aboveground biomass was produced in plots without tilling, regardless of seeding or fertilization. Tilling alone tripled plant biomass, mostly of herbaceous forbs and annual grasses. Perennial grasses were essentially limited to plots that were both tilled and seeded. The addition of fertilizer had no significant additional effects. After 7 years, vegetation had declined, but there were still large differences among treatments. After 10 years, one tilled (and seeded) plot had reverted to bare ground, but the other tilled plots still had substantial vegetation. Only one seeded grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) was still a contributor to total cover after 10 years. We suggest that restoration efforts on these soils be directed first to breaking up the surface crust, and second to the addition of desirable seed. A simple ripping trial inspired by this experiment showed considerable promise as a low-cost restoration technique. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:04:50 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:04:50 PM Tags: o degradation o East Africa o infiltration o Kenya o Laikipia o overgrazing o rehabilitation o ripping Attachments o Snapshot * Ecological control of rangeland degradation: livestock management Type Book Section Author Brant Kirychuk Author Bazil Fritz Publisher Springer Pages 61-79 Date 2010 Book Title Towards Sustainable Use of Rangelands in North-West China Date Added 2020-03-17, 9:55:23 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 9:55:23 PM * Grassland seed bank and community resilience in a changing climate Type Journal Article Author Réka Kiss Author Balázs Deák Author Péter Török Author Béla Tóthmérész Author Orsolya Valkó URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12694__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvT-FEpgw$ Rights © 2018 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 26 Issue S2 Pages S141-S150 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2018 DOI 10.1111/rec.12694 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:41:29 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Plant dispersal and persistence strategies play an increasingly important role in the face of changing climate. Evaluating the restoration potential of soil seed banks as an important component of community resilience is crucial for developing effective grassland conservation and restoration strategies under climate change. Soil seed banks can act as a source for vegetation recovery by preserving species and supporting their establishment by assisting persistence and recolonization. In a systematic review of field and experimental seed bank studies, we evaluated the potential of seed banks in buffering climatic extremities and fluctuations. We found 42 papers testing the first-order (temperature and precipitation changes) and second-order effects of climate change (flooding and fire) on the seed bank in grasslands. We showed that persistent seed banks can support passive restoration especially in wetlands and habitats where unpredictable and frequent disturbance was typical in the historical timescale. We found that active restoration by seed addition will be most important in less disturbance-adapted habitats characterized by species with transient seed banks. In such cases, the introduction of native matrix species that can tolerate the predicted climatic change should be prioritized at degraded sites. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:41:29 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:41:29 PM Tags: o climate change scenarios o drought o fire o flood o grassland restoration o resistance o review o seed persistence Attachments o Snapshot * Effects of mowing, grazing and fertilization on soil seed banks in temperate grasslands in Central Europe Type Journal Article Author Valentin H. Klaus Author Deborah Schäfer Author Daniel Prati Author Verena Busch Author Ute Hamer Author Christina J. Hoever Author Till Kleinebecker Author Désirée Mertens Author Markus Fischer Author Norbert Hölzel URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016788091730498X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvzxBQoIo$ Volume 256 Pages 211-217 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date March 15, 2018 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2017.11.008 Abstract Soil seed banks support the recovery of plant species and communities after disturbances. Against the background of increasing disturbance frequencies due to current changes in climate and land use, the importance of seed banks to maintain ecosystem functioning of grasslands is likely to increase. This makes seed bank ecology a highly relevant topic of studies on ecosystem functioning. One of the main drivers of seed bank composition and density in grasslands is the current management. Although highly intensive grassland management can affect soil seed banks negatively, it is still unclear which component of management – fertilization, mowing or grazing – is the most influential. We studied soil seed banks of 73 mesic grasslands, which were arranged along a gradient of land-use intensity, by two seasonally differing surveys. Grasslands generally exhibited rather poor seed banks with low numbers of species and seedlings. Both were even lower in spring compared to autumn sampling. Grassland management turned out to affect soil seed banks in a complex way, via direct and indirect paths. While intensive mowing and fertilization decreased species richness and seedling density, grazing intensity increased species richness in the seed bank. Thus, land-use intensity, an index calculated as a sum of all three components, had highly ambivalent effects on seed banks. We conclude that the positive effect of grazing on soil seed banks makes pastures more resilient towards mechanic disturbances as compared to meadows. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:25 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:25 PM Tags: o Fertilization o grassland restoration o Grazing o Land-use intensity o Mowing o Resilience * Sedimentation-induced eutrophication in large river floodplains – An obstacle to restoration? Type Journal Article Author V.H. Klaus Author J. Sintermann Author T. Kleinebecker Author N. Hölzel URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320710004301__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv3hM_yGA$ Volume 144 Issue 1 Pages 451-458 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date January 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2010.09.031 Abstract Conservation and restoration of floodplain ecosystems and their specific functions often suffer from a deficient knowledge on basic processes and dynamics such as sedimentation and related nutrient inputs. In this study, we present the results of a joint analysis of site conditions and vegetation of alluvial meadows along a gradient of increasing distance to the main channel of the river Rhine. In particular we scrutinized whether the flooding frequency mediated by the ground elevation or the distance to the river channel determines the degree of eutrophication by river water and sediments. We found a remarkably strong transversal gradient in the functional floodplain. Extremely high concentrations of CAL-soluble phosphorous (more than 150mgkg−1) were measured in close proximity to the main channel. These sites were characterized by low vascular plant species richness and a significantly higher proportion of species with high nutrient demands. At a distance of 300m from the main channel P concentrations in the soil dropped to a quarter of this figure, whereas the average species richness per plot strongly increased. Contrary to our expectations, the influence of the flooding duration was of minor importance for the nutrient status. We can specify that strong eutrophication effects induced by sediment deposits are confined to the close proximity to the main channel within a distance of 200–300m. At more distant sites, target vegetation of flood meadows was obviously not affected by recent nutrient input in the course of flooding. Concerns by conservationists that the restoration of active floodplains by the removal of dykes will generally lead to unwanted eutrophication by river water and sediments require revision and thorough specification. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:13 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:13 PM Tags: o Alluvial meadows o Flooding duration o Functional floodplain o Grassland restoration o Growth limitation o Nutrient retention o Phosphorous o Plant diversity o River Rhine * Native-plant amendments and topsoil addition enhance soil function in post-mining arid grasslands Type Journal Article Author Tayla Kneller Author Richard J. Harris Author Amber Bateman Author Miriam Muñoz-Rojas URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969717332771__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvBkFAVpQ$ Volume 621 Pages 744-752 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date April 15, 2018 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.219 Abstract One of the most critical challenges faced in restoration of disturbed arid lands is the limited availability of topsoil. In post-mining restoration, alternative soil substrates such as mine waste could be an adequate growth media to alleviate the topsoil deficit, but these materials often lack appropriate soil characteristics to support the development and survival of seedlings. Thus, addition of exogenous organic matter may be essential to enhance plant survival and soil function. Here, we present a case study in the arid Pilbara region (north-west Western Australia), a resource-rich area subject to intensive mining activities. The main objective of our study was to assess the effects of different restoration techniques such as soil reconstruction by blending available soil materials, sowing different compositions of plant species, and addition of a locally abundant native soil organic amendment (Triodia pungens biomass) on: (i) seedling recruitment and growth of Triodia wiseana, a dominant grass in Australian arid ecosystems, and (ii) soil chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of reconstructed soils, including microbial activity, total organic C, total N, and C and N mineralisation. The study was conducted in a 12-month multifactorial microcosms setting in a controlled environment. Our results showed that the amendment increased C and N contents of re-made soils, but these values were still lower than those obtained in the topsoil. High microbial activity and C mineralisation rates were found in the amended waste that contrasted the low N mineralisation but this did not translate into improved emergence or survival of T. wiseana. These results suggest a short- or medium-term soil N immobilisation caused by negative priming effect of fresh un-composted amendment on microbial communities. We found similar growth and survival rates of T. wiseana in topsoil and a blend of topsoil and waste (50:50) which highlights the importance of topsoil, even in a reduced amount, for plant establishment in arid land restoration. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:39 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:39 PM Tags: o (Spinifex) o Arid zone restoration o Land degradation o Microbial activity o Organic amendment o Pilbara o Soil organic carbon * Long-term monitoring of the restoration and development of limestone grasslands in north western Germany: Vegetation screening and soil seed bank analysis Type Journal Article Author Marcus A. Koch Author Charlotte Scheriau Author Martin Schupfner Author Karl-Georg Bernhardt URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0367253010001052__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvZV-oh1w$ Volume 206 Issue 1 Pages 52-65 Publication Flora - Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants ISSN 0367-2530 Date January 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Flora - Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants DOI 10.1016/j.flora.2010.01.010 Abstract We analysed the long-term development of limestone grasslands in West- and Central Europe (Mesobromion: Gentiano-Koelerietum) under conditions of restoration comparing vegetation changes with the composition of its corresponding soil seed bank over a time period from 1992 to 2005. Because of optimal climatic, edaphic and geomorphologic conditions restoration of vegetation developed gradually into the optimal phase of the typical limestone grassland vegetation type. However, the development of the soil seed bank compared to that of the actual vegetation cover is much slower, and even after 13 years all three study plots did not reach the optimal phase compared to soil seed bank composition from well-developed control vegetation nearby. This finding agrees with the assumption that after changes of management limestone grasslands need decades or even centuries to develop into self-sustaining species-rich habitats. We also monitored the orchid Ophrys insectifera as target species and characteristic species of this type of plant association over the last 27 years. Here, population density increased continuously over time indicating that vegetation restoration efforts of the last decades have had a positive effect. We further documented that the data obtained for the soil seed bank largely depend on the applied method used for the characterization of the soil seed bank. The seedling emergence and the rinsing method provided different results, and in case of our study area the rinsing method was mostly superior. The rinsing method detected up to 20fold higher total seed numbers. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:48 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:48 PM Tags: o Long-term vegetation monitoring o Soil seed bank analysis * Bison Versus Cattle: Are They Ecologically Synonymous? Type Journal Article Author Michel T. Kohl Author Paul R. Krausman Author Kyran Kunkel Author David M. Williams URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742413500716__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvIb-FFYA$ Volume 66 Issue 6 Pages 721-731 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date November 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/REM-D-12-00113.1 Abstract Historically, the plains bison (Bison bison Linnaeus) was the most numerous and influential grazer on the Great Plains. Today 500 000 bison occupy North America among more than 100 000 000 cattle. In an attempt to restore their historical ecological role, bison are translocated onto landscapes previously manipulated for cattle use through water and fence development. We hypothesized that bison would use these landscapes similarly to cattle, thus maintaining homogenous grazing and reducing the restoration potential of bison at a landscape scale. We quantified differences between bison populations at different locations and spatial scales (American Prairie Reserve, Malta, Montana, USA, and Grasslands National Park, Val Marie, Saskatchewan, Canada, 2010–2011) and bison and cattle at similar locations and spatial scales using behavioral observations, movement analyses, and resource selection functions. Bison and cattle differed in all behaviors (grazing, standing, bedded, moving, other); however, landscape attributes resulted in behavior differences within species. Cattle spent a higher proportion of time grazing (45–49%) than bison (26–28%) and increased time at water. Bison moved at a 50–99% faster rate than cattle, and first passage time movement analyses identified selection of bison foraging patches (11 690ha) larger than cattle foraging patches (48–615ha). Similar to cattle, bison avoided most vegetation communities in relation to riparian communities and selected areas closer to water. Cattle selected for high plant biomass, whereas bison selected for intermediate plant biomass. This study has implications when bison and cattle are used to meet prairie restoration objectives. For bison, large landscapes that include variation in topography and vegetation communities are required. Furthermore, limiting manmade water sources may facilitate bison grazing patterns that more closely approximate historical bison use. For livestock, reduced movement and increased time spent grazing encourage grazing practices that increase heterogeneous grazing at a pasture scale. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:14 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:14 PM Tags: o behavior o first-passage time o grazing o heterogeneity o resource selection o water * Effects of grazing management on leaf litter decomposition and soil microbial activities in northern Iranian rangeland Type Journal Article Author Yahya Kooch Author Negar Moghimian Author Stephan Wirth Author Niloufar Noghre URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S001670611930669X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvEyBuagA$ Volume 361 Pages 114100 Publication Geoderma ISSN 0016-7061 Date March 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Geoderma DOI 10.1016/j.geoderma.2019.114100 Abstract The effects of rangeland management on biogeochemical processes that control the exchange of C and nutrients between the soil and plant are not well understood. For this purpose, aboveground litter properties and decomposition of three dominant species (Artemisia aucheri, Astragalus podolobus, and Eurotia lanata) were studied in four rangeland management systems of northern Iran including continuous grazing, intermittent grazing, and two non-grazing sites (i.e. woody and non-woody rangelands). We tested the following hypotheses: (i) woody rangeland improves litter quality, with a higher rate of decomposition, soil fertility and biochemical functions compared to non-woody rangeland and grazed sites, and (ii) continuous grazing reduces microbial C and N turnover. Plant residues from all rangeland species in the grazing and non-grazing areas were collected and soil samples were taken and analyzed for chemical properties and microbial activities. Based on the obtained data, litter decomposition was faster under woody rangeland ecosystem (Artemisia aucheri > Astragalus podolobus > Eurotia lanata) compared with the other study sites. The results revealed improved litter quality and increased soil available nutrients, as well as C and N mineralization for the woody rangeland, whereas under intermittent grazing the soil C/N ratio, microbial basal respiration (BR), substrate induced respiration (SIR) and microbial biomass C (MBC) increased. Soil pH, EC, qCO2 (BR: MBC) were significantly higher under continuous grazing, but with lower contents of soil organic C, total N, and available Mg. Furthermore, C and N stocks, microbial entropy (MBC: organic C), C availability index (BR: SIR), particulate organic matter C, dissolved organic C, mineral N (i.e., NH4 and NO3), microbial biomass N, particulate organic matter N and dissolved organic N were decreased in the continuous grazing site. Thus, we concluded that continuous grazing might depress soil C and N microbial activity, but woody rangeland could improve soil quality. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:02 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:00:02 PM Tags: o C and N cycling o Grazing intensity o Litter quality o Soil functions o Woody rangeland * Restoration of former agricultural fields on acid sandy soils: Conversion to heathland, rangeland or forest? Type Journal Article Author A.M. Kooijman Author C. Cusell Author J. van Mourik Author T. Reijman URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857416302312__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvcjNjc-k$ Volume 93 Pages 55-65 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date August 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2016.05.005 Abstract Three restoration strategies on agricultural fields with acid sandy soil were evaluated after 18 and 25 years: conversion to heathland, rangeland and forest. Changes in soil microstructure, chemical characteristics, availability of N and P, and vegetation composition were analyzed in agricultural soils, three undisturbed reference sites and five types of restored former agricultural fields. Agricultural soils were characterized by organic slurry without much soil life. Soil nutrients were especially high for P, mostly in mineral form, and P-desorption rates were high. Partial and complete topsoil removal, aiming at heathland restoration, led to (much) lower soil organic matter and nutrients, but not to recovery of soil life, nor to P-limited soils. Heather was accompanied by many grassland species, even with complete topsoil removal. Conversion to rangeland did not decrease nutrient stocks, but led to improved soil life, although different from reference grasslands due to the higher pH. P-availability remained high, but net N-mineralization and plant N-content were clearly lower after 25 than after 18 years. Plant diversity was relatively high, and cover of eutrophic grasses decreased to 8–39% in intermediate and productive rangelands. Nutrient-poor species remained absent, but the slightly higher pH improved conditions for many grassland herbs. Afforestation did also not lead to nutrient-poor conditions, but soil life clearly increased and nutrients were used for rapid tree growth. Undergrowth species however remained eutrophic. It was impossible to retrieve the P-limited reference ecosystems within 25 years of restoration, not even with complete topsoil removal. Differences in plant diversity between expensive topsoil removal and much cheaper conversion to rangeland were also relatively small. For restoration on a landscape scale, it may thus be better to focus on conversion to semi-natural grasslands and afforestation. The half-open, nutrient-, mineral-, and species-rich landscape offers opportunities for large grazers, but also for many insects and birds. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:05 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:55:25 PM Tags: o Nitrogen o Phosphorus o Restoration o Soil o Thin sections o Vegetation * Nitrogen deposition and grass encroachment in calcareous and acidic Grey dunes (H2130) in NW-Europe Type Journal Article Author A.M. Kooijman Author M. van Til Author E. Noordijk Author E. Remke Author K. Kalbitz URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320716303123__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvX46rKSU$ Volume 212 Pages 406-415 Publication Nitrogen Deposition Impacts and Biodiversity in Terrestrial Ecosystems: Mechanisms and Perspectives ISSN 0006-3207 Date August 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2016.08.009 Abstract We present an overview of high nitrogen deposition effects on coastal dune grasslands in NW-Europe (H2130), especially concerning grass encroachment in calcareous and acidic Grey Dunes. The problem is larger than previously assumed, because critical loads are still too high, and extra N-input from the sea may amount to 10kgha−1yr−1. Grass encroachment clearly leads to loss of characteristic plant species, from approximately 16 in open dune grassland to 2 in tall-grass vegetation. Dune zones differ in grass encroachment, due to the chemical status of the soil. In calcareous and iron-rich dunes (Renodunal district), grass encroachment showed a clear gradient over the dune area. Grass encroachment is low in calcareous foredunes, due to low P-availability, and large grazers were not needed to counteract grass encroachment after 2001. In partly decalcified middle dunes, P-availability and grass encroachment are high due to dissolution of calcium phosphates, and grazing only partially helped to control this. In acidic, iron-rich hinterdunes, grass encroachment gradually increased between 1990 and 2014, possibly because P-availability increased with time due to increased soil organic matter content. In acidic, iron-poor dunes (Wadden district), grass encroachment is a large problem, because chemical P-fixation with Ca or Fe does not occur. Large grazers may however reduce tall-grass cover. High cumulative N-deposition could theoretically lead to increased N-storage and N-mineralization in the soil. Mineralization indeed increased with N-deposition, but in 15N experiments, most ammonium was converted to nitrate, and storage in soil organic matter was low. Soil N-storage is probably reduced by high nitrate leaching, which will favour dune restoration when N-deposition levels decrease. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:20 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:20 PM Tags: o Atmospheric deposition o Biodiversity o Dune grasslands o Mineralization o Phosphorus * Local variation in conspecific plant density influences plant–soil feedback in a natural grassland Type Journal Article Author Martine Kos Author Johan Veendrick Author T. Martijn Bezemer URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1439179113000959__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv2y1p27A$ Volume 14 Issue 6 Pages 506-514 Publication Basic and Applied Ecology ISSN 1439-1791 Date September 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Basic and Applied Ecology DOI 10.1016/j.baae.2013.07.002 Abstract Several studies have argued that under field conditions plant–soil feedback may be related to the local density of a plant species, but plant–soil feedback is often studied by comparing conspecific and heterospecific soils or by using mixed soil samples collected from different locations and plant densities. We examined whether the growth of the early successional species Jacobaea vulgaris in soil collected from the field is related to the local variation in plant density of this species. In a grassland restoration site, we selected eight 8m×8m plots, four with high and four with low densities of J. vulgaris plants. In 16 subplots in each plot we recorded the density and size of J. vulgaris, and characteristics of the vegetation and the soil chemistry. Soil collected from each subplot was used in a greenhouse pot-experiment to study the growth of J. vulgaris, both in pure field soil and in sterile soil inoculated with a small part of field soil. In the field, flowering J. vulgaris plants were taller, the percentage of rosette plants was higher and seed density was larger in High- than in Low-density plots. In the pot experiment, J. vulgaris had a negative plant–soil feedback, but biomass was also lower in soil collected from High- than from Low-density plots, although only when growing in inoculated soil. Regression analyses showed that J. vulgaris biomass of plants growing in pure soil was related to soil nutrients, but also to J. vulgaris density in the field. We conclude that in the field there is local variation in the negative plant–soil feedback of J. vulgaris and that this variation can be explained by the local density of J. vulgaris, but also by other factors such as nutrient availability. Zusammenfassung Verschiedene Studien haben dargelegt, dass unter Feldbedingungen das Pflanze-Boden-Feedback mit der lokalen Dichte der Pflanze in Verbindung stehen könnte, aber das Pflanze-Boden-Feedback wurde oft untersucht, indem konspezifische und heterospezifische Böden miteinander verglichen wurden oder indem gemischte Bodenproben von verschiedenen Standorten und Pflanzendichten benutzt wurden. Wir untersuchten, ob das Wachstum der frühen Sukzessionspflanze Jacobaea vulgaris in im Freiland gesammelten Böden mit der Variation in der lokalen Dichte dieser Art in Beziehung steht. In einem rekultivierten Grasland wählten wir acht 8m×8m große Probeflächen aus, vier mit hoher und vier mit geringer Dichte von J. vulgaris mit jeweils 16 Unterprobeflächen. Hier registrierten wir die Dichte und Größe der J. vulgaris-Pflanzen, sowie Eigenschaften der Vegetation und Daten zur Bodenchemie. Boden von jeder Unterprobefläche wurde in einem Topf-Experiment im Gewächshaus verwendet, um das Wachstum von J. vulgaris sowohl in reiner Freilanderde als auch in steriler Erde, die mit einer geringen Menge Boden aus dem Freiland inokuliert war, zu untersuchen. Im Freiland waren auf Flächen mit hoher Pflanzendichte die blühenden J. vulgaris-Pflanzen größer und der Anteil von Rosettenpflanzen sowie die Samendichte höher als auf Flächen mit geringer Pflanzendichte. Im Topf-Experiment zeigte J. vulgaris ein negatives Pflanze-Boden-Feedback, aber die Biomasse war ebenfalls geringer in Erde von Flächen mit dichtem Pflanzenbestand als in Erde von Flächen mit geringer Pflanzendichte – allerdings nur bei inokulierter Erde. In Regressionsanalysen zeigte die Biomasse der J. vulgaris-Pflanzen eine Beziehung zu den Nährstoffgehalten, wenn sie in reiner Erde wuchsen, aber auch eine Beziehung zur Pflanzendichte im Freiland. Wir schließen hieraus, dass es im Freiland eine räumliche Variation des negativen Pflanze-Boden-Feedbacks gibt und dass diese Variation durch die lokale Dichte von J. vulgaris aber auch durch andere Faktoren wie die Nährstoffverfügbarkeit erklärt werden kann. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:32:13 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:32:13 PM Tags: o Inoculated soil o Nutrients o Pure soil o Ragwort o Soil pathogens o Spatial patterning * Long-term effect of different management regimes on the survival and population structure of Gladiolus imbricatus in Estonian coastal meadows Type Journal Article Author Marika Kose Author Jaan Liira Author Kadri Tali URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989419301659__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvc8x_hSg$ Volume 20 Pages e00761 Publication Global Ecology and Conservation ISSN 2351-9894 Date October 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Global Ecology and Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.gecco.2019.e00761 Abstract Questions How does the population structure of the threatened plant species Gladiolus imbricatus differ in the early and late stages of habitat restoration under different management regimes? What is the best management regime for the species? Location Luitemaa Nature Reserve in Southwest Estonia. Methods A long-term field experiment (2002–2004 and 2014–2016) studied the effect of four management regimes: (1) mowing in late July, (2) grazing by cattle, (3) grazing by sheep and (4) continuous lack of management (i.e. the control). Results In contrast to the highly positive short-term response to habitat restoration, in the long term, late-season mowing was the most favourable management type for G. imbricatus. The universal increase in juveniles across treatments during the early phase of the restoration project remained high only in mown plots. For the other treatments, after 10 years, the number of juveniles declined to the starting level or lower. Additionally, in contrast to the uniformly high number of premature and generative plants across treatments during the first two years of restoration, the number of premature plants in grazed sites declined. In particular, the frequency of premature and generative plants differed between the mowing and sheep grazing treatments in the long term. The success of generative reproduction was poor in the sheep-managed pasture, as all the shoots were grazed and none had any fruits or flowers. Conclusions While grazing is the most commonly subsidised restoration measure applied to coastal meadows, we recommend diversification of management types by promoting late-season mowing and reducing grazing intensity. In particular, sheep grazing must be avoided. The results of short-term evaluation of restoration methods can be misleading, and long-term monitoring must be a default evaluation task in biodiversity management support schemes. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:23 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:23 PM Tags: o Agri-environmental policy o Grassland restoration o Grazing o Mowing o Population dynamics o Re-survey * Lignin dynamics in secondary pasture soils of the South African Highveld Type Journal Article Author Raimund Kösters Author Chris C. Du Preez Author Wulf Amelung URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706117313198__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv-93t-xQ$ Volume 319 Pages 113-121 Publication Geoderma ISSN 0016-7061 Date June 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Geoderma DOI 10.1016/j.geoderma.2017.12.028 Abstract Reseeding grasses into degraded cropland and using it as permanent secondary pasture may combat desertification and promote sequestration of soil organic carbon (SOC). Our objective was to assess the contribution of lignin and grass-derived carbon to the rates of SOC accrual upon such land-use change. We sampled secondary pastures of different age (1 to 31years old), established on former degraded cropland at three agro-ecosystems in the semi-arid Highveld of South Africa; old degraded croplands and primary grassland used for cattle grazing served as controls. Topsoil samples (0–5 and 5–10cm) were characterized by their natural 13C and 15N abundances and by their contents of lignin-derived phenols (VSC) after alkaline CuO oxidation. The results showed that the δ13C signature in secondary pasture soil was variable and not a sensitive indicator of land restoration in these sites. Soil δ15N values declined from 8 to 6‰ with increased duration of secondary pasture use and approached the values of the primary grassland, suggesting that N-use efficiency improved. The VSC contents increased in the surface soils and reached a new steady-state equilibrium after 38years. Lignin sequestration was accelerated relative to total SOC in the 0–5cm soil depth but delayed in the 5–10cm soil depth, reflecting different amounts of depth-dependent inputs of plant debris into the pastures. Even if absolute VSC contents did not reach the respective concentrations in the primary grassland, the contribution of VSC to total SOC (gVSCkg−1 C) was similar to that of the primary grassland. Decreasing ratios of syringyl to vanillyl structural units reflected that after 8–19years all remaining lignin derived primarily from the new grassland vegetation. Lignin enhances SOC accumulation only in the very surface soil (0–5cm) but not below this depth, rendering the restoration of subsoil C stocks difficult in these ecosystems. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:23:00 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:23:00 PM Tags: o Carbon sequestration o Land use change o Lignin o Secondary pastures o Soil regeneration o Stable isotopes * Deserts do not advance, they are created: Land degradation and desertification in semiarid environments in the Middle Atlas, Morocco Type Journal Article Author Yacine Kouba Author Maite Gartzia Author Ahmed El Aich Author Concepción L. Alados URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196318304257__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dva6Th0Kg$ Volume 158 Pages 1-8 Publication Journal of Arid Environments ISSN 0140-1963 Date November 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Journal of Arid Environments DOI 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2018.07.002 Abstract Semiarid Mediterranean regions are highly susceptible to desertification. This study investigated the influence of increasing anthropogenic pressure on land degradation in highly vulnerable semiarid environments in the Mediterranean region. Remote sensing imagery was used to identify changes in land cover between 1984 and 2007, which indicated a clear trend of land degradation, and that the most important features were the transformation of forest to shrubland, the conversion of shrubland to grassland, and, the degradation of grassland to bare land, the last stage of degradation. The largest amount of degraded land was in the administrative fraction that was characterized by high population and livestock numbers, as well as the large number of settlements on rangeland. Bayesian Model Averaging showed that the probability of land degradation was highest near settlements, water points, and in areas that had gentle slopes. Furthermore, landscape pattern analysis revealed a reduction in the area occupied by Genista pseudopilosa, and an increase in the fragmentation of patches of Artemisia herba alba. The land degradation, which was triggered by high livestock pressure, might be irreversible, and restoration to initial conditions impossible because of the level of degradation; essentially, in areas where the degradation has reached a very advanced stage. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:34 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:55:26 PM Tags: o Fragmentation o Landscape patterns o Livestock grazing o Maghreb o Mediterranean region o Remote sensing * Conservation of Pollinators in Traditional Agricultural Landscapes – New Challenges in Transylvania (Romania) Posed by EU Accession and Recommendations for Future Research Type Journal Article Author Anikó Kovács-Hostyánszki Author Rita Földesi Author Edina Mózes Author Ádám Szirák Author Joern Fischer Author Jan Hanspach Author András Báldi URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0151650__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv15hxR68$ Volume 11 Issue 6 Pages e0151650 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Jun 10, 2016 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0151650 Accessed 2020-03-12, 3:28:26 PM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract Farmland biodiversity is strongly declining in most of Western Europe, but still survives in traditional low intensity agricultural landscapes in Central and Eastern Europe. Accession to the EU however intensifies agriculture, which leads to the vanishing of traditional farming. Our aim was to describe the pollinator assemblages of the last remnants of these landscapes, thus set the baseline of sustainable farming for pollination, and to highlight potential measures of conservation. In these traditional farmlands in the Transylvanian Basin, Romania (EU accession in 2007), we studied the major pollinator groups—wild bees, hoverflies and butterflies. Landscape scale effects of semi-natural habitats, land cover diversity, the effects of heterogeneity and woody vegetation cover and on-site flower resources were tested on pollinator communities in traditionally managed arable fields and grasslands. Our results showed: (i) semi-natural habitats at the landscape scale have a positive effect on most pollinators, especially in the case of low heterogeneity of the direct vicinity of the studied sites; (ii) both arable fields and grasslands hold abundant flower resources, thus both land use types are important in sustaining pollinator communities; (iii) thus, pollinator conservation can rely even on arable fields under traditional management regime. This has an indirect message that the tiny flower margins around large intensive fields in west Europe can be insufficient conservation measures to restore pollinator communities at the landscape scale, as this is still far the baseline of necessary flower resources. This hypothesis needs further study, which includes more traditional landscapes providing baseline, and exploration of other factors behind the lower than baseline level biodiversity values of fields under agri-environmental schemes (AES). Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:28:26 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:28:26 PM Tags: o Bees o Biodiversity o Conservation science o Europe o Flowers o Grasslands o Moths and butterflies o Species diversity Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Impacts of previous maintenance of river embankments on the grassland communities by changing soil properties Type Journal Article Author Tomoyo F. Koyanagi Author Susumu Yamada Author Hirotoshi Matsuzaki Author Yuichi Kato URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857419300898__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvQDq_Pro$ Volume 131 Pages 73-80 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date June 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2019.03.004 Abstract River embankments can be the potential semi-natural habitats for grassland species, although the recent disturbances for maintenance would alter overall vegetation of river embankments. For evaluating possibility of grassland species conservation in vegetation of river embankments, we aimed to clarify how does the previous maintenances (i.e. disturbance history) influence current species composition and diversity in grassland vegetation by changing soil properties. We conducted vegetation and soil surveys at 64 plots along the slope of embankments of the Tone River, Chiba and Ibaraki Prefectures, Japan, separated into 36 and 28 plots at disturbed and undisturbed embankments, respectively. We tested environmental factors (i.e., maintenance history, location of the river embankment, slope aspect, and interaction effects of the maintenance history and location) affecting species richness and soil properties of river embankments by using generalized linear models (GLMs) and linear models, respectively. We also evaluated species recovery through time by testing the significance of relationships between elapsed time (since last maintenance) and the richness values of all and grassland species. We found that disturbance history influenced current grassland species richness and soil properties (e.g. bio-available soil P and percentage of fine sand) and grassland species have recovered gradually in the disturbed river embankments located on the outer periphery of the reservoir. For achieving synergy between flood mitigation and grassland conservation goals, grassland vegetation maintained on disturbed river embankments located on the outer periphery of the reservoir can be targets for restoration of grassland species. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:48 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:48 PM Tags: o Bio-available soil P o Disturbance history o Exotic species o Grassland species o Semi-natural grassland o Soil eutrophication * Seasonal prescribed fire variation decreases inhibitory ability of Poa pratensis L. and promotes native plant diversity Type Journal Article Author Katherine Kral Author Ryan Limb Author Amy Ganguli Author Torre Hovick Author Kevin Sedivec URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479718307485__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvCqQM97g$ Volume 223 Pages 908-916 Publication Journal of Environmental Management ISSN 0301-4797 Date October 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Journal of Environmental Management DOI 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.06.096 Abstract Global biodiversity is threatened by invasive plant species. Without a thorough understanding of effective management strategies, minimizing their impacts while improving native species diversity will be challenging. Burning in fire-prone landscapes has been successful for managing invasive species and increasing native biodiversity, but it is unclear how specific fire regimes improve restoration practices in novel ecosystems where invasive plants have a similar growth phenology to native plants. We investigated fire as a restoration practice in the Northern Great Plains to decrease the cover of Kentucky bluegrass Poa pratensis (bluegrass), a perennial cool-season invasive grass phenologically similar to dominant native cool-season grasses, by 1) evaluating season of burn (early-growing season, late-growing season, and dormant season) in a field experiment to test differences in plant community composition and 2) manipulating fine fuels (3000–5000 kg ha−1) in an experimental approach to determine the effects of fire on plant survivability of selected native grasses and bluegrass. Bluegrass cover decreased 27% on all field burned plots the first year post-fire. Three years post-fire, late-growing season and dormant season treatments had 35% less bluegrass, whereas the early-growing season treatment was not significantly different from the control. Overall, fire altered the native plant community, with native plants more associated with burned plots. However, native plant community changes were only evident three years post-fire in late-growing season and dormant season burn treatments. In the experimental approach, native grasses and bluegrass experienced high rates of mortality (40–50%) at fuel loads above 4000 kg ha−1 and heat dosages above 30,000 °C·sec, features commonly associated with early-growing season burns. Therefore, early-growing season burns meant to reduce bluegrass may also impact native plants dominant in the region. Invasive species management is complicated in novel ecosystems when invasive plants have similar growth phenologies to native species. Control efforts should consider how different management strategies impact invasive and native plants alike. We found that late-growing season and dormant season burns, along with higher fuel loads, decreased bluegrass cover. Determining mechanisms of control in fire-prone landscapes is a crucial step to improving invasive plant control and increasing native biodiversity. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:18 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:18 PM Tags: o Biodiversity conservation o Cool-season grass o Disturbance regimes o Fire-prone landscapes o Grasslands o Invasive species * The significance of habitat continuity and current management on the compositional and functional diversity of grasslands in the uplands of Lower Saxony, Germany Type Journal Article Author Benjamin Krause Author Heike Culmsee URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S036725301300056X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvtQiONd8$ Volume 208 Issue 5 Pages 299-311 Publication Flora - Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants ISSN 0367-2530 Date May 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Flora - Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants DOI 10.1016/j.flora.2013.04.003 Abstract There is a growing concern that land use intensification is having negative effects on semi-natural grasslands and that it leads to a general loss of biodiversity among all types of formerly extensively managed grasslands of poor to medium nutrient richness. Since the 1950s, many Central European uplands have been subject to an increase in grassland cover as a result of changes in land use practices. Using such a landscape in Lower Saxony, Germany, as a model region, we assessed environmental factors that control grassland diversity, including plant community composition, species richness and pollination trait composition. In 2007, 189 vegetation sampling sites were randomly distributed among grasslands covering some 394ha within a 2500ha study area. Plant communities were classified using TWINSPAN and the effects of environmental factors (soil, topography, current management and habitat continuity) were analysed by canonical correspondence analysis and regression analysis reducing for the effects of spatial autocorrelation by using principal coordinates of neighbour matrices. We found a wide range of six species-poor (<15 plant spp.) to extremely species-rich (>27 spp.) grassland types under mesic to dry site conditions, including sown, Cynosurion, Arrhenatherion and semi-natural grasslands. Grassland community composition was best explained by soil factors and species richness and pollination type composition by combined effects of current management and habitat continuity. During the 1950/60s, the extent of grassland area within the studied landscape rapidly increased to more than double its previous extent, and in 2007, grasslands comprised 16%. Natura 2000 grassland types comprised 1% of the surveyed site and medium-rich, high-nature-value grasslands a further 5%. While the number of wind-pollinated plant species was equal among all grassland types, there was a parallel decline in insect-pollinated plants and overall median species richness in the grassland communities along a gradient of increasing land use intensity (mowing, nutrient supply). Moreover, insect-pollinated plants occurring in intensively managed grasslands were found to additionally have the ability for self-pollination. Species-rich grasslands – including semi-natural grasslands and a semi-improved, species-rich Arrhenatherion community – occurred exclusively on old sites (with >100 years of habitat continuity) that had been used for traditional sheep grazing (environmental contracting). Medium-rich Arrhenatherion grasslands were established primarily on less productive, formerly arable fields (<30 years). We conclude that conservation efforts should focus on extant species-rich grassland types and should aim to implement traditional land use practices such as sheep grazing. Additional restoration efforts should focus on establishing new grasslands on less productive sites in the proximate surroundings of species-rich grasslands to facilitate seed dispersal, but nitrogen deposition should be buffered where appropriate. These measures would enhance the interaction between nature reserves and agricultural grasslands and thus improve the ecological quality of grasslands at the landscape scale. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:37 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:37 PM Tags: o Community composition o Historical and current management o Land use intensification o Mesotrophic meadows o Pollination o Semi-natural grasslands * Conifer reinvasion of montane meadows following experimental tree removal and prescribed burning Type Journal Article Author Nicolas J. Kremer Author Charles B. Halpern Author Joseph A. Antos URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112714000875__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvlYhfrFM$ Volume 319 Pages 128-137 Publication Forest Ecology and Management ISSN 0378-1127 Date May 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Forest Ecology and Management DOI 10.1016/j.foreco.2014.02.002 Abstract Tree invasion of mountain grasslands and meadows, pervasive throughout western North America, has become a management concern. Restoration of these systems requires tree removal and possibly prescribed burning; however, subsequent reinvasion by trees may compromise these efforts. In this study, we assess patterns of tree seedling establishment 8years after tree removal (with and without burning) from 1-ha experimental plots in conifer-invaded meadows in the Oregon Cascades. We quantify variation in the timing, spatial distribution, and density of establishment of species with differing seral roles; compare effects of burning; and explore relationships with distance to and characteristics of adjacent, residual forests. Seedlings established continuously after tree removal, dominated by late-seral Abies grandis (cumulative plot densities of 116–460/ha). Early-seral Pinus contorta and Pseudotsuga menziesii were much less abundant (0–25 and 1–52/ha, respectively). Frequency (percentage of 5×5m subplots) and density of seedlings did not differ between treatments (burned vs. unburned), nor did seedling growth rates (inferred from height-age relationships). Seedling spatial distributions and relationships with distance to adjacent forest varied both within and among plots. On average, however, seedlings were concentrated along edges. In the 5-m outer band of subplots, frequency averaged 37% and density, 682/ha, compared to 18% and 140/ha in the remaining cores of the plots. Density of Abies was significantly greater along more shaded southern edges (north-facing) than along more exposed northern edges (south-facing), but it declined steeply with distance from edge, especially for southern edges. Plot-level density of Abies seedlings was also correlated with basal area of Abies in the adjacent forest (but not with tree density or summed height). Strong relationships of seedlings with distance, exposure, and characteristics of adjacent forests suggest that conifer reinvasion can be minimized by targeting tree removal to maximize distances to residual trees. However, absence of a treatment effect suggests that burning—critical for reducing woody residues—does not increase the probability of seedling establishment, particularly in systems in which late-seral species are the principal colonists. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:13 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:13 PM Tags: o Conifer establishment o Edge effects o Forest influence o Meadow restoration o Seed dispersal o Seedling establishment * State of knowledge about energy development impacts on North American rangelands: An integrative approach Type Journal Article Author Urs P. Kreuter Author Alan D. Iwaasa Author Gene L. Theodori Author R. James Ansley Author Robert B. Jackson Author Lauchlan H. Fraser Author M. Anne Naeth Author Susan McGillivray Author Edmundo Garcia Moya URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S030147971630247X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvFeP07cg$ Volume 180 Pages 1-9 Publication Journal of Environmental Management ISSN 0301-4797 Date September 15, 2016 Journal Abbr Journal of Environmental Management DOI 10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.05.007 Accessed 2020-03-17, 6:27:58 PM Library Catalog ScienceDirect Language en Abstract To reduce dependence on foreign oil reserves, there has been a push in North America to develop alternative domestic energy resources. Relatively undeveloped renewable energy resources include biofuels and wind and solar energy, many of which occur predominantly on rangelands. Rangelands are also key areas for natural gas development from shales and tight sand formations. Accordingly, policies aimed at greater energy independence are likely to affect the delivery of crucial ecosystem services provided by rangelands. Assessing and dealing with the biophysical and socio-economic effects of energy development on rangeland ecosystems require an integrative and systematic approach that is predicated on a broad understanding of diverse issues related to energy development. In this article, we present a road map for developing an integrative assessment of energy development on rangelands in North America. We summarize current knowledge of socio-economic and biophysical aspects of rangeland based energy development, and we identify knowledge gaps and monitoring indicators to fill these knowledge gaps. Short Title State of knowledge about energy development impacts on North American rangelands Date Added 2020-03-17, 6:27:58 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:55:27 PM Tags: o Biofuels o Hydraulic fracturing o Land use change o Oil and gas o Rangeland restoration o Wind energy Attachments o ScienceDirect Snapshot * Water stable aggregates and the associated active and recalcitrant carbon in soil under rubber plantation Type Journal Article Author Bandana Kurmi Author Arun Jyoti Nath Author Rattan Lal Author Ashesh Kumar Das URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969719354920__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv180hy-Y$ Volume 703 Pages 135498 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date February 10, 2020 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135498 Abstract Rehabilitation of the degraded soil is imperative to minimize the effects of soil degradation. It is in this context that stable soil aggregates, essential to providing physical protection to the organic residues, are important indicators of soil restoration or degradation. Thus, the present study was aimed at determining the soil aggregate stability and associated carbon fractions under rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) plantations. The study was conducted on 10, 15, 25, and 34-year-old rubber plantation established on Imperata grassland. Soil samples were collected from 0 to 10, 10–20, 20–50, 50–100 cm depths from different aged rubber plantation and native forest (NF) using a soil core of 5.6 cm inner diameter. Soil aggregates from each depth were separated by the wet-sieving technique, and grouped into three fraction size classes: macro-aggregates (>2 mm), meso-aggregates (0.25–2 mm), and micro-aggregates (<0.25 mm), and analyzed for carbon concentrations. The results showed that macro-aggregates dominated soil under different plantation ages and decreased with an increase in soil depth. The Mean Weight Diameter (MWD) and the Geometric Mean Diameter (GMD) increased with an increase in the age of the plantation and decreased with increase in soil depth. The MWD was the highest in the forest soil (5.8 mm) and the lowest (3.0 mm) under 10-year-old rubber plantation. The highest GMD was found under 34-year-old rubber plantation (2.1 mm) and the lowest under 10-year (1.4 mm) plantation. The SOC concentration under the recalcitrant pool increased with the increase in plantation age, and the highest amount was observed under 34-year old plantation. The increase in aggregate stability, recalcitrant carbon pool, and SOC stock with age chronosequence suggests the ecological role of mature rubber plantations in soil rehabilitation by minimizing the process of soil degradation. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:12 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:12 PM Tags: o Active pool o GMD o MWD o Recalcitrant pool o Soil aggregates * The quality of flower-based ecosystem services in field margins and road verges from human and insect pollinator perspectives Type Journal Article Author Laura Kütt Author Kertu Lõhmus Author Ilmar-Jürgen Rammi Author Taavi Paal Author Jaanus Paal Author Jaan Liira URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X16303089__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv5vEZNoc$ Volume 70 Pages 409-419 Publication Navigating Urban Complexity: Advancing Understanding of Urban Social – Ecological Systems for Transformation and Resilience ISSN 1470-160X Date November 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2016.06.009 Abstract We contrasted traditionally used indicators of service provision quality, such as overall species richness and growth form composition, to three more specific functional properties: functional diversity, functional intensity, and functional stability. We defined flower colour as a functional trait perceived differently by humans and insect pollinators, and used user specific colour richness, flower size, and species richness within colour group as indicators of these three properties. We asked (1) do field margins and road verges provide flower-based ecosystem services with the quality of permanent grasslands; and (2) do traditional and detailed functional indicators of service provision quality agree on the service quality ranking of habitats? In an agricultural landscape of central and south-eastern Estonia (115ÿ95km area, centroid 26°49⿲43⿳ and 58°54⿲49⿳) we sampled 87 field margins and 111 road verges as linear grassland-substitution habitats, and 84 permanent grasslands to scale their service quality. Linear habitats generally provided service of lower quality than permanent grasslands, but detailed indicators showed less evident contrast among habitat types than the overall species richness and stronger contrast than the proportion of forbs. Detailed indices, however, had strong seasonal dynamics to take into account. Vegetation in the first year field margins had greater colour richness (functional diversity) and species richness within colour groups (functional stability), but the smallest flower size (functional intensity), in contrast to road verges. By the third year of succession, field margins had become more similar to road verges. Indication of service provision quality differed between humans and pollinators, but their estimates were correlated across habitats. We showed that (1) combinations of specific service quality indicators provide more adequate information than generalized richness or growth form system, and (2) single grassland surrogate habitat type is an insufficient service providing substitute for permanent grasslands, although a mosaic of these habitats might be more efficient. Therefore, remnant fragments of semi-natural grasslands should receive top priority attention for conservation and restoration, particularly in agriculture dominated landscapes. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:26 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:26 PM Tags: o Aesthetic service o Flower color o Grassland conservation o Linear habitat o Service providing unit o Sown flower strip * Herbicide-Assisted Restoration of Great Basin Sagebrush Steppe Infested With Medusahead and Downy Brome Type Journal Article Author Guy B. Kyser Author Robert G. Wilson Author Jimin Zhang Author Joseph M. DiTomaso URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742413500662__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvEiAne3w$ Volume 66 Issue 5 Pages 588-596 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date September 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/REM-D-12-00184.1 Abstract Downy brome or cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) and medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae) are the most problematic invasive annual grasses in rangelands of the western United States, including sagebrush communities that provide habitat to sage grouse. Rehabilitation of infested sites requires effective weed control strategies combined with seeding of native plants or desirable competitive species. In this study, we evaluated the effect of three fall-applied pre-emergence herbicides (imazapic, rimsulfuron, and chlorsulfuron + sulfometuron), and one spring-applied postemergence herbicide (glyphosate) on the control of downy brome and medusahead and the response of seeded perennial species and resident vegetation in two sagebrush communities in northeastern California. All pre-emergence treatments gave > 93% control of both invasive species at both sites in the first year. Glyphosate was less consistent, giving > 94% control at one site and only 61% control of both species at the other site. Imazapic was the only herbicide to maintain good control (78–88%) of both species 2yr after treatment. No herbicide caused detectible long-term damage to either perennial grasses or annual forbs, and imazapic treatment resulted in an increase in resident native forb cover 3yr after treatment. Broadcast seeding with or without soil incorporation did not result in successful establishment of perennial species, probably due to below-average precipitation in the year of seeding. These results indicate that several chemical options can give short-term control of downy brome and medusahead. Over the course of the study, imazapic provided the best management of both invasive annual grasses while increasing native forb cover. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:36 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:36 PM Tags: o annual grass o imazapic o invasive o rangeland o revegetation * Sequestering carbon in soils of agro-ecosystems Type Journal Article Author R. Lal URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306919210001454__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvx7Os-0Y$ Volume 36 Pages S33-S39 Publication The challenge of global food sustainability ISSN 0306-9192 Date January 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Food Policy DOI 10.1016/j.foodpol.2010.12.001 Abstract Soils of the world’s agroecosystems (croplands, grazing lands, rangelands) are depleted of their soil organic carbon (SOC) pool by 25–75% depending on climate, soil type, and historic management. The magnitude of loss may be 10 to 50tonsC/ha. Soils with severe depletion of their SOC pool have low agronomic yield and low use efficiency of added input. Conversion to a restorative land use and adoption of recommended management practices, can enhance the SOC pool, improve soil quality, increase agronomic productivity, advance global food security, enhance soil resilience to adapt to extreme climatic events, and mitigate climate change by off-setting fossil fuel emissions. The technical potential of carbon (C) sequestration in soils of the agroecosystems is 1.2–3.1billiontonsC/yr. Improvement in soil quality, by increase in the SOC pool of 1tonC/ha/yr in the root zone, can increase annual food production in developing countries by 24–32milliontons of food grains and 6–10milliontons of roots and tubers. The strategy is to create positive soil C and nutrient budgets through adoption of no-till farming with mulch, use of cover crops, integrated nutrient management including biofertilizers, water conservation, and harvesting, and improving soil structure and tilth. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:55 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:55 PM Tags: o Adaptation and mitigation of climate change o Carbon sequestration o Food security o Soil quality o Soil restoration * Valuing post-mining landscapes using an ecosystem services approach—An example from Germany Type Journal Article Author Neele Larondelle Author Dagmar Haase URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X12000234__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvQaZAgmM$ Volume 18 Pages 567-574 Publication Ecological Indicators ISSN 1470-160X Date July 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2012.01.008 Abstract Open cut mining heavily affects landscapes and is largely irreversible. Post-mining landscapes often differ dramatically from pre-mining ones. One of the largest open cut lignite mining areas in Europe is in Eastern Germany, south of Leipzig. This paper uses an ecosystem services approach to assess the impacts of mining activity over a 100-year period, spanning pre- and post-mining states. We recorded historical land use data from maps and outlined three future potential land use scenarios based on current planning documents. Our results indicate that maps showing the potentials to provide ecosystem services support the prioritization of preference areas in regional planning. For example, forested and heterogeneous habitats are predicted to enhance future urban development and mitigation of future climate change – a goal of the Saxon government. In contrast, if future development priorities are on local food production and bio-energy use, more arable and grassland areas should be pursued. The use of freely and publicly available data and the simple methods of the approach presented here can be used to inform and improve regional landscape planning. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:26 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:26 PM Tags: o Assessment o Ecosystem services o Indicators o Land-use scenario o Mining landscapes * Effects of an ongoing oak savanna restoration on small mammals in Lower Michigan Type Journal Article Author Angela L. Larsen Author Joseph J. Jacquot Author Paul W. Keenlance Author Heather L. Keough URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112716300354__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dveK6eZak$ Volume 367 Pages 120-127 Publication Forest Ecology and Management ISSN 0378-1127 Date May 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Forest Ecology and Management DOI 10.1016/j.foreco.2016.02.016 Abstract Oak (Quercus spp.) savannas have declined drastically in the midwestern United States since European settlement. Oak savanna restoration projects are primarily driven by species closely linked to this habitat type, such as the federally endangered Karner blue butterfly (Lycaeides melissa samuelis). However, it is essential that other species are monitored during restoration. Small mammals, due to their importance in ecosystem function, are particularly useful to study. The United States Forest Service is currently conducting an oak savanna restoration in the Manistee National Forest in Lower Michigan using forest thinning and prescribed burning. To understand management impacts on small mammal communities, we live trapped small mammals in each of the mechanically thinned plots (i.e., bulldozer, masticator, and shear cutter) and control plots in five blocks over six years (2008–2013), as well as measured vegetation variables each year. Initially, we used a permutation multivariate analysis of variance (perMANOVA) to determine if there were treatment and year interactions for both small mammal community assemblages and vegetation variables. We then compared changes in small mammal diversity, relative abundance, and vegetation variables among treatments using exploratory randomized block design analysis of variances (ANOVAs). Canopy cover was significantly lower in bulldozer and shear cutter thinned plots than control plots five years following thinning. We observed significant treatment by year interactions in how the small mammal community responded. A large increase in relative abundance of white-footed mice occurred one year post-thinning in all treatments. Within 1–2years of treatment, thirteen-lined ground squirrels and meadow jumping mice, both open-canopy grassland species became established on thinned plots. The retention of brush piles in bulldozer and shear cutter plots provided important refuge habitat for small mammals following thinning. Restoration efforts were beneficial to the small mammal community overall and promoted grassland species to immigrate into the restored area. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:55 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:55 PM Tags: o Habitat restoration o Michigan o Oak savanna o Small mammals o spp. o Thinning * Creating space for large-scale restoration in tropical agricultural landscapes Type Journal Article Author Agnieszka E Latawiec Author Bernardo BN Strassburg Author Pedro HS Brancalion Author Ricardo R Rodrigues Author Toby Gardner URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1890/140052__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvz94qMsw$ Volume 13 Issue 4 Pages 211-218 Publication Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment ISSN 1540-9295 Date May 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment DOI 10.1890/140052 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Poorly planned, large-scale ecological restoration projects may displace agricultural activities and potentially lead to the clearance of native vegetation elsewhere, with associated impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Yet few studies have considered these risks and the ways in which restoration can increase competition for land. Here, we address this issue by examining whether large-scale restoration of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest could displace cattle production, as a result of land shortages. Although the risks of displacement are indeed high when reforestation is planned in areas with high cattle productivity, we discuss how these risks can be minimized through a combination of productivity increases, a regional restoration planning framework, and the prioritization of marginal agricultural land for restoration. We also consider how restoration can, in some circumstances, be made more economically sustainable by incorporating income-generating activities such as exploitation of timber and non-timber forest products, certification, and payments for ecosystem services. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:47:21 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:55:28 PM Notes: o doi: 10.1890/140052 o doi: 10.1890/140052 * Microbial residues as indicators of soil restoration in South African secondary pastures Type Journal Article Author Franziska Lauer Author Raimund Kösters Author Chris C. du Preez Author Wulf Amelung URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0038071710004815__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv0s5UZ-M$ Volume 43 Issue 4 Pages 787-794 Publication Knowledge gaps in soil C and N interactions ISSN 0038-0717 Date April 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Soil Biology and Biochemistry DOI 10.1016/j.soilbio.2010.12.012 Abstract Prolonged intensive arable cropping of semiarid grassland soils in the South African Highveld resulted in a significant loss of C, N and associated living and dead microbial biomass. To regenerate their soils, farmers converted degraded arable sites back into secondary pastures. The objective of this study was to clarify the contribution of microorganisms to the sequestration of C and N in soil during this regeneration phase. Composite samples were taken from the topsoils of former arable land, namely Plinthustalfs, which had been converted to pastures 1–31 years ago. Amino sugars were determined as markers for microbial residues in the bulk soil and in selected particle-size fractions. The results showed that when C and N contents increased during the secondary pasture usage, the amino sugar concentration in the bulk soil (0–5 cm) recovered at similar magnitude and reached a new steady-state level after approximately 90 years, which corresponded only to 90% of the amino sugar level in the primary grassland. The amino sugar concentration in the clay-sized fraction recovered to a higher end level than in the bulk soil, and also at a faster annual rate. This confirms that especially the finer particles contained a high amount of amino sugars and were responsible, thus, for the restoration of microbially derived C and N. The incomplete recovery of amino sugars in bulk soil can only in parts be attributed to a slightly coarser texture of secondary grassland that had lost silt through wind erosion. The soils particularly had also lost the ability to restore microbial residues below 5 cm soil depth. Overall, the ratios of glucosamine to muramic acid also increased with increasing duration of pasture usage, suggesting that fungi dominated the microbial sequestration of C and N whereas the re-accumulation of bacterial cell wall residues was less pronounced. However, the glucosamine-to-muramic acid ratios finally even exceeded those of the primary grassland, indicating that there remained some irreversible changes of the soil microbial community by former intensive crop management. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:53 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:53 PM Tags: o Amino sugar o Microbial community structure o Microbial residue o Particle-size fractionation o Soil restoration * Self-organization and complex dynamics of regenerating vegetation in an arid ecosystem: 82 years of recovery after grazing Type Journal Article Author V. Lawley Author L. Parrott Author M. Lewis Author R. Sinclair Author B. Ostendorf URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196312002406__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv7PZABm8$ Volume 88 Pages 156-164 Publication Journal of Arid Environments ISSN 0140-1963 Date January 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Journal of Arid Environments DOI 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2012.08.014 Abstract Understanding the relative contributions of internal dynamics versus external factors in the process of community assembly is important for establishing guidelines for conservation and restoration of native vegetation. The role of internal dynamics and external factors in the process of community assembly at the local scale is a poorly understood issue in ecology, especially in highly variable environments. We analyse an 82-year spatiotemporal record of vegetation recovering from a history of overgrazing within a semi-arid environment to investigate the relative contribution of internal and external factors on community assembly. Community composition and spatial structure were used as indicators of change over time in four sites within a vegetation reserve, which were subjected to the same environmental constraints, climate and grazing history. The four sites follow remarkably different, asynchronous trajectories characterized by periods of stability interrupted by episodic change. The high variability between sites suggests that initial communities are internally reinforced through random chance events, directing them on different pathways of assembly and self-organization; hence external factors may play a less significant role in long-term community assembly at the local scale than previously believed. These results have important implications for rangeland restoration and conservation in many of the world's semi-arid regions. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:47 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:47 PM Tags: o Community assembly o Ecological restoration o Long-term ecological monitoring o Self-organization o Semi-arid ecosystems * Temporal and spatial changes of land use in rare metal mining areas of Rwanda Type Journal Article Author Dieter Lehmann Author Katja Brinkmann Author Rodrigue V. C. Diogo Author Andreas Buerkert URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1080/17480930.2016.1160490__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvtFO5PzM$ Volume 31 Issue 8 Pages 519-529 Publication International Journal of Mining, Reclamation and Environment ISSN 1748-0930 Date November 17, 2017 Journal Abbr International Journal of Mining, Reclamation and Environment DOI 10.1080/17480930.2016.1160490 Date Added 2020-03-12, 12:08:36 AM Modified 2020-03-12, 12:08:36 AM Notes: o doi: 10.1080/17480930.2016.1160490 * Juniper Invasions in Grasslands: Research Needs and Intervention Strategies Type Journal Article Author Sherry A. Leis Author Carol E. Blocksome Author Dirac Twidwell Author Sam D. Fuhlendorf Author John M. Briggs Author Larry D. Sanders URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190052817300159__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvPapD5DA$ Volume 39 Issue 2 Pages 64-72 Publication Rangelands ISSN 0190-0528 Date April 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Rangelands DOI 10.1016/j.rala.2017.03.002 Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:36 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:36 PM Tags: o eastern redcedar o economics o fire o invasive species o policy * Species Richness Responses to Structural or Compositional Habitat Diversity between and within Grassland Patches: A Multi-Taxon Approach Type Journal Article Author Szabolcs Lengyel Author Eszter Déri Author Tibor Magura URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0149662__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvnpE8gNI$ Volume 11 Issue 2 Pages e0149662 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Feb 22, 2016 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0149662 Accessed 2020-03-12, 3:25:41 PM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract Habitat diversity (spatial heterogeneity within and between habitat patches in a landscape, HD) is often invoked as a driver of species diversity at small spatial scales. However, the effect of HD on species richness (SR) of multiple taxa is not well understood. We quantified HD and SR in a wet-dry gradient of open grassland habitats in Hortobágy National Park (E-Hungary) and tested the effect of compositional and structural factors of HD on SR of flowering plants, orthopterans, true bugs, spiders, ground beetles and birds. Our dataset on 434 grassland species (170 plants, 264 animals) showed that the wet-dry gradient (compositional HD at the between-patch scale) was primarily related to SR in orthopterans, ground-dwelling arthropods, and all animals combined. The patchiness, or plant association richness, of the vegetation (compositional HD at the within-patch scale) was related to SR of vegetation-dwelling arthropods, whereas vegetation height (structural HD at the within-patch scale) was related to SR of ground-dwelling arthropods and birds. Patch area was related to SR only in birds, whereas management (grazing, mowing, none) was related to SR of plants and true bugs. All relationships between HD and SR were positive, indicating increasing SR with increasing HD. However, total SR was not related to HD because different taxa showed similar positive responses to different HD variables. Our findings, therefore, show that even though HD positively influences SR in a wide range of grassland taxa, each taxon responds to different compositional or structural measures of HD, resulting in the lack of a consistent relationship between HD and SR when taxon responses are pooled. The idiosyncratic responses shown here exemplify the difficulties in detecting general HD-SR relationships over multiple taxa. Our results also suggest that management and restoration aimed specifically to sustain or increase the diversity of habitats are required to conserve biodiversity in complex landscapes. Short Title Species Richness Responses to Structural or Compositional Habitat Diversity between and within Grassland Patches Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:25:41 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:25:41 PM Tags: o Arthropoda o Biodiversity o Birds o Flowering plants o Grasslands o Habitats o Marshes o Species diversity Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Development of Vegetation and Aquatic Habitat in Restored Riparian Sites of California's North Coast Rangelands Type Journal Article Author Michael S. Lennox Author David J. Lewis Author Randall D. Jackson Author John Harper Author Stephanie Larson Author Kenneth W. Tate URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2009.00558.x__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvgXlHu2c$ Rights © 2009 Society for Ecological Restoration International Volume 19 Issue 2 Pages 225-233 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2011 DOI 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2009.00558.x Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:09:04 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract The preponderance of short-term objectives and lack of systematic monitoring of restoration projects limits opportunities to learn from past experience and improve future restoration efforts. We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional survey of 89 riparian revegetation sites and 13 nonrestored sites. We evaluated 36 restoration metrics at each site and used project age (0–39 years) to quantify plant community and aquatic habitat trajectories with a maximum likelihood model selection approach to compare linear and polynomial relationships. We found significant correlations with project age for 16 of 21 riparian vegetation, and 11 of 15 aquatic habitat attributes. Our results indicated improvements in multiple ecosystem services and watershed functions such as diversity, sedimentation, carbon sequestration, and available habitat. Ten riparian vegetation metrics, including native tree and exotic shrub density, increased nonlinearly with project age, while litter and native shrub density increased linearly. Species richness and cover of annual plants declined over time. Improvements in aquatic habitat metrics, such as increasing pool depth and decreasing bankfull width-to-depth ratio, indicated potentially improved anadromous fish habitats at restored sites. We hypothesize that certain instream metrics did not improve because of spatial and/or temporal limitations of riparian vegetation to affect aquatic habitat. Restoration managers should be prepared to maintain or enhance understory diversity by controlling exotic shrubs or planting shade-tolerant native species as much as 10 years after revegetation. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:09:05 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:09:05 PM Tags: o postproject appraisal o regional assessment o restoration monitoring o site-specific riparian revegetation o trajectory analysis Attachments o Snapshot * Deep Soil C, N, and P Stocks and Stoichiometry in Response to Land Use Patterns in the Loess Hilly Region of China Type Journal Article Author Changzhen Li Author Luhong Zhao Author Pingsheng Sun Author Fazhu Zhao Author Di Kang Author Gaihe Yang Author Xinhui Han Author Yongzhong Feng Author Guangxin Ren URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0159075__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv9lmuxl4$ Volume 11 Issue 7 Pages e0159075 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Jul 14, 2016 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0159075 Accessed 2020-03-12, 3:20:45 PM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract In the Loess Hilly Region of China, the widespread conversion of cropland to forestland and grassland has resulted in great increased in organic carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) stocks in the shallow soil layers. However, knowledge regarding changes in C, N, and P in deep soil is still limited. To elucidate the responses of deep soil C, N, and P stocks and stoichiometry in response to changes in land use, the soil from a 0–200 cm soil profile was collected from the following three typical land use patterns in the heartland of the region: forestland, grassland, and cropland. Compared with cropland, forestland and grassland had improved soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) contents and stocks at most soil depths but decreased total phosphorus (TP) contents and stocks. At soil depths of 0–200 cm in the forestland and grassland, the cumulative SOC stocks were improved by 34.97% and 7.61%, respectively, and the TN stocks were improved by 54.54% and 12.47%, respectively. The forestland had higher SOC, TN and TP contents and stocks compared to the grassland in almost all soil layers. The soil depths of 100–200 cm contained the highest percentages of SOC, TN and TP stocks (47.80%–49.93%, 46.08%–50.05% and 49.09%–52.98%, respectively). Additionally, the forestland and grassland showed enhanced soil C:P, N:P and C:N:P ratios, and the forestland had higher C:P, N:P and C:N:P ratios compared to the grassland. Furthermore, the SOC and TN stocks had significant impacts on the soil C:N, C:P and N:P ratios. It was concluded that afforestation was the best choice for soil nutrient restoration of degraded land, and deep soil provided an extremely important resource for evaluating soil C, N and P pools and cycling. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:20:45 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:20:45 PM Tags: o Agricultural soil science o Ecosystems o Erosion o Grasslands o Land use o Loess o Soil ecology o Stoichiometry Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Assessing revegetation effectiveness on an extremely degraded grassland, southern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, using terrestrial LiDAR and field data Type Journal Article Author Haidong Li Author Jixi Gao Author Qingwu Hu Author Yingkui Li Author Jiarong Tian Author Chengrui Liao Author Weibo Ma Author Yannan Xu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880919301549__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvLqjgJ_w$ Volume 282 Pages 13-22 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date October 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2019.05.013 Accessed 2020-03-17, 6:29:22 PM Library Catalog ScienceDirect Language en Abstract The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) is one of the most difficult eco-regions for revegetation on degraded grassland because of its harsh environment. Micro-topography could affect habitat conditions important to ecological restoration on sandy land; however, the interaction between revegetation and micro-topography has been rarely reported on sand dunes of the QTP. Here, we quantified vegetation (including coverage, leaf area index (LAI), height, and crown diameter) and micro-topographic parameters (including elevation, slope, and aspect) to assess the effects of topography on revegetation using field observation data during 2008–2017 and terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) in 2017. The results showed that: 1) the tested plant species for revegetation has changed significantly from 2008 to 2017, and the current dominant plant species were mainly introduced from north China, including Hedysarum scoparium, H. fruticosum, and Artemisia sphaerocephala. 2) The effectiveness of revegetation has been improved remarkably over the past ten years. The vegetation coverage varies from 68.4% to 80.5% at four big quadrats of 20 m × 20 m, while the LAI value varies from 2.30 to 3.27, the shrub height ranges from 1.12 m to 7.57 m, and the crown diameter ranges from 0.24 m to 6.96 m. 3) A total of 153 shrubs were extracted in these four quadrats using TLS; and 56.9%, 21.6% and 10.5% of them are distributed on the southeastern, southern, and eastern aspects, respectively. The height and crown diameter of individual shrubs are significantly correlated with the local slope (p < 0.05) of which could affect the distribution of artificial seeding. These results suggest that aspect and slope are two key limiting factors for revegetation, and the habitat conditions on the southeastern and eastern aspects favor revegetation on valley-slope sand dunes. These findings provide a useful guidance in developing an integrated ecological restoration plan for sand dunes and selecting the best practice management of ecosystem services on degraded grassland on the QTP. Date Added 2020-03-17, 6:29:22 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:55:33 PM Tags: o Degraded grassland o Ecological restoration o LiDAR o Micro-topography o Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Attachments o ScienceDirect Snapshot * Soil microbial community restoration in Conservation Reserve Program semi-arid grasslands Type Journal Article Author Chenhui Li Author Lisa M. Fultz Author Jennifer Moore-Kucera Author Veronica Acosta-Martínez Author Mamatha Kakarla Author David C. Weindorf URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0038071717306740__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvKrgTqz0$ Volume 118 Pages 166-177 Publication Soil Biology and Biochemistry ISSN 0038-0717 Date March 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Soil Biology and Biochemistry DOI 10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.12.001 Abstract The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) in the Southern High Plains (SHP) is known to play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem health by reducing soil erosion. However, the restoration of soil biological health (biological community and its function) over time under CRP have not been clearly elucidated. The objective of this study was to describe the changes in the soil microbial community composition using a CRP chronosequence. Soil samples (0-10 cm and 10-30 cm) were collected in 2012 and 2014 from 26 fields across seven counties within the SHP and included seven croplands (representing 0 y in CRP), 16 CRP fields of varying ages (8-28 y as of 2014), plus three rangelands (representing no disturbance for > 30 y). Multiple regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the impacts of CRP restoration on soil microbial biomass. Shifts in soil microbial community composition, according to fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) profiles, with increasing CRP restoration years were explored using multivariate ordination. Total microbial biomass (using total FAME content as a proxy) increased with CRP years at 10-30 cm in 2012 and both depths in 2014. Although different environmental conditions were present during the two sampling years (2012 followed a record extreme drought in 2011 with conditions improving in 2014), the physiological stress of microbial community indicated by ratios of saturated to monounsaturated FAME biomarkers consistently decreased with CRP restoration years in both sampling years and both depths. A shift in microbial community composition was measured during CRP restoration at 0-10 cm in both sampling years (and at 10–30 cm in 2012) with an increase in relative fungal abundance through the initial 15 y of CRP and then a decline after 15 y. The overall increase in soil microbial biomass and decrease in microbial physiological stress indicators with increasing years under CRP illustrates how this is a valuable restoration program for building soil health in fragile, sandy SHP soils. The mechanisms underlying the decline in fungal abundance in years 15–28 are unclear and the associated reduction in the fungal to bacterial ratio does not necessarily reflect reduced soil health. Overall, the CRP program is an effective restoration practice in the SHP that can restore overall soil biological attributes including microbial biomass, re-establish the soil microbial community with decreased microbial physiological stress, and improve soil microbial functions related to C sequestration. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:19 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:55:32 PM Tags: o Conservation Reserve Program o Fungi: bacteria ratio o Grassland restoration o Microbial community succession o Soil health o Soil microbial community composition * Soil carbon sequestration potential in semi-arid grasslands in the Conservation Reserve Program Type Journal Article Author Chenhui Li Author Lisa M. Fultz Author Jennifer Moore-Kucera Author Veronica Acosta-Martínez Author Juske Horita Author Richard Strauss Author John Zak Author Francisco Calderón Author David Weindorf URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706117301465__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvcE1-mak$ Volume 294 Pages 80-90 Publication Geoderma ISSN 0016-7061 Date May 15, 2017 Journal Abbr Geoderma DOI 10.1016/j.geoderma.2017.01.032 Abstract The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) in the USA plays a major role in carbon (C) sequestration to help mitigate rising CO2 levels and climate change. The Southern High Plains (SHP) region contains >900.000ha enrolled in CRP, but a regionally specific C sequestration rate has not been studied, and identification of the C pools and processes important in controlling C sequestration rates remain unresolved. We aimed to address these gaps by utilizing a CRP chronosequence with historical rangeland as a reference ecosystem. Soil samples (0–10 and 10–30cm) were collected in 2012 and 2014 from a total of 26 fields across seven counties within the SHP and included seven croplands (0 y in CRP), 16 CRP fields that ranged from 6 to 26y (as of 2012), plus three rangelands. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to gauge the rate of C sequestration under CRP within C pools: soil organic C (SOC), particulate organic matter C (POM-C), and microbial biomass C (MBC), with two additional predictors (soil clay+silt content and precipitation). Despite attempts to control for soil texture by targeting a dominant soil series (Amarillo fine sandy loam), the percent of clay+silt (15.2–48.7%) significantly influenced C accrual. The C sources (C3 from previous cropping systems or C4 from CRP grasses) in SOC and POM-C were assessed using stable C isotope signatures. Additionally, the role of soil microbes in C sequestration was evaluated by investigating the relationship between MBC and CO2 flux and C sequestration. SOC increased at a rate of 69.82 and 132.87kgCha−1y−1 and would take approximately 74 and 77 y to reach the rangeland C stocks at 0–10 and 0–30cm, respectively. The C4‐C primarily from the introduced grasses was the main source of C sequestration. SOC gains were essentially due to increases in POM-C and MBC, accounting for 50.04 and 15.64% of SOC sequestration at 0–30cm, respectively. The highest semi-partial correlation coefficients between the increasing years under CRP restoration and MBC indicated CRP had the strongest effect on MBC compared to other C pools. In addition, increasing soil CO2 flux and MBC:SOC ratio with years of CRP restoration indicated MBC played a critical role in the C sequestration process. Conservation of CRP lands and efforts to sustain perennial systems in this highly erodible landscape should be a high priority of conservation programs. In doing so, significant offsets to increasing atmospheric CO2 levels may be achieved in addition to erosion control and improved wildlife habitat. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:29 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:55:31 PM Tags: o C sequestration o Conservation Reserve Program o Soil microbes o Soil texture * China’s new rural “separating three property rights” land reform results in grassland degradation: Evidence from Inner Mongolia Type Journal Article Author Ang Li Author Jianguo Wu Author Xueyao Zhang Author Jianguo Xue Author Zhifeng Liu Author Xingguo Han Author Jianhui Huang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264837716309048__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvLH75S1E$ Volume 71 Pages 170-182 Publication Land Use Policy ISSN 0264-8377 Date February 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Land Use Policy DOI 10.1016/j.landusepol.2017.11.052 Abstract China is currently implementing the “separating three property rights” (STPR) reform to consolidate rural land. This reform divides rural land property rights into three components: nontradable ownership, nontradable contractual rights and tradable land use rights. The STPR reform adopts the rental of grassland use rights, a market-oriented approach, as the main arrangement for grassland consolidation. However, this arrangement may undermine the cornerstones of grassland restoration, which are the security of grassland property and payments for ecosystem services (PES) policies. As an alternative to the market-oriented approach, cooperatives are also encouraged to consolidate grassland use rights. We used a natural experiment approach to systematically examine how two different land consolidation arrangements affected key grassland ecosystem services in Inner Mongolia. In rented grasslands, all ecosystem services except provisioning services degenerated severely. Traded grassland use rights were perceived as insecure, which led to predatory land use by tenants. In contrast, cooperative-managed grasslands showed no serious degradation in ecosystem services. However, these cooperatives limited their group size by chief kinship to avoid the free-rider problem; thus, they are unlikely to become a primary channel of grassland consolidation. Because PES policy subsidies are still allocated to grassland contractors rather than to tenants, these policies are irrelevant to the conservation of rented grasslands. Based on our analysis, we suggest several ways to improve this new rural land property reform to avoid a major wave of grassland degradation in China. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:46 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:55:30 PM Tags: o Cooperative o Ecosystem services o Grassland degradation o Grassland rental o Payment for ecosystem services o Rangeland ecology * Soil seed banks in degraded and revegetated grasslands in the alpine region of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Type Journal Article Author Yuan-yuan Li Author Shi-kui Dong Author Lu Wen Author Xue-xia Wang Author Yu Wu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857412002820__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvWwBfgIY$ Volume 49 Pages 77-83 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date December 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2012.08.022 Abstract To assess the role of soil seed banks in restoring degraded grasslands in the alpine region of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP), we studied the similarity of species composition between aboveground vegetation and soil seed banks in alpine grasslands at different degradation levels and in revegetated grasslands in different years since restoration across different seasons (spring, summer and autumn). One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to compare differences in the soil seed bank among the native grasslands in different degraded states, in the revegetated grasslands across years since restoration and seasonal changes. The Sorenson similarity index and detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) were applied to examine the similarity of species composition in the soil seed bank and aboveground vegetation. It was found that the highest and lowest soil seed density occurred in autumn (October) and summer (July), respectively. We also explored the changes about transient and persistent soil seed banks. Basically, we found that all experimental plots were inclined to choose transient seed banks rather than persistent seed banks expect for non-degraded and 5 year restoration grasslands. There were significant differences in soil seed density among the degraded grasslands and among the different aged revegetated grasslands (P<0.05). Soil seed density increased with decreasing levels of degradation while it increased with age since restoration. We also explored the seed density among three functional groups (grasses, sedges and forbs) and found that forbs had the highest soil seed density. A low similarity of species composition between soil seed banks and aboveground vegetation in the degraded grasslands implied that the seed bank contributed little to the restoration of the aboveground vegetation in these degraded grasslands. A high similarity of species composition between soil seed banks and aboveground vegetation in the artificially restored grasslands indicated that the seed soil bank was important in maintaining the vegetation structure and cover in the established grasslands. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:19 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:19 PM Tags: o Degradation levels o Revegetated grasslands o Similarity o Soil seed bank * Soil carbon and nitrogen pools and their relationship to plant and soil dynamics of degraded and artificially restored grasslands of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau Type Journal Article Author Yuan-Yuan Li Author Shi-Kui Dong Author Lu Wen Author Xue-Xia Wang Author Yu Wu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706113003042__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvU2Ku1WA$ Volume 213 Pages 178-184 Publication Geoderma ISSN 0016-7061 Date January 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Geoderma DOI 10.1016/j.geoderma.2013.08.022 Abstract Land disturbances and management approaches can significantly alter the restoration of degraded grasslands. Therefore, understanding the carbon and nitrogen storage accompanying plant and soil physical and chemical properties due to anthropogenic disturbance and different management strategies is important, as it can help us understand not only how ecosystem responds to its dynamics but also the restoration effects of restoration methods. In our study, we investigated carbon, nitrogen storage, plant community alterations and other soil chemical and physical properties regarding artificial grasslands with different restoration years and native grasslands with different degradation levels. We found that artificial grassland establishment significantly increased above- and belowground biomass, but the richness, diversity and evenness indexes had a decreasing trend compared with extremely degraded grasslands. Grazing also had a negative effect on plant communities and diversity indexes. The soil organic carbon (SOC) was highest in non-degraded grasslands (ND). The SOC content had decreased 21.89%, 38.30% and 43.15% with the increase of the grassland degradation compared with ND. The total nitrogen (TN) content was also higher in the ND (0.955kg·m−2) than in either degraded grasslands (0.908kg·m−2, 0.786kg·m−2, and 0.769kg·m−2 for moderately, heavily and extremely degraded, respectively). The total carbon, SOC and TN content were concentrated on the 0–4cm depth, accounting for more than 50% of the total content. We also found that the soil nutrients substantially decreased with increasing restoration years. Furthermore, soil nutrients had a close relationship with plant and soil factors, as reflected by a correlation index. The above-mentioned results indicated that artificial grasslands can be used as an effective method to restore “black-beach” soil grassland. In the long term, however, management interventions should be implemented to prevent the degradation of artificial grasslands. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:28 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:28 PM Tags: o Artificial grassland o Carbon o Degraded grassland o Nitrogen * Spatial distribution of soil organic carbon in the ecologically fragile Horqin Grassland of northeastern China Type Journal Article Author Yuqiang Li Author Xuyang Wang Author Yayi Niu Author Jie Lian Author Yongqing Luo Author Yinping Chen Author Xiangwen Gong Author Huan Yang Author Peidong Yu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706117322619__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvdj4kQwY$ Volume 325 Pages 102-109 Publication Geoderma ISSN 0016-7061 Date September 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Geoderma DOI 10.1016/j.geoderma.2018.03.032 Abstract The spatial distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC) and its storage in the topmost 100 cm of the soil were investigated in the Horqin Grassland of northeastern China. Soil samples were collected at 1465 sites, covering 12.03 × 104 km2. The region had a mean SOC density of 6.84 kg C m−3, which is lower than China's mean (9.60 kg C m−3) and the world's mean (10.40 kg C m−3). The mean SOC density was much higher in the northern part of the study area (8.85 kg C m−3) than in the southern part (4.84 kg C m−3). The total SOC storage in the Horqin Grassland was 862.74 Tg. SOC storage decreased with increasing soil sampling depth. The SOC stored in the top 10, 20, 40, and 60 cm accounted for 17.7, 31.7, 53.8, and 71.3%, respectively, of the total amount in the top 100 cm. The region's extensive desertification appears to be one of the most important factors that led to the relatively low SOC content and the difference between the northern and southern parts of the Horqin Grassland. Our results provide an important baseline for evaluating past losses of SOC due to desertification, and for projecting the potential increase in SOC from the restoration of desertified land and how SOC will respond to climate change. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:30 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:30 PM Tags: o Carbon stock o Desertification o Horqin Sandy Land o Sandy grassland o Spatial pattern * More than a century of Grain for Green Program is expected to restore soil carbon stock on alpine grassland revealed by field 13C pulse labeling Type Journal Article Author Qi Li Author Dongdong Chen Author Liang Zhao Author Xue Yang Author Shixiao Xu Author Xinquan Zhao URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969716300547__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvvSt-VE8$ Volume 550 Pages 17-26 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date April 15, 2016 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.01.060 Abstract Anthropogenic changes in land use/cover have altered the vegetation, soil, and carbon (C) cycling on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP) over the last ~50years. As a result, the Grain for Green Program (GfGP) has been widely implemented over the last 10years to mitigate the impacts of cultivation. To quantify the effects of the GfGP on C partitioning and turnover rates at the ecosystem scale, an in situ 13C pulse labeling experiment was conducted on natural and GfGP grasslands in an agro-pastoral ecotone in the Lake Qinghai region on the QTP. We found that there were significant differences in the C stocks of all the considered pools in both the natural and GfGP grasslands, with higher CO2 uptake rates in the GfGP grassland than that in the natural grassland. Partitioning of photoassimilate (% of recovered 13C) in C pools of both grasslands was similar 25days after labeling, except in the roots of the 0–15 and 5–15cm soil layer. Soil organic C (SOC) sequestration rate in the GfGP grassland was 11.59±1.89gCm−2yr−1 significantly greater than that in the natural grassland. The results confirmed that the GfGP is an efficient approach for grassland restoration and C sequestration. However, it will take more than a century (119.19±20.26yr) to restore the SOC stock from the current cropland baseline level to the approximate level of natural grassland. We suggest that additional measures are needed in the selection of suitable plant species for vegetation restoration, and in reasonable grazing management. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:39 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:39 PM Tags: o Carbon cycle o Carbon partitioning o Land use/cover change o Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau o Restoration time o Turnover rate * Land-use effects on organic and inorganic carbon patterns in the topsoil around Qinghai Lake basin, Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Type Journal Article Author Chunli Li Author Qi Li Author Liang Zhao Author Shidong Ge Author Dongdong Chen Author Quanmin Dong Author Xinquan Zhao URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816216302995__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvIr2VtXE$ Volume 147 Pages 345-355 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date December 1, 2016 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2016.07.040 Abstract Soil carbon (C) pool contains organic carbon (SOC) and inorganic carbon (SIC). A detailed understanding of SOC and SIC is meaningful and essential for precisely assessing the effects of land-use on soil C stocks. Alpine grassland around Qinghai Lake basin has experienced extensive land-use changes due to the cultivation of native grassland and vegetation recovery on cropped land. However, limited information is available about the changes and distribution patterns of soil C pool with land-use in this region. Here, three land-use types were chosen, including natural alpine grassland (NG), and a pair of restored grassland (RG) and farmland (FL), to examine the effects of cultivation and restoration on SOC and SIC horizontal patterns and vertical distributions in the upper 30cm soil layer. Land-use changed the ratio of SOC/SIC without affecting the net soil total C accumulation in this area. The NG had the highest SOC (96.0MgCha−1) and lowest SIC (19.8MgCha−1) stocks, while the FL had the opposite result, with the average of SOC and SIC stocks was 65.0 and 57.7MgCha−1, respectively. After 10-year restoration, SOC stock increased to 73.2MgCha−1, while SIC decreased to 47.8MgCha−1 in the RG. The vertical distribution of SOC and SIC changed sharply with depth in the NG but gently in the RG, and with little changes in the FL. Stepwise regression analysis manifested that soil nitrogen and pH were the main determinants for the redistribution patterns of SOC and SIC with land-use. In addition, ordinary regression analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between SIC content and aboveground biomass of the respective vegetation. The results demonstrated that land-use had affected the horizontal and vertical patterns of SOC and SIC synchronously, and indicated SIC stocks played crucial roles for estimating the C sequestration capacity in the restoration and farmland ecosystems around Qinghai Lake basin. Moreover, the results of this study provided an interesting snapshot of the compensation relationship between SOC and SIC stocks with land-use, and suggested that the changes of soil properties and plant above- and belowground biomass resulting from cultivation and restoration were potentially responsible for the transformation of soil C forms. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:44 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:44 PM Tags: o Land-use o Qinghai Lake basin o Soil inorganic carbon o Soil organic carbon o Soil pH o Total nitrogen * Geohazards mitigation strategies simulation and evaluation based on surface runoff depth: A case study in Bailong River basin Type Journal Article Author Kai Li Author Dongxia Yue Author Jianjun Guo Author Fan Jiang Author Jianjun Zeng Author Mingliang Zou Author Eduardo Segarra URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S034181621830403X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv-l8k3Is$ Volume 173 Pages 1-8 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date February 1, 2019 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2018.09.035 Abstract Geohazards often cause a lot of damage to human life and property. Among the geohazard mitigation measures, ecological restoration engineering is an ecomonic and widely-used one, but the effectiveness varies with the alternatives' settings and the local stand conditions, and there is a lack of effective means to assess it. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of vegetation restoration alternatives on mitigating geohazards in Bailong River Basin (BRB), where the soil erosion and debris flow are very severe. Given the significance of surface hydrological process in the formation of geohazards, the surface runoff depth (SRD) simulated by the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was chosen to evaluate the effectiveness of the mitigation alternatives. We designed four groups of ecological restoration scenarios, among which the first three groups returned the cropland with slope above 0, 15 and 25°, respectively, to one type of vegetation from evergreen forest, deciduous forest, mingled forest, shrub and grassland. The fourth group returned two slope levels of cropland to combination of two from the above five vegetation types. At the basin level, it was shown that all the alternatives could reduce the SRD. The evergreen forest alternative performs better than other vegetation types, and converting cropland above 15° is more efficient than converting cropland above 0 and 25°. The combination of evergreen and shrub in group 4 reduces SRD the most. At the subbasin level, the spatial heterogeneity of restoration alternatives effectiveness was shown. The reduction rate of SRD at the subbasin level reveals that the restoration measures would perform well in the northeastern basin and the eastern area of midstream. The reduction of SRD per unit returned cropland area reveals that the efficiency of reducing more SRD with less returned cropland is higher in the northeastern basin. Further, a map of most efficient group 4 scenarios at the subbasin level is obtained. Our work is expected to provide information regarding the establishment or improvement of ecological restoration policy in mitigating geohazards. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:55 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:55 PM Tags: o Ecological restoration o Runoff o Scenario analysis o SWAT * Dynamics of storage and relative availability of soil inorganic nitrogen along revegetation chronosequence in the loess hilly region of China Type Journal Article Author Changzhen Li Author Changjiang Li Author Luhong Zhao Author Yudan Ma Author Xiaogang Tong Author Jian Deng Author Chengjie Ren Author Xinhui Han Author Gaihe Yang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167198718310420__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvB24V8Mg$ Volume 187 Pages 11-20 Publication Soil and Tillage Research ISSN 0167-1987 Date April 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Soil and Tillage Research DOI 10.1016/j.still.2018.11.006 Abstract In the Loess Hilly Region of China, the widespread conversion of farmland to forestland and grassland has resulted in great changes in soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) storage in the shallow soil layers. However, knowledge regarding changes in the status and relative availability of inorganic nitrogen (IN) is still limited. To determine the responses of soil IN storage and its relative availability to revegetation patterns and chronosequence, a 0–200 cm soil profile was collected from two typical vegetation restoration patterns in the heartland of the region, artificial forestland (Robinia pseudoacacia) and natural grassland, with a stand age sequences of 15, 20, 25, 30 and 40 years. The farmland near the sites was selected as a control. As a whole, the NH4-N, NO3-N and total inorganic nitrogen (TIN) concentrations and stocks in the forestlands were significantly higher than those in the grasslands, especially in the topsoil (0–10 cm). With increasing revegetation chronosequence, afforestation improved soil NH4–N, NO3–N and TIN concentrations and stocks until Robinia pseudoacacia reached maturity at an age of 25–30, but abandoned on former farmland had minor effects on soil IN. After revegetation, soil NH4–N was higher than NO3–N, and the NH4–N/NO3–N ratio (ANR) was greater than 1 and increased with soil depth. The soil at 40–200 cm accounted for 60–90% of the total IN stock of the 0–200 cm soil profile, and the soil at 100–200 cm accounted for more than 35% of the total levels. Moreover, soil physicochemical properties were significantly correlated with soil IN variables, and ANR had a greater correlation coefficient with soil physicochemical properties than the other IN variables. It was concluded that afforestation was a better choice for soil IN restoration of degraded land, and subdeep and deep soil provided an extremely important resource for evaluating soil IN pools and their relative availability. Furthermore, soil IN dynamics, particularly ANR, could be regarded as indicators for assessing the dynamics of soil fertility. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:57 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:57 PM Tags: o Chronosequence o Deep soil o Inorganic nitrogen o Relative availability o Revegetation * Relationships between plant diversity and biomass production of alpine grasslands are dependent on the spatial scale and the dimension of biodiversity Type Journal Article Author Yu Li Author Shikui Dong Author Shiliang Liu Author Xukun Su Author Xuexia Wang Author Yong Zhang Author Zhenzhen Zhao Author Xiaoxia Gao Author Shuai Li Author Lin Tang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857418304634__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvYiVaFc4$ Volume 127 Pages 375-382 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date February 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2018.12.015 Abstract There is no consensus about the relationship between plant species diversity and productivity in grasslands. Lack of consensus might be caused by different diversity metrics used and different spatial scales examined. In particular, the impacts of different biodiversity indices on the plant diversity–plant productivity relationship of alpine grasslands at different spatial scales of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP) require investigation. We investigated the relations of multi-dimensional diversity indices (species richness, Shannon–Wiener diversity, and Pielou evenness) with aboveground and belowground plant biomass in the alpine grasslands of the QTP by linear mixed model (LMM). We assessed the plant diversity and biomass of alpine meadow, alpine steppe, and alpine desert steppe from 5 sites across the vast landscape of the QTP by using 6 randomly placed plots in each site and 27 replicated quadrats in each plot. The species richness of the studied alpine grasslands ranged from 2 to 35, aboveground plant dry biomass ranged from 17 to 838 g m−2, and belowground plant dry biomass ranged from 398 to 3945 g m−2. The species richness and Shannon–Wiener indices were positively correlated with aboveground plant biomass and belowground plant biomass at the landscape scale, whereas the Pielou evenness index was negatively correlated with aboveground plant biomass and belowground plant biomass at the landscape scale. Less than 20% sites showed significant relationships between plant diversity indices and plant biomass at site scale. Plant biomass partitioning between the root and shoot was not correlated with the species richness, Shannon–Wiener and Pielou evenness indices at all scales. The plant diversity–biomass relationships of the alpine grassland ecosystems in the QTP depend on both the type (or dimension) of the biodiversity index and the spatial scale of sampling. Thus, the design and implementation of plant diversity conservation should consider different dimensions of plant diversity. It is not enough to increase species richness only in the process of grassland restoration and conservation, but also to reduce species evenness so as to promote productivity more fully, for example, in planting artificial grassland. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:23:02 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:23:02 PM Tags: o Aboveground biomass o Belowground biomass o Pielou evenness index o Shannon–Wiener index o Species richness * Rewilding cultural landscape potentially puts both avian diversity and endemism at risk: A Tibetan Plateau case study Type Journal Article Author Li Li Author Dieter Thomas Tietze Author Andreas Fritz Author Zhi Lü Author Matthias Bürgi Author Ilse Storch URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320717315987__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv9xkgK5o$ Volume 224 Pages 75-86 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date August 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2018.05.008 Abstract Ecological restoration is becoming a primary strategy to increase provisions of ecosystem services and reverse biodiversity losses. In cultural landscapes undergoing land use extensification, rewilding has been proposed as a viable approach to reverse biodiversity loss through reducing human impacts. The world's largest ecological restoration campaign is taking place on the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) to combat grassland degradation and enhance the upper stream region's water retention capacity. However, little is known about whether the large-scale rewilding also benefits the unique bird assemblage of the eastern QTP. Our study aims to make science-based conservation recommendations for the Tibetan avifauna by detecting their diversity and endemism distribution patterns at the local scale. In the breeding seasons of 2014 and 2015, we carried out bird surveys and conducted a habitat mapping using three Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). We developed a comprehensive set of 2D and 3D habitat feature parameters from the high-resolution (10 cm level) UAV-derived images. Meanwhile, we employed the participatory GIS approach to acquire farm-scale human land-use data. Our results indicate that the distributions of avian diversity, endemism and abundance are not congruent across the eastern QTP, which calls for the conservation of different habitat types. Vertical and horizontal habitat heterogeneity maintain the local bird diversity with anthropogenic elements significantly enriching the overall bird abundance. Degraded pastures provided key habitats for two highly abundant endemic passerines—the White-rumped Snowfinch Onychostruthus taczanowskii and the Ground Tit Pseudopodoces humilis. At the landscape scale, historical human-nature interactions between Tibetan nomads and the alpine environment formed the landscape's patchy vegetation structure. Our results reveal that the Tibetan cultural landscape maintains the structural heterogeneity needed to achieve multiple bird conservation objectives on the eastern QTP. Restoring the cultural landscape to a ‘natural’ tall-grass or dense-shrubland state of high water-retention capacity may result in the loss of both high-abundance avian communities and endemic species diversity. Our empirical study also indicated that rewilding abandoned agricultural landscape will not necessarily lead to a desired conservation outcome, especially when the requirements of habitat specialists and endemics are not taken into account. Moreover, ecological restoration projects should evaluate the divergences between their ecosystem service and biodiversity objectives. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:21 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:21 PM Tags: o Alpine grassland o Biodiversity o Ecological restoration o Landscape heterogeneity o Sanjiangyuan o Unmanned Aerial Vehicle * Response of net primary production to land use and land cover change in mainland China since the late 1980s Type Journal Article Author Jun Li Author Zhaoli Wang Author Chengguang Lai Author Xiaoqing Wu Author Zhaoyang Zeng Author Xiaohong Chen Author Yanqing Lian URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969718318035__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvCpZYDpk$ Volume 639 Pages 237-247 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date October 15, 2018 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.155 Abstract Land use and land cover patterns in mainland China have substantially changed in the recent decades under the economic reform policies of the government. The terrestrial carbon cycle, particularly the net primary productivity (NPP), has been substantially changed on both local and national scales. With the growing concern over the effects of the terrestrial carbon cycle on global climate changes, the impacts of land use and cover change (LUCC) on NPP need to be understood. In this study, variations in NPP caused by LUCC (e.g., urbanization and conversion of other land use to forest and grassland) in mainland China from the late 1980s to 2015 were evaluated based on land cover datasets and NPPs simulated from the Carnegie–Ames–Stanford Approach model. The results indicate that the national total losses in NPP attributed to urbanization reached 1.695 TgC between the late 1980s and 2015. A large proportion (63.02%) of the total losses was due to the transformation from cropland to urban land. Urban expansion decreased the monthly and total NPPs over southern China, which includes the South China Region, Southwest China Region, and the middle and lower regions of the Yangtze River. However, the total NPP increased in the majority of urbanized areas in Northern China, including the Huang–Huai–Hai Region, Inner Mongolia Region (MGR), Gan-Xin Region (GXR), and Northeast China Region; monthly NPP in GXR and MGR increased throughout the year. By contrast, the conversion to grassland or forestland increased the monthly and total NPPs of Northern China, suggesting that returning to forestland and grassland could increase the carbon sequestration capacity of terrestrial ecosystems in mainland China. Among the sub-regions, the Loess Plateau Region contributed the largest increase in NPP, which was prompted by the conversion to grassland and forestland. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:22 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:22 PM Tags: o Land use and cover change o Mainland China o Net primary productivity o Urbanization * Monitoring and analysis of grassland desertification dynamics using Landsat images in Ningxia, China Type Journal Article Author Jinya Li Author Xiuchun Yang Author Yunxiang Jin Author Zhi Yang Author Wenguang Huang Author Lina Zhao Author Tian Gao Author Haida Yu Author Hailong Ma Author Zhihao Qin Author Bin Xu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0034425713002228__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv2FUnM_E$ Volume 138 Pages 19-26 Publication Remote Sensing of Environment ISSN 0034-4257 Date November 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Remote Sensing of Environment DOI 10.1016/j.rse.2013.07.010 Abstract State and local governments in China have implemented a series of grassland protection policies to address the problem of grassland degradation. In 2003, Ningxia was the first province to implement a province-wide grazing ban. The effect of this ban is contentious at all levels of government and has become a topic of public concern. Grassland desertification is the most direct indicator of the effect of the grazing ban. We selected 14 counties and cities in north-central Ningxia as the study area. A desertification classification and grading system for Ningxia's grassland was then designed based on fieldwork and expert review. Using the Spectral Mixture Analysis (SMA) and decision-tree methods, we interpreted Landsat TM/ETM+ images of the study area during four years: 1993, 2000, 2006 and 2011. The following results were obtained: from 1993 to 2011, the area of desertified grassland in north-central Ningxia decreased gradually from 8702km2 in 1993 to 7485km2 in 2011, a decrease of 13.98%; the degree of desertification gradually decreased from 3573km2 of severely desertified grassland in 1993 to 1450km2 in 2011, a decrease of 59.41%; desertified grassland vegetation was restored rapidly during 2000–2006 and 2006–2011, reducing the total area of desertified grassland annually by 1.87 and 0.61%, respectively; finally, the area of severely desertified grassland decreased annually by 5.78 and 6.28% during 2000–2006 and 2006–2011, respectively. These results show that the region-wide grazing ban, together with other ecological engineering measures, has helped reverse desertification and promote the restoration of grassland vegetation. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:28 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:28 PM Tags: o Grassland desertification o Grazing ban o Ningxia o Spatiotemporal analysis o Spectral mixture analysis * The effects of fencing on carbon stocks in the degraded alpine grasslands of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Type Journal Article Author Yuanyuan Li Author Shikui Dong Author Lu Wen Author Xuexia Wang Author Yu Wu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479713003873__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dviK-jUZw$ Volume 128 Pages 393-399 Publication Journal of Environmental Management ISSN 0301-4797 Date October 15, 2013 Journal Abbr Journal of Environmental Management DOI 10.1016/j.jenvman.2013.05.058 Abstract Quantifying the carbon storage of grasslands under different management strategies can help us understand how this ecosystem responds to different land management practices. To assess the C cycle and the importance of soil microbial biomass carbon, we measured the levels of soil organic carbon, biomass carbon (above- and underground) and soil microbial biomass carbon in areas with different grazing intensities and different management strategy (fenced and unfenced) in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. We also calculated the ratio of soil microbial biomass carbon to soil organic carbon as an indicator of the soil organic matter availability and quality. Results showed that degradation had significant effects on the soil organic carbon, biomass carbon and microbial biomass carbon (P < 0.05). However, fencing only had a significant effect on the non-degraded and moderately degraded grasslands (P < 0.05). We also found that the level of soil microbial biomass carbon was positively correlated with the biomass carbon and soil organic carbon. From our research, we concluded that the level of soil microbial biomass carbon was crucial to the C cycle in the alpine grasslands and that fencing may be an important management strategy for restoring lightly or moderately degraded grassland in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:38 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:38 PM Tags: o Aboveground biomass carbon o Belowground biomass carbon o Fencing o Soil microbial biomass carbon o Soil organic carbon * Temporal progress in improving carbon and nitrogen storage by grazing exclosure practice in a degraded land area of China's Horqin Sandy Grassland Type Journal Article Author Yuqiang Li Author Xinhua Zhou Author James R. Brandle Author Tonghui Zhang Author Yinping Chen Author Juanjuan Han URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880912002514__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dve7StXKs$ Volume 159 Pages 55-61 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date September 15, 2012 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2012.06.024 Abstract Overgrazing is a primary agent to cause and aggravate desertification in the Horqin Sandy Grassland of northern China that has reduced the capacity of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) storage in the region. Grazing exclosure practice is recommended to control the desertification by vegetation restoration. How the restoration improves the C and N storage needs to be answered to the policy makers for their future land use planning and decisions. This storage in a plant–soil system down to 100cm inside grazing exclosure after practice terms of 7, 12, and 25 years was measured as compared to active sand dunes referred as exclosure practice term of 0. Organic C storage in the system increased by 341, 822, and 1786gm−2, respectively, after 7, 12, and 25 years of grazing exclosure, whereas the corresponding N storage increased by 30, 65, and 139gm−2. Soil is the major reservoir in the system to store C and N. Temporally along the exclosure terms of 0, 7, 12, and 25 years, the soil C storage comprised 97, 88, 77, and 84% of total plant–soil system C storage, respectively, whereas the corresponding soil total N storage comprised 99, 97, 94, and 94% of total plant–soil system N storage. Our results provide land use policy makers with rationale how to manage the grazing practice to restore the vegetation for C and N sequestration. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:37 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:37 PM Tags: o Carbon sequestration o Desertification o Livestock grazing o Plant and soil o Semi-arid ecosystem * Response of evapotranspiration to changes in land use and land cover and climate in China during 2001–2013 Type Journal Article Author Gen Li Author Fangmin Zhang Author Yuanshu Jing Author Yibo Liu Author Ge Sun URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969717309178__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvsKm5IfQ$ Volume 596-597 Pages 256-265 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date October 15, 2017 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.04.080 Abstract Land surface evapotranspiration (ET) is a central component of the Earth's global energy balance and water cycle. Understanding ET is important in quantifying the impacts of human influences on the hydrological cycle and thus helps improving water use efficiency and strengthening water use planning and watershed management. China has experienced tremendous land use and land cover changes (LUCC) as a result of urbanization and ecological restoration under a broad background of climate change. This study used MODIS data products to analyze how LUCC and climate change affected ET in China in the period 2001–2013. We examined the separate contribution to the estimated ET changes by combining LUCC and climate data. Results showed that the average annual ET in China decreased at a rate of −0.6mm/yr from 2001 to 2013. Areas in which ET decreased significantly were mainly distributed in the northwest China, the central of southwest China, and most regions of south central and east China. The trends of four climatic factors including air temperature, wind speed, sunshine duration, and relative humidity were determined, while the contributions of these four factors to ET were quantified by combining the ET and climate datasets. Among the four climatic factors, sunshine duration and wind speed had the greatest influence on ET. LUCC data from 2001 to 2013 showed that forests, grasslands and croplands in China mutually replaced each other. The reduction of forests had much greater effects on ET than change by other land cover types. Finally, through quantitative separation of the distinct effects of climate change and LUCC on ET, we conclude that climate change was the more significant than LULC change in influencing ET in China during the period 2001–2013. Effective water resource management and vegetation-based ecological restoration efforts in China must consider the effects of climate change on ET and water availability. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:02 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:02 PM Tags: o Climate change o Evapotranspiration o Land use and land cover change o Remote sensing * Dynamics of soil microbial recovery from cropland to orchard along a 20-year chronosequence in a degraded karst ecosystem Type Journal Article Author Hongkai Liao Author Chunli Zheng Author Juan Li Author Jian Long URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969718318977__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvOVsfPkE$ Volume 639 Pages 1051-1059 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date October 15, 2018 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.246 Abstract The ‘Grain for Green’ project (GGP) is the largest ecological rehabilitation project in China. A large body of croplands has been abandoned or converted to shrubs or grasslands since 1999. Soil microbes are recognized as sensitive responders of environmental changes, therefore, they are considered as a key component of ecological rehabilitation. However, very limited field experiments have been conducted to investigate the responses of soil microorganisms to restoration projects, especially in karst regions of China. In order to evaluate the response of soil microbial community to ecological restoration, we determined soil microbial community composition by means of qPCR, PLFAs, and high-throughput amplicon sequencing following conversion of cropland to Chinese prickly ash (Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim) orchard (CP) along a 20-year chronosequence in a degraded karst ecosystem. Our results showed that soil nutrient contents significantly increased following cropland to CP conversion. qPCR results showed that the highest bacterial abundance was found in the 20-year CP, but bacterial abundance decreased during the first 5-year land-use conversion. Conversion of cropland to CP strongly impacted soil microbial community composition, despite the cropland sites having a long cultivation history (>50 years). However, soil bacterial diversity remained unchanged within a 20-year land-use conversion. Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Acidobacteria were the main bacterial phyla in all land-use sites. In particular, various members of Actinobacteria (e.g., Solirubrobacteraceae) tended to increase their relative abundances in responding to land-use conversion, which may imply that the shifts of soil microbial communities associated with recovering of ecological conditions. Overall, given the rapid yet differential response to ecological restoration, investigation of the belowground microbial community can provide an effective way of assessing ecological recovery of restoration projects in the karst region. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:41 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:41 PM Tags: o Degraded karst o High-throughput amplicon sequencing o Restoration o Soil carbon o Soil microbial communities * Hold Your Ground: Threats to Soil Function in Northern Great Plains Grazing Lands Type Journal Article Author Mark A. Liebig Author David Toledo URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190052818301056__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv2m8Tlsc$ Volume 41 Issue 1 Pages 17-22 Publication Rangelands ISSN 0190-0528 Date February 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Rangelands DOI 10.1016/j.rala.2018.11.003 Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:28 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:04:28 PM Tags: o climate change o ecosystem services o land-use change o rangeland health o soil degradation * Synthesis Paper: Assessment of Research on Rangeland Fire as a Management Practice Type Journal Article Author Ryan F. Limb Author Samuel D. Fuhlendorf Author David M. Engle Author Richard F. Miller URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742416300598__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvAl-T09M$ Volume 69 Issue 6 Pages 415-422 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date November 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2016.07.013 Abstract Rangelands are fire-dependent ecosystems severely altered through direct fire suppression and fuels management. The removal of fire is a dominant cause of ecological sites moving across thresholds with the majority of North American rangelands currently showing moderate or high departure from reference conditions. Recognizing the need to restore fire on rangelands and incorporate prescribed fire into management plans, the Natural Resource Conservation Service initiated the Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) to evaluate the validity current practices through peer-reviewed scientific literature. We updated the CEAP review and broadened the discussion of prescribed fire as a global management practice. We reviewed and summarized prescribed fire literature available through Web of Science using search terms in the title. The majority of literature (40%) evaluated plant responses to fire with fire behavior and management (29%), wildlife and arthropods (12%), soils (11%), and air quality (4%) evaluated less frequently. Generally, fire effects on plants are neutral to positive and the majority of negative responses lasted less than 2 years. Similarly, soil responses were recovered within 2 yr after burning. However, most studies did not report how long treatments were in place (62%) or the size of experimental units (52%). The experimental literature supporting prescribed burning is in need of greater managerial relevance that can be obtained by directly addressing spatial scale, temporal scale, and interaction with other disturbances, including drought and grazing. Reliance on information from single fires applied on small plots tracked for a relatively short time interval greatly constrains inferences and application to ecosystem management and information should be applied with caution. Therefore, conservation purposes need to incorporate temporal dynamics to the extent that this information is available. The complex interaction of scientific knowledge, social concerns, and variable policies across regions are major limitations to the successful and critical restoration of fire regimes. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:15 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:55:34 PM Tags: o ecosystem management o fire effects o prescribed burning o wildland fire * Plant Community Response Following Removal of Juniperus virginiana from Tallgrass Prairie: Testing for Restoration Limitations Type Journal Article Author Ryan F. Limb Author David M. Engle Author Aaron L. Alford Author Eric C. Hellgren URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742414500668__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvA0gATP0$ Volume 67 Issue 4 Pages 397-405 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date July 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/REM-D-13-00147.1 Abstract Woody plant encroachment in natural grasslands is a widely documented global phenomenon that alters ecosystem dynamics by altering historic vegetation composition and suppressing herbaceous productivity. Abundant woody plants often suppress native plants sufficiently to establish successional thresholds difficult to reverse without species augmentation. Juniper (Juniperus virginiana L.) is expanding in North American tallgrass prairie, but it is currently unknown if encroachment creates successional restrictions that limit restoration potential. We selected 16 50×50-m sites with juniper canopy cover ranging from zero to approximately 75% in tallgrass prairie near Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA. Juniper trees were removed from 7 of the sites along the gradient of juniper canopy cover. Canopy cover of plant species and herbaceous plant productivity were estimated at each site 1 year before and 1, 2, and 5 years after tree removal. Before trees were removed, plant species richness and productivity declined as juniper canopy cover increased, and plant community composition dissimilarity of reference sites increased as juniper canopy cover increased. These relationships remained consistent on all non-removal sites throughout the study. The first year after juniper removal, species richness increased on all removal sites compared to intact sites and productivity on removal sites increased two years after removal. Plant community dissimilarity between reference sites and juniper removal sites remained relatively high (30–60%) the first two years after tree removal on all removal sites, but dissimilarity was about 22% 5 years after juniper removal. Within 5 years, removal sites were comparable to reference plant communities. Grassland restoration frequently requires species manipulation and additional seeding, particularly when overcoming successional limitations. Juniper encroachment into tallgrass prairie alters plant community species composition and productivity. However, in our study, juniper associated succession limitations were not apparent, and complete autogenic restoration was achieved within 5 years without seeding or species manipulation. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:31 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:31 PM Tags: o autogenic succession o grassland restoration o novel ecosystems o successional trajectory o thresholds o woody encroachment * Tallgrass Prairie Plant Community Dynamics Along a Canopy Cover Gradient of Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus virginiana L.) Type Journal Article Author Ryan F. Limb Author David M. Engle Author Aaron L. Alford Author Eric C. Hellgren URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S155074241050068X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvC3zy9JM$ Volume 63 Issue 6 Pages 638-644 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date November 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/REM-D-09-00056.1 Abstract North American grasslands make up less than 75% of their historic pre-European settlement area, and they continue to be converted to woodlands by woody plant encroachment. Conversion of grassland to woodland alters nutrient cycling, water use, and light penetration, which drives herbaceous plant community dynamics. Because studies examining this relationship among Juniperus species are limited largely to individual trees, we designed a study to examine the relationship between stand-level canopy cover of eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana L.) and the herbaceous plant community. We documented herbaceous plant species composition, abundance, and biomass within a North American tallgrass prairie invaded by eastern redcedar in which canopy cover of eastern redcedar ranged from 0% to 80%. Herbaceous species richness declined as a function of increased canopy cover of eastern redcedar and subsequent loss of open space, but this decrease in species richness closely followed a species–area model. Moreover, composition of C3 and C4 grasses and forbs did not change with increasing canopy cover. Herbaceous biomass, which declined with increasing canopy cover, varied most within those plots with intermediate canopy cover. While we found that species richness and biomass declined as canopy cover increased, the decline followed a species–area relationship and was without abrupt change typical of ecological thresholds. We recommend additional research with removal of eastern redcedar trees over a range of canopy cover to assess restoration potential along the encroachment gradient. Resumen Las praderas de América del Norte comprenden menos del 75% de su área histórica previa a la ocupación europea, y continúa su conversión a vegetación de monte debido a la expansión de plantas leñosas. La conversión de praderas a montes altera el ciclado de nutrientes, el uso del agua, y la penetración de luz, que determinan la dinámica de las comunidades herbáceas. Dado que los estudios que examinan esta relación entre especies de Juniperus están limitados mayormente a árboles individuales, diseñamos un ensayo para estudiar la relación entre cobertura de canopeo a nivel del monte de Juniperus virginiana L. y la comunidad herbácea. Documentamos la composición florística del estrato herbáceo, abundancia y biomasa en una pradera de pastos altos de América del Norte invadida por J. virginiana en la que la cobertura de dosel de J. virginiana fue de 0% al 80%. La riqueza de especies herbáceas declinó en función de un incremento en la cobertura de dosel de J. virginiana y la pérdida subsecuente de espacio abierto, pero esta reducción en riqueza de especies mostró un alto grado de aproximación a un modelo de área–número de especies. Además, la composición de pastos C3 y C4 y de hierbas no varió ante incrementos de la cobertura de dosel. La biomasa herbácea, que declinó a medida que aumentó la cobertura de dosel, mostró la mayor variación en las parcelas con cobertura de dosel intermedias. Si bien encontramos que la riqueza de especies y la biomasa declinaron a medida que aumentó la cobertura de dosel, la reducción se aproximó a una relación de área–número de especies y no mostró cambios abruptos característicos de los umbrales ecológicos. Recomendamos investigación adicional con la remoción de J. virginiana a lo largo de un rango de cobertura de dosel para evaluar el potencial de restauración a lo largo de un gradiente de invasión de esta especie. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:32:10 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:32:10 PM Tags: o emergent property o hierarchy theory o juniper o species–area relationships o threshold o woody encroachment * Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the growth, photosynthesis and photosynthetic pigments of Leymus chinensis seedlings under salt-alkali stress and nitrogen deposition Type Journal Article Author Jixiang Lin Author Yingnan Wang Author Shengnan Sun Author Chunsheng Mu Author Xiufeng Yan URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969716322677__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvhttdkew$ Volume 576 Pages 234-241 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date January 15, 2017 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.10.091 Abstract Leymus chinensis is the most promising grass species for salt-alkaline grassland restoration in northern China. However, little information exists concerning the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis in the adaptation of seedlings to salt-alkali stress, particularly under increased nitrogen deposition, which has become a major environmental problem throughout the world. In this study, Leymus chinensis seedlings were cultivated in soil with 0, 100 and 200mM NaCl/NaHCO3 under two forms of nitrogen (10mM NH4NO3 or NH4Cl: NH4NO3=3:1), and the root colonization, growth and photosynthetic characteristics of the seedlings were measured. The results showed that the colonization rate and intensity decreased with increasing salt-alkali stress and were much lower under alkali stress. The nitrogen treatments also decreased the colonization, particularly under the NH4+-N treatment. Compared with the non-mycorrhizal controls, mycorrhizal seedlings generally presented higher plant biomass, photosynthetic parameters and contents of photosynthetic pigments under stresses, and the inhibitive effects of alkali stress were substantially stronger. In addition, both nitrogen forms decreased the physiological indexes compared with those of the AM seedlings. Our results suggest that salt stress and alkali stress are significantly different and that the salt-alkali tolerance of Leymus chinensis seedlings could be enhanced by associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, in which would yield better plant growth and photosynthesis. Excessive nitrogen in the soil affects mycorrhizal colonization and thereby inhibits the growth and photosynthetic ability of the seedlings. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:17 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:17 PM Tags: o Arbuscular mycorrhizal o Nitrogen deposition o Photosynthesis o Salt-alkali stress * Effectiveness of Burning, Herbicide, and Seeding Toward Restoring Rangelands in Southeastern North Dakota Type Journal Article Author Austin Link Author Breanna Kobiela Author Shawn DeKeyser Author Michael Huffington URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742417300246__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvRhfsmUQ$ Volume 70 Issue 5 Pages 599-603 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date September 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2017.03.001 Abstract Many rangelands in southeastern North Dakota are invaded by Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) and/or smooth brome (Bromus inermis Leyss.). It may be especially difficult for native species to reestablish in rangelands dominated by Kentucky bluegrass and/or smooth brome due to these species’ competitive advantages. Relatively few studies have specifically compared the effectiveness of methods intended to reduce competition from Kentucky bluegrass and/or smooth brome before seeding with native species in southeastern North Dakota. In our current study, we evaluated the effects of five restoration treatments: 1) control (no seeding or competition-reduction treatments), 2) interseed (native seeds drilled into the existing plant community), 3) spring burn before drill seeding native species, 4) glyphosate application before drill seeding native species, and 5) spring burn plus glyphosate application before drill seeding native species on a degraded rangeland plant community. We installed the five treatments in fifteen 40 × 100 m plots in 2010. In 2015, we sampled the vegetation within each plot to determine whether the restoration methods increased total and/or native warm-season grass biomass, reduced Kentucky bluegrass and/or smooth brome biomass, or increased grass species richness. Although none of our restoration treatments impacted Kentucky bluegrass biomass, each of our restoration treatments increased grass species richness over the control. Including a glyphosate application before seeding with natives also increased total biomass, reduced smooth brome biomass, and increased native warm-season grass species richness. Thus, we suggest that the glyphosate application was a worthwhile addition at this location because it resulted in additional improvements to the invasive-dominated plant community. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:22 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:55:36 PM Tags: o competition-reduction o glyphosate o interseeding o Kentucky bluegrass o smooth brome * Abiotic and biotic recovery pathways of arid rangelands: Lessons from the High Atlas Mountains, Morocco Type Journal Article Author Anja Linstädter Author Gisela Baumann URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816212000276__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvyLbn-Do$ Volume 103 Pages 3-15 Publication Long-term degradation of fragile landscape systems ISSN 0341-8162 Date April 1, 2013 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2012.02.002 Abstract Dryland rangelands are fragile ecosystems which are vulnerable to overgrazing and other forms of unsustainable land use. Their subsequent degradation is a phenomenon which results in a persistent decrease in productivity. To come to a functional understanding of degradation and restoration pathways, interactions between abiotic and biotic processes need to be disentangled. We studied soil and vegetation response to grazing removal along a steep climatic aridity gradient on the southern slopes of the High Atlas Mountains, Morocco. Data were collected on four altitudinal levels (semidesert, sagebrush steppe, woodsteppe and Oromediterranean shrubland), and for three grazing treatments (grazed, 1-year and 7-year exclosures). Grazing removal led to site-specific, functionally different pathways of rangeland recovery. At least at one of the four sites, we found either an accumulation of sand, the Aeolian component, or total nitrogen in the topsoil. Total standing crop, shrub ANPP and shrub performance (ANPPrel, i.e. ANPP indexed on initial biomass) also increased with grazing removal. An increased shrub density led to an increased water storage capacity and/or nutrient content of the soil. However, this improvement in plant resources was not connected to the observed increase in shrub performance. Thus we only found evidence for biotic recovery having a positive feedback on abiotic recovery. We conclude that correlations between biotic and abiotic recovery processes have to be interpreted carefully, as they may not necessarily be functionally connected. Moreover, the performance of perennial plants (ANPPrel) is, if interpreted together with abiotic parameters, a useful indicator for distinguishing functionally different pathways of pasture degradation and restoration in drylands. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:24 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:04:24 PM Tags: o Above-ground primary production o Environmental indicator o Exclosure o Grazing impact o Morocco o Recovery * Innovative Partnership Formed to Restore the West Potrillos Type Journal Article Author Ray Lister Author Phil Smith Author Steven Torrez Author Stephen Baker URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190052812500441__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvbPTD-6U$ Volume 34 Issue 4 Pages 31-34 Publication Rangelands ISSN 0190-0528 Date August 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Rangelands DOI 10.2111/RANGELANDS-D-12-00021.1 Accessed 2020-03-17, 5:57:49 PM Library Catalog ScienceDirect Language en Date Added 2020-03-17, 5:57:49 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 5:57:49 PM Attachments o ScienceDirect Snapshot * Changing Climate and Overgrazing Are Decimating Mongolian Steppes Type Journal Article Author Yi Y. Liu Author Jason P. Evans Author Matthew F. McCabe Author Richard A. M. de Jeu Author Albert I. J. M. van Dijk Author Albertus J. Dolman Author Izuru Saizen URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0057599__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvvCd3F_s$ Volume 8 Issue 2 Pages e57599 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Feb 25, 2013 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0057599 Accessed 2020-03-12, 3:20:05 PM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract Satellite observations identify the Mongolian steppes as a hotspot of global biomass reduction, the extent of which is comparable with tropical rainforest deforestation. To conserve or restore these grasslands, the relative contributions of climate and human activities to degradation need to be understood. Here we use a recently developed 21-year (1988–2008) record of satellite based vegetation optical depth (VOD, a proxy for vegetation water content and aboveground biomass), to show that nearly all steppe grasslands in Mongolia experienced significant decreases in VOD. Approximately 60% of the VOD declines can be directly explained by variations in rainfall and surface temperature. After removing these climate induced influences, a significant decreasing trend still persists in the VOD residuals across regions of Mongolia. Correlations in spatial patterns and temporal trends suggest that a marked increase in goat density with associated grazing pressures and wild fires are the most likely non-climatic factors behind grassland degradation. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:20:05 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:20:05 PM Tags: o Biomass (ecology) o Climate change o Goats o Grasslands o Mongolia o Rain o Surface temperature o Temperature analysis Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Chicken Farming in Grassland Increases Environmental Sustainability and Economic Efficiency Type Journal Article Author Meizhen Liu Author Bingxue Wang Author Colin P. Osborne Author Gaoming Jiang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0053977__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvb4zscb4$ Volume 8 Issue 1 Pages e53977 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Jan 23, 2013 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0053977 Accessed 2020-03-12, 3:21:00 PM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract Background Grassland degradation caused by overgrazing poses a threat to both animal husbandry and environmental sustainability in most semi-arid areas especially north China. Although the Chinese Government has made huge efforts to restore degraded grasslands, a considerable attempt has unfortunately failed due to an inadequate consideration of economic benefits to local communities. Methodology/Principal Findings A controlled field experiment was conducted to test our hypothesis that utilizing natural grasslands as both habitat and feed resources for chickens and replacing the traditional husbandry system with chicken farming would increase environmental sustainability and raise income. Aboveground plant biomass elevated from 25 g m−2 for grazing sheep to 84 g m−2 for chicken farming. In contrast to the fenced (unstocked) grassland, chicken farming did not significantly decrease aboveground plant biomass, but did increase the root biomass by 60% (p<0.01). Compared with traditional sheep grazing, chicken farming significantly improved soil surface water content (0–10 cm), from 5% to 15%. Chicken farming did not affect the soil bulk density, while the traditional sheep grazing increased the soil bulk density in the 0–10 cm soil layer by 35% of the control (p<0.05). Most importantly, the economic income of local herdsmen has been raised about six times compared with the traditional practice of raising sheep. Ecologically, such an innovative solution allowed large degraded grasslands to naturally regenerate. Grasslands also provided a high quality organic poultry product which could be marketed in big cities. Conclusion/Significance Chicken farming is an innovative alternative strategy for increasing environmental sustainability and economic income, rather than a challenge to the traditional nomadic pastoral system. Our approach might be technically applicable to other large degraded grasslands of the world, especially in China. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:21:00 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:21:00 PM Tags: o Agriculture o Chickens o Grasslands o Grazing o Insects o Livestock o Maize o Sheep Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Organic Carbon Storage in Four Ecosystem Types in the Karst Region of Southwestern China Type Journal Article Author Yuguo Liu Author Changcheng Liu Author Shijie Wang Author Ke Guo Author Jun Yang Author Xinshi Zhang Author Guoqing Li URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0056443__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvWaD9Mk0$ Volume 8 Issue 2 Pages e56443 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Feb 25, 2013 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0056443 Accessed 2020-03-12, 3:33:18 PM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract Karst ecosystems are important landscape types that cover about 12% of the world's land area. The role of karst ecosystems in the global carbon cycle remains unclear, due to the lack of an appropriate method for determining the thickness of the solum, a representative sampling of the soil and data of organic carbon stocks at the ecosystem level. The karst region in southwestern China is the largest in the world. In this study, we estimated biomass, soil quantity and ecosystem organic carbon stocks in four vegetation types typical of karst ecosystems in this region, shrub grasslands (SG), thorn shrubbery (TS), forest - shrub transition (FS) and secondary forest (F). The results showed that the biomass of SG, TS, FS, and F is 0.52, 0.85, 5.9 and 19.2 kg m−2, respectively and the corresponding organic cabon storage is 0.26, 0.40, 2.83 and 9.09 kg m−2, respectively. Nevertheless, soil quantity and corresponding organic carbon storage are very small in karst habitats. The quantity of fine earth overlaying the physical weathering zone of the carbonate rock of SG, TS, FS and F is 38.10, 99.24, 29.57 and 61.89 kg m−2, respectively, while the corresponding organic carbon storage is only 3.34, 4.10, 2.37, 5.25 kg m−2, respectively. As a whole, ecosystem organic carbon storage of SG, TS, FS, and F is 3.81, 4.72, 5.68 and 15.1 kg m−2, respectively. These are very low levels compared to other ecosystems in non-karst areas. With the restoration of degraded vegetation, karst ecosystems in southwestern China may play active roles in mitigating the increasing CO2 concentration in the atmosphere. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:33:18 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:33:18 PM Tags: o Biomass (ecology) o Carbon sequestration o China o Ecosystems o Forest ecology o Forests o Grasslands o Shrubs Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Changes in seed germination strategy along the successional gradient from abandoned cropland to climax grassland in a subalpine meadow and some implications for rangeland restoration Type Journal Article Author Kun Liu Author Ting Liang Author Weiya Qiang Author Guozhen Du Author Jerry M. Baskin Author Carol C. Baskin Author Haiyan Bu Author Hui Yang Author Sa Xiao URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880919303627__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvGLPPcoA$ Volume 289 Pages 106746 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date February 15, 2020 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2019.106746 Abstract Various plant successional gradients on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau are created by overgrazing of rangelands and by abandonment of cultivated land. A key point for restoration of these grasslands is the germinability of seeds that are sown in the field. Thus, information on how germination strategies change during succession will be helpful in restoring the grasslands in different successional stages. We sampled subalpine meadows abandoned from agriculture for 1, 5 and 15 years and an undisturbed (climax) meadow. Seed germination of species of communities in different successional stages and the climax were tested in the laboratory under different conditions. Change in germination strategy from the pioneer stage to climax was analyzed at the community level. Our results indicated that 1) at the community level, germination of species in the pioneer stage of succession (SS) is significantly different with that of those in the later SS; 2) species in the pioneer SS germinated better at 10-25℃ than those in the later (5 and 15 years) stages and in the climax; 3) the optimal temperature range for germination for the 1-year-old and climax communities (15-25℃) is wider than that of the 5- and 15-year-old communities (20-25℃); 4) germination of species in the 5- and 15-year-old communities had a significant positive response to alternating temperature and wet-cold storage but the 1-year-old and climax communities did not; 5) the SS has different effects on the diversity index for a single germination trait (FDrao), depending on the kind of trait, however, the diversity for the suite of seed germination traits (FRic) tends to decrease with progression of succession; 6) both species richness and phylogenetic diversity increase with progression of succession. Thus, the seed germination strategy changed with the progression of succession, and it was correlated with changes in vegetation density and height along the successional gradient. This research can give us some guidelines for grassland restoration by adding seeds. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:16 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:55:39 PM Tags: o Community assembly o Germination traits o Phylogenetic diversity o Qinghai-Tibetan plateau o Secondary succession o Subalpine * Effects of grazing exclusion in Xilin Gol grassland differ between regions Type Journal Article Author Jinghui Liu Author Jianjun Wu Author Hongbo Su Author Zhihai Gao Author Zhitao Wu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857416306620__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvZGK93tk$ Volume 99 Pages 271-281 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date February 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2016.11.041 Abstract Establishment of grazing exclusion has become an important rangeland rehabilitation strategy in semi-arid regions. However, the effect of grazing exclusion on soil has been controversial, and the regional differences in these effects have not been investigated sufficiently. Based on field investigation and lab experiments, the present study compared the vegetation cover, vegetation height, biomass, soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN) and available nitrogen (AN) contents inside and outside 18 grazing exclosures that had been established for approximately 10 years in the Xilin Gol grassland. Then, we examined the effect of grazing exclusion on vegetation and soil. We also analyzed the regional differences and the impact factors related to the restoration effects since the Beijing-Tianjin Sandstorm Source Control Project was implemented. Data processing and statistical analyses were carried out with SPSS 13.0. The results showed that the exclosures exhibited significantly (p<0.01) higher values regarding biomass (153.407g/m2), vegetation height (27.417cm) and vegetation cover (62.5%), compared to free grazing lands, where these values were 76.094g/m2, 12.587cm and 45%, respectively. This suggested that exclosures are effective in restoring vegetation. The higher the annual precipitation, the better the effect of grazing exclusion on vegetation will be. The exclosures significantly improved soil physical properties: soil bulk density inside the exclosures (1.382g/cm3) was lower than outside (1.457g/cm3) in the 0–5cm depth, and the proportion of soil clay was higher inside the exclosures (0.504%) than outside (0.411%) in the 0–10cm layer. There were linear declines in the restoration effects for SOC and TN at the 0–10cm depth with annual precipitation, and areas with more precipitation exhibited no significant or even a negative restoration effects. Therefore, the recovery of soil and vegetation showed regional differences. In follow-up management policies, different climate zones should adopt corresponding grassland management practices. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:23 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:55:38 PM Tags: o Grazing exclusion o Regional differences o Rehabilitation o Semi-arid grasslands o Soil organic carbon * Corrigendum to “Changes in seed germination strategy along the successional gradient from abandoned cropland to climax grassland in a subalpine meadow and some imlications for rangeland restoration” [Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 289 (2020) 106746] Type Journal Article Author Kun Liu Author Ting Liang Author Weiya Qiang Author Du Guozhen Author Jerry M. Baskin Author Carol C. Baskin Author Bu Haiyan Author Hui Yang Author Xiao Sa URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880919303962__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvjMZzkqM$ Volume 290 Pages 106779 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date March 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2019.106779 Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:43 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:55:40 PM * Water and salt regulation and its effects on Leymus chinensis growth under drip irrigation in saline-sodic soils of the Songnen Plain Type Journal Article Author Shuhui Liu Author Yaohu Kang Author Shuqin Wan Author Zhichun Wang Author Zhengwei Liang Author Xiaojing Sun URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377411001065__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvphM4Z88$ Volume 98 Issue 9 Pages 1469-1476 Publication Agricultural Water Management ISSN 0378-3774 Date July 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Agricultural Water Management DOI 10.1016/j.agwat.2011.04.016 Abstract Field experiments were carried out to investigate water and salt management and its effects on Leymus chinensis growth under drip irrigation on saline-sodic soils of the Songnen Plain, China. The ECe of the experiment soil here is 15.2dS/m and SARe is 14.6 (mmolcL−1)1/2. The threshold of soil matric potential (SMP) was preset in different treatments (−5, −10, −15, −20 and −25kPa) to control the timing of the irrigation cycle using vacuum tensiometers buried at 0.2m depth immediately under drip emitters. Drip irrigation frequency and soil matric potential significantly influenced water and salt distributions and L. chinensis growth. In the root zone, the soil water content increased with the SMP, but at deeper layers there were no significant differences in soil water content due to the effect of groundwater. Electrical conductivity showed that there was a low-salt zone near the emitters and that drip irrigation inhibited the buildup of salts in the root zone. There was more leaching of salts for −5 and −10kPa treatments than for the −15, −20 and −25kPa treatments. After two years of drip irrigation, the surface salts were well leached, and had moved down with the water to depths below 40cm. The pH of each treatment was a little decreased and the soil nutrient of S1–S5 were all increased after reclamation, but there were no obvious differences of the five treatments. The best growth was achieved with soil matric potentials of −5 and −10kPa: the plant height, number and length of spikes, number of tillers, coverage and aboveground biomass all attained their maximum values during the growth periods of L. chinensis, with no significant differences between those two treatments. Thus, in the Songnen Plain, drip irrigation can be used on transplanted L. chinensis for restoration of saline-sodic soils. The results provide theoretical and technological guidance for sustainable reclamation salt-affected soil and the quick restoration and reconstruction of saline-sodic grassland. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:32 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:55:43 PM Tags: o Drip irrigation o Reclamation o Saline-sodic soil o Soil matric potential o Water and salt regulation * Changes in soil properties in the soil profile after mining and reclamation in an opencast coal mine on the Loess Plateau, China Type Journal Article Author Xiaoyang Liu Author Zhongke Bai Author Wei Zhou Author Yingui Cao Author Gengjie Zhang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857416306218__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvCPhdb2A$ Volume 98 Pages 228-239 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date January 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2016.10.078 Abstract Surface mining involves drastic disturbances to regional ecosystem and soil properties. Recovery of soil physicochemical characteristics is essential for successful restoration of the landscape and the soil itself after mining. To identify the changes in the soil profile after mining and reclamation, we studied the soils of the largest opencast coal mine in China, Pingshuo, located in the Loess Plateau. Soil samples representing three different land use types and six different reclamation times were collected in the soil profiles (0–100cm) in 2012 and were analyzed for field capacity, bulk density, pH, soil organic matter (SOM), N, P, K, available P, and available K.Results showed that most reclaimed mine soil properties (including bulk density, pH, P, K, available P and available K) increased in comparison with those of the natural soils, whereas SOM and N decreased after mining and reclamation, especially in the topsoil (0–40cm). Trend lines of P and available K in the reclaimed mine soils and natural soils were similar tested by Anova. Trend lines of P in the natural soils, and pH, P and K in the reclaimed mine soils were relatively stable and showed no difference in the soil profile (P<0.05). Soil properties and their trend lines in forest land were more similar to natural soils than were cultivated land and grass land in deeper (60–100cm) soil layers. Reclamation time (time that has passed after reclamation was finished) was positively associated with SOM, N, P, and available P in cultivated land; pH decreased with the increase of reclamation time in forest land but N showed the opposite trend; pH and P were positively correlated with reclamation time but K and available K showed negative relationships with reclamation time in grassland. Bulk density vs. field capacity and available K vs. pH showed significant correlations in the soil profile (0–100cm) (P<0.05). Significant correlations were also observed for available K vs. bulk density in the topsoil layer (0–30cm) and bottom layer (below 60cm) (P<0.05). P and pH showed positively significant correlation in the subsoil layer (30–60cm) and bottom layer (below 60cm) (P<0.05). Most of heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and Hg) of cultivated land exceeded their corresponding background values in Shanxi province, where our sites were located. However, compared with Chinese soil guidelines (Grade II values) (GB15618-1995), heavy metals were all below the threshold values. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:34 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:55:45 PM Tags: o Opencast coal mine o Reclaimed mine soil o Soil profile o Soil properties * Germination and growth of Puccinellia tenuiflora in saline-sodic soil under drip irrigation Type Journal Article Author Shuhui Liu Author Yaohu Kang Author Shuqin Wan Author Zhichun Wang Author Zhengwei Liang Author Shufang Jiang Author Ruoshui Wang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377412000790__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvI2d_7tI$ Volume 109 Pages 127-134 Publication Agricultural Water Management ISSN 0378-3774 Date June 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Agricultural Water Management DOI 10.1016/j.agwat.2012.03.001 Abstract Field experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of drip irrigation on seed germination and Puccinellia tenuiflora growth in saline-sodic soils in the Songnen Plain, northeast China. The experiment included five treatments in which the soil matric potential (SMP) at 0.2m depth was controlled at −5, −10, −15, −20 and −25kPa after the P. tenuiflora germinated. Consequently, the total water applied increased with increased matric potential. The results showed that drip irrigation influenced the water content, electrical conductivity of saturated-soil extract (ECe) and pH distributions, and inhibited the buildup of salts in the root zone, which enabled seeds to germinate and emerge. The ECe and pH in the whole soil profiles decreased as the SMP increased. After two years of the experiment, the tiller numbers, height, spike number and length, aboveground biomass and coverage of P. tenuiflora all increased greatly; and the growth of −15 and −20kPa treatments were better than other treatments. Taken together, these results indicate that drip irrigation can be used to provide suitable conditions for the germination of P. tenuiflora seeds in the Songnen Plain and induce good growth, and the SMP of −15 and −20kPa at a depth of 0.2m immediately under a drip emitter can be used as an indicator for saline-sodic P. tenuiflora grassland restoration in Songnen Plain. The results provide theoretical and technological guidance for reclamation and use of salt-affected soil, as well as for easy and quick restoration and reconstruction of saline-sodic grasslands. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:38 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:55:44 PM Tags: o Restoration o Saline-sodic grassland o Soil matric potential o Songnen Plain o Water and salt regulation * Responses of landscape structure to the ecological restoration programs in the farming-pastoral ecotone of Northern China Type Journal Article Author Dong Liu Author Jiquan Chen Author Zutao Ouyang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969719363077__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvD2SuuxU$ Volume 710 Pages 136311 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date March 25, 2020 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.136311 Abstract Ecological restoration programs (ERPs) have been conducted in China since 2000 to improve ecological conditions, particularly in the farming-pastoral ecotone of Northern China. Few have studied the effects of ERPs on landscape structure. Taking West Liaohe River Basin (WLRB) as a case study, we explored how landscape dynamics were altered before and after ERPs from 1990 through 2015 by using multi-temporal Landsat TM images. We analyzed the effects of ERPs on landscape structure by exploring the relationships between landscape features and land cover change (LCC). The results indicate that dramatic changes in land cover and landscape structure occurred before and after ERPs implementation. During 2000–2015 woodlands increased with a sharper annual growth, grasslands reclamation slowed down and was restricted, whereas more croplands were converted to grasslands and woodlands. ERPs decreased landscape fragmentation and increased landscape diversity, due mostly to the portion and spatial configures of croplands, grasslands and woodlands. Landscape fragmentation was significantly correlated with mean patch size of grasslands (r = −0.677, p < 0.0001) and woodlands (r = −0.515, p < 0.0001), as well as patch number ratio of croplands to the sum of grasslands and woodlands (r = −0.414, p < 0.01). Additionally, landscape diversity had a significant negative correlation with the areal ratio of grasslands (r = −0.345, p < 0.001). Our findings indicate that the LCCs were in agreement with ERPs' key goals. The changes in landscape structure in WLRB, however, were not expected from the ERPs design. Given the importance of landscape structure in human vulnerability to environment, it seemed that EPRs from the central government should not only regulate specific land use but also focus on the health and sustainability of the landscapes. Explicit function-based local landscape management should be taken into account for the future through better design and implementations of ERPs. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:45 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:55:37 PM Tags: o Ecological restoration programs o Farming-pastoral ecotone of Northern China o Land cover change o Land use policy o Landscape structure o West Liaohe River Basin * Quantifying the amount, heterogeneity, and pattern of farmland: Implications for China’s requisition-compensation balance of farmland policy Type Journal Article Author Luo Liu Author Zhenjie Liu Author Jianzhou Gong Author Lu Wang Author Yueming Hu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264837718303296__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvzJWudoc$ Volume 81 Pages 256-266 Publication Land Use Policy ISSN 0264-8377 Date February 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Land Use Policy DOI 10.1016/j.landusepol.2018.10.008 Abstract This study analyzed the amount, heterogeneity, and pattern of farmland subject to the requisition–compensation balance of farmland (RCBF) policy from 2011 to 2015 in China’s economic development frontier area of Guangdong Province. The study used vector data for land-use and land-cover change and farmland quality from the Department of Land Resources of Guangdong Province and socio-economic statistical data from the statistical yearbook. To determine practical and potential problems during the implementation of RCBF, we calculated the differences between the area of compensatory farmland and requisitioned farmland according to different farmland types and quality grades at both the provincial and sub-regional scale. A series of pattern metrics reflecting land fragmentation and aggregation were identified at the class and landscape levels. The results revealed the presence of “superior occupation and inferior compensation” and “paddy field occupation and dry land compensation.” The landscape pattern experienced different degrees of influence after farmland requisition and compensation. The tendency was for a large area of woodland and grassland adjacent to each other to be exploited, leading to a series of ecological and environmental problems. Due to considerations of economic benefit and cost, much of the compensatory farmland provided following land exploitation has been inefficient, unreasonable, and unstable. Although some complementary policies have been proposed, such as “linking the increase in urban construction land with a decrease in rural construction land,” primary problems of RCBF are still difficult to be solved. We suggest that specific technical specifications for land exploitation, land reclamation, and land consolidation should be formed based on regional characteristics. Local government should improve the existing relevant support policies and continue to strengthen land reclamation and land consolidation in the future, with full consideration of the need for ecological environmental protection and improvement of the farmland landscape. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:48 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:55:42 PM Tags: o Farmland compensation o Farmland requisition o Guangdong Province o Landscape pattern o RCBF * Topography affects the soil conditions and bacterial communities along a restoration gradient on Loess-Plateau Type Journal Article Author Yang Liu Author Liping Zhang Author Jike Lu Author Weimin Chen Author Gehong Wei Author Yanbing Lin URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929139319308431__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv6sTyYHk$ Volume 150 Pages 103471 Publication Applied Soil Ecology ISSN 0929-1393 Date June 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Applied Soil Ecology DOI 10.1016/j.apsoil.2019.103471 Abstract The Loess Plateau in China is subjected to variable wind and water erosion across different topographical areas, affecting soil conditions and microbiota. The composition of soil microbial communities in the plateau region is always studied along restoration chronosequences, but the topographic factors are always significant for soil formation. Herein, we used an Illumina HiSeq platform to investigate soil bacterial communities related to dominant topographic features (downward/upward slope positions, and shady/sunny slope aspects) across different grassland restoration durations (5, 20, and 30 years) and soil layers (topsoil and subsoil) in the plateau region. Most soil physicochemical properties and microbial activities were higher in topsoil restored for a longer duration, and significantly affected by topography in various degrees. The influence of topographic factors on soil bacterial beta-diversity increased with the extension of restoration years. The community composition was affected by disparate site-specific parameters based on constrained analysis of principal coordinates, indicating habitat-specific in each restoration duration and soil layer. The slope position and aspect had more effects on bacterial community composition in topsoil and subsoil, respectively. Co-occurrence patterns were different with higher linkages existed in upward-position and shady-aspect in 30-year topsoil. Keystone species were grouped into the phylum level and fitted special r-k trophic schemes corresponding to the topographic distribution of soil conditions. The results indicate topography has a pronounced influence on soil bacterial community composition with respect to soil physicochemical properties and microbial activities. More attention should be paid to topographic factors when restoring grassland from farmland in the future. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:31 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:31 PM Tags: o High-throughput sequencing o Slope aspect o Slope position o Soil bacterial community o Soil microbial activity o Soil physicochemical properties * One-year grazing exclusion remarkably restores degraded alpine meadow at Zoige, eastern Tibetan Plateau Type Journal Article Author Miao Liu Author Zhenchao Zhang Author Jian Sun Author Yi Wang Author Jinniu Wang Author Atsushi Tsunekawa Author Mesenbet Yibeltal Author Ming Xu Author Youjun Chen URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989419309072__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvAvRtg_w$ Volume 22 Pages e00951 Publication Global Ecology and Conservation ISSN 2351-9894 Date June 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Global Ecology and Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e00951 Abstract Understanding the influences of grazing exclusion (GE) on soil properties and vegetation characteristics is essential for the assessment of grassland restoration. The objectives of this study are exploring the efficiency of short-term GE in restoring alpine meadow in the Zoige region, eastern Tibetan Plateau, with high rainfall amount. We conducted sampling surveys before and after one-year GE in alpine meadows with seven sequent degraded degrees. The results showed that one-year GE significantly increased soil organic carbon (SOC), soil total nitrogen (STN), soil water content (SWC), and plant biomass, while decreased soil bulk density (SBD) regardless of the degradation degree. These findings suggest that short-term GE may be an effective way to restore degraded alpine meadow. Aboveground and belowground biomass was significantly positively associated with SWC, SOC, STN, soil total phosphorus, and soil available nitrogen, but presented negative relationship with SBD. This shows the complicated interaction between vegetation and soil physiochemical properties that regulates the grassland recovery process. The degraded alpine meadow in this rainfall-rich region could rapidly recover once grazing disturbance was excluded. This study can provide technical support for restoration and sustainable management of alpine meadows on the Tibetan Plateau. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:34 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:34 PM Tags: o Alpine meadow o Grassland restoration o Humid region o Short-term grazing exclusion o Tibetan Plateau * Grassland dynamics in responses to climate variation and human activities in China from 2000 to 2013 Type Journal Article Author Yangyang Liu Author Qian Wang Author Zhaoying Zhang Author Linjing Tong Author Zhenqian Wang Author Jianlong Li URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969719330761__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvJB72Fbs$ Volume 690 Pages 27-39 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date November 10, 2019 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.503 Abstract Improving our understanding of the impacts of climate variation and human activities on grassland dynamics is heightened by expectations that climate variation and human activities may induce grassland degradation. An accurate evaluation of the respective impacts of climate variation and human activities on grassland dynamics is crucial to understand the grassland degradation mechanism and to control the degraded grassland. In this study, net primary productivity (NPP) was selected as an indicator to reflect grassland dynamics. Meanwhile, the potential NPP (PNPP) and human-induced NPP (HNPP) calculated as the difference of PNPP and actual ANPP (ANPP) were used to assess the relative effects of climate variation and human activities on grassland NPP changes in China during 2000–2013. Results of grassland ANPP showed an overall increase than decrease in productivity (81.21% vs 18.79%) from 2000 to 2013. For the increase of ANPP, the relative contribution of climate variation and human activities to grassland NPP changes were 41.45% and 45.22%, respectively. Climate variation was the dominant factor that induced the increase in ANPP mainly in areas of Sichuan, Gansu, Ningxia and Inner Mongolia. An increase in Human-dominated ANPP mainly occurred in Tibet, Qinghai and Xinjiang. The decrease in ANPP is principally controlled by the effect of human activities than that of climate variation, especially in Inner Mongolia. Meanwhile, climate-dominated ANPP increase and human-dominated ANPP decrease mainly occurred in plain grassland, desert grassland and meadow across the six types of grasslands in China. Furthermore, in alpine sub-alpine meadow and alpine sub-alpine, while climate-dominated ANPP of grassland was found to be decreased, an increase in human-dominated ANPP was detected. The increase in precipitation and the implementation of ecological restoration programs were found to be effective in inducing the noticeable increased grassland ANPP since 2003. The findings of the current research recommend that the Chinese government should continue to implement the prohibiting graze policy across the country and extensively strengthen the implementation of the policy in Inner Mongolia and North Xinjiang, particularly in plain grassland, desert grassland and meadow. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:35 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:35 PM Tags: o Climate variation o Grassland dynamics o Human activities o Net primary productivity (NPP) o Quantitative assessment * Runoff maintenance and sediment reduction of different grasslands based on simulated rainfall experiments Type Journal Article Author Yi-Fan Liu Author Yu Liu Author Gao-Lin Wu Author Zhi-Hua Shi URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022169419302525__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvqJ7y6Lo$ Volume 572 Pages 329-335 Publication Journal of Hydrology ISSN 0022-1694 Date May 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Journal of Hydrology DOI 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2019.03.008 Abstract Large-scale vegetation restoration generally reduces local water yield and influences river ecosystem health. Thus, scientific evaluation of vegetation restoration consequences is necessary for maintaining the stability of the surface water system and water cycle in semi-arid regions. In this study, we compared the efficiencies of different typical grasslands in regulating runoff and sediment yields and proposed feasible suggestions suiting for local environments. Four grasslands, including two Gramineae species (Elymus dahuricus and Bromus inermis) and two legume species (Medicago sativa and Trifolium repens), were tested during a two-year period with simulated rainfall experiments, and using bare land as control. Three replicates were done for each treatment, and fifteen plots with a slope of 20° were constructed. Three indices were used to assess the runoff and sediment yields reduction capacity of the grasslands, including runoff reduction benefit (RRB), sediment reduction benefit (SRB), and soil infiltration rate (SIR). The results showed that RRB and SRB were significantly different (P < 0.05) among treatments across the two-year experiments. The values of SRB increased considerably in the second year. In particular, the values of SRB for E. dahuricus and B. inermis was 98.79% and 98.07%, respectively, while that of RRB was −11.84% and 4.01%, respectively. The two Gramineae grasslands showed greater effectiveness in sediment reduction and runoff maintenance than the two legume species owing to the dense fibrous roots and higher biological soil crust coverage. Therefore, Gramineae grasslands can be considered as a suitable management practice to achieve the socio-ecological sustainability of the semi-arid areas during vegetation restoration. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:36 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:36 PM Tags: o Grassland o Runoff yield o Sediment yield o Semi-arid areas o Vegetation restoration * Assessing the effects of climate variation and human activities on grassland degradation and restoration across the globe Type Journal Article Author Yangyang Liu Author Zhaoying Zhang Author Linjing Tong Author Muhammad Khalifa Author Qian Wang Author Chengcheng Gang Author Zhenqian Wang Author Jianlong Li Author Zhengguo Sun URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X19304893__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv7iBFGRk$ Volume 106 Pages 105504 Publication Ecological Indicators ISSN 1470-160X Date November 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2019.105504 Abstract While quantitative assessment of ecosystems degradation is quite addressed in the literature, quantitatively separating the relative contribution of climate variation and human activities to grassland ecosystem degradation is still limited, although well recognized as a key knowledge for a better understanding of the degradation mechanisms and for more efficient control of degradation processes. In this study, actual net primary productivity (ANPP) was selected as an indicator to investigate the grassland dynamics from 2000 to 2013. In addition, potential NPP (PNPP) and human-induced NPP (HNPP), which was calculated as the difference between PNPP and ANPP, were used to differentiate the relative impacts of climate variation and human activities on grassland degradation/restoration, respectively. Results showed that 60.94% of the total global area of grassland experienced restoration over the study period, with an increase in NPP by 1864.81 Tg C across the globe. The restored areas induced by climate variation and human activities accounted for 45.73% and 34.99% with an increases in NPP by 852.75 Tg C and 652.50 Tg C, respectively. By contrast, nearly 39.06% of the global grassland area experienced degradation. This degradation was associated with a noticeable decrease in ANPP by 325.53 Tg C. While 45.45% of the degraded grassland areas were influenced by climate variation, human activities were accounted for around 40.11% of this degradation. The relative effect of the two factors (i.e. climate variation and human activities) on grassland changes was found to vary greatly among the studied six continents. While human activities exerted larger impacts than climate variation on grassland degradation in North America and Europe, climate variation was the dominant factor for grassland restoration in Asia, Europe, Oceania and North America, which can be mainly attributed to the increase in precipitation during the study period. The findings of the current study improved our understanding of the relative impacts of climate variation and human activities on grassland degradation and restoration at the global scale. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:38 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:38 PM Tags: o Climate variation o Grassland degradation o Human activities o Net primary productivity (NPP) o Quantitative assessment * Trade-off between surface runoff and soil erosion during the implementation of ecological restoration programs in semiarid regions: A meta-analysis Type Journal Article Author Yi-Fan Liu Author David Dunkerley Author Manuel López-Vicente Author Zhi-Hua Shi Author Gao-Lin Wu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969719364733__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv_VHaJsA$ Volume 712 Pages 136477 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date April 10, 2020 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.136477 Abstract The application of ecological restoration programs, related to water resources protection and soil erosion control, may have some undesirable outcomes. An important example is the effect that vegetation restoration may have in reducing surface water resources. After searching peer-reviewed articles, we selected 38 publications from 16 countries in comparable areas - semiarid conditions (aridity index <0.5), surface coverage >50% and fine soil texture - to evaluate the effectiveness of different types of vegetation (i.e., forestland, scrubland and grassland) in regulating runoff and sediment transport. In particular, we used three indices: the runoff reduction effect, the sediment reduction effect and the ratio between runoff and sediment reduction. These indices were calculated from measured data reported in the original articles. Results showed that scrubland had higher runoff reduction effect (59% in gentle slopes; 65% in steep slopes) than in grassland (39% on gentle slopes; 43% on steep slopes) and forestland (33% on gentle slopes; 51% on steep slopes). For the three types of vegetation, the sediment reduction effect was >70%. Concerning the ratios between runoff and sediment reduction, grassland showed the lowest ratios (56% on gentle slopes; 53% on steep slopes) compared to forestland (63% on gentle slopes; 65% on steep slopes) and scrubland (93% on gentle slopes; 81% on steep slopes). Our results indicate that low values of ratios between runoff and sediment reduction are the most suitable because they indicate an effective soil erosion and sediment delivery reduction but maintaining surface runoff. Overall, our study demonstrates that grassland may be the best choice for optimizing the trade-off between catchment water yield and soil conservation during the implementation of ecological restoration programs in semi-arid regions. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:47 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:47 PM Tags: o Ecosystem sustainability o Land use policy o Meta-analysis o Soil and water conservation o Trade-off * Soil organic matter and silt contents determine soil particle surface electrochemical properties across a long-term natural restoration grassland Type Journal Article Author Jingfang Liu Author Zilong Wang Author Feinan Hu Author Chenyang Xu Author Rentian Ma Author Shiwei Zhao URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S034181622030076X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvdU5PlmQ$ Volume 190 Pages 104526 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date July 1, 2020 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2020.104526 Abstract Vegetation restoration is an effective way to rebuild degraded ecosystems and restore soil function. Soil surface electrochemical properties, including specific surface area, cation exchange capacity, surface charge density, surface electric field strength, and surface potential, are often used as indicators to evaluate agricultural soil quality and fertility. However, little attention has been payed to the effect of natural revegetation on soil surface electrochemical properties. In this work, we selected a grassland restoration chronosequence (slope cropland, 0 years; natural grasslands restored for 3, 8, 22 and 24 years, i.e. NR3, NR8, NR22 and NR24, respectively) to investigate the changes of soil surface electrochemical properties along with vegetative restoration. Our results showed that surface charge density and surface potential for restored grassland ranged from 0.16 to 0.20 C m−2 and from −94 to −109 mV, with an average of 0.18 C m−2 and −101 mV, respectively. The value of surface electric field strength could reach to the order of magnitude of −107 V m−1 and showed a decreasing trend with increasing period of natural vegetation recovery. Cation exchange capacity and specific surface area significantly increased with the extension of natural restoration period except for NR3 (P < 0.05). It was found that soil organic matter (SOM) and silt content were the main factors to determine cation exchange capacity and specific surface area. Both cation exchange capacity and specific surface area were closely related to silt content but weakly related to clay content, possibly due to the high silt content in our studied soils. Moreover, cation exchange capacity and specific surface area showed a significant linear relationship with SOM, which may be ascribed to the diversity in cation substitution sites and high specific surface area of SOM. Our results indicated that the long-term natural restoration of grassland contributed to the improvement of cation exchange capacity and specific surface area. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:56 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:56 PM Tags: o Cation exchange capacity o Soil organic matter o Specific surface area o Surface potential o Vegetation restoration * Effect of naturally vs manually managed restoration on ground-dwelling arthropod communities in a desertified region Type Journal Article Author Rentao Liu Author Fan Zhu Author Hui An Author Yosef Steinberger URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857414005035__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv_RDrwGc$ Volume 73 Pages 545-552 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date December 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2014.09.092 Abstract Both naturally and manually managed restoration can effectively improve degraded ecosystems; however, little is known about the option of restoration management for the recovery of ground-dwelling arthropod communities in desertified regions. Naturally restored grassland (termed here “grassland”) and manually afforested shrubland (termed here “shrubland”) were compared in relation to ground-dwelling arthropod communities; the adjacent mobile sand land was used as a control. Both types of restoration markedly improved soil and herbaceous properties, with the grassland characterized by high plant herbaceous richness and abundance in addition to low soil temperature, and the shrubland characterized by high soil fine-sand content and clay-plus-silt content as well as low coarse-sand content. Restoration management in different habitats resulted in the specific distribution of arthropod groups, with the Labiduridae and Anatolicas (Tenebrionidae) dominant in the mobile sand land and the Formicidae dominant at both restored sites. Total abundance was correlated with the dominant taxa, even for the Simpson index; both were significantly higher in the mobile sand land than in the restored sites, while no significant differences were found between the two types of restoration. Restoration management facilitated ground-dwelling arthropod diversity, including taxon richness, with markedly higher values in the restored sites compared with those in the mobile sand land. Furthermore, taxon richness and Shannon index were noticeable in the shrubland, with significantly higher values than in the grassland. Soil temperature, water content, and bulk density together explained the different structure of ground-dwelling arthropod communities at each site where the restored procedures were implemented. Overall, the manually afforested shrubland was found to contribute much more to the conservation of ground-dwelling arthropod diversity relative to the naturally restored grassland, where both restored strategies were used to facilitate the processes of fixation and recovery of desertified sand land. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:18 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:18 PM Tags: o Desertified sand land o Diversity conservation o Ground-dwelling arthropod o Restoration management * Profile distribution of soil inorganic carbon along a chronosequence of grassland restoration on a 22-year scale in the Chinese Loess Plateau Type Journal Article Author Weiguo Liu Author Jie Wei Author Jimin Cheng Author Weijun Li URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816214001544__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv5glZ6sI$ Volume 121 Pages 321-329 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date October 1, 2014 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2014.05.019 Abstract Understanding the distribution of soil inorganic carbon (SIC) is meaningful and necessary for assessing soil carbon sequestration. However, changes in SIC following vegetation restoration are still not well studied in the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP), which has undergone extensive changes from farmland to grassland. Here, we chose three study sites, farmland (FL), grassland restored for 12years (RG-1) and grassland restored for 22years (RG-2). The changes of SIC storage were determined under the conversion from a farmland ecosystem to extensively used grassland during the past twenty years. Results showed that the SIC content decreased with vegetation restoration, which averaged 18.5, 13.2 and 11.8gkg−1 in FL, RG-1 and RG-2, respectively. The SIC content was significantly lower in the top 80cm in RG-1 and RG-2 than in FL, but showed little variance at depths of 80–200cm among the study sites. It illustrated that the portion of carbonate was most likely released to the atmosphere as CO2 temporarily due to soil acidification and the increase of soil moisture in restored grassland. The lower δ13C value of SIC in RG-1 and RG-2 than in FL was most likely due to the soil carbonate exchanging with more soil respired CO2, with increasing vegetation coverage in restored grassland. Our results indicate that the SIC storage deceases in the restored grassland in situ probably due to the decrease of soil pH and the increase in soil water content. The SIC plays an important role when assessing the capacity of carbon sequestration with vegetation restoration in the semi-arid CLP. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:25 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:25 PM Tags: o Grassland restoration o pH o Soil CO o Soil inorganic carbon o Soil water content o δC value of soil carbonate * Glomalin-related soil protein affects soil aggregation and recovery of soil nutrient following natural revegetation on the Loess Plateau Type Journal Article Author Hongfei Liu Author Xiukang Wang Author Chutao Liang Author Zemin Ai Author Yang Wu Author Hongwei Xu Author Sha Xue Author Guobin Liu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706119301193__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvUjQJlss$ Volume 357 Pages 113921 Publication Geoderma ISSN 0016-7061 Date January 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Geoderma DOI 10.1016/j.geoderma.2019.113921 Abstract The glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) is an important fraction of soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil nitrogen (N), and is important for stabilization of SOC and soil aggregates. However, the effects of natural restoration on the concentration and allocation of GRSP differ for different soil aggregate sizes, and how size further affects SOC and soil N restoration, and stabilization of SOC and soil aggregates is not well understood. Here, we present the first characterization of the distribution of GRSP fractions and soil nutrients in soil aggregates following natural restoration by choosing fields of 0, 7, 12, 17, 22, 32 years after cropland abandonment, and a natural grassland as reference. GRSP concentration increased most in microaggregates after 32 years of natural restoration. The processes of rapid accumulation of GRSP (22 to 32 years) occurred simultaneously with the formation of macroaggregates, reduction of microaggregates, and rapid increase of mean weight diameter (22 to 32-years). The soil aggregate stability and contents of GRSP, SOC, labile carbon, total N and phosphorus in each soil aggregate fraction significantly increased in the late stage of natural restoration (22 to 32 years). The most recalcitrant carbon fraction in microaggregates significantly increased between 7 and 32 years (0.887 g kg−1). Our study suggests that abandoning farmland is effective for the restoration of GRSP, soil nutrients and structure and that microaggregates promote the accumulation of recalcitrant carbon and increase the stability of SOC largely through its ability to retain GRSP. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:41 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:41 PM Tags: o Glomalin o Soil nitrogen o Soil organic carbon o Vegetation restoration o Water-stable aggregate * Effects of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium addition on the productivity of a karst grassland: Plant functional group and community perspectives Type Journal Article Author Changcheng Liu Author Yuguo Liu Author Ke Guo Author Xianguo Qiao Author Haiwei Zhao Author Shijie Wang Author Lin Zhang Author Xianli Cai URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857418301125__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvydygysQ$ Volume 117 Pages 84-95 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date July 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2018.04.008 Abstract Rocky desertification is currently the most serious ecological and environmental problem in karst region of southwestern China. Its negative consequences for both natural ecosystems and the human inhabitants of the karst region have created a need for effective ecosystem restoration strategies, but success in these efforts has been limited. We hypothesized that scarcity of mineral nutrients could be a crucial factor in vegetation recovery, but relatively little information is available about the limiting roles of various mineral elements. We investigated responses of aboveground biomass and nutrient concentrations of a degraded karst grassland to nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) additions over a period of three years. Nutrient additions significantly increased aboveground biomass and nutrient concentrations for both the plant community and individual plant functional groups. Total aboveground biomass was significantly increased by N (by 35.6%), P (by 35.3%) and K (by 11.7%) fertilization over three years of nutrient additions. The interaction effects of year × N and year × P on total biomass were significant. Additions of N and P increased the biomass of grasses by 39.2% and 15.0%, respectively, and additions of P increased the biomass of forbs by 69.3%. The biomass of shrubs was significantly increased by P (by 111.3%), K (by 45.3%) and N (by 38.5%), and there were strong interaction effects of N, P and K on shrub biomass. P and K additions significantly increased the relative biomass of shrubs but decreased that of grasses, especially under the NPK treatment. Our results suggest that the productivity of degraded grassland in the karst region of China is co-limited by N, P and K, with N and P being the primary limiting factors. Among functional groups, grasses are mainly limited by N and P, forbs by P, and shrubs by all 3 elements, with P being the most limiting factor overall. Mineral fertilization stimulates plant growth and may be a useful tool in efforts to restore woody vegetation in degraded grasslands, thus counteracting the process of rock desertification in the karst region of southwestern China. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:23:01 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:23:01 PM Tags: o Biomass o Fertilization o Karst grassland o Nutrient limitation o Nutrient stoichiometry o Plant functional group * Reformulating China's ecological restoration policies: What can be learned from comparing Chinese and American experiences? Type Journal Article Author Ping Liu Author Runsheng Yin Author Minjuan Zhao URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1389934118300261__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvtdVOwKg$ Volume 98 Pages 54-61 Publication The experience of China’s forest reforms: What they mean for China and what they suggest for the world? ISSN 1389-9341 Date January 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Forest Policy and Economics DOI 10.1016/j.forpol.2018.05.013 Abstract Payments for ecosystem services (PES) have attracted broad attention as a novel approach for using economic incentives to provide ecosystem services more sustainably. However, there have been inadequate efforts addressing the basic question of how to design and execute PES at the program level. By comparing and contrasting the experiences of restoring degraded cropland to forest and grass covers in China and the U.S., this paper aims to tackle that question and provide some valuable and timely policy insights that can inform China and other countries of how to improve the performance of their PES programs in terms of effectiveness, efficiency, and/or equity. Our analysis will unfold through examining such specific question as: What are the socioeconomic and environmental backgrounds for one country to launch a large PES program? How was it designed initially and has evolved over time? How has its performance been evaluated and what are the main outcomes? How likely is it for the enrolled land to be reconverted or for the contract to be expired? What are the primary challenges to its long-term success? Finally, this study calls for a more practical and focused approach to PES design, implementation, and evaluation that will lead to improved outcomes of forest and grassland ecosystem restoration and biodiversity conservation. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:24 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:24 PM Tags: o Conservation reserve o Ecological restoration o Forest cover o Payments for ecosystem services o Policy design and implementation o Program effectiveness and efficiency * Environmental effects of land-use/cover change caused by urbanization and policies in Southwest China Karst area – A case study of Guiyang Type Journal Article Author Yan Liu Author Xianjin Huang Author Hong Yang Author Taiyang Zhong URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0197397514001180__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvFvrnbqc$ Volume 44 Pages 339-348 Publication Habitat International ISSN 0197-3975 Date October 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Habitat International DOI 10.1016/j.habitatint.2014.07.009 Abstract Land-use/cover change (LUCC) caused by urbanization has impacted environment and become an important factor driving global change. Karst is a very fragile environment and the LUCC can cause massive change of the environment. An integrated approach was used to explore the environmental effect of LUCC with urbanization and China's ecosystem restoration projects during the period 1996–2010. The results show that the area dedicated to arable land, grassland, water area, and unused land have declined by 243.04 km2, 22.96 km2, 2.06 km2 and 13.61 km2, whereas the size of forestland and construction land have increased by 153.85 km2 and 127.82 km2, respectively. The overall environmental quality, measured using environmental quality index, has improved; however, the improvement only occurred in suburb districts. The variation of green land per capital, forestland and grassland were the main reasons for the environmental change. Further environmental degradation caused by urbanization and LUCC possibly continue in the coming decades and therefore environment protection should be the priority for the development in Karst areas. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:40 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:40 PM Tags: o China o Ecosystem restoration projects o Environmental effects o Karst area o Land use/cover change (LUCC) o Urbanization * Greenhouse gas emissions and net carbon sequestration of the Beijing-Tianjin Sand Source Control Project in China Type Journal Article Author Bojie Liu Author Lu Zhang Author Fei Lu Author Lei Deng Author Hong Zhao Author Yunjian Luo Author Xiuping Liu Author Kerong Zhang Author Xiaoke Wang Author Weiwei Liu Author Xueyan Wang Author Yafei Yuan URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652619308789__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvhH_iJnE$ Volume 225 Pages 163-172 Publication Journal of Cleaner Production ISSN 0959-6526 Date July 10, 2019 Journal Abbr Journal of Cleaner Production DOI 10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.03.184 Abstract A methodology for carbon accounting and net mitigation estimation for national ecological restoration projects in China (CANM-EP) was developed, and this method simultaneously considered carbon sequestration, on-site greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ecosystem management, off-site GHG emissions and other changes in the ecosystem GHG budget. Based on this methodology, the annual variance and composition of carbon sequestration, GHG emissions and net carbon sequestration were analyzed for the first stage of the Beijing-Tianjin Sand Source Control Project (BTSSCP) (2001–2010) in the respective project provinces. The total carbon sequestration in the BTSSCP from 2001 to 2010 was 71.25–71.66 Tg C, and the additional GHG emissions from the BTSSCP were 7.28–7.50 Tg Ce, which counteracted 10.2–10.5% of the sequestered carbon. Among the different project measures in their corresponding ecosystems, the counteraction effect of grassland management in the grassland ecosystem was over 50%, which was much higher than that of afforestation and the conversion of cropland to forest. The net carbon sequestration in the BTSSCP was 63.75–64.38 Tg Ce, and the annual average was 6.38–6.44 Tg Ce·yr−1. The annual rate of net carbon mitigation for Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shanxi and Inner Mongolia was 1.16–1.17, 1.29–1.30, 1.06–1.07, 0.85–0.86 and 0.63–0.65 t Ce·ha−1·yr−1, respectively. The GHG emissions offset a minor part of the carbon sequestration in the BTSSCP. Therefore, the BTSSCP makes a relatively significant contribution to GHG mitigation in China. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:40 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:40 PM Tags: o Beijing-Tianjin sand source control project (BTSSCP) o Net carbon sequestration o Off-site GHG emissions o On-site GHG emissions * Effects of soil-incorporated plant litter morphological characteristics on the soil detachment process in grassland on the Loess Plateau of China Type Journal Article Author Jia-Xin Liu Author Guo-Bin Liu Author Dennis C. Flanagan Author Bing Wang Author Zhong-Yu Wang Author Jing Xiao URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004896971934642X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv2aAw2q0$ Volume 705 Pages 134651 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date February 25, 2020 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134651 Abstract The Loess Plateau of China is one of the most eroded areas in the world. In the past 20 years, effective vegetation restoration measures have significantly changed the near-surface characteristics of soil. In natural conditions, plant litter is widespread in the topsoil. The effects of litter incorporated into soil on the process of soil detachment, which is closely related to plant litter morphology, are still not well known. This study aimed to detect the variation of litter morphological characteristics and quantify their effects on soil detachment capacity and rill erodibility when litter is incorporated into the soil. Four plant litters (Bothriochloa ischaemum (L.) Keng., Artemisia sacrorum Ledeb., Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv., and Artemisia capillaris Thunb.) with five length levels (<0.5, 0.5–2, 2–4, 4–6, and 6–8 cm) were incorporated into soil (idle for 50 days) at the same litter biomass rate (0.7 kg m−2). Then the soil was sampled and cores were subjected to overland flow under six flow shear stress levels (5.66, 8.31, 12.21, 15.55, 19.15 and, 22.11 Pa) using a hydraulic flume (4.0 m × 0.35 m). The results showed that the litter morphological characteristics of litter length density (LLD), litter surface area density (LSAD) and litter volume ratio (LVR) differed in plant species at the same litter biomass rate. Correspondingly, soil detachment capacity (ranging from 0.414 to 2.179 kg m−2 s−1) and rill erodibility (ranging from 0.037 to 0.177 s m−1) varied significantly and mean values from the Bothriochloa ischaemum (L.) Keng. treatments were the minimums, which were 28% to 37% and 23% to 35% less than that of the other treatments, respectively. The soil detachment capacity and rill erodibility were significantly correlated with the litter morphological characteristics of LLD, LSAD and LVR (p < 0.01). The contact area between litter and soil was the most critical factor affecting soil detachment. Incorporated plant litter residue litter effect on rill erodibility could be well estimated by LSAD. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:35 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:35 PM Tags: o Grassland o Litter incorporation o Litter surface area density o Overland flow o Soil detachment process o the Loess Plateau * Quantifying the relative impacts of climate and human activities on vegetation changes at the regional scale Type Journal Article Author Rui Liu Author Linlin Xiao Author Zhe Liu Author Jicai Dai URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X18303005__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv6fCn7Os$ Volume 93 Pages 91-99 Publication Ecological Indicators ISSN 1470-160X Date October 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2018.04.047 Abstract Understanding human and climate-induced vegetation changes could benefit regional ecological management. In this paper, a framework was established to quantify the relative contribution rates of human and climate factors to vegetation changes in Chongqing, China, from 2000 to 2015. MODIS NDVI time series data were collected, and land use data were produced using Landsat TM/OLI images. A combined analysis of land use and vegetation changes was conducted, and the residual trends method (RESTREND) was explored in the framework. The results showed that Chongqing experienced a significant vegetation increase from 2000 to 2015. The relative contribution rates of human activities and climate to the vegetation changes were 90.96% and 9.04%, respectively. These results indicate that human activities had a dominant role in vegetation restoration in Chongqing in 2000–2015. Throughout the study period, extensive land use changes occurred in Chongqing. During the study period, persistent forested land, farmland-forested land (a land use conversion type), persistent farmland, and grassland-forested land were the four most important land use (changed and unchanged) types attributed to the growing season NDVI (GSN) increases in Chongqing from 2000 to 2015. The contributions of these four land use types were 45.03%, 21.19%, 16.79% and 12.60%, respectively. The farmland-forested land was characterized as the most effective land use conversion type for vegetation restoration. The proposed framework allows for human and climate-induced vegetation changes to be quantitatively distinguished at the regional scale and provides the contribution rates of each changed and unchanged land use type. The framework is expected to be useful for regional ecological management and research. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:35 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:35 PM Tags: o Climate factor o Human activities o Relative contribution rate o Vegetation variation * Long-term forest succession improves plant diversity and soil quality but not significantly increase soil microbial diversity: Evidence from the Loess Plateau Type Journal Article Author Yulin Liu Author Guangyu Zhu Author Xuying Hai Author Jiwei Li Author Zhouping Shangguan Author Changhui Peng Author Lei Deng URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857419303556__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv8zBgP_g$ Volume 142 Pages 105631 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date January 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2019.105631 Abstract Many studies have focused on the processes of vegetation succession, however, the dynamics of soil microbes and the synergy between vegetation and soil are still poorly understood following vegetation succession. This study focused on a forest succession sequence including farmland, grassland, shrubland (i.e., Hippophae rhamnoides), pioneer forest (i.e., Populus davidiana), and climax forest (i.e., Quercus liaotungensis) on the Loess Plateau of China, to explore plant and soil changes, as well as soil microbial community dynamics. The results showed that litter biomass, soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN) and the ratio of SOC to TN exhibited an increasing trend in the whole process of the forest succession, and NH4+, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), and the ratio of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) to dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) had significantly increased before the shrubland stage, and then they were going to be stable. During the forest succession, the main bacterial phyla present were Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Acidobacteria, and the predominant fungal phyla were Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. The soil microbial community composition was stable and did not change significantly, but the bacteria and fungal communities were associated with specific plant or soil properties. It was proved that the change of soil microbial community was closely related to vegetation and soil community changes. The results suggested that long-term forest succession not only improves plant diversity, but also improves soil biology and quality, even though it does not significantly increase soil microbial diversity. The findings enhance the understanding of the impact of soil microbial ecological characteristics and provide an important guidance for the sustainable management of forest ecosystems following long-term natural vegetation restoration. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:41 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:41 PM Tags: o Forest succession o Microbial diversity o Plant diversity o Soil carbon o Soil nitrogen o Vegetation restoration * Arrival vs. retention of seeds in bare patches in the semi-arid desertified grassland of Inner Mongolia, northeastern China Type Journal Article Author Zhimin Liu Author Jinlei Zhu Author Xu Deng URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S092585741200290X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvALex-d0$ Volume 49 Pages 153-159 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date December 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2012.08.030 Abstract Seed availability is critical for vegetation restoration of bare patches in desertified grassland. Many studies explain seed availability by seed arrival or retention, however, no conclusions are universally applicable. Eleven bare patches, ranging from 80m2 to 500m2, were selected in semi-arid desertified grassland of Inner Mongolia in northeastern China to determine the retained seed:arrived seed ratio and factors (in both seed morphology and patch characteristics) regulating the ratio. From May to August (the germination season), the arrived seeds were more than 208 (grainsm−2); the retained ones were less than 93 (grainsm−2). From September to November (part of the non-germination season), the arrived or retained seeds were nearly equal to those during May to August (P>0.05). The retained seed:arrived seed ratio was generally less than 20% each season. Seed shape and appendage as well as vegetation cover of bare patches explained 64% of seed retention, but seed mass and patch size explained little. Our study indicated that bare patches in the desertified grassland lacked seeds because of low seed retention and arrival of seed at inopportune times. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:44 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:44 PM Tags: o Patch characteristics o Seed availability o Seed dispersal o Seed morphology o Seed retention * The effects of management on population dynamics of plateau pika Type Journal Article Author Hanwu Liu Author Yuming Chen Author Li Zhou Author Zhen Jin URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0895717712001707__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvF-ATZEY$ Volume 57 Issue 3 Pages 525-535 Publication Mathematical and Computer Modelling ISSN 0895-7177 Date February 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Mathematical and Computer Modelling DOI 10.1016/j.mcm.2012.06.032 Abstract The plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) inhabits the Qinghai/Tibetan Plateau of China. Its role on the grassland ecosystem is not quite understood. Some researchers regard it as a keystone species while others treat it as a pest. At least, the overabundance of plateau pika population accelerates degrading of alpine meadows mainly through their burrowing activity. Therefore, it is necessary to manage pika population. The commonly employed management strategies are lethal control, contraceptive control, and vegetation restoration. To study the control effect, we develop a cellular automata model. In the simulation, we consider three time manners (single control, impulsive control at fixed times and state-dependent impulsive control) and two space manners (uniform control and mosaic control). Not surprisingly, a better control effect can be achieved with a larger killing rate in lethal control, or a larger contraception rate, or a larger degree in grassland restoration. On the other hand, uniform control has distinctly better results than mosaic control. Hence, in practice, uniform control is strongly recommended. With uniform control, some results are summarized as follows. In both lethal control and contraceptive control, the best strategy is to apply state-dependent impulsive control; if control is implemented in the non-growing season then the implementation time makes no difference. However, if control is implemented in the breeding season of pika, in lethal control, the later it is implemented the better is the control effect; while in contraceptive control, the earlier it is implemented the better is the control effect. Compared with lethal control, non-disseminating contraceptive control has a better control result if only one control is implemented; but if controls are implemented too often then lethal control has a better control effect. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:54 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:54 PM Tags: o Cellular automata model o Contraceptive control o Lethal control o Plateau pika () o Vegetation restoration * Dynamics of soil carbon and nitrogen stocks after afforestation in arid and semi-arid regions: A meta-analysis Type Journal Article Author Xiang Liu Author Tao Yang Author Quan Wang Author Farong Huang Author Lanhai Li URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969717326979__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvYL7ClPc$ Volume 618 Pages 1658-1664 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date March 15, 2018 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.10.009 Abstract Arid and semi-arid regions store approximately 27% of global soil organic carbon (SOC), thus playing an important role in the global carbon cycle. Although afforestation is widely used to achieve the goals of landscape protection and ecological restoration in these regions, its effects on the dynamics of SOC and total nitrogen (TN) stocks as well as the related controlling factors are still poorly understood. In this study, a meta-analysis was conducted by compiling results from published studies to evaluate the influences of afforestation on dynamics of SOC and TN stocks in mineral soils (0–30cm) in arid and semi-arid regions, and to examine whether the changes in SOC and TN stocks were influenced by prior land-use, planted tree species and plantation age. The results showed that overall, afforestation significantly increased SOC stock by 131% and TN stock by 88%. Prior land-use was found to be the most important factor that influenced the dynamics of SOC and TN stocks following afforestation. Significantly larger increases in SOC and TN stocks were observed after barren land afforestation in comparison to cropland and grassland afforestation. The accumulations in SOC and TN stocks after afforestation decreased in the following order: broadleaf deciduous forests>coniferous forests>broadleaf evergreen forests. However, significant differences in SOC and TN accumulations were only detected between broadleaf deciduous forests and broadleaf evergreen forests. Plantation age did not affect the dynamics of SOC and TN stocks after afforestation, mainly due to the rapid accumulations in SOC and TN after barren land afforestation. The results indicate that afforestation, especially on barren land with broadleaf deciduous species, provides substantial opportunities for SOC and TN sequestrations in arid and semi-arid regions. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:15 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:15 PM Tags: o Afforestation o Arid o Carbon sequestration o Meta-analysis o Semi-arid o Soil nitrogen * Factors controlling accumulation of soil organic carbon along vegetation succession in a typical karst region in Southwest China Type Journal Article Author Shujuan Liu Author Wei Zhang Author Kelin Wang Author Fujing Pan Author Shan Yang Author Shiyan Shu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969715003496__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvGs5sFcQ$ Volume 521-522 Pages 52-58 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date July 15, 2015 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.03.074 Abstract Vegetation succession enhances the accumulation of carbon in the soil. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation in different vegetation types in the karst region of Southwest China. The goal of this study was to identify and prioritize the effects of environmental parameters, including soil physico-chemical properties, microbial biomass, enzyme activities, and litter characteristics, on SOC accumulation along a vegetation succession sere (grassland, shrubland, secondary forest, and primary forest) in the karst landscape of Southwest China. Relationships between these parameters and SOC were evaluated by redundancy analysis. The results showed that SOC accumulation was significantly different among vegetation types (P<0.01) and increased with vegetation succession (from 29.10g·kg−1 in grassland to 73.92g·kg−1 in primary forest). Soil biochemistry and physical characteristics significantly affected the accumulation of SOC. Soil microbial biomass showed a predominant effect on SOC in each of the four vegetation types. In addition, the soil physical property (especially the silt content) was another controlling factor in the early stages (grassland), and urease activity and saccharase activity were important controlling factors in the early-middle and middle-late stages, respectively. Litter characteristics only showed mild effects on SOC accumulation. Variation partitioning analysis showed that the contribution of sole main factors to SOC variation decreased, while the interaction effect among parameters increased along the succession gradient. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:17 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:17 PM Tags: o Enzyme activities o Karst peak-cluster depression o Litter o Microbial biomass o Silt content o Soil organic carbon * Changes in soil labile and recalcitrant carbon pools after land-use change in a semi-arid agro-pastoral ecotone in Central Asia Type Journal Article Author Xiang Liu Author Ditao Chen Author Tao Yang Author Farong Huang Author Shuai Fu Author Lanhai Li URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X19309203__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvf3ByDLM$ Volume 110 Pages 105925 Publication Ecological Indicators ISSN 1470-160X Date March 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2019.105925 Abstract Soil organic matter is a heterogeneous and complex entity that consists of a diverse range of compounds. However, the responses of soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions with different biochemical stabilities to land-use change are inadequately addressed. In this study, soil samples (0–60 cm) were collected with a 10 cm interval from grassland (GS), cropland (CS), woodland (WS), and orchard (OS) using paired-site approach in a typical semi-arid agro-pastoral ecotone in the Ili River Valley, Central Asia, to: (1) clarify the vertical changes in soil labile (LPI and LPII) and recalcitrant C pools (RP) after GS conversion to CS and CS conversion to WS and OS; and to (2) evaluate the impact of land-use change on SOC stability. The results indicated that LPI stocks in topsoil (0–30 cm) and subsoil (30–60 cm) showed opposite responses to land-use change. In contrast, LPII and RP stocks in both soil layers significantly decreased after conversion of GS to CS, and significantly increased after CS afforestation. These results demonstrated that RP in subsoils could also be altered by land-use change. In general, conversion from GS to CS decreased the recalcitrance index of SOC (RISOC), which increased after conversion from CS to WS. The results implied that cultivation decreased the stability of SOC, causing the depletion of SOC stock, whereas CS conversion to WS enhanced the stability of SOC, promoting SOC sequestration. The negative correlations between RISOC, pH, and electrical conductivity (EC1:5) suggested that soil pH and salinity were potential indicators reflecting the biochemical recalcitrance of SOC. Since both soil pH and EC1:5 showed decreasing trends after conversion from CS to WS and OS, the results suggested that afforestation on CS contributed to mitigate soil salinization while promoting SOC sequestration in this semi-arid agro-pastoral ecotone. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:04 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:04 PM Tags: o Carbon sequestration o Labile carbon pool o Land-use change o Recalcitrant carbon pool o Soil organic carbon o Soil salinization * Degradation of Tibetan grasslands: Consequences for carbon and nutrient cycles Type Journal Article Author Shibin Liu Author Kazem Zamanian Author Per-Marten Schleuss Author Mohsen Zarebanadkouki Author Yakov Kuzyakov URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880917304577__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvMBIKweQ$ Volume 252 Pages 93-104 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date January 15, 2018 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2017.10.011 Abstract The Tibetan Plateau hosts the world’s largest alpine pastoral ecosystems, dominated by the endemic sedges Kobresia pygmaea and Kobresia humilis. Owing to the very harsh environment and also to soil nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) limitations, these pastoral ecosystems are very sensitive to disturbances (e.g. anthropogenic activities and climate change) and recover extremely slowly. Overgrazing on the Tibetan Plateau has caused severe degradation of vegetation and soils in the last 30–50years. For the first time, for Kobresia pastures in Tibetan Plateau, we have summarized and generalized the consequences of pasture degradation for soil organic carbon (SOC) and nutrient (N, P) stocks, and evaluated the main biotic and abiotic mechanisms of their loss. Based on 44 literature studies as well as own data, we demonstrated that 42% of SOC stocks were lost, relative to non-degraded pastures. These SOC losses are similar to the decreases in N stocks (-33%), and aboveground (-42%) and belowground (-45%) plant biomass. Although P losses are lower (-17%), its precipitation reduces its availability for plants. These losses are in fact underestimates, since undisturbed natural sites no longer exist on the Tibetan Plateau. The losses are much higher in the upper 10cm and in some areas extend to complete removal of soil cover. This has dramatic repercussions for local livestock, human populations and river pollution. While some rehabilitation projects have shown positive outcomes, the complete recovery of degraded pastures (e.g. soil fertility, ecosystem stability) is infeasible, because of very slow pedogenic processes, slow vegetation restoration, as well as continuously increasing anthropogenic pressure and climate change. Considering the rapid losses of SOC and nutrients, and the very slow recovery potential, Tibetan pastures in some regions may disappear in the next few decades without proper and effective recovery strategies. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:06 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:06 PM Tags: o Carbon sequestration o Pasture degradation o Soil nutrients o Soil organic matter o Tibetan plateau * Management Regimen and Seeding Rate Modify Seedling Establishment of Leymus chinensis Type Journal Article Author G.X. Liu Author F. He Author L.Q. Wan Author X.L. Li URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742415000202__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvCV4xxS4$ Volume 68 Issue 2 Pages 204-210 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date March 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2015.01.007 Abstract Broadcasting of Chinese wild rye, Leymus chinensis seeds (without plowing) is the long-standing recommendation for reseeding degraded grasslands in Northern China. However, no experimental assessments have been made to determine which management options, including presow harrowing, postsow cutting, nitrogen fertilizer, and seeding rate, may influence the establishment of L. chinensis seedlings after broadcasting. We conducted a 2-year field study that quantified the relative impacts of these factors on seedling emergence, survival, and growth on a degraded short-grass steppe site at SaiBei, Hebei Province, China. Broadcast seeding of L. chinensis after harrowing resulted in the highest seedling emergence (16.4%), seedling survival (62.5%), and plant height (8.5 cm) compared with the other management regimens assessed. By Year 2, survival was 10 times greater in plots where harrowing had been implemented. This finding was especially important because of the drought conditions that occurred during the study period. The lowest seeding rate (400 seeds m−2) was linked with 15% seedling emergence and average heights of 7.3 cm at the end of the 2 years. It is our recommendation that seedling establishment is optimized when harrowing is used for initial soil preparation and seed dispersal. Harrowing improved seed–soil contact, increased the number of seed safe sites on the soil surface, and reduced competition from the already existing sward. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:08 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:08 PM Tags: o regeneration niche o reseeding o restoration o seedling establishment * Effects of the interaction between temperature and revegetation on the microbial degradation of soil dissolved organic matter (DOM) – A DOM incubation experiment Type Journal Article Author Hongfei Liu Author Yang Wu Author Zemin Ai Author Jiaoyang Zhang Author Chao Zhang Author Sha Xue Author Guobin Liu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706117316403__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvdZw9aMY$ Volume 337 Pages 812-824 Publication Geoderma ISSN 0016-7061 Date March 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Geoderma DOI 10.1016/j.geoderma.2018.10.041 Abstract DOM is the most bioavailable organic pool in the soil. The restoration of vegetation on abandoned cropland has a major impact on the concentration and composition of the DOM and thus affects the biodegradability of the soil DOM. Understanding the response of the microbial degradation of the DOM to temperature is important to maintain soil bioavailable organic matter in the field. We conducted a laboratory DOM solution incubation experiment to examine the temporal dynamics of DOM concentrations at temperatures of 4 °C (low), 20 °C (medium), and 35 °C (high) for four types of land uses: sloped cropland, grassland, shrub land, and woodland. Ultraviolet–visible and fluorescence spectroscopy were used to determine the structural complexity of the DOM. The conversion of the sloped cropland to shrub land and woodland significantly increased contents of DOC, DON, and recalcitrant substances in DOM soilution, such as humic-like material and fulvic acid, and stabilised the DOC pool, and reduced the decomposition of the DOC at 20 °C and 35 °C. The conversion of the sloped cropland to woodland dramatically reduced TDN decomposition. The DON loss after 60-day incubation significantly correlated with the initial content of tryptophan-like material. The biodegradability of the DON was higher and more sensitive to temperature than that of the DOC. Rising temperature initially promotes the decomposition of tryptophan-like material, and later promotes the degradation of more recalcitrant substances, such as humic-like material and fulvic acid, which enhanced the decomposition of the DOC and DON. The results suggest that the conversion of sloped cropland to shrubland and woodland not only promoted the accumulation of DOC, TDN, and recalcitrant substances in DOM solution, and decreased their biodegradability but also decreased the temperature sensitivity of the decomposition of the DOC and DON. Therefore, shrubland and woodland were the optimal choices for revegetation in the Loess Plateau of China. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:09 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:09 PM Tags: o Biodegradation o Dissolved organic carbon o Dissolved organic nitrogen o Excitation-emission matrix (EEM) o Land-use change o Warming * Effect of environmental factors on regional soil organic carbon stocks across the Loess Plateau region, China Type Journal Article Author Zhipeng Liu Author Ming’an Shao Author Yunqiang Wang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880911001411__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvUKFKkRg$ Volume 142 Issue 3 Pages 184-194 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date August 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2011.05.002 Abstract Accurate knowledge of regional soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and the effects of environmental factors on SOC is crucial, both from the perspective of regional carbon budgets and appropriate landscape management of SOC. However, little information is available regarding the regional SOC stocks in the Loess Plateau region in China. Thus, the objectives of this study were to estimate the current regional SOC stocks and to analyze the relationship between SOC and pertinent environmental factors, i.e. precipitation, temperature, elevation, slope gradient, clay plus silt content (<20μm) and land use. We investigated upper (0–20 and 20–40cm) and deeper (0–100 and 100–200cm) soil layers at 382 sampling sites across the entire Loess Plateau region (620,000km2). Regional spatial distribution of soil organic carbon density (SOCD) was depicted in a map and SOC stocks were calculated for different soil depths using a geostatistical method. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze the effects of environmental factors on SOCD. Results showed that the mean SOCD was 2.64kgCm−2 in the 0–20cm soil layer and 4.57kgCm−2 in the 0–40cm soil layer, and it was estimated that 1.64 and 2.86Pg (1Pg=1015g) of organic carbon were stored in these soil layers, respectively. Estimates for deeper soil layers indicate that mean SOCD in the 0–100 and 0–200cm layers was 7.70 and 12.45kgCm−2, respectively, while the total organic carbon stocks amount to 4.78Pg C (0–100cm) and 5.85Pg C (0–200cm), respectively. Precipitation, temperature, elevation, clay plus silt contents and land use showed significant regional impacts on SOCD. Generally, SOC contents are higher in soils on mountains (with relatively high elevations and low temperatures) and valleys (with low elevations and high precipitation). The results also show that human activities have heavily affected SOC accumulation. Measured SOCD under cropland was relatively higher than under grassland and forestland. The study provides an overview of the current spatial pattern and stocks of SOC, as well as the effects of environmental factors on SOCD, across the entire Loess Plateau region and may be of further use in optimizing strategies for ecological restoration and regional SOC dynamic modeling as an important initial input. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:17 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:17 PM Tags: o Environmental factors o Geostatistics o Land-use o Soil organic carbon density o Spatial pattern * Aggregate dynamics and associated soil organic matter contents as influenced by prolonged arable cropping in the South African Highveld Type Journal Article Author Ingo Lobe Author Alexandra Sandhage-Hofmann Author Sonja Brodowski Author Chris C. du Preez Author Wulf Amelung URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S001670611100036X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvr7JJ7Kw$ Volume 162 Issue 3 Pages 251-259 Publication Geoderma ISSN 0016-7061 Date May 15, 2011 Journal Abbr Geoderma DOI 10.1016/j.geoderma.2011.02.001 Abstract Converting grassland soils to cropland changes the turnover of aggregates and their protective effects on soil organic matter (SOM). Our aim was to elucidate how rapid soil aggregation and associated SOM contents change with increased duration of long-term cropping. The study was conducted in the South African Highveld in three agro-ecosystems with different cropping durations (0–98years) after conversion of the native grassland. Soil samples (0–20cm; Plinthustalfs) were analyzed for aggregate size distribution (six water-stable aggregate fractions) and the C and N contents in each single fraction. Additionally, sieved and ground bulk soil was oxidized with 0.33M KMnO4. With an increase of cultivation time the aggregate size distribution changed remarkably: the large macroaggregates (2000–2800μm) and peds (>2800μm) broke down into finer size classes (exponential rate constant k=0.20year−1), accompanied especially by an increase of the contents of small macroaggregates (250–2000μm) and not of the microaggregates as previously reported for other soil types. The C and N concentrations decreased in all aggregates (k=0.05 to 0.52year−1) and the rate of decline was fastest in the peds. Most C was lost from the 250–2000μm and 53–250μm sized fractions (about 60%). At the primary grassland, the peds (>2800μm) stored 47% of total C, but less than 10% after 90years of cropping. Parts of this C were recovered in smaller aggregate fractions. Especially the C stored in the small macroaggregates (250–2000μm) increased from 27±1% to 61±1% of total C. The total loss of SOM and large aggregates went along with an accelerated loss of its C resistant to oxidation. While 40% of soil C was not oxidizable with KMnO4 from the grassland soil, the contents of this C resistant to chemical oxidation were reduced by up to 50% as cultivation proceeded. Grinding the soil hardly changed this amount. We conclude that the loss of soil structure made also resistant SOM available for decay, which might then be difficult to replace when a restoration of the sites is anticipated. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:09 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:09 PM Tags: o Aggregates o C stabilization o Land use management o Soil organic matter * Shifting thresholds and changing degradation patterns: climate change effects on the simulated long-term response of a semi-arid savanna to grazing Type Journal Article Author Dirk Lohmann Author Britta Tietjen Author Niels Blaum Author David F. Joubert Author Florian Jeltsch URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.jstor.org/stable/23259187__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvy-jRQZQ$ Volume 49 Issue 4 Pages 814-823 Publication Journal of Applied Ecology ISSN 00218901, 13652664 Date 2012 Accessed 2020-03-17, 6:00:00 PM Abstract [1. The complex, nonlinear response of dryland systems to grazing and climatic variations is a challenge to management of these lands. Predicted climatic changes will impact the desertification of drylands under domestic livestock production. Consequently, there is an urgent need to understand the response of drylands to grazing under climate change. 2. We enhanced and parameterized an ecohydrological savanna model to assess the impacts of a range of climate change scenarios on the response of a semi-arid African savanna to grazing. We focused on the effects of temperature and CO 2 level increase in combination with changes in interand intra-annual precipitation patterns on the long-term dynamics of three major plant functional types. 3. We found that the capacity of the savanna to sustain livestock grazing was strongly influenced by climate change. Increased mean annual precipitation and changes in intra-annual precipitation pattern have the potential to slightly increase carrying capacities of the system. In contrast, decreased precipitation, higher interannual variation and temperature increase are leading to a severe decline of carrying capacities owing to losses of the perennial grass biomass. 4. Semi-arid rangelands will be at lower risk of shrub encroachment and encroachment will be less intense under future climatic conditions. This finding holds in spite of elevated levels of atmospheric CO2 and irrespective of changes in precipitation pattern, because of the drought sensitivity of germination and establishment of encroaching species. 5. Synthesis and applications. Changes in livestock carrying capacities, both positive and negative, mainly depend on the highly uncertain future rainfall conditions. However, independent of the specific changes, shrub encroachment becomes less likely and in many cases less severe. Thus, managers of semi-arid rangelands should shift their focus from woody vegetation towards perennial grass species as indicators for rangeland degradation. Furthermore, the resulting reduced competition from woody vegetation has the potential to facilitate ecosystem restoration measures such as re-introduction of desirable plant species that are only little promising or infeasible under current climatic conditions. On a global scale, the reductions in standing biomass resulting from altered degradation dynamics of semi-arid rangelands can have negative impacts on carbon sequestration.] Archive JSTOR Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:50:02 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:50:02 PM * Ecosystem Services from Keystone Species: Diversionary Seeding and Seed-Caching Desert Rodents Can Enhance Indian Ricegrass Seedling Establishment Type Journal Article Author William S. Longland Author Steven M. Ostoja URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2012.00895.x__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv24FfbUo$ Rights Published 2012. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA Volume 21 Issue 2 Pages 285-291 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2013 DOI 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2012.00895.x Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:13:10 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Seeds of Indian ricegrass (Achnatherum hymenoides), a native bunchgrass common to sandy soils on arid western rangelands, are naturally dispersed by seed-caching rodent species, particularly Dipodomys spp. (kangaroo rats). These animals cache large quantities of seeds when mature seeds are available on or beneath plants and recover most of their caches for consumption during the remainder of the year. Unrecovered seeds in caches account for the vast majority of Indian ricegrass seedling recruitment. We applied three different densities of white millet (Panicum miliaceum) seeds as “diversionary foods” to plots at three Great Basin study sites in an attempt to reduce rodents' over-winter cache recovery so that more Indian ricegrass seeds would remain in soil seedbanks and potentially establish new seedlings. One year after diversionary seed application, a moderate level of Indian ricegrass seedling recruitment occurred at two of our study sites in western Nevada, although there was no recruitment at the third site in eastern California. At both Nevada sites, the number of Indian ricegrass seedlings sampled along transects was significantly greater on all plots treated with diversionary seeds than on non-seeded control plots. However, the density of diversionary seeds applied to plots had a marginally non-significant effect on seedling recruitment, and it was not correlated with recruitment patterns among plots. Results suggest that application of a diversionary seed type that is preferred by seed-caching rodents provides a promising passive restoration strategy for target plant species that are dispersed by these rodents. Short Title Ecosystem Services from Keystone Species Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:13:10 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:13:10 PM Tags: o Achnatherum hymenoides o animal-mediated seed dispersal o Dipodomys merriami o Great Basin o heteromyid rodents o kangaroo rats o passive restoration o scatterhoarding Attachments o Snapshot * The role of nurse functional types in seedling recruitment dynamics of alternative states in rangelands Type Journal Article Author Dardo R. López Author Laura Cavallero URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1146609X17300176__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvL1XH_Hc$ Volume 79 Pages 70-80 Publication Acta Oecologica ISSN 1146-609X Date February 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Acta Oecologica DOI 10.1016/j.actao.2017.01.003 Abstract In arid ecosystems, recruitment dynamics are limited by harsh environmental conditions and greatly depend on the net outcome of the balance between facilitation and competition. This outcome can change as a consequence of degradation caused by livestock overgrazing. Also, distinct plant species may show a differential response to a common neighbour under the same environmental conditions. Therefore, ecosystem degradation could affect the net balance of plant-plant interactions, which can also depend on the functional traits of potential nurse species. The aim of this study is to assess the influence of alternative degradation states on (i) the density of seedlings of perennial species emerging in four microsite types, and on (ii) the relative interaction intensity (RII) between seedlings and potential nurses belonging to three functional types (deep- and shallow-rooted shrubs, and tussock grasses). During three years, we recorded seedling density of perennial species in four alternative degradation states in grass-shrubby steppes from northwestern Patagonia. The density of emerged seedlings of perennial species decreased sharply as degradation increased, showing non-linear responses in most microsites. Seedling density underneath deep-rooted shrubs was higher than underneath shallow-rooted shrubs and tussock grasses. Also, deep-rooted shrubs were the only functional type that recorded seedling emergence in highly degraded states. Deep-rooted shrubs had facilitative effects on the seedlings emerging and surviving underneath them, independently of ecosystem degradation. In contrast, RII between shallow-rooted shrubs and recently emerged seedlings, switched from positive effects in the less degraded states, to negative effects in the most degraded state. Tussock grasses recorded the weakest intensity of facilitative interactions with recently emerged seedlings, switching to competitive interactions as degradation increased. Our results suggest that species with key functional traits should be considered in management and restoration plans for rangelands with different degradation levels, since they have a strong influence in the net outcome of plant-plant interactions and in the recruitment dynamics of arid ecosystems. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:36 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:04:36 PM Tags: o Critical threshold o Facilitation o Overgrazing o Seedling emergence o Seedling survival * Local adaptation along a sharp rainfall gradient occurs in a native Patagonian grass, Festuca pallescens, regardless of extensive gene flow Type Journal Article Author Aldana S. López Author Dardo R. López Author Gonzalo Caballé Author Guillermo L. Siffredi Author Paula Marchelli URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0098847219315308__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvauPb8VY$ Volume 171 Pages 103933 Publication Environmental and Experimental Botany ISSN 0098-8472 Date March 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Environmental and Experimental Botany DOI 10.1016/j.envexpbot.2019.103933 Abstract Increasing global aridity combined with changing environmental conditions might cause irreparable alterations in arid and semiarid ecosystems. Knowledge of within-species genetic diversity and adaptive responses, especially along climatic gradients, becomes critical to inform management, conservation and restoration efforts. We combine the analysis of neutral (microsatellites) and adaptive divergence (morphological traits in common garden experiments) between populations along a sharp precipitation gradient in the native Patagonian grass Festuca pallescens, to disentangle patterns of local adaptation and genetic diversity. The identification of genetically based traits under divergent selection denoted the existence of local adaptation in spite of extensive gene flow. Two plant growth patterns were detected associated with two ecological regions. In arid environments, a trade-off between not resigning foliage production, and reducing the exposure to drying agents resulted in a compacted plant architecture; while in dry subhumid environments, populations exhibited a wide architecture to cope with rainfall and radiation interception. Increasing aridity and grazing might favor a compact plant architecture, and fragmentation might reduce genetic diversity across these environments. Being a widely distributed species, F. pallescens is an excellent model species to study adaptive responses across environmental gradients facing climate change predictions, especially in dryland rangelands that maintain multiple ecosystem functions. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:41 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:41 PM Tags: o Drylands o Environmental gradients o Festuca pallescens o Local adaptation o Neutral genetic diversity o Phenotypic variation * Viable seed banks under grazing and exclosure conditions in montane mesic grasslands of Argentina Type Journal Article Author Alejandro Loydi Author Sergio M. Zalba Author Roberto A. Distel URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1146609X12000549__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvqRKQMjM$ Volume 43 Pages 8-15 Publication Acta Oecologica ISSN 1146-609X Date August 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Acta Oecologica DOI 10.1016/j.actao.2012.05.002 Abstract Grazing by large herbivores affects the composition of established vegetation and seed banks. Montane Pampas grasslands are highly productive and have evolved with the influence of grazing by native herbivores. Thus we proposed, firstly that grazing by feral horses would increase seed bank diversity, without changing seed density in grazed areas and secondly that there is a greater similarity between the seed bank and aboveground vegetation in exclosure areas. The study area is located in sub-humid montane grassland in mid-eastern Argentina. Sampling took place at the beginning and end of summer in 2008 and 2009, in three one-year-old exclosures and grazed areas. Soil and litter samples were collected and established vegetation cover was visually recorded in every area. Each sample was elutriated and sieved. Seed composition was recorded using a dissecting microscope. Seed density and species richness of the samples was analyzed using ANOVA and species composition was analyzed by multivariate analysis. Grazing reduces the seed density and richness of grasses, but forb species are not affected. The seed density of grasses increases in soil samples at the end of summer, while the density of forb species does not change. Similarity between the established vegetation and the seed bank was low. Grazing affects seed bank composition which could limit restoration time after the removal of herbivores. However, grass seed availability increases considerably during a short period after exclosure establishment, showing high potential for recovery in sub-humid grasslands. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:50 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:50 PM Tags: o Feral horses o Grassland diversity o Litter o Plant–herbivore interactions o Restoration o Sub-humid grasslands * Effects of grazing on ecosystem structure and function of alpine grasslands in Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau: a synthesis Type Journal Article Author Xuyang Lu Author Kathy C. Kelsey Author Yan Yan Author Jian Sun Author Xiaodan Wang Author Genwei Cheng Author Jason C. Neff URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.1656__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvxzZGAPk$ Volume 8 Issue 1 Pages e01656 Publication Ecosphere ISSN 2150-8925 Date January 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Ecosphere DOI 10.1002/ecs2.1656 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Abstract Humans have grazed on the Qinghai?Tibetan Plateau (QTP) for many thousands of years. In recent decades, the intensity of grazing has increased and several new management strategies have been put into place to address the resulting changes in rangeland condition. Effective management of grazing activities in this region requires understanding the impact of livestock grazing across the diverse array of alpine grassland ecosystems present in the QTP, but recent studies have identified a number of critical uncertainties in the ecological science that underlies these management principles. To address these uncertainties, we carried out a synthesis analysis of the effect of livestock grazing on 26 indicators of ecosystem structure and function based on 61 studies from 88 independent research sites within the QTP. Our synthesis results indicate that livestock grazing exerts complex controls on ecosystem structure and function, which vary according to local landscape characteristics. We found that grazing contributes to greater plant species diversity (Shannon?Wiener index, Simpson dominance index, and Pielou evenness index significantly increased 0.18, 0.05, and 0.03, respectively, due to grazing), but decreased aboveground biomass (47.15%), soil organic carbon (12.41%), soil total nitrogen (12.75%), and microbial biomass carbon (9.42%). Further, ecosystem function is controlled by interactions between grazing and other landscape characteristics such as elevation and mean annual temperature. The management regime currently in place in the QTP, which involves complete exclusion of grazing in some areas, can have variable effects on grassland health. Therefore, the complexity of these responses is an indication that livestock and grassland management may benefit from a more nuanced management regime than is currently utilized in the QTP. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:52:03 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:52:03 PM Tags: o livestock grazing o “retire livestock and restore grassland” (RLRG) o alpine meadow o alpine steppe o grassland degradation o grazing intensity Notes: o doi: 10.1002/ecs2.1656 * Nutrient resorption response to fire and nitrogen addition in a semi-arid grassland Type Journal Article Author Xiao-Tao Lü Author Qiang Cui Author Qi-Bing Wang Author Xing-Guo Han URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857410003484__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvPwEM06A$ Volume 37 Issue 3 Pages 534-538 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date March 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2010.12.013 Abstract Fire and nitrogen (N) addition, both widely used grassland restoration strategies, strongly influence community composition and ecosystem functioning. However, little is known about their effects on plant nutrient resorption from senescing leaves, especially in semi-arid ecosystems. We evaluated the effects of fire, N addition (5.25gNm−2yr−1) and their potential interactions on nutrient resorption in five plant species in a semi-arid grassland in northern China. Foliar nutrient concentrations and resorption proficiencies and efficiencies varied substantially among species and functional groups. Fire increased green leaf N concentration ([N]g) and decreased N resorption proficiency (N RP), P resorption proficiency (P RP) and P resorption efficiency (P RE). N addition led to higher [N]g and lower N resorption, whereas it did not affect P related responses. There was no interaction between fire and N addition to affect all response variables except for green leaf P concentration ([P]g). These results suggest that fire and N addition can influence ecosystem nutrient cycling directly by changing resorption patterns and litter quality. Given the substantial interspecific variations in nutrient content and resorption and the potentially changing community composition, both fire and N addition may have indirect impacts on ecosystem nutrient cycling in this semi-arid grassland. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:46 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:46 PM Tags: o Nitrogen deposition o Prescribed burning o Resorption efficiency o Resorption proficiency o Temperate steppe * Effect of vegetation types on chemical and biological properties of soils of karst ecosystems Type Journal Article Author Xiaoqiang Lu Author Hiroto Toda Author Fangjun Ding Author Shengzuo Fang Author Wanxia Yang Author Haigen Xu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1164556313001350__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvKLiloj8$ Volume 61 Pages 49-57 Publication European Journal of Soil Biology ISSN 1164-5563 Date March 1, 2014 Journal Abbr European Journal of Soil Biology DOI 10.1016/j.ejsobi.2013.12.007 Abstract Inappropriate human activities have caused widespread reductions of forests and have produced degradation in karst regions of China. In the past two decades, numerous attempts have been made to promote recovery of the degraded soil using afforestation and natural regeneration approaches. A better understanding of the effects of vegetation types on the chemical and biological properties of the soil is very important for both reforestation approaches. Five vegetation types, namely, natural old-growth forest (>80 years old), grassland (15–25 years old), natural regeneration (20–25 years old), bamboo plantation (23 years old) and pine plantation (22 years old), were investigated in the Maolan karst area of Guizhou Province. The soil quality index (SQI) was evaluated with a cluster analysis and a principal components analysis to compare soil quality classes among the vegetation types. The results indicated that soil organic matter, the MBC/TOC ratio and soil basal respiration were the most important factors reflecting the general chemical and biological properties of the soil. Based on the SQI values, the soil quality under the selected vegetation types could be divided into three groups: low soil quality (pine plantation with SQI = 0.26 and grassland with SQI = 0.29), intermediate soil quality (bamboo plantation with SQI = 0.41 and natural regeneration forest with SQI = 0.46) and high soil quality (natural old–growth forest with SQI = 0.63). The results of this study suggested that the pure plantation of Pinus massoniana had a negative impact on soil quality and that natural restoration may represent a more effective approach to the improvement of soil quality in degraded karst areas. These results also showed a strong interaction between soil quality, nutrient dynamics and vegetation types. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:11 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:11 PM Tags: o Afforestation o Carbon and nitrogen mineralization o Chemical and biological properties o Karst o Soil quality index * Using hydrogel filled, embedded tubes to sustain grass transplants for arid land restoration Type Journal Article Author M.E. Lucero Author D.R. Dreesen Author D.M. VanLeeuwen URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196310000303__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvkeO5Jqs$ Volume 74 Issue 8 Pages 987-990 Publication Journal of Arid Environments ISSN 0140-1963 Date August 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Journal of Arid Environments DOI 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2010.01.007 Abstract Grass restoration on remote arid rangelands may require irrigation to stimulate establishment. However, irrigation on undeveloped sites is costly. Vertical irrigation tubes that direct applied moisture to subsurface zones where evaporation is reduced, and hydrogels that prevent applied moisture from infiltrating beyond plant root zones can maximize the portion of applied water available for plant uptake. The survival and growth of Bouteloua eriopoda (Torr.) Torr. transplants irrigated with either starch- or acrylic-based hydrogels contained in one of three embedded watering tube styles were evaluated in a greenhouse trial. A field trial evaluated differences in transplant survival and cover between treatments consisting of embedded watering tubes with or without acrylic hydrogels. Greenhouse transplants from all treatments grew 146 days on less than 1 L of water. Plants irrigated with starch hydrogels consumed the most water and exhibited the most growth. Variations in tube styles had minor effects on plant growth and water loss from tubes. In the field, heavy growing season precipitation was observed, and transplant survival was high for both treatments. No significant differences in cover were detected. Greenhouse data demonstrate potential for hydrogel filled, embedded tubes to provide adequate moisture for establishment and growth of deep-rooted black grama transplants. Field data indicate deep-rooted black grama transplants establish successfully when adequate moisture is available. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:51 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:51 PM Tags: o Black grama o Remote site irrigation o Soil Moist™ * Half century change of interactions among ecosystem services driven by ecological restoration: Quantification and policy implications at a watershed scale in the Chinese Loess Plateau Type Journal Article Author Ying Luo Author Yihe Lü Author Bojie Fu Author Qiuju Zhang Author Ting Li Author Weiyin Hu Author Alexis Comber URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969718339950__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvgOYizhA$ Volume 651 Pages 2546-2557 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date February 15, 2019 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.10.116 Abstract The concept of Ecosystem Service (ES) has provided an underpinning framework for ecological restoration research and applications. Ecological restoration is a corrective intervention that aims to reverse land degradation and to contribute to the 2030 Global Sustainable Development goal of Land Degradation Neutrality. It is critical to investigate the long-term effects of ecological restoration and land use change on ESs and ES interactions (synergies or trade-offs) to better understand the mechanisms supporting this goal. This paper describes an analysis of land use and ESs using historical data for a typical watershed in Chinese Loess Plateau, which has experienced series of restoration activities since the 1950s. Six important ESs (food provisioning, soil retention, hydrological regulation, carbon sequestration, water purification and habitat provisioning for biodiversity) were quantified at eight intervals between 1958 and 2015. The interactions between ESs were evaluated by correlation analysis. The results show that soil retention, carbon sequestration, water purification and habitat provisioning for biodiversity increased significantly across the different land use types over several decades but not hydrological regulation. The relationship between ESs was found to be variable over different time periods and a transition point between 1990 and 1995 was identified. Grassland was found to maintain greater water yield than woodland with high values of other ESs. The results suggest that trade-offs between ESs can be mitigated by adjusting the proportion of some important land use types (such as woodland and grassland). Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:25 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:25 PM Tags: o Correlation analysis o Ecological restoration o Ecosystem service o Land-use change o Temporal scale o Watershed management * Potential Environmental Impacts of Oil and Natural Gas Production on a Shortgrass Steppe Type Journal Article Author Randi Corrine Lupardus Date 2017 Date Added 2020-03-17, 9:55:38 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:55:52 PM * Succession after reclamation: Identifying and assessing ecological indicators of forest recovery on reclaimed oil and natural gas well pads Type Journal Article Author Randi C. Lupardus Author Anne C.S. McIntosh Author Arnold Janz Author Dan Farr URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X1930500X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvh_h5wEA$ Volume 106 Pages 105515 Publication Ecological Indicators ISSN 1470-160X Date November 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2019.105515 Abstract Site preparation for oil and gas extraction often requires the complete removal of vegetation and surface soil on the well pad. Although subsequent reclamation then attempts to restore vegetation and soil properties on the well pad, given the magnitude of the extraction disturbance, the potential to shift its successional trajectory is high. The objectives of this study were to: i) assess successional recovery of vegetation and soil on decommissioned and reclaimed well pads and compare it with reference forest of varied successional stages, and ii) identify which above- and below-ground properties were influenced by reclamation and are thus useful ecological indicators for recovery towards forest. We sampled 30 study units in Alberta’s boreal forest; each site included a reclaimed well pad and adjacent reference site, with well pads ranging from 7 to 48 years post-reclamation. We conducted multivariate statistical analysis using 62 ecological above- and below-ground properties (e.g., percent cover of plant species, soil bulk density) categorized by: site type (reclaimed vs reference), natural subregion, forest stage, forest type, and time since reclamation. By grouping sites by site type, forest type, forest stage, and time since last disturbance, there was a clear separation of sites, with only two reclaimed well pads (7%) resembling plant community composition of reference areas, and 18 well pads (60%) resembling treeless grasslands, two of which were > 35 years post disturbance, indicating an arrested recovery trajectory. The remaining 33% of well pads are likely on a trajectory towards recovery. We found that reclamation had a significant effect on soil bulk density (E = 0.35), soil pH (E = 0.24), noxious plant species (E = 2.33), canopy cover (E = −0.26), grass cover (E = 0.16), woody cover (E = −0.18), LFH depth (E = −0.15), introduced species richness (E = 0.26), and live tree basal area (E = −0.17) after controlling for forest stage and time since disturbance. Our results indicate well pad impacts can be long lasting and may remain for decades or more post reclamation, potentially arresting their recovery trajectory. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:46 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:56:03 PM Tags: o Boreal forest o Ecological recovery o Oil and natural gas o Reclamation o Soil indicators o Well pads * Uncovering traits in recovering grasslands: A functional assessment of oil and gas well pad reclamation Type Journal Article Author Randi C. Lupardus Author Ermias T. Azeria Author Kierann Santala Author Isabelle Aubin Author Anne C.S. McIntosh URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590290319300161__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv8QTCc8M$ Volume 5 Pages 100016 Publication Ecological Engineering: X ISSN 2590-2903 Date January 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering: X DOI 10.1016/j.ecoena.2019.100016 Abstract Oil and gas exploration has disturbed extensive areas of grassland in North America. Reclamation of this human footprint is only a first step towards ecological recovery. A trait-based approach may provide a mechanistic understanding of biological and edaphic filters influencing longer-term plant community assembly on reclaimed sites. Using taxonomic indices, trait community weighted means (CWM), and functional diversity (FDQ) combined with multivariate models, we compared biological and edaphic properties of 18 reclaimed well pads in Alberta (Canada), to proximate native grasslands. These well pads were certified reclaimed under two reclamation criteria (old, new). Consistent with practices in other regions, newer criteria emphasize using native plant species in place of historically-used introduced agronomic species. We found significant differences between reclaimed and undisturbed reference soil properties (e.g., pH, electrical conductivity), with greater differences on sites reclaimed using the older criteria (e.g., lower TOC, higher bulk density). Plant trait composition also differed between reclaimed and undisturbed sites, with a lower prevalence of short, native, xeric species, with semi-abundant seed production and large seed weight on reclaimed sites. We found a strong trait-environment relationship underlying trait composition difference. While not significantly different in overall trait composition from new sites, old sites included higher prevalence of introduced species, dispersed by animals, preferring mesic conditions, and high seed production. The increased cover of introduced species reduced trait FDQ and led to an arrested succession. New sites included higher prevalence of tall, native species preferring hydric conditions, therophytes, geophytes, and species with low dispersal capacity. The use of native seed with higher FDQ on new sites seemed to alleviate arrested succession; However, biological trait filters (e.g., tall, hydric preference) and altered edaphic properties, might continue to drive differences between reclaimed and reference sites. Our results suggest that even as practices and policies evolve, reclamation does not fully alleviate the legacy effects of this industrial disturbance. We have demonstrated how trait-based approaches can inform recovery assessment and future reclamation best practices. We must go beyond simply seeding with native species for recovery of plant communities – the traits of these native species matter too. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:51 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:55:49 PM Tags: o Exotics o Functional diversity o Grassland o Industrial disturbance o Introduced forage o Legacy effects o Plant traits o Soil quality o Succession * Effects of 10-Year Management Regimes on the Soil Seed Bank in Saline-Alkaline Grassland Type Journal Article Author Hongyuan Ma Author Haoyu Yang Author Zhengwei Liang Author Mark K. J. Ooi URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0122319__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv_4MZ0JI$ Volume 10 Issue 4 Pages e0122319 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Apr 22, 2015 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0122319 Accessed 2020-03-12, 3:14:53 PM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract Background Management regimes for vegetation restoration of degraded grasslands can significantly affect the process of ecological succession. However, few studies have focused on variation in the soil seed bank during vegetation restoration under different management regimes, especially in saline-alkaline grassland habitats. Our aim was to provide insights into the ecological effects of grassland management regimes on soil seed bank composition and vegetation establishment in mown, fenced, transplanted and natural grassland sites, all dominated by the perennial rhizomatous grass Leymus chinensis. Methodology We studied species composition and diversity in both the soil seed bank and aboveground vegetation in differently managed grasslands in Northeast China. An NMDS (nonmetric multidimensional scaling) was used to evaluate the relationship between species composition, soil seed banks, aboveground vegetation and soil properties. Principal Findings Fenced and mown grassland sites had high density and species richness in both the soil seed bank and aboveground vegetation. The Transplanted treatment exhibited the highest vegetation growth and seed production of the target species L. chinensis. Seeds of L. chinensis in the soil occurred only in transplanted and natural grassland. Based on the NMDS analysis, the number of species in both the soil seed bank and aboveground vegetation were significantly related to soil Na+, Cl-, RSC (residual sodium carbonate), alkalinity, ESP (exchangeable sodium percentage) and AP (available phosphorus). Conclusions Soil seed bank composition and diversity in the saline-alkaline grassland were significantly affected by the management regimes implemented, and were also significantly related to the aboveground vegetation and several soil properties. Based on vegetative growth, reproductive output and maintenance of soil seed bank, the transplanting was identified as the most effective method for relatively rapid restoration of the target species L. chinensis. This approach could be beneficial for the restoration of dominant species in a wide range of degraded grassland ecosystems. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:14:53 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:14:53 PM Tags: o Ecosystems o Grasslands o Grazing o Habitats o Seedlings o Seeds o Soil ecology o Species diversity Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Grazing disturbance increases transient but decreases persistent soil seed bank Type Journal Article Author Miaojun Ma Author Jeffrey l. Walck Author Zhen Ma Author Lipei Wang Author Guozhen Du URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.1706__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvOkDEhXE$ Volume 28 Issue 4 Pages 1020-1031 Publication Ecological Applications ISSN 1051-0761 Date June 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Ecological Applications DOI 10.1002/eap.1706 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Abstract Very few studies have examined whether the impacts of grazing disturbance on soil seed banks occur directly or indirectly through aboveground vegetation and soil properties. The potential role of the seed bank in alpine wetland restoration is also unknown. We used SEM (structural equation modeling) to explore the direct effect of grazing disturbance on the seed bank and the indirect effect through aboveground vegetation and soil properties. We also studied the role of the seed bank on the restoration potential in wetlands with various grazing intensities: low (fenced, winter grazed only), medium (seasonally grazed), and high (whole-year grazed). For the seed bank, species richness and density per plot showed no difference among grazing intensities for each depth (0?5, 5?10, 10?15 cm) and for the whole depth (0?15 cm) in spring and summer. There was no direct effect of grazing disturbance on seed bank richness and density both in spring and summer, and also no indirect effect on the seed bank through its direct effect on vegetation richness and abundance. Grazing disturbance indirectly increased spring seed bank density but decreased summer seed bank density through its direct effect (negative correlation) on soil moisture and total nitrogen and its indirect effect on vegetation abundance. Species composition of the vegetation changed with grazing regime, but that of the seed bank did not. An increased trend of similarity between the seed bank and aboveground vegetation with increased grazing disturbance was found in the shallow depth and in the whole depth only in spring. Although there was almost no change in seed bank size with grazing intensities, grazing disturbance increased the quantity of transient seeds but decreased persistent seeds. Persistent seeds stored in the soil could play a crucial role in vegetation regeneration and in restoration of degraded wetland ecosystems. The seed bank should be an integral part of alpine wetland restoration programs. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:52:01 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:52:01 PM Tags: o restoration o alpine wetland o grazed disturbance o SEM o soil seed bank o Tibetan Plateau Notes: o doi: 10.1002/eap.1706 * Variation in actual evapotranspiration following changes in climate and vegetation cover during an ecological restoration period (2000–2015) in the Loess Plateau, China Type Journal Article Author Zonghan Ma Author Nana Yan Author Bingfang Wu Author Alfred Stein Author Weiwei Zhu Author Hongwei Zeng URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969719327263__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvrvd9B_U$ Volume 689 Pages 534-545 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date November 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.155 Abstract The spatial distribution of water resources largely influences Earth ecosystems and human civilization. Being a major component of the global water cycle, evapotranspiration (ET) serves as an indicator of the availability of water resources. Understanding the actual ET (ETa) variation mechanism at different spatial and temporal scales can improve management of water use within the sustainable development limits. In this study, remote sensing derived ETa data were used to study water resource fluctuations in the Loess Plateau, China. This region covers diverse climate types from humid to arid and experienced large changes in vegetation cover during a revegetation project between 2000 and 2015. The relations between spatiotemporal variation of ETa, climate factors and vegetation change were explored using statistical methods. The results show that cropland, forestland and grassland take the largest percentage of total ETa. Total ETa exhibited a marginally increasing trend (p < 0.1) during 2000–2010 and no trend during 2011–2015. Windspeed and vegetation cover index highly influenced ETa, followed by atmospheric pressure, air humidity, precipitation, bright sunshine duration and temperature. Temperature has little effect on ETa throughout the Loess Plateau. The monitoring of water resources based upon water balance between precipitation, ETa and river flow changes shows that water consumption deficit is consistent with vegetation changes: it was large during 2000–2010 when vegetation increased rapidly and decreased after 2010. These results could help to develop different water saving strategies across the Loess Plateau and build a better monitoring system of water resources. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:28 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:28 PM Tags: o Climate change o Evapotranspiration modelling o Grain for Green project o Loess Plateau o Remote sensing o Water sustainability * The confluence of landscape context and site-level management in determining Midwestern savanna and woodland breeding bird communities Type Journal Article Author Catherine M. Mabry Author Lars A. Brudvig Author Ryan C. Atwell URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112710001921__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv_0p48EM$ Volume 260 Issue 1 Pages 42-51 Publication Forest Ecology and Management ISSN 0378-1127 Date June 15, 2010 Journal Abbr Forest Ecology and Management DOI 10.1016/j.foreco.2010.03.028 Abstract Species distributions are determined by complex interplays between multi-scale factors. Conservation management, however, often occurs at a single scale of the site level. This is true for bird communities of restored savannas and mixed woodlands in the central U.S. In this region, many historic open-canopy oak savanna habitats have become closed canopy mixed woodlands due to loss of landscape-scale disturbance from fire and grazing. Site-level management efforts return some mixed woodland habitats back to savanna through fire and mechanical thinning. Savanna and woodland historically formed complex mosaic landscapes at the ecotone between prairies and Eastern deciduous forests and now exist within landscapes that vary in amount of open (e.g., perennial grassland and row crop agriculture) and woodland habitat. To understand the interplay between site and landscape level factors in savanna restoration, we sampled the breeding bird community in four combinations of site and landscape: restored savanna in open landscapes, restored savanna in woodland landscapes, and closed canopy woodland in both landscapes. We found that the outcome of site-level savanna restoration depended on the surrounding landscape. Compared to other treatment types, restored savannas in open landscapes supported a distinctive bird community characterized by high species richness, bird abundance, and percent of ground feeders, shrub nesters, and edge species. Both savanna and woodland sites in the open landscape had a higher percent of species of conservation concern, while at both site and landscape levels, woodland was associated with a higher percent of area sensitive species and habitat specialists. Our results suggest savanna restoration efforts should focus on sites that exist either in open country or on edges where closed canopy forest meets open country. This strategy would combine site and landscape level benefits of savanna restoration for avian diversity, while also preserving the conservation benefits of large tracts of intact forest. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:28:58 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:28:58 PM Tags: o Habitat mosaic o Landscape effects o Landscape planning o Matrix o Savanna restoration * Long-term experimental restoration in a calcareous grassland: Identifying the most effective restoration strategies Type Journal Article Author Simona Maccherini Author Elisa Santi URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320711004617__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvJZfmSpw$ Volume 146 Issue 1 Pages 123-135 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date February 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2011.11.032 Abstract Calcareous grasslands are among the most diverse habitats, supporting species-rich vegetation. Propagule limitation and availability of microsites for germination represent major constraints to the successful restoration of these grasslands. To date, little information is available on the effectiveness of seed addition and soil disturbance on the restoration success of encroached semi-natural calcareous grasslands. Here, we conducted a 1year before – 9year after control-impact (BACI) study aimed at testing the effect of the addition of seeds of native species and livestock grazing on calcareous grasslands. Each restoration measure and their combination differed in their impact on these communities and varied over time. Grazing had a significant, beneficial, impact on these communities, although the impact was species-specific. On average, grazed plots were characterized by a higher number of species and a lower vegetation cover. Nine years after treatment application, grazed site were dominated by Trifolium incarnatum subsp. molinerii, Xeranthemum cylindraceum, Orlaya grandiflora, Teucrium chamaedrys and Bromus erectus while ungrazed sites were dominated by B. erectus, X. cylindraceum, O. grandiflora and Prunus spinosa. Only 8 out of 34 species responded significantly to disturbance or/and disturbance and seed addition while 22 species were significantly affected by the sampling year and 18 by a blocking factor. The low recruitment from added seeds and the fact that seed addition is a time-and labor-consuming activity suggests that an adequate level of disturbance and natural regeneration represent the most cost-effective approach to the restoration of these calcareous grasslands. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:27 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:27 PM Tags: o BACI design o Grazing o Long-term monitoring o Permanent plot o Seed addition * Beneficial effects of restoration practices can be thwarted by climate extremes Type Journal Article Author Simona Maccherini Author Giovanni Bacaro Author Michela Marignani URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969718301372__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvjc76vFY$ Volume 626 Pages 851-859 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date June 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.01.117 Abstract The impacts of climate extremes on species, communities and ecosystems have become critical concerns to science and society. Under a changing climate, how restoration outcomes are affected by extreme climate variables is a largely unknown topic. We analyzed the effects of experimental factors (grazing and sowing of native species), extreme climate events (intense precipitation and extreme temperatures indexes) and their combination on the restoration progress of a dry, calcareous grassland in Tuscany (Italy) with a 1 year before/15 years continuous annual monitoring after, control/impact (BACI) experiment. Grazing had a beneficial effect on the diversity of the grassland, while sowing had a limited impact. The climatic index that most affected the entire plant community composition was the number of very heavy precipitation days. The interaction of grazing and extreme climatic indexes had a significant detrimental effect on restoration outcomes, increasing the cover of synanthropic and Cosmopolitan-Subcosmopolitan generalist species and decreasing the cover of more valuable species such endemic species. In the richest grazed plots, species richness showed a lower sensitivity to the average precipitation per wet day but in grazed site, restoration outcomes can be negatively influenced by the intensification of precipitation and temperature extremes. In a context of progressive tropicalization of the Mediterranean area, to assist managers setting achievable restoration goals, restoration practitioners should consider that climate extremes might interfere with the beneficial effects of restoration practices. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:37 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:37 PM Tags: o Calcareous grassland o Climate change o Grazing o Long-term ecological research o Mediterranean climate o Monitoring restoration o Restoration experiment * Restoring low-input high-diversity grasslands as a potential global resource for biofuels Type Journal Article Author Brian Machovina Author Kenneth J. Feeley URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969717318107__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvgWoua1Y$ Volume 609 Pages 205-214 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date December 31, 2017 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.07.109 Abstract Reducing meat consumption by humans and shifting to more efficient plant and animal protein sources could potentially free up large areas of pasture and feedcrop agricultural land for restoration or conversion to low-input high-diversity (LIHD) grasslands. LIHD grasslands improve biodiversity, carbon sequestration, erosion control, water storage, while also providing opportunities to produce biofuels. We examined the potential of converting pastures globally, and animal feedstock agricultural lands in the USA and Brazil, to LIHD biomass sources and the capacity of these systems to meet national energy demands via (1) cellulosic ethanol and (2) integrated gasification and combined cycle technology with Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon synthesis (IGCC-FT) processing. Our analyses, which we argue are conservative, indicate that large amounts of energy, far in excess of many country's current demands, can potentially be produced from IGCC-FT processing of grassland biomass grown on converted pastures, especially in tropical developing countries. Over 40 countries could meet ≥100% of their domestic demands for electricity, gasoline, and diesel. If energy products were shared between countries, the 95 countries with positive energy production yields could meet 46%, 28%, and 39% of their combined electricity, gasoline, and diesel demands, respectively. While it is clearly unrealistic to propose a 100% conversion of pasture lands to biofuel production, these analyses highlight the potential gains in ecosystem services and energy production that could theoretically be achieved on already-managed lands. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:19 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:19 PM Tags: o Biofuel o Fischer-Tropsch o Grasslands o Restoration o Syngas * Asymmetric Ecological and Economic Responses for Rangeland Restoration: A Case Study of Tree Thickening in Queensland, Australia Type Journal Article Author Neil D. MacLeod Author Joe C. Scanlan Author Joel R. Brown URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190052814500223__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvm-FCCmU$ Volume 36 Issue 2 Pages 37-44 Publication Rangelands ISSN 0190-0528 Date April 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Rangelands DOI 10.2111/RANGELANDS-D-13-00074.1 Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:12 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:55:57 PM Tags: o bio-economic modelling o ecological thresholds o economic thresholds o prescribed fire o ranching o rangeland rehabilitation o timber thickening * A Workshop on Future Directions of Usable Science for Rangeland Sustainability Type Journal Article Author Kristie A. Maczko Author Lori A. Hidinger Author John A. Tanaka Author Chad R. Ellis URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190052816000146__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvGOH5ED8$ Volume 38 Issue 2 Pages 53-63 Publication Future Directions of Usable Science for Rangeland Sustainability ISSN 0190-0528 Date April 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Rangelands DOI 10.1016/j.rala.2016.02.006 Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:10 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:00:10 PM Tags: o plants and animals o socio-economic aspects o soil health o sustainable rangelands o usable science o water * Emerging seed enhancement technologies for overcoming barriers to restoration Type Journal Article Author Matthew D. Madsen Author Kirk W. Davies Author Chad S. Boyd Author Jay D. Kerby Author Tony J. Svejcar URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12332__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvseXYi-4$ Rights © 2016 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 24 Issue S2 Pages S77-S84 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2016 DOI 10.1111/rec.12332 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:14:01 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Rangelands occupy over a third of global land area, and in many cases are in less than optimum condition as a result of past land use, catastrophic wildfire, and other disturbances, invasive species, or climate change. Often the only means of restoring these lands involves seeding desirable species, yet there are few cost effective-seeding technologies, especially for the more arid rangeland types. The inability to consistently establish desired plants from seed may indicate that seeding technologies being employed are not successful in addressing the primary sources of mortality in the progression from seed to established plant. Seed enhancement technologies allow for the physical manipulation and application of materials to the seed that can enhance germination, emergence, and/or early seedling growth. In this article, we examine some of the major limiting factors impairing seedling establishment in North America's sagebrush steppe ecosystem and propose seed enhancement technologies that may have the potential to overcome these restoration barriers. We discuss specific technologies for: (1) increasing soil water availability; (2) enhancing seedling emergence in crusting soil; (3) controlling the timing of seed germination; (4) improving plantability and emergence of small-seeded species; (5) enhancing seed coverage of broadcasted seeds; and (6) protecting seedlings from pre-emergent herbicide. Concepts and technologies in this article for restoring the sagebrush steppe ecosystem may apply generally to semiarid and arid rangelands around the globe. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:14:01 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:14:01 PM Tags: o annual grasses o restoration o revegetation o seed coating o seed technology o wildfire Attachments o Snapshot * Improving Restoration of Exotic Annual Grass-Invaded Rangelands Through Activated Carbon Seed Enhancement Technologies Type Journal Article Author Matthew D. Madsen Author Kirk W. Davies Author Daniel L. Mummey Author Tony J. Svejcar URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742414500097__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv0-mYQEQ$ Volume 67 Issue 1 Pages 61-67 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date January 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/REM-D-13-00050.1 Abstract Cost-efficient strategies for revegetating annual grass-infested rangelands are limited. Restoration efforts typically comprise a combination of pre-emergent herbicide application and seeding to restore desired plant materials. However, practitioners struggle with applying herbicide at rates sufficient to achieve weed control without damaging nontarget species. The objective of this research was to determine if seed enhancement technologies using activated carbon would improve selectivity of the pre-emergent herbicide imazapic. Bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata) seed was either untreated, coated with activated carbon, or incorporated into “herbicide protection pods” (HPPs) made of activated carbon through a newly developed seed extrusion technique. In a grow-room facility, bluebunch wheatgrass seeds were sown in pots that contained seed of the exotic-annual grass downy brome (Bromus tectorum). After planting, pots were sprayed with 70, 105, 140, or 210 g acid equivalent (ae) · ha-1 of imazapic or left unsprayed. Where herbicide was not applied, downy brome biomass dominated the growing space. Imazapic effectively controlled downy brome and untreated bluebunch wheatgrass. Seed coating improved bluebunch wheatgrass tolerance to imazapic at 70 g ae · ha-1. HPPs provided protection from imazapic at all application rates. When untreated seeds and HPPs are compared at the four levels of herbicide application (excluding the no herbicide level), HPPs on average were 4.8-, 3.8-, and 19.0-fold higher than untreated seeds in density, height, and biomass, respectively. These results indicate that HPPs and, to a lesser extent, activated carbon–coated seed have the potential to further enhance a single-entry revegetation program by providing land practitioners with the ability to apply imazapic at rates necessary for weed control while minimizing nontarget plant injury. Additional research is merited for further development and evaluation of these seed enhancement technologies, including field studies, before they can be recommended as restoration treatments. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:03 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:56:37 PM Tags: o annual grasses o bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata) o downy brome/cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) o herbicide protection pod o revegetation o seed coating * Comparison of techniques to control the aggressive environmental invasive species Galenia pubescens in a degraded grassland reserve, Victoria, Australia Type Journal Article Author Ako H. Mahmood Author Singarayer Florentine Author Friedrich P. Graz Author Christopher Turville Author Grant Palmer Author James Sillitoe Author David McLaren URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0203653__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvfUjr9q4$ Volume 13 Issue 11 Pages e0203653 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Nov 14, 2018 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0203653 Accessed 2020-03-12, 3:24:31 PM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract Across many southern regions of Australia, native grasslands have become seriously threatened by human activity, with only a fraction of the original areas remaining undisturbed. In particular, the introduction and establishment of exotic invasive weeds has caused significant degradation to the ecosystems in these areas by contributing to a decrease in native plant density and diversity, and this has ultimately led to major changes to the ecosystem structure and function. One such example is Galenia pubescens. Our objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of four different attempts to control G. pubescens: herbicide control with glyphosate; organic herbicide control with pine oil; the application of mulch; and the addition of seeds of native species to the seedbank. Results shows that any one single control strategy is insufficient to control G. pubescens, and, in addition, it has shown that regeneration of native vegetation is limited unless direct seeding is applied. There was a strong indication that a combined strategy employing more than two of the aforementioned techniques is likely to be the most effective approach, at least in the short term. Underscoring the complexity of this task, our analysis on foliage cover of G. pubescens shows that the interaction of pine oil and glyphosate treatments appeared to be very effective after six months, but were not so effective after 18 months. By contrast, seeding with native seeds was not particularly effective at six months, but its longer-term contribution appears to be effective at 18 months. Further, our results obtained from the seedbank abundance study indicate that time alone was not a significant factor in restoration of the grasslands (p = 0.165); however there were interactions with time, shown by time*glyphosate (p = 0.008) and time*seeding (p = 0.016). Both interactions indicated that the applications of glyphosate and seeding were more beneficial after 18 months compared to six months. However, full regeneration of invaded native grasslands may not be possible unless further restoration programs are re-implemented after the first cycle of G. pubescens’ treatments have been completed. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:24:31 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:24:31 PM Tags: o Grasses o Grasslands o Herbicides o Invasive species o Oils o Seedlings o Seeds o Weeds Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Habitat specificity, dispersal and burning season: Recovery indicators in New Zealand native grassland communities Type Journal Article Author Jagoba Malumbres-Olarte Author Barbara I.P. Barratt Author Cor J. Vink Author Adrian M. Paterson Author Robert H. Cruickshank Author Colin M. Ferguson Author Diane M. Barton URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320713000062__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvmptEhAg$ Volume 160 Pages 140-149 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date April 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2013.01.004 Abstract Restoration programs for human-disturbed ecosystems rely on a good understanding of how recovery occurs. This requires elucidating the underlying succession process, which depends on species adaptations, their interactions, and the spatiotemporal characteristics of the disturbance. Using spiders, we aim to identify the drivers of succession after burning, commonly used in New Zealand native tussock grasslands, test the hypothesis of post-burning dominance of generalists over specialists, and test the presumption that managed summer burns are more detrimental than spring burns. We established a 7-year experiment, with spring and summer burn treatments and unburned control plots, and sampled annually before and after the burning. We identified changes in spider assemblages and their drivers using clustering and indicator value analyses, and we analysed the response of spider diversity and taxa through linear mixed-effect models. In both spring and summer burns, functional groups and diversity decreased and the density of individuals of generalist species increased. However, spring and summer burn treatments showed no differences in spider diversity and composition. We found evidence that adaptations, such as habitat specificity and dispersal ability, determine the recovery of spider communities, and we suggest a set of indicators for monitoring programs. Time of burning may interact with factors like flammability and fire intensity, reducing differences in the effects of burning between seasons. We recommend planning burns for wet seasons as they are easier to control. To facilitate recolonisation by rare species of spiders of tussock grasslands, we suggest maintaining unburned areas that represent different vegetation types. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:37 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:37 PM Tags: o Colonisers o Habitat specificity o Indicators o Native grasslands o Restoration o Vegetation refugia * Human Infrastructure and Invasive Plant Occurrence Across Rangelands of Southwestern Wyoming, USA Type Journal Article Author D.J. Manier Author C.L. Aldridge Author M. O'Donnell Author S.J. Schell URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S155074241450022X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvbwcSm24$ Volume 67 Issue 2 Pages 160-172 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 15507424 Date 03/2014 DOI 10.2111/REM-D-12-00056.1 Accessed 2019-08-12, 4:49:18 PM Library Catalog CrossRef Language en Date Added 2019-08-12, 4:49:18 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:56:39 PM Tags: o anthropogenic influence o land use o noxious weeds o sagebrush steppe o semiarid ecosystem o species distributions Attachments o ScienceDirect Snapshot * Chapter Ten - Transferring biodiversity-ecosystem function research to the management of ‘real-world’ ecosystems Type Book Section Author Peter Manning Author Jacqueline Loos Author Andrew D. Barnes Author Péter Batáry Author Felix J.J.A. Bianchi Author Nina Buchmann Author Gerlinde B. De Deyn Author Anne Ebeling Author Nico Eisenhauer Author Markus Fischer Author Jochen Fründ Author Ingo Grass Author Johannes Isselstein Author Malte Jochum Author Alexandra M. Klein Author Esther O.F. Klingenberg Author Douglas A. Landis Author Jan Lepš Author Regina Lindborg Author Sebastian T. Meyer Author Vicky M. Temperton Author Catrin Westphal Author Teja Tscharntke Editor Nico Eisenhauer Editor David A. Bohan Editor Alex J. Dumbrell URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0065250419300352__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvXEIRGU8$ Volume 61 Publisher Academic Press Pages 323-356 ISBN 0065-2504 Date January 1, 2019 Extra DOI: 10.1016/bs.aecr.2019.06.009 Abstract Biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (BEF) research grew rapidly following concerns that biodiversity loss would negatively affect ecosystem functions and the ecosystem services they underpin. However, despite evidence that biodiversity strongly affects ecosystem functioning, the influence of BEF research upon policy and the management of ‘real-world’ ecosystems, i.e., semi-natural habitats and agroecosystems, has been limited. Here, we address this issue by classifying BEF research into three clusters based on the degree of human control over species composition and the spatial scale, in terms of grain, of the study, and discussing how the research of each cluster is best suited to inform particular fields of ecosystem management. Research in the first cluster, small-grain highly controlled studies, is best able to provide general insights into mechanisms and to inform the management of species-poor and highly managed systems such as croplands, plantations, and the restoration of heavily degraded ecosystems. Research from the second cluster, small-grain observational studies, and species removal and addition studies, may allow for direct predictions of the impacts of species loss in specific semi-natural ecosystems. Research in the third cluster, large-grain uncontrolled studies, may best inform landscape-scale management and national-scale policy. We discuss barriers to transfer within each cluster and suggest how new research and knowledge exchange mechanisms may overcome these challenges. To meet the potential for BEF research to address global challenges, we recommend transdisciplinary research that goes beyond these current clusters and considers the social-ecological context of the ecosystems in which BEF knowledge is generated. This requires recognizing the social and economic value of biodiversity for ecosystem services at scales, and in units, that matter to land managers and policy makers. Book Title Advances in Ecological Research Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:20 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:20 PM Tags: o BEF research o Biodiversity experiments o Ecosystem management o Ecosystem services o Grasslands o Knowledge transfer * Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community recovers faster than plant community in historically disturbed Tibetan grasslands Type Journal Article Author Lin Mao Author Jianbin Pan Author Shengjing Jiang Author Guoxi Shi Author Mingsen Qin Author Zhiguang Zhao Author Qi Zhang Author Lizhe An Author Huyuan Feng Author Yongjun Liu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0038071719301014__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvTZm9y78$ Volume 134 Pages 131-141 Publication Soil Biology and Biochemistry ISSN 0038-0717 Date July 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Soil Biology and Biochemistry DOI 10.1016/j.soilbio.2019.03.026 Abstract The potential of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in ecological restoration has been appreciated increasingly, yet the successional patterns of AM fungal community and their relatedness with plants and ecosystem functions during the recovery of degraded lands remain poorly understood. Here, we examined synchronously the root-associated AM fungal and plant communities as well as the ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF) in paired historically disturbed (topsoil was removed in the early 1980s) and undisturbed habitats of eight Tibetan grasslands. We found that, after three decades of natural recovery, AM fungal richness and community composition were similar in disturbed and undisturbed habitats, whereas vegetation coverage and plant species richness were still lower in disturbed habitat than that in undisturbed habitat. Higher abundance of AM plants was established in disturbed habitat, while the undisturbed habitat was dominated by less- or non-AM plant species. AM fungal species composition showed tight relationship with the species composition of all plants only in the disturbed habitat, while it was always correlated with the species composition of AM plants regardless of the historical disturbance. The EMF index was lower in disturbed habitat compared to that in undisturbed habitat, and it correlated positively with AM fungal richness in disturbed habitat. Our study shows that AM fungal community is more resilient to disturbance than plant community in Tibetan grasslands, and the findings suggest that rapid recovery of AM fungal community in degraded lands may potentially drive vegetation development and enhance ecosystem functions in the early stages of ecosystem recovery. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:32 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:32 PM Tags: o Alpine meadow o Community structure o Disturbance o Land degradation o Mycorrhiza o Succession * Post-reforestation vegetation development on abandoned highland fields in Java, Indonesia Type Journal Article Author Siti Nurleily Marliana Author Ferdinand Rühe URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037811271400348X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvRKqvHyY$ Volume 328 Pages 245-253 Publication Forest Ecology and Management ISSN 0378-1127 Date September 15, 2014 Journal Abbr Forest Ecology and Management DOI 10.1016/j.foreco.2014.05.042 Abstract In the Dieng Mountains, encroachment of the protection forest by locals has resulted in conversion of the land into agricultural fields, followed by abandonment. Subsequent reforestation projects by the local authority have been uneven and ineffective in bringing back the protective function of the forest. With current farming practices, the trend of regrowth forest formation will persist into the future. We evaluated the reforestation approach in the Dieng Mountains by investigating the development of regrowth forests, and based on the result, suggest improvements to present restoration efforts. Vegetation data were collected using stratified systematic sampling on three types of disturbed habitats found in the area: woodland, shrubland, and grassland. The importance value index of each species was calculated; species richness and diversity were estimated using the Species Prediction and Diversity Estimation (SPADE) program. The development of the secondary vegetation in the Dieng Mountains was highly influenced by its land use history and the local government’s reforestation programs. The low tree regenerations in all the habitats may be attributed to harsh environmental conditions caused by the high altitudinal location and the impact of forest clearings, as well as competition with herbs and the effect of human activities. Tree species planted during the reforestation programs, Acacia decurrens, Cupressus sempervirens, and Schima wallichii, dominated all habitats. Pioneer shrub species Melastoma affine and grasses Imperata cylindrica and Isachne globosa, as well as ruderal species Eupatorium odoratum, Eupatorium riparium, Buddleja asiatica, and Rubus rosaefolius dominated the undergrowth vegetation. Gleichenia dichotoma’s domination seemed to suppress the growth of coexisting grass species, leading to the domination of Conyza javanica over pioneer grass species in grassland. Compared with similar studies in other secondary forests, the richness of plant species found in the Dieng Mountains was considerably lower, especially that of woody plants. As human populations in the Dieng Mountains continue to expand, the fate of the secondary vegetation in this area may be determined by future interference by humans. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:23 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:23 PM Tags: o Abandoned farmland o Dieng Mountains o Highland o Land degradation o Reforestation o Regrowth forest * Effect of zeolitite addition on soil properties and plant establishment during forest restoration Type Journal Article Author Sara Martelletti Author Fabio Meloni Author Michele Freppaz Author Davide Viglietti Author Michele Lonati Author Simone Ravetto Enri Author Renzo Motta Author Antonio Nosenzo URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857419300965__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvleMKb6s$ Volume 132 Pages 13-22 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date July 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2019.03.011 Abstract Zeolitites, rocks with a content of zeolite group minerals greater than 50%, can serve as support for plant nutrients uptake, by enabling the slow release of macro- and micronutrients over time. Zeolitites equally improve soil cation exchange and water holding capacity. We analyzed the effect of zeolitite addition to the soil in forest restoration. We hypothesized that zeolitite ameliorated soil quality and consequently improved sward restoration and seedling establishment. Soil treatments were applied in 2014 and consist of: ploughed and ripped soil (non-amended) and ploughed, ripped and amended with zeolitite soil (amended). After application of the soil treatments, a herbaceous mixture was hand sown. Oak (Quercus robur L.), hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna Jacq.) and elm (Ulmus minor Mill.) seedlings were planted twice in the area, in autumn 2014 and autumn 2015. We monitored soil, sward and seedlings from 2015 to 2017. Seedling survival, which was generally above 50%, was never affected by zeolitite addition. The effect on seedling growth was significant only for hawthorn planted in 2015 that was approximately 5 cm taller in the amended soil. Herbaceous vegetation was also slightly affected by zeolitite addition. The zeolitite increased nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) Olsen in 2015, and exchangeable potassium (K) during the whole study period. Other parameters, such as year and growing season had significant effects on soil, sward and seedling dynamics. Time since restoration, plant-plant interactions, mechanical site preparation and meteorological conditions all together influenced the restoration dynamics more than zeolitite application. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:23 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:23 PM Tags: o Facilitation o Grassland restoration o Oak-hornbeam forest o Seedling performances o Site preparation o Zeolitite * Can Sheep Control Invasive Forbs Without Compromising Efforts to Restore Native Plants? Type Journal Article Author Eva Masin Author Cara R. Nelson Author Morgan T. Valliant URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742417301197__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvt82_gxI$ Volume 71 Issue 2 Pages 185-188 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date March 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2017.11.003 Abstract Domestic sheep (Ovis aries) are increasingly being used to control non-native invasive plants in areas where restoration is a management goal. However, the efficacy of sheep grazing depends on both its potential for controlling undesirable plants and its ability to promote natives. To date, few studies have investigated impacts of sheep grazing on native forb recovery in North American grasslands. We assessed the impact of sheep on forbs by measuring the number of stems grazed before and after sheep foraged in western Montana, United States. Sheep grazed a higher percentage of non-native than native forbs (70% vs. 23%, respectively), and number of stems grazed was six times higher for non-natives than natives (48 vs. 5, respectively). Sheep preferentially selected the non-native forbs sulphur cinquefoil and yellow salsify over leafy spurge (fi = 2.075; fi = 0.969; fi = 0.969, respectively), as well as the native forbs white prairie aster (fi = 1.090) and blanketflower (fi = 1.000). Selection of native forbs was positively correlated with their pregrazing abundance and increased over the grazing period. Our findings indicate that when using sheep to control invasive forbs, appropriate timing and monitoring of grazing are critical for reducing nontarget impacts to native vegetation. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:38 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:38 PM Tags: o conservation grazing o forage preference o leafy spurge o restoration o ruminants o sulphur cinquefoil o weeds * Assessment of silt from sand and gravel processing as a suitable sub-soil material in land restoration: A glasshouse study Type Journal Article Author Lucie Mašková Author Robert W. Simmons Author Sarah De Baets Author Enrique Moran Montero Author Aude Delmer Author Ruben Sakrabani URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0045653518322628__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvrLMPiF8$ Volume 219 Pages 58-65 Publication Chemosphere ISSN 0045-6535 Date March 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Chemosphere DOI 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.11.155 Abstract Annually, sand and gravel processing generates approximately 20 million tonnes of non-commercial by-product as fine silt particles (<63 μm) which constitutes approximately 20% of quarry production in the UK. This study is significant as it investigated the use of quarry silt as a sub-soil medium to partially substitute soil-forming materials whilst facilitating successful post-restoration crop establishment. In a glasshouse pot experiment, top-soil and sub-soil layering was simulated, generating an artificial sub-soil medium by mixing two quarry non-commercial by-products, i.e. silt and overburden. These were blended in three ratios (100:0, 70:30, 50:50). Pots were packed to two bulk densities (1.3 and 1.5 g cm-3) and sown with three cover crops used in the early restoration process namely winter rye (Secale cereale), white mustard (Sinapis alba) and a grassland seed mixture (Lolium perenne, Phleum pratense, Poa pratensis, Festuca rubra). Three weeks into growth, the first signs of nitrogen (N) deficiency were observed in mustard plants, with phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) deficiencies observed at 35 days. Rye exhibited minor N deficiency symptoms four weeks into growth, whilst the grassland mixture showed no deficiency symptoms. The 70:30 silt:overburden sub-soil blend resulted in significantly higher Root Mass Densities of grassland seed mixture and rye in the sub-soil layer as compared with the other blends. The innovation in this work is the detailed physical, chemical and biological characterisation of silt:overburden blends and effects on root development of plants commonly used in early restoration to bio-engineer soil structural improvements. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:36 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:36 PM Tags: o Cover crops o Nutrients o Quarry silt o Restoration o Root mass density * Not just about the trees: Key role of mosaic-meadows in restoration of ponderosa pine ecosystems Type Journal Article Author Megan Shanahan Matonis Author Dan Binkley URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112717317000__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvaHvX9VQ$ Volume 411 Pages 120-131 Publication Forest Ecology and Management ISSN 0378-1127 Date March 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Forest Ecology and Management DOI 10.1016/j.foreco.2018.01.019 Abstract Historical pre-settlement conditions in ponderosa pine ecosystems ranged from savannas (<30% canopy cover) with contiguous grasslands and scattered tree groups, to forests with isolated mosaic-meadows surrounded by trees. We use the term mosaic-meadows for non-treed areas that weave around individual trees and tree groups, supporting diverse understory plant communities in ponderosa pine ecosystems. The long-term sustainability of ponderosa pine ecosystems may depend on mosaic-meadows that provide fine fuels and support frequent, low-severity fires. Increasing tree densities over the past century have eliminated mosaic-meadows and contiguous grasslands from many ponderosa pine landscapes. The link between restored ecosystem structure and function is often assumed but not empirically demonstrated, so we assessed the impact of mosaic-meadows (areas > 6 m from overstory trees) on understory vegetation in five recently thinned ponderosa pine stands and one long-undisturbed stand in Colorado. We also compared historical spatial patterns in mosaic-meadows to current conditions in ponderosa pine stands and determined whether thinning treatments are recreating historical conditions. Mosaic-meadows in ponderosa pine ecosystems declined substantially from a mean of 55% of stand area in 1860–1875 to 7% in 2010–2013 prior to tree thinning. The loss of mosaic-meadows has ecological consequences for the function of ponderosa pine ecosystems because spatial patterns of mosaic-meadows strongly influenced understory vegetation. At our sites, understory cover increased by 3%/m with distance from overstory trees, and understory richness increased from 6 species/m2 within 1 m of overstory trees to 9 species/m2 at 10 m away from overstory trees. Cover and richness of understory vegetation (especially native forbs) responded rapidly to creation of mosaic-meadows within 1 to 4 years after treatment. Thinning treatments at two stands brought the coverage of mosaic-meadows within the historical range of variation, but there was a noticeable lack of mosaic-meadows >12 m from overstory trees at all treated stands. Restoration of the fundamental ecological characteristics of ponderosa pine ecosystems should intentionally include variably sized mosaic-meadows. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:56 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:56 PM Tags: o Ecological restoration o Meadows o Ponderosa pine o Spatial patterns o Understory plants * Evaluating strategies for facilitating native plant establishment in northern Nevada crested wheatgrass seedings Type Journal Article Author J. Kent McAdoo Author John C. Swanson Author Peter J. Murphy Author Nancy L. Shaw URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12404__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvq_639_k$ Rights © 2016 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 25 Issue 1 Pages 53-62 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2017 DOI 10.1111/rec.12404 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:41:57 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Non-native crested wheatgrasses (Agropyron cristatum and A. desertorum) were used historically within the Great Basin for the purpose of competing with weed species and increasing livestock forage. These species continue to be used in some areas, especially after wildfires occurring in low elevation/precipitation, formerly Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis)/herbaceous communities. Seeding native species in these sites is often unsuccessful, and lack of establishment results in invasion and site dominance by exotic annuals. However, crested wheatgrass often forms dense monocultures that interfere competitively with the establishment of desirable native vegetation and do not provide the plant structure and habitat diversity for wildlife species equivalent to native-dominated sagebrush plant communities. During a 5-year study, we conducted trials to evaluate chemical and mechanical methods for reducing crested wheatgrass and the effectiveness of seeding native species into these sites after crested wheatgrass suppression. We determined that discing treatments were ineffective in reducing crested wheatgrass cover and even increased crested wheatgrass density in some cases. Glyphosate treatments initially reduced crested wheatgrass cover, but weeds increased in many treated plots and seeded species diminished over time as crested wheatgrass recovered. We concluded that, although increases in native species could possibly be obtained by repeating crested wheatgrass control treatments, reducing crested wheatgrass opens a window for invasion by exotic weed species. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:41:57 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:41:57 PM Tags: o Agropyron cristatum and A. desertorum o assisted succession o exotic weeds o mechanical and chemical treatments o monocultures o revegetation with native species Attachments o Snapshot * Aboriginal Precedent for Active Management of Sagebrush-Perennial Grass Communities in the Great Basin Type Journal Article Author J. Kent McAdoo Author Brad W. Schultz Author Sherman R. Swanson URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742413500418__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvq3OB6Ew$ Volume 66 Issue 3 Pages 241-253 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date May 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/REM-D-11-00231.1 Abstract Until recently, most contemporary ecologists have ignored or diminished anecdotal historical accounts and anthropologists' reports about aboriginal fire in the Great Basin. Literature review shows that Indians practiced regular use of fire for many purposes, including the obvious reasons of increasing the availability of desired plants, maintaining habitats for animals used as food, and driving game during hunts. Historical accounts of prehistoric anthropogenic firing, inferences from fire-scar data, and data regarding annual production capability of representative sagebrush (Artemisia spp.)-perennial grass ecological sites indicate that prehistoric conditions were neither fuel- nor ignition-limited. According to many sources, this “active management” by Indians was widespread, significant, and more common than lightning-caused fires, resulting in mosaic vegetation patterns that subsequently moderated the behavior of “natural fires.” This interaction between Indian-burning and lightning fires may have strongly influenced the pre-Euro-American settlement vegetation of the Great Basin. At the very least, the landscape was a patchwork of areas altered by aboriginal people and areas shaped primarily by bio-physical processes. Based on this prehistoric precedent, current historically unprecedented conditions (fuel load and exotic weed invasion threats), and predicted climate change, contemporary active management of sagebrush-perennial grass communities is paramount. Restoration measures should be scientifically based and tailored to achieve ecological resilience and functionality in specific sites. Prescribed fire is not always ecologically appropriate or judicious, especially in Wyoming big sagebrush (A. tridentata spp. wyomingensis) communities, so managers should consider using other alternatives where an intentional low severity distubance is deemed necessary. Properly planned active management would disrupt fuel continuity for lighthning fires, ensure ecological process and successional integrity, and benefit multiple uses on a landscape scale. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:40 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:40 PM Tags: o aboriginal fire o disturbance o historic range of variation (HRV) o rangeland restoration o resilience * Effects of grassland restoration efforts on mound-building ants in the Chihuahuan Desert Type Journal Article Author Monica M. McAllister Author Robert L. Schooley Author Brandon T. Bestelmeyer Author John M. Coffman Author Bradley J. Cosentino URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196314001761__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvJlsKN0g$ Volume 111 Pages 79-83 Publication Journal of Arid Environments ISSN 0140-1963 Date December 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Journal of Arid Environments DOI 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2014.08.005 Abstract Shrub encroachment is a serious problem in arid environments worldwide because of potential reductions in ecosystem services and negative effects on biodiversity. In southwestern USA, Chihuahuan Desert grasslands have experienced long-term encroachment by shrubs including creosotebush (Larrea tridentata). Land managers have attempted an ambitious intervention to control shrubs by spraying herbicides over extensive areas to provide grassland habitat for wildlife species of conservation concern. To provide a broader assessment of how these restoration practices affect biodiversity, we evaluated responses by four mound-building ant species (Pogonomyrmex rugosus, Aphaenogaster cockerelli, Myrmecocystus depilis, and Myrmecocystus mexicanus). We compared colony densities between 14 pairs of treated areas (herbicide applied 10–30 years before sampling) and untreated areas (spatially matched and dominated by creosotebush). P. rugosus and A. cockerelli responded positively to restoration treatments likely due to an increased abundance of seeds associated with increased grass cover. Variation in P. rugosus densities among different-aged treatments suggests a substantial time lag in response that could reflect temporal changes in habitat quality or facilitation by a keystone rodent, Dipodomys spectabilis. Colony densities of the scavenging ant M. mexicanus were reduced on treated areas, and M. depilis exhibited a similar trend, likely reflecting a reduction of liquid food resources associated with shrubs. Our results demonstrate that ongoing efforts to restore Chihuahuan Desert grasslands are having both positive and negative effects on non-target taxa such as ants and support the need for a landscape mosaic approach to restoration. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:32 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:32 PM Tags: o Biodiversity o Desert ants o Landscape restoration o Shrub encroachment * Maximizing the Wildlife Conservation Value of Road Right-of-Ways in an Agriculturally Dominated Landscape Type Journal Article Author Robert A. McCleery Author Allison R. Holdorf Author Laura L. Hubbard Author Brian D. Peer URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0120375__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvzTZQ1YQ$ Volume 10 Issue 3 Pages e0120375 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Mar 20, 2015 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0120375 Accessed 2020-03-12, 3:28:53 PM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract There has been a growing recognition that the narrow linear strips of uncultivated vegetation that lie between roads and agricultural crops, referred to as roadside right-of-ways or verges, can serve as areas for the conservation of wildlife. The features of right-of-ways that should influence the composition of wildlife communities vary considerably. Our goal was to determine what features of right-of-ways increased the conservation potential of right-of-ways for wildlife in a grassland system dominated by agricultural production. We sampled 100 right-of-ways for birds and 92 right-of-ways for small mammals in McDonough and Warren Counties in west-central Illinois. We found that the sizes of right-of-ways and the amount of traffic on the adjacent roads synergistically worked to influence wildlife communities. On roads with low traffic, avian species richness increased rapidly with increased right-of-way width, while on roads with high traffic, avian richness increased only slightly with increasing right-of-way widths. We found that wider roadside right-of-ways (preferably across the road from equally wide right-of-ways) with thicker and taller vegetation had the greatest conservation value for birds and small mammals. The features that enhanced the conservation value of right-of-ways in our study area were uncommon. Efforts to create or enhance these features for the benefit of wildlife would likely face numerous obstacles. Nonetheless, from a grassland conservation perspective, working with stakeholders to implement specific strategies to enhance these often neglected areas may be an effective complement to purchasing and restoring conservation lands away from roads. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:28:53 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:28:53 PM Tags: o Birds o Grasses o Grasslands o Invasive species o Mammals o Roads o Species diversity o Wildlife Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * National standards for the practice of ecological restoration in Australia Type Journal Article Author Tein McDonald Author Justin Jonson Author Kingsley W. Dixon URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12359__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvYhCT8JI$ Rights © 2016 The Authors. Restoration Ecology published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Society for Ecological Restoration. Volume 24 Issue S1 Pages S4-S32 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2016 DOI 10.1111/rec.12359 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:52:30 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:52:30 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:52:30 PM Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Fuel mass and stand structure 13 years after logging of a severely burned ponderosa pine forest in northeastern Oregon, U.S.A Type Journal Article Author James D. McIver Author Roger Ottmar URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112717316663__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvZsW4fjw$ Volume 424 Pages 505-518 Publication Forest Ecology and Management ISSN 0378-1127 Date September 15, 2018 Journal Abbr Forest Ecology and Management DOI 10.1016/j.foreco.2018.04.047 Abstract Stand structure and fuel mass were measured in 2011, 13 years after logging of a seasonally dry, ponderosa pine-dominated forest that had burned severely in the 1996 Summit Wildfire, Malheur National Forest, northeastern Oregon, U.S.A. Data are compared to those taken one year after post-fire logging (1999), and analyzed in the context of a second fire (Sunshine Fire) that burned through one of the four treatment blocks in 2008. Three treatments were evaluated in a randomized block experiment: unlogged control, commercial harvest (most dead merchantable trees removed), and fuel reduction harvest (most dead merchantable trees removed plus most dead trees >10 cm diameter). Density and basal area of live trees trended downward between 1999 and 2011, but this delayed mortality was limited to smaller diameter stems. Dead tree basal area (snags) in unlogged stands declined over 12 years by 74%, compared to an 84% decline in logged stands over the same period. Higher snag fall rate in logged stands over time, combined with snag removal during logging in 1998, resulted in snag densities that were 22% of unlogged stands by 2011. In unlogged mixed-species stands, Douglas-fir snags fell at the same rate as did ponderosa pine snags, but fir snags fell at a faster rate in logged stands. Slash fuel tripled over twelve years in unlogged stands, such that mean slash mass levels became equal for all treatments. Unlogged stands accumulated nearly double the mass of coarse woody debris as logged stands, with most of the difference observed in the sound component of coarse woody fuel. By 13 years after logging (2011), density of regeneration averaged higher overall for unlogged stands, but was highly variable and patchy across all study units. Finally, the Sunshine Fire burned through nearly one complete block of the experiment in 2008, and erased most of the effects of the 1998 logging operation: snags were reduced to <0.5 ha−1 for all treatments, forest floor and slash fuel mass declined to near zero, log mass declined to about 25% that observed in stands unburned by the Sunshine Fire, and shrubs, seedlings, and saplings were nearly eliminated. While the intermediate-term effects of the 1998 logging were still evident in 2011, the 1996 Summit Fire remained the most dominant recent disturbance evident on the landscape. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:29 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:29 PM Tags: o Disturbance, wildfire o Post-fire logging o Re-burn hypothesis o Restoration logging o Salvage logging * Soil C and N stocks of Alfisols under native tallgrass prairie in the mid-Southern, USA Type Journal Article Author Marya McKee Author Kristofor R. Brye Author Lisa Wood URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S235200941830261X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvvAzub2c$ Volume 17 Pages e00227 Publication Geoderma Regional ISSN 2352-0094 Date June 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Geoderma Regional DOI 10.1016/j.geodrs.2019.e00227 Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of soil moisture regime (i.e., aquic and udic) and physiographic region (i.e., Ozark Highlands of northwest Arkansas and Grand Prairie region of east-central Arkansas) on the change in soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) storage and other soil properties over a 15-year period. Soil samples were collected from the top 10 cm in 2001/2002 and again in 2016/2017 and the change over time was directly quantified for numerous soil properties. Averaged across soil moisture regime, TC content and concentration, C:N ratio, and TC fraction of soil organic matter all increased (P < 0.05) over time in the Ozark Highlands, as well as the Grand Prairie region, with the exception of total C (TC) content and concentration, which both decreased in the Grand Prairie. Despite the Grand Prairie region losing soil C at a rate of 0.23 Mg ha−1 yr−1 or 0.02% yr−1 over the 15-year duration of this study, soil C storage in 2016 did not differ between physiographic regions when averaged across soil moisture regime. The TC fraction of SOM changed more over time (P < 0.01) in the Ozark Highlands under aquic soil moisture conditions (1.3% yr−1) compared to the other three soil moisture regime/region combinations. This study demonstrates the value of direct measurements over time for assessing temporal changes in soil properties so that results can be used to guide expectations of the effects of physiographic region and soil moisture regime for future restoration activities to be as successful as possible. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:01 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:01 PM Tags: o Alfisols o Carbon sequestration o Native prairie o Soil moisture regimes * Fire behaviour on engineered landforms stabilised with high biomass buffel grass Type Journal Article Author Phill McKenna Author Vanessa Glenn Author Peter D. Erskine Author David Doley Author Andrew Sturgess URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857417300472__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv0UkCK44$ Volume 101 Pages 237-246 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date April 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2017.01.038 Abstract Rehabilitated lands created by open-cut coal mines are generally protected by land managers from fire and grazing disturbances. This practice is employed to reduce negative impacts, such as erosion, on the developing ecosystems. However, fire exclusion over long periods inadvertently contributes to increased fire risk on rehabilitated landforms, particularly when high biomass, mono-dominant grasses form a major component of these new ecosystems. In May 2015, an experimental fire burnt 117ha of rehabilitation at a coal mine site in the Bowen Basin, Australia. Standing grass fuel loads, dominated by buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris L.), were up to 9.3t/ha in grassland areas and 5.3t/ha in areas of open woodland. Average litter fuel loads were 2.4 and 3.6t/ha for grassland and open woodland, respectively. Calculated fire intensity was higher in grassland (4612±502kWm−1) than open woodland areas (1977±804kWm−1) indicating that rehabilitated landforms dominated by buffel grass may represent a higher fire risk to mine sites and regional areas in the Bowen Basin when compared to the original vegetation. Fire behaviour reflected the varying underlying terrain, fuel loads and surface soil or overburden conditions. Further research is recommended to investigate fire behaviour in buffel grasslands across a range of fuel load and curing conditions, with the aim to develop an invasive grass fire spread model that can be used inform both landscape reconstruction prescriptions for ecological engineers and more broadly in managing the fire risk across landscapes dominated by these vegetation types. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:39 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:56:09 PM Tags: o Australia o Central Queensland o Fire exclusion o Pasture o Reclamation o Rehabilitation * Response of open woodland and grassland mine site rehabilitation to fire disturbance on engineered landforms Type Journal Article Author Phill McKenna Author Peter D. Erskine Author Vanessa Glenn Author David Doley URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S092585741930120X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvMAY1JCo$ Volume 133 Pages 98-108 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date August 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2019.04.013 Abstract The application of controlled fire on post-mine rehabilitation is currently underutilised as an ecological tool throughout fire prone landscapes such as eastern Australia. Despite widely accepted benefits of fuel management and ecological outcomes, mined land managers are generally reluctant to incorporate fire regimes on rehabilitated lands. We applied an experimental fire to 117 ha of 19- to 21-year-old coal mine rehabilitation in sub-tropical, semi-arid Central Queensland, Australia, and assessed the vegetation changes in five successive assessments for the two years following the burn. Vegetation metrics all showed trajectories towards pre-fire levels, or recovered to surpass pre-fire levels. Within two years of the burn, native species richness was significantly higher than pre-fire levels for both grassland and open woodland areas and vegetation cover had returned to pre-fire levels. Woody plant density (<2 m) increased from an average of 425–3,255 stems ha−1 in open woodland areas reaching values higher than those recorded at unburnt historical transects (n = 145); while stems greater than 2 m in height declined from 585 to 220 ha−1 due to the death of mature Acacia spp. The vegetative response following two wet seasons demonstrates short-term recovery following a range of fire impacts and demonstrates the potential to enhance the quality of the rehabilitation and increase the possibility of early relinquishment by reducing ecological, financial and reputational risks. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:41 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:56:06 PM Tags: o Buffel grass o Certification o Disturbance o Fire-ecology o Reclamation o Relinquishment o Resilience o Restoration * Plant community responses to bison reintroduction on the Northern Great Plains, United States: a test of the keystone species concept Type Journal Article Author Nicholas A. McMillan Author Kyran E. Kunkel Author Donald L. Hagan Author David S. Jachowski URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12856__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvyT7qNJE$ Rights © 2018 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 27 Issue 2 Pages 379-388 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2019 DOI 10.1111/rec.12856 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:32:40 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Keystone species restoration, or the restoration of species whose effect on an ecosystem is much greater than their abundance would suggest, is a central justification for many wildlife reintroduction projects globally. Following restoration, plains bison (Bison bison L.) have been identified as a keystone species in the tallgrass prairie ecoregion, but we know of no research to document similar effects in the mixed-grass prairie where restoration efforts are ongoing. This study addresses whether Northern Great Plains (NGP) mixed-grass prairie plant communities exhibit traits consistent with four central keystone effects documented for bison in the tallgrass prairie. We collected species composition, diversity, abundance, bare ground cover, and plant height data in three treatments: where livestock (Bos taurus L.) continuously grazed, livestock were removed for 10 years, and bison have been introduced and resident for 10 years. We observed mixed support for bison acting as keystone species in this system. Supporting the keystone role of bison, we observed higher species richness and compositional heterogeneity (β-diversity) in the bison treatment than either the livestock retention or livestock removal treatments. However, we observed comparable forb, bare ground, and plant height heterogeneity between bison-restored sites and sites where livestock were retained, contradicting reported keystone effects in other systems. Our results suggest that after 10 years of being restored, bison partially fulfill their role as a keystone species in the mixed-grass prairie, and we encourage continued long-term data collection to evaluate their influence in the NGP. Short Title Plant community responses to bison reintroduction on the Northern Great Plains, United States Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:32:40 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:32:40 PM Tags: o Bison o keystone species restoration o livestock removal o mixed-grass prairie o Northern Great Plains o plant communities Attachments o Snapshot * Grazing exclusion affects soil and plant communities, but has no impact on soil carbon storage in an upland grassland Type Journal Article Author Eduardo Medina-Roldán Author Jorge Paz-Ferreiro Author Richard D. Bardgett URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880911004385__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvLrjdlng$ Volume 149 Pages 118-123 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date March 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2011.12.012 Abstract We evaluated the impact of 7 years of grazing exclusion on vegetation and belowground properties related to soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling in grazed, upland grassland in northern England. For this, we compared a landscape-level, moorland restoration project (grazing exclusion) with adjacent continuously grazed acidic grasslands to test whether changes in vegetation composition after restoration impacted on soil properties including soil C storage. Grazing exclusion significantly increased the proportion of dwarf-shrubs at the expense of graminoids. Despite high seasonal variability, this change in vegetation was associated with increased plant litter mass, soil moisture content and the ratio of dissolved organic to inorganic N, and reductions in rates of ammonium mineralisation, soil microbial activity, and microbial biomass N. Our observations suggest that grazing-exclusion as a restoration tool for upland habitats results in a slowing down of rates of C and N cycling. However, as yet, this has had no detectable impact on total C and N stocks in surface soil. Whereas increases in soil C and N stocks might be expected in the longer term, our results suggest that a certain level of grazing is compatible with the provision of ecosystem services such as soil C storage under traditional upland farming practices. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:36 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:36 PM Tags: o Carbon o Ecosystem services o Grass-dominated ecosystems o Grazing management o Moorland o Nitrogen o Soil properties o Uplands o Yorkshire Dales * The food habits of goats on rangelands with different amounts of fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens) cover Type Journal Article Author M. Mellado Author A. Rodríguez Author E.A. Lozano Author J. Dueñez Author C.N. Aguilar Author J.R. Arévalo URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196312001127__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvYJ02VOU$ Volume 84 Pages 91-96 Publication Journal of Arid Environments ISSN 0140-1963 Date September 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Journal of Arid Environments DOI 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2012.03.012 Abstract Esophageally fistulated goats were released in a microphyll desert scrub habitat with 14.6% or 46.2% aerial cover of Atriplex canescens (induced by removal of all shrubs except A. canescens, with livestock grazing exclusion for 10 years) to determine the seasonal forage species selected by the goats. The shrub removal strongly influenced the goats’ feeding habits. The goats grazing the Atriplex-dominated site consumed 4.5 times more A. canescens than the goats on the untreated (control) pasture during all seasons. Shrubs were used heavily during all seasons by goats in both pastures, with higher percentages (75.5–82.8%) in the diets of goats grazing the control pasture than in the diets of goats grazing the Atriplex-dominated area (62.5–68.5%). No differences were found between seasons. The goats in the Atriplex-dominated pasture ate more grass than the goats grazing the control area and used more perennial graminoids during the summer (15.0%) and spring (18.3%) than the goats on the control area (6.0–7.0%). Forbs were an important component of diets. It was concluded that the successful revegetation of the treated pasture affected the goats’ feeding strategy, with an increase in the use of A. canescens, forbs and grasses in all seasons. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:52 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:52 PM Tags: o Forage preference o Microphyll scrub o Rangeland restoration o Shrubs * Pattern formation – A missing link in the study of ecosystem response to environmental changes Type Journal Article Author Ehud Meron URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025556415002217__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvNAWcuv8$ Volume 271 Pages 1-18 Publication Mathematical Biosciences ISSN 0025-5564 Date January 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Mathematical Biosciences DOI 10.1016/j.mbs.2015.10.015 Abstract Environmental changes can affect the functioning of an ecosystem directly, through the response of individual life forms, or indirectly, through interspecific interactions and community dynamics. The feasibility of a community-level response has motivated numerous studies aimed at understanding the mutual relationships between three elements of ecosystem dynamics: the abiotic environment, biodiversity and ecosystem function. Since ecosystems are inherently nonlinear and spatially extended, environmental changes can also induce pattern-forming instabilities that result in spatial self-organization of life forms and resources. This, in turn, can affect the relationships between these three elements, and make the response of ecosystems to environmental changes far more complex. Responses of this kind can be expected in dryland ecosystems, which show a variety of self-organizing vegetation patterns along the rainfall gradient. This paper describes the progress that has been made in understanding vegetation patterning in dryland ecosystems, and the roles it plays in ecosystem response to environmental variability. The progress has been achieved by modeling pattern-forming feedbacks at small spatial scales and up-scaling their effects to large scales through model studies. This approach sets the basis for integrating pattern formation theory into the study of ecosystem dynamics and addressing ecologically significant questions such as the dynamics of desertification, restoration of degraded landscapes, biodiversity changes along environmental gradients, and shrubland–grassland transitions. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:05 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:05 PM Tags: o Desertification o Ecosystem engineers o Functional diversity o Homoclinic snaking o Spatial resonances o Vegetation pattern formation * Remote sensing monitoring of land restoration interventions in semi-arid environments with a before–after control-impact statistical design Type Journal Article Author Michele Meroni Author Anne Schucknecht Author Dominique Fasbender Author Felix Rembold Author Francesco Fava Author Margaux Mauclaire Author Deborah Goffner Author Luisa M. Di Lucchio Author Ugo Leonardi Volume 59 Pages 42-52 Publication International journal of applied earth observation and geoinformation Date 2017 Date Added 2020-03-17, 9:55:23 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 9:55:23 PM * Establishing Wyoming Big Sagebrush in Annual Brome-Invaded Landscapes with Seeding and Herbicides Type Journal Article Author Emily P. Metier Author Lisa J. Rew Author Matthew J. Rinella URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742418301702__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv8eIJUcs$ Volume 71 Issue 6 Pages 705-713 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date November 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2018.06.001 Abstract Seeding native plants into degraded grasslands presents major challenges. Often, seeded species fail to establish and areas become/remain dominated by unwanted plants. We combined herbicides and seeding in former coal mining fields dominated by exotic winter annual grasses (downy brome [Bromus tectorum L.] and Japanese brome [Bromus arvensis L.], hereafter “annual bromes”). The main interest was restoring Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata spp. wyomingensis [Beetle & A. Young] S.L. Welsh, hereafter “big sage”), a very difficult species to restore to North American grasslands. We tested the nonselective herbicide glyphosate and the grass-specific herbicide quizalofop. The summer following herbicide applications and seeding, annual brome cover in controls 22% (CI95% 13%, 36%) was significantly greater (P < 0.03) than in glyphosate 11% (CI95% 5%, 25%) and quizalofop 16% (CI95% 7%, 35%) treatments. At Decker mine, glyphosate increased seeded big sage density (P < 0.04) from 0.76 (CI95% 0.27, 2.11) to 3.05 (CI95% 1.42, 6.56) plants ⋅ m-2 the second summer after seeding. Corresponding increases for Spring Creek mine were from 0.11 (CI95% 0.03, 0.43) to 0.43 (CI95% 0.13, 1.40) plants ⋅ m-2 (P < 0.04). These results were consistent across two experiments initiated in different years. In addition to big sage, our study’s seed mixes contained native grasses and forbs, and herbicide treatments tended to promote establishment of these plant groups. In annual brome-dominated areas of the northern Great Plains, conditions amenable to big sage seedling establishment do not appear entirely uncommon, and herbicides can increase establishment. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:23 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:23 PM Tags: o glyphosate o grass herbicide o grassland restoration o Great Plains o mining o mixed grass prairie * Plant Community Recovery following Restoration in Temporally Variable Riparian Wetlands Type Journal Article Author Clinton K. Meyer Author Matt R. Whiles Author Sara G. Baer URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2008.00451.x__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvAeB5Pqs$ Rights © 2008 Society for Ecological Restoration International Volume 18 Issue 1 Pages 52-64 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2010 DOI 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2008.00451.x Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:51:37 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Wetlands historically provided many ecosystem services but most have been lost or degraded through land conversion. Recent appreciation for wetland values and increasing ecotourism in the Central Platte River Valley (U.S.A.) has promoted restoration of wet meadow systems, although recovery patterns are not well known. We quantified plant community structure in sloughs (deeper habitats) and adjacent margins (slightly higher elevation) of six wetland sites, restored for 1–7 years at the onset of a 3-year study, and three natural wetlands to assess recovery dynamics. Plant community metrics recovered differentially between habitats. Within restored margins, richness and diversity showed a weak quadratic response with time since restoration, indicating that both indexes overshoot natural levels shortly following restoration. Within sloughs, richness and diversity showed no change with time, suggesting that recovery occurs more quickly in these deeper, moister habitats. Percent similarity of plant communities in restorations and natural wetlands increased linearly over time. However, ordinations of plant community composition showed that recovery was strongly influenced by site-specific hydrology and that recovery may not be a linear trajectory toward natural systems. The analysis and interpretation of plant community dynamics revealed several challenges to restoration assessment, including the role of interannual variability in precipitation, limitations to hydrologic recovery, and temporal variability in plant community structure in natural systems that resulted in “moving targets” for recovery comparisons. Temporal variability in climate must be considered when assessing restoration success in systems where plant community structure is responsive to variable moisture regimes. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:51:37 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:51:37 PM Tags: o assessment o Platte River o slough o temporal variability o vegetation o wet meadow Attachments o Snapshot * Planting position and shade enhance native seedling performance in forest restoration for an endangered malagasy plant Type Journal Article Author Cyprien Miandrimanana Author J. Leighton Reid Author Tahiry Rivoharison Author Chris Birkinshaw URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468265918300313__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvKp4qa_M$ Volume 41 Issue 2 Pages 118-123 Publication Restoration of threatened plant species and their habitats ISSN 2468-2659 Date April 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Plant Diversity DOI 10.1016/j.pld.2018.09.005 Abstract The critically endangered tree Schizolaena tampoketsana is confined to a few diminished and degraded forest fragments on the Malagasy highlands. This habitat is vulnerable to loss due to frequent fires in the surrounding grassland that threaten to spread into the forest. One of these fragments is the focus a conservation project and here the managers aim to conserve S. tampoketsana by restoring its forest habitat to its former extent as evidenced by remnant woody plants. To inform this activity the survival and early-stage growth of seedlings of four locally native tree species were compared under contrasting conditions of proximity to the remaining forest and shade. After 12 months, seedlings of three species (Baronia taratana, Eugenia pluricymosa, Uapaca densifolia) survived better and experienced improved growth in height in grassland close to the existing forest rather than distant from it, and two survived better with shade rather than unshaded. A number of mechanisms could explain these results including reduced exposure to desiccating sunlight and winds and better soil and greater water availability close to the forest. The seedlings of one species (Nuxia capitata) survived well under all conditions. This study suggests that reforestation in these dry highlands is most feasible adjacent to remnant forest fragments and in microhabitats that minimize water loss, though young plants of some tree species may be capable of surviving in harsher conditions. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:37 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:37 PM Tags: o Fire o Forest restoration o Grassland o Local environment * Effectiveness of shrub planting and grazing exclusion on degraded sandy grassland restoration in Horqin sandy land in Inner Mongolia Type Journal Article Author Renhui Miao Author Deming Jiang Author Ala Musa Author Quanlai Zhou Author Meixia Guo Author Yongcui Wang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857414005400__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvqbWjkZo$ Volume 74 Pages 164-173 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date January 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2014.10.004 Abstract Effective methods of restoring lands stressed by desertification and sand movement are needed. The stabilization of sand dunes with shrub planting with the help of straw checkerboard (PCS) and grazing exclusion was evaluated in degraded sandy grasslands in Horqin sandy land, China. The characteristics of vegetation and soil chemical properties were studied in PSC sites and grazing exclusion sites 0, 6, and 12 years after implementation. Natural community sites were also examined in 2012. Results showed that the implementation of PSC and grazing exclusion not only significantly (P<0.05) promoted the number, density, coverage, and Shannon–Weiner diversity of plant species, but also enhanced the accumulation of total carbon (C) and total nitrogen (N) and accelerated the increase of C/N ratio in soil. In addition, the recovery of vegetation density, coverage, and Shannon–Weiner diversity occurred sooner in the PSC sites than in the grazing exclusion sites. The PSC sites became stable at 6 years. The soil chemical properties also changed more in the PSC sites than in the grazing exclusion sites, but did not become stable state. The restoration of soil chemical properties had a lag effect with respect to vegetation characteristics in degraded sandy grasslands. These findings also suggested that PSC and grazing exclusion are useful methods for accelerating vegetation development and restoring deserted lands. In addition, implementation of PSC was more effective than using grazing exclusion alone. For this reason, it should be adopted in sandy grasslands in the Horqin region in China. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:36 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:36 PM Tags: o Degree of degradation o Lag effect o Lam o Shannon–Weiner diversity index o Soil chemical properties o Straw checkerboard * Natural ecosystem response and recovery after the 8.2 ka cold event: Evidence from slope sediments on the northeastern Tibetan Plateau Type Journal Article Author Yunfa Miao Author Heling Jin Author Bing Liu Author Yuanping Wang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196314000329__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvSoHD83k$ Volume 104 Pages 17-22 Publication Journal of Arid Environments ISSN 0140-1963 Date May 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Journal of Arid Environments DOI 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2014.01.021 Abstract On the Tibetan Plateau, mountain slope sediments provide a sensitive record of the 8.2 ka cold event and suggest possible strategies for restoration of grasslands degraded by human activities. Based on a grain-size study of slope sediments of the KE section on the northeastern Tibetan Plateau, climate changes at 8.3–8.0 ka evidenced by a high content of coarse grains are connected with the 8.2 ka cold event. The compiled records of pollen and non-pollen palynomorphs show that, during this event, most plant species suffered serious setbacks characterized by an immediate and obvious reduction of pollen and spore production, and it took ∼1.5 ka (from 8.0 to 6.5 ka) to recover to normal levels, occurring at different rates for different taxa. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:28 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:28 PM Tags: o 8.2 ka event o Degradation o Pollen o Recovery o Tibetan Plateau * Inoculation with a native soil community advances succession in a grassland restoration Type Journal Article Author Elizabeth L. Middleton Author James D. Bever Volume 20 Issue 2 Pages 218-226 Publication Restoration Ecology Date 2012 Date Added 2020-03-17, 9:55:23 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 9:55:23 PM * Biodiversity on the waves of history: Conservation in a changing social and institutional environment in Hungary, a post-soviet EU member state Type Journal Article Author Barbara Mihók Author Marianna Biró Author Zsolt Molnár Author Eszter Kovács Author János Bölöni Author Tibor Erős Author Tibor Standovár Author Péter Török Author Gábor Csorba Author Katalin Margóczi Author András Báldi URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320717307875__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvdRiqr-s$ Volume 211 Pages 67-75 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date July 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2017.05.005 Abstract Changes of the social-political system in the last twenty-five years heavily affected biodiversity conservation in the post-soviet Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries. We used a framework to present the effect of the two fundamental social, political and economic changes on the biodiversity and ecosystems of Hungary from 1989 until recently. First, following the democratic transformation in 1989 social, political, economic and institutional drivers led to the increase in farmland biodiversity, improvement of water quality due to less chemical use and decrease of habitat loss within protected areas. At the same time, land privatisation and uncertain ownership led to habitat degradation, abandonment and fragmentation. These changes were coupled with the spread of alien species and re-ploughing. The second change was joining the European Union in 2004. This resulted in the establishment of the Natura 2000 network, the application of the relevant EU policies, and access to conservation related EU funds, which contributed to successful habitat restorations increasing of some charismatic species' populations. Meanwhile, however, disappearance of extensive farming practices, agricultural intensification and infrastructural developments driven by some increasing EU funds led to a net habitat loss, degradation and decline in biodiversity, with more than half of the species of European importance having unfavourable conservation status. Increased support for conservation institutions, adaptive and extended agri-environment schemes and further research and monitoring to establish, refine and supervise sustainable management practices, including water management, are needed to prevent further biodiversity loss in the coming years. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:19 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:19 PM Tags: o Conservation institutions and governance o European Union o Farmland o Forest o Freshwater o Grassland o Habitat changes * Land-use history influence the vegetation in coniferous production forests in southern Sweden Type Journal Article Author Per Milberg Author Karl-Olof Bergman Author Dennis Jonason Author Jesper Karlsson Author Lars Westerberg URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112718323351__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvRmxoELM$ Volume 440 Pages 23-30 Publication Forest Ecology and Management ISSN 0378-1127 Date May 15, 2019 Journal Abbr Forest Ecology and Management DOI 10.1016/j.foreco.2019.03.005 Abstract During the last centuries, land use in Europe intensified, which has led to a drastic decrease in the cover of semi-natural grasslands. In Sweden, much of the lost grasslands was turned into forest. This study investigated if species typical of managed grasslands could be found in coniferous production forests more than 80 years after grassland management ceased. Species and trait composition for plants was investigated in two types of forest differing in land use history (meadow in the 1870s or continuous coniferous forest), and in reference grasslands. The average plant species richness as well as the richness of grassland indicator species were 30% higher in forests with a history as meadow compared to in forests with a history as forest, hence clear signs of historical grassland management in today’s forests. Compared with forests with continuous coniferous history, vegetation in forests with a meadow history tended to be more similar to reference grassland regarding both plant species and especially plant trait composition. The study provides proof of remnant grassland populations in coniferous production as the source for the biodiversity of clearcuts, rather than seed dispersal or seed bank survival. The result highlights the importance of land use for biodiversity of clearcuts, and points to the potential value of forests with a history of meadow in grassland conservation and restoration. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:30 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:30 PM * Grazing effects on aboveground primary production and root biomass of early-seral, mid-seral, and undisturbed semiarid grassland Type Journal Article Author D.G. Milchunas Author M.W. Vandever URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196313000177__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvlvuWVsQ$ Volume 92 Pages 81-88 Publication Journal of Arid Environments ISSN 0140-1963 Date May 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Journal of Arid Environments DOI 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2013.01.012 Abstract Annual/perennial and tall/short plant species differentially dominate early to late successional shortgrass steppe communities. Plant species can have different ratios of above-/below-ground biomass distributions and this can be modified by precipitation and grazing. We compared grazing effects on aboveground production and root biomass in early- and mid-seral fields and undisturbed shortgrass steppe. Production averaged across four years and grazed and ungrazed treatments were 246, 134, and 102 g m−2 yr−1 for the early-, mid-seral, and native sites, respectively, while root biomass averaged 358, 560, and 981 g m−2, respectively. Early- and mid-seral communities provided complimentary forage supplies but at the cost of root biomass. Grazing increased, decreased, or had no effect on aboveground production in early-, mid-seral, and native communities, and had no effect on roots in any. Grazing had some negative effects on early spring forage species, but not in the annual dominated early-seral community. Dominant species increased with grazing in native communities with a long evolutionary history of grazing by large herbivores, but had no effects on the same species in mid-seral communities. Effects of grazing in native communities in a region cannot necessarily be used to predict effects at other seral stages. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:10 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:10 PM Tags: o Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) o Grassland recovery after cultivation o Herbivory o Restoration revegetation o Secondary succession o Shortgrass steppe * Allelopathic Cover Crop Prior to Seeding Is More Important Than Subsequent Grazing/Mowing in Grassland Establishment Type Journal Article Author Daniel G. Milchunas Author Mark W. Vandever Author Leonard O. Ball Author Skip. Hyberg URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742411500351__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv_rP7W_c$ Volume 64 Issue 3 Pages 291-300 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date May 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/REM-D-10-00117.1 Abstract The effects of grazing, mowing, and type of cover crop were evaluated in a previous winter wheat–fallow cropland seeded to grassland under the Conservation Reserve Program in eastern Colorado. Prior to seeding, the fallow strips were planted to forage sorghum or wheat in alternating strips (cover crops), with no grazing, moderate to heavy grazing, and mowing (grazing treatments) superimposed 4yr after planting and studied for 3yr. Plots previously in wheat had more annual and exotic species than sorghum plots. Concomitantly, there were much greater abundances of perennial native grass and all native species in sorghum than wheat cropped areas. The competitive advantage gained by seeded species in sorghum plots resulted in large increases in rhizomatous western wheatgrass. Sorghum is known to be allelopathic and is used in crop agriculture rotations to suppress weeds and increase crop yields, consistent with the responses of weed and desired native species in this study. Grazing treatment had relatively minor effects on basal and canopy cover composition of annual or exotic species versus perennial native grass or native species. Although grazing treatment never was a significant main effect, it occasionally modified cover crop or year effects. Opportunistic grazing reduced exotic cheatgrass by year 3 but also decreased the native palatable western wheatgrass. Mowing was a less effective weed control practice than grazing. Vegetative basal cover and aboveground primary production varied primarily with year. Common management practices for revegetation/restoration currently use herbicides and mowing as weed control practices and restrict grazing in all stages of development. Results suggest that allelopathic cover crop selection and opportunistic grazing can be effective alternative grass establishment and weed control practices. Susceptibility, resistance, and interactions of weed and seeded species to allelopathic cover species/cultivars may be a fruitful area of research. Resumen Se evaluaron los efectos del pastoreo, el corte, y el tipo de cultivo acompañante en tierras sometidas a cultivo de trigo de invierno y barbecho, convertidas a pasturas permanentes a través del Programa de Reservas de Conservación en el este de Colorado. Antes de la siembra se implantó sorgo forrajero o trigo en fajas alternas (cultivo acompañante) en las franjas de barbecho; las mismas recibieron protección del pastoreo, pastoreo moderado a intenso, y corte (tratamientos de pastoreo) superpuesto cuatro años después de la siembra y fueron estudiadas por tres años. Las parcelas en las que se implantó trigo tuvieron más especies anuales y exóticas que las parcelas implantadas con sorgo. De modo concomitante, la abundancia de pastos perennes nativos y de todas las especies nativas fue mayor en las parcelas de sorgo que en las de trigo. La ventaja competitiva de las especies implantadas en parcelas de sorgo dieron lugar a un gran incremento de la especie rizomatosa Pascopyrum smithii. El sorgo tiene propiedades alelopáticas conocidas y se usa en rotaciones de cultivos agrícolas para suprimir malezas y aumentar el rendimiento de los cultivos, en consonancia con las respuestas de malezas y especies nativas deseadas en este estudio. El tratamiento de pastoreo tuvo efectos relativamente menores en la cobertura basal y de canopeo de especies anuales o exóticas vs. pastos perennes nativos o especies nativas. Aunque el tratamiento de pastoreo nunca fue un efecto principal significativo, ocasionalmente modificó los efectos del cultivo acompañante o del año. El pastoreo oportunista redujo el pasto exótico Bromus tectorum al tercer año del estudio, pero también redujo a la especie nativa palatable P. smithii. El corte fue una práctica de control de malezas menos efectiva que el pastoreo. La cobertura vegetativa basal y la productividad primaria aérea variaron principalmente con el año. Prácticas de manejo comunes para revegetación/restauración actualmente utilizan herbicidas o corte como método de control de malezas, y restringen el pastoreo en todas las etapas de implantación. Estos resultados sugieren que un cultivo acompañante con propiedades alelopáticas y el pastoreo oportunista pueden ser prácticas alternativas efectivas de control de malezas. La susceptibilidad, resistencia, y las interacciones de malezas y especies cultivadas a las especies/cultivares de cultivos acompañantes con propiedades alelopáticas podría ser un área de investigación fructífera. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:32:12 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:32:12 PM Tags: o Conservation Reserve Program revegetation o exotic weed suppression o opportunistic grazing o priority effects from soil legacy o restoration succession o sorghum allelopathy * Change to ecosystem properties through changing the dominant species: Impact of Pteridium aquilinum-control and heathland restoration treatments on selected soil properties Type Journal Article Author G. Milligan Author K.E. Booth Author E.S. Cox Author R.J. Pakeman Author M.G. Le Duc Author L. Connor Author S. Blackbird Author R.H. Marrs URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479717310885__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvlnBnAMg$ Volume 207 Pages 1-9 Publication Journal of Environmental Management ISSN 0301-4797 Date February 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Journal of Environmental Management DOI 10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.11.013 Abstract It is well known that soils are influenced by the plant species that grow in them. Here we consider the effects of management-induced changes to plant communities and their soils during restoration within a 20-year manipulative experiment where the aim was to change a late-successional community dominated by the weed, Pteridium aquilinum, to an earlier-successional grass-heath one. The ecological restoration treatments altered the above- and below-ground components of the community substantially. Untreated plots maintained a dense Pteridium cover with little understory vegetation, cutting treatments produce significant reductions of Pteridium, whereas herbicide (asulam) produced significant immediate reductions in Pteridium but regressed towards the untreated plots within 10 years. Thereafter, all asulam-treated plots were re-treated in year 11, and then were spot-sprayed annually. Both cutting and asulam treatments reduced frond density to almost zero and resulted in a grass-heath vegetation. There was also a massive change in biomass distribution, untreated plots had a large above-ground biomass/necromass that was much reduced where Pteridium was controlled. Below-ground in treated plots, there was a replacement of the substantive Pteridium rhizome mass with a much greater root mass of other species. The combined effects of Pteridium-control and restoration treatment, reduced soil total C and N as and available P concentrations, but increased soil pH and available N. Soil biological activity was also affected with a reduction in soil N mineralization rate, but an increased soil-root respiration. Multivariate analysis showed a clear trend along a pH/organic matter gradient, with movement along it correlated to management intensity from the untreated plots with low pH/high organic matter and treated plots with to a higher pH/lower organic matter in the sequence asulam treatment, cut once per year to cut twice per year. The role that these changed soil conditions might have in restricting Pteridium recovery are discussed. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:59 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:59 PM Tags: o Bracken control o Conservation o Ecological restoration o Long-term manipulative experiment o Management-induced soil change o Soil chemistry * Reducing soil fertility to enable ecological restoration: A new method to test the efficacy of Full-Inversion Tillage Type Journal Article Author Gregg Milligan Author Richard Scott Author Damian Young Author Leslie Connor Author Sabena Blackbird Author Rob Marrs URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857416306255__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvFA8Yqx8$ Volume 98 Pages 257-263 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date January 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2016.11.003 Abstract Ecological restoration of high-quality, semi-natural communities of conservation value on ex-arable soils with raised fertility has been a major problem in northern Europe. One suggested way of tackling this problem is to use Full-Inversion Tillage (FIT) where the fertile top-soil is moved below infertile sub-surface layers. This should provide infertile conditions at least in the short- to medium-term for the establishment of communities that require these conditions. Here, we pioneer a rigorous test of the efficacy of this approach. Our new method, using Principal Response Curves (PRCs), overcomes the difficulty in testing for change in soil physico-chemical properties down soil profiles with the inherent problem of autocorrelations between soil layers. Principal Response Curves (PRCs) is a multivariate technique, usually used to test for effects of treatment effects through time on a community matrix. We propose an extension of their use for the multivariate analysis of properties down a soil-depth profile. We tested the effects of FIT in two contrasting soils, before and after treatment. In a clay loam soil, FIT was effective in reducing the soil fertility in the surface 12cm. Indeed the soil available P concentration, a key variable, was more than halved in the surface layers, and was below the lowest literature target threshold for the establishment of semi-natural grassland. In contrast, in the sandy soil, soil properties increased throughout the profile after FIT, primarily because of the pre-treatment nutrient distribution within the soil. Before FIT treatment, the maximum concentrations of most measured variables were at mid-depth and FIT redistributed these to the surface and bottom layers. Our results demonstrate the potential for FIT in ecological restoration, but indicate that its efficacy depends on soil type and the site history. We recommend that in future a pre-treatment assessment of soil properties with depth is undertaken before FIT is implemented, and that afterwards our PRC approach can be used to test efficacy immediately after treatment, and has the potential for measuring soil resilience to perturbation through time. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:12 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:12 PM Tags: o Conservation o Multivariate analysis o Resilience o Soil fertility o Soil impoverishment o Soil inversion * Soil Moisture Enhancement Techniques Aid Shrub Transplant Success in an Arid Shrubland Restoration Type Journal Article Author Tamera J. Minnick Author Richard D. Alward URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742412500370__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvIqnb8hk$ Volume 65 Issue 3 Pages 232-240 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date May 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/REM-D-10-00133.1 Accessed 2020-03-17, 6:03:00 PM Library Catalog ScienceDirect Language en Abstract In arid and semi-arid environments, where low and unpredictable rainfall is typical, establishment of perennial vegetation can be enhanced with modest increases in soil moisture. We evaluated methods for promoting shrub transplant establishment. We transplanted approximately 1 000 3-mo-old seedlings in April 2004, 2005, and 2006, using a full-factorial design with combinations of three treatments: addition of mycorrhizae spores to the root zone, addition of a hydrogel to the root zone, and placement of a wood obstruction south of the plant. We planted three shrubs: big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt. ssp. tridentate), four wing saltbush (Atriplex canescens [Pursh] Nutt.), and rubber rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa [Pall. ex Pursh] G.L. Nesom & Baird ssp. nauseosa) in a 1.2-ha area. The summer months of 2004 and 2006 were dry, leading to low survivorship (< 1%). With higher rainfall in summer 2005, transplant survivorship was ∼18%. For the 2005 transplants, A. tridentata had the highest survivorship after one growing season (31.0%), followed by A. canescens (20.6%) and E. nauseosa (6.9%). Placing a wood obstruction near the plant was significant in the statistical model to describe short-term overall transplant survival and survival of A. tridentata. Placing hydrogel in the root zone also explained short-term overall transplant survival, as well as survival of E. nauseosa. However, by 4.5 yr after transplanting, there was no significant treatment effect on survival. Thus, for transplanting shrub seedlings on arid or semi-arid sites, we recommend some form of resource enhancement technique to increase short-term survival. In this experiment, both the obstruction and hydrogel treatments were effective. We recommend the obstruction treatment since slash is often readily available onsite, has low labor requirements and cost, and it increased transplant survival of A. tridentata, a species of conservation concern; however, other treatments may be appropriate for individual species. Resumen En zonas áridas y semiáridas, donde las bajas precipitaciones y la lluvia impredecible son típicas, el establecimiento de la vegetación perenne puede ser mejorado con pequeños incrementos en la humedad del suelo. Se evaluaron métodos para promover el establecimiento de arbustos trasplantados. Se trasplantaron aproximadamente 1 000 plántulas de 3 meses en Abril de 2004, 2005, y 2006, usando un diseño completamente factorial con combinaciones de tres tratamientos: adición de esporas de micorrizas en la zona de la raíz, adición de hidrogel en la zona de la raíz, y la colocación de una obstrucción de madera al sur de la planta. Se plantaron tres arbustos: big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt. ssp. tridentata), four wing saltbush (Atriplex canescens [Pursh] Nutt.), and rubber rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa [Pall. ex Pursh] G.L. Nesom & Baird ssp. nauseosa) en una área de 1.2 has. Los meses del verano de 2004 y 2006 fueron secos, dando como resultado una sobrevivencia baja (< 1%). Con una mayor cantidad de lluvia en el verano del 2005 la sobrevivencia de los trasplantes fue ∼18%. Para los trasplantes de 2005 A. tridentate presentó la mayor sobrevivencia después de la época de crecimiento (31.0%) seguido por A. canescens (20.6%) y E. nauseosa (6.9%). La colocación de la obstrucción de madera cerca de la plantas fue significativa en el modelo estadístico para describir a corto plazo la supervivencia de los trasplantes en general y la sobrevivencia de A. tridentate. La colocación de hidrogel en la zona de la raíz también explicó a corto plazo la sobrevivencia de los trasplantes en general, así como la sobrevivencia de E. nauseosa. Sin embargo, cerca de 4 ½ años después de los trasplantes, no hay efecto significativo en la sobrevivencia. Así para el trasplante de plántulas de arbustos en las zonas áridas y semiáridas se recomienda algún tipo de técnica para incrementar e hidrogel fueron efectivos. Se recomienda el tratamiento de obstrucción ya que la madera se puede conseguir fácilmente en estas áreas, tiene un bajo requerimiento de labor y costo, e incrementa la sobrevivencia de los trasplantes de A. tridentate, una especie de interés para la conservación; sin embargo otros tratamientos pueden ser apropiados para especies individuales. Date Added 2020-03-17, 6:03:00 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 6:03:00 PM Tags: o big sagebrush o desert shrubland reclamation o drought o hydrogel o revegetation o slash Attachments o ScienceDirect Snapshot * Building systems-based scenario narratives for novel biodiversity futures in an agricultural landscape Type Journal Article Author Michael Mitchell Author Michael Lockwood Author Susan A. Moore Author Sarah Clement URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169204615002029__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvWO5Gtqs$ Volume 145 Pages 45-56 Publication Landscape and Urban Planning ISSN 0169-2046 Date January 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Landscape and Urban Planning DOI 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2015.09.003 Abstract Improving biodiversity futures requires a systems-based appreciation of the dynamic human and biophysical interactions shaping landscapes. By combining a structured approach to identifying key drivers of change on biodiversity with a collaborative approach to scenario planning, biodiversity planners and managers can work with stakeholders to identify a range of possible futures and explore their implications. This paper presents an approach to developing scenario narratives constructed against key drivers of change identified through a social–ecological systems analysis. The approach facilitated the integration of stakeholder and expert input to inform system dynamics affecting biodiversity outcomes, helping to direct and discipline the collective imagination, and to challenge assumptions and reveal new opportunities and strategies. Examples are provided to show how conventional notions about preserving biodiversity remnants “as is” were not a good fit for the diverse range of futures imagined, and that restoration ecology would have to expand to incorporate ideas of landscape fluidity and novel ecosystems. Aspects of the scenario narratives highlighted the need for new conservation strategies for the endangered native grassland ecological community within the Tasmanian Midlands case study, and a re-focusing on new locations across that landscape. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:30 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:30 PM Tags: o Biodiversity futures o Land use change o Novel ecosystems o Private land conservation o Scenario planning * What is ecological engineering? Type Journal Article Author William J. Mitsch URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857412001310__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvxMBwor4$ Volume 45 Pages 5-12 Publication Ecological Engineering--Its Development, Applications and Challenges ISSN 0925-8574 Date August 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2012.04.013 Abstract Ecological engineering, defined as the design of sustainable ecosystems that integrate human society with its natural environment for the benefit of both, has developed over the last 30 years, and rapidly over the last 10 years. Its goals include the restoration of ecosystems that have been substantially disturbed by human activities and the development of new sustainable ecosystems that have both human and ecological values. It is especially needed as conventional energy sources diminish and amplification of nature's ecosystem services is needed even more. There are now several universities developing academic programs or departments called ecological engineering, ecological restoration, or similar terms, the number of manuscripts submitted to the journal Ecological Engineering continue to increase at an rapid rate, and the U.S. National Science Foundation now has a specific research focus area called ecological engineering. There are many private firms now developing and even prospering that are now specializing in the restoration of streams, rivers, lakes, forests, grasslands, and wetlands, the rehabilitation of minelands and urban brownfields, and the creation of treatment wetlands and phytoremediation sites. It appears that the perfect synchronization of academy, publishing, research resources, and practice is beginning to develop. Yet the field still does not have a formal accreditation in engineering and receives guarded acceptance in the university system and workplace alike. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:42 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:42 PM Tags: o Ecological engineering o Ecological engineering definitions o Ecological engineering principles o Ecosystem restoration o Peak energy o Self-design * Dynamics of the soil seed bank over the short-term after bush clearing in a semi-arid shrubland in Springbokvlakte thornveld of South Africa Type Journal Article Author M. Mndela Author I.C. Madakadze Author F. Nherera-Chokuda Author S. Dube URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0254629918323755__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvdsXKJR8$ Volume 125 Pages 298-309 Publication South African Journal of Botany ISSN 0254-6299 Date September 1, 2019 Journal Abbr South African Journal of Botany DOI 10.1016/j.sajb.2019.07.033 Abstract Soil seed bank is a reservoir for passive restoration of rangelands following bush clearance. This study was conducted to assess the effects of bush clearance on the seed bank size, composition, diversity and relationship between soil seed bank (SSB) and above ground vegetation (AGV) in Springbokvlakte thornveld. The study was conducted at Radi communal rangeland, Makapanstad in North-West Province, South Africa with an average rainfall of 459 mm annum−1. The rangeland was encroached at an average density of 6908 woody plants ha−1 by Vachellia tenuispina, Vachellia tortilis, Ziziphus mucronata and Asparagus laricinus, with V. tenuispina accounting for 92% of the woody cover. All woody plants within 50 × 25 m plots were mechanically cut using manual saws and loppers followed by chemical stump treatment using picloram. The cleared and their adjacent uncleared microsites were marked in the middle of a large shrubland and were protected from grazing. Soil samples were collected at three depths (0–10, >10–20 and >20–30 cm) in April (pre-treatment), August, October, December 2016 and, April and August 2017 in bush cleared and uncleared microsites. SSB was determined using the seedling emergence method. Vegetation surveys were conducted in February 2016 (pre-treatment) and 2017 (post-treatment). Thirty-seven species from 16 families emerged from the SSB. Perennial species were the most abundant life-form until December 2016, after which annuals increased to 70 and 71% in April and August 2017, respectively in cleared microsites. Eragrostis lehmanniana, Jamesbrittenia aurantiaca and Aristida bipartita were the most abundant species until December 2016, thereafter; Brachiaria eruciformis dominated by 55–61% from April to August 2017 in cleared microsites. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that most seed bank species correlated strongly with total soil nitrogen, C:N ratio and nitrates. Total seed densities remained similar from August to December 2016, thereafter; they were 2- to 3-fold higher in cleared compared to uncleared microsites. Seed densities declined significantly (p < .05) with burial depth in April and August 2017 in cleared microsites. Species diversity declined with time in cleared relative to uncleared microsites, mainly due to B. eruciformis homogenising the SSB in April and August 2017, respectively. In contrast, SØrensen's similarity between SSB and AGV increased with time, being highest in cleared than uncleared microsites from December 2016 to August 2017. Large seed bank densities in cleared microsites indicated high potential for vegetation recovery following bush clearance. However, follow-up management to drive vegetation changes to perennial species dominated state is necessary. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:30 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:04:30 PM Tags: o Bush clearance o Diversity o Restoration o Seed bank density o SØrensen's similarity * Weather Tools for Retrospective Assessment of Restoration Outcomes Type Journal Article Author Corey A. Moffet Author Stuart P. Hardegree Author John T. Abatzoglou Author Katherine C. Hegewisch Author R. Ryan Reuter Author Roger L. Sheley Author M.W. Brunson Author G.N. Flerchinger Author Alex R. Boehm URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742418303361__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvjtI2Vpo$ Volume 72 Issue 2 Pages 225-229 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date March 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2018.10.011 Abstract Rangeland seeding practices in the Intermountain western United States are predominantly implemented in the year immediately following wildfire for the purposes of Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation (ESR). This necessarily links restoration and rehabilitation outcomes to the probability of a single year providing sufficiently favorable microclimatic conditions for desirable plant establishment. Field research studies in rangeland restoration are also typically of limited duration, and published results may not represent the full spectrum of conditions likely to be experienced at a given site. We propose that location-specific and temporal weather analysis may enhance the interpretation of historical planting data, support expanded inferences from short-term field studies, and facilitate meta-analysis of diverse field studies in rangeland restoration. We describe access and use of new databases and tools that can be used to characterize and rank weather and soil-microclimatic variables and suggest some standard graphs and weather metrics to establish a longer-term perspective for the interpretation of rangeland restoration outcomes. Tools of this type may also be useful in the interpretation of a wide range of agricultural and natural resource applications that are driven by similar weather inputs, particularly in arid and semiarid systems that exhibit high annual and seasonal variability in precipitation and temperature. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:16 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:56:11 PM Tags: o germination o gridMET o rangeland restoration o seedbed o weather * Photoinhibition of germination in grass seed – Implications for prairie revegetation Type Journal Article Author Federico P.O. Mollard Author M. Anne Naeth URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S030147971400187X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvSSYKQpY$ Volume 142 Pages 1-9 Publication Journal of Environmental Management ISSN 0301-4797 Date September 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Journal of Environmental Management DOI 10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.04.007 Abstract Germination photoinhibition is not a recognized cause of revegetation failure; yet prolonged sunlight exposure can inhibit germination of several grass species. This research addressed susceptibility to photoinhibition of selected native grass species used to restore Canadian prairies, and reclamation treatments to alter environmental conditions in order to release seeds from photoinhibition. Under laboratory conditions effects of photoinhibition were tested on the ability of seeds to germinate at low water potential and effects of daily alternating temperatures and nitrates to break photoinhibition. Whether surficial mulch can release seeds from photoinhibition was assessed in a field experiment. Germination photoinhibition was evident in Festuca hallii and Koeleria macrantha seeds even under very low irradiances. The prolonged exposure to light decreased germination rates and ability of seeds to germinate at low water potentials. Daily fluctuating temperatures released a fraction of Bromus carinatus and Elymus trachycaulus seeds from photoinhibition yet did not improve F. hallii or K. macrantha germinability. Nitrates failed to break seed photoinhibition in all species tested. In the field experiment, mulched F. hallii seeds (covered with an erosion control blanket) showed a tenfold increase in germination percentages relative to seeds exposed to direct sunlight, indicating the facilitative effects of mulching on attenuation of the light environment. We conclude that germination photoinhibition as a cause of emergence failures in land reclamation where seed is broadcast or shallow seeded should be recognized and germination photoinhibition included in the decision making process to select revegetation seeding techniques. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:46 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:56:42 PM Tags: o Cultural practices o Grassland restoration o Hydrotime model o Native grasses o Reclamation o Seedling emergence * Mulch amendment facilitates early revegetation development on an abandoned field In northern mixed grass prairies of North America Type Journal Article Author Federico P. O. Mollard Author M. Anne Naeth Author Anayansi Cohen-Fernandez URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857416305328__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvb3JFdP0$ Volume 97 Pages 284-291 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date December 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2016.10.004 Accessed 2020-03-17, 6:43:34 PM Library Catalog ScienceDirect Language en Abstract Extensive areas of the northern mixed grass prairies of North America require restoration and reclamation as they have been extensively disturbed by agricultural, mining and oil and gas related activities. Amending seedbeds with mulch may avoid soil erosion and help both plant recruitment and early vegetation development in these water limited landscapes. A field experiment was established to determine if straw and hay mulch facilitate early revegetation. The site is an abandoned irrigation area in southern Alberta, Canada. Soil was tilled and the seedbed prepared through manual harrowing, then plots were broadcast seeded with Elymus trachycaulus, Bouteloua gracilis, Astragalus canadensis and Linum lewisii. Hay and straw mulch were applied at two rates (300 and 600gm−2). Plant recruitment and cover were assessed through the first four years. Mulch had a positive impact on recruitment of all species planted except Bouteloua gracilis. While a thinner material like hay proved to be most effective at high rates (600gm−2), a thicker material like straw encouraged quick recruitment for these species only at low application rates (300gm−2). However, these early differences among mulch treatments did not show an impact in either recruitment or cover during subsequent years. Bouteloua gracilis, whose recruitment and growth were broadly impaired by mulch, showed an abundant and constantly increasing cover in the bare ground control and in plots with low application rates of hay. Both recruitment and cover per species indicate that plots are following two different trajectories that show some degree of resilience; the bare ground treatment is dominated by Bouteloua gracilis whereas the mulch treatments are characterized by vegetation dominated by Elymus trachycaulus, Linum lewisii and Astragalus canadensis. Date Added 2020-03-17, 6:43:34 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:56:14 PM Tags: o Grassland restoration o Land reclamation o Old field restoration o Surface amendments o Water use efficiency Attachments o ScienceDirect Snapshot * Impacts of mulch on prairie seedling establishment: Facilitative to inhibitory effects Type Journal Article Author Federico P.O. Mollard Author M. Anne Naeth Author Anayansi Cohen-Fernandez URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857414000135__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvXzH3SZc$ Volume 64 Pages 377-384 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date March 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2014.01.012 Abstract Seedling establishment in semiarid prairie sites under reclamation can be facilitated by mulch due to its effects on seedbed conditions. Effects on plant recruitment can also be inhibitory, as mulch can filter out or attenuate environmental signals that break seed dormancy and can negatively affect early seedling performance. A manipulative field experiment was established to determine if straw and hay mulch facilitate seedling emergence and establishment. The reclamation site is an abandoned irrigation area in the mixed grass prairie of southern Alberta, Canada. Soil was tilled and the seedbed prepared through manual harrowing, then plots were broadcast seeded with Elymus trachycaulus, Bouteloua gracilis, Hesperostipa comata, Astragalus canadensis and Linum lewisii. Hay and straw mulch were applied at two rates (300 and 600gm−2). Seedling emergence and survival were assessed through the first growing season. Both hay mulch rates increased E. trachycaulus and L. lewisii seedling emergence relative to bare ground. A. canadensis seedling emergence was more than ten times higher with low straw and both hay rates than with bare ground. Straw mulch facilitated seedling emergence at a low rate but had a neutral effect at high rates. Effects of low straw and both hay mulch rates on seedling establishment were facilitative for E. trachycaulus and L. lewisii and neutral for B. gracilis. Effects of high straw rates were neutral for E. trachycaulus and L. lewisii and hindered B. gracilis seedling establishment. These results clearly show that low mulch rates can increase native plant establishment during the critical first year of prairie reclamation as they were able to overcome microsite limitations. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:48 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:56:44 PM Tags: o Grassland restoration o Land reclamation o Old field restoration o Surface amendments * Identifying Rangeland Restoration Targets: An Appraisal of Challenges and Opportunities Type Journal Article Author Thomas A. Monaco Author Thomas A. Jones Author Thomas L. Thurow URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742412500990__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvhZSb19E$ Volume 65 Issue 6 Pages 599-605 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date November 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/REM-D-12-00012.1 Abstract Restoration activities are directed toward a broad spectrum of targets. Identifying a restoration target entails defining an ecosystem state and its desired functioning that can be attained through managerial interventions. First, we discuss how restoration targets must integrate economic, social, and ecological considerations in order to be feasible. Primary challenges to identifying realistic restoration targets include long-term managerial and fiscal commitments as well as the accommodation of inherent rangeland complexities stemming from social and ecological factors. Second, we illustrate how the existing tools of ecological site description, rangeland health assessment, and state-and-transition modeling present opportunities to identify flexible restoration targets. Last, we describe how to refine these targets using adaptive management in order to cope with constraints and to reduce the uncertainty of ecosystem dynamics typical of complex systems. Restoration should be viewed as both a rangeland management activity and a means to inform and guide interventions within a specific site. Resumen Las actividades de rehabilitación están dirigidas hacia un amplio espectro de objetivos. La identificación de un objetivo de rehabilitación implica la definición del estado del ecosistema y el funcionamiento deseado que puede alcanzarse a través de intervenciones de manejo. Primero, discutimos cómo los objetivos de rehabilitación deben integrar factores económicos, sociales y ecológicos, con el fin de ser factibles. Los principales desafíos para la identificación de objetivos realistas de rehabilitación incluyen compromisos de manejo y económicos a largo plazo. Así también deben incluirse otros elementos innatos de los pastizales derivados de los factores sociales y ecológicos. Segundo, ilustramos cómo la existencia de herramientas para descripción ecológica de los sitios, evaluación del bienestar del pastizal, y el modelado del estado y transición representan oportunidades para identificar objetivos de rehabilitación. Finalmente, describimos cómo redefinir estos objetivos usando manejo adaptativo con el fin de hacer frente a limitaciones y reducir la incertidumbre de la dinámica de los ecosistemas típicamente de los sistemas complejos. La rehabilitación debe ser vista tanto como una actividad del manejo de pastizales como de un medio para informar y guiar las mediaciones en un sitio especifico. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:18 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:56:16 PM Tags: o adaptive management o conservation planning o ecosystem services o historic benchmarks o novel ecosystems o rangeland monitoring * Downy Brome Control and Impacts on Perennial Grass Abundance: A Systematic Review Spanning 64 Years Type Journal Article Author Thomas A. Monaco Author Jane M. Mangold Author Brian A. Mealor Author Rachel D. Mealor Author Cynthia S. Brown URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742416300896__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvHvE3TIQ$ Volume 70 Issue 3 Pages 396-404 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date May 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2016.09.008 Abstract Given the high cost of restoration and the underlying assumption that reducing annual grass abundance is a necessary precursor to rangeland restoration in the Intermountain West, United States, we sought to identify limitations and strengths of annual grass control methods and refine future management strategies. We systematically reviewed all published journal articles spanning a 64-yr period (1948−2012; n = 119) reporting data on research efforts to either directly or indirectly reduce the abundance of the most common invasive annual grass, downy brome (Bromus tectorum L.). The seven most common control methods studied were herbicide, burning, revegetation, woody removal, defoliation or grazing, soil disturbance, and soil amendment. In addition, the majority of control methods were 1) applied at scales of 10−100 m2, 2) sampled within small plots (i.e., 0.1−1.0 m2), 3) implemented only once, and 4) monitored at time scales that rarely exceeded 5 yr. We also performed summary analyses to assess how these control methods affect downy brome and perennial grass abundance (i.e., cover, density, biomass). We found conflicting evidence regarding the assumption that reducing downy brome abundance is necessary to enhance the growth and establishment of perennial grasses. All methods, with the exception of woody plant removal, significantly reduced downy brome in the short term, but downy brome abundance generally increased over time and only herbicide and revegetation remained reduced in the long term. Only burning, herbicide, and soil disturbance led to long-term increases in perennial grass abundance. We suggest that future research should prioritize a broader array of ecological processes to improve control efficacy and promote the reestablishment of desirable rangeland plant communities. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:43 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:04:43 PM Tags: o ecosystem resilience o invasive annual grass o perennial grass competition o rangeland restoration o soil disturbance * Seedling establishment of Quercus insignis: A critically endangered oak tree species in southern Mexico Type Journal Article Author Beatriz Montes-Hernández Author Fabiola López-Barrera URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112713006580__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvkKy2mtY$ Volume 310 Pages 927-934 Publication Forest Ecology and Management ISSN 0378-1127 Date December 15, 2013 Journal Abbr Forest Ecology and Management DOI 10.1016/j.foreco.2013.09.044 Abstract Quercus insignis has some of the largest acorns of any oak in the world and according to current red lists is considered critically endangered in Mexico and near threatened in Guatemala and Panama. In spite of this there have been no studies of its regeneration ecology with the aim of implementing species recovery plans. In this study, one-year-old seedlings were introduced into an abandoned grassland where Q. insignis adults were present in small remnant forest patches. A total of 1044 seedlings were planted and their survival and growth monitored over four years. An experiment was designed to test the relative effects of seeding location (open area vs. under vegetation cover) and soil treatment (native soil vs. soil with compost). After 50months, only 26% of the seedlings planted survived; plants growing in shade had higher survival (34.4 vs. 18.6%) and increased more in height (0.0264±0.010 vs. 0.0207±0.011cmcm−1month−1, respectively) than seedlings growing in full light (P<0.05). Seedlings growing in full light died more rapidly than seedlings growing under vegetation cover (P<0.05). Mortality was due to several interacting factors, mainly herbivory by voles and gophers, and desiccation under extreme temperatures. A higher proportion of the dead seedlings had been damaged by gophers and voles in the open area compared to seedlings growing under vegetation cover (P<0.05). The implications of these results are discussed with respect to conservation and restoration strategies for this species. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:10 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:10 PM Tags: o Central Veracruz o Seedling growth o Seedling survival o Tropical montane cloud forest * Belowground eco-restoration of a suburban waste-storage landscape: Earthworm dynamics in grassland and in a succession of woody vegetation covers Type Journal Article Author Pamela K. Morales Author Isa A.M. Yunusa Author Glenys Lugg Author Zheng Li Author Paul Gribben Author Derek Eamus URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169204613001230__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvuA09Rn4$ Volume 120 Pages 16-24 Publication Landscape and Urban Planning ISSN 0169-2046 Date December 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Landscape and Urban Planning DOI 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2013.06.007 Abstract Restoration of belowground ecology is seldom a priority in designing revegetation strategies for disturbed landscapes. We determined earthworm abundance and diversity in a 16-year old grass sward (grassland), a 6-year old (Plantation-04) and a 4-year old (Plantation-06) plantation, both of mixed woody species, on a reclaimed waste disposal site, and in nearby remnant woodland, in suburban Sydney, Australia. While no catches were made in autumn, more earthworms were found in spring (21±8.6m–2) than in winter (10.2±5.9m–2) or summer (14.4±5.5m–2). Earthworm abundance in spring was in the order grassland≈Plantation-04 (35.2m–2)>woodland (12.8m–2)>Plantation-06 (0.8m–2). None of the revegetated covers had restored earthworm diversity to levels found in the woodland. Exotic species, mostly Microscolex dubius, dominated in the four vegetation covers at any time; the only two native species (Heteroporodrilus sp. and Megascoleceides sp.) found were in the woodland. We also assessed how quality of the evolving soils from the three revegetated covers, compared with that from the woodland, impacted viability of common exotic earthworm species. Both weight gain and cocoon production by the exotic earthworms were higher in the soil from Plantation-04 than in soils from the other vegetation covers, including the woodland; the two variables were positively correlated with the pH and mineral nutrient content (as indicated by electrical conductivity that was in turn correlated with clay content) of the soil. Age of vegetation rather than its composition explained differences in the level of earthworm recovery observed. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:22 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:22 PM Tags: o Belowground ecological restoration o Earthworms o Soil nutrient content o Soil salinity o Vegetation age o Waste management * Holocene vegetation, fire and climate interactions on the westernmost fringe of the Mediterranean Basin Type Journal Article Author César Morales-Molino Author Mercedes García-Antón Author José M. Postigo-Mijarra Author Carlos Morla URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277379112004234__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvv4a8Zvk$ Volume 59 Pages 5-17 Publication Quaternary Science Reviews ISSN 0277-3791 Date January 3, 2013 Journal Abbr Quaternary Science Reviews DOI 10.1016/j.quascirev.2012.10.027 Abstract A new palaeoecological sequence from the western Iberian Central Range significantly contributes to the knowledge on the Holocene vegetation dynamics in central Iberia. This sequence supports the existence of time-transgressive changes in the vegetation cover during the beginning of the Holocene over these central Iberian mountains, specifically the replacement of boreal birch–pine forests with Mediterranean communities. Anthracological analyses also indicate the replacement of boreal pines (Pinus sylvestris) with Mediterranean ones (Pinus pinaster) during the early Holocene. The observed vegetation changes were generally synchronous with climatic phases previously reconstructed for the western Mediterranean region, and they suggest that the climatic trends were most similar to those recorded in the northern Mediterranean region and central Europe. Several cycles of secondary succession after fire ending with the recovery of mature forest have been identified, which demonstrates that the vegetation of western Iberia was highly resilient to fire disturbance. However, when the recurrence of fire crossed a certain threshold, the original forests were not able to completely recover and shrublands and grasslands became dominant; this occurred approximately 5800–5400 cal yr BP. Afterwards, heathlands established as the dominant vegetation, which were maintained by frequent and severe wildfires most likely associated with human activities in a climatic framework that was less suitable for temperate trees. Finally, our palaeoecological record provides guidelines on how to manage protected areas in Mediterranean mountains of southwestern Europe, especially regarding the conservation and restoration of temperate communities that are threatened there such as birch stands. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:08 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:08 PM Tags: o Charcoal o Fire ecology o Forest management o Heathlands o Macrofossils o Pollen o Spain * Plant life in campo rupestre: New lessons from an ancient biodiversity hotspot Type Journal Article Author L. Patrícia C. Morellato Author Fernando A.O. Silveira URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S036725301733390X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvs3SsWcI$ Volume 238 Pages 1-10 Publication Plant life on campo rupestre, a megadiverse Neotropical old-growth grassland ISSN 0367-2530 Date January 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Flora DOI 10.1016/j.flora.2017.12.001 Abstract The years 2011–2020 represent the United Nations Decade of Biodiversity, aiming to inspire worldwide actions to support biodiversity conservation. This Special Issue illustrates the current knowledge of plant life in campo rupestre, a megadiverse, highly-endemic vegetation complex, and one under alarming and unprecedented threats. The major research areas grouping the 27 contributions to the Special Issue are: i) plant diversity, ii) species coexistence, regeneration niche and climate change, iii) ecology of species interactions, iv) plant life on canga, and v) fire, regeneration ecology, and conservation. We highlight knowledge gaps in plant life in campo rupestre and suggest priority avenues of future research and steps forward to understand and preserve ancient ecosystems worldwide. Such efforts include the need to: 1) better assess the ecology of herbaceous species, 2) understand the effects of global change drivers on the vulnerability of endemic species, 3) understand how plant functional diversity and plant–animal interactions shape community structure and function, 4) apply new technologies (cameras, drones and remote sensing proxies) to understand plant phenology in space and time, 5) unravel diversification patterns and distinguish paleoendemism from neoendemism, 6) to disentangle the ecological and evolutionary role of fire, 7) gain insight into the factors that limit ecological restoration in degraded campo rupestre, 8) increase awareness and value of ecosystem services, 9) identify essential variables, key measures and areas to conserve campo rupestre, 10) promote reviews and research comparing old ecosystems. Therefore, burgeoning literature on campo rupestre will benefit from long-term multi- and trans-disciplinary research investigating a wide array of topics, from plant ecology to ecosystem functioning to biodiversity conservation and ecological restoration. All knowledge must reach stakeholders, and it should be translated into an ecosystem services assessment for guiding the rational stewardship of campo rupestre and for benefiting local people. A key step forward in the understanding of plant life in campo rupestre is the OCBIL Theory (old, climatically-buffered, infertile landscapes), which provides a theoretical framework of testable hypotheses and cross-continental comparisons. We anticipate this Special Issue will foster collaborative research leading to a deeper understanding and appreciation of one of the world’s most ancient ecosystems. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:44 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:44 PM Tags: o Endemism o Inselbergs o Megadiverse ecosystems o OCBIL theory o Rocky outcrops o Rupestrian grasslands o Tropical mountaintop grasslands * Perceptions of Landowners Concerning Conservation, Grazing, Fire, and Eastern Redcedar Management in Tallgrass Prairie Type Journal Article Author Lois Wright Morton Author Elise Regen Author David M. Engle Author James R. Miller Author Ryan N. Harr URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742410500678__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvLcUKJQg$ Volume 63 Issue 6 Pages 645-654 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date November 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/REM-D-09-00041.1 Abstract Successful prairie restoration will depend in part on convincing private landowners with agricultural and recreational use goals to implement appropriate rangeland management practices, such as prescribed burning and cattle grazing, to control invasive species and encroachment of woody plants. However, landowners have been slow to adopt appropriate practices in the US Midwest. The purpose of this study was to explore attitudes and behaviors of private landowners toward prescribed burning and moderate stocking as rangeland management tools. A survey was mailed to 193 landowners (response rate 51%) in the Grand River Grasslands region of southern Iowa and northern Missouri. While 68% of landowners viewed grazing as a legitimate land management tool, only half of landowners thought of fire as a legitimate tool. Over 75% of respondents believed that the increase in eastern redcedar and other trees in grasslands was a problem, with 44% considering it a major problem. Although 84% of landowners said that they had taken action to control eastern redcedar, only 25% had participated in a prescribed burn. Income from agriculture and recreational goals were negatively and significantly correlated (-0.252, P  =  0.035). While holding recreational goals constant in the analysis, landowners reporting income from agriculture goals as very or extremely important were negatively and significantly associated with reporting environment and grassland factors as very or extremely important. Adoption of prescribed burning by private landowners might be more widespread if proponents focus on the effectiveness of fire for controlling eastern redcedar, which is viewed as a problem by most landowners in the region. Intervention efforts must include landowners with different goals as part of the promotion and educational process. Resumen La restauración exitosa de praderas depende en parte de poder convencer a propietarios de tierras privadas utilizadas con fines agrícolas o de recreación, que implementen prácticas de manejo apropiadas tales como quemas controladas y pastoreo bovino para controlar especies invasoras y la expansión de plantas leñosas. Sin embargo, los propietarios de tierras en la región del Medio-Oeste de los EE.UU. han demostrado lentitud en la adopción de prácticas apropiadas. El propósito de este estudio fue explorar las actitudes y conductas de propietarios de tierras privadas hacia el uso de quemas controladas y pastoreo moderado como herramientas de manejo. Se envió una encuesta por correo a 193 propietarios de tierras (la tasa de respuesta fue del 51%) en la región de Grand River Grasslands del sur de Iowa y norte de Missouri. Mientras que 68% de los propietarios de tierras opinaron que el pastoreo es una herramienta de manejo legítima, solamente la mitad de los propietarios de tierras consideraron el uso del fuego como una herramienta legítima. Más del 75% de los encuestados manifestaron creer que el aumento de Juniperus virginiana y otros árboles en los pastizales es un problema, y 44% consideró que este es un problema mayor. Si bien el 84% de los propietarios de tierras manifestaron haber tomado acción para controlar J. virginiana, sólo el 25% había participado en una quema prescripta. Los ingresos obtenidos por actividades agrícolas y de recreación exhibieron una correlación negativa significativa (-0.252, P  =  0.035). Manteniendo las metas de recreación constantes en el análisis, los propietarios de tierras que consideraron sus ingresos agrícolas como muy importantes o extremadamente importantes estuvieron asociados negativa y significativamente con apreciaciones de factores del ambiente y los pastizales como muy importantes o extremadamente importantes. La adopción de quemas controladas por parte de los propietarios de tierras privadas podría ser más generalizada si sus proponentes se enfocaran en el uso del fuego para controlar J. virginiana que es considerada como un problema por la mayoría de los propietarios de tierras de la región. Los esfuerzos de intervención deben incluir propietarios de tierras con diferentes metas como parte del proceso de educación y promoción. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:51 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:56:18 PM Tags: o adaptive ecosystem management o biodiversity o grazing management o Juniperus virginiana o landowner attitudes o prairie restoration o prescribed burning * Carbon replacement and stability changes in short-term silvo-pastoral experiments in Colombian Amazonia Type Journal Article Author Octavio Mosquera Author Peter Buurman Author Bertha L. Ramirez Author Maria C. Amezquita URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706111002837__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvyjPjfI4$ Volume 170 Pages 56-63 Publication Geoderma ISSN 0016-7061 Date January 15, 2012 Journal Abbr Geoderma DOI 10.1016/j.geoderma.2011.09.016 Abstract There is little information on the effects of land use change on soil Carbon stocks in Colombian Amazonia. Such information would be needed to assess the impact of this area on the global C cycle and the sustainability of agricultural systems that are replacing native forest. The aim of this study was to evaluate soil carbon stocks and changes after the clearing of the native forest, the establishment of pastures and the reclamation of the degraded pasture, in Caquetá, Colombia. We compared the contents of Total C, Oxidizable C and Non-Oxidizable (stable) C in four different land use systems, namely Monoculture (Brachiaria grassland), Association (Brachiaria+Arachis pintoi), Forage Bank (a mixture of forage tree species), and Natural Regeneration of the pasture in both a flat area and a sloping one. The Degraded Pasture was the reference. Results showed that in the sloping area all treatments have higher Total Carbon stocks than the Degraded Pasture, while three of the treatments significantly increased the stocks of Non-Oxidizable C. In the flat landscape, only the Association significantly increased Total C stocks. Plowing and fertilization cause significant increases in Oxidizable carbon and decreases in Non-Oxidizable carbon. This effect needs further research, as C stability will influence equilibrium stocks. In the sloping area, improved pastures and fodder bank rapidly increased Total Carbon contents and stocks, with increases as large as10ton.ha−1yr−1. In the Traditional Fodder Bank, which showed the largest increase, this is partially due to the application of organic manure. Surprisingly, also C stocks under Natural Regeneration were significantly higher than under the original Degraded Grassland. This increase was fully due to Non-Oxidizable Carbon, which is difficult to explain. Stable isotope analysis indicated that under improved grassland, especially Brachiaria monoculture, up to 40% of the original C in the upper 10cm was replaced in 3.3years. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:33 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:56:19 PM Tags: o Amazonia Colombia o Non-oxidizable carbon o Soil C dynamics o Soil organic carbon stocks * Efficiency of numerical and parametrical indices to determine biodiversity in mountain rangelands Type Journal Article Author Javad Motamedi Author Mahshid Souri URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1872203215300603__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvvv8Y02c$ Volume 36 Issue 2 Pages 108-112 Publication Acta Ecologica Sinica ISSN 1872-2032 Date April 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Acta Ecologica Sinica DOI 10.1016/j.chnaes.2016.02.001 Abstract Among various numeric and parametrical indices of plant species diversity, numerical ones may not provide a comprehensive description about abundance and richness of species, so application of parametric indices in addition to numerical ones would be a better approach to investigate on plant communities. For this purpose, indices of species richness, evenness and diversity were calculated for each of four plant communities of mountain rangelands in northwest of Iran. Then abundance–diversity and species ranking curves were plotted for each plant community and the best models for abundance distribution of diversity were fitted by chi-square goodness of fit test and the best representative one was selected. The results showed that there are significant differences in terms of numerical diversity among the communities and each of the indices showed higher value of diversity in every community so it was so difficult to decide on the community with the highest species diversity. Also the difficulty to explain the plotted curves species diversity and abundance ranking was obvious so the curves were not efficient to identify the distribution of species richness. So determination of species diversity by models of abundance distribution and adjustment of species distribution with expected values of distribution for plant species was implemented. The results showed the log-normal model as the best one for all locations with moderate intensity of grazing. Also the intermediate disturbance hypothesis (IDH) was supported by this model. As overall result species richness, evenness and diversity increases in intermediate levels of disturbance (moderate grazing). Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:07 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:00:07 PM Tags: o Abundance distribution models o Grazing o Khanghah Sorkh rangelands o Species diversity * Assessing the impact of restoration-induced land conversion and management alternatives on net primary productivity in Inner Mongolian grassland, China Type Journal Article Author Shaojie Mu Author Shuangxi Zhou Author Yizhao Chen Author Jianlong Li Author Weimin Ju Author I.O.A. Odeh URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921818113001495__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvcoeEFtw$ Volume 108 Pages 29-41 Publication Global and Planetary Change ISSN 0921-8181 Date September 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Global and Planetary Change DOI 10.1016/j.gloplacha.2013.06.007 Abstract To address severe grassland degradation problems, China has been implementing a number of national restoration programs, whose significant environmental effect has attracted the attention of many researchers. In this paper, land use and cover change (LUCC) in the Inner Mongolia grassland and the consequent change in net primary productivity (NPP) were studied by combining the land use data of the study area for 2001 and 2009 derived from the MODIS global land cover product and the CASA (Carnegie–Ames–Stanford Approach) model driven with MODIS-NDVI data. The results indicate that the area of Inner Mongolia grassland had a net increase of 77,993km2 during the study period, which was mainly attributed to the conversion from desert and cropland. The total NPP of Inner Mongolia grassland increased by 29,432.71GgCyr−1 during 2001–2009, of which the human activities and climate change were responsible for 80.23% and 19.77%, respectively. Land conversion and improved management increased grassland NPP directly, and the ecological restoration conducted by large-scale conservation programs could be the intrinsic driving force for this change. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:22 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:22 PM Tags: o human activities o Inner Mongolia grassland o land use and cover change o net primary productivity o vegetation restoration programs * Top-down control of carbon sequestration: grazing affects microbial structure and function in salt marsh soils Type Journal Article Author Peter Mueller Author Dirk Granse Author Stefanie Nolte Author Hai Thi Do Author Magdalena Weingartner Author Stefan Hoth Author Kai Jensen URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.1534__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvX16XVhg$ Volume 27 Issue 5 Pages 1435-1450 Publication Ecological Applications ISSN 1051-0761 Date July 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Ecological Applications DOI 10.1002/eap.1534 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Abstract Tidal wetlands have been increasingly recognized as long-term carbon sinks in recent years. Work on carbon sequestration and decomposition processes in tidal wetlands focused so far mainly on effects of global-change factors such as sea-level rise and increasing temperatures. However, little is known about effects of land use, such as livestock grazing, on organic matter decomposition and ultimately carbon sequestration. The present work aims at understanding the mechanisms by which large herbivores can affect organic matter decomposition in tidal wetlands. This was achieved by studying both direct animal?microbe interactions and indirect animal?plant?microbe interactions in grazed and ungrazed areas of two long-term experimental field sites at the German North Sea coast. We assessed bacterial and fungal gene abundance using quantitative PCR, as well as the activity of microbial exo-enzymes by conducting fluorometric assays. We demonstrate that grazing can have a profound impact on the microbial community structure of tidal wetland soils, by consistently increasing the fungi-to-bacteria ratio by 38?42%, and therefore potentially exerts important control over carbon turnover and sequestration. The observed shift in the microbial community was primarily driven by organic matter source, with higher contributions of recalcitrant autochthonous (terrestrial) vs. easily degradable allochthonous (marine) sources in grazed areas favoring relative fungal abundance. We propose a novel and indirect form of animal?plant?microbe interaction: top-down control of aboveground vegetation structure determines the capacity of allochthonous organic matter trapping during flooding and thus the structure of the microbial community. Furthermore, our data provide the first evidence that grazing slows down microbial exo-enzyme activity and thus decomposition through changes in soil redox chemistry. Activities of enzymes involved in C cycling were reduced by 28?40%, while activities of enzymes involved in N cycling were not consistently affected by grazing. It remains unclear if this is a trampling-driven direct grazing effect, as hypothesized in earlier studies, or if the effect on redox chemistry is plant mediated and thus indirect. This study improves our process-level understanding of how grazing can affect the microbial ecology and biogeochemistry of semi-terrestrial ecosystems that may help explain and predict differences in C turnover and sequestration rates between grazed and ungrazed systems. Date Added 2020-03-12, 4:06:21 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:56:20 PM Tags: o allochthonous o animal–plant–microbe interaction o autochthonous o blue carbon o decomposer ecology o exo-enzyme activity o livestock o microbial structure o redox potential o vegetation structure Notes: o doi: 10.1002/eap.1534 o doi: 10.1002/eap.1534 * Assessing the long-term carbon-sequestration potential of the semi-natural salt marshes in the European Wadden Sea Type Journal Article Author Peter Mueller Author Nils Ladiges Author Alexander Jack Author Gerhard Schmiedl Author Lars Kutzbach Author Kai Jensen Author Stefanie Nolte URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.2556__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvOg134YA$ Volume 10 Issue 1 Pages e02556 Publication Ecosphere ISSN 2150-8925 Date January 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Ecosphere DOI 10.1002/ecs2.2556 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Abstract Salt marshes and other blue carbon ecosystems have been increasingly recognized for their carbon (C)-sink function. Yet, an improved assessment of organic carbon (OC) stocks and C-sequestration rates is still required to include blue C in C-crediting programs. Particularly, factors inducing variability in the permanence of sequestration and allochthonous contributions to soil OC stocks require an improved understanding. This study evaluates the potential for long-term C sequestration in the semi-natural salt marshes of the European Wadden Sea (WS), conducting deep (1.3 m) down-core OC-density assessments in sites with known site histories and accretion records. Because these young marshes have developed from tidal-flat ecosystems and have undergone rapid succession during the last 80?120 yr, the identification of different ecosystem stages down-core was crucial to interpret possible changes in OC density. This was conducted based on the down-core distribution of different foraminiferal taxa and grain sizes. Comparisons of historic and recent accretion rates were conducted to understand possible effects of accretion rate on down-core changes in OC density. δ13C in OC was used to assess the origin of accumulated OC (autochthonous vs. allochthonous sources). We show that large amounts of short-term accumulated OC are lost down-core in the well-aerated marsh soils of the WS region and thus emphasize the importance of deep sampling to avoid overestimation of C sequestration. Despite steep declines in OC-density down-core, minimum values of OC density in the salt-marsh soils were considerably higher than those of the former tidal-flat sediments that the marshes were converted from, illustrating the greater C-sequestration potential of the vegetated ecosystem. However, our data also suggest that marine-derived allochthonous OC makes up a large fraction of the effectively, long-term preserved OC stock, whereas atmospheric CO2 removal by marsh vegetation contributes relatively little. The implication of this finding for C-crediting approaches in blue C ecosystems has yet to be clarified. Date Added 2020-03-12, 4:49:53 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 4:49:53 PM Tags: o allochthonous o autochthonous o blue carbon o carbon density o constructed wetlands o drainage o minerogenic o tidal flats o tidal wetlands Notes: o doi: 10.1002/ecs2.2556 * Biomass and Defoliation Tolerance of 12 Populations of Pseudoroegneria spicata at Two Densities Type Journal Article Author Jayanti Ray Mukherjee Author Thomas A. Jones Author Thomas A. Monaco URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742413500777__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvgvCKEg8$ Volume 66 Issue 6 Pages 706-713 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date November 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/REM-D-13-00049.1 Abstract Pseudoroegneria spicata(Pursh.) A. Löve is an important native grass of the rangelands of the Intermountain West, USA and is widely used in this region for restoration applications. High grazing preference, together with high grazing sensitivity, has reduced the abundance of this species, indicating the need for the development of grazing-tolerant plant materials. While a genotype may be defoliation tolerant at low density, e.g., in an experimental setting, an effective grazing-tolerant genotype must also display this trait at higher densities resembling those found in natural and restoration settings. We compared 12 restoration plant materials for response to spring-defoliation at high (25 plants · m−2) and low (8 plants · m−2) plant densities in a field experiment. Two consecutive years of spring-defoliation reduced shoot biomass 19% compared to the nonspring-defoliated control, and this reduction was similar for the two densities examined. Two populations, P-3 and Acc:238, were able to compensate for shoot biomass after 2yr of spring-defoliation, while the remaining 10 populations undercompensated, as is commonly reported for cool-season grasses in arid and semiarid regions. While the association between control and spring-defoliated shoot biomass was marginally positive (R2 = 0.26; P < 0.10), we found a stronger negative association (R2 = 0.36; P <  0.05) between spring-defoliation tolerance and control shoot-biomass production. This suggests a possible trade-off between growth and defoliation tolerance (calculated as percentage of control biomass) among populations. Of the four commercially available plant materials in our study, the more recent prevariety germplasm, P-7, exhibited higher control shoot biomass and higher spring-defoliation tolerance than the older cultivars, Whitmar and Goldar. Anatone germplasm was intermediate but not statistically different from these other plant materials for these two traits. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:43 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:43 PM Tags: o bluebunch wheatgrass o grazing compensation o Intermountain West o root biomass o shoot biomass * Contrasting Mechanisms of Recovery from Defoliation in Two Intermountain-Native Bunchgrasses Type Journal Article Author Jayanti Ray Mukherjee Author Thomas A. Jones Author Peter B. Adler Author Thomas A. Monaco URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742415001207__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvzBssRxM$ Volume 68 Issue 6 Pages 485-493 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date November 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2015.07.011 Abstract Grazing tolerance of dominant native species may determine the fate of rangeland ecosystems, and using native plant populations with good grazing tolerance in restoration seedings may improve ecosystem resilience, especially when domestic herbivores are present. We examined interspecific and intraspecific differences in shoot biomass and defoliation tolerance for two semiarid, perennial cool-season bunchgrasses native to the Intermountain West, USA, Pseudoroegneria spicata and Elymus wawawaiensis, on the basis of four functional traits (specific leaf area [SLA], plant basal area, tiller number, and tiller mass). We applied two treatments, control and boot-defoliation, where the latter included defoliation at the early-reproductive (“boot”) stage, the phenological stage most vulnerable to herbivory, while the control treatment did not. We tested two contrasting hypotheses (i.e., that boot-defoliation tolerance is increased through either increases in SLA or through more favorable tiller demography). For shoot biomass, both grasses were less productive under the boot-defoliation treatment than for the control, but E. wawawaiensis displayed higher boot-defoliation tolerance than P. spicata. Interpopulation variation occurred in all four functional traits for P. spicata, but there were no such variation for E. wawawaiensis. The tiller demography hypothesis better explained boot-defoliation tolerance in both species, and neither SLA nor plant basal area was correlated with shoot biomass for either treatment. Of the traits measured, high tiller number served as the primary mechanism for shoot biomass and boot-defoliation tolerance in P. spicata, while tiller number and tiller mass were both important predictors of both shoot biomass and boot-defoliation tolerance. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:47 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:47 PM Tags: o clipping tolerance o SLA o tiller number o timing of defoliation * Contribution of woody habitat islands to the conservation of birds and their potential ecosystem services in an extensive Colombian rangeland Type Journal Article Author Juan C. Muñoz Author Raf Aerts Author Koen W. Thijs Author Pablo R. Stevenson Author Bart Muys Author Cagan H. Sekercioglu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880913001163__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvlLPe8X8$ Volume 173 Pages 13-19 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date July 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2013.04.006 Abstract In agricultural landscapes, patches of natural or semi-natural habitat are crucial for the survival of plant and animal populations, which in turn are essential to maintain ecosystem functioning. Species composition and diversity of trees and birds among woody habitat islands were compared in a Colombian rangeland to assess how habitat characteristics influence bird community composition, bird species traits and their potential ecosystem services. Bird and tree diversity was higher in gallery forest fragments compared to hedgerows and isolated tree islands within rangelands. Forest fragments shared over 50% of their bird and tree species with tree islands and hedgerows, yet communities differed markedly. Tree islands and hedgerows had relatively more endozoochorous and small-seeded tree species and hosted birds of forest, savanna and shrubland, while forest fragments had more synzoochorous and large-seeded tree species and primarily hosted forest birds. Hedges and tree islands contribute to the conservation of forest bird and tree biodiversity in rangeland, but gallery forests are essential for the conservation of less tolerant forest species. The savanna rangeland acts as an ecological filter between the gallery forests and the hedges and tree islands, which in turn facilitate the spillover of tolerant forest birds and their ecological functions, including tree seed dispersal, into the rangeland, and thus support regional forest conservation and restoration. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:31 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:04:31 PM Tags: o Bird community o Ecosystem service o Forest fragment o Habitat association o Indicator species o Tropical savanna * Plant Community Recovery Following Restoration in Semiarid Grasslands Type Journal Article Author Seth M. Munson Author William K. Lauenroth URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2011.00808.x__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvMOtPwtw$ Rights © 2011 Society for Ecological Restoration International Volume 20 Issue 5 Pages 656-663 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2012 DOI 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2011.00808.x Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:29:50 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is an extensive land use in the United States, which restores cultivated land to perennial vegetation through seeding. Low precipitation and high potential evapotranspiration are major limitations to the establishment and growth of seeded species in semiarid regions. We tested the rate of development of plant functional types across a chronosequence of restored fields using a model of plant succession. We also determined how the seeding of non-native (introduced) relative to native perennial grasses influenced plant community recovery. In contrast to the native shortgrass steppe (SGS), recently seeded CRP fields had high cover of annuals, forbs, C3, and introduced species. The seed mix determined which perennial grasses dominated the plant community within 18 years, but slow establishment prolonged early seral stages, allowed for the spread of colonizing perennial grasses, and limited recovery to less than half the canopy cover of undisturbed shortrass steppe. Species density declined in restored fields as seeded perennial grass cover increased and was lower in CRP fields seeded with introduced compared to native perennial grasses. Plant community composition transitioned to C4 and native species, even if fields were not seeded with these species, and was modified by shifts in the amount and seasonality of precipitation. Thus, in semiarid CRP fields, we found that the potential for recovery depended on time since CRP enrollment, seed mix, and climatic variability. Full recovery, based on similarity to vegetation cover and composition of undisturbed SGS, requires greater than 20 years. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:29:50 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:29:50 PM Tags: o Conservation Reserve Program o cultivation o disturbance o perennial grass o plant functional type o shortgrass steppe o succession Attachments o Full Text o Snapshot * Enriched Topographic Microsites for Improved Native Grass and Forb Establishment in Reclamation Type Journal Article Author M. Anne Naeth Author Anayansi C. Cohen Fernández Author Federico P. O. Mollard Author Linjun Yao Author Sarah R. Wilkinson Author Zhichao Jiao URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742417300921__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvNb4Qffs$ Volume 71 Issue 1 Pages 12-18 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date January 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2017.08.004 Accessed 2020-03-17, 6:01:37 PM Library Catalog ScienceDirect Language en Abstract Low seed germination and seedling establishment are the greatest challenges for revegetation success. Topographic microsites are known to enhance seed germination and seedling establishment due to their unique soil properties and provision of shelter from elements and herbivores; soil amendments can supply organic matter and nutrients for plant establishment and growth when limited. We investigated the effect of three topographic microsites and six soil amendments and their additive effects on three disturbed grasslands in central and southern Alberta, Canada. Treatments were topographic microsites of mounds, pits, and flats, with and without amendments (erosion control blanket, hay, straw, manure, hydrogel, control) and were seeded with four native grasses and three native forb species. Seedling emergence and survival and soil temperature and water content were assessed over two seasons and plant cover over three seasons. The effect of microsites and amendments was not additive. The addition of erosion control blanket, hay, and straw to flat sites was just as productive as on topographic microsites. These amendments increased grass and forb emergence and buffered soil temperature. Mounds increased first year forb emergence and reduced over winter survival rates for grasses and forbs. Pits were not beneficial for revegetation. The effect of topographic microsites and amendments was influenced by site conditions. Date Added 2020-03-17, 6:01:37 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:56:21 PM Tags: o amendment o emergence o grassland o mulch o restoration o revegetation Attachments o ScienceDirect Snapshot * Long-term vegetation dynamics and land-use history: Providing a baseline for conservation strategies in protected Alnus glutinosa swamp woodlands Type Journal Article Author Brith Natlandsmyr Author Kari Loe Hjelle URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112716301396__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dveCiE-Qs$ Volume 372 Pages 78-92 Publication Forest Ecology and Management ISSN 0378-1127 Date July 15, 2016 Journal Abbr Forest Ecology and Management DOI 10.1016/j.foreco.2016.03.049 Abstract Alnus glutinosa (alder) swamp woodlands are in danger of disappearing in Europe and, in Norway, several habitats with alder are threatened. Knowledge about the dynamics of alder swamp woodlands is crucial for the conservation and management of this vegetation. Our studied site, Rambjøra, in western Norway encompasses the Rambjøra Landscape Protected Area. We combined information from three sources—recent alder swamp woodland ecology, vegetation history, and agricultural history—to reveal the long-term vegetation dynamics of Rambjøra in relation to land-use. Dynamic changes in the predominance of forest or semi-natural grassland over 2800years, concurrent with varying anthropogenic disturbances are inferred. At the investigated site, alder swamp woodland developed after forest clearance and changes in the water balance. The abundance of alder swamp woodlands have varied through time, increasing with low-impact land-use and declining with intensified use or abandonment. The highest biodiversity is found in periods with grazing, hay mowing, and probably fodder and fire wood collection. This indicates that agricultural practices of moderate intensity (grazing and hay cutting) should be part of the future management in order to maintain the biodiversity and meet the objective of the protection of Rambjøra. The study demonstrates the advantages of combining vegetation surveys, pollen records, and land-use history to provide a long-term perspective on vegetation development, and in our case also as an aid when establishing conservation strategies. Our findings need to be considered in future conservation and restoration of ecosystems with alder swamp woodlands. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:07 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:07 PM Tags: o Alder swamp woodlands o Baseline conditions o Conservation o Human land-use o Long-term ecology o Palaeoecology * Salinity Effects on Germination of Artemisia herba–alba Asso: Important Pastoral Shrub from North African Rangelands Type Journal Article Author Bouzid Nedjimi Author Hassina Zemmiri URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S155074241830174X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvCx6fyME$ Volume 72 Issue 1 Pages 189-194 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date January 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2018.07.002 Abstract Artemisia herba–alba Asso (known in Arabic as Shih) is an evergreen aromatic shrub endemic in North African rangelands with high pastoral and medicinal relevance. The present work was designed to determine the effect of four soluble salts (NaCl, Na2SO4, MgCl2, and CaCl2) on germination of A. herba–alba seeds. Four concentrations (0, 50, 10, and 150 mM) of each salt were used to test the influence of salinities on germination percentage (GP), rate of germination (RG), and germination tolerance index (GTI %). The experiment was conducted in a controlled incubator with a 12h–photoperiod under 15°C dark/25°C light. The results showed that both GP and (RG) decreased significantly with salinity, and the highest GP was observed in the distilled water control (~80%). The germination tolerance index (GTI %) revealed that A. herba–alba seeds were more tolerant to CaCl2 than other soluble salts. Comparatively, at high salt concentrations, MgCl2 and Na2SO4 were generally the most toxic salts followed by NaCl and CaCl2. The germination of A. herba–alba over a wide range of soluble salts suggests that this species can establish in salt-degraded soils. Therefore, this species appears a promising candidate for the rehabilitation of rangeland with saline soils. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:11 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:00:11 PM Tags: o – o arid rangelands o Asteraceae o germination tolerance index o salt stress * Climate change's impact on key ecosystem services and the human well-being they support in the US Type Journal Article Author Erik J Nelson Author Peter Kareiva Author Mary Ruckelshaus Author Katie Arkema Author Gary Geller Author Evan Girvetz Author Dave Goodrich Author Virginia Matzek Author Malin Pinsky Author Walt Reid Author Martin Saunders Author Darius Semmens Author Heather Tallis URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1890/120312__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvRdZLqAU$ Volume 11 Issue 9 Pages 483-893 Publication Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment ISSN 1540-9295 Date November 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment DOI 10.1890/120312 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Climate change alters the functions of ecological systems. As a result, the provision of ecosystem services and the well-being of people that rely on these services are being modified. Climate models portend continued warming and more frequent extreme weather events across the US. Such weather-related disturbances will place a premium on the ecosystem services that people rely on. We discuss some of the observed and anticipated impacts of climate change on ecosystem service provision and livelihoods in the US. We also highlight promising adaptive measures. The challenge will be choosing which adaptive strategies to implement, given limited resources and time. We suggest using dynamic balance sheets or accounts of natural capital and natural assets to prioritize and evaluate national and regional adaptation strategies that involve ecosystem services. Date Added 2020-03-12, 4:49:50 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 4:49:50 PM Notes: o doi: 10.1890/120312 * Finding solutions for bird restoration and livestock management: comparing grazing exclusion levels Type Journal Article Author Kara S. Nelson Author Elizabeth M. Gray Author James R. Evans URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1890/10-0032.1__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvbkmXBy0$ Volume 21 Issue 2 Pages 547-554 Publication Ecological Applications ISSN 1051-0761 Date March 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Ecological Applications DOI 10.1890/10-0032.1 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Riparian habitats in the western United States support high avian abundance and diversity and are important areas for livestock grazing, although grazing contributes to the degradation of riparian vegetation. Complete removal of livestock is generally the most beneficial for bird communities, but alternative management approaches allowing for seasonal livestock grazing may also increase avian habitat quality. Determining management approaches that integrate conservation priorities and human use has the potential to improve conditions for birds across many grazed landscapes. We anticipated that both the full and seasonal exclusion of cattle from riparian areas would result in the recovery of avian populations. To test this, we experimentally compared the effects of total cattle exclusion vs. seasonal usage on bird populations in the riparian areas of two creeks in the San Joaquin Valley, California, USA. Avian species richness and average abundance were measured over six years, from 2001 to 2006. In general, native avian abundance and richness increased in both full- and seasonal-exclosure areas, with increases compared to the pretreatment year for all years except 2005. Habitats that had complete cattle exclusion recovered more significantly, with 29% lower avian abundance in seasonally grazed habitats. There was no significant difference in avian richness between the two grazing treatments, although richness did increase over time. In addition to increases in native species, abundance of nonnative birds and brood parasites also increased significantly, with a greater avian abundance in the full-exclusion areas. A direct comparison with the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), to further investigate annual avian population trends, explained the native species decline in 2005. This comparison revealed that observed trends were the effect of experimental treatment rather than a reflection of regional trends. Although the overall trends indicate that the full exclusion of livestock from riparian areas results in more abundant bird populations, seasonal exclusion is also a successful method for avian recovery. Land managers should consider both options in riparian areas, selecting full cattle removal for avian management only and seasonal cattle removal for situations where incorporating conservation and land use practices is advantageous. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:47:21 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:56:22 PM Tags: o avian conservation o Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) o California o cattle exclosures o livestock grazing o rangeland management o riparian habitats o San Joaquin Valley o seasonal exclusion o species restoration o USA Notes: o doi: 10.1890/10-0032.1 o doi: 10.1890/10-0032.1 o doi: 10.1890/10-0032.1 * Responses of predatory invertebrates to seeding density and plant species richness in experimental tallgrass prairie restorations Type Journal Article Author Kristine T. Nemec Author Craig R. Allen Author Stephen D. Danielson Author Christopher J. Helzer URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880913003642__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvzXXTMQc$ Volume 183 Pages 11-20 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date January 15, 2014 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2013.10.024 Abstract In recent decades, agricultural producers and non-governmental organizations have restored thousands of hectares of former cropland in the central United States with native grasses and forbs. However, the ability of these grassland restorations to attract predatory invertebrates has not been well documented, even though predators provide an important ecosystem service to agricultural producers by naturally regulating herbivores. This study assessed the effects of plant richness and seeding density on the richness and abundance of surface-dwelling (ants, ground beetles, and spiders) and aboveground (ladybird beetles) predatory invertebrates. In the spring of 2006, twenty-four 55m×55m-plots were planted to six replicates in each of four treatments: high richness (97 species typically planted by The Nature Conservancy), at low and high seeding densities, and low richness (15 species representing a typical Natural Resources Conservation Service Conservation Reserve Program mix, CP25), at low and high seeding densities. Ants, ground beetles, and spiders were sampled using pitfall traps and ladybird beetles were sampled using sweep netting in 2007–2009. The abundance of ants, ground beetles, and spiders showed no response to seed mix richness or seeding density but there was a significant positive effect of richness on ladybird beetle abundance. Seeding density had a significant positive effect on ground beetle and spider species richness and Shannon–Weaver diversity. These results may be related to differences in the plant species composition and relative amount of grass basal cover among the treatments rather than richness. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:09 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:09 PM Tags: o Ecosystem services o Grassland restoration o Natural enemies o Plant richness o Predatory invertebrates o Tallgrass prairie * Mapping multiple plant species abundance patterns - A multiobjective optimization procedure for combining reflectance spectroscopy and species ordination Type Journal Article Author Carsten Neumann Author Sibylle Itzerott Author Gabriele Weiss Author Birgit Kleinschmit Author Sebastian Schmidtlein URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1574954116301054__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvIK9kSG8$ Volume 36 Pages 61-76 Publication Ecological Informatics ISSN 1574-9541 Date November 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Ecological Informatics DOI 10.1016/j.ecoinf.2016.10.002 Abstract Nature conservation and ecological restoration crucially depends on the knowledge about spatial patterns of plant species that control habitat conversion and disturbance regimes. Especially, species abundances are capable of indicating early development tendencies for setting habitat management strategies. This study demonstrates the transfer of field spectroscopy to hyperspectral imagery to map multiple plant species abundances in an open dryland area using two imaging spectrometers in two different phenological phases. We show that species abundances can partially be described by multiple gradients forming different coordinates in a contour map. For this purpose, species abundances were projected into an ordination space using non-metric multidimensional scaling and subsequent spatial interpolation. It was demonstrated that different gradients can be modeled in a Partial Least Squares regression framework resulting in distinct spectral features for certain gradient directions. We combine both objectives in a multiobjective NSGA-II procedure to maximize the quantitative determination of species abundance in ordination and spectral predictability in related field spectra, simultaneously. NSGA-II was finally used to select optimal spectral models for n=35 single species that were transferred to hyperspectral imagery for mapping purpose. We can show that abundance predictabilities can be evaluated on the basis of individual model performances that hold different spectral features for each species in a designated phenological phase. Finally, we present spatially explicit multi-species maps for the best n=18 and abundance maps for n=8 models that could be linked to patterns of species richness, coexistence, succession stages and habitat type conditions. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:20 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:20 PM * Resolving the value of the dingo in ecological restoration Type Journal Article Author Thomas M. Newsome Author Guy-Anthony Ballard Author Mathew S. Crowther Author Justin A. Dellinger Author Peter J. S. Fleming Author Alistair S. Glen Author Aaron C. Greenville Author Chris N. Johnson Author Mike Letnic Author Katherine E. Moseby Author Dale G. Nimmo Author Michael Paul Nelson Author John L. Read Author William J. Ripple Author Euan G. Ritchie Author Carolyn R. Shores Author Arian D. Wallach Author Aaron J. Wirsing Author Christopher R. Dickman URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12186__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvj-_mbQQ$ Rights © 2015 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 23 Issue 3 Pages 201-208 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2015 DOI 10.1111/rec.12186 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:14:32 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract There is global interest in restoring populations of apex predators, both to conserve them and to harness their ecological services. In Australia, reintroduction of dingoes (Canis dingo) has been proposed to help restore degraded rangelands. This proposal is based on theories and the results of studies suggesting that dingoes can suppress populations of prey (especially medium- and large-sized herbivores) and invasive predators such as red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and feral cats (Felis catus) that prey on threatened native species. However, the idea of dingo reintroduction has met opposition, especially from scientists who query the dingo's positive effects for some species or in some environments. Here, we ask ‘what is a feasible experimental design for assessing the role of dingoes in ecological restoration?’ We outline and propose a dingo reintroduction experiment—one that draws upon the existing dingo-proof fence—and identify an area suitable for this (Sturt National Park, western New South Wales). Although challenging, this initiative would test whether dingoes can help restore Australia's rangeland biodiversity, and potentially provide proof-of-concept for apex predator reintroductions globally. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:14:32 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:14:32 PM Tags: o Australia o Canis dingo o extinction o mesopredator release o top predator Attachments o Snapshot * Short-term soil moisture response to low-tech erosion control structures in a semiarid rangeland Type Journal Article Author M.H. Nichols Author K. McReynolds Author C. Reed URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816212001397__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvZIhWC88$ Volume 98 Pages 104-109 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date November 1, 2012 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2012.06.010 Abstract Although rock check dams have been used for centuries to control erosion and support subsistence agriculture on western US rangelands, there is a lack of measured data to quantify their impact on soil moisture distribution. This study was conducted to measure and document soil moisture response to loose rock structures and wire bound rock structures in comparison with untreated control sites during the first rainfall season following construction. A field experiment was conducted on a degraded alluvial fan in southeastern Arizona where erosion control structures were built on three small ephemeral channels. Soil moisture was measured three times per week at depths ranging from 15 to 46cm at six points on the upstream side of 5 loose rock structures, 5 wire bound structures, and at 5 untreated control sites throughout the 2006 summer monsoon season. Rainfall and runoff during 2006 were above average, and soil moisture was significantly higher through the channel bank soil profiles in proximity to loose rock and wire bound check dams than soil moisture measured at control sites. Erosion control structures are expected to increase local soil moisture in response to water impoundment. These results quantify this response and will be useful in designing rangeland restoration strategies that rely on soil moisture to improve vegetative cover. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:21 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:56:24 PM Tags: o Alluvial fan o Check dam o Grassland o Landscape degradation o Restoration * Impoverished soil supports more plateau pika through lowered diversity of plant functional traits in Tibetan alpine meadows Type Journal Article Author Kechang Niu Author Feng Feng Author Qian Xu Author Badingqiuying Author Shiting Zhang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880919302373__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv6D5MOg8$ Volume 285 Pages 106621 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date December 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2019.106621 Abstract Frequent outbreaks of plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) have become a major challenge for the sustainability of Tibetan rangeland, although top-down control has been widely employed since the 1960s over the plateau. Based on studies on plant trait-mediated soil-plant-herbivore relations, we hypothesized that impoverished soil was a consequence of rangeland degradation as well as a cause of increasing pika numbers through lowered functional trait diversity (FD) of the plant community that provides advantages for pika fitness. At three sites of alpine meadows on the eastern Tibetan Plateau, we counted active burrows of pika in 27 plots (i.e., 9 plots per site) distributed along a gradient of soil fertility. For every plant species within each plot, we measured five functional traits (e.g., mature height, SLA: specific leaf area, LDMC: leaf dry matter content, and leaf N and P: leaf nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations), indicating plant performance in response to changing soil fertility and impacting the fitness of pika. We employed Bayesian regression, structural equation modeling and network analyses to assess causal relations from soil fertility to FD and burrow density. The results show i) there was no significant difference in burrow density between three sites; spatial variation among plots in terms of soil fertility, plant species diversity and FD accounted for 57%–72%, 26%–41% and 59%–73%, respectively, of the variation in burrow density; ii) the burrow density was associated positively with soil moisture and organic matter, plant coverage, forb abundance and FD of leaf P, but negatively with soil nutrients, plant species diversity and FD for SLA, height and leaf N; and iii) deficiency of soil P potentially resulted in an increase in pika density, likely through lowered FD of SLA and height, with other soil factors and FD of leaf nutrients indirectly associated with burrow density. Our study suggested that under the joint effect of intensive grazing by livestock and output of livestock products from region, deficiency of soil P potentially increased pika density, likely by supporting more and diverse food resources while decreasing the risk of being preyed upon. Control of pika outbreak should pay more attention to bottom-up restoration of degraded soil and vegetation via traditional rotational grazing and promotion of recycling and compensation of lost soil P and plant trait diversity. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:34 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:04:34 PM Tags: o Functional diversity o Functional traits o Land-use change o Rangeland degradation o Soil fertility o Tibetan Plateau * Effect of Land Use on Soil Erosion and Nutrients in Dianchi Lake Watershed, China Type Journal Article Author Xiao-Yin NIU Author Yan-Hua WANG Author Hao YANG Author Jia-Wen ZHENG Author Jun ZOU Author Mei-Na XU Author Shan-Shan WU Author Biao XIE URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1002016014600801__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvrwBKxjc$ Volume 25 Issue 1 Pages 103-111 Publication Pedosphere ISSN 1002-0160 Date February 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Pedosphere DOI 10.1016/S1002-0160(14)60080-1 Abstract ABSTRACT Soil erosion and loss of soil nutrients have been a crucial environment threat in Southwest China. The land use and its impact on soil qualities continue to be highlighted. The present study was conducted to compare soil erosion under four land use types (i.e., forestland, abandoned farmland, tillage, and grassland) and their effects on soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) in the Shuanglong catchment of the Dianchi Lake watershed, China. There were large variations in the erosion rate and the nutrient distributions across the four land use types. The erosion rates estimated by 137Cs averaged 2 133 t km−2 year−1 under tillage and abandoned farmland over the erosion rate of non-cultivated sites, and the grasslands showed a net deposition. For all sites, the nutrient contents basically decreased with the soil depth. Compared with tillage and abandoned farmland, grassland had the highest SOC and TN contents within 0–40 cm soil layer, followed by forestland. The significant correlations between 137Cs, SOC and TN were observed. The nutrient loss caused by erosion in tillage was the highest. These results suggested that grassland and forestland would be beneficial for SOC and TN sequestration over a long-term period because of their ability to reduce the loss of nutrients by soil erosion. Our study demonstrated that reduction of nutrient loss in the red soil area could be made through well-managed vegetation restoration measures. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:22 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:22 PM Tags: o Cs o nutrient loss o soil organic carbon o total nitrogen o total phosphorus o vegetation restoration * Successful creation of species-rich grassland on road verges depend on various methods for seed transfer Type Journal Article Author J.-F. Nordbakken Author K. Rydgren Author I. Auestad Author I. Austad URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S161886670900082X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvjbLjR7Y$ Volume 9 Issue 1 Pages 43-47 Publication Urban Forestry & Urban Greening ISSN 1618-8667 Date January 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Urban Forestry & Urban Greening DOI 10.1016/j.ufug.2009.10.004 Abstract This study focused on a suite of vascular plant species (six herbs and two grasses) common to traditionally managed, species-rich grasslands in Western Norway. We assessed the suitability of two species transfer methods (seed sowing and soil seed bank) for restoration of species-rich grassland on a newly established road verge. We compared the species' frequencies one and three years after they were sown on a naked, newly created road verge with their frequencies in aboveground vegetation and soil seed banks of comparable, local grasslands. Species frequencies in the aboveground vegetation differed significantly from those in the seed banks. Moreover, the frequencies in the seed banks differed from those recorded one year after sowing, and the frequencies in the aboveground vegetation differed from those recorded three years after sowing. Avenula pubescens and Knautia arvensis, found in more than 25% of the aboveground grassland plots, did not germinate from any of the seed bank samples. Festuca rubra, Galium verum, Pimpinella saxifraga and Silene vulgaris were more frequent in the aboveground plots than in the seed bank samples. Pimpinella saxifraga, Galium verum and Lychnis viscaria emerged quite well both from sown seeds and from the seed bank. Avenula pubescens was frequent in the aboveground vegetation, but did not germinate from sown seeds. Six species established well from seeds, and most increased in frequency in the sown plots from the first to the third year. No species was found in the sown plots only, but three years after sowing, three species were more frequent in the sown plots than in the aboveground vegetation of donor grassland plots. Our fine-scale, point-to-point study demonstrates that different restoration methods produce widely differing species composition even when the donor material is identical. We propose that different substrates and a combination of establishment methods (sowing and hay transfer) are needed as supplements to seed banks to re-establish species-rich grassland. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:52 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:52 PM Tags: o Germination o Restoration o Secondary succession o Seed bank o Seedling recruitment * A review of concentrated flow erosion processes on rangelands: Fundamental understanding and knowledge gaps Type Journal Article Author Sayjro K. Nouwakpo Author Christopher J. Williams Author Osama Z. Al-Hamdan Author Mark A. Weltz Author Fred Pierson Author Mark Nearing URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095633916300168__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvlbvGEQI$ Volume 4 Issue 2 Pages 75-86 Publication International Soil and Water Conservation Research ISSN 2095-6339 Date June 1, 2016 Journal Abbr International Soil and Water Conservation Research DOI 10.1016/j.iswcr.2016.05.003 Abstract Concentrated flow erosion processes are distinguished from splash and sheetflow processes in their enhanced ability to mobilize and transport large amounts of soil, water and dissolved elements. On rangelands, soil, nutrients and water are scarce and only narrow margins of resource losses are tolerable before crossing the sustainability threshold. In these ecosystems, concentrated flow processes are perceived as indicators of degradation and often warrant the implementation of mitigation strategies. Nevertheless, this negative perception of concentrated flow processes may conflict with the need to improve understanding of the role of these transport vessels in redistributing water, soil and nutrients along the rangeland hillslope. Vegetation influences the development and erosion of concentrated flowpaths and has been the primary factor used to control and mitigate erosion on rangelands. At the ecohydrologic level, vegetation and concentrated flow pathways are engaged in a feedback relationship, the understanding of which might help improve rangeland management and restoration strategies. In this paper, we review published literature on experimental and conceptual research pertaining to concentrated flow processes on rangelands to: (1) present the fundamental science underpinning concentrated flow erosion modeling in these landscapes, (2) discuss the influence of vegetation on these erosion processes, (3) evaluate the contribution of concentrated flow erosion to overall sediment budget and (4) identify knowledge gaps. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:06 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:56:26 PM Tags: o Concentrated flow o Erosion o Gully o Rangeland o Rill * Effectiveness of prescribed fire to re-establish sagebrush steppe vegetation and ecohydrologic function on woodland-encroached sagebrush rangelands, Great Basin, USA: Part II: Runoff and sediment transport at the patch scale Type Journal Article Author Sayjro K. Nouwakpo Author C. Jason Williams Author Frederick B. Pierson Author Mark A. Weltz Author Patrick R. Kormos Author Awadis Arslan Author Osama Z. Al-Hamdan URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816219304436__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvIcvCN0c$ Volume 185 Pages 104301 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date February 1, 2020 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2019.104301 Abstract Woody species encroachment into herbaceous and shrub-dominated vegetations is a concern in many rangeland ecosystems of the world. Arrival of woody species into affected rangelands leads to changes in the spatial structure of vegetation and alterations of biophysical processes. In the western USA, encroachment of pinyon (Pinus spp.) and juniper (Juniperus spp.) tree species into sagebrush steppes poses a threat to the proper ecohydrological functioning of these ecosystems. Prescribed fire has been proposed and used as one rangeland improvement practice to restore sagebrush steppe from pinyon-juniper encroachment. Short-term effects of burning on the ecohydrologic response of these systems have been well documented and often include a period of increased hydrologic and erosion vulnerability immediately after burning. Long-term ecohydrologic response of sagebrush steppe ecosystems to fire is poorly understood due to lack of cross-scale studies on treated sites. The aim of this study is to evaluate long-term vegetation, hydrologic, and erosion responses at two pinyon-juniper-encroached sagebrush sites 9 years after prescribed fire was applied as a restoration treatment. Thirty-six rainfall simulation experiments on 6 m × 2 m plots were conducted for 45 min under two conditions: a dry run (70 mm h−1; dry antecedent soils) and a wet run (111 mm h−1; wet antecedent soils). Runoff and erosion responses were compared between burned and unburned plots. Overall, increases in herbaceous cover in the shrub-interspace areas (intercanopy area between trees) at both sites 9 years post-burn resulted in runoff- and erosion-reduction benefits, especially under the wet runs. While the initially more degraded site characterized by 80% bare ground pre-burn, registered a higher overall increase (40% increase) in canopy cover, greater post-fire reductions in runoff and erosion were observed at the less degraded site (57% bare ground pre-burn). Runoff and erosion for the wet runs decreased respectively by 6.5-fold and 76-fold at the latter site on the burned plots relative to control plots, whereas these decreases were more muted at the more degraded site (2.5 and 3-fold respectively). Significant fragmentation of flow paths observed at the more-degraded site 9 years post-fire, suggests a decreased hydrologic connectivity as a mechanism of runoff and erosion reduction during post-fire recovery. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:11 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:56:24 PM Tags: o Erosion o Fire o Hydrology o Juniper o Pinyon o Rangeland * Artificial sowing of endangered dry grassland species into disused basalt quarries Type Journal Article Author Jan Novák Author Karel Prach URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0367253009001029__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvtJUof4U$ Volume 205 Issue 3 Pages 179-183 Publication Flora - Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants ISSN 0367-2530 Date January 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Flora - Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants DOI 10.1016/j.flora.2009.03.003 Abstract Steppe-like dry (semi) natural grasslands are valuable and endangered habitats in central Europe. In the study area (the České středohoří Hills, Czech Republic), they occur in fragments on southern slopes of volcanic hills, often in the vicinity of quarries, which are numerous there. We performed sowing experiments and observed seedling recruitment of six species, typical for the dry grasslands, in 9 basalt quarries located in 3 different climatic regions over 3yr. The sowing experiments were established in young successional stages, 5–12yr after quarrying was stopped. The objectives of the experiments were to evaluate: (i) if seedling recruitment and survival of the target species are possible regarding different climatic regions and (ii) what is the influence of weather fluctuations among years on seedling survival. Seedlings of all studied species were able to recruit and survive in the early successional stages at least in some quarries. The species, except one, showed significant differences in recruitment among the climatic regions, with the best recruitment and survival in the driest and warmest region. Seedlings of two species did not recruit in the wettest and coldest region. All species survived in the driest and warmest region, while only one did so in the coldest and wettest region. Different weather conditions in the studied years significantly influenced recruitment of two species. The number of localities (floristic records) of particular species in the regions was the best predictor of species germination and survival. Thus a traditional floristic survey may help to predict success of species in restoration projects. It emerged that artificial sowing can be considered in restoration programs as a way of contributing to restoration of dry grasslands in disused quarries. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:51 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:51 PM Tags: o Dry grassland o Quarries o Restoration o Seedling survival o Seedlings recruitment o Sowing experiments * Assessing the Evidence Base for Restoration in South Africa Type Journal Article Author Phumza Ntshotsho Author Belinda Reyers Author Karen J. Esler URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2010.00753.x__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvfyb98VY$ Rights © 2010 Society for Ecological Restoration International Volume 19 Issue 5 Pages 578-586 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2011 DOI 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2010.00753.x Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:36:13 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract If restoration is to become effective, able to compete for limited funds and truly adaptive, it must become evidence-based. Three of the conditions essential for the establishment and advancement of evidence-based restoration are (1) collection of baseline information; (2) setting clearly defined goals; and (3) relevant and adequate monitoring. Using a literature review, complemented with an online survey, we reviewed 10 restoration programs in South Africa to assess whether current restoration practice meets these conditions. The review showed good collection of baseline information and the setting of restoration goals that span ecological and socioeconomic considerations. However, to a large extent goals were poorly defined, there was more monitoring of inputs than outcomes, and monitoring of ecological indicators was inconsistent. These shortcomings can undermine restoration impacts, as well as the future sustainability of these expensive programs. We conclude with recommendations on how to mainstream the requirements of evidence-based restoration into current and proposed restoration programs. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:36:13 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:36:13 PM Tags: o baseline information o evidence-based practice o goal setting o monitoring Attachments o Snapshot * Patterns and dynamics of vegetation recovery following grazing cessation in the California golden trout habitat Type Journal Article Author Sébastien Nusslé Author Kathleen R. Matthews Author Stephanie M. Carlson URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.1880__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvKMJ1nR4$ Volume 8 Issue 7 Pages e01880 Publication Ecosphere ISSN 2150-8925 Date July 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Ecosphere DOI 10.1002/ecs2.1880 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Abstract In 1978, the Golden Trout Wilderness area was established to protect the California golden trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss aguabonita)?a vulnerable subspecies of the rainbow trout that is endemic to California?and its habitat, which is currently restricted to a few streams within high-elevation meadows in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. Because of the deleterious effects of livestock grazing on riparian vegetation in the golden trout habitat (occurring since the 1800s), meadow restoration activities were initiated in 1991, including cattle exclusion. There has been renewed discussion about re-opening these public lands to livestock grazing, and impact assessment studies are needed to inform decision makers about the potential consequences. Thus, we estimated the recovery potential of the golden trout habitat by measuring the height of riparian vegetation within areas that have been grazed vs. closed to grazing (?rested?) since 1991. We found that cattle exclusion is effective at favoring riparian vegetation growth, but that vegetation recovery from grazing could take several decades in these sensitive habitats as some ?rested? areas have yet to recover to full vegetation height, even after 25 yr of rest. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:47:23 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:56:27 PM Tags: o cattle o global change o Golden Trout Wilderness o grazing o livestock o Oncorhynchus mykiss aguabonita o protected area o public lands o riparian vegetation Notes: o doi: 10.1002/ecs2.1880 o doi: 10.1002/ecs2.1880 o doi: 10.1002/ecs2.1880 * Physical and chemical protection in hierarchical soil aggregates regulates soil carbon and nitrogen recovery in restored perennial grasslands Type Journal Article Author Sarah L. O'Brien Author Julie D. Jastrow URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0038071713000503__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvL69Glac$ Volume 61 Pages 1-13 Publication Soil Biology and Biochemistry ISSN 0038-0717 Date June 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Soil Biology and Biochemistry DOI 10.1016/j.soilbio.2013.01.031 Abstract Stabilization offered by physicochemical protection in hierarchical soil aggregates is critical for building and maintaining soil C and N stocks. However, it is unclear if complex stabilization mechanisms can completely recover when native plant communities are re-established on soils depleted of C and N by agriculture. We isolated particulate organic matter (POM) and silt- and clay-sized fractions from four structurally defined locations within soil collected from an agricultural field, prairies restored for 3–33 years, and a never-cultivated remnant prairie. We used aggregate hierarchy to define our four soil locations: non-aggregated material, free microaggregates, macroaggregates (excluding encapsulated microaggregates), and microaggregates-within-macroaggregates. We found that the duration of linear soil C and N accumulation differed among aggregate-occluded pools in relation to the combined influences of soil mass redistribution and increases in C and N concentrations. Silt in microaggregates isolated from within macroaggregates contributed the greatest quantities of C and N to whole soil, yet reached steady state C and N contents that were only 59% (C) and 56% (N) of those observed in the remnant prairie soil. Although the C and N contents of most pools were still well below the amounts in the reference remnant prairie, the overall distribution of C among pools was similar to the remnant within 33 years of restoration, suggesting that SOM stabilization mechanisms do largely recover in the first decades after cessation of tillage and restoration of the plant community. Thus, the pools that fell short of pre-cultivation C and N contents within the timespan of the chronosequence might continue to build C and N even though they appeared to be at steady state at the time of sampling, possibly because not enough time has passed at the current input rate or because of lags in SOM transfer among pools. We hypothesize that several “transient steady states” could occur in some SOM pools along the way to an overall whole-soil steady state that could take centuries to achieve. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:09 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:09 PM Tags: o Aggregates o Fractionation o Mineral-associated organic matter o Particulate organic matter o Prairie o Soil organic matter o Stabilization mechanisms * Edaphic controls on soil organic carbon stocks in restored grasslands Type Journal Article Author Sarah L. O'Brien Author Julie D. Jastrow Author David A. Grimley Author Miquel A. Gonzalez-Meler URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706115001007__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvWJNV7nQ$ Volume 251-252 Pages 117-123 Publication Geoderma ISSN 0016-7061 Date August 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Geoderma DOI 10.1016/j.geoderma.2015.03.023 Abstract Cultivation of undisturbed soils dramatically depletes organic carbon stocks at shallow depths, releasing a substantial quantity of stored carbon to the atmosphere. Restoration of native ecosystems can help degraded soils rebuild a portion of the depleted soil organic matter. However, the rate and magnitude of soil carbon accrual can be highly variable from site to site. Thus, a better understanding of the mechanisms controlling soil organic carbon stocks is necessary to improve predictions of soil carbon recovery. We measured soil organic carbon stocks and a suite of edaphic factors in the upper 10cm of a series of restored tallgrass prairies representing a range of drainage conditions. Our findings suggest that factors related to soil organic matter stabilization mechanisms (texture, polyvalent cations) were key predictors of soil organic carbon, along with variables that influence plant and microbial biomass (available phosphorus, pH) and soil moisture. Exchangeable soil calcium was the strongest single predictor, explaining 74% of the variation in soil organic carbon, followed by clay content, which explained 52% of the variation. Our results demonstrate that the cumulative effects of even relatively small differences in these edaphic properties can have a large impact on soil carbon stocks when integrated over several decades. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:13 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:13 PM Tags: o Calcium o Drainage o Restored prairie o Soil organic matter o Texture * Conservation of Sandy Calcareous Grassland: What Can Be Learned from the Land Use History? Type Journal Article Author Anja Madelen Ödman Author Pål Axel Olsson URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0090998__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvZgA8Lbc$ Volume 9 Issue 3 Pages e90998 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Mar 12, 2014 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0090998 Accessed 2020-03-12, 3:19:05 PM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract Understanding the land use history has proven crucial for the conservation of biodiversity in the agricultural landscape. In southern Sweden, very small and fragmented areas of the disturbance-dependent habitat xeric sand calcareous grassland support a large number of threatened and rare plants and animals. In order to find out if historical land use could explain variation in present-day habitat quality, the land use on eight such sites was traced back to the 18th century and compared with key factors such as the amount of bare sand, lime content and P availability. There was no support for the common explanation of the decline in xeric sand calcareous grassland being caused by abandonment of agricultural fields during the last century. Instead, fertilization history was the main explanation for the difference in depletion depth of CaCO3 seen between the sites. The decline in xeric sand calcareous grassland since the 18th century is most probably the result of the drastic changes in land use during the 19th century, which put an end to the extensive sand drift. Since cultivation was shown to have played an important role in the historical land use of xeric sand calcareous grassland, grazing alone may not be the optimal management option for these grasslands. Instead more drastic measures are needed to restore the high calcium content and maintain proper disturbance levels. Short Title Conservation of Sandy Calcareous Grassland Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:19:05 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:19:05 PM Tags: o Agricultural soil science o Conservation science o Erosion o Fertilizers o Forests o Grasslands o Grazing o Land use Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Extreme Wildlife Declines and Concurrent Increase in Livestock Numbers in Kenya: What Are the Causes? Type Journal Article Author Joseph O. Ogutu Author Hans-Peter Piepho Author Mohamed Y. Said Author Gordon O. Ojwang Author Lucy W. Njino Author Shem C. Kifugo Author Patrick W. Wargute URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0163249__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvR6-6QLY$ Volume 11 Issue 9 Pages e0163249 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Sep 27, 2016 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0163249 Accessed 2020-03-12, 12:22:51 AM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract There is growing evidence of escalating wildlife losses worldwide. Extreme wildlife losses have recently been documented for large parts of Africa, including western, Central and Eastern Africa. Here, we report extreme declines in wildlife and contemporaneous increase in livestock numbers in Kenya rangelands between 1977 and 2016. Our analysis uses systematic aerial monitoring survey data collected in rangelands that collectively cover 88% of Kenya’s land surface. Our results show that wildlife numbers declined on average by 68% between 1977 and 2016. The magnitude of decline varied among species but was most extreme (72–88%) and now severely threatens the population viability and persistence of warthog, lesser kudu, Thomson’s gazelle, eland, oryx, topi, hartebeest, impala, Grevy’s zebra and waterbuck in Kenya’s rangelands. The declines were widespread and occurred in most of the 21 rangeland counties. Likewise to wildlife, cattle numbers decreased (25.2%) but numbers of sheep and goats (76.3%), camels (13.1%) and donkeys (6.7%) evidently increased in the same period. As a result, livestock biomass was 8.1 times greater than that of wildlife in 2011–2013 compared to 3.5 times in 1977–1980. Most of Kenya’s wildlife (ca. 30%) occurred in Narok County alone. The proportion of the total “national” wildlife population found in each county increased between 1977 and 2016 substantially only in Taita Taveta and Laikipia but marginally in Garissa and Wajir counties, largely reflecting greater wildlife losses elsewhere. The declines raise very grave concerns about the future of wildlife, the effectiveness of wildlife conservation policies, strategies and practices in Kenya. Causes of the wildlife declines include exponential human population growth, increasing livestock numbers, declining rainfall and a striking rise in temperatures but the fundamental cause seems to be policy, institutional and market failures. Accordingly, we thoroughly evaluate wildlife conservation policy in Kenya. We suggest policy, institutional and management interventions likely to succeed in reducing the declines and restoring rangeland health, most notably through strengthening and investing in community and private wildlife conservancies in the rangelands. Short Title Extreme Wildlife Declines and Concurrent Increase in Livestock Numbers in Kenya Date Added 2020-03-12, 12:22:51 AM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:56:28 PM Tags: o Conservation science o Goats o Kenya o Livestock o Population density o Sheep o Wildlife o Zebras Attachments o Full Text PDF o Full Text PDF o Snapshot o Snapshot * The potential of soil amendments for restoring severely disturbed grasslands Type Journal Article Author Brian M. Ohsowski Author John N. Klironomos Author Kari E. Dunfield Author Miranda M. Hart URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929139312000376__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv_fChQXU$ Volume 60 Pages 77-83 Publication Selected Papers from the 2011 Soil Ecology Society Conference ISSN 0929-1393 Date September 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Applied Soil Ecology DOI 10.1016/j.apsoil.2012.02.006 Abstract Habitat destruction and land use change are among the anthropogenic influences affecting many ecosystems. After environmental degradation, restoration and reclamation efforts can be hampered by poor physio-chemical soil characteristics and reduced soil community complexity. To enhance degraded system recovery, soil manipulations may be necessary to alleviate habitat destruction. This review will (1) discuss grassland restoration in terms of ecosystem-level processes, and (2) analyze the efficacy of novel and easily applicable amendments (i.e. compost, biochar, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi) to facilitate grassland recovery in severely degraded habitats. We suggest that restoration practitioners emphasize soil ecological knowledge and microbial processes in tandem with native plants when restoring damaged ecosystems. This review is intended to guide practitioners in the promotion of grassland ecosystem sustainability. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:36 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:56:29 PM Tags: o Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi o Biochar o Compost o Grassland o Restoration o Soil amendments * Assessing the effects of 17 years of grazing exclusion in degraded semi-arid soils: Evaluation of soil fertility, nutrients pools and stoichiometry Type Journal Article Author José de Souza Oliveira Filho Author Jonas Nunes Vieira Author Eliane Maria Ribeiro da Silva Author José Gerardo Beserra de Oliveira Author Marcos Gervasio Pereira Author Felipe Gomes Brasileiro URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196319300357__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvEYI3XF0$ Volume 166 Pages 1-10 Publication Journal of Arid Environments ISSN 0140-1963 Date July 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Journal of Arid Environments DOI 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2019.03.006 Abstract Grazing exclusion (GE) has been used as a strategy to restore degraded pastures worldwide. In this study, the effects of 17 years of GE on a) soil fertility, b) stoichiometric ratios between soil nutrients and c) carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) storage in particulate and mineral-associated organic matter soil fractions were assessed in an area degraded by overgrazing (OG) in a semi-arid region in Brazil. For this purpose, three sites with two treatments (exclusion and overgrazing) were studied at three sampling depths (0–10, 10–20 and 20–40 cm). Our results showed that pH, total organic carbon, particulate organic carbon, total N, particulate organic nitrogen, Ca2+ and K+ increased, whereas the Al3+ content decreased with GE. Conversely, the available P content, Mg2+ and Na+ showed no significant variations as a function of GE. A relatively constant C:N:P ratio (30:4:1) was observed, with little variation as a function of GE or OG, indicating a high total P content in the soil. Labile fractions (particulate) of C and N increased with GE. According to our results, GE can be used as a strategy to restore degraded natural pastures in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:51 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:51 PM Tags: o Degraded forest o Dryland o Land degradation o Nutrient cycling o Overgrazing o Rangeland * Are existing biodiversity conservation strategies appropriate in a changing climate? Type Journal Article Author Tom H. Oliver Author Richard J. Smithers Author Colin M. Beale Author Kevin Watts URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320715301488__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvRd-yS-Q$ Volume 193 Pages 17-26 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date January 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2015.10.024 Abstract Many countries have conservation plans for threatened species, but such plans have generally been developed without taking into account the potential impacts of climate change. Here, we apply a decision framework, specifically developed to identify and prioritise climate change adaptation actions and demonstrate its use for 30 species threatened in the UK. Our aim is to assess whether government conservation recommendations remain appropriate under a changing climate. The species, associated with three different habitats (lowland heath, broadleaved woodland and calcareous grassland), were selected from a range of taxonomic groups (primarily moths and vascular plants, but also including bees, bryophytes, carabid beetles and spiders). We compare the actions identified for these threatened species by the decision framework with those included in existing conservation plans, as developed by the UK Government's statutory adviser on nature conservation. We find that many existing conservation recommendations are also identified by the decision framework. However, there are large differences in the spatial prioritisation of actions when explicitly considering projected climate change impacts. This includes recommendations for actions to be carried out in areas where species do not currently occur, in order to allow them to track movement of suitable conditions for their survival. Uncertainties in climate change projections are not a reason to ignore them. Our results suggest that existing conservation plans, which do not take into account potential changes in suitable climatic conditions for species, may fail to maximise species persistence. Comparisons across species also suggest a more habitat-focused approach could be adopted to enable climate change adaptation for multiple species. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:22 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:22 PM Tags: o Adaptive capacity o Connectivity o Habitat management and restoration o Threatened species o Translocation o Vulnerability * pH preferences of red-listed gasteromycetes in calcareous sandy grasslands: Implications for conservation and restoration Type Journal Article Author Pål Axel Olsson Author Tim Krone Schnoor Author Sven-Åke Hanson URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1754504810000097__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvN9H8dAs$ Volume 3 Issue 4 Pages 357-365 Publication Fungal Ecology ISSN 1754-5048 Date November 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Fungal Ecology DOI 10.1016/j.funeco.2010.01.004 Abstract Species diversity in sandy grasslands is threatened by decalcification and eutrophication. To determine the most appropriate conditions for red-listed gasteromycete fungi in such grasslands, we investigated their pH preferences in this habitat in southern Sweden. During two winters soil samples were collected from the vicinity of mycelia of these species. Chemical analysis revealed that none of the fungi occurred in sandy habitats with a pH lower than 5, although pH values between 4 and 5 are very common in sandy grasslands in the area. We found niche differentiation within the genus Tulostoma in that two out of four species occurred mainly in soils with high lime content, while one had a broad niche and one occurred mainly in soils low in lime and with a pH below 7.5. Also in the genus Geastrum, some species occurred at high lime content, while most Geastrum as well as two Disciseda species preferred soils with only low amounts of lime. We conclude that many species prefer areas with neutral to slightly acid soil. The results were compared with data for key plant species collected in a previous study of calcareous sandy grasslands and this showed that these in general had a wider pH range than the studied fungi. The results highlight the importance of varying pH levels in protected areas and that the transition zone between lime-containing topsoil and complete decalcification is a preferred environment for many red-listed fungi as well as plants. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:31 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:31 PM Tags: o Conservation o Gasteromycetes o Sandy grassland o Soil pH * PV water pumping for carbon sequestration in dry land agriculture Type Journal Article Author Alexander Olsson Author Pietro Elia Campana Author Mårten Lind Author Jinyue Yan URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0196890414010954__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvzRw0VvI$ Volume 102 Pages 169-179 Publication Clean, Efficient, Affordable and Reliable Energy for a Sustainable Future ISSN 0196-8904 Date September 15, 2015 Journal Abbr Energy Conversion and Management DOI 10.1016/j.enconman.2014.12.056 Abstract This paper suggests a novel model for analysing carbon sequestration activities in dry land agriculture considering the water-food-energy-climate nexus. The paper is based on our on-going studies on photovoltaic water pumping (PVWP) systems for irrigation of grasslands in China. Two carbon sequestration projects are analysed in terms of their water productivity and carbon sequestration potential. It is concluded that the economic water productivity, i.e. how much water that is needed to produce an amount of grass, of grassland restoration is low and that there is a need to include several of the other co-benefits to justify the use of water for climate change mitigation. The co-benefits are illustrated in a nexus model including (1) climate change mitigation, (2) water availability, (3) downstream water impact, (4) energy security, (5) food security and (6) moisture recycling. We argue for a broad approach when analysing water for carbon sequestration. The model includes energy security and food security together with local and global water concerns. This makes analyses of dry land carbon sequestration activities more relevant and accurate. Without the nexus approach, the co-benefits of grassland restoration tend to be diminished. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:55 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:55 PM Tags: o Emission reduction o Nexus approach o Photovoltaic water pumping o Soil carbon sequestration o Supplementary irrigation o Water productivity * Potential for carbon sequestration and mitigation of climate change by irrigation of grasslands Type Journal Article Author Alexander Olsson Author Pietro Elia Campana Author Mårten Lind Author Jinyue Yan URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261914008289__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv4jDaQhA$ Volume 136 Pages 1145-1154 Publication Applied Energy ISSN 0306-2619 Date December 31, 2014 Journal Abbr Applied Energy DOI 10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.08.025 Abstract The climate change mitigation potential of irrigation powered by a photovoltaic water pumping system (PVWPS) to restore degraded grasslands has been investigated using the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2006 Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories for Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use. The purpose of this study is to develop a generic and simple method to estimate the climate change mitigation benefit of a PVWPS. The possibility to develop carbon credits for the carbon offset markets has also been studied comparing carbon sequestration in grasslands to other carbon sequestration projects. The soil carbon sequestration following irrigation of the grassland is calculated as an annual increase in the soil organic carbon pool. The PVWPS can also generate an excess of electricity when irrigation is not needed and the emissions reductions due to substitution of grid electricity give additional climate change mitigation potential. The results from this study show that the carbon sequestration and emissions reductions benefits per land area using a PVWPS for irrigating grasslands are comparable to other carbon sequestration options such as switching to no-till practice. Soil carbon in irrigated grasslands is increased with over 60% relative to severely degraded grasslands and if nitrogen fixing species are introduced the increase in soil organic carbon can be almost 80%. Renewable electricity generation by the PVWPS will further increase the mitigation benefit of the system with 70–90%. When applying the methodology developed in this paper to a case in Qinghai, China, we conclude that using a PVWPS to restore degraded grasslands for increased grass production and desertification control has a climate change mitigation benefit of 148Mg (1Mg=1metricton) CO2-equivalents (CO2-eq) per hectare in a cold temperate, dry climate during a 20year process of soil organic carbon sequestration and emissions reductions. Leakage due to an increase in N2O emissions from the additional biomass production and introduction of nitrogen fixing species is included in this result. The most important conclusion from our case is that if soil carbon sequestration is lower than 24Mg CO2-eq per hectare including leakage, then the climate change mitigation benefit is larger if PV is used to produce electricity for the grid. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:28:01 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:28:01 PM Tags: o Carbon sequestration o CO emission reduction o Grassland conservation o Irrigation o Soil organic carbon * Natural and anthropogenic influences on the recent droughts in Yellow River Basin, China Type Journal Article Author Abubaker Omer Author Ma Zhuguo Author Ziyan Zheng Author Farhan Saleem URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004896971935421X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv1iP9YgM$ Volume 704 Pages 135428 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date February 20, 2020 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135428 Abstract Drought in human-dominated environments cannot be seen as a unidirectional hazard as its characteristics are derived and modified by both natural climate variability and human influences. In this study, we applied an observation-modeling framework to quantify the natural and human controls on drought characteristics based on simulated and observed hydrometeorological data from six sub-catchments of the Yellow River Basin in China. A calibrated Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was applied to simulate the naturalized situation, whereas Standardized Precipitation Index, Streamflow Drought Index, and Soil Moisture Deficit Index were used to characterize drought at meteorological, agricultural and hydrological aspects. Furthermore, various statistical tools, i.e., bivariate correlation analysis, heat maps, and linear models based on multiple regression, were applied to find the statistical relationships between drought characteristics and the multiple influencing factors. The results revealed that the duration of precipitation’s dry spells was important for agricultural drought duration, whereas hydrological drought severity and duration highly depended on soil moisture. Meteorological to agricultural drought propagation mechanism was primarily affected by land use/land cover change (LULCC), whereas meteorological to hydrological propagation was influenced mostly by direct human activities (DHA). The human modifiers were found to have both positive and negative effects on drought severity and duration. For instance, agricultural practices and afforestation intensified soil moisture drought, while grassland restoration had a positive impact on agricultural drought severity. Deforestation enhanced hydrological drought, while afforestation and grassland restoration had the opposite effect. Hydrological drought severity and duration were largely amplified by DHA but enhanced by irrigation return flow. Spatially, sub-catchments with high urbanization and irrigated cropland were found to have shorter and less severe droughts than those dominated by grassland. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:20 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:20 PM Tags: o Climate-control o Droughts-severity o Duration o Human influences o Propagation * Long-Term Effects of Weed Control With Picloram Along a Gradient of Spotted Knapweed Invasion Type Journal Article Author Yvette K. Ortega Author Dean E. Pearson URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742411500119__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvaVBhG5Y$ Volume 64 Issue 1 Pages 67-77 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date January 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/REM-D-10-00034.1 Abstract Broadleaf herbicides are commonly used in rangelands to suppress exotic weeds and release native communities from negative impacts of invasion. However, few studies have comprehensively evaluated treatment effects on differing community components across a gradient of initial invasion levels. We conducted a 6-yr experiment within grasslands of western Montana to measure local-scale effects of a broadcast application of picloram on 1) cover of the target invader, spotted knapweed (Centaurea stoebe L.), 2) prevalence of native functional groups, and 3) the secondary invader cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.) at differing initial levels of knapweed invasion. Treatment effectively suppressed knapweed, with cover in treated vs. control plots reduced by >60% in the sixth posttreatment year. Treatment also appeared to alleviate knapweed’s impacts on native perennial grasses, but only at the highest initial level of invasion, where cover of this group increased by >30% in treated vs. control plots to equal levels associated with noninvaded plots. In some cases, treatment appeared to exacerbate knapweed’s impacts on native forbs. At the no-invasion level, perennial forb cover declined by >20% in treated vs. control plots to match values associated with moderate or high levels of invasion, but these treatment effects were minimal at the latter invasion levels. Across initial invasion levels, species richness of perennial and/or annual forbs declined by >20% in treated vs. control plots. Treatment also promoted increases in cheatgrass cover, although differences between treated and control plots were relatively small by the sixth posttreatment year. Overall, effects of picloram application depended on initial levels of knapweed invasion, largely due to the varying strength of release effects. Selective treatment of invaded patches vs. broadcast applications would reduce side effects of broadleaf herbicide application and increase compatibility with other management measures designed to improve rangeland conditions and restore grassland communities. Resumen Los herbicidas para controlar malezas de hoja ancha se utilizan comúnmente en pastizales para controlar las malezas exóticas y liberar de los impactos negativos de la invasión a las comunidades nativas. Sin embargo, pocos estudios han evaluado exhaustivamente los efectos del tratamiento en diferentes componentes de la comunidad a través de un gradiente de niveles iniciales de la invasión. Conducimos un experimento de seis años en pastizales del oeste de Montana para medir los efectos a nivel local de una aplicación aérea de picloram sobre (1) aplicación total a la especie invasora específica “spotted knapweed (Centaurea stoebe L.), y (2) presencia de los grupos nativos funcionales y (3) la planta invasora secundaria el triguillo (Bromus tectorum L) en diferentes niveles iniciales de invasión de knapweed. Los tratamientos controlaron efectivamente knapweed, en las áreas tratadas contra las áreas no tratadas reduciéndolo en más de 60% en el sexto año después del tratamiento. Los tratamientos también parecen disminuir el impacto del knapweed en los pastos nativos perennes, pero sólo en el nivel más alto al inicio de la invasión, donde la cobertura de este grupo se incremento por más de 30% en áreas tratadas contra no tratadas a niveles iguales asociados con parcelas no invadidas. En algunos casos el tratamiento pareció agravar el impacto de knapweed en las herbáceas nativas. En el nivel de no invasión, la cobertura de las herbáceas perennes disminuyo en más del 20% en áreas tratadas contra las parcelas controles para igualar los valores asociados con niveles moderados o altos de invasión, pero estos efectos de tratamiento fueron mínimos al final de los niveles de invasión. En todos los niveles de invasión inicial, el número de especies perennes y/o herbáceas anuales disminuyó en más de un 20% en parcelas tratadas contra parcelas controles. Los tratamientos también causaron un incremento en la cobertura del pasto triguillo, a pesar de que las diferencias entre las parcelas tratadas y las no tratadas fue relativamente pequeña en el sexto año después del tratamiento. En general, los efectos de la aplicación de picloram dependieron de la invasión inicial de knapweed, en gran parte debido a la variación del poder de la liberación del herbicida. Tratamientos selectivos de áreas invadidas contra aplicaciones aéreas reduciría los efectos colaterales de la aplicación de los herbicidas para hoja ancha e incrementa la compatibilidad con otras medidas de manejo diseñadas para mejorar la condición de los pastizales y restaurar las comunidades de pastizales. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:35 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:56:30 PM Tags: o broadleaf herbicide o cheatgrass o exotic plants o grassland restoration o native plant functional groups * Restoring diversity after cattail expansion: disturbance, resilience, and seasonality in a tropical dry wetland Type Journal Article Author Michael J. Osland Author Eugenio González Author Curtis J. Richardson URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1890/09-0981.1__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv1ZzVaHc$ Volume 21 Issue 3 Pages 715-728 Publication Ecological Applications ISSN 1051-0761 Date April 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Ecological Applications DOI 10.1890/09-0981.1 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract As the human footprint expands, ecologists and resource managers are increasingly challenged to explain and manage abrupt ecosystem transformations (i.e., regime shifts). In this study, we investigated the role of a mechanical disturbance that has been used to restore and maintain local wetland diversity after a monotypic regime shift in northwestern Costa Rica [specifically, an abrupt landscape-scale cattail (Typha) expansion]. The study was conducted in Palo Verde Marsh (Palo Verde National Park; a RAMSAR Wetland of International Importance), a seasonally flooded freshwater wetland that has historically provided habitat for large populations of wading birds and waterfowl. A cattail (T. domingensis) expansion in the 1980s greatly altered the plant community and reduced avian habitat. Since then, Typha has been managed using a form of mechanical disturbance called fangueo (a Spanish word, pronounced ?fahn-gay-yo? in English). We applied a Typha removal treatment at three levels (control, fangueo, and fangueo with fencing to exclude cattle grazing). Fangueo resulted in a large reduction in Typha dominance (i.e., decreased aboveground biomass, ramet density, and ramet height) and an increase in habitat heterogeneity. As in many ecosystems that have been defined by multiple and frequent disturbances, a large portion of the plant community regenerated after disturbance (via propagule banking) and fangueo resulted in a more diverse plant community that was strongly dictated by seasonal processes (i.e., distinct wet- and dry-season assemblages). Importantly, the mechanical disturbance had no apparent short-term impact on any of the soil properties we measured (including bulk density). Interestingly, low soil and foliar N:P values indicate that Palo Verde Marsh and other wetlands in the region may be nitrogen limited. Our results quantify how, in a cultural landscape where the historical disturbance regime has been altered and diversity has declined, a mechanical disturbance in combination with seasonal drought and flooding has been used to locally restrict a clonal monodominant plant expansion, create habitat heterogeneity, and maintain plant diversity. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:47:23 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:56:31 PM Tags: o clonal plant o Costa Rica o invasive plant management o mechanical disturbance o N:P stoichiometry o nitrogen limitation o Palo Verde National Park o regime shift o seasonal flooding and drought o seed bank o Typha domingensis o wetland restoration Notes: o doi: 10.1890/09-0981.1 o doi: 10.1890/09-0981.1 * Using Cattle Grazing to Restore a Rough Fescue Prairie Invaded by Kentucky Bluegrass Type Journal Article Author Rafael Otfinowski Author Hilary G. Pinchbeck Author Peter A. Sinkins URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742416300975__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv8LDLje4$ Volume 70 Issue 3 Pages 301-306 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date May 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2016.10.008 Abstract Rough fescue prairies were once common across the northern prairies but have now been almost entirely lost to a combination of agricultural expansion, energy development, fire suppression, and invasion by exotic species. Despite these pressures, remnant grasslands remain important in conserving biodiversity and as habitats for threatened species. In this project, we test the hypothesis that the density of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), an invasive, exotic species, introduced across the Great Plains, is inversely related with the density of plains rough fescue (Festuca hallii), the dominant native grass of northern fescue communities, and examine whether cattle grazing could help restore invaded prairies. We tested the relationship between the two species using 33 transects (0−44 m), located within patches of rough fescue prairie at the Batoche National Historic Site of Canada in Saskatchewan. Along each transect, we recorded the density of Kentucky bluegrass and plains rough fescue and used cattle exclosures to test the hypothesis that grazing reduces the abundance of the invader and increases the abundance of plains rough fescue. Although higher densities of Kentucky bluegrass were negatively correlated with the density of plains rough fescue, grazing by cattle did not significantly reduce the density of Kentucky bluegrass, 6 yr after the initiation of grazing. However, cattle grazing also did not reduce the density of plains rough fescue, suggesting that it may provide a valuable tool to actively manage and restore invaded prairies. Our results also suggest that long-term monitoring and additional measurements of community diversity and productivity may be necessary to demonstrate the success of this restoration method. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:07 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:07 PM Tags: o biological invasion o grazing exclosure o native prairie o restoration ecology * Comparison of Postfire Seeding Practices for Wyoming Big Sagebrush Type Journal Article Author Jeffrey E. Ott Author Robert D. Cox Author Nancy L. Shaw URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742417300349__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvjXD_7dY$ Volume 70 Issue 5 Pages 625-632 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date September 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2017.03.005 Accessed 2020-03-17, 6:05:34 PM Library Catalog ScienceDirect Language en Abstract Wildfires in the Great Basin have resulted in widespread loss of Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt. ssp. wyomingensis Beetle & Young), an ecologically important shrub that has proven difficult to establish from seed. We sought to identify optimal seeding practices for Wyoming big sagebrush in the context of postfire seeding operations involving rangeland drills. In an experiment replicated at three burned sites in the northern Great Basin, we compared Wyoming big sagebrush establishment across treatments differing by seed delivery technique, timing, and rate of seed application. A seed mix containing bunchgrasses was drill-seeded in alternate rows using one of two drill-types (conventional or minimum-till), and a mix containing sagebrush was either delivered by drill to the soil surface in remaining rows or broadcast by hand (simulating aerial seeding) following drilling in fall or winter. Drill-delivery of sagebrush seed was accompanied by drag chains (conventional drill) or imprinter wheels (minimum-till drill) to improve seed-soil contact and was carried out at multiple seeding rates (ca. 50, 250, and 500 pure live seed m−2). During 2 yr following seeding, sagebrush establishment was lower at two sites (yr 1: ≤ 1.2 plants m−2; yr 2: ≤ 0.8 plants m−2) compared with a third site (yr 1: ≤ 4.1 plants m−2; yr 2: ≤ 2.0 plants m−2) where treatment differences were more pronounced and significant. Wherever density differed between treatments, it was consistently higher in certain treatment levels (minimum-till > conventional drill, drill-delivery > broadcast-delivery, fall broadcast > winter broadcast, and higher rates > lower rates). Densities declined between years at two sites, but we did not find evidence that declines were due to density-dependent mortality. Results indicate that seeding success can likely be enhanced by using a minimum-till imprinter seeding method and using seeding rates higher than typical postfire seeding recommendations for Wyoming big sagebrush. Date Added 2020-03-17, 6:05:34 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:56:32 PM Tags: o ecological restoration o microsites o rangeland drill o rehabilitation o safe sites Attachments o ScienceDirect Snapshot * Long-Term Vegetation Recovery and Invasive Annual Suppression in Native and Introduced Postfire Seeding Treatments Type Journal Article Author Jeffrey E. Ott Author Francis F. Kilkenny Author Daniel D. Summers Author Tyler W. Thompson URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742418302008__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvc_W1ALE$ Volume 72 Issue 4 Pages 640-653 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date July 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2019.02.001 Abstract Seed mixes used for postfire seeding in the Great Basin are often selected on the basis of short-term rehabilitation objectives, such as ability to rapidly establish and suppress invasive exotic annuals (e.g., cheatgrass, Bromus tectorum L.). Longer-term considerations are also important, including whether seeded plants persist, continue to suppress invasives, and promote recovery of desired vegetation. To better understand long-term effects of postfire seed mixes, we revisited study sites in Tintic Valley, Utah, where seeding experiments had been initiated after the 1999 Railroad wildfire. Four different mixes, including two comprised entirely of native species, had been applied using rangeland drills at a shrubland site and aerial seeding followed by one-way Ely chaining at a woodland site. New vegetation data collected 16 years post fire revealed changes relative to 3 years post fire. We found significant increases in total cover of seed-mix species in all treatments, including the unseeded control where these species were present as residual populations or had spread from seeded treatments. Significant increases of seed-mix species cover and density were observed in blocks where seeding treatments had previously been considered unsuccessful. Some seed-mix species, particularly rhizomatous grasses, increased while others declined. Exotic annual forb cover decreased in all treatments while cheatgrass increased in the unseeded control and to a lesser extent in the native-only seeded treatments. Recruitment of non-seed-mix native perennials was highest in the unseeded control. Results indicate that postfire seeding has lasting effects on vegetation composition and structure, implying that seed mixes should be carefully formulated to promote long-term management objectives. Seed mixes containing large amounts of competitive introduced species may be especially effective for long-term cheatgrass suppression, but native-only mixes can also serve this purpose to a lesser degree while avoiding drawbacks of non-native species introductions. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:34 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:34 PM Tags: o BLM o competition o monitoring o restoration o wheatgrass * Postfire Drill-Seeding of Great Basin Plants: Effects of Contrasting Drills on Seeded and Nonseeded Species Type Journal Article Author Jeffrey E. Ott Author Robert D. Cox Author Nancy L. Shaw Author Beth A. Newingham Author Amy C. Ganguli Author Mike Pellant Author Bruce A. Roundy Author Dennis L. Eggett URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742416300264__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvzvhTyE0$ Volume 69 Issue 5 Pages 373-385 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date September 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2016.05.001 Abstract Objectives of postfire seeding in the Great Basin include reestablishment of perennial cover, suppression of exotic annual weeds, and restoration of diverse plant communities. Nonconventional seeding techniques may be required when seeding mixes of grasses, forbs, and shrubs containing seeds of different sizes. We conducted an operational-scale experiment to test the effectiveness of two rangeland drills (conventional and minimum-till) for seeding native plant mixes following wildfire in Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt. ssp. wyomingensis Beetle & Young) communities. Both drills were configured to place small and large seeds in alternate rows. We hypothesized that the minimum-till drill’s advanced features would improve establishment compared with the conventional drill. We also hypothesized that the minimum-till drill would cause less damage to residual perennials, whereas the conventional drill would have a greater impact on annual weeds. The experiment was replicated at three burned sites and monitored for 2 yr at each site. Seeded plant establishment was lowest at a low-precipitation site that became dominated by exotic annuals. Another site had high perennial grass establishment, which effectively suppressed exotic annuals, while a third site attained high diversity of seeded species and life forms but became invaded by exotic annuals in plant interspaces. Small-seeded species generally established better with the minimum-till drill equipped with imprinter wheels than the conventional drill with drag-chains. However, large-seeded species frequently established better with the conventional drill despite its lack of depth bands and press wheels. Soil disturbance associated with the conventional drill had a negative effect on residual perennials and exotic annuals at some sites. Results indicate that different drill features are advantageous in different ways, but that either of the tested drills, if properly used, can be effective for seeding native plant mixes provided site conditions are otherwise favorable for seedling establishment. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:44 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:44 PM Tags: o cheatgrass o competition o ecological restoration o rehabilitation * The South Brazilian grasslands – A South American tallgrass prairie? Parallels and implications of fire dependency Type Journal Article Author G.E. Overbeck Author J.D. Scasta Author F.F. Furquim Author I.I. Boldrini Author J.R. Weir URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2530064417300792__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvdjGYYOg$ Volume 16 Issue 1 Pages 24-30 Publication Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation ISSN 2530-0644 Date January 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.pecon.2017.11.002 Abstract Fire has long been recognized as an important driver of vegetation patterns, and is of particular importance for biodiversity maintenance in many grassland systems, including the North American tallgrass prairie. Here, it has been successfully used as a conservation and restoration tool. In southern Brazil, grasslands appear to present many similarities to tallgrass prairie in terms of composition and ecology, but the role of fire has been poorly studied and it is not usually used in conservation. Here, we compare plant genera and family composition of tallgrass prairie and South Brazilian grassland sites. We find striking similarities in terms of dominant families, genera, and functional types. The similarities between plant communities suggest similarities in ecological processes and should lead to a re-thinking of conservation strategies in South Brazilian grasslands. Research on the role of fire is needed, and comparative North–South studies on grasslands in the Americas likely will provide important insights for grassland ecology and management. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:29 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:29 PM Tags: o Conservation o Disturbance o Management o Pampa o Tallgrass prairie * Biodiversity composition reflects the history of ancient semi-natural woodland and forest habitats—Compilation of an indicator complex for restoration practice Type Journal Article Author Anneli Palo Author Mari Ivask Author Jaan Liira URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X13002252__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvTesWcAQ$ Volume 34 Pages 336-344 Publication Ecological Indicators ISSN 1470-160X Date November 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2013.05.020 Abstract For centuries, Fennoscandian wooded meadows and woodland pastures (Habitats Directive habitat types *6530 and 9070 respectively) covered large areas of Northern Europe. In the Twentieth Century, abandonment-driven encroachment has led to the wooded grasslands changing into what may be considered as old-growth deciduous forests. The present paper examined whether the present stand structure and the composition of three contrasting functional groups (herbaceous layer vascular plants, epiphytic bryophytes, and earthworms) could serve as indicators of the historic origin of the forest patches, i.e. to what extent changes in ecological conditions in overgrown woodlands have shifted towards broad-leaved forests with ancient trees. Indicators were tested for the objective of restoration planning of habitat quality, i.e. whether semi-open woodlands could be restored or if it would be more appropriate to preserve them as broad-leaved forests. The study was carried out by comparing the composition of ancient forest cores, forest edges and overgrown wooded grasslands. The land use history of sample sites was examined from historical topographical maps and aerial photos. The results showed that as long as 60 years after abandonment, parts of the studied forests still retained some light-demanding plant species characteristic of historical wooded grasslands. The composition of earthworm communities was similar in all of the studied historical forest groups. Only some of the stand structure characteristics and epiphytic mosses indicated that there were differences between ancient forest cores and overgrown wooded grasslands. We conclude that the combination of various functional indicators should be used in the evaluation of successional woodlands for habitat restoration. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:23:02 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:23:02 PM Tags: o Broad-leaved deciduous forests o Grassland succession o Habitat restoration o Habitats Directive o Historical aerial photos o Semi-natural woodlands o Woodland indicators * Impact of grassland degradation on soil phytolith carbon sequestration in Inner Mongolian steppe of China Type Journal Article Author Wenjie Pan Author Zhaoliang Song Author Hongyan Liu Author Karin Müeller Author Xiaomin Yang Author Xiaodong Zhang Author Zimin Li Author Xu Liu Author Shuang Qiu Author Qian Hao Author Hailong Wang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S001670611730558X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvQ8m1JsQ$ Volume 308 Pages 86-92 Publication Geoderma ISSN 0016-7061 Date December 15, 2017 Journal Abbr Geoderma DOI 10.1016/j.geoderma.2017.08.037 Abstract Grasslands play an important role in the terrestrial biogeochemical carbon (C) cycle and partly mitigate climate change through C occlusion within phytoliths. Grassland degradation has a significant influence on the coupled biogeochemical cycles of C and silicon in the Inner Mongolian steppe of China, but there are few reports about the impact of grassland degradation on phytolith C sequestration in the steppe, the main grassland in northern China. Twelve sampling sites were chosen in the Xilingol League. Soil samples (0–50cm) were collected from grasslands of four different degradation degrees to investigate the impact of grassland degradation on the soil phytolith and phytolith-occluded C (PhytOC) accumulation using a mass-balance approach. Soil phytolith storages were 12.97±2.15, 15.90±0.65, 14.35±0.79 and 13.22±1.07tha−1 in non-degraded, lightly degraded, moderately degraded and seriously degraded grasslands, respectively. The corresponding storages of soil PhytOC were 0.11±0.02, 0.16±0.02, 0.12±0.01 and 0.07±0.01tha−1, respectively. The observed significant differences in soil phytoliths and PhytOC among grasslands of different degradation degrees indicate that grassland degradation influenced the phytolith and PhytOC accumulation in grassland soils. Grazing and harvesting are likely the major factors affecting soil phytolith and PhytOC storages through reducing the litterfall returning fluxes. Our preliminary findings imply that grassland restoration could be a promising way to increase long-term phytolith C sequestration through maximizing plant PhytOC production fluxes and soil PhytOC accumulation in degraded grasslands. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:31 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:31 PM Tags: o Degradation o Grassland management o Northern China o Phytolith-occluded carbon * Contributions of climatic and non-climatic drivers to grassland variations on the Tibetan Plateau Type Journal Article Author Tao Pan Author Xintong Zou Author Yujie Liu Author Shaohong Wu Author Guangming He URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857417304561__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvi4lMT_0$ Volume 108 Pages 307-317 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date November 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2017.07.039 Abstract Grasslands cover a large portion of the global land surface, providing crucial ecosystem services for humans. During the past decades, grasslands of the Tibetan Plateau (TP), which is the highest plateau over the world, have experienced dramatic changes, especially degradation caused by intensifying climatic (e.g., warming, drying) and non-climatic (e.g., land use changes) drivers. However, it remains unclear how quantitatively different drivers contribute to grassland changes, which is critical for various stakeholders to make informative decisions to mitigate these changes. Here, we proposed a two-step methodology to tackle this challenge. First, the effects of land use changes on grassland distribution were investigated. Then the contributions of climatic and non-climatic drivers were discriminated through the differences between observed Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and simulated NDVI based on General Linear Models (GLM). Results show that the area of grasslands decreased from 1980 to 2010 due to land use changes. The area converted from grasslands to other land covers was larger than that converted from other land covers to grasslands. Grassland NDVI without land use changes did not increase significantly. Climatic drivers such as warming and wetting were beneficial to grassland quality, but continuous drying probably induced grassland degradation. Non-climatic drivers such as ecological programs improved grassland quality, while overgrazing might result in grassland degradation. Our findings indicate the impacts of non-climatic drivers on grassland variations were more intense than that of the climatic drivers in the past three decades. The relative contribution rate of non-climatic drivers (66.07%) doubled that of climatic drivers (33.93%) to grassland variations. The impacts of climatic drivers were relatively slow but persistent. Non-climatic drivers like ecological programs could effectively mitigate grassland degradation induced by land use changes or continuous drying on the TP. This study could provide scientific support for grassland restoration and management on the TP. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:30 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:30 PM Tags: o Contribution o Ecological programs o Grassland variations o NDVI o Non-climatic and climatic drivers o Tibetan Plateau (TP) * Analysis of micro-climate on the programs of urban infrastructure regeneration in J city, Republic of Korea Type Journal Article Author Kiyong Park Author Daewuk Kim Author Manhyung Lee Author Changkyoo Choi URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1618866717301267__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvcVkLsvc$ Volume 27 Pages 43-49 Publication Urban Forestry & Urban Greening ISSN 1618-8667 Date October 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Urban Forestry & Urban Greening DOI 10.1016/j.ufug.2017.06.002 Abstract The purpose of this study is to simulate urban micro-climate change due to the variation of wind flow and temperature assuming situations before and after applying programs using urban infrastructure regeneration technologies (UIRTs), and to then quantitatively estimate effectiveness on the urban regeneration schems. UIRTs focus on improving the recycling efficiencies of reclaimed water and biogas produced and to enforce the linkage among all environmental infrastructures associated with water, waste, and energy in an urban block. To implement the micro-climate analyses, data such as land use, topography, building height and materials, and weather conditions were collected, and the results estimated based on fluid simulations of cold wind and temperature variation pathways. There were three programs used in the urban regeneration project in J city: river restoration, traditional market revitalization, and a primary school eco-school. The height of cold wind from the ground level was significantly elevated, and the maximum wind velocity differential between before and after increased by 0.12m/s due to the expansion of the waterfront space and grassland through the three programs. Overall, a temperature at the ground level dropped by 1.6°C. Based on these results, the three programs improved the urban environment at ground level, and might ultimately be capable of diminishing the urban heat island effect and mitigating the energy consumption of urban areas. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:17 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:17 PM Tags: o Micro-climate o Temperature o Urban infrastructure regeneration technology o Wind flow * Impact of Native Grasses and Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) on Great Basin Forb Seedling Growth Type Journal Article Author Hilary Parkinson Author Cathy Zabinski Author Nancy Shaw URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742413500170__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvJ6y2oBk$ Volume 66 Issue 2 Pages 174-180 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date March 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/REM-D-11-00028.1 Abstract Re-establishing native communities that resist exotic weed invasion and provide diverse habitat for wildlife are high priorities for restoration in sagebrush ecosystems. Native forbs are an important component of healthy rangelands in this system, but they are rarely included in seedings. Understanding competitive interactions between forb and grass seedlings is required to devise seeding strategies that can enhance establishment of diverse native species assemblages in degraded sagebrush communities. We conducted a greenhouse experiment to examine seedling biomass and relative growth rate of common native forb species when grown alone or in the presence of a native bunchgrass or an exotic annual grass. Forb species included bigseed biscuitroot (Lomatium macrocarpum [Nutt. ex Torr. & A. Gray] J.M. Coult. & Rose), sulphur-flower buckwheat (Eriogonum umbellatum Torr.), hoary aster (Machaeranthera canescens [Pursh] Gray), royal penstemon (Penstemon speciosus Douglas ex Lindl.), and Munro's globemallow (Sphaeralcea munroana [Douglas ex Lindl.] Spach ex Gray); and neighboring grass species included bottlebrush squirreltail (Elymus elymoides [Raf.] Swezey), Sandberg bluegrass (Poa secunda J. Presl); and cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.). Forbs and grasses were harvested after 6, 9, or 12 wk of growth for biomass determination and calculation of relative growth rates (RGR) of forbs. Neither bunchgrass reduced biomass of any forb. RGR was reduced for royal penstemon when grown with either native grass and for Munro's globemallow when grown with bottlebrush squirreltail. Although only assessed qualitatively, forbs with vertically oriented root morphologies exhibited no reduction in RGR when grown with native grasses, compared to forbs with dense lateral branching, similar to the root morphology of native grasses. Biomass of forbs was reduced by 50% to 91% and RGR by 37% to 80% when grown with cheatgrass. Understanding native forb interactions with native grasses and cheatgrass will aid land managers in selecting effective seed mixes and making better use of costly seed. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:38 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:38 PM Tags: o invasive species o relative growth rate o restoration o revegetation o root morphology * A complex systems approach for multiobjective water quality regulation on managed wetland landscapes Type Journal Article Author Lael Parrott Author Nigel Quinn URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.1363__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvEN6unW4$ Volume 7 Issue 6 Pages e01363 Publication Ecosphere ISSN 2150-8925 Date June 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Ecosphere DOI 10.1002/ecs2.1363 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Abstract Management of wetland ecosystems that are tightly coupled with human systems typically requires balancing multiple objectives to ensure that a range of ecosystem services are provided for the benefit of society. We describe how adopting a complex systems approach may provide managers with the appropriate conceptual tools to achieve social and ecological objectives in a multifunctional wetland landscape. We illustrate the applicability of the approach using the Grasslands Ecological Area (GEA) in California as a case study. Human intervention has shaped and reshaped the GEA over the past century, affecting the ability of the landscape to provide ecosystem services. Ecological disaster in the 1980s precipitated transformative change in the management system toward an approach that adopts many of the recommended actions for complexity. Present-day management, which balances multiple social and ecological objectives, has led to improved water quality, restoration of wetland habitats, and a general increase in system complexity at the landscape scale. New research and real-time monitoring systems facilitate adaptive management and heterogeneous responses of wetland management entities. We argue that taking a complex systems approach to management in the GEA provides a common, and inclusive, conceptual model for all stakeholders and may lead to a more sustainable and ecologically resilient landscape over the long term. Date Added 2020-03-12, 4:06:19 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 4:06:19 PM Tags: o complex systems o coupled human–environment systems o ecosystem management o ecosystem services o sustainability o water quality o wetlands Notes: o doi: 10.1002/ecs2.1363 * Genetic Variation for Adaptive Traits in Bottlebrush Squirreltail in the Northern Intermountain West, United States Type Journal Article Author Matthew C. Parsons Author Thomas A. Jones Author Thomas A. Monaco URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2010.00705.x__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvE9NWMlE$ Rights 2010 Society for Ecological Restoration International. Published 2010. This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA Volume 19 Issue 4 Pages 460-469 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2011 DOI 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2010.00705.x Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:25:28 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Adaptive-trait correlations in plant ecology are often calculated among species, but in order to develop and characterize plant materials of target species for restoration, intraspecific comparisons are of greatest relevance. Elymus elymoides (Raf.) Swezey (bottlebrush squirreltail) is an important component of sagebrush-steppe communities in the northern Intermountain West, United States. We evaluated 32 accessions of E. elymoides subspecies C, a newly recognized unnamed taxon, in the field and greenhouse. Our objectives were to assess genetic diversity for putatively adaptive traits, to elucidate biological relationships among biomass, morphological, and phenological traits through correlation analysis, and to gather evidence suggesting whether these traits might be truly adaptive, that is, related to collection-site variables. We observed a positive correlation (r = 0.73;p < 0.01) between greenhouse shoot and root biomass among accessions, suggesting that shoot and root biomass are not in an inherent trade-off relationship across accessions. In addition, accessions with higher greenhouse shoot biomass possessed lower specific leaf area (r = −0.43;p < 0.05) and lower specific root length (r = −0.47,p < 0.05). Correlations between greenhouse and field-measured productivity traits were not significant (p > 0.05), indicating seedling performance is not predictive of mature-plant performance. Elevation was the collection-site variable most closely correlated with plant-measured traits, particularly phenological dates, whereas average annual precipitation was the least significant variable. Therefore, elevation may be used as an easily applied metric to match subspecies C plant material to restoration site in the northern Intermountain West. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:25:29 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:25:29 PM Tags: o adaptation o elevation o Elymus elymoides o functional traits o specific leaf area o specific root length Attachments o Snapshot * Ecotypic Variation in Elymus elymoides subsp. brevifolius in the Northern Intermountain West Type Journal Article Author Matthew C. Parsons Author Thomas A. Jones Author Steven R. Larson Author Ivan W. Mott Author Thomas A. Monaco URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742411500673__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvaIjLxzM$ Volume 64 Issue 6 Pages 649-658 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date November 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/REM-D-09-00143.1 Abstract Bottlebrush squirreltail (Elymus elymoides [Raf.] Swezey) is an important native bunchgrass for rangeland restoration in western North America. This species is taxonomically complex and has diverged into as many as four subspecies, including subsp. brevifolius, for which four geographically distinct races have been described (A, B, C, and D). Of these four races, only C occurs in the northern Intermountain West. Our objectives were to describe phenotypic and genetic variation within C and to ascertain its taxonomic status. We evaluated 32 populations of C collected across the northern Intermountain West for a battery of biomass, phenological, and functional traits in common-garden settings in the field and greenhouse. Genetic variation was assessed with the use of amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers, and correlations were calculated among phenotypic, genetic, environmental, and geographic distance matrices with the use of Mantel tests. Values for these four distance measures were positively correlated, suggesting that environmental heterogeneity and isolation by distance are shaping ecotypic divergence driven by natural selection. We describe three phenotypic zones for C that correspond to previously established ecoregion boundaries. Because genetic data group C apart from subsp. brevifolius races A, B, and D, which originate in the Rocky Mountains and western Great Plains, the so-called race C merits description as a new subspecies apart from subsp. brevifolius. Resumen El pasto nativo amacollado (Elymus elymoides [Raf.] Swezey) es importante para la restauración de los pastizales de Norte América. Esta especie es taxonómicamente compleja y se ha separado al menos en cuatro subespecies incluyendo la especie brevifolius de la cual se han descrito cuatro razas geográficamente distintas (A, B, C, y D). De estas cuatro razas solo la C se encuentra en la parte norte de las Intermontañas del Oeste. Nuestro objetivo fue describir la variación fenotípica y genotípica dentro de C y determinar su estatus taxonómico. Evaluamos 32 poblaciones de C recolectadas a lo largo de la parte norte de las Intermontañas del Oeste de una pila de biomasa fenológica y rasgos funcionales establecidos en jardines comunes en el campo y el invernadero. La variación genética se evaluó usando marcadores AFLP y las correlaciones fueron calculadas entre matrices de distancia fenológica, genética, medioambiental y geográfica, usando la prueba de Mantel. Los valores de esas cuatro distancias medidas estuvieron correlacionados positivamente, sugiriendo que la heterogeneidad e asilamiento por la distancia están moldeando la diferencia ecotípica conducida por la selección natural. Describimos tres zonas fenotípicas para C que corresponden al establecimiento de las fronteras de la ecoregión. Debido a que el grupo genético C esta aparte de la especie brevifolius las razas A, B, y D que se originaron en las Montañas Rocosas y la parte oeste de las Grandes Planicies, la llamada raza C tiene el merito descriptivo como una nueva subespecie independiente de la especie brevifolius. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:36 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:56:33 PM Tags: o AFLP o common garden o ecotype o Great Basin o squirreltail * Restoration for multiple use Type Journal Article Author Mark W. Paschke Author Lora B. Perkins Author Kari E. Veblen URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12949__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvAXN5Ghc$ Rights © 2019 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 27 Issue 4 Pages 701-704 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2019 DOI 10.1111/rec.12949 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:15:09 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Management of restored ecosystems for multiple use is a modern necessity given a growing human population and dwindling supplies of ecosystem goods and services. Multiple use management refers to managing resources simultaneously for sustainable output of many goods and services. Within any restoration, thoughtful planning and early stakeholder engagement can help harmonize seemingly competing multiple uses. Although the field of ecological restoration is young and there are few long-term lessons to draw from, we can infer from ecological theory that maximization of native biodiversity can impart resilience in the restored ecosystem and can buffer against the stress of multiple use management. Restoration for multiple use should be accompanied with an acknowledgment that humility is required and monitoring is needed to keep the restored ecosystem on an acceptable trajectory. The field of ecological restoration was founded upon the notion that ecosystems would be restored for ethical reasons, but modern realities have necessitated a more utilitarian approach to restoration that requires restoring ecosystems for multiple uses. This reality represents a grand challenge for the next generation of restoration ecologists. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:15:09 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:15:09 PM Tags: o biodiversity o ecosystem goods o ecosystem services o resilience o stakeholder engagement Attachments o Snapshot * Comparing Three Common Seeding Techniques for Pipeline Vegetation Restoration: A Case Study in South Texas Type Journal Article Author Keith A. Pawelek Author Forrest S. Smith Author Anthony D. Falk Author Megan K. Clayton Author Kason W. Haby Author Dale W. Rankin URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190052815000590__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvUKKCbgI$ Volume 37 Issue 3 Pages 99-105 Publication Rangelands ISSN 0190-0528 Date June 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Rangelands DOI 10.1016/j.rala.2015.03.007 Accessed 2020-03-17, 5:54:33 PM Library Catalog ScienceDirect Language en Short Title Comparing Three Common Seeding Techniques for Pipeline Vegetation Restoration Date Added 2020-03-17, 5:54:33 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:56:46 PM Tags: o broadcast seeding o Eagle Ford Shale o ecotypic native seeds o hydroseeding o no-till drill seeding o oil and gas o pipeline reseeding o south Texas natives Attachments o ScienceDirect Snapshot * The full carbon balance of a rewetted cropland fen and a conservation-managed fen Type Journal Article Author M. Peacock Author V. Gauci Author A.J. Baird Author A. Burden Author P.J. Chapman Author A. Cumming Author J.G. Evans Author R.P. Grayson Author J. Holden Author J. Kaduk Author R. Morrison Author S. Page Author G. Pan Author L.M. Ridley Author J. Williamson Author F. Worrall Author C.D. Evans URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880918304018__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvMhZEjjM$ Volume 269 Pages 1-12 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date January 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2018.09.020 Abstract On a global scale, the release of greenhouse gases (GHG) from peatland drainage and cultivation are believed to account for ∼5% of estimated anthropogenic GHG emissions. Drainage generally leads to peat subsidence and extensive soil loss, resulting in a diminishing store of soil carbon (C). This is a challenge for maintaining drainage-based agriculture, as such practices will eventually lead to the loss of organic soils that arable cultivation depends on. The conversion of croplands on peat to semi-natural grasslands, alongside raising water tables, is one possible way to reduce the loss of these valuable C stores. Here, we report the net ecosystem carbon balances (NECB) of two lowland peatlands in East Anglia, south-east UK. One site is a relic conservation-managed fen on deep peat, subject to active hydrological management to maintain water levels, and dominated by Cladium and Phragmites sedge and reed beds, whilst the other is a former cropland that has been converted to seasonally-inundated grazed grassland. Despite occasionally experiencing severe water table drawdown, the conservation-managed fen was a strong C sink of -104 g C m−2 yr−1. In contrast, the grassland was a C source of 133 g C m−2 yr−1, with gaseous carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions being the main loss pathway, due to low water tables exposing the soil profile in summer. At each site, ditch emissions of CO2 were moderately large (22 and 37 g C m−2 yr−1), whilst ditch methane (CH4) emissions (0.2 and 1.8 g C m−2 yr−1) made a negligible contribution to the NECB, but are important when considering the ecosystem GHG balance in terms of CO2 equivalents. Excluding dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), fluvial C losses were 6 g C m−2 yr−1 for the conservation-managed fen and 12 g C m−2 yr−1 for the former cropland, and were dominated by dissolved organic carbon (DOC). The small fluvial C loss is the result of both sites being hydrologically isolated from the surrounding agricultural landscapes. Although the partially re-wetted cropland was still acting as a net C source, our estimates suggest that seasonal rewetting has reduced net annual C losses to ∼20% of their former cropland values. Maintaining high water tables year round would potentially further reduce C losses, and shallow inundation might allow the return of wetland species such as Phragmites and Typha, perhaps as floating rafts. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:02 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:02 PM Tags: o Dissolved organic carbon o Drainage o Greenhouse gas o Net ecosystem carbon balance o Peatland o Restoration * Management effects on greenhouse gas dynamics in fen ditches Type Journal Article Author Mike Peacock Author Luke M. Ridley Author Chris D. Evans Author Vincent Gauci URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969716324366__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvzhh9Cr0$ Volume 578 Pages 601-612 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date February 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.11.005 Abstract Globally, large areas of peatland have been drained through the digging of ditches, generally to increase agricultural production. By lowering the water table it is often assumed that drainage reduces landscape-scale emissions of methane (CH4) into the atmosphere to negligible levels. However, drainage ditches themselves are known to be sources of CH4 and other greenhouse gases (GHGs), but emissions data are scarce, particularly for carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O), and show high spatial and temporal variability. Here, we report dissolved GHGs and diffusive fluxes of CH4 and CO2 from ditches at three UK lowland fens under different management; semi-natural fen, cropland, and cropland restored to low-intensity grassland. Ditches at all three fens emitted GHGs to the atmosphere, but both fluxes and dissolved GHGs showed extensive variation both seasonally and within-site. CH4 fluxes were particularly large, with medians peaking at all three sites in August at 120–230mgm−2d−1. Significant between site differences were detected between the cropland and the other two sites for CO2 flux and all three dissolved GHGs, suggesting that intensive agriculture has major effects on ditch biogeochemistry. Multiple regression models using environmental and water chemistry data were able to explain 29–59% of observed variation in dissolved GHGs. Annual CH4 fluxes from the ditches were 37.8, 18.3 and 27.2gCH4m−2yr−1 for the semi-natural, grassland and cropland, and annual CO2 fluxes were similar (1100 to 1440gCO2m−2yr−1) among sites. We suggest that fen ditches are important contributors to landscape-scale GHG emissions, particularly for CH4. Ditch emissions should be included in GHG budgets of human modified fens, particularly where drainage has removed the original terrestrial CH4 source, e.g. agricultural peatlands. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:10 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:10 PM Tags: o Carbon dioxide o Ditch flux o Methane o Nitrous oxide o Peatland o Restoration * Bringing History Into Range Management: A Synthesis of a Symposium at the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management Type Journal Article Author Matthew Allen Pearce URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190052813500770__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv5kTAkWs$ Volume 35 Issue 1 Pages 22-26 Publication Rangelands ISSN 0190-0528 Date February 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Rangelands DOI 10.2111/RANGELANDS-D-12-00038.1 Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:28 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:04:28 PM Tags: o history o range management o rangelands * Considering Spatial Scale and Reproductive Consequences of Habitat Selection when Managing Grasslands for a Threatened Species Type Journal Article Author Scott F. Pearson Author Shannon M. Knapp URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0156330__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvKgVgKmE$ Volume 11 Issue 6 Pages e0156330 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Jun 20, 2016 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0156330 Accessed 2020-03-12, 3:28:05 PM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract Habitat selection that has fitness consequences has important implications for conservation activities. For example, habitat characteristics that influence nest success in birds can be manipulated to improve habitat quality with the goal of ultimately improving reproductive success. We examined habitat selection by the threatened streaked horned lark (Eremophila alpestris strigata) at both the breeding-site (territory) and nest-site scales. Larks were selective at both spatial scales but with contrasting selection. At the territory scale, male larks selected sparsely vegetated grasslands with relatively short vegetation. At the nest-site scale, female larks selected sites within territories with higher vegetation density and more perennial forbs. These nest-site scale choices had reproductive consequences, with greater nest success in areas with higher densities of perennial forbs. We experimentally manipulated lark habitat structure in an attempt to mimic the habitat conditions selected by larks by using late summer prescribed fires. After the burn, changes in vegetation structure were in the direction preferred by larks but habitat effects attenuated by the following year. Our results highlight the importance of evaluating habitat selection at spatial scales appropriate to the species of interest, especially when attempting to improve habitat quality for rare and declining species. They also highlight the importance of conducting restoration activities in a research context. For example, because the sparsely vegetated conditions created by fire attenuate, there may be value in examining more frequent burns or hotter fires as the next management and research action. We hope the design outlined in this study will serve as an integrated research and management example for conserving grassland birds generally. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:28:05 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:28:05 PM Tags: o Birds o Grasses o Grasslands o Habitats o Islands o Nesting habits o Predation o Wildfires Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Is manure an alternative to topsoil in road embankment restoration? Type Journal Article Author Begoña Peco Author Desirée Rivera Author Pablo García-Palacios Author Berta M. Jauregui URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0174622__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvLtq2ol8$ Volume 12 Issue 3 Pages e0174622 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Mar 27, 2017 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0174622 Accessed 2020-03-12, 12:27:40 AM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract One of the main steps in road and railway embankment restoration is the spreading of previously removed topsoil, which provides an input of seeds, organic matter and microorganisms and encourages the establishment of a vegetation cover, essential to stabilise the embankment and blend it with the landscape. However, topsoil is a scarce resource, prompting the search for economic alternatives with similar results. The present study compares the results of spreading topsoil with an organic amendment (manure) for the soil's physico-chemical properties, erosion resistance and microbial activity, floristic richness and composition, and bare soil cover. For this purpose, experimental plots with three treatments (Control, Topsoil and Manure) were maintained on a recently built embankment in Central Spain for 20 months. Manure was found to be an effective alternative to topsoil for the improvement of soil fertility (organic matter content and total nitrogen). The two types of organic amendment produced similar reductions in bare soil cover and erosion rates. However, plots with topsoil showed greater soil respiration and species richness and a different floristic composition in comparison to those treated with manure, which was closer to control plots. These results suggest that manure can be used to replace topsoil to enhance embankment stability during the early stages of restoration. However, if the aim of the restoration process is to promote plant diversity, topsoil is recommended. Date Added 2020-03-12, 12:27:40 AM Modified 2020-03-12, 12:27:40 AM Tags: o Agricultural soil science o Carbon dioxide o Edaphology o Erosion o Horses o Roads o Soil respiration o Species diversity Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Integrating potential natural vegetation and habitat suitability into revegetation programs for sustainable ecosystems under future climate change Type Journal Article Author Shouzhang Peng Author Kailiang Yu Author Zhi Li Author Zhongming Wen Author Chao Zhang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168192319300802__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvZ5yopU8$ Volume 269-270 Pages 270-284 Publication Agricultural and Forest Meteorology ISSN 0168-1923 Date May 15, 2019 Journal Abbr Agricultural and Forest Meteorology DOI 10.1016/j.agrformet.2019.02.023 Abstract Global concern about the restoration of vegetation ecosystems has recently increased. Potential natural vegetation (PNV) and climate adaptation concepts should be integrated into revegetation programs to achieve sustainable ecosystems. The Yanhe Basin in the Loess Plateau of China (7687 km2) has been subjected to intense human activity for centuries. It was selected as the study area because vegetation degradation and restoration are occurring there. The objectives of this study were to (1) evaluate whether the current vegetation pattern is appropriate, and (2) provide a restoration plan for future revegetation programs based on PNV and habitat suitability patterns simulated by the dynamic vegetation model LPJ-GUESS. Current work focused on the parameter calibration and high-resolution climate data of the model over the study area. The comparisons of model performances in the PNV pattern and productivity indicated that parameter calibration was necessary for the model application. PNV of the Yanhe Basin may shift by 21.37–29.67% from 1981–2010 to 2071–2100, mainly in the southern part. Forests may decrease and steppes may increase as the climate becomes drier in the future. Comparisons between an existing land use map and the current PNV pattern indicated that only 40.8% of the forestland was coincident with the current PNV pattern, whereas grassland was a more suitable vegetation type for the rest of the terrain. In contrast, 83.1% of the grassland aligned with the current PNV pattern. Therefore, 16.9% remains to be forested. Current forestland and grassland patterns should be adjusted to cope with future climate change. Broadleaf summer-green shrubs covered a larger area and had higher habitat suitability than forests; they might be the most suitable woody plants for revegetation of the Yanhe Basin. The applied research approach could be extended to other regions undergoing similar revegetation programs and help promote sustainable vegetation management. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:21 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:21 PM Tags: o Habitat suitability o Land use adjustment o LPJ-GUESS o Potential natural vegetation o Revegetation program o Yanhe Basin * Market Perceptions and Opportunities for Native Plant Production on the Southern Colorado Plateau Type Journal Article Author Donna L. Peppin Author Peter Z. Fulé Author Janet C. Lynn Author Anne L. Mottek‐Lucas Author Carolyn Hull Sieg URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2010.00656.x__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvgcEJ53Y$ Rights © 2010 Society for Ecological Restoration International Volume 18 Issue s1 Pages 113-124 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2010 DOI 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2010.00656.x Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:50:54 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Increases in revegetation activities have created a large demand for locally adapted native plant materials (NPM) in the southwestern United States. Currently, there is a minimal supply of local genotypes to meet this demand. We investigated the potential for the initiation of a native plant market in the southern Colorado Plateau. Through a literature search, interviews, and site visits, we identified existing native plant markets outside of the region as useful models to help initiate a regional market. We used web-based surveys to identify and analyze current and future NPM needs and concerns. Survey results indicate that management policy strongly drives decisions regarding the use and purchase of NPM. From a demand perspective , lack of availability and cost of NPM has kept purchasing minimal, despite policy changes favoring the use of natives. For suppliers, further development of NPM is limited by inconsistent and unreliable demand and lack of production knowledge. The knowledge and tools necessary to initiate an NPM market are available, but inadequate funding sources and insufficient information sharing hinder its development. Communication among producers, land managers, buyers, and researchers, as well as partnerships with local growers, appear to be vital to initiating a functional market. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:50:54 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:50:54 PM Tags: o local genotype o market perception differences o native plant market o native plant policy o web-based survey Attachments o Snapshot * Nurse shrubs to mitigate plant invasion along roads of montane Neotropics Type Journal Article Author Ramón Perea Author Jessica S. Cunha Author Cristiani Spadeto Author Vanessa M. Gomes Author Arthur L. Moura Author Bárbara Rúbia Author G. Wilson Fernandes URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857419302216__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvootGx08$ Volume 136 Pages 193-196 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date October 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2019.06.024 Abstract Roads are known to be a major factor in the ongoing spread and establishment of invasive plants by modifying habitats and providing movement corridors. Controlling plant invasion or restoring highly-invaded areas along roads is a challenging task in current conservation practice. We aim to investigate the possible facilitative effects of nurse shrubs on native vs. exotic species in order to provide applications for conservation and restoration of highly invaded roadsides areas in megadiverse montane areas of Brazil. We estimated the abundance of each plant species (native and exotic) in paired roadsides with and without pioneer nurse shrubs (Baccharis spp.), and measured whether they were facilitated (i.e., growing underneath native nurse shrubs), using a Facilitation Value metric. We found that the proportion of exotic species was 27% greater in areas without the nurse shrubs. In addition, predicted probability of nurse shrubs as facilitators of native species was 61% greater than that of exotic species. Pioneer nurse shrubs that alleviate the environmental shift generated by the construction and use of roads (e.g., disturbed soils with low nutrient content) may represent an interesting alternative to mitigate exotic plant invasion along roadsides, a current global priority for biodiversity conservation. Decision-makers considering whether to build, improve, and maintain roads should take into account the potential spread of exotic plants and the use of nurse shrubs to prevent or mitigate plant invasiveness. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:57 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:57 PM Tags: o Biological invasions o Grass-invaded roads o Montane savannas o Plant facilitation o Roadside restoration o Rupestrian grasslands * Direct seeding and outplantings in drylands of Argentinean Patagonia: estimated costs, and prospects for large-scale restoration and rehabilitation Type Journal Article Author Daniel R. Pérez Author Florencia González Author Cristian Ceballos Author María E. Oneto Author James Aronson URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12961__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv4TW3k5I$ Rights © 2019 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 27 Issue 5 Pages 1105-1116 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2019 DOI 10.1111/rec.12961 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:51:09 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract In large areas of the world that are deeply scarred by desertification and hampered by low capacity for natural regeneration, the scaling up of ecological restoration and rehabilitation can be achieved only if it is low in cost with high return on investment, and shows promise of providing long-lasting social-economic as well as ecological benefits. In the Monte Austral region of Patagonia Argentina, concerted efforts are underway to facilitate scaling up of ecological restoration and rehabilitation practices. Here, we evaluate financial costs and preliminary results of direct seeding as compared to outplanting of nursery-grown seedlings of three native species (Atriplex lampa, Senecio subulatus var. subulatus, and Hyalis argentea var. latisquama) considered to be high-priority dryland framework species. Comparative success is expressed in terms of plant survival and in monetary terms. The three candidate species showed low survival rates, ranging from 4.3 to 22.3%, after the first summer following direct seeding. In contrast, survival rates for planted seedlings of the same three taxa varied between 84 and 91%, after the first summer following reintroduction. However, cost of direct seeding varied between 1,693 and 1,772 US$ less per hectare, that is, 64% less than the cost of outplanting nursery seedlings. Therefore, in the search for ways to scale up ecological restoration and rehabilitation in drylands, direct seeding should receive more attention. We discuss the social and ecological perspectives and the way forward for direct seeding techniques in Patagonia. We also consider how costs could be reduced and effectiveness improved in large-scale efforts. Short Title Direct seeding and outplantings in drylands of Argentinean Patagonia Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:51:09 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:51:09 PM Tags: o cost analysis o desertification o dryland framework species o Monte Austral o seed-based restoration Attachments o Snapshot * Can commercial soil microbial treatments remediate plant–soil feedbacks to improve restoration seedling performance? Type Journal Article Author Lora B. Perkins Author Gary Hatfield URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12302__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvpTPM9pg$ Rights © 2015 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 24 Issue 2 Pages 194-201 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2016 DOI 10.1111/rec.12302 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:55:25 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Seedling performance is often a limiting factor in ecological restoration. Changes in the soil microbial community generated by invasive plants contribute to seedling failure. A method to remediate invasive species-induced changes to the soil microbial community that results in increased native species seedling performance and decreased invasive species seedling performance could have a large impact on the success of many restoration efforts. In a greenhouse experiment, we first examined the changes in the soil microbial community created by invasive compared to native grasses. Then, we investigated four microbial treatments (bacterial inoculant, fungal inoculant, fungicide, and bactericide/fungicide) to remediate microbial plant–soil feedbacks (PSFs) created by invasive species Bromus inermis and Poa pratensis and increase the performance of natives Andropogon gerardii, Elymus canadensis, Pascopyrum smithii, and Schizachyrium scoparium. We found that the PSF mitigation treatments had some context-dependent utility for restoration. For example, all of the treatments decreased the performance of B. inermis and fungal inoculant decreased the performance of P. pratensis. However, no single treatment increased the performance of all natives. Fungicide increased the performance of A. gerardii and E. canadensis in soil previously occupied by B. inermis and the performance of S. scoparium in soil previously occupied by P. pratensis. If validated in the field, PSF mitigation treatments may have utility for restoration practitioners. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:55:26 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:55:26 PM Tags: o Bromus inermis o grassland o legacy effects o microbial inoculant o Poa pratensis o prairie o soil ecological knowledge Attachments o Snapshot * Functional silos and other governance challenges of rangeland management in Iceland Type Journal Article Author Thorunn Petursdottir Author Susan Baker Author Asa L. Aradottir URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1462901119306197__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvQpxJaYA$ Volume 105 Pages 37-46 Publication Environmental Science & Policy ISSN 1462-9011 Date March 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Environmental Science & Policy DOI 10.1016/j.envsci.2019.12.006 Accessed 2020-03-17, 6:27:16 PM Library Catalog ScienceDirect Language en Abstract Social-ecological system (SES) promoting sustainable management of natural resources in common ownership are steered by a complex governance system that includes regulations through laws and policies, and management by administrative authorities operating across multi-level institutional structures that, in turn, are shaped by stakeholder interests. In addition, the long-term progress of natural resource management not only relies upon the existence of a well-structured and functional governance system, but needs that system to adaptably facilitate sustainable resource management in line with current knowledge and best practices. In this research we mapped the administrative structure that steers rangeland management in Iceland and undertook a critical analysis of the governance system´s structure and functions to examine if agricultural and environmental policy targets have facilitated improved rangeland management practices. A survey, based on a questionnaire distributed to selected public sector employees and sheep farmers, was used to gauge the participants: a) attitude towards rangeland management practices, b) perception of the level of collaboration and state support for rangeland restoration and c) views on current agricultural and environmental policies on rangeland management. The results strongly indicate that neither the current administrative structure nor the governance process itself have significantly facilitated expected attitude changes within the agricultural sector or among local authorities. Furthermore, it has neither facilitated significant attitude nor behavioral changes among sheep farmers aimed at improved rangeland management, in line with current government agricultural and environmental policy targets. Our key findings support previous research that shows the governance system for rangeland management in Iceland as structurally limited and suffering from weak vertically and horizontally integration. Furthermore, our findings clearly reveal the need for improved governance for rangeland management and the need for increased levels of knowledge application within the system. Date Added 2020-03-17, 6:27:17 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:56:49 PM Tags: o Commons o Governance systems o Natural resource management o Policy o Restoration Attachments o ScienceDirect Snapshot * A Social–Ecological System Approach to Analyze Stakeholders’ Interactions within a Large-Scale Rangeland Restoration Program Type Journal Article Author Thorunn Petursdottir Author Olafur Arnalds Author Susan Baker Author Luca Montanarella Author Ása L. Aradóttir URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.jstor.org/stable/26269308__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvXXLMrys$ Volume 18 Issue 2 Publication Ecology and Society ISSN 17083087 Date 2013 Accessed 2020-03-17, 6:00:00 PM Abstract [ABSTRACT. Large-scale restoration projects are normally part of a complex social–ecological system where restoration goals are shaped by governmental policies, managed by the surrounding governance system, and implemented by the related actors. The process of efficiently restoring degraded ecosystems is, therefore, not only based on restoring ecological structure and functions but also relies on the functionality of the related policies, the relevant stakeholder groups, and the surrounding socioeconomic and political settings. In this research, we investigated the SES of rangeland restoration in Iceland to estimate whether social factors, such as stakeholders’ attitudes and behavior, can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of agri-environmental policies on rangeland restoration and improved land management. We used qualitative approaches, interviewing 15 stakeholders. Our results indicate that social factors such as attitude toward restoration and land management practices can be used as indicators to evaluate the effectiveness of restoration policies. They also strongly indicate that lack of functionality in the governance system of social–ecological systems can reduce the desired progress of policies related to large-scale natural resource management projects, such as rangeland restoration, and possibly halt the necessary paradigm shift among stakeholders regarding improved rangeland management.] Archive JSTOR Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:49:55 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:49:55 PM * Land management implications for ecosystem services in a South African rangeland Type Journal Article Author Katalin Petz Author Julia Glenday Author Rob Alkemade URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X14002258__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvdcfewQs$ Volume 45 Pages 692-703 Publication Ecological Indicators ISSN 1470-160X Date October 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2014.05.023 Abstract In South Africa, restoration and sustainable management of historically overgrazed and degraded rangelands are promoted to increase biodiversity and ecosystem service provision. This study evaluates different land management scenarios in terms of ecosystem services in a South African rangeland, the Baviaanskloof catchment. As measured data were limited, we used simple models to quantify and map the effect of the different combination of agricultural, nature conservation and restoration practices on multiple ecosystem services. The land management scenarios were evaluated against management targets set for individual ecosystem services. Results highlight how the provision of ecosystem services is related to land management as unmanaged, pristine ecosystems provide a different mix of ecosystem services than ecosystems recently restored or managed as grazing lands. Results also indicate that historically overgrazed lands provide no forage, may retain 40% less sediment and have 38% lower biodiversity, while providing 60% more fuel wood and supplying two and half times more water (i.e. retaining less water), than pristine or restored lands. We conclude that a combination of light grazing, low input agriculture, nature conservation and restoration is the best for the sufficient provision of multiple ecosystem services. Applying such mixed management would improve biodiversity, ecotourism and maintain forage production and regulating services on farmers’ land. This management option also fits into and further optimizes local decision-makers’ vision regarding the future management of the area. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:17 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:56:50 PM Tags: o Ecosystem degradation o Environmental decision-making o GIS o Mapping o Scenario o Thicket restoration * Mapping and modelling trade-offs and synergies between grazing intensity and ecosystem services in rangelands using global-scale datasets and models Type Journal Article Author Katalin Petz Author Rob Alkemade Author Michel Bakkenes Author Catharina J.E. Schulp Author Marijn van der Velde Author Rik Leemans URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959378014001496__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvD9-yXs4$ Volume 29 Pages 223-234 Publication Global Environmental Change ISSN 0959-3780 Date November 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Global Environmental Change DOI 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2014.08.007 Abstract Vast areas of rangelands across the world are grazed with increasing intensity, but interactions between livestock production, biodiversity and other ecosystem services are poorly studied. This study explicitly determines trade-offs and synergies between ecosystem services and livestock grazing intensity on rangelands. Grazing intensity and its effects on forage utilization by livestock, carbon sequestration, erosion prevention and biodiversity are quantified and mapped, using global datasets and models. Results show that on average 4% of the biomass produced annually is consumed by livestock. On average, erosion prevention is 10% lower in areas with a high grazing intensity compared to areas with a low grazing intensity, whereas carbon emissions are more than four times higher under high grazing intensity compared to low grazing intensity. Rangelands with the highest grazing intensity are located in the Sahel, Pakistan, West India, Middle East, North Africa and parts of Brazil. These high grazing intensities result in carbon emissions, low biodiversity values, low capacity for erosion prevention and unsustainable forage utilization. Although the applied models simplify the processes of ecosystem service supply, our study provides a global overview of the consequences of grazing for biodiversity and ecosystem services. The expected increasing future demand for livestock products likely increase pressures on rangelands. Global-scale models can help to identify targets and target areas for international policies aiming at sustainable future use of these rangelands. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:17 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:00:17 PM Tags: o Biodiversity o Carbon sequestration o Erosion prevention o Livestock production o Net primary production o Rangeland * Short-Term Impacts of Tree Removal on Runoff and Erosion From Pinyon- and Juniper-Dominated Sagebrush Hillslopes Type Journal Article Author Frederick B. Pierson Author C. Jason Williams Author Patrick R. Kormos Author Osama Z. Al-Hamdan Author Stuart P. Hardegree Author Patrick E. Clark URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742415000986__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv7-XUoR8$ Volume 68 Issue 5 Pages 408-422 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date September 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2015.07.004 Abstract Tree removal is often applied to woodland-encroached rangelands to restore vegetation and improve hydrologic function, but knowledge is limited regarding effects of tree removal on hydrologic response. This study used artificial rainfall and overland flow experiments (9–13 m2) and measures of vegetation and ground cover to investigate short-term (1–2 yr) responses to tree removal at two woodland-encroached sites. Plots were located under trees (tree zone) and in the intercanopy (shrub-interspace zone, 75% of area). Before tree removal, vegetation and ground cover were degraded and intercanopy runoff and erosion rates were high. Cutting and placing trees into the intercanopy did not significantly affect vegetation, ground cover, runoff, or erosion 1 yr posttreatment. Whole-tree mastication as applied in this study did not redistribute tree mulch within the intercanopy, but the treatment did result in enhanced herbaceous cover and hydrologic function in the intercanopy. Fire removal of litter and herbaceous cover increased tree-zone runoff and erosion under high-intensity rainfall by 4- and 30-fold at one site but had minimal impact at the other site. Site response differences were attributed to variability in burn conditions and site-specific erodibility. Burning had minimal impact on shrub-interspace runoff and erosion from applied high-intensity rainfall. However, 1 yr postfire, erosion from concentrated overland flow experiments was 2- to 13-fold greater on burned than unburned tree-zone and shrub-interspace plots and erosion for burned tree zones was 3-fold greater for the more erodible site. Two yr postfire, overland flow erosion remained higher for burned versus unburned tree zones, but enhanced intercanopy herbaceous cover reduced erosion from shrub-interspace zones. The net impact of burning included an initial increase in erosion risk, particularly for tree zones, followed by enhanced herbaceous cover and improved hydrologic function within the intercanopy. The overall results suggest that erosion from late-succession woodlands is reduced primarily through recruitment of intercanopy herbaceous vegetation and ground cover. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:53 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:53 PM Tags: o erosion o infiltration o juniper o pinyon o prescribed fire o rangeland hydrology o restoration o runoff o sagebrush steppe o tree mastication o woodland encroachment * Hydrologic and Erosion Responses of Sagebrush Steppe Following Juniper Encroachment, Wildfire, and Tree Cutting Type Journal Article Author Frederick B. Pierson Author C. Jason Williams Author Stuart P. Hardegree Author Patrick E. Clark Author Patrick R. Kormos Author Osama Z. Al-Hamdan URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742413500431__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv_GJWNJc$ Volume 66 Issue 3 Pages 274-289 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date May 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/REM-D-12-00104.1 Abstract Extensive woodland expansion in the Great Basin has generated concern regarding ecological impacts of tree encroachment on sagebrush rangelands and strategies for restoring sagebrush steppe. This study used rainfall (0.5m2 and 13m2 scales) and concentrated flow simulations and measures of vegetation, ground cover, and soils to investigate hydrologic and erosion impacts of western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis Hook.) encroachment into sagebrush steppe and to evaluate short-term effects of burning and tree cutting on runoff and erosion responses. The overall effects of tree encroachment were a reduction in understory vegetation and formation of highly erodible, bare intercanopy between trees. Runoff and erosion from high-intensity rainfall (102mm · h‒1, 13m2 plots) were generally low from unburned areas underneath tree canopies (13mm and 48g · m‒2) and were higher from the unburned intercanopy (43mm and 272g · m‒2). Intercanopy erosion increased linearly with runoff and exponentially where bare ground exceeded 60%. Erosion from simulated concentrated flow was 15- to 25-fold greater from the unburned intercanopy than unburned tree canopy areas. Severe burning amplified erosion from tree canopy plots by a factor of 20 but had a favorable effect on concentrated flow erosion from the intercanopy. Two years postfire, erosion remained 20-fold greater on burned than unburned tree plots, but concentrated flow erosion from the intercanopy (76% of study area) was reduced by herbaceous recruitment. The results indicate burning may amplify runoff and erosion immediately postfire. However, we infer burning that sustains residual understory cover and stimulates vegetation productivity may provide long-term reduction of soil loss relative to woodland persistence. Simply placing cut-downed trees into the unburned intercanopy had minimal immediate impact on infiltration and soil loss. Results suggest cut-tree treatments should focus on establishing tree debris contact with the soil surface if treatments are expected to reduce short-term soil loss during the postcut understory recruitment period. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:54 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:54 PM Tags: o infiltration o restoration o runoff o SageSTEP o tree removal o woodland encroachment * Short-Term Effects of Tree Removal on Infiltration, Runoff, and Erosion in Woodland-Encroached Sagebrush Steppe Type Journal Article Author Frederick B. Pierson Author C. Jason Williams Author Patrick R. Kormos Author Osama Z. Al-Hamdan URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742414500863__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvIj0GQeo$ Volume 67 Issue 5 Pages 522-538 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date September 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/REM-D-13-00033.1 Abstract Land owners and managers across the western United States are increasingly searching for methods to evaluate and mitigate the effects of woodland encroachment on sagebrush steppe ecosystems. We used small-plot scale (0.5 m2) rainfall simulations and measures of vegetation, ground cover, and soils to investigate woodland response to tree removal (prescribed fire and mastication) at two late-succession woodlands. We also evaluated the effects of burning on soil water repellency and effectiveness of aggregate stability indices to detect changes in erosion potential. Plots were located in interspaces between tree and shrub canopies and on undercanopy tree and shrub microsites. Erosion from untreated interspaces in the two woodlands differed more than 6-fold, and erosion responses to prescribed burning differed by woodland site. High-intensity rainfall (102 mm · h-1) on the less erodible woodland generated amplified runoff and erosion from tree microsites postfire, but erosion (45–75 g · m-2) was minor relative to the 3–13-fold fire-induced increase in erosion on tree microsites at the highly erodible site (240–295 g · m-2). Burning the highly erodible woodland also generated a 7-fold increase in erosion from shrub microsites (220–230 g · m-2) and 280–350 g · m-2 erosion from interspaces. High levels of runoff (40–45 mm) and soil erosion (230–275 g · m-2) on unburned interspaces at the more erodible site were reduced 4–5-fold (10 mm and 50 g · m-2) by masticated tree material. The results demonstrate that similarly degraded conditions at woodland-encroached sites may elicit differing hydrologic and erosion responses to treatment and that treatment decisions should consider inherent site-specific erodibility when evaluating tree-removal alternatives. Strong soil water repellency was detected from 0 cm to 3 cm soil depth underneath unburned tree canopies at both woodlands and its strength was not altered by burning. However, fire removal of litter exacerbated repellency effects on infiltration, runoff generation, and erosion. The aggregate stability index method detected differences in relative soil stability between areas underneath trees and in the intercanopy at both sites, but failed to provide any indication of between-site differences in erodibility or the effects of burning on soil erosion potential. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:55 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:55 PM Tags: o aggregate stability o hydrophobicity o juniper o piñon o prescribed fire o rangeland o restoration o soil water repellency o tree mastication * Ant and plant species richness in relation to grazing, fertilisation and topography Type Journal Article Author Aina Pihlgren Author Lisette Lenoir Author Henriette Dahms URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1617138109000612__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvZB-KcQQ$ Volume 18 Issue 2 Pages 118-125 Publication Journal for Nature Conservation ISSN 1617-1381 Date May 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Journal for Nature Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.jnc.2009.06.002 Abstract Summary The preservation of biodiversity within agricultural landscapes in Europe is of great importance. Conservation priorities in semi-natural grasslands in Sweden have mainly focused on preventing accumulation of litter by management with grazing or haymaking. The effects of specific management regimes on species diversity of different taxa or taxonomic groups can differ considerably. In this study we investigated how plant and ant diversity and community composition were affected by grazing, fertilisation and topography. The results show that plant species richness was higher in grazed than abandoned pastures but ant species richness was not affected by grazing. Both plant and ant species richness was negatively affected by fertilisation. Neither ant nor plant species richness was affected by topography. No significant relation was found between the total numbers of ant and plant species. Both plant species composition and ant species composition were affected by fertilisation and grazing. When considering management or restoration tools for grasslands it is important to focus on more than one taxonomic group. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:41 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:41 PM Tags: o Ant community o Conservation o Fertilised o Grassland management o Semi-natural grassland * Seventy-Five Years of Vegetation Treatments on Public Rangelands in the Great Basin of North America Type Journal Article Author David S. Pilliod Author Justin L. Welty Author Gordon R. Toevs URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S019005281630102X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvMv86f3A$ Volume 39 Issue 1 Pages 1-9 Publication Rangelands ISSN 0190-0528 Date February 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Rangelands DOI 10.1016/j.rala.2016.12.001 Accessed 2020-03-17, 5:55:55 PM Library Catalog ScienceDirect Language en Date Added 2020-03-17, 5:55:56 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:56:52 PM Tags: o adaptive management o Bureau of Land Management o land treatment o rehabilitation o restoration o soil Attachments o ScienceDirect Full Text PDF o ScienceDirect Snapshot * Integrated Grazing and Prescribed Fire Restoration Strategies in a Mesquite Savanna: III. Ranch-Scale Cow–Calf Production Responses Type Journal Article Author W.E. Pinchak Author W.R. Teague Author R.J. Ansley Author J.A. Waggoner Author S.L. Dowhower URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742410500332__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dveUSpewM$ Volume 63 Issue 3 Pages 298-307 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date May 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/08-173.1 Abstract Beef cattle production from rangelands in the Southern Great Plains has decreased in concert with herbaceous forage production declines in response to woody plant encroachment by honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa Torr.) over the past 120yr. Combinations of livestock overstocking and fire suppression are considered to be primary drivers of these changes. This experiment evaluated cow–calf production responses over a 7-yr (1995–2001) period to ranch-scale (1 294–2 130 ha) integrated restoration strategies involving prescribed fire and grazing management. Restoration strategies tested in this year-round grazing ecosystem were 4-pasture, 1-herd rotation with fire (25% of pasture acreage burned each year; 4:1F); an 8-pasture, 1-herd rotation, with fire (8:1F); and a 4-pasture, 1-herd, with fire and aerial application of 0.28kg · ha−1 clopyralid + 0.28kg · ha−1 triclopyr herbicide (4:1F /  H). Restoration strategies were compared to a continuous grazing strategy with no mesquite treatment. All cattle stocking rates were moderate (7.5–15ha · animal unit−1 · year−1) and all fires were applied during late winter. Beef cattle (cow–calf) production variables measured included conception rate, weaned calf percentage, weaning weight, weight of calf per exposed cow, weight of calf per hectare, and supplement fed per cow. We observed significant differences in beef production among strategies primarily during the first 2yr where the continuous grazing strategy exhibited better overall livestock production than the integrated restoration strategies. Differences in livestock production among strategies were minimal over the last 5yr of the study. These livestock production results suggest livestock and management adapted to restoration strategies after the first 2yr. Results point to the need to cautiously transition into integrated grazing and fire restoration strategies when cattle and management are changed and intensified from prior historical protocols. Resumen La producción de ganado de carne en los agostaderos de las grandes planicies del sur ha disminuido al igual que la producción de herbáceas forrajeras por el incremento de las plantas leñosas como mezquite (Prosopis glandulosa Torr.) en los últimos 120 años. La combinación del sobre pastoreo y la supresión del fuego se consideran las causas principales de estos cambios. Este experimento evaluó la respuesta de la producción vaca-becerro durante un periodo de 7 años (1995-2001) a la escala de un rancho (1294 a 2 130 ha) usando las estrategias integradas de fuego pre-escrito y manejo del pastoreo. Las estrategias de restauración utilizadas en este ecosistema pastoreado continuamente fueron 4 potreros/ 1 hato con rotación y uso de fuego (quemamos el 25% del área cada año; 4:1Q); y 8 potreros/ 1 hato con rotación y uso del fuego (8:1Q); y 4 potreros, 1 hato con quemas y aplicación aérea de 0.28kg ha−1 de clopyralid + de 0.28kg ha−1 de triclopyr (4:1Q/H). Las estrategias de restauración se compararon con una estrategia de pastoreo continuo sin tratamiento de mezquite. Toda la carga animal fue moderada (7.5 a 11 ha/AUA) y todas las quemas se hicieron en la parte final del invierno. Las variables de producción de ganado que se midieron fueron, índice de concepción, porcentaje de becerros destetados, peso al destete, peso del becerro por vaca expuesta, peso del becerro por hectárea y suplemento utilizado por vaca. Se observaron diferencias significativas en la producción de carne entre estrategias; principalmente durante los dos primeros años donde la estrategia de pastoreo contínuo presenta en general mejor producción de ganado que las estrategias integradas de restauración. Las diferencias en la producción ganadera entre estrategias fueron mínimas durante los últimos 5 años del estudio. Estos resultados de la producción de ganado sugieren que el ganado y manejo se adaptaron a las estrategias de restauración después de los 2 primeros años. Los resultados señalan la necesidad de una transición con cautela en la integración de la restauración utilizando las estrategias del fuego y pastoreo cuando se cambia el ganado y el manejo comparando con protocolos anteriores. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:41 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:41 PM Tags: o brush management o cattle o ranch-style grazing management o ranching systems o rangeland restoration * Rapid restoration of a species-rich ecosystem assessed from soil and vegetation indicators: The case of calcareous grasslands restored from forest stands Type Journal Article Author Julien Piqueray Author Gaëtan Bottin Author Louis-Marie Delescaille Author Emmanuelle Bisteau Author Gilles Colinet Author Grégory Mahy URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X10001111__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dviTdw8F0$ Volume 11 Issue 2 Pages 724-733 Publication Ecological Indicators ISSN 1470-160X Date March 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2010.06.007 Abstract Calcareous grasslands have long been recognized as biodiversity hotspots in Europe. However, in recent decades these ecosystems have seen rapid decline. In Belgium, more than 100ha of calcareous grasslands have been restored from oak coppices and pine forests since the 1990s. The aim of the present study was to provide a quantitative assessment of the success of these restoration efforts, using two sets of indicators: one related to soil conditions, the other related to vascular plant communities. Soil conditions were evaluated by comparing soil samples from pre-restoration forest stands, restored grasslands (3-age classes: 2–4 years; 5–8 years, and 10–15 years) and reference grasslands. The analysis revealed no significant differences in soil N, P, and K contents between pre-restoration forests and restored and reference grasslands. We observed a decrease in the mineralization rate indicators in both pre-restoration forests and recent grassland restorations, which was resorbed in older restorations. Floristic surveys revealed that plant species composition of older restorations was most like reference grasslands. However, some differences in species composition persisted after 15 years. Moreover, a few rare species did not colonize restored grasslands despite a close seed source. Non-recolonization by a set of species expected on calcareous grasslands may be due to dispersal limitation and higher cover by native invasive grasses in restored parcels. These results were discussed in term of implications for management. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:43 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:43 PM Tags: o Calcareous grasslands o Restoration monitoring o Soil conditions o Species composition * Response of plant functional traits during the restoration of calcareous grasslands from forest stands Type Journal Article Author Julien Piqueray Author Lucia Ferroni Author Louis-Marie Delescaille Author Maria Speranza Author Grégory Mahy Author Peter Poschlod URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X14004051__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvJ_GGMtA$ Volume 48 Pages 408-416 Publication Ecological Indicators ISSN 1470-160X Date January 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2014.08.039 Abstract In this survey, we studied the response of plant functional traits to calcareous grassland restoration in the Calestienne region, Southern Belgium (restoration protocol: forest clear-cutting followed by grazing at all sites). We considered traits related to dispersal, establishment, and persistence that integrate the main challenges of plants to re-establish and survive in restored areas. Functional traits were compiled from databases and compared among (i) pre-restoration and young restoration forests; (ii) restoration areas of different ages; and (iii) old restorations and reference grasslands. The following questions were addressed: (i) What is the early response (2–4 years) in terms of plant functional trait following one restorative clear-cut event? (ii) What plants functional trait responses occur from restorative management (i.e., sheep and goat grazing)? (iii) Which differences still persist between the oldest restored parcels (10–15 years), and the historical reference grasslands? Forest clear-cuts induced several changes among functional traits, including decreased mean seed mass and certain vegetative traits (i.e., decreased phanerophytes, branching species; and increased short lifespan species i.e., annuals and biennials). During restorative management, clonal, epizoochorous and autumn germinating species were favored. Despite numerous other changes during this phase, many differences remained compared to reference grasslands. In particular, geophytes, mycorrhizal and evergreen species abundance were not approaching reference grassland values. The observed pattern helped to draw inferences on the possible mechanisms operating under vegetation recovery following restorative forest clear-cut and subsequent management were identified and described in this study. Results indicated grazing was an important factor, which increased epizoochorous species, and autumn germinating taxa that filled niches in vegetation opened by summer grazing animals. Finally, differences between old restoration and reference grasslands emphasized that management should focus on reduction in soil fertility, and geophyte rhizomatous grasses. Long-term monitoring is vital to assess if management plans are effective in the complete restoration of species functional trait assemblages. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:24 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:24 PM Tags: o Belgium o Calcareous grasslands o Forest clear-cut o Functional traits o Restoration monitoring * Why some species cannot colonise restored habitats? The effects of seed and microsite availability Type Journal Article Author Julien Piqueray Author Layla Saad Author Jean-Philippe Bizoux Author Grégory Mahy URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1617138112001240__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvHJlk21k$ Volume 21 Issue 4 Pages 189-197 Publication Journal for Nature Conservation ISSN 1617-1381 Date August 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Journal for Nature Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.jnc.2012.12.005 Abstract Restoration of calcareous grasslands was promoted as a conservation strategy to reduce the risks imposed by habitat loss and fragmentation. Restoration already provided promising results for several taxa, however some specialist species still fail at colonising restored habitats. We aimed at explaining this lack of colonisation success for three calcareous grasslands specialist species in southern Belgium: Pulsatilla vulgaris; Trifolium montanum; and, Veronica prostrata. We studied: (i) germination in control and outdoor conditions (cold, heat, smoke and litter effects); (ii) in situ seedling emergence patterns (effects of seed addition and germination microsites availability). The three species were able to germinate in Petri dishes in the absence of treatment. Cold enhanced the germination of V. prostrata. Fire-related treatments (heat shock and smoke exposure) did not enhance germination and were deleterious to V. prostrata. Litter cover improved P. vulgaris emergence in outdoor containers, but had a negative effect on V. prostrata. In the field, V. prostrata did not emerge. T. montanum seedlings were observed in the reference grasslands when seeds were added, but not in the restored grasslands. P. vulgaris emerged in the reference grasslands, and to a lower degree in the restored grasslands. The combination of seed addition and microsites availability for seed germination resulted in enhanced seedling emergence for P. vulgaris. Our results suggest that seed and microsite availability can be limiting factors for site colonisation, but the combination of both is likely much more limiting. Lower seedling emergence in restored than in reference grasslands suggests a lower habitat quality in restored grasslands. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:27 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:27 PM Tags: o Belgium o Calcareous grasslands o Fire-related cues o Microsite availability o Restoration o Seed availability * Comparison of mining spoils to determine the best substrate for rehabilitating limestone quarries by favoring native grassland species over invasive plants Type Journal Article Author Carline Pitz Author Grégory Mahy Author Mélanie Harzé Author Roel Uyttenbroeck Author Arnaud Monty URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857418303756__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvTQ9v6b0$ Volume 127 Pages 510-518 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date February 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2018.10.004 Abstract Habitats being restored in Belgian quarries are easily invaded by non-native plant species, which can hamper the germination and development of vegetation deemed to be of high conservation value. Substrates of terraces created when mining limestone quarries could be inhospitable to native plants. However, they can provide opportunities for establishing specific vegetation, such as dry calcareous grasslands. Applying suitable mining spoils could be a cost-effective way to provide growing substrate when restoring limestone terraces. We assessed the efficacy of using mining spoils, collected on-site, as a potential growing substrate (bedding material). We tested gravely limestone (product of on-site mining activities), limestone dust (by-product), and no addition (bare limestone bedrock) to determine which was best for favoring the growth of native, dry calcareous grassland species and discourage the growth of two non-native invasive species that commonly invade altered mining sites: Buddleja davidii Franch and Senecio inaequidens DC. In a field experiment (in two quarries), we studied short-term (2 y) growth response of native and invasive species after sowing three seed mixtures of native grassland species, varying in functional diversity (and one no-sowing control treatment), all treatments subjected to competitive pressure exerted by invasive species. Percent cover of native and invasive species, species abundance and reproductive characteristics of the invasive species were monitored during 2-y. Native grasslands coverage was low on all substrate types, demonstrating how slowly calcareous grasslands species establish in such harsh substrate conditions. However, type of substrate did show a significant relationship with plant abundance, with limestone dust being the most beneficial for native species establishment (coverage). Although limestone dust appeared to be the best option for restoring grassland species to limestone quarries (based on its low cost, wide availability, and potential to support native species), it was also likely to support the two invasive species. Functional diversity of the seed mixture had no consistent effect. Our study shows the importance of identifying the most appropriate substrate to both establish calcareous grasslands and resist invasive species. This approach provides insights into developing strategies to conserve biodiversity in industrial and agricultural landscapes with limestone quarries. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:40 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:40 PM Tags: o Active restoration o Anthropogenic ecosystem o Biodiversity conservation o Postindustrial biotope o Semi-natural habitat o Vegetation rehabilitation * Sowing different mixtures in dry acidic grassland produced priority effects of varying strength Type Journal Article Author Christine Plückers Author Uwe Rascher Author Hanno Scharr Author Philipp von Gillhaussen Author Carl Beierkuhnlein Author Vicky M. Temperton URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1146609X13001446__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvgQtwr8A$ Volume 53 Pages 110-116 Publication Acta Oecologica ISSN 1146-609X Date November 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Acta Oecologica DOI 10.1016/j.actao.2013.09.004 Abstract Several longer-term assembly studies on ex-arable land have found that species that arrive first at a disturbed site can play a key role in the further development of the community and that this priority effect influences aboveground productivity, species diversity and stability of the grassland communities that develop. Restoration of nutrient poor, species rich grasslands is often limited by seed dispersal as well as the accessibility of suitable microsites for establishment. Sowing species (i.e. creating priority effects for further assembly) may help overcome such dispersal barriers, but the potential of using priority effects for restoration has not been tested in this type of dry grassland. We tested the hypothesis that sowing two different seed mixtures used for dry acidic grassland restoration onto a sandy substrate (which formed an equivalent to a primary succession) would create priority effects, and that these priority effects would be sustained over a number of years. We followed community assembly and measured aboveground productivity for four years after sowing. We found that priority effects caused by sowing of differently diverse mixtures did also occur in dry acidic grassland habitat, but that how persistent they were over time depended on the response variable considered. Priority effects on species number were not as strong as found in previous ex-arable land studies, whereas priority effects for aboveground productivity were still visible after 4 years. In addition, functional composition of the community still reflected the composition of the seed mixtures 4 years later. Our results suggest that priority effects can occur in nutrient-poor dry acidic grassland but in contrast to more nutrient-rich sites the breadth of responses affected may not be as wide. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:29 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:29 PM Tags: o Biodiversity o Community assembly o Filter theory o Initial sowing o Invasion o Microsite limitation o Restoration * Temporal dispersal in fragmented landscapes Type Journal Article Author Jan Plue Author Sara A.O. Cousins URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000632071300058X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv2BDMDso$ Volume 160 Pages 250-262 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date April 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2013.02.010 Abstract Despite a good understanding on how dispersal in space structures plant communities in fragmented landscapes, we know little about dispersal in time. Empirical evidence on temporal dispersal – the soil seed bank – is lacking, with only trait-based evidence on the seed banks’ importance for species persistence in fragmented landscapes. Therefore, seed banks of remnant grassland fragments were analyzed in how they changed compared to semi-natural grasslands following fragmentation. We studied the historical trajectories in time since fragmentation, fragment size and habitat quality of 134 grassland plots, linking these to their seed bank and plant community to understand how seed banks temporally connect grassland fragments, potentially conserving the flora of historically large semi-natural grasslands. Seed-banking grassland species were present in similar proportions in all remnant grassland fragments. The seed bank composition changed with time since fragmentation started, triggered by the deterministic loss of grassland species, generating nested subsets of the seed banks of semi-natural grasslands. The spatial heterogeneity in seed bank composition among grassland fragments limited the loss of grassland species at the landscape scale. The seed bank became an increasingly important constituent of total plant diversity with time since fragmentation started, as grassland species stored an increasingly larger proportion of their local diversity in the seed bank. Temporal dispersal enables the prolonged presence and persistence of numerous typical grassland species in fragmented landscapes. The seed banks’ storage effect of plant diversity is of considerable significance to efforts aimed at conserving and restoring plant diversity in fragmented landscapes. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:30 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:30 PM Tags: o Diversity partitioning o Historical ecology o Seed bank o Semi-natural grassland o Species diversity o Storage effect * Testing the cultivar vigor hypothesis: comparisons of the competitive ability of wild and cultivated populations of Pascopyrum smithii along a restoration chronosequence Type Journal Article Author Mary E. Poelman Author Adrienne M. Pilmanis Author Kristina M. Hufford URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12822__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvl5TD8eo$ Rights © 2018 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 27 Issue 1 Pages 92-101 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2019 DOI 10.1111/rec.12822 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:33:53 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Restoration practitioners often rely on seeds of widely available cultivars representing native species but nonlocal germplasm. Cultivation improves the supply of plant materials and minimizes revegetation costs, but can also favor agronomic traits, and resulting vigor may affect the competitive ability and long-term persistence of cultivated genotypes at restoration sites. We compared cultivated, restored, and wild populations of Pascopyrum smithii (western wheatgrass) in a greenhouse study to test the extent to which cultivars outcompete local plants in biomass production, and to determine if morphological differences (including height and number of leaves) among cultivated and wild populations persist at restoration sites over time. We found evidence of vigor and greater competitive ability of cultivars in seed mass, growth rate, plant height, and biomass and this advantage occurred when plants were grown alone or in competition with other seed sources. Cultivar vigor persisted at restoration sites over 30 years, but restored populations more closely resembled wild, local populations when cultivars were planted in closer proximity to nearby undisturbed sites. This study supports the cultivar vigor hypothesis and provides evidence for the long-term persistence of cultivated traits in the environment. Short Title Testing the cultivar vigor hypothesis Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:33:53 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:33:53 PM Tags: o competition o grassland o greenhouse o local ecotype o plant materials Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Removal of cattle grazing correlates with increases in vegetation productivity and in abundance of imperiled breeding birds Type Journal Article Author Sharon A. Poessel Author Joan C. Hagar Author Patricia K. Haggerty Author Todd E. Katzner URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320719313540__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvk5w7eDY$ Volume 241 Pages 108378 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date January 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2019.108378 Abstract Livestock grazing is the most prevalent land use practice in the western United States and a widespread cause of degradation of riparian vegetation. Riparian areas provide high-quality habitat for many species of declining migratory breeding birds. We analyzed changes in vegetation and bird abundance at a wildlife refuge in southeastern Oregon over 24 years, following cessation of 120 years of livestock grazing. We quantified long-term changes in overall avian abundance and species richness and, specifically, in the abundances of 20 focal species. We then compared the local responses of the focal species to population-scale trends of the same species at three different large spatial scales. Overall avian abundance increased 23% during the 12 years after removal and remained consistent from then through year 24. Three times as many species colonized the survey sites as dropped out. Of the focal species, most riparian woodland-tree or shrub dependent, sagebrush obligate, and grassland or meadow taxa increased in abundance or remained stable locally. As these species were generally of conservation concern, the population increases contradicted regionally declining or stable trends. In contrast, most riparian woodland-cavity nester species decreased in abundance locally, reflecting disruption of aspen stand dynamics by decades of grazing. Avian nest parasites and competitors of native species declined in abundance locally, matching regional trends. Restoring riparian ecosystems by removing livestock appeared to be beneficial to the conservation of many of these declining populations of migratory birds. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:06 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:06 PM Tags: o Breeding bird surveys o Livestock o Migratory bird populations o Neotropical migrants o Passive restoration o Riparian ecosystems * Managing spotted knapweed (Centaurea stoebe)–infested rangeland after wildfire Type Journal Article Author Monica L. Pokorny Author Jane M. Mangold Author James Hafer Author M. Kirk Denny Volume 3 Issue 2 Pages 182-189 Publication Invasive Plant Science and Management Date 2010 Date Added 2020-03-17, 9:55:23 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 9:55:23 PM * Spatial genetic structure within populations and management implications of the South American species Acacia aroma (Fabaceae) Type Journal Article Author Carolina Pometti Author Cecilia Bessega Author Ana Cialdella Author Mauricio Ewens Author Beatriz Saidman Author Juan Vilardi URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0192107__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvdpnsmhA$ Volume 13 Issue 2 Pages e0192107 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Feb 1, 2018 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0192107 Accessed 2020-03-12, 12:24:46 AM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract The identification of factors that structure intraspecific diversity is of particular interest for biological conservation and restoration ecology. All rangelands in Argentina are currently experiencing some form of deterioration or desertification. Acacia aroma is a multipurpose species widely distributed throughout this country. In this study, we used the AFLP technique to study genetic diversity, population genetic structure, and fine-scale spatial genetic structure in 170 individuals belonging to 6 natural Argentinean populations. With 401 loci, the mean heterozygosity (HE = 0.2) and the mean percentage of polymorphic loci (PPL = 62.1%) coefficients indicated that the genetic variation is relatively high in A. aroma. The analysis with STRUCTURE showed that the number of clusters (K) was 3. With Geneland analysis, the number of clusters was K = 4, sharing the same grouping as STRUCTURE but dividing one population into two groups. When studying SGS, significant structure was detected in 3 of 6 populations. The neighbourhood size in these populations ranged from 15.2 to 64.3 individuals. The estimated gene dispersal distance depended on the effective population density and disturbance level and ranged from 45 to 864 m. The combined results suggest that a sampling strategy, which aims to maintain a considerable part of the variability contained in natural populations sampled here, would include at least 3 units defined by the clusters analyses that exhibit particular genetic properties. Moreover, the current SGS analysis suggests that within the wider management units/provinces, seed collection from A. aroma should target trees separated by a minimum distance of 50 m but preferably 150 m to reduce genetic relatedness among seeds from different trees. Date Added 2020-03-12, 12:24:46 AM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:56:54 PM Tags: o Acacia o Amplified fragment length polymorphism o Conservation genetics o Genetic loci o Phylogeography o Population density o Population genetics o Species diversity Attachments o Full Text PDF o Full Text PDF o Snapshot o Snapshot * Patch occupancy of grassland specialists: Habitat quality matters more than habitat connectivity Type Journal Article Author Dominik Poniatowski Author Gregor Stuhldreher Author Franz Löffler Author Thomas Fartmann URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320718306736__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv6IY1-Ps$ Volume 225 Pages 237-244 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date September 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2018.07.018 Abstract Land-use change has caused degradation, loss and fragmentation of semi-natural habitats, especially in grassland ecosystems. Today, the remaining habitats are often situated in a matrix of intensively used agricultural land and are therefore more or less isolated from each other. Connectivity, area and quality of habitat patches have been identified as the most important drivers for the persistence of grassland specialists living in metapopulations. However, the relative importance of these factors is still under debate. We used a large-scale, multi-taxon approach to obtain a general pattern which would facilitate conservationists to promote many, instead of one, species. We studied the patch occupancy of 13 grassland specialists belonging to three different insect orders within a Central European landscape with 89 fragments of calcareous grasslands. To disentangle the relative importance of the three metapopulation parameters, generalized linear models (GLM) and variation-partitioning techniques were used. Our study revealed that habitat quality was the most important factor determining the occurrence of specialized species, followed by habitat area. In comparison to habitat connectivity, the variance explained by habitat quality was significantly higher across the studied species. Nevertheless, the persistence of at least six model organisms depended on the degree of habitat connectivity. We conclude that maintaining a high habitat quality on large patches should be the first choice for the conservation of habitat specialist insects in fragmented landscapes. As a secondary measure, conservationists should concentrate on the restoration of relict sites. This increases not only the habitat area, but also contributes to better habitat connectivity. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:42 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:42 PM Tags: o Calcareous grassland o Fragmented landscape o Functional connectivity o Habitat specialist o Multi-taxon approach o Variation partitioning * Agricultural intensification and de-intensification differentially affect taxonomic diversity of predatory mites, earthworms, enchytraeids, nematodes and bacteria Type Journal Article Author Maria B. Postma-Blaauw Author Ron G.M. de Goede Author Jaap Bloem Author Jack H. Faber Author Lijbert Brussaard URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929139312000431__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvTBQRGw0$ Volume 57 Pages 39-49 Publication Applied Soil Ecology ISSN 0929-1393 Date June 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Applied Soil Ecology DOI 10.1016/j.apsoil.2012.02.011 Abstract Agricultural intensification is known to impact the soil biota community. In a previous study, the impact of agricultural intensification on total abundances and functional group structure of major soil biota groups were measured. In this study we address the effects of conversion of extensively managed grassland to arable land on taxonomic diversity at genus and species level of four major soil biota groups (predatory mites, earthworms, enchytraeids, nematodes and bacteria). Vice versa, the effect of agricultural de-intensification (re-establishment of grassland on former arable land) on soil biota taxonomic diversity was also studied. Conversion of an extensively managed grassland to arable land had detrimental effects on taxonomic richness and diversity across taxonomic groups in the short-term, with largest effects on soil biota with larger body size. Effects of arable management were detrimental shortly after conversion. Restoration of grassland resulted in establishment of a species-rich community of nematodes (with partly different species), and recovery of the earthworm community. Predatory mite species were less successful in re-establishing and negative effects on enchytraeid species persisted. When combining the results of Postma-Blaauw et al. (2010) with the present study, we conclude that agricultural intensification resulted in a reduction in abundance and taxonomic diversity of nematodes and bacteria, whereas functional group structure of these groups was little affected. In contrast, predatory mites and earthworms were affected both in functional group structure and in taxonomic diversity. We conclude that agricultural intensification affects total abundances and taxonomic diversity of soil biota in agricultural land, but not necessarily the functional group diversity. Reduced taxonomic diversity may result in reduced resilience to stress, whereas reduced total abundances of microbiota may affect ecosystem functions such as nutrient mineralization. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:58 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:58 PM Tags: o Agricultural intensity o Community composition o Land use change o Soil biodiversity o Species richness o Typifying taxa * Restoration of grasslands on ex-arable land using regional and commercial seed mixtures and spontaneous succession: Successional trajectories and changes in species richness Type Journal Article Author Karel Prach Author Ivana Jongepierová Author Klára Řehounková Author Karel Fajmon URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880913002004__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvzXDk1YI$ Volume 182 Pages 131-136 Publication Biodiversity of Palaearctic grasslands: processes, patterns and conservation ISSN 0167-8809 Date January 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2013.06.003 Abstract Dry grasslands in the Protected Landscape Area and Biosphere Reserve of the White Carpathian Mts. in the eastern part of the Czech Republic, central Europe, belong to the species richest plant communities (on a scale of a few m2) in the world. Many of the grasslands were converted to arable land in the second half of the 20th century, but in the past two decades many of the arable fields have been re-grassed, most of them using commercial low-diversity clover-grass seed mixtures, some of them however by spontaneous succession or using a regional species-rich seed mixture. We asked how grasslands restored in various ways differ in their successional trajectories towards long-existing grasslands as reference sites, particularly in species richness and participation of target species. Altogether 35 grasslands restored with a regional seed mixture, 31 restored with commercial seed mixtures, and 16 restored by means of spontaneous succession were compared based on vegetation records (species cover in 5m×5m plots). The data were processed using multivariate statistics. Grasslands restored in the three different ways converged in their species composition and developed generally towards reference grasslands. Considering the number of target grassland species, sowing of regional seed mixtures was the most successful, especially in the beginning, but processes of spontaneous succession led virtually to the same number of target species, even at sites re-grassed with commercial seed mixtures, but more slowly. Development of sites re-grassed spontaneously and by sowing commercial seed mixtures led to the establishment of more mesic vegetation (Arrhenatherion) than when using the regional seed mixture, which was predominantly composed of species typical of dry grasslands (Bromion). Thus, restoration of the most valuable dry grasslands should preferably be based on using properly designed regional seed mixtures. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:32 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:32 PM Tags: o Dry grasslands o Restoration o Species diversity o Target species o Vegetation * Land cover changes associated with recent energy development in the Williston Basin; Northern Great Plains, USA Type Journal Article Author Todd M. Preston Author Kevin Kim URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969716312098__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv-riBQtY$ Volume 566-567 Pages 1511-1518 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date October 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.06.038 Abstract The Williston Basin in the Northern Great Plains has experienced rapid energy development since 2000. To evaluate the land cover changes resulting from recent (2000–2015) development, the area and previous land cover of all well pads (pads) constructed during this time were determined, the amount of disturbed and reclaimed land adjacent to pads was estimated, land cover changes were analyzed over time for three different well types, and the effects from future development were predicted. The previous land cover of the 12,990ha converted to pads was predominately agricultural (49.5%) or prairie (47.4%) with lesser amounts of developed (2.3%), aquatic (0.5%), and forest (0.4%). Additionally, 12,121ha has likely been disturbed and reclaimed. The area required per gas well remained constant through time while the land required per oil well increased initially and then decreased as development first shifted from conventional to unconventional drilling and then to multi-bore pads. For non-oil-and-gas wells (i.e. stratigraphic test wells, water wells, and injection wells), the area per well increased through time likely due to increased produced water disposal requirements. Future land cover change is expected to be 2.7 times greater than recent development with much of the development occurring in five counties in the core Bakken development area. Direct land cover change and disturbance from recent and expected development are predicted to affect 0.4% of the landscape across the basin; however, in the core Bakken development area, 2.3% of the landscape will be affected including 2.1% of the remaining grassland. Although future development will result in significant land cover change, evolving industry practices and proactive siting decisions, such as development along energy corridors and placing pads in areas previously altered by human activity, have the potential to reduce the ecological effects of future energy development in the Williston Basin. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:50 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:56:56 PM Tags: o Agriculture o Disturbance o Land use change o Oil and gas development o Prairie o Reclamation * Mowing Reduces Exotic Annual Grasses but Increases Exotic Forbs in a Semiarid Grassland Type Journal Article Author Janet S. Prevéy Author David G. Knochel Author Timothy R. Seastedt URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12140__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvykPvMTs$ Rights © 2014 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 22 Issue 6 Pages 774-781 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2014 DOI 10.1111/rec.12140 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:49:21 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) and other exotic winter-active plants can be persistent invaders in native grasslands, growing earlier in the spring than native plants and pre-empting soil resources. Effective management strategies are needed to reduce their abundance while encouraging the reestablishment of desirable native plants. In this 4-year study, we investigated whether mowing and seeding with native perennial grasses could limit growth of exotic winter-actives, and benefit growth of native plants in an invaded grassland in Colorado, United States. We established a split-plot experiment in October 2008 with 3 mowing treatments: control, spring-mowed, and spring/summer-mowed (late spring, mid-summer, and late summer), and 3 within-plot seeding treatments: control, added B. tectorum seeds, and added native grass seeds. Cover of plant species and aboveground biomass were measured for 3 years. In March and June of 2010, 2011, and March of 2012, B. tectorum and other winter-annual grasses were half as abundant in both mowing treatments as in control plots; however, cover of non-native winter-active forbs increased 2-fold in spring-mowed plots and almost 3-fold in spring/summer-mowed plots relative to controls. These patterns remained consistent 1 year after termination of treatments. Native cool-season grasses were most abundant in spring-mowed plots, and least abundant in control plots. There was higher cover of native warm-season grasses in spring/summer-mowed plots than in control plots in July 2011 and 2012. The timing of management can have strong effects on plant community dynamics in grasslands, and this experiment indicates that adaptive management can target the temporal niche of undesirable invasive species. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:49:21 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:49:21 PM Tags: o Bromus tectorum o invasive species o mowing o phenological niche o semiarid grassland o time-sensitive management Attachments o Snapshot * Enhancing soil biophysical condition for climate-resilient restoration in mesic woodlands Type Journal Article Author Suzanne M. Prober Author Jacqui Stol Author Melissa Piper Author V.V.S.R. Gupta Author Saul A. Cunningham URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857414003097__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvjIVWzxg$ Volume 71 Pages 246-255 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date October 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2014.07.019 Abstract Practitioners of ecological restoration must increasingly consider likely impacts of climate change, requiring reassessment of limits to ecological recovery and persistence. Overcoming soil nutrient enrichment and exotic invasions are common restoration targets in mesic ecosystems, but in a drying climate, the focus may shift towards more fundamental ecosystem functions such as capacity to capture and store water. We investigated opportunities for enhancing the climate-resilience of restoration efforts in temperate grassy eucalypt woodlands, by evaluating benefits after two years of soil amelioration techniques in characteristic sites that had become compacted and nutrient-depleted as a result of past land use. Our goal was to restore soil biophysical functioning without exacerbating exotic invasion. High C:N soil amendments including a green-waste biochar and a mixed-size green-waste mulch facilitated recovery of soil biophysical attributes within two years. Both led to lower bulk density, softer soil surfaces, occasionally higher soil moisture and better persistence of a sown, large-seeded native forb. Biochar also led to improved water infiltration and total C, while mulch led to higher labile C and higher microbial and invertebrate activity (but limited establishment of small-seeded forbs). Benefits were achieved without promoting exotic species, and for attributes with comparable reference data, benefits after two years were on average 25% of that required to reach reference condition. By contrast, P fertilization promoted exotic species at the expense of native grasses, with minimal improvement to soil biophysical condition after two years. Potential benefits of re-introducing a native C4 grass were not evident within the experimental timeframe. We conclude that bulky, high C:N soil amendments have the potential to facilitate recovery of functions associated with soil water availability and hence resilience to a drying climate. However, longer-term evaluation is needed to assess whether benefits reflect once-off small increments, or transitions across ecological thresholds that will facilitate ongoing improvement towards reference condition. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:04 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:04 PM Tags: o Biochar o Climate change o Collembola o Grasslands o Mulch o Soil amendments * Does Seeding After Wildfires in Rangelands Reduce Erosion or Invasive Species? Type Journal Article Author David A. Pyke Author Troy A. Wirth Author Jan L. Beyers URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12021__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvLvZPgGU$ Rights Published 2013. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA Volume 21 Issue 4 Pages 415-421 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2013 DOI 10.1111/rec.12021 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:05:25 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Mitigation of ecological damage caused by rangeland wildfires has historically been an issue restricted to the western United States. It has focused on conservation of ecosystem function through reducing soil erosion and spread of invasive plants. Effectiveness of mitigation treatments has been debated recently. We reviewed recent literature to conduct a meta-analysis of seeding after wildfires to determine if seedings may (1) protect ecosystems against soil erosion and (2) reduce invasion or abundance of undesirable nonnative plant species. Effectiveness of postfire seedings was examined in 8 erosion and 19 invasive species cases. Seeding has little effect on erosion during the first year after fire and is highly dependent upon initial establishment and coverage of species in successive years. Among all seeding cases, 28% reduced, 67% were neutral, and 5% increased invasive species abundance. Older seedings were more likely to show reductions in invasives than younger seedings. Seedings with high plant establishment were more likely to reduce invasives than those with low establishment. Studies are needed that examine (1) frequency of adequate establishment of postfire seedings and causal factors of success or failure, (2) long-term impacts of seeding along a range of initial establishment and concomitant plant coverage over time as it relates to erosion and abundance of invasive plant species, and (3) auxiliary treatments designed to increase likelihood of germination and establishment given the inevitable variability of environmental conditions. These studies would aid land managers in deciding when postfire treatments are required and their likely level of success. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:05:26 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:05:26 PM Tags: o aerial seeding o Bromus tectorum o drill seeding o erosion o pinyon-juniper o sagebrush Attachments o Snapshot * Fire as a Restoration Tool: A Decision Framework for Predicting the Control or Enhancement of Plants Using Fire Type Journal Article Author David A. Pyke Author Matthew L. Brooks Author Carla D'Antonio URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2010.00658.x__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvfJI6kl0$ Rights © 2010 Society for Ecological Restoration International Volume 18 Issue 3 Pages 274-284 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2010 DOI 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2010.00658.x Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:25:48 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Wildfires change plant communities by reducing dominance of some species while enhancing the abundance of others. Detailed habitat-specific models have been developed to predict plant responses to fire, but these models generally ignore the breadth of fire regime characteristics that can influence plant survival such as the degree and duration of exposure to lethal temperatures. We provide a decision framework that integrates fire regime components, plant growth form, and survival attributes to predict how plants will respond to fires and how fires can be prescribed to enhance the likelihood of obtaining desired plant responses. Fires are driven by biotic and abiotic factors that dictate their temporal (seasonality and frequency), spatial (size and patchiness), and magnitude (intensity, severity, and type) components. Plant resistance and resilience to fire can be categorized by a combination of life form, size, and ability to disperse or protect seeds. We use a combination of life form and vital plant attributes along with an understanding of fire regime components to suggest a straightforward way to approach the use of fire to either reduce or enhance particular species. A framework for aiding decisions is organized by life form and plant size. Questions regarding perennating bud and seed characteristics direct restoration practitioners to fire regimes that may achieve their management objectives of either increasing or decreasing plants with specific life form characteristics. Short Title Fire as a Restoration Tool Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:25:48 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:25:48 PM Tags: o fire prescriptions o fire regime o life form o plant reproduction o resilience o vital attributes Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Long-term heathland restoration on former grassland: The results of a 17-year experiment Type Journal Article Author Richard F. Pywell Author William R. Meek Author Nigel R. Webb Author Phillip D. Putwain Author James M. Bullock URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320711000589__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvgMqcng8$ Volume 144 Issue 5 Pages 1602-1609 Publication Ecoregional-scale monitoring within conservation areas, in a rapidly changing climate ISSN 0006-3207 Date May 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2011.02.010 Abstract European lowland heaths have declined by up to 80% due to land use change and lack of management. There has been considerable research into the restoration of this threatened habitat. However, long-term outcomes of restoration are poorly understood, especially in situations where past agricultural land use imposes severe constraints on community re-assembly. In 1989 a large-scale experiment was established to examine the effectiveness of five treatments to restore heathland on formerly productive grassland: (i) natural regeneration; (ii) herbicide application to facilitate regeneration; (iii) cultivation and application of seed-rich heathland vegetation; (iv) soil removal and incorporation of heathland topsoil; and (v) heathland translocation. After 17years the pH of the unamended agricultural soil remained significantly higher than that of the adjacent heathland. All treatments showed different trajectories of vegetation change in the long-term. Natural colonisation by heathland species was slow due to seed limitation, resulting in formation of an acid grassland community. Heathland community assembly was not facilitated by destruction of the initial grassland with herbicide. Incorporation of topsoil had an intermediate effect on pH reduction. This may explain the subsequent failure of the plant community to assemble in the anticipated proportions, and the dominance of leguminous scrub species (Ulex spp.). Turf translocation was effective in reducing pH to the required range and restoring the heathland community in the long-term. However, this technique should only be considered as a means of ‘rescue’ when habitat destruction is otherwise unavoidable. The only practical and sustainable means of increasing heathland extent on former farmland is the application of seed-bearing vegetation cut as part of routine management. However, this technique needs refining in order to establish the full range of characteristic heathland species. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:56 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:56 PM Tags: o Acid grassland o Community assembly o Habitat translocation o pH o Restoration trajectory o Soil fertility * Influence of Vegetation Restoration on Topsoil Organic Carbon in a Small Catchment of the Loess Hilly Region, China Type Journal Article Author Yunbin Qin Author Zhongbao Xin Author Xinxiao Yu Author Yuling Xiao URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0094489__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvbT5pcUE$ Volume 9 Issue 6 Pages e94489 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Jun 13, 2014 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0094489 Accessed 2020-03-12, 3:26:39 PM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract Understanding effects of land-use changes driven by the implementation of the “Grain for Green” project and the corresponding changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) storage is important in evaluating the environmental benefits of this ecological restoration project. The goals of this study were to quantify the current soil organic carbon density (SOCD) in different land-use types [cultivated land, abandoned land (cessation of farming), woodland, wild grassland and orchards] in a catchment of the loess hilly and gully region of China to evaluate the benefits of SOC sequestration achieved by vegetation restoration in the past 10 years as well as to discuss uncertain factors affecting future SOC sequestration. Based on soil surveys (N = 83) and laboratory analyses, the results show that the topsoil (0–20 cm) SOCD was 20.44 Mg/ha in this catchment. Using the SOCD in cultivated lands (19.08 Mg/ha) as a reference, the SOCD in woodlands and abandoned lands was significantly higher by 33.81% and 8.49%, respectively, whereas in orchards, it was lower by 10.80%. The correlation analysis showed that SOC and total nitrogen (TN) were strongly correlated (R2 = 0.98) and that the average C∶N (SOC∶TN) ratio was 9.69. With increasing years since planting, the SOCD in woodlands showed a tendency to increase; however, no obvious difference was observed in orchards. A high positive correlation was found between SOCD and elevation (R2 = 0.395), but a low positive correlation was found between slope and SOCD (R2 = 0.170, P = 0.127). In the past 10 years of restoration, SOC storage did not increase significantly (2.74% or 3706.46 t) in the catchment where the conversion of cultivated land to orchards was the primary restoration pattern. However, the potential contribution of vegetation restoration to SOC sequestration in the next several decades would be massive if the woodland converted from the cropland is well managed and maintained. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:26:39 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:26:39 PM Tags: o Agricultural soil science o Carbon sequestration o Erosion o Grasslands o Loess o Orchards o Soil ecology o Trees Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Spatial Analysis of Land Use and Land Cover Changes in Recent 30 Years in Manas River Basin Type Journal Article Author Zhang Qingqing Author Xu Hailiang Author Fu Jingyi Author Yu Pujia Author Zhang Peng URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1878029612003672__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvTYNF-Mk$ Volume 12 Pages 906-916 Publication 2011 International Conference of Environmental Science and Engineering ISSN 1878-0296 Date January 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Procedia Environmental Sciences DOI 10.1016/j.proenv.2012.01.366 Abstract Manas River Basin, best represent the mountain-basin system in arid area, is the major part of the economic belt on the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains. Based on the 3S technology and four periods of remote sensing image data of MSS image in 1976, TM image from USA Landsat in 1987 and 1998, and CBERS image in 2006, combining GIS and quantitative analysis of landscape ecology, this paper analyzed the spatial changes of land use and land cover in Manas River Basin among 1976-2006 by using ARCGIS and FRAGSTATS. Analysis on four periods of remote sensing image showed that there was a wide change in land use and land cover of Manas River Basin in recent 30 years. Natural grassland decreased with a rate of 91.426km2/a and cultivated land increase with a rate of 121.383km2/a. The rapid expansion of cultivated land converted mainly by reclamations of wasteland and natural grassland. And there were little changes of other land use types. From the relationship of transformation between various types of land use and land cover, it could be found that unused land is relatively stable land-use types, the areas of residential land and industrial land increased gradually and the cultivated land and natural grassland were the main source, a larger proportion of natural grassland mainly changed into cultivated land, forest land and residential land and industrial land, land changed into cultivated land was larger than cultivated land changed into the other land and the increased land main converted by natural grassland, and the forest land converted to other land increased gradually and the they mainly converted to salt and kaline land. However, land use and land cover change was resulted from the interaction of human activity (social and economic factors) and natural environmental changes (natural factors). So, it is necessary to consistently improve the natural environment of Manas River Valley which can provided stable basis of the theory and practice for sustainable development of Manas River Valley. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:47 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:56:58 PM Tags: o land cover changes o land use o Manas River Basin * Experimental studies on the effects of the “Conversion of Cropland to Grassland Program” on the water budget and evapotranspiration in a semi-arid steppe in Inner Mongolia, China Type Journal Article Author Guo Yu Qiu Author Fang Xie Author You Can Feng Author Fei Tian URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022169411006901__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvtiBHXDU$ Volume 411 Issue 1 Pages 120-129 Publication Journal of Hydrology ISSN 0022-1694 Date December 6, 2011 Journal Abbr Journal of Hydrology DOI 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2011.09.040 Abstract Since the late 1990s China has promoted the “Conversion of Cropland to Forest and Grassland Program” (CCFGP) as the largest environmental restoration program in the world. Because more water was required for established vegetation, it was assumed that evapotranspiration (ET) and water use in an older restored grassland would be greater than that in a younger restored grassland and that water shortages would then become more severe for further vegetation establishment in a semi-arid steppe due to the extraction of the established vegetation. To verify this hypothesis, a field experiment was carried out in 2008–2009 at seven sites of different ages after restoration. The hypothesis was tested using the Bowen ratio system together with other comparative methods. Results showed that less rainfall would infiltrate the deeper soil layer as the period of time after restoration increased and that the natural steppe site had the shallowest infiltration depth (10cm or less). However, the youngest restored grassland site had the deepest infiltration depth and the highest soil water content. These results also showed that transpiration and ET rates were higher in the natural steppe site and older restored sites than those in the younger restored sites. Furthermore, it was found that the ratio between soil evaporation and ET was generally lower for all seven sites, which indicated that transpiration was a dominant component in ET. These results indicated that more water was used for vegetation establishment in the older restored grassland than that in the younger restored grassland. Our hypothesis was proved to be true. Meanwhile, it was also found that the dominant species changed from annual herbs (species had lower drought tolerance ability) in the younger restored grassland to perennial grasses in the older restored grassland (species had higher drought tolerance ability). Therefore, it was concluded that the natural steppe was able to utilize more water for vegetation establishment and it used water more efficiently than the restored steppe, while the older restored steppe used water more efficiently than the younger restored steppe. Because changes of vegetation type from annual to perennial not only increased evapotranspiration, but also changed the water budget, more attention should be paid to water shortage when undertaking the CCFGP in semi-arid steppes. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:49 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:49 PM Tags: o Bowen ratio o Evaporation o Evapotranspiration o Soil water o Transpiration * Heavy mowing enhances the effects of heat waves on grassland carbon and water fluxes Type Journal Article Author Luping Qu Author Jiquan Chen Author Gang Dong Author Changliang Shao URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969718303425__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvMObqNFs$ Volume 627 Pages 561-570 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date June 15, 2018 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.01.287 Abstract Heat waves (HWs) are a type of extreme weather event that is of growing concern in the scientific community. Yet field data based on sound experiment on the variation of ecosystem CO2 levels under HWs remain rare. Additionally, ecosystems react to HWs and the coupled human activities (such as grazing in grasslands) are unknown. Thus, a 3-year field experiment was conducted to simulate HWs in conjunction with different mowing intensities that mimicking grazing in a Stipa krylovii steppe on the Mongolian Plateau. HWs significantly decreased ecosystem exchange (NEE) of CO2, ecosystem respiration (Re) and gross ecosystem productivity (GEP) by 31%, 5% and 16%, respectively, over the three years. Continuous HWs over multiple years produced cumulative effects by reducing NEE at 20%, 34% and 40% in the first, second and third HW years, respectively. During three pre-defined three periods of HWs (during HW period, after HW period in the same year, and after HW period in the next year), variations in water use efficiency indicated that the grassland ecosystem exhibited a strategy for adapting to the continuous HWs to a certain extent, by adjusting community structure or increasing litter biomass. Finally, mowing increased the effects of HWs by extending the legacy effect, such that restoration of the grassland required a greater amount of time under the combination of HWs and mowing. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:53 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:53 PM Tags: o Carbon assimilation o Clipping o Ecosystem function o Extreme weather event o Global warming o Water use efficiency * Nitrogen enrichment and grazing accelerate vegetation restoration in degraded grassland patches Type Journal Article Author Quan Quan Author He Nianpeng Author Zhang Zhen Author Zhang Yunhai Author Gao Yang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857414006491__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvfEOim54$ Volume 75 Pages 172-177 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date February 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2014.11.053 Abstract A rapid increase in grazing intensity since the 1980s has caused large areas of the Inner Mongolian grasslands to become degraded. Increasing atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition might exert an important influence on vegetation restoration in these degraded grasslands by increasing available N and relieving N limitations on productivity. However, no previous studies have tested the assumption that increasing N deposition promotes vegetation restoration in degraded grasslands. By conducting a 4-year field restoration experiment with four N addition treatments (0, 5, 10, and 20gNm−2year−1) and two grazing treatments (grazed and ungrazed), we investigated the effects of N enrichment and grazing on the restoration of patches in which vegetation had been degraded. N addition significantly accelerated the restoration of vegetation-degraded grassland patches regarding both plant cover and diversity. Moderate grazing also promoted the restoration of degraded-vegetation patches in term of both plant diversity and species similarity. Importantly, the positive effects of N addition on the restoration of degraded patches may be augmented by grazing. This study demonstrate that low levels of N enrichment (or increasing atmospheric N deposition) positively impact vegetation restoration in degraded grassland patches, particularly under moderate grazing practices. Our findings provide new insights into the management of severely degraded grasslands through the regulation of N inputs and grazing practices. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:35 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:35 PM Tags: o Degradation o Grazing o Nitrogen deposition o Restoration o Species richness * Aridity and grazing as convergent selective forces: an experiment with an Arid Chaco bunchgrass Type Journal Article Author R. Emiliano Quiroga Author Rodolfo A. Golluscio Author Lisandro J. Blanco Author Roberto J. Fernández URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1890/09-0641.1__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvZi82ejk$ Volume 20 Issue 7 Pages 1876-1889 Publication Ecological Applications ISSN 1051-0761 Date October 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Ecological Applications DOI 10.1890/09-0641.1 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract It has been proposed that aridity and grazing are convergent selective forces: each one selects for traits conferring resistance to both. However, this conceptual model has not yet been experimentally validated. The aim of this work was to experimentally evaluate the effect of aridity and grazing, as selective forces, on drought and grazing resistance of populations of Trichloris crinita, a native perennial forage grass of the Argentinean Arid Chaco region. We collected seeds in sites with four different combinations of aridity and grazing history (semiarid/subhumid ? heavily grazed/lightly grazed), established them in pots in a common garden, and subjected the resulting plants to different combinations of drought and defoliation. Our results agreed with the convergence model. Aridity has selected T. crinita genotypes that respond better to drought and defoliation in terms of sexual reproduction and leaf growth, and that can evade grazing due to a lower shoot?:?root ratio and a higher resource allocation to reserves (starch) in stem bases. Similarly, grazing has selected genotypes that respond better to drought and defoliation in terms of sexual reproduction and that can evade grazing due to a lower digestibility of leaf blades. These results allow us to extend concepts of previous models in plant adaptation to herbivory to models on plant adaptation to drought. The only variable in which we obtained a result opposite to predictions was plant height, as plants from semiarid sites were taller (and with more erect tillers) than plants from subhumid sites; we hypothesize that this result might have been a consequence of the selection exerted by the high solar radiation and soil temperatures of semiarid sites. In addition, our work allows for the prediction of the effects of dry or wet growing seasons on the performance of T. crinita plants. Our results suggest that we can rely on dry environments for selecting grazing-resistant genotypes and on high grazing pressure history environments for selecting drought-resistant ones. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:52:05 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:52:05 PM Tags: o drought o resistance o common garden o Argentinean Arid Chaco region o avoidance o convergence o defoliation o evolution o natural selection o tolerance o Trichloris crinita Notes: o doi: 10.1890/09-0641.1 * Sedge Transplant Survival in a Reconstructed Channel: Influences of Planting Location, Erosion, and Invasive Species Type Journal Article Author Sarah E. Quistberg Author Tamzen K. Stringham URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2009.00607.x__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvYQ9mgLw$ Rights © 2009 Society for Ecological Restoration International Volume 18 Issue s2 Pages 401-408 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2010 DOI 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2009.00607.x Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:24:45 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Sedge transplanting success in recently constructed channels is essential because the lack of vegetation makes the channel highly susceptible to erosion and non-native plant invasion. In this study, greenhouse grown plugs of Carex nebrascensis Dewey (Nebraska sedge) and C. utriculata Boott (beaked sedge) were transplanted onto two different channel geomorphic surfaces, depositional and erosional, for two different experiments. The first experiment tested the effects of planting location on sedge survival and growth and the second tested the effects of Cirsium arvense presence on transplant survival and growth. Survival during the first growing season was the same for both species; however, shoot numbers were greater for C. nebrascensis (98 shoots/m2) compared to C. utriculata (84 shoots/m2) at the end of the first growing season. Greater shoot numbers also occurred on depositional planting locations (117 and 165 shoots/m2) compared to erosional planting locations (65 and 59 shoots/m2) at the end of the first and second growing seasons, respectively. The presence of Ci. arvense was observed to reduce sedge shoot numbers regardless of sedge species during the first growing season but no significant difference was observed by the end of the second growing season. These results suggested that control of Ci. arvense did not increase sedge vegetative growth within two growing seasons. Results suggest that revegetation success was greatest on depositional geomorphic surfaces and that both species are appropriate for transplanting; however, C. nebrascensis outperformed C. utriculata at sites with water tables that averaged deeper than 30 cm over the growing season. Short Title Sedge Transplant Survival in a Reconstructed Channel Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:24:45 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:24:45 PM Tags: o Carex nebrascensis o Carex utriculata o Cirsium arvense o revegetation o riparian restoration o sedges Attachments o Snapshot * Biochar amendment improves alpine meadows growth and soil health in Tibetan plateau over a three year period Type Journal Article Author Muhammad Khalid Rafiq Author Yanfu Bai Author Rukhsanda Aziz Author Muhammad Tariq Rafiq Author Ondřej Mašek Author Robert Thomas Bachmann Author Stephen Joseph Author Maqbool Shahbaz Author Abdul Qayyum Author Zhanhuan Shang Author Mahmoud Danaee Author Ruijun Long URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004896971935288X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvY5gEe3U$ Pages 135296 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date November 25, 2019 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135296 Abstract Previous biochar research has primarily focused on agricultural annual cropping systems with very little attention given to highly fragile, complex and diverse natural alpine grassland ecosystems. The present study investigated the effect of biochar on the growth of alpine meadows and soil health. This study was conducted in the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau over a three year period to investigate the effect of three rice husk biochar application rates alone and combination with high and low NPK fertilizer dosages on alpine meadow productivity, soil microbial diversity as well as pH, carbon and nitrogen content at 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm depth. At the end of the 3rd year soil samples were analysed and assessed by combined analysis of variance. The results showed that biochar application in combination with nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilizer had a significant increase in fresh and dry biomass during the second and third year of the study as compared to control and alone biochar application (p ≤ 0.05). Biochar alone and in combination with NPK fertilizer resulted in a significant increase in the soil pH and carbon contents of the soil. XPS results, the SEM imaging and EDS analysis of aged biochar demonstrated that the biochar has undergone complex changes over the 3 years as compared to fresh biochar. This research suggests that biochar has positive effect on alpine meadow growth and soil health and may be an effective tool for alpine meadow restoration. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:55 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:55 PM Tags: o Alpine meadows o Biochar o Soil health * Influence of habitat quality, landscape structure and food resources on breeding skylark (Alauda arvensis) territory distribution on restored landfill sites Type Journal Article Author Md Lutfor Rahman Author Sam Tarrant Author Duncan McCollin Author Jeff Ollerton URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169204612000229__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvZ1ZBoqc$ Volume 105 Issue 3 Pages 281-287 Publication Landscape and Urban Planning ISSN 0169-2046 Date April 15, 2012 Journal Abbr Landscape and Urban Planning DOI 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2012.01.006 Abstract The skylark (Alauda arvensis) lost half its number after it underwent a decade of rapid decline from the mid-1970s onwards and since then has continued to decline albeit at a reduced rate. Its listing as a UK Red-List and Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) Priority Species has helped focus conservation action in an attempt to halt the decline and stabilise populations by restoring degraded habitats or by creating new habitats. Newly created grassland on restored landfill sites are semi-natural habitats that could potentially contribute to this process, however the extent to which these areas support breeding populations is unknown. Territory densities of breeding skylarks were studied on nine restored landfill sites in the East Midlands region of the UK during May to July 2008. The effects of restoration were investigated by examining how habitat quality, landscape factors and food resources determined territory densities. Mean vegetation height and size of sites were found to be significant predictors of the number of breeding skylarks at the local scale, whilst percentage of woodland, grassland and open habitat in the surrounding landscape had an influence at a larger scale. Mean larval and adult invertebrate abundance and species richness in skylark territories in restored landfill sites were found to be similar to that of reference sites of recognised nature conservation value. Restoration of landfill sites could be targeted toward species-specific goals since such sites could play a role in meeting targets for habitat and/or species restoration targets in the UK BAP. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:26 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:26 PM Tags: o Bird o Grassland o Landfill site o Landscape o Red List species o Skylark * Plant community composition and attributes reveal conservation implications for newly created grassland on capped landfill sites Type Journal Article Author Md Lutfor Rahman Author Sam Tarrant Author Duncan McCollin Author Jeff Ollerton URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1617138113000022__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvO7gSgR0$ Volume 21 Issue 4 Pages 198-205 Publication Journal for Nature Conservation ISSN 1617-1381 Date August 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Journal for Nature Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.jnc.2012.12.008 Abstract Biodiversity conservation through restoring degraded habitats or creating new habitats is advocated in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. Restored grasslands on capped landfill sites are semi-natural habitats that could potentially support a wide range of plant communities. However, it is unknown whether these re-created habitats represent a significant resource in terms of biodiversity conservation. The UK National Vegetation Classification (NVC) was used to study these communities on nine restored capped landfill sites together with paired reference sites in the East Midlands region of the UK during 2007. Plant species data were collected by random quadrats along two 100m transects from each site. The effects of restoration were investigated by examining plant attributes and Ellenberg indicators on restored landfill sites in comparison to paired reference sites. A total of 170 plant species were found from both sets of sites. There were no significant differences for most of the plant attributes between restored landfill sites and reference sites, though reference sites had significantly higher mean frequencies of native plants, nationally decreasing species and perennial species. In total 26 broad NVC community types were identified of which more than 70% fell within mesotrophic grassland (MG). The diversity of NVC communities confirms that underlying environmental factors such as soil fertility are important, dictating the type of plant communities that exist. It is recommended that management of these capped landfill sites should be targeted towards specific NVC community types to meet conservation targets. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:31 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:31 PM Tags: o Grassland o Landfill sites o NVC o Restoration o Vegetation * The influence of grazing exclosure on soil C stocks and dynamics, and ecological indicators in upland arid and semi-arid rangelands Type Journal Article Author Fayez Raiesi Author Maryam Riahi URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X1400048X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvWmxN49g$ Volume 41 Pages 145-154 Publication Ecological Indicators ISSN 1470-160X Date June 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2014.01.040 Abstract Soil carbon (C) storage and quality in rangeland ecosystems may change as a result of long-term heavy grazing, especially in upland arid and semi-arid rangelands characterized by low soil organic C contents. The impact of grazing exclosure on soil C stock and mineralization, microbial biomass C and the activities of invertase and alkaline phosphatase involved in C and P cycling as soil ecological indicators were studied in woody and non-woody rangeland ecosystems of two sites (viz., Sabzkouh with woody cover and Boroujen with non-woody cover) located in Zagros Mountains, Central Iran. At each site, soil samples were taken from 0 to 15cm depth of the two rangelands including heavy grazing (HG) and ungrazed (UG) regimes, and analyzed for their chemical and microbial properties. Results demonstrate that soil organic C and total N contents, and C/N ratios were not affected by grazing regime at Boroujen, while ungrazed rangelands had higher C (17%) and N (19%) contents compared with heavily grazed rangelands at Sabzkouh. Grazing exclosure increased soil C mineralization (44.7–73.6%) and turnover (24–64%) at both study sites, and increased the amount of soil microbial biomass C (5.4-fold) and decreased the metabolic quotient (90%) only at Sabzkouh. Soil invertase activity was significantly higher (1.3–2.1 times) in ungrazed than heavily grazed rangelands at both sites, whereas ungrazed rangelands had significantly greater soil alkaline phosphatase activity (19%) compared with heavily grazed rangelands only at Sabzkouh. The variations in the effect of grazing exclosure on soil organic matter (SOM) dynamics and C sequestration in these upland arid and semi-arid rangelands were due to differences between rangelands in initial SOM contents, and probably could be due to differences in plant productivity and composition, and the amount of rainfall between the study sites. Non-woody rangelands contained less soil C and N contents, and C mineralization but greater microbial biomass C than woody rangelands, reflecting a clear difference in substrate quality and soil C availability. Soil biochemical and microbial indices as ecological indicators can reflect grazing exclosure effects on soil restoration only in woody rangelands. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:07 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:56:59 PM Tags: o Arid and semi-arid rangelands o C mineralization o C sequestration o Grazing regime o Microbial biomass C o Soil enzymes * The potential activity of soil extracellular enzymes as an indicator for ecological restoration of rangeland soils after agricultural abandonment Type Journal Article Author Fayez Raiesi Author Soroosh Salek-Gilani URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929139317312866__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvkaWXRsI$ Volume 126 Pages 140-147 Publication Applied Soil Ecology ISSN 0929-1393 Date May 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Applied Soil Ecology DOI 10.1016/j.apsoil.2018.02.022 Abstract Extracellular enzymes play an important role in soil biochemical reactions and biogeochemical cycles. However, the response of soil extracellular enzyme activities to cultivation abandonment and vegetation restoration is poorly studied for the high altitude semi-arid rangeland ecosystems in Central Iran. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of cultivation abandonment on soil enzyme activity as an indicator of soil quality and health along a chronosequence of abandoned agricultural fields in a semi-arid rangeland ecosystem. The potential activity of soil enzymes; including invertase, urease, alkaline phosphatase and arylsulphatase was assayed and expressed as activity per unit dry soil mass (i.e., absolute activity) and per unit microbial biomass (i.e., specific activity) along a sequence of cultivated, abandoned for 4–45 years and uncultivated rangelands. After agricultural abandonment, the absolute enzyme activities increased logarithmically. Cultivation abandonment for 45 years, on average, increased invertase activity by 44%, urease activity by 45%, alkaline phosphatase activity by 11% and arylsulfatase activity by 43% in top soil (0–30 cm). Results showed that the geometric mean of enzyme activities (GMea) increased significantly with increasing abandonment time. However, the specific activities of soil enzymes tended to decrease logarithmically, when expressed per unit microbial biomass carbon (MBC). The increases in absolute activities were largely related to changes in plant aboveground biomass, soil organic carbon (SOC), aggregate stability (AS) and MBC whereas the decreases in specific activities could be associated with alterations only in AS and SOC contents. In conclusion, enzymes produced and released by soil microbial communities after cultivation abandonment and natural vegetation restoration would interact with soil organic matter and aggregates. After cessation of rainfed cropping and the recovery of natural vegetation, the increases in soil enzyme activity can result in a higher nutrient cycling in the degraded rangeland ecosystems. Date Added 2020-03-17, 6:59:58 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:57:01 PM Tags: o Land abandonment o Nutrient cycling o Secondary succession o Semi-arid rangelands o Soil enzymes * Are butterflies and moths suitable ecological indicator systems for restoration measures of semi-natural calcareous grassland habitats? Type Journal Article Author László Rákosy Author Thomas Schmitt URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X10001949__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvMvO5Xj4$ Volume 11 Issue 5 Pages 1040-1045 Publication Ecological Indicators ISSN 1470-160X Date September 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2010.10.010 Abstract The selection of suitable ecological indicator groups is of great importance for environmental assessments. To test and compare two such groups, we performed transect walks of butterflies and light traps of moths at eight sample localities in the Carinthian Alps. All of them were conducted with identical methods in the years 2002 and 2004 allowing the evaluation of the response on the conservation measures performed on five of the eight sites in late 2002. We recorded a total of 2346 butterflies (including Zygaenidae and Sesiidae) representing 83 species and 7025 moths of 534 species. 150 of these species were listed in the Red Data Book of Carinthia. In general, butterflies increased from 2002 to 2004 while moths declined. The highest increase rates of butterflies were obtained for the numbers of individuals of calcareous grassland specialists at the conservation sites, while their numbers were unchanged at the control sites. Similar trend differences between conservation and control sites were obtained for the Red Data Book butterfly species. On the contrary, the development of moth individuals was more positive at the control than the conservation sites for calcareous grassland specialists (only macro-moths) and species of the Red Data Book. However, change rates of species numbers were positively correlated between butterflies and moths. Principal Component Analysis revealed strong differences between the different sites, but mostly consistent results for butterflies and moths; however, stronger differences between years were only detected for some of the conservation sites for the butterfly communities. Our results show that butterflies as well as moths are suitable ecological indicator groups, but they do not yield identical results. Thus, butterflies are more suitable for the analysis of open habitats, whereas moths are suitable for open and forested habitats as well. Furthermore, butterflies might be a more sensitive indicator group than moths for the short-term detection of conservation measures, especially for the restoration of open habitat types. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:37 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:37 PM Tags: o Alps o Carinthia o Conservation biology o Lepidoptera o Light traps o Red Data Book o Transect counts o Turn-over rates * Using species distributions models for designing conservation strategies of Tropical Andean biodiversity under climate change Type Journal Article Author Julian Ramirez-Villegas Author Francisco Cuesta Author Christian Devenish Author Manuel Peralvo Author Andy Jarvis Author Carlos Alberto Arnillas URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1617138114000387__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvYZwEI0k$ Volume 22 Issue 5 Pages 391-404 Publication Journal for Nature Conservation ISSN 1617-1381 Date October 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Journal for Nature Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.jnc.2014.03.007 Abstract Biodiversity in the Tropical Andes is under continuous threat from anthropogenic activities. Projected changes in climate will likely exacerbate this situation. Using species distribution models, we assess possible future changes in the diversity and climatic niche size of an unprecedented number of species for the region. We modeled a broad range of taxa (11,012 species of birds and vascular plants), including both endemic and widespread species and provide a comprehensive estimation of climate change impacts on the Andes. We find that if no dispersal is assumed, by 2050s, more than 50% of the species studied are projected to undergo reductions of at least 45% in their climatic niche, whilst 10% of species could be extinct. Even assuming unlimited dispersal, most of the Andean endemics (comprising ∼5% of our dataset) would become severely threatened (>50% climatic niche loss). While some areas appear to be climatically stable (e.g. Pichincha and Imbabura in Ecuador; and Nariño, Cauca, Valle del Cauca and Putumayo in Colombia) and hence depict little diversity loss and/or potential species gains, major negative impacts were also observed. Tropical high Andean grasslands (páramos and punas) and evergreen montane forests, two key ecosystems for the provision of environmental services in the region, are projected to experience negative changes in species richness and high rates of species turnover. Adapting to these impacts would require a landscape-network based approach to conservation, including protected areas, their buffer zones and corridors. A central aspect of such network is the implementation of an integrated landscape management approach based on sustainable management and restoration practices covering wider areas than currently contemplated. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:16 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:16 PM Tags: o Andes o Biodiversity o Climate change o Climatic niche o Conservation o Maxent o Threats * Assessing the Potential for Transitions from Tallgrass Prairie to Woodlands: Are We Operating Beyond Critical Fire Thresholds? Type Journal Article Author Zak Ratajczak Author John M. Briggs Author Doug G. Goodin Author Lei Luo Author Rhett L. Mohler Author Jesse B. Nippert Author Brian Obermeyer URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742416300021__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv5HBEqzA$ Volume 69 Issue 4 Pages 280-287 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date July 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2016.03.004 Abstract A growing body of evidence suggests humans are pushing ecosystems near or beyond key ecological thresholds, resulting in transitions to new, sometimes undesirable phases or states that are costly to reverse. We used remotely sensed fire data to assess if the Flint Hills—a landscape of tallgrass prairie in the Central Great Plains, United States—is operating beyond fire frequency thresholds. Long-term fire experiments and observational evidence suggests that applying prescribed fire at return intervals > 3 yr can lead to transitions from grassland to shrubland. Fire return intervals > 10 yr and complete fire suppression, in particular, can result in transitions to woodlands over 30−50 yr. Once shrublands and woodlands are established, restoration back to grassland is difficult with prescribed fires. We applied these fire frequency cutoffs to remotely sensed fire data from 2000 to 2010 in the Flint Hills, identifying the extent of tallgrass prairie susceptible to shrub and tree expansion. We found that 56% (15 620 km2) of grasslands in this region are burned less than every 3 yr and are therefore susceptible to conversion to shrub or tree dominance. The potential effects of this large-scale shift are greater risk for evergreen (Juniperus virginiana) woodland fires, reduced grazing potential, and increased abundance of woodland adapted species at the expense of the native grassland biota. Of the 12 127-km2 area likely to remain grassland, 43% is burned approximately annually, contributing to vegetative homogenization and potential air-quality issues. While this synthesis forecasts a precarious future for tallgrass prairie conservation and their ecosystem services, increases in shrub or tree dominances are usually reversible until fire frequency has been reduced for more than 20 yr. This delay leaves a small window of opportunity to return fire to the landscape and avoid large-scale transformation of tallgrass prairie. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:39 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:39 PM Tags: o catastrophic shifts o forecasting o mesic grasslands o regime shifts o resilience o tipping points * Immature Seedling Growth of Two North American Native Perennial Bunchgrasses and the Invasive Grass Bromus tectorum Type Journal Article Author Jayanti Ray-Mukherjee Author Thomas A. Jones Author Peter B. Adler Author Thomas A. Monaco URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742411500430__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv5pMQnS8$ Volume 64 Issue 4 Pages 358-365 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date July 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/REM-D-10-00101.1 Abstract Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) A. Löve and Elymus wawawaiensis J. Carlson & Barkworth are two native perennial grasses widely used for restoration in the Intermountain West. However, the rapid establishment and spread of Bromus tectorum L., an invasive annual grass, has led to a decline in the abundance of native perennial grasses. Proliferation of B. tectorum has been attributed to its early germination, superior cold-temperature growth, profuse root production, and high specific leaf area (SLA). To enhance restoration success, we compared B. tectorum to commercially available plant materials of two perennial rangeland bunchgrasses, P. spicata (cv. Whitmar, cv. Goldar, and Anatone Germplasm) and E. wawawaiensis (cv. Secar), for germination, seedling morphological traits, and growth rates at the immature seedling stage. We monitored germination and immature seedling growth in a growth chamber in two separate experiments, one under low (5/10°C) and the other under high (15/20°C) day/night temperatures. Compared to the average of the two perennials, B. tectorum was 93% (77%) greater at high (and low) temperature for root∶shoot length ratio, but only 14% (14%) greater for root∶shoot biomass ratio and 12% (19%) lower for SLA. This suggests that B. tectorum’s substantial investment in surface area of roots, rather than in shoot length, root biomass, or leaf area, may be responsible for the annual’s success at the early seedling stage. Compared to E. wawawaiensis, P. spicata averaged 65% (41%) higher shoot biomass, 39% (88%) higher root biomass, and 70% (10%) higher absolute growth rate, but 25% (15%) lower SLA and 15% (36%) lower specific root length (SRL) at high (and low) temperatures, respectively. Although P. spicata’s greater productivity may initially make for better seedling establishment than E. wawawaiensis, it may also prove disadvantageous in competitive or highly resource-limited environments where high SLA or SRL could be an advantage. Resumen Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) A. Löve y Elymus wawawaiensis J. Carlson & Barkworth son dos pastos perennes nativos ampliamente utilizados para la restauración de pastizales naturales de la región comprendida entre las Rocallosas y las Sierras Nevadas del Oeste de los Estados Unidos (Intermountain West). Sin embargo, el rápido establecimiento y dispersión de Bromus tectorum L., una planta invasora anual, ha ocasionado una disminución en la abundancia de pastos perennes nativos. La proliferación de B. tectorum ha sido atribuida a su germinación temprana, su habilidad superior de crecer en condiciones de bajas temperaturas, su elevada producción radicular, y una elevada área foliar específica (AFE). Con la finalidad de mejorar el éxito de los proyectos de restauración, comparamos la germinación, los atributos morfológicos de las plántulas, y las tasas de crecimiento en los estadios previos a la madurez de las plántulas de B. tectorum y germoplasma disponible comercialmente de dos pastos cespitosos perennes, P. spicata (cv. Whitmar, cv. Goldar, y Anatone Germplasm) y E. wawawaiensis (cv. Secar). Monitoreamos la germinación y el crecimiento de plántulas durante los estadios previos a la madurez en una cámara de crecimiento en dos experimentos diferentes, uno en condiciones de baja (5/10°C) y otro en condiciones de alta (15/20°C) temperatura diurna/nocturna. Comparado con el promedio de ambas especies perennes, B. tectorum fue 93% (77%) superior en condiciones de alta (y baja) temperatura en la proporción del largo de raíz∶tallo, pero solamente 14% (14%) mayor en la proporción de biomasa raíz∶tallo y 12% (19%) más bajo en AFE. Esto sugiere que el éxito de esta especie anual durante los estadios tempranos de la plántula podría deberse a la inversión sustantiva en el área de superficie de raíces, en vez de invertir en largo de tallos, biomasa radicular, o área foliar. Comparado con E. wawawaiensis, P. spicata tuvo una biomasa de tallos 65% (41%) más elevada, una biomasa radicular 39% (88%) más elevada y una tasa absoluta de crecimiento 70% (10%) más elevada, pero un AFE 25% (15%) inferior y una longitud específica de raíces (LER) 15% (36%) inferior bajo temperaturas altas (y bajas), respectivamente. Si bien la productividad superior de P. spicata podría inicialmente producir mejor establecimiento de plántulas comparado con E. wawawaiensis, podría también estar en desventaja en situaciones de alta competencia o en ambientes con alta limitación de recursos en los que un elevado AFE o LER podrían ser ventajosos. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:36 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:57:03 PM Tags: o absolute growth rate o bluebunch wheatgrass o relative growth rate o Snake River wheatgrass o specific leaf area o specific root length * Assessing the effectiveness of scrub management at the landscape scale using rapid field assessment and remote sensing Type Journal Article Author John Redhead Author Maria Cuevas-Gonzales Author Geoffrey Smith Author France Gerard Author Richard Pywell URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479711004300__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv6CoUQS8$ Volume 97 Pages 102-108 Publication Journal of Environmental Management ISSN 0301-4797 Date April 30, 2012 Journal Abbr Journal of Environmental Management DOI 10.1016/j.jenvman.2011.12.005 Abstract Controlling scrub encroachment is a major challenge for conservation management on chalk grasslands. However, direct comparisons of scrub removal methods have seldom been investigated, particularly at the landscape scale. Effective monitoring of grassland scrub is problematic as it requires simultaneous information on large scale patterns in scrub cover and fine-scale changes in the grassland community. This study addressed this by combining analysis of aerial imagery with rapid field surveys in order to compare the effectiveness of four scrub management strategies on Defence Training Estate Salisbury Plain, UK. Study plots were sited within areas undergoing management and in unmanaged controls. Controls showed dramatic increases in scrub cover, with encroachment of a mean 1096 m2 per hectare over ten years. Whilst all management strategies were effective in reducing scrub encroachment, they differed in their ability to influence regeneration of scrub and grassland quality. There was a general trend, evident in both the floral community and scrub levels, of increased effectiveness with increasing management intensity. The dual methodology proved highly effective, allowing rapid collection of data over a range of variables and spatial scales unavailable to each method individually. The methodology thus demonstrates potential for a useful monitoring tool. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:54 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:54 PM Tags: o Calcareous grassland o Condition assessment o Habitat restoration o Image analysis * Storage of carbon in constructed technosols: in situ monitoring over a decade Type Journal Article Author Frédéric Rees Author Robin Dagois Author Delphine Derrien Author Jean-Louis Fiorelli Author Françoise Watteau Author Jean Louis Morel Author Christophe Schwartz Author Marie-Odile Simonnot Author Geoffroy Séré URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S001670611831228X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvF_aWZss$ Volume 337 Pages 641-648 Publication Geoderma ISSN 0016-7061 Date March 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Geoderma DOI 10.1016/j.geoderma.2018.10.009 Abstract Artificial soils constructed from wastes and by-products have been considered as a sustainable option for land reclamation. In particular, they could contribute in a complementary manner to natural soils to global climate regulation by storing large quantities of carbon (C). However, the evolution of C stocks in such newly formed soils remains largely unknown. This work aimed at evaluating the dynamics of C in constructed Technosols, focusing on two experimental sites in Lorraine, France, where Technosols were constructed from thermally-treated industrial soil, papermill sludge and green waste compost, and planted with grasses. Soil samples were collected over 12 years, and stocks of C were calculated, taking into account the increase in soil bulk density and the associated decrease in soil thickness over the years. The evolution of the stocks of organic C was compared to the evolution reported for natural grassland soils from the same region and for other Technosols. Initial organic C stocks in the two constructed Technosols were 50% higher than in natural analog soils when calculated over 30 cm, and up to 5 times higher when calculated over 100 cm. Organic C stocks in the two Technosols decreased over the first three years, but increased during the following years, most likely due to the accumulation of plant-derived C. A similar evolution was observed in other planted Technosols. We conclude that Technosols constructed from an adequate set of parent materials can keep large amounts of organic C over time and sequester additional C under permanent plant cover. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:49 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:57:07 PM Tags: o Derelict land o Soil carbon sequestration o Soil compaction o Technogenic materials * Extent of Coterminous US Rangelands: Quantifying Implications of Differing Agency Perspectives Type Journal Article Author Matthew Clark Reeves Author John E. Mitchell URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742411500788__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvg7Ic5ik$ Volume 64 Issue 6 Pages 585-597 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date November 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/REM-D-11-00035.1 Abstract Rangeland extent is an important factor for evaluating critical indicators of rangeland sustainability. Rangeland areal extent was determined for the coterminous United States in a geospatial framework by evaluating spatially explicit data from the Landscape Fire and Resource Management Planning Tools (LANDFIRE) project describing historic and current vegetative composition, average height, and average cover through the viewpoints of the Natural Resources Inventory (NRI) administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program administered by the US Forest Service. Three types of rangelands were differentiated using the NRI definition encompassing rangelands, afforested rangelands, and transitory rangelands. Limitations in the FIA definition permitted characterization of only two rangeland types: rangeland and rangeland vegetation with a small patch size. These classes were similar to those from the NRI definition but differed in tree canopy cover threshold requirements. Estimated rangeland area resulting from the NRI- and FIA-LANDFIRE models were 268 and 207 Mha, respectively. In addition, the NRI-LANDFIRE model identified 19 Mha of afforested rangelands due principally to encroachment and increased density by species classified as trees belonging to the genera Quercus, Prosopis, and Juniperus. The biggest discrepancies between acreage estimates derived from NRI- and FIA-LANDFIRE models occurred in oak, pinyon-juniper, and mesquite woodlands. The differences in area estimates between the NRI and FIA perspectives demonstrate the need for development of unified, objective methods for determining rangeland extent that can be applied consistently to all rangelands regardless of ownership or jurisdiction. While the models and geospatial information developed here are useful for national-scale estimates of rangeland extent, they are subject to the limitations of the LANDFIRE data products. Resumen La extensión de los pastizales es un importante factor para evaluar indicadores críticos de la sustentabilidad de estas aéreas. La extensión aérea de los pastizales se determinó por los colindantes de Estados Unidos (US) en un marco geoespacial para evaluar espacialmente los datos explícitos del proyecto LANDFIRE describiendo su composición botánica histórica y actual, altura promedio, y cobertura promedio mediante el uso los criterios desarrollados por el Natural Resources Inventory (NRI) administrado por el Natural Resources Conservation Service y el Forest Inventory and Analysis Program (FIA) administrado por el US Forest Service. Tres tipos de pastizales se evaluaron usando la definición del NRI abarcando: pastizales, pastizales forestados y pastizales transitorios. Limitaciones en la definición de la FIA solo permiten la caracterización de dos tipos de pastizales: pastizales y vegetación con pequeñas areas de pastizal. Estas clases fueron similares a aquellas de la definición de NRI pero difirieron en los requerimientos de la cubierta aérea de los árboles. Las areas de pastizal estimadas usando los modelos NRI y FIA-LANDFIRE fueron 268 y 207 Mha, respectivamente. Además, el modelo NRI-LANDFIRE identificó 19 Mha de pastizales forestados principalmente debido a la invasión y el incremento de la densidad de especies clasificadas como arboles pertenecientes al género Quercus, Prosopis, y Juniperus. Las mayores discrepancias entre la estimación de superficie generadas por los modelos NRI y FIA-LANDFIRE se identificaron en bosques de encino, piñón-junípero y mezquite. Las diferencias entre las estimaciones de perspectivas aéreas generadas entre los modelos NRI y FIA demostraron la necesidad de desarrollar un modelo unificado; los métodos objetivos para determinar la condición de los pastizales pueden aplicarse consistentemente a todos los pastizales sin importar propiedad y jurisdicción. Mientras que los modelos e información geoespacial desarrollados aquí son útiles para la estimación a escala nacional de la condición de los pastizales, aunque están sujetas a la limitación de los productos de datos generados por LANDFIRE. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:22 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:00:22 PM Tags: o GIS o LANDFIRE o rangeland area o rangeland classification o rangeland cover * Across scales, pronghorn select sagebrush, avoid fences, and show negative responses to anthropogenic features in winter Type Journal Article Author Adele K. Reinking Author Kurt T. Smith Author Tony W. Mong Author Mary J. Read Author Jeffrey L. Beck URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.2722__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvbJC4Yrc$ Volume 10 Issue 5 Pages e02722 Publication Ecosphere ISSN 2150-8925 Date May 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Ecosphere DOI 10.1002/ecs2.2722 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Abstract Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) are endemic to western North America where they occupy expanses of grassland and sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) habitats. The Red Desert region in south-central Wyoming, USA, has historically served as a stronghold for pronghorn populations, but many herds there have experienced declining population trends over the last two decades, concurrent with oil and natural gas development. These demographic changes and the potential for such energy development, its associated infrastructure, and other anthropogenic features including roads and fences to influence pronghorn habitat selection were the impetuses for our study. We sought to evaluate the potential effect of human-induced disturbance on multi-scale seasonal resource selection of 142 adult female pronghorn from 2013 to 2016 using 442 unique animal-season-year datasets. We utilized a traditional resource selection function to evaluate seasonal home-range selection and a step-selection function to assess fine-scale, patch-level seasonal selection. We also compared resource selection during daytime and nighttime hours with step-selection analyses. At the seasonal home-range scale, pronghorn selected for areas with more sagebrush during both seasons and areas farther from fences during summer. This trend was also apparent at the patch-scale level, where pronghorn selected sagebrush-dominant habitats and avoided crossing fences in all seasons during both day and night. Additionally at this scale, pronghorn selected areas farther from fences during daytime in summer. At the broader, home-range scale, pronghorn selected areas with greater road density during summer, but with lower road densities and farther from wells during winter. Avoidance of anthropogenic features during winter was also observed at the finer, patch-scale, with pronghorn selecting for increased density of roads and oil and natural gas wells during daytime in summer, but selecting areas farther from these features during daytime in winter. We recommend minimizing fencing and other forms of anthropogenic disturbance in high-quality seasonal pronghorn habitats with high proportions of sagebrush, particularly during winter when risk-avoidance responses may be amplified. Date Added 2020-03-12, 4:49:48 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 4:49:48 PM Tags: o sagebrush o resource selection function o energy development o oil and gas o Antilocapra americana o fence o pronghorn o roads o step-selection function o summer and winter resource selection o Wyoming Notes: o doi: 10.1002/ecs2.2722 * Restoration dilemmas between future ecosystem and current species values: The concept and a practical approach in Estonian mires Type Journal Article Author Liina Remm Author Asko Lõhmus Author Eerik Leibak Author Marko Kohv Author Jüri-Ott Salm Author Piret Lõhmus Author Raul Rosenvald Author Kadri Runnel Author Kai Vellak Author Riinu Rannap URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479719311570__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvzC3DR3k$ Volume 250 Pages 109439 Publication Journal of Environmental Management ISSN 0301-4797 Date November 15, 2019 Journal Abbr Journal of Environmental Management DOI 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109439 Abstract Ecosystem restoration is gaining political and economic support worldwide, but its exact targets and costs often remain unclear. A key issue, both for predicting restoration success and assessing the costs, is the uncertainty of post-restoration development of the ecosystem. A specific combination of uncertainties emerges when ecosystem restoration would negatively affect pre-restoration species conservation values. Such dilemma appears to be common, but largely ignored in restoration planning; for example, in historically degraded forests, wetlands and grasslands that provide novel habitats for some threatened species. We present a framework of linked options for resolving the dilemma, and exemplify its application in extensive mire restoration in Estonia. The broad options include: redistributing the risks by timing; relocating restoration sites; modifying restoration techniques; and managing for future habitats of the species involved. In Estonia, we assessed these options based on spatially explicit mapping of expected future states of the ecosystem, their uncertainty, and the distribution of species at risk. Such planning documentation, combined with follow-up monitoring and experimentation, can be used for adaptive management, by funding organizations and for academic research. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:17 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:57:11 PM Tags: o Ecological restoration o Precautionary principle o Protected areas o Risk assessment o Threatened species o Uncertainty * Quantifying the impacts of grassland restoration on biodiversity and ecosystem services in China: A meta-analysis Type Journal Article Author Yanjiao Ren Author Yihe Lü Author Bojie Fu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857416304074__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvsOINAmQ$ Volume 95 Pages 542-550 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date October 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2016.06.082 Abstract Given the extent of global ecosystem degradation resulting from environmental changes and human activity, restoration efforts have increasingly focused on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Grassland, the largest terrestrial ecosystem globally and in China, has high ecological and economic value. We performed a meta-analysis to assess the impacts of grassland restoration on biodiversity and ecosystem services in China. The results showed that grassland restoration improved biodiversity by 32.44% and ecosystem services by 30.43%, although the restored grassland from degraded conditions failed to reach the level of non-degraded reference conditions for biodiversity and ecosystem services. The analysis of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the four ecological domains showed significant differences in restored grassland compared to the degraded and reference grassland. Restoration outcomes of biodiversity and ecosystem services were affected by different restoration approaches, but restoration age was not detected as significantly correlated with biodiversity and ecosystem services recovery. Biodiversity recovery, however, was positively correlated with ecosystem services recovery so far in our dataset. Despite this, these patterns require further elucidation and synthetic analyses must be conducted to assess and inform future restoration actions. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:48 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:48 PM Tags: o Biodiversity o China o Ecological restoration o Ecosystem services o Grassland o Meta-analysis o Spatiotemporal variability * Patch-burn grazing increases habitat heterogeneity and biodiversity of small mammals in managed rangelands Type Journal Article Author Andrew M. Ricketts Author Brett K. Sandercock URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.1431__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv4HCpQf4$ Volume 7 Issue 8 Pages e01431 Publication Ecosphere ISSN 2150-8925 Date August 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Ecosphere DOI 10.1002/ecs2.1431 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Abstract Habitat heterogeneity is a key driver of biodiversity in many ecosystems. Wildlife inhabiting the native prairies of North America evolved in a heterogeneous mosaic of habitat conditions created by fire and grazing by native ungulates. Current rangeland management practices in the tallgrass prairie ecosystem evenly distribute fire and grazing across management units and promote homogeneous habitat conditions. Patch-burn grazing is a rangeland management strategy that seeks to restore heterogeneity to rangelands via fire-grazing interactions. Our 3.5-year study tested the effects of patch-burn grazing on habitat heterogeneity and small mammal community dynamics in the Flint Hills ecoregion of eastern Kansas. To study the ecological effects of patch-burn grazing, we sampled habitat conditions and the small mammal community. We assessed habitat conditions once each growing season in a negative control that was annually burned and grazed, a positive control that was burned every four years and ungrazed, and within each of three units of a patch-burn grazing experiment (PBG) managed with rotational fire. Habitat conditions were significantly different among treatments, and a principal components analysis showed that the patch-burn grazing treatment had higher canopy cover of forbs and habitat heterogeneity than our two control units. To sample the small mammal community, we conducted monthly live trapping of small mammals on two randomly located trap grids in each of our two controls and three units of our PBG treatment. Small mammal diversity was significantly higher in the patch-burn grazing treatment and in the positive control, vs. the negative control. Moreover, a canonical correspondence analysis showed that a fire-grazing interaction was the major driver structuring small mammal communities. Patch-burn grazing is an effective strategy for restoring heterogeneity to vegetative structure and composition, and can increase biodiversity of small mammals in managed rangelands in the tallgrass prairie ecosystem. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:52:03 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:52:03 PM Tags: o fire o rangeland management o tallgrass prairie o heterogeneity o pyric herbivory o rodent Notes: o doi: 10.1002/ecs2.1431 * A modelling framework for improving plant establishment during ecological restoration Type Journal Article Author Matthew J. Rinella Author Jeremy J. James URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304380017303587__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv3QiSCkg$ Volume 361 Pages 177-183 Publication Ecological Modelling ISSN 0304-3800 Date October 10, 2017 Journal Abbr Ecological Modelling DOI 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2017.08.005 Abstract Plants seeded during ecological restoration sometimes persist but more often fail to establish. Biodiversity has been shown to stabilize a number of ecological processes, suggesting biodiverse seed mixes could be designed to stabilize plant establishment outcomes. In particular, it may be possible to design seed mixes to increase chances at least some seeded species will be adapted to whatever environmental conditions arise during establishment. To explore this possibility, we developed a modelling framework and applied it to data from 30 field experiments (15 sites×2 seeding years) conducted in a big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt.) ecosystem. In each experiment, three native and one nonnative grass were sown (600seedsm−2) in separate plots, and we estimated the probability each species germinated and survived through two growing seasons post-seeding. Applying an optimization algorithm to these survival probabilities allowed us to assign species identities to 600seedsm−2 in a manner maximizing the number of experimental conditions yielding ≥5plantsm−2, a common plant density goal in grassland restoration. Allocating 353 (216, 555) [point estimate (95% CI)] seeds to Poa secunda J. Presl and 247 (11, 378) seeds to Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) Á. Löve) maximized our native plant density goal (goal achieved in 12 (10, 14) of 30 experiments), and the allocation to >1 species supports the hypothesis biodiverse seed mixes could be designed to reduce establishment failures. Averaged over experiments, P. spicata survival was roughly half of P. secunda survival, but P. spicata nevertheless contributed to the density goal by compensating for low P. secunda survival in certain experiments. Strategically combining species with different seed/seedling traits can increase chances of achieving adequate plant establishment during ecological restoration. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:38 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:38 PM Tags: o Biodiversity o Ecological restoration o Grassland o Plant establishment o Seedling survival o Trait * High precipitation and seeded species competition reduce seeded shrub establishment during dryland restoration Type Journal Article Author Matthew J. Rinella Author Darcy H. Hammond Author Ana-Elisa M. Bryant Author Brian J. Kozar URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1890/14-1110.1__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvgTGi2tk$ Volume 25 Issue 4 Pages 1044-1053 Publication Ecological Applications ISSN 1051-0761 Date June 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Ecological Applications DOI 10.1890/14-1110.1 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Drylands comprise 40% of Earth's land mass and are critical to food security, carbon sequestration, and threatened and endangered wildlife. Exotic weed invasions, overgrazing, energy extraction, and other factors have degraded many drylands, and this has placed an increased emphasis on dryland restoration. The increased restoration focus has generated a wealth of experience, innovations and empirical data, yet the goal of restoring diverse, native, dryland plant assemblages composed of grasses, forbs, and shrubs has generally proven beyond reach. Of particular concern are shrubs, which often fail to establish or establish at trivially low densities. We used data from two Great Plains, USA coal mines to explore factors regulating shrub establishment. Our predictor data related to weather and restoration (e.g., seed rates, rock cover) variables, and our response data described shrub abundances on fields of the mines. We found that seeded non-shrubs, especially grasses, formed an important competitive barrier to shrub establishment: With every one standard deviation increase in non-shrub seed rate, the probability shrubs were present decreased ~0.1 and shrub cover decreased ~35%. Since new fields were seeded almost every year for >20 years, the data also provided a unique opportunity to explore effects of stochastic drivers (i.e., precipitation, year effects). With every one standard deviation increase in precipitation the first growing season following seeding, the probability shrubs were present decreased ~0.07 and shrub cover decreased ~47%. High precipitation appeared to harm shrubs by increasing grass growth/competition. Also, weak evidence suggested shrub establishment was better in rockier fields where grass abundance/competition was lower. Multiple lines of evidence suggest reducing grass seed rates below levels typically used in Great Plains restoration would benefit shrubs without substantially impacting grass stand development over the long term. We used Bayesian statistics to estimate effects of seed rates and other restoration predictors probabilistically to allow knowledge of the predictors' effects to be refined through time in an adaptive management framework. We believe this framework could improve restoration planning in a variety of systems where restoration outcomes remain highly uncertain and ongoing restoration efforts are continually providing new data of value for reducing the uncertainty. Date Added 2020-03-12, 4:06:20 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:57:12 PM Tags: o Bayesian adaptive management o competition o dryland o grassland o restoration o seeding o shrub Notes: o doi: 10.1890/14-1110.1 o doi: 10.1890/14-1110.1 * Seeding Causes Long-Term Increases in Grass Forage Production in Invaded Rangelands Type Journal Article Author Matthew J. Rinella Author Alan D. Knudsen Author James S. Jacobs Author Jane M. Mangold URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S155074241930082X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvrolKtT0$ Volume 73 Issue 2 Pages 329-333 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date March 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2019.10.008 Abstract Seeding is sometimes used in attempts to increase grass forage production in invaded rangelands, but insufficient long-term data prevent determining if seeded grasses are likely to become and remain productive enough to justify this expensive practice. We quantified long-term seeding outcomes in a widespread Rocky Mountain foothill habitat invaded by leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L.) and several exotic grasses. Fourteen yr after seeding, the most productive grass (bluebunch wheatgrass [Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) Á. Löve]) produced 900 (100, 12 000) kg ha−1 [mean (95% CI)], which was about 70% of total plant community biomass. This result was not greatly altered by grazing according to an unreplicated, grazed experiment adjacent to our replicated ungrazed experiment. Regardless of treatment, E. esula gradually became less productive and seeded and unseeded plots produced similar E. esula biomass 14 yr after seeding. P. spicata reduced exotic grasses about 85%. Our results resemble those of another foothills study of another invasive forb (Centaurea stoebe L. ssp. micranthos [Gugler] Hayek) and a Great Plains study of E. esula, so foothills seeding outcomes seem somewhat insensitive to invader composition, and seeding can increase forage across much of E. esula’s range. While there is always some risk seeded grasses will fail to establish, our study combined with past studies identifies invaded habitats where seeded grasses have a good possibility of forming persistent, productive stands. Date Added 2020-03-17, 6:59:57 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:57:14 PM Tags: o forage production o grazing o herbicide o invasive weed o restoration o seeding * The fate of herbaceous seeds during topsoil stockpiling: Restoration potential of seed banks Type Journal Article Author Desiree Rivera Author Berta M. Jáuregui Author Begoña Peco URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857412001000__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvaPfTP2s$ Volume 44 Pages 94-101 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date July 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2012.03.005 Abstract Topsoil removed during linear infrastructure construction is one of the most valuable resources for the ecological restoration of roadslopes, as it contains high concentrations of micro-organisms, nutrients and seeds. During construction work, topsoil is stockpiled in a way that can harm seed germination and survival capacity. In order to assess the effects of topsoil storage time and seed burial depth on seed survival, germination and mortality, an experiment with three replicates was conducted using two factors: time (1–6 months) and burial depth (0, 5, 30 and 50cm). At each stockpile depth we buried 25 seeds from 10 natural grassland species (5 families) in permeable nylon sachets. Seed mass and seed functional responses to light (LI) and diurnal temperature fluctuations (DTF) were also measured for each species. Seed survival, germination and mortality during stockpiling were analyzed using binomial GLMs. Explanatory variables were family, depth of burial, time, seed mass, LI and DTF responses. Seed survival decreased with storage time but increases with depth. Seed losses were due to seed germination and mortality in the stockpile. Germination percentage increased with time but decreased with burial depth. This parameter was negatively related to LI and DTF. Mortality increased significantly with time and depth and was negatively related to seed mass. Results show that there may be a loss of viable seeds in topsoil stockpiles, particularly in the case of large seeds. Our results also underline the functional role of light requirements for germination and the detection of diurnal temperature fluctuations as mechanisms to achieve higher soil seed persistence. The correct management of topsoil is decisive for the restoration of roadslopes. Seed germination potential decrease with time of storage and burial depth, consequently a serious loss of seeds conducts an impoverishing of topsoil, which is the main natural resource for the restoration of these disturbed ecosystems. Viable seed loss is lower in deeper layers of the stockpile, so short-period topsoil storage and bigger stockpiles could reduce seed loss and increase thus the restoration potential of topsoil. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:22 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:22 PM Tags: o Burial depth o Germination o Roadslope o Seed mass o Storage time o Viability * Restoration and Economics: A Union Waiting to Happen? Type Journal Article Author Alicia S. T. Robbins Author Jean M. Daniels URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2011.00838.x__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvOIVEhCk$ Rights © 2011 Society for Ecological Restoration International Volume 20 Issue 1 Pages 10-17 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2012 DOI 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2011.00838.x Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:54:30 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract In this article, our objective is to introduce economics as a tool for the planning, prioritization, and evaluation of restoration projects. Studies that develop economic estimates of public values for ecological restoration employ methods that may be unfamiliar to practitioners. We hope to address this knowledge gap by describing economic concepts in the context of ecological restoration. We have summarized the most common methods for estimating the costs and benefits of restoration projects as well as frameworks for decision analysis and prioritization. These methods are illustrated in a review of the literature as it applies to terrestrial restoration in the United States, with examples of applications of methods to projects. Our hope is that practitioners will consider collaborating with economists to help ensure that restoration costs and benefits are identified and understood. Short Title Restoration and Economics Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:54:30 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:54:30 PM Tags: o benefits o costs o economics o ecosystem services o nonmarket valuation o restoration Attachments o Snapshot * Combining Glyphosate With Burning or Mowing Improves Control of Yellow Bluestem (Bothriochloa ischaemum) Type Journal Article Author Scott Robertson Author Karen R. Hickman Author Keith R. Harmoney Author David M. Leslie URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742413500376__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv1CzbPCY$ Volume 66 Issue 3 Pages 376-381 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date May 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/REM-D-11-00198.1 Accessed 2020-03-17, 6:04:36 PM Library Catalog ScienceDirect Language en Abstract The invasive yellow bluestem (Bothriochloa ischaemum [L.] Keng) threatens native biodiversity, and its control is of interest to land managers involved in restoration of invaded grasslands. We used single, double, and triple applications of glyphosate (2.125kg ai · ha‒1 · application‒1) over the course of one growing season in combinations at different timings (early, middle, late season) with and without a mechanical treatment of mowing or burning to determine the most effective control method. One year after treatment, burning and mowing prior to a mid-season single or double early, middle, and/or late season herbicide application resulted in a similar level of control of yellow bluestem relative to a triple herbicide application, all of which had greater control relative to herbicide treatment alone. Reproductive tiller density and visual obstruction increased 2yr after treatment with two herbicide treatments applied either early and middle season or early and late season, but it was prevented with burning and mowing prior to herbicide application. With the exception of three herbicide applications, combining burning or mowing with herbicide applications provided more effective control of yellow bluestem than any individual herbicide applications. Burning or mowing likely improves glyphosate effectiveness by altering the invasive grass structure so that plants are clear of standing dead and have shorter, active regrowth to enhance herbicide effectiveness. During restoration projects requiring control of invasive yellow bluestem, an effective management option is a combination of mechanical and chemical control. Date Added 2020-03-17, 6:04:36 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:57:16 PM Tags: o burning o exotic species o integrated pest management o King Ranch bluestem o Old World bluestem o restoration Attachments o ScienceDirect Snapshot * Montane meadow hydropedology, plant community, and herbivore dynamics Type Journal Article Author Leslie M. Roche Author Anthony T. O'Geen Author Andrew M. Latimer Author Danny J. Eastburn URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1890/ES14-00173.1__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvajZwlww$ Volume 5 Issue 12 Pages art150 Publication Ecosphere ISSN 2150-8925 Date December 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Ecosphere DOI 10.1890/ES14-00173.1 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Montane meadows provide multiple ecological and economic benefits, and are widely considered areas of high conservation value. There is growing interest in balancing multiple land-uses on these and other focal working landscapes to provide for economic, social, and conservation goals. Globally, livestock grazing has been used as a management and conservation tool in many ecosystems; however, there is substantial concern?particularly for montane meadows?that grazing negatively impacts ecosystem functions and services. The mechanisms by which excessive livestock grazing can degrade meadow function have been well documented; yet, for hydrologically functional meadow systems, we know little about meadow-scale linkages in the hydrologic-soil-plant-grazing animal continuum, which limits our ability to develop riparian grazing conservation strategies. We conducted a cross-sectional, observational survey of hydrology, soils, plant communities, and cattle forage resource use across 24 functional montane meadows of the central Sierra Nevada Mountain Range in California, USA. By linking principles of plant community ecology and foraging theory, we were able to unravel relationships and drivers between hydropedologic conditions, plant community characteristics, and cattle grazing patterns. Our work demonstrates that hydrology is a critical driving factor of cattle foraging response, plant community attributes, and soil properties across these wetland ecosystems. Results indicate that these systems are resilient to the observed gradient of grazing disturbances. This information advances our understanding of how meadow-scale heterogeneity can be utilized in managing for multiple, and potentially conflicting, ecosystem services across working landscapes?particularly in the face of projected future climate changes and continually limited resources to support conservation and restoration projects. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:47:23 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:57:19 PM Tags: o Bayesian structural equation model o carbon sequestration o cattle o diversity o livestock grazing o mountain meadows o wetlands Notes: o doi: 10.1890/ES14-00173.1 o doi: 10.1890/ES14-00173.1 * Forest restoration, wildfire, and habitat selection by female mule deer Type Journal Article Author Tanya M. Roerick Author James W. Cain Author J.V. Gedir URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112719302403__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv35ckcy0$ Volume 447 Pages 169-179 Publication Forest Ecology and Management ISSN 0378-1127 Date September 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Forest Ecology and Management DOI 10.1016/j.foreco.2019.05.067 Abstract Decades of fire suppression, logging, and overgrazing have led to increased densities of small diameter trees which have been associated with decreases in biodiversity, reduced habitat quality for wildlife species, degraded foraging conditions for ungulates, and more frequent and severe wildfires. In response, land managers are implementing forest restoration treatments using prescribed fire and thinning to mitigate the risk of catastrophic wildfires and improve habitat conditions for a variety of wildlife species. We monitored habitat selection by female mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in relation to forest restoration treatments and wildfires in northern New Mexico in 2015. Our specific objectives were to assess changes in forage abundance and determine habitat selection patterns of mule deer in relation to recent wildfires, forest restoration treatments, including duration of the post-treatment recovery, and other habitat characteristics. Herbaceous forage biomass was greater in wildfire-burned areas than in untreated areas or those treated with prescribed burns or thinning. Oak forage biomass was greater in wildfire-burned areas compared to prescribed burns, forest thinning, and untreated areas. However, thinned areas tended to have higher oak forage biomass than untreated areas. Mule deer selected for areas burned by prescribed fire and generally avoided wildfire-burned and thinned areas <5 years old. Mule deer strongly selected for thinned areas ≥5 years old. At both the landscape and home-range scale, grasslands were avoided during most seasons, pinyon-juniper woodlands were selected in winter, and oak vegetation and mixed-conifer forests were selected during summer. Our data suggests that mule deer may benefit from recent prescribed burns and older forest thinning, but the duration of post-treatment vegetation recovery influences the strength and direction of selection. Knowledge of the short- and long-term effects of restoration treatments will provide managers with the means to make more informed decisions regarding implementation of forest restoration and other vegetation treatments intended to benefit mule deer. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:56 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:56 PM * Restoration of the iconic Pando aspen clone: emerging evidence of recovery Type Journal Article Author Paul C. Rogers Author Jody A. Gale URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.1661__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvjubZoGM$ Volume 8 Issue 1 Pages e01661 Publication Ecosphere ISSN 2150-8925 Date January 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Ecosphere DOI 10.1002/ecs2.1661 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Abstract Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) is being stressed across the America West from a variety of sources including drought, herbivory, fire suppression, development, and past management practices. Rich assemblages of plants and animals that utilize aspen forests, as well as economic values of tourism, grazing, hunting, and water conservation, make aspen ecosystems among the most valuable vegetation types in this region. The 43-ha Pando clone near Fish Lake, Utah, is an iconic example of an aspen community undergoing rapid decline due to overstory mortality and chronic recruitment failure. As part of a larger project to restore Pando, we fenced, treated, and monitored a portion of this famous grove with the intent of documenting regeneration responses and using such practices at larger scales. Twenty-seven randomly stratified monitoring plots were placed across this landscape in order to better understand herbivory and regeneration responses to distinct treatment categories: protected and unprotected, and passive (fenced only) and active (burning, shrub removal, selective overstory cutting) treatments. At each site, we measured basal area and mortality on mature trees, made counts of juvenile and intermediate suckers, documented browse levels and herbivore scat presence, and characterized environmental conditions in terms of aspen and common juniper cover, treatment type, elevation, slope, and aspect. Our results confirmed a positive regeneration response to browsing cessation after fencing, whereas non-fenced areas showed no improvement. Within the fence, there was a significantly better response of active treatment vs. passive and there was no significant difference between treatment types in terms of level of regeneration. Both active and passive management produced regeneration levels that were sufficient to replace dying canopy trees if managers continue to protect suckers until they exceed the reach of browsers. These results support a growing body of research suggesting managers need to invest in continuous protection from herbivory in stable aspen forests, as well as targeting additional post-treatment protection, to ensure adequate regeneration. We examine ramifications of these results for broader restoration purposes in the remainder of Pando, as well as other aspen communities regionally, with the ultimate goal of restoring ecological process toward greater ecosystem resilience. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:47:20 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:57:21 PM Tags: o cattle o herbivory o management o monitoring o mule deer o Populus tremuloides o recruitment o restoration o Utah Notes: o doi: 10.1002/ecs2.1661 o doi: 10.1002/ecs2.1661 * Key ecosystem services and ecological intensification of agriculture in the tropical high-Andean Puna as affected by land-use and climate changes Type Journal Article Author Jose L. Rolando Author Cecilia Turin Author David A. Ramírez Author Victor Mares Author Jorge Monerris Author Roberto Quiroz URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016788091630593X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvrHNv9tk$ Volume 236 Pages 221-233 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date January 2, 2017 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2016.12.010 Abstract High-altitude ecosystems shelter important reserves of biodiversity, water provision and soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. Climate change, agricultural encroachment, overgrazing, and mining activities are endangering ecosystems sustainability, particularly in the high-Andean Puna. Increasing food demands in a region with limited agricultural land calls for agricultural intensification. Ecological intensification of agriculture is a framework for increasing agricultural productivity by fostering supporting and regulating ecosystem services (ES) while reducing negative environmental impacts. In this review we examine how agriculture use and disturb the provision of key ES in this ecoregion – food, wool and fiber provision, soil fertility, nutrient cycling, soil carbon sequestration, water provision and regulation, genetic resources, pest and disease control, pollination regulation and microclimate regulation. We also propose a set of technologies, practices and policies to preserve (or restore) the provision of these key ES: long fallowing, soil amendments, conservation tillage, rotational grazing, grassland ecological restoration, conservation of agrobiodiversity, modern irrigation and water harvesting, plant breeding, climate change mitigation schemes and payment for ecosystem services, and adapted traditional technologies. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:27 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:27 PM Tags: o Biodiversity o Carbon sequestration o Mountain ecosystems o Nutrient cycling o Soil fertility o Water provision o Water regulation * Grazing disturbance promotes exotic annual grasses by degrading soil biocrust communities Type Journal Article Author Heather T. Root Author Jesse E. D. Miller Author Roger Rosentreter URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.2016__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvzRiZ_-o$ Volume 30 Issue 1 Pages e02016 Publication Ecological Applications ISSN 1051-0761 Date January 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Ecological Applications DOI 10.1002/eap.2016 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Abstract Exotic invasive plants threaten ecosystem integrity, and their success depends on a combination of abiotic factors, disturbances, and interactions with existing communities. In dryland ecosystems, soil biocrusts (communities of lichens, bryophytes, and microorganisms) can limit favorable microsites needed for invasive species establishment, but the relative importance of biocrusts for landscape-scale invasion patterns remains poorly understood. We examine effects of livestock grazing in habitats at high risk for invasion to test the hypothesis that disturbance indirectly favors exotic annual grasses by reducing biocrust cover. We present some of the first evidence that biocrusts increase site resistance to invasion at a landscape scale and mediate the effects of disturbance. Biocrust species richness, which is reduced by livestock grazing, also appears to promote native perennial grasses. Short mosses, as a functional group, appear to be particularly valuable for preventing invasion by exotic annual grasses. Our study suggests that maintaining biocrust communities with high cover, species richness, and cover of short mosses can increase resistance to invasion. These results highlight the potential of soil surface communities to mediate invasion dynamics and suggest promising avenues for restoration in dryland ecosystems. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:52:02 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:52:02 PM Tags: o rangeland o biocrust o livestock grazing o cheatgrass o disturbance ecology o diversity–ecosystem-function relationship o exotic annual grasses o plant establishment o resistance to invasion Notes: o doi: 10.1002/eap.2016 * Grazing Disturbance Promotes Exotic Annual Grasses by Degrading Soil Biocrust Communities Type Journal Article Author Heather T. Root Author Jesse E. D. Miller Author Roger Rosentreter URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1002/bes2.1637__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv0ZzRTms$ Volume 101 Issue 1 Pages e01637 Publication The Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America ISSN 0012-9623 Date January 1, 2020 Journal Abbr The Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America DOI 10.1002/bes2.1637 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:52:05 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:52:05 PM Notes: o doi: 10.1002/bes2.1637 * Prospects for rewilding with camelids Type Journal Article Author Meredith Root-Bernstein Author Jens-Christian Svenning URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196316300374__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv7RySdv0$ Volume 130 Pages 54-61 Publication Journal of Arid Environments ISSN 0140-1963 Date July 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Journal of Arid Environments DOI 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2016.03.011 Abstract The wild camelids wild Bactrian camel (Camelus ferus), guanaco (Lama guanicoe), and vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) as well as their domestic relatives llama (Lama glama), alpaca (Vicugna pacos), dromedary (Camelus dromedarius) and domestic Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) may be good candidates for rewilding, either as proxy species for extinct camelids or other herbivores, or as reintroductions to their former ranges. Camels were among the first species recommended for Pleistocene rewilding. Camelids have been abundant and widely distributed since the mid-Cenozoic and were among the first species recommended for Pleistocene rewilding. They show a range of adaptations to dry and marginal habitats, and have been found in deserts, grasslands and savannas throughout paleohistory. Camelids have also developed close relationships with pastoralist and farming cultures wherever they occur. We review the evolutionary and paleoecological history of extinct and extant camelids, and then discuss their potential ecological roles within rewilding projects for deserts, grasslands and savannas. The functional ecosystem ecology of camelids has not been well researched, and we highlight functions that camelids are likely to have, but which require further study. We also discuss alternative rewilding-inspired land-use models given the close relationships between humans and some camelid species. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:57 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:57 PM Tags: o Camel o Camelids o Guanaco o Llama o Rewilding o Vicuña * The Chilean Espinal: Restoration for a Sustainable Silvopastoral System Type Journal Article Author Meredith Root‐Bernstein Author Fabián Jaksic URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12019__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvDJI7c6k$ Rights © 2013 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 21 Issue 4 Pages 409-414 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2013 DOI 10.1111/rec.12019 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:42:16 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract The mediterranean habitats of central Chile are rich in endemic species, but threatened by land-use changes. In this context, we suggest that restoration of the traditional espinal silvopastoral system could improve its sustainability and conservation value. Past research on the espinal embraced negative stereotypes of peasants, the tree Acacia caven, and the semiarid landscape to recommend abandoning the silvopastoral system. We think that recommendation is premature and ignores the value of the espinal as a classical Chilean cultural landscape. Drawing on lessons from silvopastoral systems in Latin America and the Mediterranean, here we suggest several management interventions and incentives that could be developed to restore the espinal. Particular challenges in espinal include low biomass production due to the semiarid climate and the lack of a traditional sustainable timber or non-timber product of A. caven. Our recommendations include sustainable production and use of biochar and bark extracts from A. caven to improve espinal soils, the promotion of shrubs and the use of small mammal disturbances, and their artificial analogs to improve A. caven reproduction, and rotational livestock herding to form mosaic landscapes. These techniques could lead to higher forage biomass and increased livestock weights. Incentive structures to implement these management activities could include tax benefits for private protected area (IUCN category VI) creation, REDD+ and PES programs, along with promotion of the cultural value of the espinal. Further research is urgently called for on ecosystem services, ecological baselines, biochar, and other management and incentive structures that could be applied in the espinal. Short Title The Chilean Espinal Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:42:16 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:42:16 PM Tags: o Acacia caven o biochar o Chile o espinal o PES o REDD+ o silvopastoral system Attachments o Snapshot * What happens to the sown species if a biodiversity experiment is not weeded? Type Journal Article Author Christiane Roscher Author Alexander J.F. Fergus Author Jana S. Petermann Author Nina Buchmann Author Bernhard Schmid Author Ernst-Detlef Schulze URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1439179113000066__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvGaiyGns$ Volume 14 Issue 3 Pages 187-198 Publication Basic and Applied Ecology ISSN 1439-1791 Date May 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Basic and Applied Ecology DOI 10.1016/j.baae.2013.01.003 Abstract Studies in experimental grasslands have extensively documented the effects of sown plant diversity on the colonization of new species, but the responses of the sown plant combinations themselves have rarely been investigated. We established experimental grasslands differing in species richness (1, 2, 4, 8, and 16) and functional group number and composition (1–4; legumes, grasses, small herbs, tall herbs), and we studied the changes in the abundance of sown species (residents) in both weeded and non-weeded subplots over a period of five years after sowing. The accumulation of new species through spontaneous colonization in the non-weeded treatment did not affect the number of resident species, but had increasingly negative effects over time on the cover of resident species and their aboveground biomass production at community level. Temporal stability of resident populations was lower and year-to-year changes in resident species composition were larger in non-weeded than in weeded subplots. Compositional dissimilarity between weeded and non-weeded treatments increased through time. These negative effects of the colonization of new species on the abundances and stability of resident populations depended on resident species identity and not on additional variation between different functional groups. The colonization of new species did not change the number of resident species emerging from seeds, but reduced seedling densities of residents. Colonization did not affect the structure of resident communities as measured by species evenness, functional trait diversity and mean trait values suggesting that colonization can destabilize the species composition of residents in terms of abundance while leaving them unchanged in terms of functional characteristics. Generally, negative impacts of colonizing species on residents which accelerated through time decreased with an increasing number of sown species. Sowing more diverse grassland mixtures increases their predictability in terms of ecosystem characteristics, which is important for ecological restoration and sustainable agriculture. Zusammenfassung Untersuchungen in experimentellen Grasländern haben weitgehend die Effekte der angesäten pflanzlichen Artendiversität auf die Einwanderung neuer Arten belegt, aber deren Auswirkungen auf die angesäten Artenkombinationen wurden bisher selten betrachtet. Wir haben die Veränderungen in der Abundanz der angesäten Arten in regelmäßig gejäteten bzw. nie gejäteten Teilflächen experimenteller Grasländer mit verschiedener Artenzahl (1, 2, 4, 8 und 16) und Zahl und Zusammensetzung funktioneller Gruppen (1 bis 4; Leguminosen, Gräser, kleine Kräuter, große Kräuter) über einen Zeitraum von 5 Jahren nach der Aussaat untersucht. Die zunehmende Anreicherung neuer Arten durch spontane Einwanderung in den nie gejäteten Teilflächen führte nicht zu einer Veränderung in der Zahl der etablierten angesäten Arten; sie hatte aber mit der Zeit zunehmend negative Effekte auf die Deckung der angesäten Arten und die oberirdische Biomasseproduktion der Bestände. Die zeitliche Stabilität der angesäten Populationen war geringer und die jährliche Veränderung in der Zusammensetzung der angesäten Arten war größer, wenn die Teilflächen nicht gejätet wurden, und die Unterschiede in der Artenzusammensetzung zwischen gejäteten und nie gejäteten Teilflächen nahmen im Untersuchungszeitraum zu. Diese negativen Effekte der einwandernden Arten auf die Abundanz und Stabilität der angesäten Arten variierte in Abhängigkeit von ihrer Artidentität; die Zugehörigkeit der angesäten Arten zu verschiedenen funktionellen Gruppen konnte diese Unterschiede aber nicht erklären. Die Einwanderung neuer Arten hatte keine Auswirkungen auf die Zahl keimender Arten, aber die Keimlingsdichte der ursprünglich angesäten Arten war in nie gejäteten Teilflächen geringer. Die Einwanderung neuer Arten hatte keinen Effekt auf die Evenness, funktionelle Diversität und funktionelle Zusammensetzung der angesäten Bestände. Damit wird gezeigt, dass die Einwanderung neuer Arten die Artenzusammensetzung der angesäten Arten destabilisiert, während sie geringe Auswirkungen auf ihre funktionelle Zusammensetzung hat. Die über die Zeit zunehmenden negativen Effekte auf die angesäten Artengemeinschaften waren geringer, wenn artenreichere Mischungen ausgesät wurden. Die Aussaat artenreicherer Mischungen von Graslandarten verbessert die Vorhersagbarkeit ihrer Ökosystemeigenschaften, die wichtig für eine ökologische Renaturierung und nachhaltige Landwirtschaft sind. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:19 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:19 PM Tags: o Biodiversity o Community assembly o Functional trait composition o Jena Experiment o Productivity o Stability * Biocrust lichen and moss species most suitable for restoration projects Type Journal Article Author Roger Rosentreter URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.13082__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvVboG3Oc$ Rights © 2019 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume n/a Issue n/a Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X DOI 10.1111/rec.13082 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:35:42 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Reintroducing lichens and mosses to areas slated for restoration or rehabilitation may prove integral to project success by filling the biocrust component (niche) of arid ecosystems. In doing so, it is important to select appropriate species and genetic source material. Some bryophyte and lichen species are early pioneers and are potentially well-suited for restoration projects. Species traits such as high reproductive rates, rapid establishment rates, and large asexual reproductive propagules can be beneficial for restoration. For instance, the large number of spores produced by some mosses are beneficial for reproductive success in arid environments. In addition to identifying the benefit of reproductive strategies, it is important to take habitat needs into consideration; lichen and moss species that are wide-ranging both geographically and ecologically are recommended over geographically and edaphically restricted species that occur only in specific habitats, such as calcareous soils. Biocrusts used in specific restoration areas should have similar genetic source material (local provenance), and harsh environmental conditions should be ameliorated. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:35:42 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:35:42 PM Tags: o establishment o Great Basin o lichens o mosses o reproductive rate Attachments o Snapshot * Changes in soil properties, microbial biomass, and fluxes of C and N in soil following post-agricultural grassland restoration Type Journal Article Author Steven T. Rosenzweig Author Michael A. Carson Author Sara G. Baer Author John M. Blair URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929139316300014__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvvjJB7uo$ Volume 100 Pages 186-194 Publication Applied Soil Ecology ISSN 0929-1393 Date April 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Applied Soil Ecology DOI 10.1016/j.apsoil.2016.01.001 Abstract Understanding the dynamics of soil C and N pools and fluxes following grassland restoration in formerly cultivated soils is needed to assess the capacity of this land-use change to return soil properties and function to pre-disturbance conditions. We examined changes in physical (bulk density) and chemical (pH, available P and N, and total stocks of C and N) properties, microbial biomass C and N, and transformation rates of C and N in soil (0–10cm depth) across a 35-year chronosequence of prairie restorations and never-cultivated (native) prairie to evaluate the rate and extent to which sowing native perennial plants into formerly cultivated soils returns soil to steady state conditions. Bulk density, available P, and extractable inorganic N decreased exponentially across the chronosequence. Soil pH increased linearly across the chronosequence to exceed that in native prairie soil. Total C and N stocks in cultivated soil were <50% that of native prairie, and increased at rates of 26.2gCm−2year−1 and 1.68gNm−2year−1 across the chronosequence. In the oldest restoration, total C and N stocks were 55% and 41% higher than the cultivated soil, respectively. Recovery of C and N stocks to levels comparable to native prairie soil was estimated to take 350 years. Microbial biomass C and N increased 5-fold. Potential C mineralization rate was comparable to native prairie soil following two decades of restoration, and exceeded native prairie in the 35-years restoration. In situ soil CO2 efflux reached equilibrium in <30 years. Potential net N mineralization rate, however, did not exhibit a directional change across the restoration chronosequence, but was lowest in the oldest restored grasslands. Thus, cessation of tillage and sowing native vegetation leads to rapid decreases in available N and P, and promotes rapid (decadal scale) recovery of labile soil organic matter pools, but recovery of total C and N pools requires several centuries. This study suggests that soil properties related to nutrient retention and regulation of nutrient availability can be reestablished within the first few decades of restoration, while C sequestration will continue on a longer time scale. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:43 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:43 PM Tags: o Bulk density o Chronosequence o Soil respiration o SOM recovery o Tallgrass prairie * Current reclamation practices after oil and gas development do not speed up succession or plant community recovery in big sagebrush ecosystems in Wyoming: Reclamation and sagebrush plant community recovery Type Journal Article Author Caitlin M. Rottler Author Ingrid C. Burke Author Kyle A. Palmquist Author John B. Bradford Author William K. Lauenroth URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://doi.wiley.com/10.1111/rec.12543__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvJv2ai-A$ Volume 26 Issue 1 Pages 114-123 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 10612971 Date 01/2018 DOI 10.1111/rec.12543 Accessed 2019-08-12, 4:38:57 PM Library Catalog CrossRef Language en Short Title Current reclamation practices after oil and gas development do not speed up succession or plant community recovery in big sagebrush ecosystems in Wyoming Date Added 2019-08-12, 4:38:57 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:57:24 PM Tags: o chronosequence o energy development o reclamation o species richness o succession Attachments o Snapshot * Sediment fingerprinting as an environmental forensics tool explaining cyanobacteria blooms in lakes Type Journal Article Author J.S. Rowan Author S. Black Author S.W. Franks URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0143622811001391__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvdmqZjdA$ Volume 32 Issue 2 Pages 832-843 Publication Applied Geography ISSN 0143-6228 Date March 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Applied Geography DOI 10.1016/j.apgeog.2011.07.004 Abstract Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) blooms in water bodies present serious public health issues with attendant economic and ecological impacts. Llyn Tegid (Lake Bala) is an important conservation and amenity asset within Snowdonia National Park, Wales which since the mid-1990s has experienced multiple toxic cyanobacteria blooms threatening the ecology and tourism-dependent local economy. Multiple working hypotheses explain the emergence of this problem, including climate change, land management linked to increased nutrient flux, hydromorphological alterations or changing trophic structure - any of which may operate individually or cumulatively to impair lake function. This paper reports the findings of a sediment fingerprinting study using dated lake cores to explore the linkages between catchment and lake management practices and the emergence of the algal blooms problem. Since 1900 AD lake bed sedimentation rates have varied from 0.06 to 1.07 g cm−2 yr−1, with a pronounced acceleration since the early 1980s. Geochemical analysis revealed increases in the concentrations of total phosphorus (TP), calcium and heavy metals such as zinc and lead consistent with eutrophication and a rising pollution burden, particularly since the late 1970s. An uncertainty-inclusive sediment fingerprinting approach was used to apportion the relative fluxes from the major catchment land cover types of improved pasture, rough grazing, forestry and channel banks. This showed improved pasture and channel banks are the dominant diffuse sources of sediment in the catchment, though forestry sources were important historically. Conversion of rough grazing to improved grassland, coupled with intensified land management and year-round livestock grazing, is concluded to provide the principal source of rising TP levels. Lake Habitat Survey and particle size analysis of lake cores demonstrate the hydromorphological impact of the River Dee Regulation Scheme, which controls water level and periodically diverts flow into Llyn Tegid from the adjacent Afon Tryweryn catchment. This hydromorphological impact has also been most pronounced since the late 1970s. It is concluded that an integrated approach combining land management to reduce agricultural runoff allied to improved water level regulation enabling recovery of littoral macrophytes offers the greatest chance halting the on-going cyanobacteria issue in Llyn Tegid. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:32:14 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:32:14 PM Tags: o Blue-green algae o Cyanobacteria o Environmental reconstruction o Eutrophication o Forensics o Hydromorphology o Lake Habitat Survey (LHS) o Lake sediment o Llyn Tegid o Radiometric dating o Sediment fingerprinting * Phytoliths and phytolith carbon occlusion in aboveground vegetation of sandy grasslands in eastern Inner Mongolia, China Type Journal Article Author Ning Ru Author Xiaomin Yang Author Zhaoliang Song Author Hongyan Liu Author Qian Hao Author Xu Liu Author Xiuchen Wu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969718300640__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvxnvFQ9s$ Volume 625 Pages 1283-1289 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date June 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.01.055 Abstract Grasslands play a crucial role in the coupled biogeochemical cycles of carbon (C) and silicon (Si) because they have a large biogenic Si pool (i.e. phytoliths). In recent decades, desertification has occurred extensively in sandy grasslands due to human activities and to increased aridity as a consequence of climate change. The present study determined the contents of phytoliths and C occlusion within phytoliths (PhytOC) in sandy grassland with different vegetation coverage from eastern Inner Mongolia, China and preliminarily assessed the effects of desertification on phytoliths and PhytOC production. Our results showed that the phytolith and PhytOC contents among different plant species varied from 0.68 to 9.23% and 0.03 to 1.13‰, respectively. However, the community-weighted means of the phytolith and PhytOC contents for the total aboveground vegetation were only 1.13–3.61% and 0.09–0.35‰, respectively, and their respective production fluxes ranged from 8.94 to 47.8 kg ha−1 year−1 and from 0.06 to 0.48 kg ha−1 year−1, respectively. As desertification progressed, the total contents of phytoliths and PhytOC in aboveground vegetation did not change significantly, whereas the production fluxes of phytoliths and PhytOC were markedly reduced. This study indicates that grassland desertification decreases the range of the total contents of phytolith and PhytOC by reducing species richness, and decreases the production fluxes of phytoliths and PhytOC by reducing aboveground biomass. Grassland restoration can theoretically enhance the production fluxes of phytoliths and PhytOC ~ five-fold. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:51 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:51 PM Tags: o Grassland desertification o Grassland restoration o Inner Mongolia steppe o Long-term carbon sequestration o PhytOC o Phytoliths * Plant Community Responses to Mastication and Mulching of One-Seed Juniper (Juniperus monosperma) Type Journal Article Author Rachel L. Rubin Author Carla M. Roybal URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742418301143__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvgovjQPA$ Volume 71 Issue 6 Pages 753-756 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date November 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2018.04.008 Abstract Mechanical cutting and mastication of juniper trees aims to restore grassland habitat by reducing the density of encroaching woody species. However, the associated soil disturbance may also create conduits for invasive species, a risk that must be mitigated by land managers. We characterized herbaceous communities in treated and adjacent untreated areas in a piñon-juniper (Pinus edulis and Juniper monosperma) woodland in northern Arizona 2.5 years after treatment. Untreated plots had 4× the herbaceous cover (82%) than treated plots (21%). Within treated plots, native species cover (19%) was 10× higher than invasive species cover (2%). Furthermore, treated plots exhibited greater plant community variability and diversity than untreated plots, driven by an increase in the diversity of native grasses and non-native forbs. No new recruits were Arizona listed noxious weeds, indicating that, at least in the short term, mastication is not producing invasive species hot spots in this piñon-juniper woodland. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:23 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:23 PM Tags: o grassland restoration o invasive species o northern Arizona o piñon-juniper o pinyon-juniper * Effects of Phenology at Burn Time on Post-Fire Recovery in an Invasive C4 Grass Type Journal Article Author Erin M. Ruckman Author Susanne Schwinning Author Kelly G. Lyons URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2011.00830.x__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvViZ4ZQ0$ Rights © 2011 Society for Ecological Restoration International Volume 20 Issue 6 Pages 756-763 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2012 DOI 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2011.00830.x Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:44:54 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract The spread of non-indigenous, C4 grasses threatens global conservation of savannas and subtropical grasslands. Identifying control methods to selectively target these invasives has proven difficult. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the effectiveness of prescribed burns for control is determined, in part, by the phenology of the target species at burn time. We conducted two experiments in a subhumid, C4 grassland in central Texas. The focal invasive was the C4, perennial bunchgrass Bothriochloa ischaemum (L.) Keng (KR bluestem). Burns were conducted in early and late fall when plants were in different phenological states. In addition, we attempted to manipulate phenological state through temporary rainout shelters to expedite maturation. The two experiments differed in the timing of the rainout shelter application (experiment 1: May to July, experiment 2: August and September), but otherwise had the same complete factorial design (burn time × shelter). Across experiments, when at least 50% of all tillers were pre-reproductive at burn time, either due to shelter treatment or time of year, spring tiller densities were significantly lower than when plants were burned in a more advanced reproductive state. Trends in fall biomass generally followed trends in spring tiller densities, with one exception where plants in no-shelter plots burned in October had lower biomass than expected based on tiller densities. Treatment responses for the native C4 grass B. laguroides were consistent with those of B. ischaemum. These findings suggest that strategic burns can be used to reduce the subsequent recovery of invasive C4 grasses while not disadvantaging native grasses. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:44:54 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:44:54 PM Tags: o Bothriochloa ischaemum o Edwards plateau o invasive species control o King Ranch bluestem Attachments o Snapshot * Evaluation of Herbicide and Disking to Control Invasive Bluestems in a South Texas Coastal Prairie Type Journal Article Author Marvin E. Ruffner Author Thomas G. Barnes URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742412500394__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvv2aLAJY$ Volume 65 Issue 3 Pages 277-285 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date May 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/REM-D-11-00025.1 Abstract Conservation and restoration efforts of native grasslands are being hindered by invasive, exotic plants. Exotic bluestem grasses (Bothriochloa and Dichanthium spp.) have become increasingly invasive throughout the rangelands of the central and southern Great Plains, United States. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of glyphosate, imazapyr, and imazapyr+glyphosate treatments with or without disking to remove exotic bluestems from a south Texas coastal prairie. We evaluated three different control regimens: 1) herbicide treatments only, 2) herbicide treatments followed by two diskings (H+D), and 3) disking followed by herbicide treatments (D+H). Percent exotic bluestem, native grass, and forb cover were visually estimated at 0 (pre-treatment: May 2006), 20, 52, and 104 wk after treatment (WAT). The herbicide-only and H+D regimens were ineffective at controlling exotic bluestems. However, exotic bluestem cover in herbicide-treated plots of the D+H regimen was significantly lower (P ≤ 0.05) compared to control plots and most treatment plots of the herbicide-only and H+D regimens up to 52 WAT. Control regimens did not notably facilitate an increase in native grass cover from pre-treatment levels, but native grass cover remained the highest, and increased the most, in some imazapyr-treated plots of the herbicide-only and D+H regimens, respectively. In the H+D and D+H regimens, disking resulted in a flush of forb cover (up to 50%) at 52 WAT; yet forb cover was ≤ 5% in these plots by 104 WAT. Exotic bluestem cover recovered back to, or was greater than, pre-treatment levels among most treatment plots across all three control regimens at 104 WAT. This study suggests that follow-up control measures are needed to suppress the re-invasion of exotic bluestems after initial control efforts. Additional studies are needed to evaluate other strategies to control exotic bluestems in rangelands of the central and southern United States. Resumen Los esfuerzos de conservación y reforestación de pastizales nativos han sido obstaculizados por plantas invasivas y tóxicas. El pasto exótico bluestem grasses (Bothriochloa and Dichanthium spp.) se ha vuelto cada vez mas invasivo en los pastizales del centro y el sur de las Grandes Planicies de Estados Unidos, por consiguiente, el objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la eficiencia de tratamientos a base de glyphosate, imazapyr, y imazapyr+glyphosate con o sin arado de disco para remover los plantas exóticas de bluestem de un pastizal de las planicies de las costas de Texas. Evaluamos tres diferentes regímenes de control: 1) aplicación únicamente de herbicida; 2) aplicación de herbicida seguidos por las rastra de discos dos veces (H+D); y 3) rastra de discos seguido de la aplicación de herbicida (D+H). El porcentaje del pasto exótico bluestem, gramíneas nativas y cobertura herbácea fue estimado visualmente como 0 (pre-tratamiento: Mayo 2006), 20, 52, and 104 semanas después de la aplicación de los tratamientos (WAT). Los tratamientos solo herbicida y H+D no fueron efectivos para control del pasto exótico bluestems. Sin embargo, la cubierta de este pasto exótico en las parcelas bajo la aplicación de herbicida del régimen D+H fue significativamente menor (P ≤ 0.05) comparado con las parcelas control y la mayoría de las parcelas tratadas solo con herbicida y H+D regímenes hasta 52 WAT. Los regímenes de control no facilitaron notablemente un incremento en la cobertura de pastos de niveles a comparación de los niveles antes de los tratamientos, pero la cobertura de los pastizales nativos permaneció como la más alta, y la que mas aumentó, en algunos parcelas tratadas con imazapyr o con solo herbicida y D+H regímenes, respectivamente. En los tratamientos H+D y D+H, y la rastra de discos resultaron en un aumento de la cobertura herbácea (de hasta 50%) en 52 WAT; sin embargo la cobertura fue ≤ 5% en estas parcelas por 104 WAT. La cobertura del pasto exótico bluestem se recuperó, o fue más grande que, los niveles presentados antes de los tratamientos entre la mayoría de las parcelas tratadas a través de todos los tres regímenes de control a 104 WAT. Este estudio sugiere que el seguimiento de las medidas de control es necesario para suprimir una nueva invasión del pasto exótico bluestem después de esfuerzos iniciales para controlarlo. Estudios adicionales son necesarios para evaluar otras estrategias para controlar el pasto exótico bluestem en pastizales de centro y sur de los Estados Unidos. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:46 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:57:27 PM Tags: o glyphosate o imazapyr o invasive grasses o native grasses o Old World bluestem o restoration * Effects of year-round grazing on the vegetation of nutrient-poor grass- and heathlands—Evidence from a large-scale survey Type Journal Article Author Denise Rupprecht Author Kristin Gilhaus Author Norbert Hölzel URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880916300913__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvzZzJNtQ$ Volume 234 Pages 16-22 Publication Grazing in European open landscapes: how to reconcile sustainable land management and biodiversity conservation? ISSN 0167-8809 Date October 16, 2016 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2016.02.015 Abstract Year-round grazing by cattle and horses has recently become a common practice in conservation management in north-western Europe. Though many projects claim positive effects on vegetation development, evidence is still largely anecdotal. There are no comprehensive regional surveys allowing the detection of general patterns beyond single case studies. This applies even more to nutrient-poor sites where year-round grazing systems were only recently established and concerns about potentially negative effects on plant diversity are still prevalent. Hence, this study investigates the impacts of year-round grazing on plant species richness, species composition, and vegetation structure on nutrient-poor sites using a regional multi-site approach. Surveys were carried out at five different study sites in the diluvial plain of northwestern Germany and the Netherlands comprising sand grasslands, dry grasslands, and heathlands. Results show overall positive effects of grazing: Plant species richness, the number of endangered plant species, and the proportion of open soil were increased significantly. Contrary, green biomass, litter cover, vegetation height, and the cover of woody species significantly decreased. At grazed sites there were more small, light-demanding species than taller, mesophilic species. A distinct decrease of ruderal species and an increase of species following a competitive strategy was observed at abandoned sites. Based on broad regional evidence, we conclude that year-round grazing is a suitable tool for the restoration and management of open habitats on nutrient-poor sandy sites. Low sward biomass and poor nutritional quality raise, however, concerns about adequate fodder supply and animal welfare. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:36 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:36 PM Tags: o Abandonment o Grassland restoration o Pastoral systems o Sand grassland o Species richness o Vegetation structure * Successful restoration of abandoned terraced vineyards and grasslands in Southern Switzerland Type Journal Article Author Hans-Peter Rusterholz Author Denise Binggeli Author Bruno Baur URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1439179118303840__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvUlDcbxw$ Volume 42 Pages 35-46 Publication From Nature Conservation to Ecosystem Restoration ISSN 1439-1791 Date February 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Basic and Applied Ecology DOI 10.1016/j.baae.2019.07.002 Abstract Extensively managed semi-natural grasslands represent species-rich habitats and therefore play a key role for the maintenance of biodiversity in agricultural areas. In marginal and poorly accessible areas, the traditional management of grassland is frequently abandoned, which leads to the spread of forest. In Southern Switzerland, terraced vineyards (a special grassland type) and terraced grasslands are part of the cultural heritage and local biodiversity hotspots. Yet, many of them are overgrown by forest. In the past years, several abandoned terraced vineyards and grasslands have been restored by removing the forest, rebuilding the walls and re-introducing the traditional management. We examined restoration success by assessing plant species richness, diversity and species composition in both the aboveground vegetation and soil seed bank in (1) restored, (2) abandoned for 25–50 years, and (3) permanently used areas of six terraced vineyards and six terraced grasslands. Plant species richness and diversity were reduced and species composition altered in the aboveground vegetation of abandoned vineyards and grasslands compared to the permanently used and restored ones. However, species richness, Shannon-diversity and species composition of the aboveground vegetation did not differ between restored and permanently used areas, indicating a successful restoration of the vegetation 10–15 years after restoration. In abandoned vineyards, species richness of plants emerging from the soil seed bank was slightly higher than in permanently used and restored vineyards. No difference in seedling species richness was found between abandoned, permanently used and restored terraced grasslands. Our results showed that the soil seed bank played a minor role for the re-establishment of the above-ground vegetation. We assume that the large species pool in the surroundings and the presence of dispersal vectors are essential for the successful passive restoration of abandoned grassland in this region. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:30 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:30 PM Tags: o Oration o Passive rest o Semi-natural grassland o Soil seed bank, traditional management * Effects of organic matter amendments on net primary productivity and greenhouse gas emissions in annual grasslands Type Journal Article Author Rebecca Ryals Author Whendee L. Silver URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1890/12-0620.1__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvi_FroX0$ Volume 23 Issue 1 Pages 46-59 Publication Ecological Applications ISSN 1051-0761 Date January 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Ecological Applications DOI 10.1890/12-0620.1 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Most of the world's grasslands are managed for livestock production. A critical component of the long-term sustainability and profitability of rangelands (e.g., grazed grassland ecosystems) is the maintenance of plant production. Amending grassland soils with organic waste has been proposed as a means to increase net primary productivity (NPP) and ecosystem carbon (C) storage, while mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from waste management. Few studies have evaluated the effects of amendments on the C balance and greenhouse gas dynamics of grasslands. We used field manipulations replicated within and across two rangelands (a valley grassland and a coastal grassland) to determine the effects of a single application of composted green waste amendments on NPP and greenhouse gas emissions over three years. Amendments elevated total soil respiration by 18% ± 4% at both sites but had no effect on nitrous oxide or methane emissions. Carbon losses were significantly offset by greater and sustained plant production. Amendments stimulated both above- and belowground NPP by 2.1 ± 0.8 Mg C/ha to 4.7 ± 0.7 Mg C/ha (mean ± SE) over the three-year study period. Net ecosystem C storage increased by 25?70% without including the direct addition of compost C. The estimated magnitude of net ecosystem C storage was sensitive to estimates of heterotrophic soil respiration but was greater than controls in five out of six fields that received amendments. The sixth plot was the only one that exhibited lower soil moisture than the control, suggesting an important role of water limitation in these seasonally dry ecosystems. Treatment effects persisted over the course of the study, which were likely derived from increased water-holding capacity in most plots, and slow-release fertilization from compost decomposition. We conclude that a single application of composted organic matter can significantly increase grassland C storage, and that effects of a single application are likely to carry over in time. Date Added 2020-03-12, 4:06:19 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:57:30 PM Tags: o annual grassland ecosystems o California grasslands, USA o mediterranean climate o methane o net primary productivity o nitrous oxide o soil respiration Notes: o doi: 10.1890/12-0620.1 o doi: 10.1890/12-0620.1 * Fifteen-year resilience against further degradation of Succulent Karoo vegetation in South Africa Type Journal Article Author M.W. Saaed Author S.M. Jacobs Author M.L. Masubelele Author M.I. Samuels Author Z. Munch Author L. Khomo URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196320300586__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvdX-bL5Y$ Volume 178 Pages 104152 Publication Journal of Arid Environments ISSN 0140-1963 Date July 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Journal of Arid Environments DOI 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2020.104152 Abstract The Tankwa Karoo National Park (TKNP) is part of a renowned arid biome with unrivaled diversity in succulents. The park has been subject to anthropogenic pressures such as heavy grazing with climate change a recent threat. This study investigated changes in vegetation productivity between 2000 and 2014 across six vegetation types using rainfall and satellite data. The park is broadly divided into a plain at low altitude (316 m) receiving less rain and a wetter, higher terrain (1640 m). Long-term rainfall varied from 265 mm y-1 in the highland areas to 100 mm y-1 in the plains. There was a significant corresponding rise in NDVI from the low to the highlands (p < 0.001). Our analyses suggest that vegetation has stabilised since the park was proclaimed in 1984 because 81% of the area has remained uniform, on average, despite considerable variation on a vegetation type basis. Only 18% of the park had increasing productivity while just 2% experienced a decline. The patterns also suggest vegetation was principally controlled by rainfall, rather than a shift in land-use from rangeland to conservation. This implies that much of the presumably endemic degradation in the Succulent Karoo Biome is not evident in the Tankwa. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:36 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:04:36 PM Tags: o Land-use change o NDVI o Rainfall o Semi-arid o Tankwa karoo national park o Vegetation change * Community participation and ecological criteria for selecting species and restoring natural capital with native species in the Sahel Type Journal Article Author Moctar Sacande Author Nora Berrahmouni URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12337__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvvKeIXj4$ Rights © 2016 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 24 Issue 4 Pages 479-488 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2016 DOI 10.1111/rec.12337 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:50:39 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Combining community needs and preferences with dryland plant expertise in order to select suitable native species for large-scale natural capital restoration is the approach that has been successful in the Sahel as part of Africa's Great Green Wall program. In order to increase plant diversity and restore degraded land, we investigated four cross-border regions of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, all located in dryland ecosystems of the Sahel. In 120 beneficiary village communities, with a total population of over 50,000 farmers, including 51% women, participatory diagnostic meetings were conducted, leading to the selection of 193 plant species, most of which were mainly used for food, medicine, fodder, and fuel. Of these, 170 were native and considered suitable for enriching and restoring those village lands. The most environmentally well-adapted and economically relevant species were prioritized, quality seeds were collected, and nursery seedlings produced under technical supervision of villages. From 2013 to 2015, 55 woody and herbaceous species were planted to initiate restoration of 2,235 ha of degraded land. On average, 60% of seedlings survived and grew well in the field after three rainy seasons. Due to its multiple uses, including gum arabic production, Acacia senegal was preferred by local people in most cases, accounting for 30% of seedlings planted. Such promising results, in an effort to restore degraded land for and with the help of thousands of farmers, could not have been achieved without the combination of scientific plant expertise and efficient rural capacity development, underpinned by high levels of community engagement. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:50:39 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:50:39 PM Tags: o Africa dryland o Burkina Faso o Great Green Wall o Mali o Niger o restoration o rural communities Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Diversity, above-ground biomass, and vegetation patterns in a tropical dry forest in Kimbi-Fungom National Park, Cameroon Type Journal Article Author Moses N. Sainge Author Felix Nchu Author A. Townsend Peterson URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844020301353__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvsS2gtEc$ Volume 6 Issue 1 Pages e03290 Publication Heliyon ISSN 2405-8440 Date January 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Heliyon DOI 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03290 Abstract Research highlights This study is one of few detailed analyses of plant diversity and vegetation patterns in African dry forests. We established permanent plots to characterize plant diversity, above-ground biomass, and vegetation patterns in a tropical dry forest in Kimbi-Fungom National Park, Cameroon. Our results contribute to long-term monitoring, predictions, and management of dry forest ecosystems, which are often vulnerable to anthropogenic pressures. Background and objectives Considerable consensus exists regarding the importance of dry forests in species diversity and carbon storage; however, the relationship between dry forest tree species composition, species richness, and carbon stock is not well established. Also, simple baseline data on plant diversity are scarce for many dry forest ecosystems. This study seeks to characterize floristic diversity, vegetation patterns, and tree diversity in permanent plots in a tropical dry forest in Northwestern Cameroon (Kimbi-Fungom National Park) for the first time. Materials and methods We studied associations between above-ground biomass and species composition, and how different vegetation types vary in terms of species composition, diversity, and carbon storage, in a dry forest in Kimbi-Fungom National Park, Cameroon. Vegetation was inventoried in 17 permanent 1-ha plots. Allometric equations were used to calculate above-ground biomass and carbon. Results We found an average of 269.8 tree stems ha−1 and 43.1 species ha−1. Five vegetation types: semi-deciduous, gallery, mixed vegetation, secondary and the grassland/woody savanna forest were classified using TWINSPAN analysis. The five vegetation types had an average above-ground biomass of 149.2 t ha−1 and 74.6 tC ha−1 of carbon in the 17 ha analyzed. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed the importance of semi-deciduous forest over grassland/woody savanna forest. Conclusions This study demonstrated that the forest of the Kimbi-Fungom National Park is poor in plant diversity, biomass, and carbon, highlighting the need to implement efficient management practices. Fine-scale inventory data of species obtained in this study could be useful in developing predictive models for efficient management of tropical dry forests. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:25 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:25 PM Tags: o Bamenda highlands o Carbon o Diversity o Dry forest o Ecological restoration o Environmental assessment o Environmental health o Environmental impact assessment o Flora o Kimbi-Fungom National Park o Semi-deciduous o Tree composition * Identifying critical thresholds to guide management practices in agro-ecosystems: Insights from bird community response to an open grassland-to-forest gradient Type Journal Article Author Pedro A. Salgueiro Author António Mira Author João E. Rabaça Author Sara M. Santos URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X18300086__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvVK4k8KY$ Volume 88 Pages 205-213 Publication Ecological Indicators ISSN 1470-160X Date May 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2018.01.008 Abstract Landscapes are showing increased fragmentation and habitat loss due to land-use conversion and intensification, leading to species-poor and homogeneous communities. The identification of ecological thresholds above which major changes in community composition take place, may prevent the critical downfall of biodiversity while improving the effectiveness of conservation, resource management and restoration practices. In this study, we provide a new insight on how species distribute along a highly variegated agro-ecosystem in the Mediterranean region. We aim to define the thresholds of occurrence of a bird community inhabiting a tree canopy gradient, and determine the patterns of community change. We fit Huisman-Olff-Fresco models to bird occurrence data (assuming non-linear responses) to identify species-specific responses to the gradient, species richness, and turnover patterns. The tree canopy gradient is responsible for major changes in bird community likely related to the variation of the tree stratum and canopy enclosure which reflect different niche segregation opportunities. Maximum species richness was reached at 10% canopy cover while total turnover rate was higher than expected from a null model up to 10% canopy cover. Ecological thresholds can be used as indicators of specific resource limits responsible for changes in community composition and species occurrence, identifying where populations may be more sensitive. Choosing a single management scheme will invariably result in winners and losers, but optimal levels of management can be explored in order to maximize species diversity across Mediterranean agro-ecosystems. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:24 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:24 PM Tags: o Agroecosystems o Bird community o Ecological thresholds o Huisman-Olff-Fresco models o Tree canopy cover gradient o Turnover patterns o Variegated landscape * Lessons on direct seeding to restore Neotropical savanna Type Journal Article Author Alexandre B. Sampaio Author Daniel L.M. Vieira Author Karen D. Holl Author Keiko F. Pellizzaro Author Monique Alves Author André G. Coutinho Author Alba Cordeiro Author José Felipe Ribeiro Author Isabel B. Schmidt URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857419302538__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvUxMFfpA$ Volume 138 Pages 148-154 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date November 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2019.07.025 Abstract Tropical grassland-savanna mosaics are threatened globally, but they are challenging to restore because highly competitive pasture grasses inhibit recovery and are not shaded out by the patchy tree cover. We analyzed the outcomes of restoration projects and experiments established over four years in 55 ha of abandoned pastures dominated by invasive C4 grasses within the Neotropical savanna, Central Brazil. We tested the efficacy of direct seeding native grasses, forbs, shrubs and trees in reducing invasive grass cover and increasing native ground cover. We performed a series of experiments aimed at answering questions about the effect of seeding density, soil plowing to control invasive grasses, life form of ground cover species (grass, forb or shrub) and soil type on restoration outcomes. Relative native cover reached 34 ± 3% three rainy seasons after the first seeding experiment. Higher seeding densities and more soil plowing repetitions increased relative native cover. Soil type interacted with the life form of ground cover species to strongly influence relative native cover; two years after seeding, the highest relative native cover was achieved in rocky soils seeded with grasses (78 ± 6%) and the lowest was for seasonally waterlogged soils seeded with shrubs (15 ± 4%). Direct seeding can effectively establish many native Neotropical savanna species of different life forms with better restoration outcomes on rocky soils and with higher seeding densities. Further research is urgent to improve restoration methods, especially to control invasive grasses, to be able to achieve the large-scale restoration targets set internationally. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:27 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:27 PM Tags: o Biological invasion o Cerrado o Ecological restoration o Exotic grasses o Grassland o Invasive grass o Weed management * Rangeland management effects on soil properties in the savanna biome, South Africa: A case study along grazing gradients in communal and commercial farms Type Journal Article Author A. Sandhage-Hofmann Author E. Kotzé Author L. van Delden Author M. Dominiak Author H.J. Fouché Author H.C. van der Westhuizen Author R.J. Oomen Author C.C. du Preez Author W. Amelung URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196315000919__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvh0e06qQ$ Volume 120 Pages 14-25 Publication Journal of Arid Environments ISSN 0140-1963 Date September 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Journal of Arid Environments DOI 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2015.04.004 Abstract Although the savanna biome of South Africa is a major resource for rangeland management, little is known about how differences in rangeland management systems affect soil properties in such biomes. Near to Kuruman, commercial farms have practiced rotational grazing for decades. In communal areas of former homeland Bophuthatswana, similar strategies were used prior to 1994. Nowadays, a continuous grazing system is common. We hypothesized that these changes in management affected soil properties. To test this, we sampled soils at communal and commercial land along a gradient with increasing distance to water points. The results revealed that communal systems with continuous grazing showed enlarged spatial gradients. The soils were depleted in most nutrients close to the water relative to those of commercial systems. In contrast, as the distance to the water increased, the nutrient stocks of these communal systems were higher. Changes in soil nutrient stocks were related to a zone of increased bush encroachment (up to 25%). Specific analyses (phosphorus fractions, particulate organic carbon, δ13C) confirmed that the soils of the communal grazing systems benefited from the shift of grass-dominated to bush-dominated system with woody Acacia vegetation, while the rangeland degraded in the sense that it lost palatable grass species. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:08 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:00:08 PM Tags: o Bush encroachment o Continuous grazing o Isotopic composition o Phosphorus fractions o Plant nutrients o Rangeland management o Rotational grazing o Soil organic carbon * Unmanned Aerial Vehicle−Based Rangeland Monitoring: Examining a Century of Vegetation Changes Type Journal Article Author Temuulen Ts. Sankey Author Jackson M. Leonard Author Margaret M. Moore URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742419300259__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvAzEenI0$ Volume 72 Issue 5 Pages 858-863 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date September 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2019.04.002 Abstract Rangelands comprise a large component of the terrestrial land surface and provide critical ecosystem services, but they are degrading rapidly. Long-term rangeland monitoring with detailed, nonsubjective, quantitative observations can be expensive and difficult to maintain over time. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) provide an alternative means to gather unbiased and consistent datasets with similar details to field-based monitoring data. Comparing summer 2017 UAV images with long-term plot measurements, we demonstrate that rangeland vegetation cover changes can be accurately quantified and estimate an increase in total absolute shrub/subshrub cover from 34% in 1935 to > 80% in 2017 in central Arizona. We recommend UAV image-based rangeland monitoring for land managers interested in a few specific and dominant species, such as the foundation species, indicator species, or invasive species that require targeted monitoring. Land managers can identify and continuously monitor trends in rangeland condition, health, and degradation related to specific land use policies and management strategies. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:10 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:00:10 PM Tags: o change detection o drone o woody encroachment * Effectiveness of passive restoration on density and diversity of regenerating tree species in mixed Dipterocarp forests of Nepal Type Journal Article Author Ramesh P. Sapkota Author Peter D. Stahl URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12904__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvinRmY-w$ Rights © 2018 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 27 Issue 3 Pages 581-591 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2019 DOI 10.1111/rec.12904 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:48:04 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract In many developing countries, the only affordable approach to recover ecosystem structure and function is through passive restoration. We conducted a 3 year study of passive restoration in mixed Dipterocarp forests dominated by Shorea robusta to examine the effectiveness of exclusion (fencing and fire suppression) on diversity, density, and richness of regenerating tree seedlings and saplings. We analyzed excluded and disturbed paired sites. We observed exclusion was effective in increasing seedling richness and occurrence of S. robusta and Syzygium cumini. A significant improvement in sapling strata (diversity, density, and richness) from excluding the disturbances was observed. Mean sapling density estimated was about 500% higher in excluded compared to disturbed sites. Probability of occurrence of S. robusta and Dalbergia latifolia saplings increased due to exclusion. That said, presence of exotic species Chromolaena odorata was higher in excluded sites reflecting the need for assisted natural regeneration in forests. This study has demonstrated passive restoration as an effective approach for improving natural regeneration in mixed Dipterocarp forest ecosystems and possibly other similar forest types, and will serve as a reference document for future restoration interventions. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:48:04 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:48:04 PM Tags: o disturbance exclusion o natural regeneration o seedlings and saplings o Shorea robusta Attachments o Snapshot * Restoration governance: An integrated approach towards sustainably restoring degraded ecosystems Type Journal Article Author R.P. Sapkota Author P.D. Stahl Author K. Rijal URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211464517303378__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvKw5F7mc$ Volume 27 Pages 83-94 Publication Environmental Development ISSN 2211-4645 Date September 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Environmental Development DOI 10.1016/j.envdev.2018.07.001 Abstract Global ecosystems are increasingly threatened and altered by anthropogenic pressures and multiscale environmental disturbances. These disturbed ecosystems need to be restored to maintain vital ecosystem services. Strategies which do not consider integrated approach of restoration interventions may shift the ecosystems to more degraded states. In this study, we reviewed previously published primary articles to determine and describe the importance of ecosystem restoration governance components, viz. legal, financial, social and technological, and proposed an integrated framework of ecological restoration. We determined that without tracking restoration practices into restoration governance framework, the short-term restoration efforts are less likely to drive the ecosystem towards desired reference site conditions. Success of restoration can typically be observed only after years or decades (depending on the scale of the project and environment), so there should be an accountable institution overseeing the project for this period of time. We recommend integrating governance components from project planning to monitoring and evaluation phase. Further, we propose implementing restoration activities through a stable institutional entity that can foster collaboration and coordination with partners and stakeholders. Integrating components of restoration governance increase the likelihood of the restoration programs to be successful and sustainable, and provides opportunities to learn from the experiences. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:05 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:00:05 PM Tags: o Ecosystem services o Governance components o Restoration governance o Restoration interventions * Typical steppe ecosystems maintain high stability by decreasing the connections among recovery, resistance, and variability under high grazing pressure Type Journal Article Author Kang Saruul Author Li Jiangwen Author Niu Jianming Author Zhang Qing Author Zhang Xuefeng Author Han Guodong Author Zhao Mengli Author Bao Haifeng URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969718353439__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvo0liuZI$ Volume 659 Pages 1146-1157 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date April 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.447 Abstract Grasslands in Inner Mongolia have been confronted with unprecedented degradation in recent years. Research on ecosystem stability is important to inform evaluation of the health of degraded grassland ecosystems. We examined synthetic stability, which was defined by the relationships between multiple components of stability, known as multidimensional stability, in grasslands at four stages of degradation (undegraded, slightly degraded, moderately degraded, and intensely degraded) in the Xilin River Basin, Inner Mongolia, China. We analyzed the connections between multidimensional stability and its relationship with four stability components, including community resistance and recovery measured on the basis of plant functional traits, and community functional (aboveground net primary productivity) and structural (Jaccard dissimilarity) variability, calculated on the basis of ten plots from different spatial distributions in a study site. Our results showed that (i) 9 of 17 traits displayed a significant trend along the grazing intensity gradient, indicating a clear turnover of species within communities in response to the grazing intensity gradient; (ii) moderately degraded (C) grasslands showed higher recovery, resistance, and synthetic stability than undegraded (A) and slightly degraded (B) grassland communities overall (recovery: p = 0.026, p = 0.032, for pairs of samples from A and C, and B and C, respectively; resistance: p = 0.024, for a pair of samples from A and C), which conformed with the intermediate disturbance hypothesis and positive diversity-stability relationship; and (iii) the multidimensionality of stability varied between different stages of degradation and were strongly dependent upon the correlations between stability components. Our study is expected to enrich the theory of stability maintenance in grassland ecosystems and provide guidance for grassland restoration and biodiversity conservation. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:17 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:17 PM Tags: o Degradation o Grassland ecosystem o Grazing o Multidimensional stability * Evaluation of the most common engineering methods for maritime cliff-top vegetation restoration Type Journal Article Author Jérôme Sawtschuk Author Sébastien Gallet Author Frédéric Bioret URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S092585741000354X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvpULItP4$ Volume 45 Pages 45-54 Publication Ecological Engineering--Its Development, Applications and Challenges ISSN 0925-8574 Date August 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2010.12.019 Abstract In Brittany (France), impacts of human activities, especially those caused by tourism, have progressively resulted in the alteration of coastal cliff-top heathland and grassland vegetation in most popular tourist sites. In this framework, in many sites, access to degraded areas has been restricted to stop degradation, while restoration operations have been carried out, mostly based on the natural resilience of the vegetation. In addition, various ecological engineering techniques aimed at enhancing the re-vegetation of the worst degraded areas have also been implemented. This study assesses experimentally various combinations of the most classical restoration techniques in use in cliff-top restoration operations as geotextile, soil decompaction, turfing, harvested biomass or litter transfer, at different environmental exposures in two sites of Brittany (Crozon peninsula at the far west end and Belle-Île in the south). These investigations highlighted significant differences between methods. Litter treatment appeared to be one of the most efficient techniques, with geotextile and harvested biomass. Turfing, although effective, does not justify its use in comparison with the previous less destructive techniques. Association between techniques especially with geotextile highlighted beneficial complementarities. Experiments set up in different stress expositions show a global negative effect of stress exposure on the efficacy of restoration techniques. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:59 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:59 PM Tags: o Engineering methods o Grassland o Heathland o Maritime cliff-top vegetation o Restoration success o Stress exposure * Effect of sowing time on field emergence and growth of South African grassland species Type Journal Article Author Z. Sayuti Author J.D. Hitchmough URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0254629913002494__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv8TWKhYw$ Volume 88 Pages 28-35 Publication South African Journal of Botany ISSN 0254-6299 Date September 1, 2013 Journal Abbr South African Journal of Botany DOI 10.1016/j.sajb.2013.04.008 Abstract This study investigated seedling emergence in field sowings in terms of rate, and maximum seedling emergence, for twenty one species of forb, grass and geophyte species associated with montane South African grassland communities. Species were sown in early and late spring to compare the effect of sowing date on emergence characteristics and subsequent growth. RGR and mean individual standing biomass were calculated for a 150day post sowing growth window. Species showed highly significant differences in the time taken to achieve 50% emergence, and species rankings on this basis changed according to the date of sowing. There were large differences in RGR between species that were also reflected in mean standing biomass per individual. The data provide a basis for a preliminary, comparative ecological characterization of these species and an insight into how these species establish and potentially avoid competitive elimination in mixed sowings in restoration ecology or in landscape architecture, in the first growing season. The study also provides some indication on how emergence and growth of individual species might affect recruitment and survival in their habitats. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:30 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:30 PM Tags: o Competition o Forbs o Geophytes o Germination o Grasses o Relative growth rate o Sowing date * Constraints to restoring fire and grazing ecological processes to optimize grassland vegetation structural diversity Type Journal Article Author John Derek Scasta Author Courtney Duchardt Author David M. Engle Author James R. Miller Author Diane M. Debinski Author Ryan N. Harr URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857416304207__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvIvKTbSo$ Volume 95 Pages 865-875 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date October 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2016.06.096 Abstract Extirpation of the ecosystem engineer (bison) and its interaction with fire, coupled with the utilitarian concept of moderate grazing, have contributed to homogenization of grassland habitat in North America. Although cattle may serve as a proxy for bison, combining fire with cattle grazing has been uncommon and to date managers have not always successfully applied cattle and controlled burns as tools to manipulate grassland vegetation heterogeneity and increase habitat diversity. Using an information-theoretic approach, we assessed factors constraining the fire-grazing interaction ecological process to engineer habitat structure of grasslands via patch-burn grazing. We assessed how grazing, fire, and biotic and abiotic features in tallgrass prairie influenced establishment and maintenance of low vegetative structure in burned patches, the positive feedback driving the fire-grazing interaction, and subsequent structural heterogeneity across a pasture. Four pastures were divided into three patches with a different patch burned annually in March/April from 2007 to 2013. Cattle were stocked from light to heavy (1.1–4.4AUM/ha) from May to October (∼150days) with access to the entire pasture. We hypothesized that the exotic C3 grass tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus), lag-time between burning date and the date cattle were put into experimental pastures, and burn date would be the constraining factors. However, the most informative model included stocking rate, date of burn completion, and precipitation. The lightest cattle stocking rate did not establish low vegetative structure in the burn patch, which resulted in the lowest heterogeneity among patches. The heaviest cattle stocking rate established but did not maintain low vegetative structure in the burn patch. The intermediate cattle stocking rate maintained the lowest vegetative structure in the burn patch and the greatest heterogeneity among patches, i.e., the best efficacy of patch-burn grazing to engineer habitat structural heterogeneity. The relationships of stocking rate to burn patch vegetative structure and to landscape heterogeneity were both quadratic and were both optimized at intermediate stocking rate. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:45 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:57:32 PM Tags: o Conservation o Grassland o Production o Rangeland * Grazing with Galloway cattle for floodplain restoration in the Syr Valley, Luxembourg Type Journal Article Author Harald Schaich Author Isabel Szabó Author Thomas A.M. Kaphegyi URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1617138109000922__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvsQOqn8k$ Volume 18 Issue 4 Pages 268-277 Publication Journal for Nature Conservation ISSN 1617-1381 Date December 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Journal for Nature Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.jnc.2009.12.001 Abstract Three years after a river restoration scheme in the Syr Valley (Luxembourg) we investigated habitat development and habitat use of Galloway cattle deployed in a low-intensity grazing system on a permanent floodplain pasture. Habitats were delimited with a mobile GPS/GIS mapping system and their spatial development was assessed over three consecutive years. During these three years, the patches of the six habitats decreased to 40% of mean initial size, and a rapid net area expansion of wetland habitats (large sedge swamps: +100%, marsh and tall forb grasslands: +43%) was observed. The behavioural patterns and grazing preferences of the cattle were observed directly during the vegetation period in June, August and November. These observations were complemented by a transect analysis of cattle impact indicators in June and November. The cattle grazed the different habitats very selectively, as they preferred the mesophilic, and ruderal grasslands 1.6, and 5.6 times more than expected respectively. During the growing season, the grazing niche breadth declined (3.92 in June to 2.68 in November), and less preferred forage habitats like large sedge swamps were grazed primarily in the autumn. We used bite and step rates to investigate grazing intensity by habitat type. During summer, grazing intensity correlated with forage quality in the different habitat patches, whereas in autumn it was obviously influenced by the effort required to access the desired forage plants in a given habitat. The impact indicators revealed a matter transfer from riparian areas to the valley edge. Here, we give a first insight into habitat development and habitat use of Galloway cattle in a recently restored floodplain area and derive recommendations for the adaptive management of future projects. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:46 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:46 PM Tags: o Conservation management o Ecological restoration o Foraging behaviour o Grazing o Habitat use o Riparian areas o Wetlands * Measuring Land Potential and Human Impacts in Rangelands Type Book Section Author Jeremy W. Schallner Author Amy C. Ganguli Author Megan S. Stovall Author Jeffrey E. Herrick URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780124095489124212__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvzMzG65U$ Publisher Elsevier ISBN 978-0-12-409548-9 Date January 1, 2020 Extra DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-409548-9.12421-2 Abstract Humans and rangelands have a complex and intertwined history. Rangelands provide many goods and services to humans, and humans have altered rangelands through their activities. Land potential describes the capacity for production of ecosystem services utilizing the inherent properties, resistance, and resilience of a location. The alteration of land potential by humans has led to changes in how these landscapes function and the ecosystem services they provide. Understanding current and future human needs along with the history of a landscape allows for land potential to act as a filter for management decisions. By combining inherent properties of a site with resistance and resilience along with knowledge about past management activities, land potential can help managers identify not only limitations but also opportunities for investment of resources that are both ecologically and economically positive on the landscape. Book Title Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:11 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:00:11 PM Tags: o Anthropogenic influence o Ecosystem services o Resilience o Resistance * Restoring Perennial Grasses in Medusahead Habitat: Role of Tilling, Fire, Herbicides, and Seeding Rate Type Journal Article Author Merilynn Schantz Author Roger Sheley Author Stuart Hardegree URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742418303373__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvxDS7Nvo$ Volume 72 Issue 2 Pages 249-259 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date March 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2018.10.012 Abstract Restoring arid regions degraded by invasive annual grasses to native perennial grasses is a critical conservation goal. Targeting site availability, species availability, and species performance is a key strategy for reducing invasive annual grass cover while simultaneously increasing the abundance of seeded native perennial grasses. However, the potential for establishing successful seedings is still highly variable in rangeland ecosystems, likely because of variable year-to-year weather. In this study, we evaluated the independent and combined inputs of tilling, burning, applying imazapic herbicide, and varying seeding rates on existing species and seeded native perennial grass performance from 2008 to 2012 in a southwestern Idaho rangeland ecosystem. We found that combining tilling, fire, and herbicides produced the lowest annual grass cover. The combination of fire and herbicides yielded the highest seeded species density in the hydrologic year (HY) (October−September) 2010, especially at higher than minimum recommended seeding rates. Although the independent and combined effects of fire and herbicides directly affected the growth of resident species, they failed to affect seeded species cover except in HY 2010, when weather was favorable for seedling growth. Specifically, low winter temperature variability (few freeze-thaw cycles) followed by high growing season precipitation in HY 2010 yielded 14× more seeded perennial grasses than any other seeding year, even though total annual precipitation amounts did not greatly vary between 2009 and 2012. Collectively, these findings suggest that tilling, applying prescribed fire, and herbicides before seeding at least 5× the minimum recommended seeding rate should directly reduce resident annual grass abundance and likely yield high densities of seeded species in annual grass−dominated ecosystems, but only during years of stable winter conditions followed by wet springs. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:32 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:04:32 PM Tags: o ecologically based invasive plant management o imazapic herbicide o prescribed fire o restoration o seed rate o weather variability * Effects of propagule pressure and priority effects on seedling recruitment during restoration of invaded grassland Type Journal Article Author Merilynn C. Schantz Author Roger L. Sheley Author Jeremy J. James URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196317302318__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvgISzw7Q$ Volume 150 Pages 62-70 Publication Journal of Arid Environments ISSN 0140-1963 Date March 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Journal of Arid Environments DOI 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2017.12.001 Abstract High disturbance frequency, low water availability, and advantageous growth mechanisms of invasive annual compared to native perennial grasses reduce native grass establishment throughout arid rangelands. Modifying seeding dispersal processes, including seeding rate and time, may increase native grass recruitment by influencing safe site occupation. A better understanding of seedling development through life history stages and the ecological processes occurring during these stages may be necessary to comprehend modified dispersal dynamics on plant community assembly. We tested the effects of spring vs. fall annual grass seeding times, adding water, and varying annual and perennial grass propagule pressure on perennial and annual grass recruitment in an eastern Oregon shrub-steppe ecosystem. Across species, survival rates were lowest between germination and emergence stages. However, perennial grass germination rates were highest when perennials were seeded with annual grasses in autumn. Perennial grass recruitment was generally low, especially when annual grass propagule pressure was higher than 150 seeds m−2. Although, by the second growing season, perennial grasses had the highest density when perennials were seeded with annuals in autumn and water was added. Consequently, modifying native perennial grass dispersal, like priority autumn seeding and increasing propagule pressure, should produce higher perennial grass recruitment across arid lands. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:45 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:57:34 PM Tags: o Invasion o Life history o Plant assembly o Priority effects o Propagule pressure o Seeding time * How Does Climate Change Influence the Economic Value of Ecosystem Services in Savanna Rangelands? Type Journal Article Author Simon Scheiter Author Judith Schulte Author Mirjam Pfeiffer Author Carola Martens Author Barend F.N. Erasmus Author Wayne C. Twine URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921800918310644__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvyO6P5DA$ Volume 157 Pages 342-356 Publication Ecological Economics ISSN 0921-8009 Date March 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Ecological Economics DOI 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2018.11.015 Abstract Savanna rangelands provide essential ecosystem services to people. Intense land-use and climate change may degrade ecosystems and influence the provision of ecosystem services. Complex dynamic vegetation models can simulate future vegetation and how vegetation may interact with land-use. Yet, identification of best-practice management directives in the face of climate change is challenging and requires consideration of socio-economic aspects. Here, we developed an economic model to describe the value of key ecosystem services, namely fuelwood harvesting and livestock, and coupled it with aDGVM, a vegetation model for tropical ecosystems. We used simulation optimization to identify land-use strategies that maximize economic value to stakeholders in the planning horizon until 2050, and compared it to realistic land-use intensities. We found that realistic intensities exceed optimal intensities, indicating the tragedy of the commons and external stress factors, prevalent in many rural savanna rangelands. We show that a reduction in fuelwood harvesting until 2050 allows vegetation to recover but that recovery is slow. We conclude that strong governance is important in rural savanna rangelands to ensure sustainable use of resources under future climate conditions. The coupled ecological-economic model can serve as tool to develop sustainable land-use strategies in complex socio-ecological systems globally. Date Added 2020-03-17, 6:59:58 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 6:59:58 PM Tags: o aDGVM o Cattle grazing o Climate change o Dynamic vegetation model o Ecological-economic model o Fuelwood harvesting * The impacts of tree stand thinning on groundwater recharge in aridland forests Type Journal Article Author Edward R. Schenk Author Frances O'Donnell Author Abraham E. Springer Author Lawrence E. Stevens URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857419304252__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvwm-6U1Y$ Volume 145 Pages 105701 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date February 15, 2020 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2019.105701 Abstract Forest thinning has been used as a management tool to reverse the adverse impacts of decades of fire suppression in the western USA. Research into the impacts of thinning on surface water, soil, and vegetation re-growth have occurred concurrently with the growing popularity of forest thinning; however, its potential impact on groundwater recharge and related springs ecosystems has largely been ignored until recently. This systematic review provides an overview of some of the tools used to measure the influence of forest management on groundwater recharge, including numerical and process based modeling, empirical paired-watershed approaches, and statistical stochastic techniques. A brief discussion of the benefits and drawbacks of each method also is provided. The paper provides a literature review of existing studies of groundwater recharge and forest management from 1971 to 2018. The review of 35 studies indicates a range of results and highlights differences between studies of clear-cut forests versus thinned forests. Forests that were thinned had a greater amount of groundwater recharge than clear-cut forests, indicating that recharge responds positively and more strongly to reduced sublimation and evaporation in partially thinned forests than to clear-cut removal of mature trees. A similar test with forest encroachment studies revealed no differences between forest encroachment and either thinning regime. The number of forest management-groundwater recharge studies has dramatically increased over the last two decades, indicating increased interest in finding tools to increase groundwater yields for societal use in rapidly populating aridland forests. To our knowledge there have been no studies of forest thinning impacts on springs ecosystems, a field of study rich with possibilities for ecologists, hydrologists, rangeland and forestry scientists, and interdisciplinary ecohydrology practitioners. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:38 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:38 PM Tags: o Aridland hydrology o Forest restoration o Forest thinning o Groundwater dependent ecosystems o Groundwater hydrology o Groundwater modeling o Groundwater recharge o Springs ecosystems * Effectiveness of Ditch Blockage for Restoring Hydrologic and Soil Processes in Mountain Peatlands Type Journal Article Author David W. Schimelpfenig Author David J. Cooper Author Rodney A. Chimner URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12053__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dveI_2Iso$ Rights © 2013 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 22 Issue 2 Pages 257-265 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2014 DOI 10.1111/rec.12053 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:27:21 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Drained peatlands are a global concern due to alterations of the water and carbon cycle, loss of habitat, and increased fire frequency. However, methods for restoring drained sloping peatlands are limited and poorly tested. Therefore, we measured water table dynamics, CO2 fluxes, and soil properties at four sloping fens that were restored (1–20 years post-restoration) with the installation of small check dams in ditches that had drained the sites for a century. Restoration had a positive effect on water tables, increasing from approximately 45 cm below the surface to approximately 15 cm below the surface during the summers. Restoration also benefited CO2 fluxes, as the mean net ecosystem exchange was greatest in the restored areas (−2.19 g CO2 m−2 hour-1) compared to the unrestored drained areas (−1.28 g CO2 m−2 hour−1), while in reference areas it was −1.74 g CO2 m−2 hour−1. Drainage also caused significant changes to the peat soil including: 25% reduction in soil organic matter (lost between 1.4 to 3.6 kg/m2), increased bulk density, decreased porosity, and reduced saturated hydraulic conductivity. Restoration did not affect these parameters, even 20 years after restoration. This study suggests that although natural water table levels have been reestablished and the process of carbon sequestration improved, the physical properties of the most disturbed, near surface peat soils do not mimic reference conditions 20 years post-restoration. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:27:21 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:27:21 PM Tags: o carbon balance o disturbances o ditches o fens o mountains o peat soil Attachments o Snapshot * Simulated big sagebrush regeneration supports predicted changes at the trailing and leading edges of distribution shifts Type Journal Article Author Daniel R. Schlaepfer Author Kyle A. Taylor Author Victoria E. Pennington Author Kellen N. Nelson Author Trace E. Martyn Author Caitlin M. Rottler Author William K. Lauenroth Author John B. Bradford URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1890/ES14-00208.1__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvh40W-BI$ Volume 6 Issue 1 Pages art3 Publication Ecosphere ISSN 2150-8925 Date January 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Ecosphere DOI 10.1890/ES14-00208.1 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Many semi-arid plant communities in western North America are dominated by big sagebrush. These ecosystems are being reduced in extent and quality due to economic development, invasive species, and climate change. These pervasive modifications have generated concern about the long-term viability of sagebrush habitat and sagebrush-obligate wildlife species (notably Greater Sage-Grouse), highlighting the need for better understanding of the future big sagebrush distribution, particularly at the species' range margins. The leading and trailing edges of potential climate-driven distribution shifts are likely to be areas most sensitive to climate change. Although several processes contribute to distribution shifts, regeneration is a fundamental requirement, especially for species with episodic regeneration patterns, such as big sagebrush. We used a process-based regeneration model for big sagebrush to simulate potential germination and seedling survival in response to climatic and edaphic conditions. We estimated current and future regeneration under 2070?2099 CMIP5 climate conditions at trailing and leading edges that were previously identified using traditional species distribution models. Our results supported expectations of increased probability of regeneration at the leading edge and decreased probability at the trailing edge compared to current levels. Our simulations indicated that soil water dynamics at the leading edge will become more similar to the typical seasonal ecohydrological conditions observed within the current range of big sagebrush. At the trailing edge, increased winter and spring dryness represented a departure from conditions typically supportive of big sagebrush. Our results highlighted that minimum and maximum daily temperatures as well as soil water recharge and summer dry periods are important constraints for big sagebrush regeneration. We observed reliable changes in areas identified as trailing and leading edges, consistent with previous predictions. However, we also identified potential local refugia within the trailing edge, mostly at higher elevation sites. Decreasing regeneration probability at the trailing edge suggests that it will be difficult to preserve and/or restore big sagebrush in these areas. Conversely, increasing regeneration probability at the leading edge suggests a growing potential for conflicts in management goals between maintaining existing grasslands and croplands by preventing sagebrush expansion versus accepting a shift in plant community composition to sagebrush dominance. Date Added 2020-03-12, 4:49:48 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 4:49:48 PM Tags: o Artemisia tridentata o restoration o germination o reclamation o climate change response o Greater Sage-Grouse o seedling survival o species distribution Notes: o doi: 10.1890/ES14-00208.1 * Natural Regeneration Processes in Big Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) Type Journal Article Author Daniel R. Schlaepfer Author William K. Lauenroth Author John B. Bradford URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742414500619__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv-jdYaSY$ Volume 67 Issue 4 Pages 344-357 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date July 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/REM-D-13-00079.1 Accessed 2020-03-17, 6:19:39 PM Library Catalog ScienceDirect Language en Abstract Big sagebrush, Artemisia tridentata Nuttall (Asteraceae), is the dominant plant species of large portions of semiarid western North America. However, much of historical big sagebrush vegetation has been removed or modified. Thus, regeneration is recognized as an important component for land management. Limited knowledge about key regeneration processes, however, represents an obstacle to identifying successful management practices and to gaining greater insight into the consequences of increasing disturbance frequency and global change. Therefore, our objective is to synthesize knowledge about natural big sagebrush regeneration. We identified and characterized the controls of big sagebrush seed production, germination, and establishment. The largest knowledge gaps and associated research needs include quiescence and dormancy of embryos and seedlings; variation in seed production and germination percentages; wet-thermal time model of germination; responses to frost events (including freezing/thawing of soils), CO2 concentration, and nutrients in combination with water availability; suitability of microsite vs. site conditions; competitive ability as well as seedling growth responses; and differences among subspecies and ecoregions. Potential impacts of climate change on big sagebrush regeneration could include that temperature increases may not have a large direct influence on regeneration due to the broad temperature optimum for regeneration, whereas indirect effects could include selection for populations with less stringent seed dormancy. Drier conditions will have direct negative effects on germination and seedling survival and could also lead to lighter seeds, which lowers germination success further. The short seed dispersal distance of big sagebrush may limit its tracking of suitable climate; whereas, the low competitive ability of big sagebrush seedlings may limit successful competition with species that track climate. An improved understanding of the ecology of big sagebrush regeneration should benefit resource management activities and increase the ability of land managers to anticipate global change impacts. Date Added 2020-03-17, 6:19:39 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 6:19:39 PM Tags: o recruitment o Sage-Grouse habitat o sagebrush steppe o seedlings o seeds Attachments o ScienceDirect Snapshot * Modeling regeneration responses of big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) to abiotic conditions Type Journal Article Author Daniel R. Schlaepfer Author William K. Lauenroth Author John B. Bradford URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304380014002117__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvh_KP3YE$ Volume 286 Pages 66-77 Publication Ecological Modelling ISSN 0304-3800 Date August 24, 2014 Journal Abbr Ecological Modelling DOI 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2014.04.021 Abstract Ecosystems dominated by big sagebrush, Artemisia tridentata Nuttall (Asteraceae), which are the most widespread ecosystems in semiarid western North America, have been affected by land use practices and invasive species. Loss of big sagebrush and the decline of associated species, such as greater sage-grouse, are a concern to land managers and conservationists. However, big sagebrush regeneration remains difficult to achieve by restoration and reclamation efforts and there is no regeneration simulation model available. We present here the first process-based, daily time-step, simulation model to predict yearly big sagebrush regeneration including relevant germination and seedling responses to abiotic factors. We estimated values, uncertainty, and importance of 27 model parameters using a total of 1435 site-years of observation. Our model explained 74% of variability of number of years with successful regeneration at 46 sites. It also achieved 60% overall accuracy predicting yearly regeneration success/failure. Our results identify specific future research needed to improve our understanding of big sagebrush regeneration, including data at the subspecies level and improved parameter estimates for start of seed dispersal, modified wet thermal-time model of germination, and soil water potential influences. We found that relationships between big sagebrush regeneration and climate conditions were site specific, varying across the distribution of big sagebrush. This indicates that statistical models based on climate are unsuitable for understanding range-wide regeneration patterns or for assessing the potential consequences of changing climate on sagebrush regeneration and underscores the value of this process-based model. We used our model to predict potential regeneration across the range of sagebrush ecosystems in the western United States, which confirmed that seedling survival is a limiting factor, whereas germination is not. Our results also suggested that modeled regeneration suitability is necessary but not sufficient to explain sagebrush presence. We conclude that future assessment of big sagebrush responses to climate change will need to account for responses of regenerative stages using a process-based understanding, such as provided by our model. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:37 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:57:36 PM Tags: o Differential evolution optimization o Germination o Rangeland restoration o Sagebrush reclamation o Seedling survival o Soil water simulation * Tailoring restoration interventions to the grassland-savanna-forest complex in central Brazil Type Journal Article Author Isabel B. Schmidt Author Maxmiller C. Ferreira Author Alexandre B. Sampaio Author Bruno M. T. Walter Author Daniel L. M. Vieira Author Karen D. Holl URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12981__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvoVMYSXI$ Rights © 2019 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 27 Issue 5 Pages 942-948 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2019 DOI 10.1111/rec.12981 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:59:05 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Defining the reference system for restoration projects in regions characterized by complex vegetation mosaics is challenging. Here we use the Cerrado region of Brazil as an example of the importance of clearly defining multiple natural and anthropogenically altered states in grassland-savanna-forest mosaics. We define three main, natural vegetation types–grassland, savanna, and scleromorphic (cerradão) forest–to (1) distinguish between original and degraded states and (2) set appropriate targets for and guide restoration. We contend that the differences in Cerrado vegetation composition originally were driven by soil conditions and secondarily by fire frequency and precipitation patterns that differ from the core to the edge of the Cerrado region. Grasslands are found on the shallowest, least fertile soils and/or in waterlogged soils; scleromorphic forests are generally located on deeper, more fertile soils; and savannas occupy an intermediate position. In recent decades, this biophysical template has been overlain by a range of human land-use intensities that strongly affect resilience, resulting in alternative anthropogenic states. For example, areas that were originally scleromorphic forest are likely to regenerate naturally following low- or medium-intensity land use due to extensive resprouting of woody plants, whereas grassland restoration requires reintroduction of grass and forb species that do not tolerate soil disturbance and exotic grass competition. Planting trees into historic grasslands results in inappropriate restoration targets and often restoration failure. Correctly identifying original vegetation types is critical to most effectively allocate scarce restoration funding. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:59:06 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:59:06 PM Tags: o Brazilian savanna o Cerrado o natural regeneration o resilience o resprouting o woody encroachment Attachments o Snapshot * Establishment of rare flood meadow species by plant material transfer: Experimental tests of threshold amounts and the effect of sowing position Type Journal Article Author Ralf Schmiede Author Eszter Ruprecht Author R. Lutz Eckstein Author Annette Otte Author Tobias W. Donath URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320712004855__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvRq6DYIQ$ Volume 159 Pages 222-229 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date March 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2012.11.017 Abstract The transfer of freshly cut seed-containing plant material is a widely applied method to re-establish grassland of high biodiversity. Still, the amount of plant material applied varies greatly across restoration projects. Therefore, we set up a two-year common garden experiment where we assessed the effect of plant material amount (0, 400, 800, 1600, 3200gm−2) and relative seed position (on top and beneath a litter layer) on seedling establishment, seedling fate and seedling fitness of eight target species for restoration of alluvial meadows. Most seedlings (85.6%) emerged within the first year. Cumulative seedling emergence and final seedling establishment across all species were highest on control plots and low litter plots but were very low or failed completely, at 1600 and 3200gm−2, respectively. In general, large-seeded species were significantly more successful than smaller seeded species. Relative seed position had only a small impact on seedling emergence and establishment but was decisive for seedling survival at high litter quantities. Across all species, seedlings that died had a significantly lower relative height than surviving seedlings. Interestingly, co-occurring resident grassland vegetation had a neutral rather than negative impact on the response variables. Our results suggest an upper threshold of 1000gm−2 for the amount of plant material applied in grassland restoration, since higher amounts will inhibit seedling establishment. The prompt emergence of most seedlings during the first vegetation period highlights the importance of creating optimal conditions for seedling establishment already in the early phase of vegetation development on restoration sites. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:51 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:51 PM Tags: o Grassland restoration o Invasibility o Litter quantity o Seed size o Seedling emergence * Tree diversity in a human modified riparian forest landscape in semi-arid Kenya Type Journal Article Author Christine B. Schmitt Author Daniel Kisangau Author Kennedy W. Matheka URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112718312040__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvk8y0A3o$ Volume 433 Pages 645-655 Publication Forest Ecology and Management ISSN 0378-1127 Date February 15, 2019 Journal Abbr Forest Ecology and Management DOI 10.1016/j.foreco.2018.11.030 Abstract Riparian forests in tropical drylands support high biodiversity and provide crucial ecosystem services. Yet, fertile soil, water availability and trees as a source of charcoal and timber make them a favourable place for settlements and subsistence agriculture. The present study aimed at evaluating the floristic diversity of riparian forest remnants in semi-arid Kenya as a basis for developing conservation and management strategies. Plant diversity was assessed along the Nzeeu and Kalundu rivers in Kitui County, Eastern Province, where riparian forest patches were intermingled with agricultural and grazing lands and invasive thickets dominated by Lantana camara. Diameter at breast height (DBH) and height of woody species (DBH > 5 cm) were recorded in a total of 74 transects (50 m × 10 m) laid out perpendicular to the rivers on both sides at 300 m intervals. In each transect, the distribution of six land cover types was mapped out and the distance of each plant individual from the river bank was noted. Overall, 631 individuals were recorded representing 85 woody species, of which 12 were exotic timber and fruit trees. Human activities mostly reached within 10 m of the river margin; indigenous vegetation covered only 12% of the transect area but had 188 tree individuals and 49 tree species (including 3 exotics), whereas agricultural land had a mean cover of 52%, 168 individuals and 39 species, including 9 exotics. Ordination and multi-level pattern analysis showed that Euphorbia bicompacta Bruyns, endemic to Kenya, and Commiphora samharensis Schweinf. were characteristic of indigenous vegetation, whereas Acacia species dominated in invasive thicket, grazing land and agricultural land. Only two species, Shirakiopsis elliptica (Hochst.) Esser and Rauvolfia caffra Sond., were clearly associated with the river bank, while the others represented a mix of riparian species with a broader ecological amplitude and typical dryland species. The study highlights that the area still supports viable remnants of indigenous riparian vegetation, whereas tree diversity on agricultural land is strongly shaped by human preferences and shows lack of recruitment. Targeted management interventions could support the maintenance of indigenous tree diversity with positive effects for overall biodiversity, soil protection and livelihood diversification. For instance, it is recommended to facilitate natural tree regeneration and to plant a variety of indigenous tree species, especially on the river banks. Further research is necessary to assess the status of riparian vegetation along similar dryland rivers in Kenya and Africa to adequately manage these important areas for biodiversity and ecosystem services. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:19 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:19 PM Tags: o Conservation o Deforestation o Invasive species o Restoration o Riverine forest o Wooded grassland * Effects of soil disturbance on plant diversity of calcareous grasslands Type Journal Article Author Tim Krone Schnoor Author Pål Axel Olsson URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880910002860__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvQCiIq3g$ Volume 139 Issue 4 Pages 714-719 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date December 15, 2010 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2010.10.018 Abstract A soil disturbance experiment was performed during two seasons in degraded, calcareous sandy grassland in southern Sweden. pH, extractable phosphorus, plant species richness and vegetation composition were analyzed. Mechanical soil disturbance had no effect on pH, and caused only a minor increase in extractable phosphorus. Positive effects compared to control plots were seen on plot scale (360m2) in species richness and Shannon index 2 years after treatment, while on a smaller scale (1m2), species richness increased only in rotavated plots. Plant community differences were mainly found between disturbed and control plots, and some positive effects were detected on early establishing species, but the two disturbance techniques favored different species. It is concluded that mechanical soil disturbance, and a variation in techniques and intensities, may be an important measure for preserving diversity in grasslands that have a history of mechanical soil disturbance. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:21 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:21 PM Tags: o Calcareous grassland o Mechanical disturbance o Phosphorus o Restoration o Sandy grassland o Soil chemistry * Soil Disturbance as a Grassland Restoration Measure—Effects on Plant Species Composition and Plant Functional Traits Type Journal Article Author Tim Schnoor Author Hans Henrik Bruun Author Pål Axel Olsson URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0123698__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvmX9LFBk$ Volume 10 Issue 4 Pages e0123698 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Apr 13, 2015 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0123698 Accessed 2020-03-12, 3:18:26 PM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract Soil disturbance is recognized as an important driver of biodiversity in dry grasslands, and can therefore be implemented as a restoration measure. However, because community re-assembly following disturbance includes stochastic processes, a focus only on species richness or establishment success of particular species will not inform on how plant communities respond ecologically to disturbance. We therefore evaluated vegetation development following disturbance by quantifying species richness, species composition and functional trait composition. Degraded calcareous sandy grassland was subjected to experimental disturbance treatments (ploughing or rotavation), and the vegetation was surveyed during four subsequent years of succession. Treated plots were compared with control plots representing untreated grassland, as well as nearby plots characterized by plant communities representing the restoration target. Species richness and functional diversity both increased in response to soil disturbance, and rotavation, but not ploughing, had a persistent positive effect on the occurrence of specialist species of calcareous sandy grassland. However, no type of soil disturbance caused the plant species composition to develop towards the target vegetation. The disturbance had an immediate and large impact on the vegetation, but the vegetation developed rapidly back towards the control sites. Plant functional composition analysis indicated that the treatments created habitats different both from control sites and target sites. Community-weighted mean Ellenberg indicator values suggested that the observed plant community response was at least partially due to an increase in nitrogen and water availability following disturbance. This study shows that a mild type of disturbance, such as rotavation, may be most successful in promoting specialist species in calcareous sandy grassland, but that further treatments are needed to reduce nutrient availability. We conclude that a functional trait based analysis provides additional information of the vegetation response and the abiotic conditions created, complementing the information from the species composition. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:18:26 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:18:26 PM Tags: o Biodiversity o Grasslands o Habitats o Leaves o Plant communities o Plants o Principal component analysis o Species diversity Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Characterizing and evaluating successional pathways of fen degradation and restoration Type Journal Article Author Joachim Schrautzer Author Francisca Sival Author Michael Breuer Author Han Runhaar Author Andreas Fichtner URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X12003093__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvxzqWUNM$ Volume 25 Pages 108-120 Publication Ecological Indicators ISSN 1470-160X Date February 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2012.08.018 Abstract The definition of restoration targets and the evaluation of restoration success require a comprehensive, ecosystem-based analysis of all successional pathways, which proceed along gradients of land use intensification and continue after implementation of restoration measures. In the presented study, such analysis was applied to fen ecosystems. Study areas were river valleys and eutrophic lakes in The Netherlands and in Schleswig-Holstein, the northernmost state of Germany. At these sites high fen degradation has taken place and restoration strategies such as “recovery of peat-forming systems” and “development of species-rich fen grasslands” have recently been pursued. Based on an indirect successional analysis, we derived characteristic shifts of abiotic (hydrodynamics, soil parameter) and biotic (species composition, phytomass production) ecosystem traits relative to increasing land use intensity. Species richness and nature conservation value (NCV) initially increased and afterwards decreased during the process of land use intensification. This floristic change was accompanied by an initial decrease and subsequent increase in system productivity. Indicators for P-availability showed the same trend and there was evidence that nutrient limitation changed initially from N- (tall sedge reeds) to P- or P/N (co)-limitation (small sedge reeds) and afterwards again to N-limitation (wet and mesic grasslands). The successional analysis documented the abiotic requirements of vegetation types and their characteristic species, and thus, allowed for the use of these ecosystem traits as indicators to evaluate the success of specific restoration targets. For example, the decrease of Scheuchzerio-Caricetea species could be related more directly to reduced light availability than to an increase of the groundwater tables. Furthermore, we calculated threshold values of these traits for the occurrence of target species. For instance, a sustainable establishment of light-demanding mesotrophic species can only be expected if the standing crop value is less than 400gm−2. In a further step, we estimated the restoration success in selected study areas by applying the findings of the successional analysis. Results showed that rewetting measures have to be carried out with caution if both restoration strategies are aspired in one specific area. Moreover, restoration success of both strategies is limited in initially highly degraded areas. Sources for target species are often missing and abiotic conditions such as nutrient levels and flooding periods are often inappropriate. Consequently, expectations for restoration success should be adapted to the realistic development potential of the individual system and a cost–benefit analysis has to be carried out to avoid unnecessary management costs. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:24 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:24 PM Tags: o Ecosystem indication o Ecosystem traits o Light competition o Nutrient limitation o Restoration success o Rewetting o Secondary succession * Long-term effects of large-scale grazing on the vegetation of a rewetted river valley Type Journal Article Author Joachim Schrautzer Author Veronika Breuer Author Bettina Holsten Author Kai Jensen Author Leonid Rasran URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016788091530102X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvJmokWEY$ Volume 216 Pages 207-215 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date January 15, 2016 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2015.09.036 Abstract Large-scale, low-density grazing is a standard management concept for conserving or enhancing biodiversity in cultural landscapes of central Europe. Documentation of results concerning effects of this type of grazing on biodiversity and functioning of degraded river valleys, however, is rare. For a period of ten years, we investigated vegetation development of three pastures in a river valley of northern Germany, where rewetting was combined with large-scale cattle grazing for restoration of the valley’s biodiversity as well as its water and nutrient regulation. The study yielded ambiguous results concerning achievement of restoration goals. Changes in plant diversity were dependent on site conditions and on previous land-use of the associated pastures. On mineral soils, species richness, total species number and β-diversity increased. On fen soils that formerly were species-poor wet grasslands, an increase in species richness was observed, whereas at sites formerly of species-rich vegetation, species richness decreased. Development of β-diversity showed no clear trend on fen sites. Establishment of woody species as indicator for enhanced structural heterogeneity was successful on mineral soils of abandoned arable fields with an open sward, and also on fen soils close to mature nursery trees. We conclude that a fine-tuning of factors influencing grazing behaviour of cattle is necessary for achieving simultaneous targets of nature conservation and resource protection. Restoration of river valleys in cultural landscapes is however a lengthy process, thus, long-term monitoring is indispensable for avoiding mismanagement. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:06 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:06 PM Tags: o Diversity o Grazing management o Large pastures o Long-term monitoring o Nature conservation * Long-term population dynamics of Dactylorhiza incarnata (L.) Soó after abandonment and re-introduction of mowing Type Journal Article Author Joachim Schrautzer Author Andreas Fichtner Author Aiko Huckauf Author Leonid Rasran Author Kai Jensen URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0367253011000193__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvviZVwb0$ Volume 206 Issue 7 Pages 622-630 Publication Flora - Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants ISSN 0367-2530 Date July 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Flora - Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants DOI 10.1016/j.flora.2010.11.008 Abstract The orchid Dactylorhiza incarnata (L.) Soó is a highly polymorphic species listed as endangered in many regional red lists of Central Europe and Scandinavia. The dramatic decline of its populations during recent decades has been caused by the loss and degradation of their natural and semi-natural habitats (fens and wet meadows, respectively) as a result of secondary succession following intensification or abandonment of traditional land use. In this study, we analysed the effects of abandonment and re-introduction of mowing on the long-term (28 years) population dynamics of Dactylorhiza incarnata at Lake Barsbek in northern Germany. In this area, to preserve a remaining population of D. incarnata, an annual mowing regime was re-established in 1981 on site M-1 of the investigated plots after a period of abandonment. Annual mowing was introduced on a second site, M-2, in 1987. Two- to three-year mowing was introduced on a third site, M-3. Site A, abandoned since 1970, was used as a reference. On each of these sites, flowering individuals were counted once a year. Population structure and accompanying vegetation were recorded simultaneously. In 2006, light measurements were carried out in the mowed areas. The D. incarnata population at M-1 increased exponentially during the first 10 years after re-introduction of mowing. Pronounced decreases in the number of flowering individuals were recorded in 1997 and 2003. Population dynamics at M-2 generally resembled the temporal development at M-1. D. incarnata disappeared on site A during the investigation period, while vegetation height and litter layer increased by 60 and 100%, respectively. D. incarnata was able to withstand reduced light availability to a certain extent by increasing its vertical growth (shade avoidance). It is concluded that the maintenance of D. incarnata populations in Central Europe requires continuation or re-establishment of wet meadow management. On previously abandoned sites, an initially higher mowing frequency is recommended. Management intensity can be reduced after phytomass production of the vegetation has declined. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:11 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:11 PM Tags: o Litter production o Relative light availability o Secondary succession o Shade avoidance o Wet grassland restoration * AMF inoculation of green roof substrate improves plant performance but reduces drought resistance of native dry grassland species Type Journal Article Author Roland Schröder Author Milena Mohri Author Kathrin Kiehl URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857419302915__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv_TAgTd0$ Volume 139 Pages 105583 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date November 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2019.105583 Abstract Standard extensive green roofs (EGRs) with their shallow substrate layers represent extreme sites for plant growth and therefore are planted mostly with drought-resistant species, including non-native plant species. As standard EGR substrates often lack potentially mutualistic soil microorganisms, it has been stated that inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) might increase plant performance and drought resistance. Aiming to support native biodiversity on EGRs, we tested whether AMF inoculation into standard green roof substrate can enhance plant performance and drought resistance of regionally occurring native dry grassland species. The results of a pot experiment with 11 native plant species growing with and without AMF inoculation showed considerable differences in fitness-relevant plant traits. Over 88 days of moderate drought conditions, inoculated plants produced 2.5 times more above-ground biomass than control plants. In addition, the number of inflorescences on inoculated plants was significantly higher in 5 out of 7 flowering species. Under severe drought stress created by stopping the water supply, however, inoculated plants wilted on average 2.38 days earlier than control plants. Although the underlying mechanisms of the observed results remain unresolved, AMF inoculation might help to enhance an earlier and higher seed set, facilitating the establishment of a soil seed bank, which is necessary for a self-sustaining plant population in drought-governed habitats such as EGRs. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:21 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:21 PM Tags: o Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi o Drought resistance o Ecological restoration o Extensive green roof o Urban ecology * Mountain grassland restoration: Effects of sowing rate, climate and soil on plant density and cover Type Journal Article Author Michele Scotton URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004896971834083X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvEzAHRk4$ Volume 651 Pages 3090-3098 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date February 15, 2019 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.10.192 Abstract Semi-natural grasslands are of great importance to European biodiversity. Their restoration in mountain regions often presents specific problems of raw soil stabilisation and difficult climatic conditions. Methods used to tackle these problems include increasing sowing density and fertilisation. However, past studies were performed at only one site or for a short time and do not clearly show how site traits and time affect restoration results. In six field experiments undertaken on raw soils in the Italian Alps, the effects of sowing density, fertilisation, soil, and climate on the development over time of plant density and cover were analysed over three to six years. The seed was collected from nearby grasslands and sown at rates of 335–21,410 seeds m−2. During the first one-two years, the percentage of seeds producing established plants at low seed rates was higher in stonier surfaces; however, at high rates a larger absolute plant number was recorded in finer soils. Two to five years after sowing, climatic conditions became more important. Full vegetation cover was achieved in all experiments. However, at high altitudes, individual plant cover became greater (and plant density decreased), probably because the grasses needed to accumulate more non-structural carbohydrates necessary to survive during the longer winter. Fertilisation accelerated the establishment of full vegetation cover by 1 to 3 years as it increased the mean cover per plant without affecting plant density. Grassland restoration is possible in mountain raw soils by using the seeds collected from nearby donor sites. High sowing densities are not required even in coarse or higher altitude soils because, in the short term, stones on the ground surface increase the percentage of seed producing established plants and, over the long term, plant density is not dependent on the sowing density. In low-fertile soils, fertilisation accelerates the establishment of full vegetation cover. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:50 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:50 PM Tags: o Fertilisation o Ground stoniness o Safe-site o Sowing density o Vegetative rest length * Calcareous grassland restoration at a coarse quarry waste dump in the Italian Alps Type Journal Article Author Michele Scotton URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857418301162__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvJmHIbNA$ Volume 117 Pages 174-181 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date July 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2018.04.012 Abstract Establishing semi-natural grasslands by using seeds from wild harvesting is an effective method to restore vegetation with high natural value. However, studies implementing this strategy for the revegetation of coarse soils are scarce. In this study, different types of propagation material (green hay, dry hay, and hay-flower from seed stripping) harvested at a species-rich European vegetation typical for calcareous soils (Mesobromion) were used at different sowing densities (range, 450–3000 seeds per m2) to restore a very unfertile soil consisting of coarse wastes from a calcareous quarry. The experiment, organised in a randomised block design with three replicates, was established in 2009, and the species composition and structure were surveyed over five years. The threshold of 70% vegetation cover effective against erosion was achieved within two years after sowing. Neither the type of propagation material nor the sowing density influenced the number of species transferred or the final vegetation cover. However, seed density affected the time of achieving the 70% threshold of plant cover important for erosion control (two or three years after sowing depending on the seed density). Of the seventy-three donor site species, fifty-nine were recorded at least during one year on the restored site (absolute transfer rate of 81%), but only forty-six were recorded in the last year (final transfer rate of 63%). Vegetation development was characterised by loss or decrease of donor site species not well adapted to grow in nutrient-poor soils and increase by species typical for coarse textured soils. The very low soil nitrogen content caused an abundance of nitrogen-fixing species (legumes) compared with that at the donor site. Restoring very coarse calcareous quarry wastes, even without soil improvement, is possible provided the climatic conditions are favourable and seeds of good quality are available. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:45 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:45 PM Tags: o Calcareous quarries o Grassland restoration o Hay harvesting o Quarrying waste o Seed stripping o Wild seed harvesting * Establishing a semi-natural grassland: Effects of harvesting time and sowing density on species composition and structure of a restored Arrhenatherum elatius meadow Type Journal Article Author Michele Scotton URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880915302085__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvG0ssv9M$ Volume 220 Pages 35-44 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date March 15, 2016 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2015.12.029 Abstract Species-rich semi-natural grasslands play an essential role in the conservation of European biodiversity. To restore them, existing grasslands may be used as a seed source. A key factor for successful restoration is the transfer of all species of the plant community to the site being restored. This approach, however, often poses practical problems due to variations in species phenology, so that only time-staggered harvesting allows the seeds of many species to be collected. Poor harvesting methods may reduce the number of species transferred from the donor to recipient site. The effects of harvesting at various time points by various methods were evaluated here in a restoration experiment on an ex-arable field in Northern Italy. Propagation materials from the first or second regrowth (or both) of a meadow dominated by Arrhenatherum elatius were collected by four harvesting methods. The materials were spread at the sowing density between 830 and 14360 seedsm−2. Species composition and structure of the vegetation were examined during 6 years. Untransferred species were almost exclusively those not present at harvesting as mature seed. Compared with materials from one regrowth period, materials from both regrowth periods significantly increased the number of transferred species per plot (26.5 vs. 28.5, respectively) and the absolute transfer rate (64% vs. 75%). Higher sowing density yielded a greater number of positive than negative effects. It favored stable establishment of donor site species and significantly reduced the presence of weeds. Nonetheless, due to the initial dominance of species with high sowing density, evenness of the restored plots was lower than that at the donor site but increased with time, at least under low- and medium-sowing-density conditions. Multiple harvesting at time points when several species with mature seed are present increases the species transfer rate. Medium sowing density positively affects restoration development because it promotes the establishment of donor site species with lower sowing density, prevents species with the highest density from dominating the vegetation during the first few years, and reduces weed cover. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:47 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:47 PM Tags: o emi-natural grassland o Restoration o Sowing density o Species composition o Species richness o Vegetation structure * Wild Seed Harvesting at Mountainous Species-Rich Grassland in Calcareous Italian Alps Type Journal Article Author Michele Scotton URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742418301064__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv7Y4scds$ Volume 71 Issue 6 Pages 762-769 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date November 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2018.04.005 Abstract Wild harvesting is an efficient option for supplying seed to be used for restoring seminatural grasslands. Several methods are currently used to implement wild harvesting, but few controlled experiments have investigated its efficiency regarding seed amount and number of species collected. A harvesting trial was conducted in a species-rich, low-productivity grassland of the calcareous Italian Alps (1 030 m above sea level [a.s.l.). Three mechanical methods were tested in three replications using a completely randomized block design: green hay (GH), dry hay (DH), and seed stripping (SS) harvesting. The number of fertile shoots, mature seeds, and species collected was recorded and compared with the standing seed yield (SSY). GH, DH, and SS harvested approximately 84%, 70%, and 29% of SSY, respectively. Forbs were harvested more efficiently than grasses in all methods but in most cases at very low seed amounts per m2 due to their low seed density for SSY. No significant difference among methods was found for the number of species collected as mature seeds, but SS, implemented on larger plots, tended to collect more forb species. Comparing the results with those of other experiments demonstrated that the relatively cool temperature of the seed maturation period at the mountain site favored stronger seed retention and therefore increased the GH and DH efficiency but decreased the SS efficiency. In cool mountain areas, wild harvesting from forb-rich grasslands should be more successful by SS implemented on wide areas and several times over the vegetative season. In less species-rich grassland, GH and DH can efficiently collect high seed amounts of the fewer species present, even if implemented over smaller areas. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:54 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:54 PM Tags: o dry hay o grassland restoration o green hay o harvesting efficiency o seed stripping o standing seed yield * Efficiency of mechanical seed harvesting for grassland restoration Type Journal Article Author Michele Scotton Author Magdalena Ševčíková URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880917302839__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv56BGo74$ Volume 247 Pages 195-204 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date September 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2017.06.040 Abstract Maintaining and re-creating species-rich semi-natural grasslands are important issues in current agricultural policy in Europe. The seed that is required for their establishment can be obtained through direct harvesting from semi-natural herbaceous vegetation. To test the efficiency of mechanical seed harvesting on donor Arrhenatherion elatioris grasslands, experiments were performed in northern Italy and eastern Czech Republic. Trials were organized with a randomized block design and involved harvesting as green hay (grass mowing and immediate collection), dry hay (grass mowing and collection after drying on the field), direct combining (grass cutting and threshing at the same combine passage) and seed stripping with pull-type equipment (seed removal without grass cutting with a brush harvester pulled by a tractor). Harvesting was carried out at the time of maximum ripe standing seed yield (SSY) in the first and second regrowth. The harvested materials were analysed for seed number and weight and compared with the SSY. The species composition and phenology were also surveyed. In all methods, the seed mixture obtained contained the species present as seed at harvest time and was correlated with SSY. However, with regard to the seed number collected, the harvesting efficiency changed in relation to species group (grasses or forbs), individual species, seed maturation and regrowth. The most efficient method was harvesting as green hay (efficiency of approximately 71% of SSY and seed mixture composition that was very highly correlated with SSY). The least efficient methods were direct combining (30% of SSY and negative selectivity against light or difficult to detach seeds, producing the highest mean 1000-seeds weight) and harvesting as dry hay (39% of SSY and a high sensitivity to seed maturation level). Seed stripping, operated with downward brush rotation at the leading edge, resulted in an intermediate efficiency (60% of SSY and a seed mixture composition highly correlated with SSY). The harvesting efficiency for seed number was higher at the first regrowth than the second one for both species groups and, especially at the second regrowth, higher for forbs than for grasses. Especially forb harvesting presented a problem with regard to the species number collected. The problem was, not due to harvesting inefficiency but rather for phenological reasons, as several forbs did not produce fertile stems at the first or second regrowth and some other early flowering species had already shed the seed at the harvesting time. These results improve our understanding of factors affecting the efficiency of mechanical harvesting and will help in the preparation of efficient harvesting programs. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:22 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:22 PM Tags: o Combining o Green hay o Harvesting efficiency o Hay-making o Seed harvesting o Seed stripping o Semi-natural grasslands o Standing seed yield * Passive restoration augments active restoration in deforested landscapes: The role of root suckering adjacent to planted stands of Acacia koa Type Journal Article Author Paul G. Scowcroft Author Justin T. Yeh URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112713003265__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvTpEphaE$ Volume 305 Pages 138-145 Publication Forest Ecology and Management ISSN 0378-1127 Date October 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Forest Ecology and Management DOI 10.1016/j.foreco.2013.05.027 Abstract Active forest restoration in Hawaii’s Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge has produced a network of Acacia koa tree corridors and islands in deforested grasslands. Passive restoration by root suckering has potential to expand tree cover and close gaps between planted stands. This study documents rates of encroachment into grassland, clonal stand structure, and tree architecture. Data were collected from random replicate strip transects that started inside 23-year-old koa plantations and ended either in open grassland or in adjacent planted stands. For the former, sucker densities increased from near zero inside planted stands to a maximum of 5–38 stemsm−2 5–14m away from the edge of the plantation canopy, and then decreased to zero–a typical pattern for trees invading grassland. No suckers occurred more than 28m from the canopy edge on east-facing slopes, or more than 18m on south-facing slopes. Rates of expansion into grassland ranged from 0.8 to 1.5myr−1; suckers had already filled gaps between closely spaced plantation stands located on north-facing slopes. Continued suckering should result in the eventual re-establishment of tree cover on deforested areas between planted tree islands and corridors, and without additional active restoration. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:23 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:23 PM Tags: o Abandoned pasture o Clonal expansion of trees o Reforestation o Root sprouting o Secondary forest o Subtropical montane moist forest * Status, future prospects, and management recommendations for alkaline fens in an agricultural landscape: A comprehensive survey Type Journal Article Author Franziska K. Seer Author Joachim Schrautzer URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1617138114000260__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv6_4AEdg$ Volume 22 Issue 4 Pages 358-368 Publication Journal for Nature Conservation ISSN 1617-1381 Date August 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Journal for Nature Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.jnc.2014.03.003 Abstract Due to agricultural intensification and cessation of traditional land use, alkaline fens of the Caricion davallianae alliance (EU-FFH 7230) are among the most endangered ecosystems in Europe. This study exhibits a vegetation analysis of these systems in Schleswig-Holstein (Northern Germany). We analyzed across three scales the effects of grazing and mowing on phytodiversity of core areas and recorded their adjacent vegetation to estimate the capability for habitat enlargement of fen species. Results revealed that species richness, evenness and number of endangered species varied insignificantly between mowing and grazing treatments, regardless of scale. The high proportion of fen species and Red-Book-listed species in core areas, along with a state-wide representation of only 2ha of these vegetation types, underlines the need for further conservation measures. Floristic differences between grazed and mowed sites derived from the individual appearance of species within one treatment. Thus, to preserve the species pool of alkaline fens, both management strategies have to be considered. Moreover, as most small sedge reed species are low-productive and light-demanding, sufficient biomass removal of dominant tall-growing species is required. One cut per year in late summer, the traditional management, does not satisfy the requirements of target species, which is indicated by an increase of Phragmitetea species at larger plot sizes. Additionally, in grazed fens, vegetation adjacent to the core areas consisted mainly of more eutrophic wet grasslands, and, in mowed fens, mainly of reeds or woods. We recommend therefore several changes in current conservation measures that include an increase to two cuts per year in mowed fens, and stocking rates of at least 2LUha−1 (summer grazing) or 0.7LUha−1 (year-round grazing). Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:16 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:16 PM Tags: o Caricion davallianae o Fen restoration o Grazing o Habitat enlargement o Mowing o Phytodiversity * Restoration of lowland meadows in Austria: A comparison of five techniques Type Journal Article Author Philipp Sengl Author Martin Magnes Author Karin Weitenthaler Author Viktoria Wagner Author László Erdős Author Christian Berg URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1439179116302638__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvwF_CKyQ$ Volume 24 Pages 19-29 Publication Basic and Applied Ecology ISSN 1439-1791 Date November 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Basic and Applied Ecology DOI 10.1016/j.baae.2017.08.004 Abstract European environmental policy mandates that biodiversity loss should be halted through restoration. However, knowledge about the efficacy of different restoration treatments for lowland meadows is still incomplete. Our study monitored two restoration projects in South-East Austria that served as compensation measures for the loss of species-rich grassland. We compared the efficacy of five restoration techniques: (1) sod transplantation, (2) natural colonization, (3) hay transfer and additions of seed mixtures for (4) wet and (5) bare soils. Over three years, we measured species richness, number of target species, Shannon diversity and similarity to reference sites. We asked: (A) What is the most effective technique for the restoration of lowland meadows? and (B) Is the applied restoration method more important than abiotic site conditions? We included 66 plots (reference and donor sites: 8 plots, restoration sites: 58 plots) in our study. We sampled data on species composition (4m×4m plots) in three consecutive years since restoration initiation, estimated the slope inclination and analyzed soil parameters (K, P, pH). In general, species composition developed towards the reference vegetation for all techniques but sod transplantation produced by far the best result in terms of species richness and similarity to reference sites. By comparison, hay transfer and natural colonization produced intermediate results but performed better than seeding; the latter led to homogenous, species-poor swards. Soil preparation and abiotic site conditions played a minor role in this early stage of the restoration process, though these factors may gain importance in a longer time frame. We found sod transplantation to be a superior method for lowland meadow restoration in our study area but managers must consider its destructive nature and high costs, which might outweigh its benefits. In this light, hay transfer and natural colonization – or a combination of different techniques – could provide less destructive and more cost-effective alternatives. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:54 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:54 PM Tags: o Compensation measures o Hay transfer o Seeding o Sod transplantation o Topsoil removal * Twenty years of rest returns grazing potential, but not palatable plant diversity, to Karoo rangeland, South Africa Type Journal Article Author Colleen L. Seymour Author Suzanne J. Milton Author Grant S. Joseph Author W Richard J. Dean Author Tsholofelo Ditlhobolo Author Graeme S. Cumming URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.jstor.org/stable/40835704__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvdSK6ctY$ Volume 47 Issue 4 Pages 859-867 Publication Journal of Applied Ecology ISSN 00218901, 13652664 Date 2010 Accessed 2020-03-17, 6:00:00 PM Abstract [1. Up to 73% of the world's rangelands are degraded, and increasing demand for meat in developing countries and a growing human population are likely to exert even greater pressures on rangelands in the next 20-50 years. Restoration of rangeland grazing potential and resilience is therefore important, particularly in the face of climate change. 2. We investigated the influence of past stocking rates (from 1910 to 1987), rainfall, and current grazing regimes (from 1988 to 2008) on plant assemblages, grazing potential, and diversity of palatable species in southern Karoo rangelands, South Africa. 3. We used herbivore exclusion experiments to test whether resting rangeland for 20 years enables recovery of plant assemblages (where seed sources are present within 50 m), regardless of previous grazing history. Mean annual rainfall over this period was 15% higher than the mean annual rainfall for the preceding 80 years and included two exceptionally wet years. 4. While rainfall was a primary driver of total vegetation cover, grazing history explained differences in plant species composition: plots with shared historical grazing intensity were more similar than plots with the same grazing regimes between 1988 and 2008. 5. In historically heavily-grazed exclusion plots, cover of the palatable species Tripteris sinuata (formerly Osteospermum sinuatum) returned to levels comparable to that in both exclusion and lightly-grazed plots with a moderate grazing history. Five palatable species (Ptewnia empetrifolia, Tetragonia spicata, Berkheya spinosa, Hereroa latipetala and Ruschia spinosa) failed to re-establish, however, despite the presence of seed-producing plants nearby. Furthermore, only cover of P. empetrifolia increased significantly in historically moderately-grazed plots. Cover of unpalatable plants (e. g. Pteroniapallens) increased in all plots over time. 6. Synthesis and applications. These findings suggest that present species composition of arid shrublands reflects historical management at time scales greater than 20 years. Despite high rainfall enabling the return of grazing potential through recovery of a single forage species, rest alone did not ensure the return of all palatable species, with implications for rangeland resilience. Restoring the full suite of palatable species over management timeframes will require more complex interventions such as reseeding or selective clearing.] Archive JSTOR Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:49:58 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:49:58 PM * Denitrification and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) in a temperate re-connected floodplain Type Journal Article Author F. Sgouridis Author C.M. Heppell Author G. Wharton Author K. Lansdown Author M. Trimmer URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0043135411003800__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvRS7Iidk$ Volume 45 Issue 16 Pages 4909-4922 Publication Water Research ISSN 0043-1354 Date October 15, 2011 Journal Abbr Water Research DOI 10.1016/j.watres.2011.06.037 Abstract The relative magnitudes of, and factors controlling, denitrification and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) were measured in the soil of a re-connected temperate floodplain divided into four different land management zones (grazing grassland, hay meadow, fritillary meadow and a buffer zone). Soil samples were collected from each zone to measure their respective potentials for nitrate attenuation using 15N both at the surface and at depth in the soil column and additional samples were collected to measure the lability of the organic carbon. Denitrification capacity ranged between 0.4 and 4.2 (μmol N g−1 dry soil d−1) across the floodplain topsoil and DNRA capacity was an order of magnitude lower (0.01–0.71 μmol N g−1 d−1). Land management practice had a significant effect on denitrification but no significant effects were apparent for DNRA. In this nitrogen-rich landscape, spatial heterogeneity in denitrification was explained by differences in lability and the magnitude of organic carbon associated with different management practices (mowing and grazing). The lability of organic carbon was significantly higher in grazing grassland in comparison to other ungrazed areas of the floodplain, and consequently denitrification capacity was also highest in this area. Our results indicate that bacteria capable of DNRA do survive in frequently flooded riparian zones, and to a limited extent, compete with denitrification for nitrate, acting to retain and recycle nitrogen in the floodplain. Exponential declines in both denitrification and DNRA capacity with depth in the floodplain soils of a hay meadow and buffer zone were controlled primarily by the organic carbon content of the soils. Furthermore, grazing could be employed in re-connected, temperate floodplains to enhance the potential for nitrate removal from floodwaters via denitrification. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:28 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:28 PM Tags: o Denitrification o DNRA o Floodplain o Lability o Land use management o River restoration * Primed for Change: Developing Ecological Restoration for the 21st Century Type Journal Article Author Nancy Shackelford Author Richard J. Hobbs Author Joanna M. Burgar Author Todd E. Erickson Author Joseph B. Fontaine Author Etienne Laliberté Author Cristina E. Ramalho Author Michael P. Perring Author Rachel J. Standish URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12012__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvqnUVBO8$ Rights © 2013 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 21 Issue 3 Pages 297-304 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2013 DOI 10.1111/rec.12012 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:59:39 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Restoration is a young and swiftly developing field. It has been almost a decade since the inception of one of the field's foundational documents—the Society for Ecological Restoration International Primer on Ecological Restoration (Primer). Through a series of organized discussions, we assessed the Primer for its currency and relevance in the modern field of ecological restoration. We focused our assessment on the section entitled “The Nine Attributes of a Restored Ecosystem” and grouped each of the attributes into one of four categories: species composition, ecosystem function, ecosystem stability, and landscape context. We found that in the decade since the document's inception, the concepts, methods, goals, and thinking of ecological restoration have shifted significantly. We discuss each of the four categories in this light with the aim of offering comments and suggestions on options for updating the Primer. We also include a fifth category that we believe is increasingly acknowledged in ecological restoration: the human element. The Primer is an important document guiding the practice of restoration. We hope that this critical assessment contributes to its ongoing development and relevance and more generally to the development of restoration ecology, particularly in our current era of rapid environmental change. Short Title Primed for Change Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:59:39 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:59:39 PM Tags: o ecosystem function o ecosystem stability o goal setting o landscape effects o SER Primer o species composition Attachments o Snapshot * The response of soil organic carbon and nitrogen 10years after returning cultivated alpine steppe to grassland by abandonment or reseeding Type Journal Article Author Zhan-Huan Shang Author Jing-Juan Cao Author Rui-Ying Guo Author Rui-Jun Long Author Bo Deng URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816214000757__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvCSZjR0U$ Volume 119 Pages 28-35 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date August 1, 2014 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2014.03.006 Abstract The effects on the status of carbon and nitrogen in alpine steppe soils from returning cultivated land back to grassland is not well known. The present study reported on the effects on the soil carbon and nitrogen status of alpine steppe soils from two restoration methods, reseeding grasses and abandonment. The study based on four study sites selected within the same broad area on the north slope of Qilian Mountain: native alpine steppe, cropland of 40years, former oat cropland reseeded with the grass (Elymus sibiricus) 10years ago, and cropland abandoned 10years ago. This experiment measured the soil physical, carbon and nitrogen properties of all selected plots. Ten years after restoration by reseeding or abandonment had resulted in the return of cropland to a perennial grass community through succession, with total soil carbon and nitrogen returning to more than 70% of the original grassland plots. The reseeding method benefited soil carbon and nitrogen more than abandonment after 10years. The light fraction organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon and microbial biomass nitrogen recovered more quickly than soil organic carbon and total soil nitrogen. In conclusion, we recommend the two methods (reseeding and abandonment) as suitable methods to engineer the returning of cultivated land back to grassland in the alpine steppe. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:41 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:41 PM Tags: o Abandonment o Alpine steppe o Carbon and nitrogen o Reseeding o Restoration o Returning of cropland back to grassland * Soil seed bank and its relation with above-ground vegetation along the degraded gradients of alpine meadow Type Journal Article Author Zhanhuan Shang Author Shihai Yang Author Yanlong Wang Author Jianjun Shi Author Luming Ding Author Ruijun Long URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857416300660__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvjn3okDY$ Volume 90 Pages 268-277 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date May 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2016.01.067 Abstract Degradation of alpine meadow may change the composition and size of the soil seed bank, which will impact on the seed bank's capacity for restoration. Four plots were selected to represent the degradation gradients of alpine meadow on Tibetan plateau, namely normal meadow, lightly-degraded meadow, moderately-degraded meadow, and severely-degraded meadow. Soil cores were collected in two seasons, November of 2004 (after seed dispersal) and April of 2005 (before seedling emergence). Soil seed banks were examined by a seedling emergence method. Totals of 56 and 57 species were identified from soil seed bank of four plots in November and April, respectively. The mean size of the soil seed bank on the four plots varied between 2662 and 8026seedsm−2 in November, and between 3744 and 9773seedsm−2 in April. The difference in soil seed bank size between the two sampling times (November and April) was not significant within plots. Soil seed banks and above-ground vegetation presented the same trend with vegetation succession across the differently degraded meadows. In all plots, hemicryptophytes accounted for the majority of species and produced the largest number of seeds, of which the majority was weeds. In degraded meadows, the significant increase in weeds (species richness, plant density) changed species composition of soil seed bank and above-ground vegetation along degrading trend. The soil seed bank has important implications for vegetation succession and the restoration of species-diverse alpine meadow on the Tibetan plateau. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:46 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:46 PM Tags: o Ecological restoration o Grassland management o Seed bank dynamics o Vegetation regeneration * Analysis of critical land degradation and development processes and their driving mechanism in the Heihe River Basin Type Journal Article Author Yaqi Shao Author Qun'ou Jiang Author Chunli Wang Author Meilin Wang Author Ling Xiao Author Yuanjing Qi URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969720305921__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv3prj8Dg$ Volume 716 Pages 137082 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date May 10, 2020 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137082 Abstract In arid regions, land development and degradation (LDD) is sustained by the undesirable land development, human production and living, and climate change. Therefore, the understanding of LDD processes and their driving mechanism in the arid or semi-arid regions is significant to guarantee the sustainable development of ecological environment. This study explored the critical LDD processes in the Heihe River Basin (HRB) during 1990–2010 with the spatio-temporal evaluation of critical land use dynamics and its land quality changing trends. Then, the driving mechanism of cultivated land development process, grassland degradation process and water resource change process were analyzed by a simultaneous equations model which took the interaction of three processes into account. The results showed that the mutual transfers of cultivated land were primarily gathered in the middle reaches from 1990 to 2010. Its area grew by 13.5% and the average dynamic degree remained at 0.61%. The transfers between grassland and cultivated land, unused land were more remarkable, which led to the decline of grassland quality and even grassland degradation. Water area maintained a dynamic balance with almost unchanged area, but its dynamic trend was initially increasing and then decreasing. However, the average degradation of land quality in the whole study area is continuously alleviated. These changes were mainly due to the interaction of the LDD processes above, as well as socio-economic and climate change. Among them,agricultural research investments could restrain the unordered expansion of cultivated land resource for a relatively short period of time. Meanwhile, the variable of whether it is the main grain producing county is the main driver of grassland and water resource degradation in this region. These conclusions will provide scientific references for ecological land restoration and land quality improvement in the HRB. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:27 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:27 PM Tags: o Driving mechanism o Environmental management o Heihe River Basin o Land degradation and development o Simultaneous equations model * Soil carbon dynamics during grass restoration on abandoned sloping cropland in the hilly area of the Loess Plateau, China Type Journal Article Author He Shaoxuan Author Liang Zongsuo Author Han Ruilian Author Wang Yong Author Liu Guobin URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816215000417__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvelFaIl8$ Volume 137 Pages 679-685 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date February 1, 2016 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2015.01.027 Abstract Secondary vegetation succession on abandoned cropland significantly influences soil C-pool dynamics in arid and semi-arid region. Much work on soil C-pool dynamics has been focused on soil organic carbon (SOC), whereas considerably less attention has been given on soil inorganic carbon (SIC). Moreover, the relationship between SOC and SIC during natural succession is unclear. The objective of this research was to investigate SOC and SIC storage dynamics in natural restored grassland following cropland abandonment. We measured SOC and SIC content in paired grassland and cropland sites in the Gaoqiao watershed on the Loess Plateau, China. The grassland sites were established on cropland abandoned for 5, 13, 24, and 32years. Top soil OC was significantly higher after 10-year restoration, especially in the 0–5cm soil depths; deeper soil OC was lower in younger grasslands (<20yr), and significantly higher in older grasslands (>20yr). SIC was significantly higher after abandonment, but varied largely among successional grasslands. SOC storage (SOCs) decreased in the younger grassland (5yr), and SOCs (0–100cm) was significantly higher after 10-year restoration. SIC storage (SICs) increased after abandonment in the 0–100cm soil depth, but showed various magnitudes among restored grasslands. SIC storage (SICs) originally contained most part of STC storage (STCs), and grass restoration after cropland abandonment led to higher SOCs/STCs ratio and lower SICs/STCs ratio. Our results indicate that grass restoration enhanced the accumulation of SOC and SIC storages, but with inverse proportional contributions to STC storage. We suggest that SIC should be as much focused as SOC during grass restoration in the arid Loess Plateau. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:43 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:43 PM Tags: o Grass restoration o Loess Plateau o Soil inorganic carbon o Soil organic carbon * Investigating distribution of ecosystem services in rangeland landscapes: an approach based on weighted key functional traits Type Journal Article Author Mohsen Sharafatmandrad Author Azam Khosravi Mashizi URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X19309665__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvkKKiujY$ Volume 111 Pages 105971 Publication Ecological Indicators ISSN 1470-160X Date April 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2019.105971 Abstract It is important to understand the distribution of multiple ecosystem services and their underlying basic ecological sources. In this study, a novel trait-based approach was developed to address different natural landscapes potential to supply multiple ecosystem services in three rangeland landscapes (highland, hillside and plain rangelands). First, key related functional traits and their weights for measuring each ecosystem service were determined using multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA). Potential of each landscape to supply each ecosystem service was determined through abundance and functional values of species in providing that service. Results showed that highland rangelands had the highest potential for forage production, medical source, fuel, carbon stock, wind erosion control and water regulation. The highest potential for pollination, honey and aesthetic belonged to hillside sites. Arid plain site provided the least ecosystem services in the study region. There were significant relationships between species diversity and ecosystem services forage, medical sources and aesthetic. Richness did not represent potential of arid and semi-arid rangeland landscapes to supply multiple ecosystem services. Climate was the main factor in driving multiple ecosystem services across landscape gradient. Pearson’s correlation revealed a synergy between pollination, honey and aesthetic and they tradeoff with water regulation, carbon stock, medical source, wind erosion control. Soil fertility as a supporting service was correlated with other ecosystem services. Our approach provides useful information to identify ecosystem potential in supplying multiple ecosystem services and to assist ecological interventions for supporting multiple ecosystem services in different rangeland landscapes. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:03 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:00:03 PM Tags: o Biodiversity o Ecosystem service o Functional trait o Tradeoff * Visual value of rangeland landscapes: A study based on structural equation modeling Type Journal Article Author Mohsen Sharafatmandrad Author Azam Khosravi Mashizi URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857420300306__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvym_U3Po$ Volume 146 Pages 105742 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date March 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2020.105742 Abstract Understanding the visual value of landscapes is a key issue for environmental decision makers and planners because it is directly related to people's perceptions. In this study, the relationships of seven aesthetic criteria (vegetation composition, complexity, existential factor, coherence, stewardship, physiographic, and environmental factors) and 19 scenic aesthetic indicators with visual value of different rangeland landscapes were assessed. The visual value of different rangeland landscapes was assessed based on stakeholders and managers perceptions using photos and questionnaires. The results showed that existential factor, vegetation composition, and complexity were the most important factors for visual value assessment respectively. Structural equation modeling revealed that all criteria had significant direct impacts on visual value except for stewardship (p<0.05). Naturalness, presence of trees and plant diversity were the most important scenic indicators which make landscapes visually more valuable through texture harmony, water management, being mountainous and presence of water. The mountainous shrub-tree landscapes were the most important wild landscapes in terms of visual value. There was no significant difference between wild and managed landscapes. The burned rangelands had the least visual value due to mismanagement. Human activities under modern disturbances had diminished the visual value of rangelands more than activities under traditional disturbances and they had the most negative impact on visual value of rangeland landscapes. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:05 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:00:05 PM Tags: o Aesthetic o Disturbance o Landscape o Mismanagement o Rangeland * Poa secunda local collections and commercial releases: A genotypic evaluation Type Journal Article Author Alanna N. Shaw Author Daniel L. Mummey URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0173221__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvdk_aVLM$ Volume 12 Issue 4 Pages e0173221 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Apr 3, 2017 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0173221 Accessed 2020-03-12, 3:27:39 PM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract The genetics of native plants influence the success of ecological restoration, yet genetic variability of local seed collections and commercial seed releases remains unclear for most taxa. Poa secunda, a common native grass species in Intermountain West grasslands and a frequent component of restoration seed mixes, is one such species. Here, we evaluate the genetic variation of local Poa secunda collections in the context of wild populations and commercial seed releases. We evaluated AFLP markers for seven Poa secunda collections made over a 4000-hectare area and four commercial releases (High Plains, MT-1, Opportunity, and Sherman). We compare the genetic distance and distribution of genetic variation within and between local collections and commercial releases. The extent and patterns of genetic variation in our local collections indicate subtle site differences with most variation occurring within rather than between collections. Identical genetic matches were usually, but not always, found within 5 m2 collection sites. Our results suggest that the genetic variation in two Poa secunda releases (High Plains and MT-1) is similar to our local collections. Our results affirm that guidelines for Poa secunda seed collection should follow recommendations for selfing species, by collecting from many sites over large individual sites. Short Title Poa secunda local collections and commercial releases Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:27:39 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:27:39 PM Tags: o Amplified fragment length polymorphism o Genetics o Mosaic structures o Phenotypes o Plant breeding o Population genetics o Seeds o Species diversity Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Landscape-scale density-dependent recruitment of oaks in planted forests: More is not always better Type Journal Article Author Efrat Sheffer Author Charles D. Canham Author Jaime Kigel Author Avi Perevolotsky URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1890/12-2121.1__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvZWAUtaA$ Volume 94 Issue 8 Pages 1718-1728 Publication Ecology ISSN 0012-9658 Date August 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Ecology DOI 10.1890/12-2121.1 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Plant colonization studies usually address density-dependent processes in the narrow sense of recruitment constraints due to negative density-dependent seed and seedling mortality. However, complex density-dependent effects may be involved in additional stages of the recruitment process. We hypothesized that seed arrival and seedling establishment are influenced by density dependence acting at small scales at the site of colonization, and at larger scales as a function of the colonizing species' landscape abundance. These hypotheses were tested in a study of colonization of pine forests by oaks in a heterogeneous Mediterranean landscape. Maximum-likelihood models show that density effects switch from positive to negative along the range of landscape-scale oak seed source abundance. Contrary to expectations, high seed source densities limited oak recruitment, suggesting a landscape-scale Janzen-Connell effect. We propose a range of mechanisms that generate positive or negative density dependence during colonization, resulting in nonlinear density-dependent feedbacks that can generate unexpected colonization patterns. Date Added 2020-03-12, 4:06:20 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 4:06:20 PM Tags: o animal-mediated dispersal o colonization o density dependence o dispersal limitation o Janzen-Connell o maximum likelihood o Mediterranean o Pinus halepensis o plantations o Quercus calliprinos o recruitment o seed predation Notes: o doi: 10.1890/12-2121.1 * Applying Ecologically Based Invasive-Plant Management Type Journal Article Author R. Sheley Author J. James Author B. Smith Author E. Vasquez URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742410500733__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvguXkipE$ Volume 63 Issue 6 Pages 605-613 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date November 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/REM-D-09-00187.1 Abstract The need for a unified mechanistic ecological framework that improves our ability to make decisions, predicts vegetation change, guides the implementation of restoration, and fosters learning is substantial and unmet. It is becoming increasingly clear that integrating various types of ecological models into an overall framework has great promise for assisting decision making in invasive-plant management and restoration. Overcoming barriers to adoption of ecologically based invasive-plant management will require developing principles and integrating them into a useful format so land managers can easily understand the linkages among ecological processes, vegetation dynamics, management practices, and assessment. We have amended a generally accepted and well-tested successional management framework into a comprehensive decision tool for ecologically based invasive-plant management (EBIPM) by 1) using the Rangeland Health Assessment to identify ecological processes in need of repair, 2) amending our framework to include principles for repairing ecological processes that direct vegetation dynamics, and 3) incorporating adaptive management procedures to foster the acquisition of new information during management. This decision tool provides a step-by-step planning process that integrates assessment and adaptive management with process-based principles to provide management guidance. In our case-study example, EBIPM increased the chance of restoration success by 66% over traditionally applied integrated weed management in an invasive-plant–dominated ephemeral wetland ecosystem. We believe that this framework provides the basis for EBIPM and will enhance our ability to design and implement sustainable invasive-plant management and restoration programs. Resumen Existe una necesidad sustancial e insatisfecha de un marco ecológico unificado y mecanístico que mejore nuestra habilidad para tomar decisiones y predecir cambios en la vegetación, que guie la implementación de acciones de restauración, y que promueva el aprendizaje. Resulta cada vez más claro que la integración de varios tipos de modelos ecológicos dentro de un macro general tiene un futuro promisorio en la toma de decisiones para el manejo y la restauración de áreas afectadas por plantas invasoras. La superación de las barreras que obstaculizan la adopción de pautas de manejo ecológicas de plantas invasoras requerirá el desarrollo de principios cuya integración en un formato útil permitirá a los decisores entender fácilmente las conexiones entre procesos ecológicos, la dinámica de la vegetación, las prácticas de manejo y la evaluación. Hemos actualizado un marco de manejo de sucesión ampliamente aceptado y corroborado y lo hemos transformado en una herramienta exhaustiva para el Manejo Ecológico de Plantas Invasoras (EBIPM) mediante 1) el uso de la Evaluación del Estado de Salud del Pastizal para identificar procesos ecológicos que requieren reparación, 2) la inclusión de principios para reparar procesos ecológicos que dirigen la dinámica de la vegetación, y 3) la incorporación de procedimientos de manejo adaptativo para promover la adquisición de nueva información durante el proceso de manejo. Esta herramienta para la toma de decisiones detalla el proceso de planificación paso a paso e integra la evaluación y el manejo adaptativo con principios basados en procesos para proveer un guía de manejo. En el estudio de caso que utilizamos como ejemplo, el EBIPM aumentó las chances de éxito de restauración en un 66% sobre el manejo integral tradicional de un ecosistema de humedal efímero dominado por una planta invasora. Creemos que este marco provee la base para el EBIPM y mejorará nuestra habilidad de diseñar e implementar programas sustentables de manejo y restauración de áreas afectadas por plantas invasoras. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:38 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:57:38 PM Tags: o adaptive management o augmentative restoration o decision tool o invasive plant o management framework o plant succession * Cost/Benefit Analysis of Managing Invasive Annual Grasses in Partially Invaded Sagebrush Steppe Ecosystems Type Journal Article Author Roger Sheley Author Jordan Sheley Author Brenda Smith URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.jstor.org/stable/43700631__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvd180av0$ Volume 62 Issue 1 Pages 38-44 Publication Weed Science ISSN 00431745, 15502759 Date 2014 Accessed 2020-03-17, 6:00:00 PM Abstract [Our objective was to evaluate the cost/benefit of a single herbicide application or targeted grazing of invasive annual grasses during restoration of partially invaded sagebrush steppe ecosystems used for livestock production. The cost/benefit model used is based on estimating the production of vegetation in response to implementing management and modeling cost/benefit economics associated with that prediction. The after-tax present value of added animal unit months (AUMs) obtained was lower than the present value of after-tax treatment costs after 20 yr for a single herbicide treatment, but higher than the present value of after-tax treatment costs for the grazing management scenario. Even at the highest weed utilization level, the value of added AUMs did not offset the cost of the treatment after 20 yr. However, the grazing treatment resulted in a value of added AUMs higher than the costs after 20 yr. Depending on the invasive weed utilization level, break-even points with targeted grazing occurred at anywhere from the first year to 7 yr. This assessment clearly shows that grazing management can be economically viable for managing annual grass-infested rangeland. In the future, models like the one used here can be improved by incorporating the rangeland management and restoration benefits on the wide variety of goods and services gained from rangeland.] Archive JSTOR Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:49:57 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:49:57 PM * Ecological and socioeconomic effects of ecological restoration in China's Three Rivers Source Region Type Journal Article Author Wenping Sheng Author Lin Zhen Author Yu Xiao Author Yunfeng Hu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004896971833715X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvHXPnBPQ$ Volume 650 Pages 2307-2313 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date February 10, 2019 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.265 Abstract The Three Rivers Source Region, in the central Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, has a sensitive and fragile ecological environment. Adverse changes in climate and human activities have degraded the grassland ecosystems. To mitigate or reverse the degradation, alleviate rural poverty, and stimulate economic development, ecological restoration projects have been implemented. In the present study, our goal was to assess the ecological and socioeconomic effects of these programs based on land-use change, grassland NPP, and household surveys. Household data were collected using structured questionnaires in 11 villages from three counties, with average elevation above 3773 m asl. We found that the grassland degradation had been mitigated, especially after the implementation of ecological restoration programs since 2005 in a regional nature reserve in Qinghai Province. Household income depends strongly on the region's natural resources, so the grassland ecosystems are still at risk of unsustainable use. A household that understood the effects of the ecological restoration programs and had received training to participate in the programs was more willing to participate in future programs. Our findings suggest that for successful restoration, it is essential to help residents of the study area thoroughly understand the ecological restoration programs and learn the restoration techniques before implementation of such programs. This is because the participation of the residents depended strongly on both their income and their satisfaction with the ecological restoration programs. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:49 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:49 PM Tags: o Household survey o Land use change o NPP o Socioeconomic characteristics o Three Rivers Source Region * Soil respiration and response of carbon source changes to vegetation restoration in the Loess Plateau, China Type Journal Article Author Peng Shi Author Yanli Qin Author Qi Liu Author Tiantian Zhu Author Zhanbin Li Author Peng Li Author Zongping Ren Author Ying Liu Author Feichao Wang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969719355019__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv1gFZCFs$ Volume 707 Pages 135507 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date March 10, 2020 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135507 Abstract Soil respiration is a large carbon flux from terrestrial ecosystems to the atmosphere, and small variations in soil respiration can prominently influence the global carbon (C) cycle. The vegetation changes could directly affect soil respiration. The large-scale “Grain for Green” project carried out on the Loess Plateau, China has importantly affected the contribution of soil respiration to atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). Therefore, it is important to study the effects of vegetation restoration on soil respiration. We selected four land-use types: crop, forest, shrub, and grassland in the Zhifanggou watershed to analyze variation in soil respiration during dry and rainy seasons. Furthermore, the source of CO2 emissions from soil respiration was identified using isotopes. The results showed that soil respiration in the rainy season was significantly higher than that in the dry season (P < .05). Soil respiration in the dry season was as follows: shrubland (1.04 μmol m−2 s−1) > cropland (0.72 μmol m−2 s−1) > forestland (0.44 μmol m−2 s−1) > grassland (0.33 μmol m−2 s−1). However, grass and forestland had significantly higher soil respiration than shrub and cropland in the rainy season (P < .05). Roots were the main source of soil respiration in cropland, which contributed >70% of CO2 emissions. Following revegetation, litter contributed more to soil respiration than roots or soil microorganisms at >68% of soil respiration. Our results provide a theoretical basis for assessing C balance in terrestrial ecosystems. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:40 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:40 PM Tags: o Carbon source o Grain for green o Seasonal variation o Soil respiration rate * Land-use changes and check dams reducing runoff and sediment yield on the Loess Plateau of China Type Journal Article Author Peng Shi Author Yan Zhang Author Zongping Ren Author Yang Yu Author Peng Li Author Junfu Gong URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969719305625__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvTM-k62g$ Volume 664 Pages 984-994 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date May 10, 2019 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.01.430 Abstract Revegetation and check dam construction are two widely applied soil erosion control measures on the Loess Plateau of China. They play important roles in sediment yield reduction. However, it remains unclear how these large-scale land-use changes and in-channel structures affect water yield and sediment load on the watershed scale. A combination of field work and modeling exercises were used to quantitatively assess the effects of land-use changes and check dam construction on hydrological processes in the Wuding River watershed. The study area suffered important land-use changes with increases in forestland and grassland, coupled with decreases in cropland, from 1980 to 2010. A large number of check dams were constructed from 1970 to 1980. Runoff and sediment yield in the watershed showed significant decreasing trends (P < 0.01), with change points occurring in the early 1970s. Human activity contributed to 75% and 89% of runoff and sediment changes, respectively. The simulations showed that in a scenario without check dams, runoff and sediment increased by 12% and 11.7%, respectively. Vegetation recovery reduced runoff and sediment yield. ‘Grain for Green’ resulted in decreasing runoff and sediment levels, and reforestation had more hydrological regulatory effects compared with scenarios involving the conversion of cropland to grassland. Moreover, the combination of revegetation and check dam construction had a greater impact on water yield and sediment transportation. Check dams provide short-term flood control and sediment reductions, whereas land-use changes are long-term sustained soil erosion control measures. It may be more efficient to combine check dam construction with revegetation strategies. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:25 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:25 PM Tags: o Check dam o Hydrological process o Sediment yield o SWAT model o Vegetation restoration * Distribution of soil organic carbon impacted by land-use changes in a hilly watershed of the Loess Plateau, China Type Journal Article Author Peng Shi Author Yan Zhang Author Peng Li Author Zhanbin Li Author Kunxia Yu Author Zongping Ren Author Guoce Xu Author Shengdong Cheng Author Feichao Wang Author Yongyong Ma URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969718340555__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvOT1YSXo$ Volume 652 Pages 505-512 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date February 20, 2019 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.10.172 Abstract Vegetation restoration, terrace and check dam construction are the major measures for soil and water conservation on the Loess Plateau. These effective measures of stabilizing soils have significant impacts on soil organic carbon (SOC) distribution. However, following ecological construction, whether the hilly watershed acts as a source or a sink of soil carbon is still unknown. To understand the impact of land-use changes combined with check dam construction on SOC distribution, 1060 soil samples were collected from a 100 cm soil profile across a watershed on the Loess Plateau. The soils in the 0–20 cm layer had a higher SOC concentration than those of the 20–40, 40–60, 60–80 and 80–100 cm layers. Forestland, shrubland and terrace had significant higher SOC concentrations in the 0–20 cm soil layer than that of sloping cropland and dammed farmland (p < 0.05). SOC densities (0–100 cm) in terrace, forestland, shrubland, grassland, sloping cropland and dammed farmland were 12.09, 11.99, 11.89, 11.77, 11.41 and 10.11 kg m−2, respectively. These estimations suggested that SOC was redistributed in the watershed through land-use changes. Topographical factors, including altitude, aspect and slope had impacts on SOC concentrations. The application of hydrological controls to hillslopes and along river channels should be considered when assessing carbon sequestration within the soil erosion subsystem. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:08 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:08 PM Tags: o Check dam o Land-use change o Soil organic carbon o Topography * Public Perceptions of Sagebrush Ecosystem Management in the Great Basin Type Journal Article Author Bruce Shindler Author Ryan Gordon Author Mark W. Brunson Author Christine Olsen URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742411500387__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvUji_GHc$ Volume 64 Issue 4 Pages 335-343 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date July 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/REM-D-10-00012.1 Abstract Intact sagebrush communities in the Great Basin are rapidly disappearing because of invasion of nonnative plants, large wildfires, and encroachment of pinyon and juniper woodlands. Land management options, including the use of prescribed fire, grazing, herbicides, or mechanical treatments, can reduce the potential for wildfire and restore plant communities. Public acceptance of management actions, and trust in agencies to carry out those actions, is a critical component of developing and implementing successful long-term land management plans. This study examines citizens’ opinions and perceptions about rangeland management in the Great Basin. In fall 2006 we conducted a mail survey of randomly selected households in three urban and three rural regions of the Great Basin, receiving 1 345 valid responses for a 45% response rate. Overall, respondents perceived that the environment is moderately healthy; however, they do recognize threats to sagebrush ecosystems. Public acceptance is relatively high for the use of prescribed fire, grazing, felling woodland trees, and mowing shrubs, but low for herbicide treatment and chaining. Although respondents indicated high levels of acceptance for some management actions, they expressed relatively low levels of trust in land management agencies to implement these actions. Resumen Las comunidades intactas de Artemisia sp. en la región del Great Basin del oeste de EEUU están desapareciendo rápidamente debido a la invasión de plantas exóticas, grandes incendios, y la invasión de montes de Pinus sp. y Juniperus sp. Existen opciones de manejo que incluyen el uso de fuego prescripto, pastoreo, herbicidas, o tratamientos mecánicos que pueden reducir el potencial de incendios y restaurar las comunidades vegetales. La aceptación por parte de la opinión pública de las acciones de manejo y su confianza en que los entes del gobierno puedan llevar a cabo dichas acciones, son componentes críticos en la generación e implementación de planes de manejo que sean exitosos en el largo plazo. Este estudio examina las opiniones y percepciones de los ciudadanos acerca de acciones de manejo de pastizales naturales en la región del Great Basin. En el otoño de 2006 condujimos una encuesta por correo de hogares seleccionados al azar en tres zonas urbanas y tres zonas rurales del Great Basin recibiendo 1.345 respuestas válidas que correspondieron a una tasa de respuestas del 45%. En términos generales, los encuestados perciben al ambiente como moderadamente saludable sin embargo reconocen que existen factores que amenazan los ecosistemas de Artemisia sp. La aceptación pública del uso de fuego prescripto, pastoreo, corte de árboles del monte, y desmalezado de arbustos es relativamente alta, sin embargo la aceptación del uso de herbicidas y control de leñosas mediante el uso de cadenas es bajo. Si bien los encuestados expresaron altos niveles de aceptación de algunas acciones de manejo, expresaron niveles de confianza relativamente bajos de que los entes del gobierno encargados del manejo de las tierras implementen dichas acciones. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:53 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:53 PM Tags: o fuels treatment o restoration o social acceptability o trust o urban–rural * Three years of phytostabilisation experiment of bare acidic soil extremely contaminated by copper smelting using plant biodiversity of metal-rich soils in tropical Africa (Katanga, DR Congo) Type Journal Article Author Mylor Ngoy Shutcha Author Michel-Pierre Faucon Author Ckeface Kamengwa Kissi Author Gilles Colinet Author Gregory Mahy Author Michel Ngongo Luhembwe Author Marjolein Visser Author Pierre Meerts URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S092585741500172X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvSf1qr20$ Volume 82 Pages 81-90 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date September 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2015.04.062 Abstract Copper smelting has created large surfaces of bare soil contaminated by trace metals (TMs: e.g., total Cu: 42,500mgkg−1 in bare soil vs. 220mgkg−1 in remote forest) in the Lubumbashi suburbs of the ‘Cité Gécamines/Penga Penga’ (Katanga, D.R. Congo). Human exposure to trace metals at the site has become a primary environmental concern. This study evaluated different strategies (spontaneous and assisted phytostabilisation) to promote plant establishment on bare soil at the contamination site for soil reclamation/remediation. First, soil chemical properties were assessed in three vegetation units (bare soil, metallophytic grassland patches, and termite mounds). Results showed lower nutrients, organic matter content, and pH in bare soil; however increased metal concentrations were not detected. Limestone (0, 2.5, 5, and 10tha−1) and compost (0, 45, and 225tha−1) were applied in a factorial design. Plant establishment was monitored for three years; and leaf TM concentration was assessed during the third year. Soil amendments improved bare soil conditions (higher pH and nutrients and lower TMs), and facilitated spontaneous plant establishment, with compost exhibiting the largest positive effects. Colonisers were primarily annual species; either true metallophytes or weedy taxa, which were sporadically present at the study site. However, only the perennial Microchloa altera survived during the 6-month dry season. Following three years of phytostabilisation experiment with M. altera by planting, substantial growth and high survival was observed in M. altera. A combination of soil amendments (lime and compost) was most effective to improve plant fecundity, and reduce metal uptake by leaves. Our results show promise for reclamation of bare soil contaminated by the mining industry in tropical climate. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:37 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:57:43 PM Tags: o Amendments o Copper o Copper flora o Heavy metals o Katanga o Phytoremediation o Phytostabilization o Spontaneous and assisted revegetation o Tropical Africa * Effect of different land-use on occurrence and morphological traits of Carex buxbaumii (study from Biebrza National Park, Poland) Type Journal Article Author Dorota Sienkiewicz–Paderewska Author Jakub Paderewski Author Anna Chodkiewicz Author Wojciech Kwasowski Author Irena Suwara URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989419303737__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv8pWT7-E$ Volume 20 Pages e00802 Publication Global Ecology and Conservation ISSN 2351-9894 Date October 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Global Ecology and Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.gecco.2019.e00802 Abstract Carex buxbaumii is rare sedge of moist to wet meadows, marshes and fens. The population trends and detailed habitat requirements of this species remain unknown. In Poland, C. buxbaumii belongs to EN category of IUCN, while is even more endangered in other European countries. The knowledge on this species is limited, but probably it needs active protection for its maintenance. It is also known that plants respond morphologically to changes in the site conditions which may help to determine the ways of effective method of their conservation. Therefore, we examined the frequency and morphology of Carex buxbaumii growing in a sward of fen-grasslands i) abandoned for 15 years, ii) mowed, or iii) grazed by Konik horses. The description of the occurrence and of the morphological reaction to the differentiation in land–use type of C. buxbaumii is presented against the background of changes in vegetation cover that occurred in 2010–2016 in the examined fen-grassland. There was stated that C. buxbaumii grew on peat soils, of high content of organic matter and Ca+2. The type of land-use significantly differentiated both the frequency and morphology of C. buxbaumii. In the mowed site C. buxbaumii grew as an element of the Molinion vegetation and appeared there with 100% frequency. The individuals growing in the mowed site had the longest shoots, the longest inflorescence brackets, and the longest terminal spikes. In the site grazed by Koniks, C. buxbaumii was a component of Scheuchzerio–Caricetea nigrae vegetation, while its frequency of C. buxbaumii was 87%. The shoots there were the shortest, and in general, the morphology was the most differentiated. In the abandoned site C. buxbaumii abundance amounted 46%, and the individuals were smaller than those under the mowing regime but larger than those grazed by Koniks. In that site, the previous vegetation with high proportion of the Molinion and Phragmitetea species was replaced by Alnetea glutionosae vegetation, represented mainly by trees and shrubs. We have shown that the best conditions for the development of the C. buxbaumii population in the examined fen-grasslands are created under an extensive mowing regime. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:51 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:51 PM Tags: o Endangered species o Fen-grassland restoration o Nature conservation o Polish Konik horses o Wet grassland management * Defining core areas of ecological infrastructure to secure rural livelihoods in South Africa Type Journal Article Author Ayanda Sigwela Author Marine Elbakidze Author Mike Powell Author Per Angelstam URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212041617304990__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvt_g6jqA$ Volume 27 Pages 272-280 Publication Investing in ecological infrastructure in South Africa ISSN 2212-0416 Date October 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Ecosystem Services DOI 10.1016/j.ecoser.2017.07.010 Abstract Indigenous communities in South Africa are severely affected by land degradation and global climate change, which lead to decline in the provision of multiple ecosystem services (ES) important for rural livelihoods. Spatial planning towards functional ecological infrastructure (EI) for sustainable rural livelihoods requires evidence-based knowledge about what land covers are of most importance, why, and where they are located. This study identifies potential core areas of EI that deliver ES necessary for livelihoods of rural communities, as well as those land covers that provide disservices using the Tsitsa catchment in Eastern Cape, South Africa as a case study. Face-to-face structured interviews (n=308) were conducted to define rural and urban people's desired ES in the catchment's 23 land covers and the most unwanted land covers. Both urban and rural respondents from indigenous communities view rivers, grasslands and forest plantations as the most wanted land covers that provide multiple ES important for their livelihoods. The most unwanted are dongas, grasslands in poor condition, and barren rocks. We discuss the need for landscape restoration in order to sustain the provision of ES important for livelihoods of rural communities and develop strategies for EI management in communal lands. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:25 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:25 PM Tags: o Apartheid o Communal land o Ecosystem service o Indigenous community * Iron-mediated stabilization of soil carbon amplifies the benefits of ecological restoration in degraded lands Type Journal Article Author Lucas C. R. Silva Author Timothy A. Doane Author Rodrigo S. Corrêa Author Vinicius Valverde Author Engil I. P. Pereira Author William R. Horwath URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1890/14-2151.1__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvOzU0rgk$ Volume 25 Issue 5 Pages 1226-1234 Publication Ecological Applications ISSN 1051-0761 Date July 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Ecological Applications DOI 10.1890/14-2151.1 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Recent observations across a 14-year restoration chronosequence have shown an unexpected accumulation of soil organic carbon in strip-mined areas of central Brazil. This was attributed to the rapid plant colonization that followed the incorporation of biosolids into exposed regoliths, but the specific mechanisms involved in the stabilization of carbon inputs from the vegetation remained unclear. Using isotopic and elemental analyses, we tested the hypothesis that plant-derived carbon accumulation was triggered by the formation of iron-coordinated complexes, stabilized into physically protected (occluded) soil fractions. Confirming this hypothesis, we identified a fast formation of microaggregates shortly after the application of iron-rich biosolids, which was characterized by a strong association between pyrophosphate-extractable iron and plant-derived organic matter. The formation of microaggregates preceded the development of macroaggregates, which drastically increased soil carbon content (~140 Mg C/ha) a few years after restoration. Consistent with previous theoretical work, iron-coordinated organic complexes served as nuclei for aggregate formation, reflecting the synergistic effect of biological, chemical, and physical mechanisms of carbon stabilization in developing soils. Nevertheless, iron was not the only factor affecting soil carbon content. The highest carbon accumulation was observed during the period of highest plant diversity (>30 species; years 3?6), declining significantly with the exclusion of native species by invasive grasses (years 9?14). Furthermore, the increasing dominance of invasive grasses was associated with a steady decline in the concentration of soil nitrogen and phosphorus per unit of accumulated carbon. These results demonstrate the importance of interdependent ecological and biogeochemical processes, and the role of soil?plant interactions in determining the success of restoration efforts. In contrast with previous but unsuccessful attempts to restore mined areas through nutrient application alone, iron-mediated stabilization of vegetation inputs favored the regeneration of a barren stable state that had persisted for over five decades since disturbance. The effectiveness of coupled organic matter and iron ?fertilization,? combined with management of invasive species, has the possibility to enhance terrestrial carbon sequestration and accelerate the restoration of degraded lands, while addressing important challenges associated with urban waste disposal. Date Added 2020-03-12, 4:06:20 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 4:06:20 PM Tags: o carbon sequestration o iron o land restoration o soil–plant interactions o stable isotopes o urban waste Notes: o doi: 10.1890/14-2151.1 * The use of strip-seeding for management of two late-season invasive plants Type Journal Article Author Amanda Dechen Silva Author Leslie M. Roche Author Elise S. Gornish URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844018342798__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvqKY2-3M$ Volume 5 Issue 5 Pages e01772 Publication Heliyon ISSN 2405-8440 Date May 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Heliyon DOI 10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e01772 Abstract The spread and persistence of weedy plants in rangelands highlight the need for refinement of existing management techniques and development of novel strategies to address invasions. Strip-seeding – the strategic seeding of a portion of an invaded area to reduce costs and enhance success – is an underutilized management approach that holds promise for reducing weed dominance in grassland habitats. A strip-seeding experiment was established in 2011 in a California grassland where portions (between 0-100%) of invaded plots were seeded with native grasses. In 2016, we assessed the height, above-ground biomass and flower production of two late-season invasive plants: field bindweed and prickly lettuce. We found significant reductions in plant height and flower production (for both target invasives), and biomass (for field bindweed) in many of the seeded strips compared to the unseeded strips. Smaller seed applications demonstrated similar or better utility for weed control compared to greater seed applications, suggesting that this approach can be effective while reducing labor and materials cost of typical restoration management approaches. We did not find evidence that seeded strips provided invasion resistance to unseeded strips. This is possibly due to the lag in native species dispersal and establishment into contiguous unseeded strips, and suggests that strip-seeding might not provide invasion resistance to unseeded strips on timescales that are relevant to managers. However, this work does suggest that strip-seeding native species that overlap in phenology with target invasives can reduce late-season weed dominance on rangelands. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:35 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:57:45 PM Tags: o Agriculture o Convolvulus arvensis o Environmental science o Lactuca serriola o Restoration * Low-tech riparian and wet meadow restoration increases vegetation productivity and resilience across semiarid rangelands Type Journal Article Author Nicholas L. Silverman Author Brady W. Allred Author John Patrick Donnelly Author Teresa B. Chapman Author Jeremy D. Maestas Author Joseph M. Wheaton Author Jeff White Author David E. Naugle URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12869__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv3jjjv2c$ Rights © 2018 The Authors. Restoration Ecology published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Society for Ecological Restoration. Volume 27 Issue 2 Pages 269-278 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2019 DOI 10.1111/rec.12869 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:07:16 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Restoration of riparian and wet meadow ecosystems in semiarid rangelands of the western United States is a high priority given their ecological and hydrological importance in the region. However, traditional restoration approaches are often intensive and costly, limiting the extent over which they can be applied. Practitioners are increasingly trying new restoration techniques that are more cost-effective, less intensive, and can more practically scale up to the scope of degradation. Unfortunately, practitioners typically lack resources to undertake outcome-based evaluations necessary to judge the efficacy of these techniques. In this study, we use freely available, satellite remote sensing to explore changes in vegetation productivity (normalized difference vegetation index) of three distinct, low-tech, riparian and wet meadow restoration projects. Case studies are presented that range in geographic location (Colorado, Oregon, and Nevada), restoration practice (Zeedyk structures, beaver dam analogs, and grazing management), and time since implementation. Restoration practices resulted in increased vegetation productivity of up to 25% and increased annual persistence of productive vegetation. Improvements in productivity with time since restoration suggest that elevated resilience may further enhance wildlife habitat and increase forage production. Long-term, documented outcomes of conservation are rare; we hope our findings empower practitioners to further monitor and explore the use of low-tech methods for restoration of ecohydrologic processes at meaningful spatial scales. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:07:16 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:07:16 PM Tags: o hydrology o rangelands o remote sensing o resiliency o riparian o wet meadow Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * What are the transitions of woodlands at the landscape level? Change trajectories of forest, non-forest and reclamation woody vegetation elements in a mining landscape in North-western Czech Republic Type Journal Article Author J. Skaloš Author M. Novotný Author J. Woitsch Author J. Zacharová Author K. Berchová Author M. Svoboda Author K. Křováková Author D. Romportl Author Z. Keken URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014362281500034X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvW5KQQ-E$ Volume 58 Pages 206-216 Publication Applied Geography ISSN 0143-6228 Date March 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Applied Geography DOI 10.1016/j.apgeog.2015.02.003 Abstract This study answers the following research questions: 1) What are the change trajectories of woody vegetation elements at the landscape level? 2) What are the differences in change trajectories amongst the various categories of forest, non-forest and reclamation woody vegetation? 3) How do the change trajectories differ in mining and non-mining landscapes? The study area, measuring 209.6 km2, is located in the north-western part of the Czech Republic and may be broken down into 76.8 km2 of mining landscape and 132.8 km2 of non-mining landscape. Brown coal mining began in this region during the second half of the 18th century and led to the radical transformation of the landscape, including woodlands, during the second half of the 20th century. The source data for this study was obtained from the original stable cadastre maps (1842) and the landscape field mapping performed in 2010. The various woody vegetation elements (forest, non-forest, and reclamation woody plants) and land use/cover (LULC) categories were identified. The GIS symmetrical difference tool was subsequently used to perform an overlay analysis for the individual woody vegetation elements in order to study the change trajectories and to obtain information about the woodlands that have remained unchanged (continuous), the ones that have disappeared (extinct), and the ones that have newly appeared in the landscape (recent). In the case of the non-mining landscape, the total proportion of woodlands has increased (from 17 to 32%), but there has been a decline in the overall volume of forest woody plants found in these areas (from 93 to 74%). As far as the mining landscape is concerned, there has also been an increase in the area covered by woodlands (from 10 to 20%), however, the proportion of forest woody plants has decreased to a much greater extent (from 90 to 31%). From the perspective of extinct woody vegetation, 23.3% of all types of woodlands in the mining landscape may be classified as such, as compared to 10.8% in the non-mining landscape. The primary causes of this decline are mining activities and newly built-up areas. More continuous woody vegetation may be found in the non-mining landscape (42.1%) as compared to the mining landscape (15.4%). Recent woody vegetation, which has primarily replaced grasslands and partially arable land, prevails in both the mining (61.3%) as well as the non-mining (47.1%) landscapes. Different categories of woodlands (forest, non-forest, and reclamation woody vegetation elements) exhibit various change dynamics due to their different structure and the functions they serve. At the most basic level, there has been an overall increase in the occurrence of woodlands in the studied areas. However, once GIS spatial analysis is applied it is possible to see more complex processes in the development of woodland areas as characterised by gains and losses, and it is possible to identify mining and agricultural extensification as the two most significant factors behind the historical changes. Mining leads to a direct decrease in the area of woodlands; conversely, the spontaneous succession of vegetation resulting from agricultural extensification and forest reclamation facilitates woodland recovery. Forest reclamation and reforestation are essential on order to ensure the time continuity of woodlands in both types of landscape, i.e. mining and non-mining. The study presented in this paper proves that it is relevant to analyse the changes occurring in different woodland categories separately. The same methodology may be applied when studying the change dynamics of other important landscape elements, such as wood pastures and wetlands. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:45 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:57:49 PM Tags: o Change trajectories o Forest history o GIS o Mining landscape * Landscape water potential as a new indicator for monitoring macrostructural landscape changes Type Journal Article Author J. Skaloš Author K. Berchová Author J. Pokorný Author T. Sedmidubský Author E. Pecharová Author I. Trpáková URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X13002586__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvaibCCRA$ Volume 36 Pages 80-93 Publication Ecological Indicators ISSN 1470-160X Date January 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2013.06.027 Abstract Many studies have recently been published on changes in land use/land cover, but only a few have been concerned with landscape functional changes. The studies that have been made in this field have focused on only a limited time period. Our study attempts to partly fill in this research gap by analysing long-term landscape changes, through differentiating landscape elements according to land use/cover (LULC) and newly developed landscape water potential (LWP) criteria. LWP seems to be an important characteristic of landscape functionality. The study was undertaken on the post-mining landscape of Sokolov (210km2). Landscape elements were classified according to land use/cover (LULC) and according to LWP. LWP is a characteristic, based on the average potential landscape element evapotranspiration, which is affected mainly by the biotope character, and type of management. Information about the LULC and LWP has been read from Stable Cadastre maps (1842) and based on the field mapping of the present state of the landscape (2010). The data were elaborated using GIS and statistical analysis. In the study the Coefficient of LWP was developed as a new quantitative indicator to monitor landscape macrostructural change. Changes in the abundance of the arable land, barren land, built-up areas, forest land, grasslands, orchards and wetlands LULC categories were found to be statistically significant with trends very similar to the national statistics. The results led to the conclusion that mining has had a statistically significant effect on changes in the LULC categories mentioned above, not only in terms of mining but also of reclamations. As for the LWP categories, changes in LWP categories No. 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, and 14 were found to be statistically significant. Coefficient of LWP calculated for the total study area has increased very slightly from 1.3 to 1.4 taking into account many different and contradictory trends (increasing area of mining areas and urban areas, and increasing area of woody stands on the other hand). The study provides a valuable methodological conclusion, however the concept of LWP will need to be corrected by further measurements. Nevertheless, the different and methodically new way that we analysed landscape changes forms the basis for analysing landscape functional changes in the future. This may help us to better evaluate historic effects of anthropogenic activities on the landscape. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:46 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:57:47 PM Tags: o Evapotranspiration o Land use/cover changes o Landscape water potential o Sokolov Region (Czech Republic) * Golf courses: New phenomena in the landscape of the Czech Republic after 1990 Type Journal Article Author Jiří Sláma Author Václav Bystřický Author Přemysl Štych Author Dana Fialová Author Lenka Svobodová Author Tomáš Kvítek URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264837718300346__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv5kKc0_s$ Volume 78 Pages 430-446 Publication Land Use Policy ISSN 0264-8377 Date November 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Land Use Policy DOI 10.1016/j.landusepol.2018.07.001 Abstract The main goal of the paper is an evaluation of the dynamics of golf course (hereafter GC[s]) construction in the Czech Republic (hereafter CR) after 1990 and an assessment of the impacts and the consequences of the GCs on the landscape. The construction of the GCs was evaluated from the point of view of the physical-geography with regards to human geography aspects with a focus on an assessment in relation to climatic, soil, hydrological parameters, land use and financial aspects. The paper is to present the localisation and the geographical description of the GCs and their assessment in the different regions of the CR. An original database was created for the purpose of the localisation and complex evaluation of all the GCs in the CR. The analysis was carried out on 114 GCs in the CR. These GCs covered a surface area of ca. 5106 ha, i.e., 0.06% of the total area of the CR in 2016. A significant share of the GCs was built on agricultural land with high quality (more than 34%), which is clearly a negative phenomenon. The reason for the construction of a large number of GCs on some high-yielding soils can be seen: a) in the low land price, b) in the low rent, c) in the negative results of entrepreneurial income (or in the surplus) of agricultural production up to the accession of the Czech Republic to the EU and d) the distance from large cities (location in regions) and spa town with rich clients. By 2004, the majority of the GCs had been built in the CR already. From the point of view land use, a total of 51% of the GCs area was registered as agricultural land in the Cadastre Land Register. Of the agricultural land, the largest share (35%) was registered as arable land and approximately one third of the GCs occupied permanent grassland. On the contrary, the other area, which should form the majority of GCs, because its areas are registered for sport activities, only accounted for 37% of the golf resorts’ area in the CR. The GCs were also built on areas affected by human activity (mines, landfills, fly ash). The area of the GCs in the reclaimed territory was approximately 942 ha, i.e., more than 18% of the total GCs area. The reclamation of such territories by the construction of GCs is one of the variants of the use of such territories. Having assessed the climatic characteristics, it was determined that 20 out of the total of 114 GCs were endangered by potential drought. The theoretical and actual water demand for the irrigation of 9 selected GCs in drought-affected areas has been compared. It can be stated that all the selected GCs manage the irrigation water very well, the actual consumption is in line with the theoretical need. The observed difference in water between the calculated theoretical and realised irrigation of the GCs in mm/m2 of irrigated area, ranges from -10.8 mm to + 9.7 mm in 1 month for an individual GC. The study by model “runoff curve numbers” (CN) showed a positive impact of the grassland in the areas of GCs with regards to the direct runoff. The hydrological impact of grassing the arable land is positive, since it contributes to the retention and accumulation of water in the catchment area. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:53 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:57:51 PM Tags: o Agriculture land take o Direct runoff o Golf course o Irrigation o Land use o Reclamation * Sagebrush treatments influence annual population change for greater sage-grouse Type Journal Article Author Kurt T. Smith Author Jeffrey L. Beck URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12589__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvPBv6x90$ Rights © 2017 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 26 Issue 3 Pages 497-505 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2018 DOI 10.1111/rec.12589 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:53:55 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Vegetation management practices have been applied worldwide to enhance habitats for a variety of wildlife species. Big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata spp.) communities, iconic to western North America, have been treated to restore herbaceous understories through chemical, mechanical, and prescribed burning practices thought to improve habitat conditions for greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) and other species. Although the response of structural attributes of sagebrush communities to treatments is well understood, there is a need to identify how treatments influence wildlife population dynamics. We investigated the influence of vegetation treatments occurring in Wyoming, United States, from 1994 to 2012 on annual sage-grouse population change using yearly male sage-grouse lek counts. We investigated this response across 1, 3, 5, and 10-year post-treatment lags to evaluate how the amount of treated sagebrush communities and time since treatment influenced population change, while accounting for climate, wildfire, and anthropogenic factors. With the exception of chemical treatments exhibiting a positive association with sage-grouse population change 11 years after implementation, population response to treatments was either neutral or negative for at least 11 years following treatments. Our work supports a growing body of research advocating against treating big sagebrush habitats for sage-grouse, particularly in Wyoming big sagebrush (A. t. wyomingensis). Loss and fragmentation of sagebrush habitats has been identified as a significant threat for remaining sage-grouse populations. Because sagebrush may take decades to recover following treatments, we recommend practitioners use caution when designing projects to alter remaining habitats, especially when focused on habitat requirements for one life stage and a single species. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:53:55 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:53:55 PM Tags: o Centrocercus urophasianus o herbicide application o mechanical treatment o population change o prescribed burning o wildfire Attachments o Snapshot * NOTICE OF RELEASE OF ZAPATA GERMPLASM RIO GRANDE CLAMMYWEED: SELECTED CLASS OF NATURAL GERMPLASM Type Journal Article Author Forrest S Smith Author Paula D Maywald Author John Lloyd-Reilley Author Shelly D Maher Author Keith A Pawelek Author Andrew W Scott Author Juan Garza URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.jstor.org/stable/43309810__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvIcOsi6M$ Volume 11 Issue 3 Pages 269-272 Publication Native Plants Journal ISSN 15228339, 15484785 Date 2010 Abstract A selected germplasm of Rio Grande clammyweed (Polanisia dodecandra (L.) DC. ssp. riograndensis Iltis [Capparaceae]) has been released for rangeland restoration and wildlife habitat enhancement plantings in south Texas. Zapata Germplasm Rio Grande clammyweed is a warm-season annual forb originating from seed collected from native plants in Dimmitt and Zapata counties of south Texas. Collections were selected based on high proportion of full seed, low levels of seed dormancy, and high seed production potential. Zapata Germplasm is a fastestablishing native plant in rangeland plantings, provides excellent habitat to butterflies and other pollinators, and produces seed eaten by a variety of game birds. This release will provide a competitive annual forb useful for providing quick cover in rangeland plantings and will contribute to quality habitat for many wildlife species and pollinators. Zapata germplasm represents the first release of this species. Archive JSTOR Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:49:57 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:49:57 PM * NOTICE OF RELEASE OF MAVERICK GERMPLASM PINK PAPPUSGRASS: SELECTED CLASS OF NATURAL GERMPLASM Type Journal Article Author Forrest S Smith Author William R Ocumpaugh Author John Lloyd-Reilley Author Keith A Pawelek Author Shelly D Maher Author Andrew W Scott Author Juan Garza URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.jstor.org/stable/43309812__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv58JAkuw$ Volume 11 Issue 3 Pages 283-288 Publication Native Plants Journal ISSN 15228339, 15484785 Date 2010 Abstract A selected germplasm of pink pappusgrass (Pappophorum bicolor Fourn. [Poaceae]) has been released for rangeland seeding, highway rights-of-way revegetation, and wildlife habitat restoration plantings in south Texas. Maverick Germplasm pink pappusgrass is a blend of 7 accessions selected from an evaluation at multiple sites in the intended area of use. Selections were made based on multi-year evaluation of plant characteristics and germination tests of seed collected from each location. Following selection, components of the germplasm were increased in isolation and blended following harvest to ensure seed was included from each of the selected accessions. Accessions included in the blend originate from 7 different counties and distinct soil types. This germplasm represents the first commercial release of pink pappusgrass, an important component of native rangeland plant communities in south Texas. Archive JSTOR Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:49:58 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:49:58 PM * NOTICE OF RELEASE OF WEBB GERMPLASM WHIPLASH PAPPUSGRASS: SELECTED CLASS OF NATURAL GERMPLASM Type Journal Article Author Forrest S Smith Author William R Ocumpaugh Author John Lloyd-Reilley Author Keith A Pawelek Author Shelly D Maher Author Andrew W Scott Author Juan Garza URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.jstor.org/stable/43309811__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv2D5o0Cs$ Volume 11 Issue 3 Pages 275-280 Publication Native Plants Journal ISSN 15228339, 15484785 Date 2010 Abstract A selected germplasm of whiplash pappusgrass (Pappophorum vaginatum Buckley [Poaceae]) has been released for rangeland seeding, saline soil revegetation, and wildlife habitat restoration plantings in south Texas. Webb Germplasm whiplash pappusgrass is a blend of 3 accessions selected from an evaluation at multiple sites in the intended area of use. Selections were made based on visual evaluations of plant characteristics and germination tests of seed collected from each location. Following selection, components of the germplasm were increased in isolation and blended following harvest to ensure inclusion of seed of each selected accession. Accessions included in the blend originate from 3 counties and distinct soil types. This germplasm represents the first commercial release of a whiplash pappusgrass ecotype originating from south Texas. Archive JSTOR Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:50:02 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:50:02 PM * NOTICE OF RELEASE OF DIVOT TALLOW WEED BLEND: SELECTED CLASS OF NATURAL GERMPLASMS Type Journal Article Author Forrest S Smith Author Paula D Maywald Author William R Ocumpaugh Author John Lloyd-Reilley Author Shelly D Maher Author Keith A Pawelek URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.jstor.org/stable/43309813__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvjd02pP8$ Volume 11 Issue 3 Pages 289-294 Publication Native Plants Journal ISSN 15228339, 15484785 Date 2010 Abstract A blend of 2 selected germplasms of tallow weed or plantain (Plantago spp. [Plantaginaceae]) has been released for wildlife habitat restoration, rangeland seed mixes, and wildlife food plot plantings in south Texas. Divot Tallow Weed Blend comprises the releases STN-561 Germplasm Hookers plantain (Plantago hookeriana Fisch. & C.A. Mey.) and STN-496 Germplasm redseed plantain (Plantago rhodosperma Decne.). Tallow weeds are cool-season, annual native plants that provide winter forage to wildlife and livestock and produce seed eaten by game birds and other wildlife. These releases are being marketed as a blend to facilitate commercial production and ease of use for consumers. Selection of STN-496 and STN-561 Germplasms was based on seedling vigor, superior seed production in comparison with other collections from the target ecoregion, and growth characteristics facilitating commercial seed production and harvest. Commercial seed producers are required to grow the releases that make up Divot Tallow Blend separately and to blend seed in equal quantities following harvest. The releases can also be marketed independently as source-identified seed. Archive JSTOR Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:50:03 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:50:03 PM * Response of Grassland Birds in Sand Shinnery Oak Communities Restored Using Tebuthiuron and Grazing in Eastern New Mexico Type Journal Article Author Lindsay A. Smythe Author David A. Haukos URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2008.00443.x__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv-hAlafs$ Rights © 2008 Society for Ecological Restoration International Volume 18 Issue 2 Pages 215-223 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2010 DOI 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2008.00443.x Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:48:36 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Sand shinnery oak (Quercus havardii) communities are a unique component of grassland bird habitat in eastern New Mexico and have been impacted by human activities for decades. These communities are frequently managed with livestock grazing and herbicide application for shrub control, strategies that potentially can be used to restore the historical shrub–grass composition of this plant community. During spring migration and the breeding seasons of 2004 and 2005, we compared density and community structure of grassland bird species among four combinations of tebuthiuron application and grazing treatments that were being evaluated for restoration of shinnery oak communities. We performed biweekly point transects on sixteen 65-ha study plots in these communities. Density of all avian species combined did not differ between grazed and ungrazed plots. Tebuthiuron-treated plots had a 40% higher average density for combined species than untreated plots. There was a 41% higher average density of all species during spring 2005 than 2004, but density was similar during the breeding season of both years. These trends were predominantly influenced by densities of migratory Cassin’s Sparrow (Aimophila cassinii), which were greater in tebuthiuron-treated plots in both years. Densities of resident Meadowlarks (Sturnella spp.) exhibited little response to tebuthiuron or grazing treatments. Avian species richness, evenness, and diversity were only minimally affected by the tebuthiuron and grazing treatments. This study occurred over a period of highly variable precipitation, so future assessments, spanning longer wet–dry cycles and maturing plant communities, may be necessary to completely determine avian response to these restoration efforts. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:48:37 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:48:37 PM Tags: o density o DISTANCE o grassland birds o grazing o herbicide o shinnery oak Attachments o Snapshot * From arable land to species-rich semi-natural grasslands: Succession in abandoned fields in a dry region of central Europe Type Journal Article Author Martina Sojneková Author Milan Chytrý URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857415000658__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvEy75a9g$ Volume 77 Pages 373-381 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date April 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2015.01.042 Abstract The area of arable land has decreased considerably in Europe over the last decades. Abandoned fields are potential habitats for restoration of species-rich grasslands of high conservation value, but in specific cases it is unclear whether this can be achieved by spontaneous succession or intervention is needed. In dry areas of eastern-central Europe, spontaneous succession of species-rich steppe grasslands was observed on some abandoned fields located close to ancient grasslands. We studied spontaneous succession on ex-arable land in the warm and dry area of the SE Czech Republic using space-for-time substitution. Vegetation was sampled in 175 plots, for which the time since the abandonment (4–71 years) was determined from historical aerial photographs. All plots were close to ancient dry grasslands. Annual weeds were replaced by perennial species in less than four years after abandonment. Perennial grassland was stable over seven decades, but its species composition changed: native dry-grassland species, including Red-List species, gradually increased, and so did the total number of vascular plants, reaching on average of 30–40 species per 16m2 after 40 years. Archaeophytes, including common ruderal species, decreased, while neophytes were insignificant throughout the succession. Scattered shrubs appeared at later stages, but their spread was limited by drought and recently also by nature conservation management. This study suggests that spontaneous succession can be inexpensive yet effective means of dry grassland restoration in dry areas of eastern and central Europe if sources of target species are available in nearby remnants of ancient grasslands. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:24 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:24 PM Tags: o Czech Republic o Dry grassland o Ecological restoration o Ex-arable land o Old field o Spontaneous succession * Contributions of AM fungi and soil organic matter to plant productivity in tropical savanna soils under different land uses Type Journal Article Author Geofrey E. Soka Author Mark E. Ritchie URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452219816300465__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvBs9xpqA$ Volume 1 Pages 45-52 Publication Rhizosphere ISSN 2452-2198 Date June 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Rhizosphere DOI 10.1016/j.rhisph.2016.06.004 Abstract Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AM fungi) and soil organic matter (SOM) can be important factors in soil fertility, cycling of nutrients, and plant productivity. It is still unclear whether greater AM fungi abundance is advantageous for plant productivity under nutrient-poor tropical soils despite the relatively common lack of phosphorus (P) and the purported benefit of AM fungi in obtaining and exchanging P with plants for carbon. We explored whether AM fungi and/or SOM augmented plant productivity in different field soils to test the hypotheses that AM fungi were important contributors to plant productivity and that the contribution by AM fungi is higher on soils with lower organic matter and presumably lower nutrient availability compared to soils with higher organic matter. We conducted a factorial experiment in the greenhouse with potted soils of either high or low organic matter (SOM) collected from each of three different land uses; grazed by wildlife in a protected area (Serengeti National Park, Tanzania), grazed by livestock, and cropland. Half the soils were sterilized to remove soil microbes, including AM fungi. Two grass species, Zea mays and Themeda triandra, were grown for 12 weeks in 8 replicates of each soil type and sterilization treatment. About 52.4% and 62.6% of Z. mays roots grown in non-sterilized soils were colonized by AM fungi in low and high SOM, respectively, and 38.1% and 46.7% of T. triandra roots grown in non-sterilized soils were colonized by AM fungi in low and high SOM respectively. Overall, plant biomass of both plant species was significantly higher on control soils than sterilized soils, indicating that AM fungi likely contributed to productivity, and on soils with higher SOM. However, the separate contribution to productivity of SOM and soil microbes varied significantly among plant species and soils from different land uses. Z. mays productivity increased most strongly to higher SOM, and declined with sterilization in agricultural, but not livestock or wildlife grazed soils. In contrast, T triandra production was largely insensitive to SOM or sterilization except on wildlife-grazed soils, where it increased most strongly in unsterilized soils. AM fungi impacts on productivity therefore may be driven more by host plant species than by lower nutrient supply, as associated with lower SOM. Furthermore, efforts to enhance productivity in uncultivated lands should perhaps focus on altering plant species composition, while efforts to enhance productivity in agriculture soils might not depend on beneficial soil microbes or additional fertilizer but instead on effective crop rotations. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:05 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:05 PM Tags: o Arbuscular mycorrhizae o Grassland restoration o Serengeti * Functional traits determine plant co-occurrence more than environment or evolutionary relatedness in global drylands Type Journal Article Author Santiago Soliveres Author Fernando T. Maestre Author Matthew A. Bowker Author Rubén Torices Author José L. Quero Author Miguel García-Gómez Author Omar Cabrera Author Alex P. Cea Author Daniel Coaguila Author David J. Eldridge Author Carlos I. Espinosa Author Frank Hemmings Author Jorge J. Monerris Author Matthew Tighe Author Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo Author Cristina Escolar Author Pablo García-Palacios Author Beatriz Gozalo Author Victoria Ochoa Author Julio Blones Author Mchich Derak Author Wahida Ghiloufi Author Julio R. Gutiérrez Author Rosa M. Hernández Author Zouhaier Noumi URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1433831914000456__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvf9UniDQ$ Volume 16 Issue 4 Pages 164-173 Publication Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics ISSN 1433-8319 Date August 20, 2014 Journal Abbr Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics DOI 10.1016/j.ppees.2014.05.001 Abstract Plant–plant interactions are driven by environmental conditions, evolutionary relationships (ER) and the functional traits of the plants involved. However, studies addressing the relative importance of these drivers are rare, but crucial to improve our predictions of the effects of plant–plant interactions on plant communities and of how they respond to differing environmental conditions. To analyze the relative importance of – and interrelationships among – these factors as drivers of plant–plant interactions, we analyzed perennial plant co-occurrence at 106 dryland plant communities established across rainfall gradients in nine countries. We used structural equation modelling to disentangle the relationships between environmental conditions (aridity and soil fertility), functional traits extracted from the literature, and ER, and to assess their relative importance as drivers of the 929 pairwise plant–plant co-occurrence levels measured. Functional traits, specifically facilitated plants’ height and nurse growth form, were of primary importance, and modulated the effect of the environment and ER on plant–plant interactions. Environmental conditions and ER were important mainly for those interactions involving woody and graminoid nurses, respectively. The relative importance of different plant–plant interaction drivers (ER, functional traits, and the environment) varied depending on the region considered, illustrating the difficulty of predicting the outcome of plant–plant interactions at broader spatial scales. In our global-scale study on drylands, plant–plant interactions were more strongly related to functional traits of the species involved than to the environmental variables considered. Thus, moving to a trait-based facilitation/competition approach help to predict that: (1) positive plant–plant interactions are more likely to occur for taller facilitated species in drylands, and (2) plant–plant interactions within woody-dominated ecosystems might be more sensitive to changing environmental conditions than those within grasslands. By providing insights on which species are likely to better perform beneath a given neighbour, our results will also help to succeed in restoration practices involving the use of nurse plants. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:17 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:17 PM Tags: o Aridity o Competition o Facilitation o Phylogenetic distance o Semi-arid o Soil fertility * The Ecological Vulnerability Evaluation in Southwestern Mountain Region of China Based on GIS and AHP Method Type Journal Article Author Guoba. Song Author Yu Chen Author Meirong Tian Author Shihai Lv Author Shushen Zhang Author Suling Liu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1878029610000848__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvYpWcbak$ Volume 2 Pages 465-475 Publication International Conference on Ecological Informatics and Ecosystem Conservation (ISEIS 2010) ISSN 1878-0296 Date January 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Procedia Environmental Sciences DOI 10.1016/j.proenv.2010.10.051 Abstract The ecosystem seriously degraded in the southwestern mountain region of China is very vulnerable which has a great impact on regional sustainable development. In this paper, the ecological vulnerability index (EVI) including 13 factors is established synthetically reflecting ecological sensitivity (ES), natural and social pressure (NSP), and ecological recovery capacity (ERC) based on HPA method, and five grades for each factors is classified by expert consultation including potential grad, slight grade, light grade, medial grade and heavy grade. By the means of GIS spatial analysis, cluster analysis and spatial autocorrelation analysis, the regional ecological vulnerability is deeply analyzed in regional level, county level and in grade level. The conclusion is as follows. From the regional level, the ecological condition in southwest of China is relative stable reflected by area proportion of heavy and medial grade significantly less than the area proportion of potential, slight and light grade, which is accompanied by the heavy grade of ES, EP and EVI mainly concentrated in the east-southeast of whole region and four centers with high ecological recovery capacity. From county level, 152 counties are divided into two groups with centroid cluster method whose cluster level is determined by Cubic Clustering Criterion, Pseudo T-Squared Statistic, Semi-Partial R-Squared and Pseudo F Statistics. The first zone with high EVI locates in east-southeast region including 79 counties and the second one with forest, grassland, shrub as dominant land use type rules 73 counties in the west-northwest region where the disturbance from human activity is very scare. From grade scale, the clustering trend for EVI grades is apparent presented by global Moran’ I about 0.6271 and the spatial adjacency is dominated by high-high and low-low relation significantly. From above, we can see that there exits the characteristics of regional division of ecological vulnerability in different level from west-northwest region to eastsoutheast region. So the study set a solid foundation for regional ecological restoration by applying research findings, which is obtained during the period National Key Technologies R & D Program of China during the 10th Five-Year Plan Period. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:32:16 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:32:16 PM Tags: o AHP o Autocorrelation analysis o Cluster analysis o Ecological vulnerability evaluation o GIS o South western mountain region of China * Assessing the success of hydrological restoration in two conservation easements within Central Florida ranchland Type Journal Article Author Grégory Sonnier Author Patrick J. Bohlen Author Hilary M. Swain Author Steve L. Orzell Author Edwin L. Bridges Author Elizabeth H. Boughton URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0199333__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvHWKcKnA$ Volume 13 Issue 7 Pages e0199333 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Jul 3, 2018 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0199333 Accessed 2020-03-12, 12:29:29 AM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract In the USA, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) has restored millions of acres of wetlands through its Wetland Reserve Easement (WRE) programs. However, few quantitative studies have explored whether WREs have enhanced wetland hydrology and wetland plant communities. Additionally, USDA Compatible Use Permits for cattle grazing and other management practices are sometimes issued for WREs, but little is known about potential benefits/detriments of such practice on the success of wetland restoration. In this study, we tested if hydrological restoration of previously drained species poor pastures increased water depth and hydroperiod. Restoration involved plugging key ditches, adding water control structures and a berm. We also tested if hydrological restoration increased plant diversity (alpha and beta), floristic quality (using coefficient of conservatism) and increased the cover of wetland species (using species wetland status). Finally, we tested if cattle grazing had an effect on the success of restoration by comparing grazed plots to fenced plots. We studied two conservation easements (a total of 748 acres) located on semi-native pastures in central Florida, USA. We monitored vegetation using permanent transects stratified by vegetation type before (2004–2005) and after (2012) the restoration (2008). We assessed wetland hydroperiod using groundwater wells set up in 2003 and located within and outside the boundaries of these two easements. We used linear mixed models and multivariate analyses to compare vegetation and hydroperiods pre- and post-restoration. Number of flooded days increased following restoration in one of the easements, but we did not detect significant changes in hydrology in the other easement. Floristic quality, beta diversity and cover of obligate wetland species increased in both conservation easements and in most vegetation types. These vegetation changes were likely due to restoration activities since annual rainfall was not significantly different pre- and post-restoration. Cattle grazing did not have a negative or positive effect on the success of restoration, nor did we detect any positive effect of grazing on the success of restoration. Overall, our study shows that hydrological restoration can enhance wetland hydroperiod, water depth and wetland vegetation, but more resources should be allocated to short- and long-term monitoring of the restoration success. Date Added 2020-03-12, 12:29:29 AM Modified 2020-03-12, 12:29:29 AM Tags: o Cattle o Flooding o Grazing o Marshes o Plant communities o Rain o Species diversity o Wetlands Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * On the ecological recognition of Butia palm groves as integral ecosystems: Why do we need to widen the legal protection and the in situ/on-farm conservation approaches? Type Journal Article Author Ênio Egon Sosinski Author Leonardo Marques Urruth Author Rosa Lía Barbieri Author Marene Machado Marchi Author Silvano Gildo Martens URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264837718308433__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvacwo4dc$ Volume 81 Pages 124-130 Publication Land Use Policy ISSN 0264-8377 Date February 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Land Use Policy DOI 10.1016/j.landusepol.2018.10.041 Abstract Brazilian environmental legislation provides protection to native flora in different ways. However, the predominantly non-forest ecosystems of Brazil have no specific legislation protecting their ecological particularities. Many authors have emphasized the relevance of recognizing the ecological importance of non-forest ecosystems and the need to include them in conservation priorities. Southern Brazil, northeastern Argentina and Uruguay harbor one of the most fascinating ecosystems of the southern South American grasslands, the Butia palm groves. These are natural non-forest ecosystems dominated by populations of Butia species (Arecaceae) scattered through the grassy matrix. Land conversion to agriculture, silviculture and urban sprawl are the greatest threats to these palm species. For instance, in the southern Brazilian Pampa grasslands where palm groves were once very abundant, 26% of the natural grasslands have been lost over a period of 30 years. This significant habitat loss is aggravated by the protection of only 0.4 per cent of the Pampa biome within legally designated areas. Furthermore, palm groves are not recognized in Brazilian official vegetation classification systems. Therefore, there is a need to recognize non-forest ecosystems as ecologically integral entities. This implies the necessity of understanding, for instance, that preservation of palm groves is critical to re-establish the natural processes of these ecosystems, i.e., to begin to support the natural renewal process of palm groves, jointly with conserving the natural grassy matrix and all its diverse flora and fauna. Public policies focusing on these ecosystems and species must include promotion of sustainable use of their products, using their economic value to increase interest in their conservation. Practices that ensure the renewal of populations, such as conservative grazing management and ecosystem restoration, also need to be implemented. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:41 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:41 PM Tags: o Biodiversity conservation o Environmental legislation o Grassland o Non-forest ecosystems o Pampa biome o South Brazilian grasslands o Sustainability * Balancing conservation and climate change – a methodology using existing data demonstrated for twelve UK priority habitats Type Journal Article Author M. Sozanska-Stanton Author P.D. Carey Author G.H. Griffiths Author I.N. Vogiatzakis Author J. Treweek Author B. Butcher Author M.B. Charlton Author C. Keenleyside Author N.W. Arnell Author G. Tucker Author P. Smith URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S161713811630005X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv6rhxt94$ Volume 30 Pages 76-89 Publication Journal for Nature Conservation ISSN 1617-1381 Date May 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Journal for Nature Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.jnc.2016.01.005 Abstract Mitigation of climate change (CC) is a regulating ecosystem service provided by priority habitats that is often co-delivered alongside their conservation of biodiversity. Carefully planned conservation management is thought necessary to support biodiversity adaptation to CC, but could also contribute to CC mitigation. This paper presents a methodology for assessing direct emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG: CO2, CH4 and N2O) from 12 UK priority habitats in 26 Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) using readily available data. Background emissions are estimated on the basis of published field research. The contribution of conservation management to GHG emission reduction is estimated using the IPCC GHG accounting methodology and other methods. Management Data Acquisition surveys carried out at selected SACs provided data on management practises for Scotland and Wales. Climate change mitigation actions identified in this study for priority habitats included livestock removal or change in stocking density, with GHG reduction potential of up to 3tCO2e/animal/year, afforestation of acid grasslands—up to 19.4tCO2e/ha/year, wetland restoration—0.3–0.8tCO2e/ha/year and cessation of moorland burning—6.9tCO2e/ha/year. Estimated GHG emissions from priority habitats can be used to identify win:win management options that co-deliver GHG mitigation, climate adaptation and conservation benefits for consideration by policy makers and conservation managers. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:15 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:15 PM Tags: o Climate change o Conservation o Greenhouse gas o Management o Priority habitats * Rangeland CEAP: An assessment of natural resources conservation service practices Type Journal Article Author Ken Spaeth Author Mark Weltz Author David D. Briske Author Leonard W. Jolley Author Loretta J. Metz Author Colleen Rossi Volume 35 Issue 1 Pages 2-10 Publication Rangelands Date 2013 Date Added 2020-03-17, 9:55:23 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 9:55:23 PM * Fire and grazing in a mesic tallgrass prairie: impacts on plant species and functional traits Type Journal Article Author Marko J. Spasojevic Author Rebecca J. Aicher Author Gregory R. Koch Author Emily S. Marquardt Author Nicholas Mirotchnick Author Tiffany G. Troxler Author Scott L. Collins URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1890/09-0431.1__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvAUh6vWw$ Volume 91 Issue 6 Pages 1651-1659 Publication Ecology ISSN 0012-9658 Date June 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Ecology DOI 10.1890/09-0431.1 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Fire is a globally distributed disturbance that impacts terrestrial ecosystems and has been proposed to be a global ?herbivore.? Fire, like herbivory, is a top-down driver that converts organic materials into inorganic products, alters community structure, and acts as an evolutionary agent. Though grazing and fire may have some comparable effects in grasslands, they do not have similar impacts on species composition and community structure. However, the concept of fire as a global herbivore implies that fire and herbivory may have similar effects on plant functional traits. Using 22 years of data from a mesic, native tallgrass prairie with a long evolutionary history of fire and grazing, we tested if trait composition between grazed and burned grassland communities would converge, and if the degree of convergence depended on fire frequency. Additionally, we tested if eliminating fire from frequently burned grasslands would result in a state similar to unburned grasslands, and if adding fire into a previously unburned grassland would cause composition to become more similar to that of frequently burned grasslands. We found that grazing and burning once every four years showed the most convergence in traits, suggesting that these communities operate under similar deterministic assembly rules and that fire and herbivory are similar disturbances to grasslands at the trait-group level of organization. Three years after reversal of the fire treatment we found that fire reversal had different effects depending on treatment. The formerly unburned community that was then burned annually became more similar to the annually burned community in trait composition suggesting that function may be rapidly restored if fire is reintroduced. Conversely, after fire was removed from the annually burned community trait composition developed along a unique trajectory indicating hysteresis, or a time lag for structure and function to return following a change in this disturbance regime. We conclude that functional traits and species-based metrics should be considered when determining and evaluating goals for fire management in mesic grassland ecosystems. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:52:04 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:52:04 PM Tags: o fire o grazing o disturbance o prairie o grassland o plant functional traits Notes: o doi: 10.1890/09-0431.1 * Soil ecosystem function under native and exotic plant assemblages as alternative states of successional grasslands Type Journal Article Author Florencia Spirito Author Laura Yahdjian Author Pedro M. Tognetti Author Enrique J. Chaneton URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1146609X12001361__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvsQSAMZg$ Volume 54 Pages 4-12 Publication Ecosystem Impacts of Invasive Species ISSN 1146-609X Date January 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Acta Oecologica DOI 10.1016/j.actao.2012.10.004 Abstract Old fields often become dominated by exotic plants establishing persistent community states. Ecosystem functioning may differ widely between such novel communities and the native-dominated counterparts. We evaluated soil ecosystem attributes in native and exotic (synthetic) grass assemblages established on a newly abandoned field, and in remnants of native grassland in the Inland Pampa, Argentina. We asked whether exotic species alter soil functioning through the quality of the litter they shed or by changing the decomposition environment. Litter decomposition of the exotic dominant Festuca arundinacea in exotic assemblages was faster than that of the native dominant Paspalum quadrifarium in native assemblages and remnant grasslands. Decomposition of a standard litter (Triticum aestivum) was also faster in exotic assemblages than in native assemblages and remnant grasslands. In a common garden, F. arundinacea showed higher decay rates than P. quadrifarium, which reflected the higher N content and lower C:N of the exotic grass litter. Soil respiration rates were higher in the exotic than in the native assemblages and remnant grasslands. Yet there were no significant differences in soil N availability or net N mineralization between exotic and native assemblages. Our results suggest that exotic grass dominance affected ecosystem function by producing a more decomposable leaf litter and by increasing soil decomposer activity. These changes might contribute to the extended dominance of fast-growing exotic grasses during old-field succession. Further, increased organic matter turnover under novel, exotic communities could reduce the carbon storage capacity of the system in the long term. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:54 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:54 PM Tags: o Decomposition o Invasion o Litter quality o Nutrient cycling o Restoration * Bioengineering effectiveness of seed mixtures for road verges: Functional composition as a predictor of grassland diversity and invasion resistance Type Journal Article Author K. Staab Author F.A. Yannelli Author M. Lang Author J. Kollmann URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857415301221__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvV2SUAVw$ Volume 84 Pages 104-112 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date November 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2015.07.016 Abstract Many attempts have been made to restore semi-natural temperate grasslands that suffered substantial declines due to changes in land use in the past decades. An alternative to restoration of historical grassland is the establishment of analogous communities in new habitats like road verges. This study aims at assessing seed mixtures for road verges that cope with the need for bioengineering effectiveness while benefitting local biodiversity. We established a greenhouse experiment with microsite variation to study establishment, diversity and invasion resistance of four regional and two non-regional seed mixtures on road verge substrate, with and without stony microhabitats as a function of their seed source, functional group and trait composition. Vegetation cover was measured 6 and 12 weeks after sowing, as well as dry biomass of target and non-target species. Invasion resistance after establishment of native communities was tested by adding seeds of the alien Impatiens glandulifera Royle and later counting seedling emergence. Vegetation cover after 6 weeks was significantly affected by seed source and percentage legume seed, while stony microsites had negative effects on vegetation cover at both times. Percentage grass biomass reduced species richness, but had no influence on invasion resistance against non-target species. Functional dispersion (FDis) of rooting traits and aboveground biomass were not correlated with invasion resistance at the early stage of grassland development. Otherwise, the invasion of an alien species at a later stage was explained by seed mixture identity and thus, associated with lower diversity of rooting traits and lower species richness. Using regional seeds is recommended for road verge restoration, but only an appropriate balance of functional groups and traits within the seed mixtures can ensure quick establishment and high species richness. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:40 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:40 PM Tags: o Functional groups o Greenhouse experiment o Local plant diversity o Microsite variation o Roadside revegetation o Seed provenance * Do Tree Canopies Enhance Perennial Grass Restoration in California Oak Savannas? Type Journal Article Author Karen A. Stahlheber Author Carla M. D'Antonio URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12103__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvMIjIb5I$ Rights © 2014 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 22 Issue 5 Pages 574-581 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2014 DOI 10.1111/rec.12103 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:31:45 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Scattered trees in grass-dominated ecosystems often act as islands of fertility with important influences on community structure. Despite the potential for these islands to be useful in restoring degraded rangelands, they can also serve as sites for the establishment of fast growing non-native species. In California oak savannas, native perennial grasses are rare beneath isolated oaks and non-native annual grasses dominate. To understand the mechanisms generating this pattern, and the potential for restoration of native grasses under oaks, we asked: what are the effects of the tree understory environment, the abundance of a dominant non-native annual grass (Bromus diandrus), and soils beneath the trees on survival, growth, and reproduction of native perennial grass seedlings? We found oak canopies had a strong positive effect on survival of Stipa pulchra and Poa secunda. Growth and reproduction was enhanced by the canopy for Poa but negatively impacted for Stipa. We also found that Bromus suppressed growth and reproduction in Stipa and Poa, although less so for Stipa. These results suggest the oak understory may enhance survival of restored native perennial grass seedlings. The presence of exotic grasses can also suppress growth of native grasses, although only weakly for Stipa. The current limitation of native grasses to outside the canopy edge is potentially the result of interference from annual grasses under oaks, especially for short-statured grasses like Poa. Therefore, control of non-native annual grasses under tree canopies will enhance the establishment of S. pulchra and P. secunda when planted in California oak savannas. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:31:45 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:31:45 PM Tags: o Bromus diandrus o California grassland o canopy effect o facilitation o interference o oak savanna restoration o Poa secunda o Quercus o Stipa pulchra Attachments o Snapshot * In-stream habitat and macroinvertebrate responses to riparian corridor length in rangeland streams Type Journal Article Author Bronwen Stanford Author Karen D. Holl Author David B. Herbst Author Erika Zavaleta URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.13029__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv5nkEx4Q$ Rights © 2019 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 28 Issue 1 Pages 173-184 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2020 DOI 10.1111/rec.13029 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:05:48 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Conservation and restoration of riparian vegetation in agricultural landscapes has had mixed success at protecting in-stream habitat, potentially due to the mismatch between watershed-scale impacts and reach-scale restoration. Prioritizing contiguous placement of small-scale restoration interventions may effectively create larger-scale restoration projects and improve ecological outcomes. We performed a multi-site field study to evaluate whether greater linear length of narrow riparian tree corridors resulted in measurable benefits to in-stream condition. We collected data at 41 sites with varying upstream tree cover nested within 13 groups in rangeland streams in coastal northern California, United States. We evaluated the effect of riparian tree corridor length on benthic macroinvertebrate communities, as well as food resources, water temperature, and substrate size. Sites with longer riparian corridors had higher percentages of invertebrates sensitive to disturbance (including clingers and EPT taxa) as well as lower water temperatures and less fine sediment, two of the most important aquatic stressors. Despite marked improvement, we found no evidence that macroinvertebrate communities fully recovered, suggesting that land use continued to constrain conditions. The restoration of long riparian corridors may be an economically viable and rapidly implementable technique to improve habitat, control sediment, and counter increasing water temperatures expected with climate change within the context of ongoing land use. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:05:48 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:05:48 PM Tags: o aquatic ecology o benthic macroinvertebrates o biomonitoring o fine sediment o restoration scale o riparian buffer o water temperature Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Recoupling fire and grazing reduces wildland fuel loads on rangelands Type Journal Article Author Heath D. Starns Author Samuel D. Fuhlendorf Author R. Dwayne Elmore Author Dirac Twidwell Author Eric T. Thacker Author Torre J. Hovick Author Barney Luttbeg URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.2578__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvIoSuxWY$ Volume 10 Issue 1 Pages e02578 Publication Ecosphere ISSN 2150-8925 Date January 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Ecosphere DOI 10.1002/ecs2.2578 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Abstract Fire suppression and exclusion, the historically dominant paradigm of fire management, has resulted in major modifications of fire-dependent ecosystems worldwide. These changes are partially credited with a recent increase in wildfire number and extent, as well as more extreme fire behavior. Fire and herbivory historically interacted, and research has shown that the interaction creates a unique mosaic of vegetation heterogeneity that each disturbance alone does not create. Because fire and grazing have largely been decoupled in modern times, the degree to which the interaction affects fuels and fire regimes has not yet been quantified. We evaluated effects of fire-only and pyric herbivory on rangeland fuels and fire behavior simulated using BehavePlus at four sites across the southern Great Plains. We predicted patches managed via pyric herbivory would maintain lower fuel loads, and less intense simulated fire behavior than fire alone. We found that time since fire was a significant predictor of fuel loads and simulated fire behavior characteristics at all sites. Fuel loads and simulated fire behavior characteristics (flame length and rate of spread) increased with increasing time since fire in all simulated weather scenarios. Pyric herbivory mediated fuel accumulation at all sites. Mean fuel loads in fire-only treatments exceeded 5000 kg/ha within 24 months, but pyric herbivory treatments remained below 5000 kg/ha for approximately 36 months. Simulated flame lengths in fire-only treatments were consistently higher (up to 3 ? ) than in pyric herbivory treatments. Similarly, fire spread rates were higher in fire-only than in pyric herbivory treatments in all simulated weather conditions. Although all sites had potential to burn in the most extreme weather conditions, pyric herbivory reduced fuel accumulations, flame lengths, and rates of spread across all weather patterns simulated. These reductions extended the amount of time standard wildland firefighting techniques remain effective. Therefore, incorporating pyric herbivory into fuel management practices, in areas of high herbaceous productivity, increases the effectiveness of fuel treatments. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:52:03 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:52:03 PM Tags: o grazing o rangelands o tallgrass prairie o pyric herbivory o BehavePlus o coastal prairie o fire behavior o fire weather o fuels reduction o Great Plains o patch-burning o wildland fire Notes: o doi: 10.1002/ecs2.2578 * Wildfire Management Across Rangeland Ownerships: Factors Influencing Rangeland Fire Protection Association Establishment and Functioning Type Journal Article Author Amanda M. Stasiewicz Author Travis B. Paveglio URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742418301635__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvGjcFHdw$ Volume 71 Issue 6 Pages 727-736 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date November 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2018.05.004 Abstract Policymakers and managers are promoting Rangeland Fire Protection Associations (RFPA) as one way to better incorporate private citizens as active participants who contribute to fire suppression efforts on public rangelands. While the RFPA program is growing in popularity, little is known about the way that RFPAs establish and operate. This is especially true in mosaic management scenarios characterized by fragmented landownerships and a variety of land or fire management entities responsible for wildfire suppression. Our goal was to investigate how an RFPA forms and functions in a management scenario characterized by: 1) proximity to exurban residential development; 2) agreements with multiple local, state, and federal wildfire suppression entities; and 3) a geographically disperse protection district. We conducted in-depth interviews with RFPA members, land or fire management professionals, emergency managers, and local interest groups who interact with the Black Canyon RFPA (BCRFPA) in southwestern Idaho. We found that the BCRFPA leveraged the insights, documents and support of existing RFPAs during their establishment, but ultimately had to adapt the RFPA idea to specific elements of their local context. Members of nearby rural fire districts were initially apprehensive about the formation of the BCRFPA due to concerns about resource competition (e.g., funding and large equipment). RFPA members with professional firefighting experience helped alleviate those tensions by explaining how the RFPA would integrate into existing wildfire management networks. The BCRFPA provided local knowledge about road conditions, water resources, and fuel conditions and initial attack to fill in gaps in landscape-level wildfire protection. However, the proximity of residential areas to the BCRFPA protection district made decisions about fire suppression more complex by introducing trade-offs between residential and rangeland resource protections. Ultimately, our results indicate that RFPAs can help rangeland human populations better adapt to wildfire risk, but that social fragmentation may challenge RFPA functioning. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:11 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:00:11 PM Tags: o cooperative management o fire adapted communities o fragmentation o rangeland fire protection associations o risk o wildfire * A History of Plant Improvement by the USDA-ARS Forage and Range Research Laboratory for Rehabilitation of Degraded Western U.S. Rangelands Type Journal Article Author Jack Staub Author Jerry Chatterton Author Shaun Bushman Author Douglas Johnson Author Thomas Jones Author Steve Larson Author Joseph Robins Author Thomas Monaco URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190052816300529__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvD4-x-ng$ Volume 38 Issue 5 Pages 233-240 Publication Rangelands ISSN 0190-0528 Date October 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Rangelands DOI 10.1016/j.rala.2016.08.004 Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:03 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:57:52 PM Tags: o abiotic stress tolerance o novel ecosystems o plant breeding o plant materials o resilience o restoration * Achieving Zero Net Land Degradation: Challenges and opportunities Type Journal Article Author Ilan Stavi Author Rattan Lal URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196314000275__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvmY3laIU$ Volume 112 Pages 44-51 Publication Special Issue on the Fourth Drylands Deserts and Desertification “DDD” Conference ISSN 0140-1963 Date January 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Journal of Arid Environments DOI 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2014.01.016 Abstract Land degradation is extensive, covering approximately 23% of the globe's terrestrial area, increasing at an annual rate of 5–10 million ha, and affecting about 1.5 billion people globally. Such detrimental processes call for urgent and comprehensive action to halt land degradation. In this paper, we assess the causes and extent of land degradation around the world, followed by an outline of the various challenges in implementing a global Zero Net Land Degradation (ZNLD) policy. The concept of ZNLD proposes a scheme under which the extent of global degraded lands will decrease or at least, remain stable. To enable this type of scenario, the rate of global land degradation should not exceed that of land restoration. Restoration efforts should include not only croplands, rangelands, and woodlands, but also natural and semi-natural lands that do not generate direct economic revenues. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) envisages achieving this target by 2030. Despite being seemingly ambitious, the target of ZNLD could be achieved if degraded lands are restored to a considerable extent and, at the same time, land-degrading management practices are replaced with ones that conserve soils. To enable effective implementation of these steps, it is necessary to formulate a ZNLD Protocol aimed at managing assessment actions and maintaining of supportive policies and regulations. Restoration projects could be financed through payments for improving ecosystem services, as well as other economic mechanisms. Achieving the target of land degradation neutrality would decrease the environmental footprint of agriculture, while supporting food security and sustaining human wellbeing. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:40 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:40 PM Tags: o Best management practices o Desertification o Polluter pays principle o Soil degradation severity o Soil organic carbon o Soil quality index * Water runoff harvesting systems for restoration of degraded rangelands: A review of challenges and opportunities Type Journal Article Author I. Stavi Author S.M. Siad Author A.P. Kyriazopoulos Author R. Halbac-Cotoara-Zamfir URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479719315415__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvgLrIcdY$ Volume 255 Pages 109823 Publication Journal of Environmental Management ISSN 0301-4797 Date February 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Journal of Environmental Management DOI 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109823 Abstract Mismanagement of rangelands worldwide has accelerated processes of overland flow and soil erosion, resulting in extensive land degradation. Wherever self-restoration processes of degraded rangelands are hindered or negated, active recovery efforts, coupled with livestock pressure management, might be needed. The objective of this review paper is to provide land managers and environmental planners with applied and practical knowledge on advantages and disadvantages of the main methodologies and practices for runoff harvesting in rangelands. Preferably, restoration efforts should focus on forming low-footprint runoff harvesting systems on hillslopes which encompass the runoff's source area. These systems should imitate natural patchiness, strengthening source-sink relations, accelerating re-establishment of herbaceous and woody vegetation, maximizing the retaining of water on hillslopes, regulating hydrological connectivity, lessening soil erosion, and minimizing transmission of water to stream channels. The resulting lower-energy floods are expected to negate the need for massive check dams in channels. If flood dissipation in streams is still necessary, then high-to medium-porosity check dams, made of local materials, might be effective for lessening scour processes and sediment transport. Furthermore, in terms of environmental sustainability, a large number of pointed (e.g., branch bundles; brush or woody piles; micro-catchments) or low-to medium-footprint lineal means for regulating surface processes in hillslopes (e.g., stone terraces; contour furrows/trenches/ditches) and channels (e.g., log check dams; loose rock check dams; porous or semi-permeable rock check dams; gabions) are expected to be more cost-effective than a small number of massive means (e.g., contour bench terraces; earth bunds/dykes; concrete check dams). If runoff harvesting systems are properly designed, restoration processes over time are expected to generate geo-ecological feedbacks and recover eco-hydrological functioning, increasing pasture productivity and sustaining rangeland carrying capacity. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:03 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:57:54 PM Tags: o Alluvial and fluvial geodiversity o Backfilling and sediment deposition o Concentrated vs. non-concentrated water runoff o Gully incision o Lateral scouring o Watershed management * Spatially Explicit Representation of State-and-Transition Models Type Journal Article Author Caitriana M. Steele Author Brandon T. Bestelmeyer Author Laura M. Burkett Author Philip L. Smith Author Steven Yanoff URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742412500400__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvsXl-bWA$ Volume 65 Issue 3 Pages 213-222 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date May 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/REM-D-11-00047.1 Abstract The broad-scale assessment of natural resource conditions (e.g., rangeland health, restoration needs) requires knowledge of their spatial distribution. We argue that creating a database that links state-and-transition models (STMs) to spatial units is a valuable management tool for structuring ground-based observations, management planning for landscapes, and for housing information on the responses of land areas to management actions. To address this need, we introduce a multifactor classification system based on ecological sites and STMs that is directly linked to recent concepts of vegetation dynamics in rangelands. We describe how this classification was used as a basis for creating a spatial database and maps of ecological states. We provide an example of how the classification and mapping has been applied in over 1.2 million ha of public rangelands in southern New Mexico using aerial photo interpretation supplemented with existing inventory data and rapid field assessments. The resulting state map has been used by the Bureau of Land Management: 1) to design landscape-level shrub control efforts, 2) to structure and report district-wide rangeland health assessments, and 3) to evaluate locations for energy development. We conclude by discussing options for the development of state maps and their current limitations, including the use of satellite imagery and concepts for defining states. We argue that cataloging ecological states in a spatial context has clear benefits for rangeland managers because it connects STM concepts to specific land areas. State mapping provides a means to generate and store spatially explicit data resulting from tests of the propositions in STMs and conservation practices. Resumen La evaluación a gran escala de la condición de los recursos naturales (ejm. salud del pastizal, necesidades de restauración) requiere del conocimiento de la distribución espacial de los mismos. Argumentamos que estableciendo una base de datos que ligue modelos de estado y transición (MET) a unidades espaciales es una herramienta valiosa de manejo para estructurar observaciones basadas en el terreno, planeación del paisaje y para información de desarrollos habitacionales y las respuestas de las áreas de tierra y las acciones de manejo. Para dirigir esta necesidad introducimos el sistema de clasificación multifactorial basado en sitios ecológicos y MET que es directamente ligado a los recientes conceptos de dinámica de la vegetación y pastizales. Describimos cómo esta clasificación fue usada fundamentalmente para crear una base de datos para mapas de sitios ecológicos. Damos un ejemplo de cómo la clasificación y mapeo ha sido aplicado en arriba de 1.2 millones de hectáreas de pastizales públicos en el sur de Nuevo México usando interpretación de fotografía aérea complementado con datos de inventarios existentes y evaluaciones rápidas de campo. El mapa resultante ha sido usado por el Bureau of Land Management para 1) diseñar esfuerzos de control del paisaje con nivel de matorral, 2) estructurar y reportar evaluaciones de salud de pastizal a escala de distrito y, 3) evaluar lugares para desarrollo de energía. Concluimos con la discusión de opciones para el desarrollo de mapas de estado y sus actuales limitaciones incluyendo el uso de las imágenes de satélite y conceptos de definición de estados. Discutimos que catalogar los estados ecológicos en un contexto especial, tiene un claro beneficio para los manejadores de pastizales porque esto conecta los conceptos de MET para áreas de tierra específicas. El mapeo de estados provee un medio para generar y almacenar datos explícitamente de espacialidad, resultando de pruebas de propuestas de MET's y prácticas de conservación. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:53 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:57:56 PM Tags: o alternative states o ecological sites o geographic information systems o land classification o Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database * Traditional knowledge of fire use by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs in the eastside Cascades of Oregon Type Journal Article Author Michelle M. Steen-Adams Author Susan Charnley Author Rebecca J. McLain Author Mark D.O. Adams Author Kendra L. Wendel URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112719301446__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv65I84gE$ Volume 450 Pages 117405 Publication Forest Ecology and Management ISSN 0378-1127 Date October 15, 2019 Journal Abbr Forest Ecology and Management DOI 10.1016/j.foreco.2019.06.002 Abstract We examined traditional knowledge of fire use by the Ichishikin (Sahaptin), Kitsht Wasco (Wasco), and Numu (Northern Paiute) peoples (now Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, CTWS) in the eastside Cascades of Oregon to generate insights for restoring conifer forest landscapes and enhancing culturally-valued resources. We examined qualitative and geospatial data derived from oral history interviews, participatory GIS focus groups, archival records, and historical forest surveys to characterize cultural fire regimes (CFRs) –an element of historical fire regimes– of moist mixed conifer (MMC), dry mixed conifer (DMC), and shrub-grassland (SG) zones. Our ethnohistorical evidence indicated a pronounced cultural fire regime in the MMC zone, but not in the two drier zones. The CFR of the MMC zone was characterized by frequent (few-year recurrence), low-severity burns distributed in a shifting pattern. This regime helped to maintain forest openings created by previous ignitions, resulting from lightning or possibly human-set, that had burned large areas. The CFR was influenced by the CTWS traditional knowledge system, which consisted of four elements: fire use and associated resource tending practices, tribal ecological principles, the seasonal round (the migratory pattern to fulfill resource needs), and culture. Thinleaf huckleberry (Vaccinium membranaceum), a cultural keystone species, occurs primarily in the MMC zone and was a principle focus of traditional fire use of the CTWS peoples. Fire was deployed to maintain shrub productivity and site access for harvesting. Cessation of fire use by ∼1940 has caused a decline in huckleberry productivity throughout much of the historical harvest zone. Our findings about CFR scale show how a nested, multi-level framework (patch- and landscape-levels) may be employed to reintroduce fire and thereby promote forest restoration and enhance culturally-valued resources. Our findings also highlight the utility of engaging the communities that hold traditional knowledge in the forest management and planning process. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:13 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:13 PM * Post-Fire Control of Invasive Plants Promotes Native Recovery in a Burned Desert Shrubland Type Journal Article Author Robert J. Steers Author Edith B. Allen URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2009.00622.x__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvjcL26FQ$ Rights © 2009 Society for Ecological Restoration International Volume 18 Issue s2 Pages 334-343 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2010 DOI 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2009.00622.x Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:56:30 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Invasive annual grasses have become increasingly important components of desert vegetation in North America. They are especially problematic because they increase the extent, severity, and frequency of fire in desert shrublands that normally experience fire very rarely, or not at all. After fire, invasive grasses and forbs are often dominant and restoration methods are required to promote native plant recovery. Three treatments to control invasive annual grasses and forbs were implemented in the first 3 years following a fire in creosote bush scrub vegetation. Treatments included early season mechanical removal (raking) of all annuals, grass-specific herbicide (Fusilade II), and Fusilade II plus hand pulling of exotic forbs. In the first year, all treatments reduced invasive annual grass abundance by about half but had little effect on native annuals. Treatment effectiveness was minimal in the first year due to low and irregular distribution of rainfall. In the second year, insufficient rainfall prevented the germination of any annual plants and no treatments were applied. In the third year, precipitation onset occurred later in the season and was above average. Although the raking treatment performed poorly, treatments utilizing Fusilade II nearly eliminated invasive grasses and forbs, achieved native annual dominance, and increased native perennial abundance. These results indicate that in the absence of invasive grasses and forbs, the native annual community can be resilient to fire disturbance and native perennials can recover. The results also suggest that burned creosote bush shrublands can be managed after fire to decrease the chance of invasive plant–fire feedback. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:56:30 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:56:30 PM Tags: o California o creosote bush scrub o fire feedback o Fusilade o grass/fire cycle o restoration Attachments o Snapshot * Evaluating Ecosystem Services Provided by Non-Native Species: An Experimental Test in California Grasslands Type Journal Article Author Claudia Stein Author Lauren M. Hallett Author W. Stanley Harpole Author Katharine N. Suding URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0075396__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvqsY_WXE$ Volume 9 Issue 9 Pages e75396 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Sep 15, 2014 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0075396 Accessed 2020-03-12, 3:32:05 PM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract The concept of ecosystem services – the benefits that nature provides to human's society – has gained increasing attention over the past decade. Increasing global abiotic and biotic change, including species invasions, is threatening the secure delivery of these ecosystem services. Efficient evaluation methods of ecosystem services are urgently needed to improve our ability to determine management strategies and restoration goals in face of these new emerging ecosystems. Considering a range of multiple ecosystem functions may be a useful way to determine such strategies. We tested this framework experimentally in California grasslands, where large shifts in species composition have occurred since the late 1700's. We compared a suite of ecosystem functions within one historic native and two non-native species assemblages under different grazing intensities to address how different species assemblages vary in provisioning, regulatory and supporting ecosystem services. Forage production was reduced in one non-native assemblage (medusahead). Cultural ecosystem services, such as native species diversity, were inherently lower in both non-native assemblages, whereas most other services were maintained across grazing intensities. All systems provided similar ecosystem services under the highest grazing intensity treatment, which simulated unsustainable grazing intensity. We suggest that applying a more comprehensive ecosystem framework that considers multiple ecosystem services to evaluate new emerging ecosystems is a valuable tool to determine management goals and how to intervene in a changing ecosystem. Short Title Evaluating Ecosystem Services Provided by Non-Native Species Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:32:05 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:32:05 PM Tags: o Community structure o Ecosystem functioning o Ecosystems o Grasses o Grasslands o Grazing o Invasive species o Species diversity Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Transitions and invasion along a grazing gradient in experimental California grasslands Type Journal Article Author Claudia Stein Author William Stanley Harpole Author Katharine N. Suding URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.1478__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvO5JFlpI$ Volume 97 Issue 9 Pages 2319-2330 Publication Ecology ISSN 0012-9658 Date September 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Ecology DOI 10.1002/ecy.1478 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Abstract Resilience-based frameworks, founded upon the existence of multiple attractors and regime shifts, have long been applied to complex dynamics of semiarid systems. Utilizing seed addition tests in experimental plantings along grazing gradients, we applied an increase-when-rare criterion to identify bidirectional (states can invade each other) and directional (only one state can invade) transitions among vegetation states characteristic of California grasslands over five years. Annual forage and medusahead grasslands were able to invade each other at all grazing intensities, indicating coexistence. Directional transitions involving invasion of native bunchgrass by other species occurred as grazing intensity increased; recovery (transitions to natives) did not occur at low grazing. While directional transitions at some grazing intensities were accompanied by state persistence at others, we found little evidence for persistence of alternative states at any grazing intensity. Our results suggest that grazing can affect resilience by causing hard-to-reverse transitions, but rarely produces alternative states. However, variation in precipitation seems to dominate grazing responses, supporting the applicability of the nonequilibrium concept in our study system. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:52:03 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:52:03 PM Tags: o livestock grazing o native perennial grasses o annual exotic grasses o coexistence o Elymus caput-medusae o nonequilibrium dynamics o persistence o regime shifts o state and transition model Notes: o doi: 10.1002/ecy.1478 * Cattle can tolerate high-molybdenum forage grown on reclaimed mine tailings: a review Type Journal Article Author D. R. Steinke Author W. Majak URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1080/17480931003658381__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvJbKNtd4$ Volume 24 Issue 3 Pages 255-266 Publication International Journal of Mining, Reclamation and Environment ISSN 1748-0930 Date September 1, 2010 Journal Abbr International Journal of Mining, Reclamation and Environment DOI 10.1080/17480931003658381 Date Added 2020-03-12, 12:08:36 AM Modified 2020-03-12, 12:08:36 AM Notes: o doi: 10.1080/17480931003658381 * Utah Lotus: North American Legume for Rangeland Revegetation in the Southern Great Basin and Colorado Plateau Type Journal Article Author Jason M. Stettler Author Douglas A. Johnson Author B. Shaun Bushman Author Kevin J. Connors Author Thomas A. Jones Author Jennifer W. MacAdam Author David J. Hole URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742417300581__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvh26f8Ds$ Volume 70 Issue 6 Pages 691-699 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date November 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2017.06.002 Abstract Utah lotus (Lotus utahensis Ottley) is a North American leguminous forb that may hold promise for rangeland revegetation in the western United States for diversifying planting mixtures, attracting pollinators, providing high-quality forage, and expanding habitats for insects needed by sage-grouse chicks. Fourteen wildland seed collections of Utah lotus originating from Nevada and Utah were assessed for genetic variation of a wide range of phenotypic traits and genetic relationships. Population structure estimates defined by 552 amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers identified three primary subgroups within the Utah lotus collections, which corresponded to their geographic origin. Two collections of Utah lotus (LU-5 and LU-20) were among the top-performing collections for the phenotypic traits examined, including dry-matter yield, pod production, number of stems, canopy height, and persistence. No significant Pearson’s correlations or canonical correlations were observed among the phenotypic traits and environmental characteristics at the collection sites. Significant correlations were detected between genetic and geographic matrices, and phenotypic and geographic distance matrices (r = 0.89, P = 0.001 and r = 0.24, P = 0.04, respectively). Condensed tannin (CT) contents of Utah lotus were between 146 and 199 g kg−1 dry matter, which was nearly 10 times higher than CT content of birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) with 17.3 g kg−1 dry matter. Because of our phenotypic and genotypic evaluations, one pooled germplasm source of Utah lotus comprising collections LU-5 and LU-20 could be developed for use in rangeland revegetation in the southern Great Basin and Colorado Plateau. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:14 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:57:59 PM Tags: o condensed tannin o rangeland legumes o rangeland plant materials o restoration * How long do ecosystems take to recover from atmospheric nitrogen deposition? Type Journal Article Author Carly J. Stevens URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320716302294__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv2Cou4tI$ Volume 200 Pages 160-167 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date August 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2016.06.005 Abstract Atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition is a considerable threat to biodiversity and ecosystem function globally. Many experimental N additions and studies using gradients of ambient deposition have demonstrated impacts on plant species richness, diversity and composition in a broad range of habitats together with changes in soil biogeochemistry. In the last two decades levels of N deposition have begun to decline in some parts of Europe but it is currently difficult to assess the extent to which reductions in N deposition will result in recovery within semi-natural habitats. There have been a number of investigations using the cessation of N additions in long-term experiments, monitoring in areas where ambient deposition has declined, transplants to situations with lower N inputs and roof experiments where rain is collected and cleaned. This review collates evidence from experiments in grasslands, forests, heathlands and wetlands where N additions have ceased or where N inputs have been reduced to assess how likely it is that habitats will recover from N deposition. The results of the majority of studies suggest that vegetation species composition, below-ground communities and soil processes may be slow to recover whereas some soil variables, such as nitrate and ammonium concentrations, can respond relatively rapidly to reductions in N inputs. There are a number of barriers to recovery such as continued critical load exceedance and lack of seed bank or local seed source, and there is the potential for vegetation communities to reach an alternative stable state where species lost as a consequence of changes due to N deposition may not be able to recolonise. In these cases only active restoration efforts can restore damaged habitats. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:01 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:01 PM Tags: o Atmospheric nitrogen deposition o Forest o Grassland o Heathland o Recovery o Wetland * Early Establishment of a Native Grass Reduces the Competitive Effect of a Non-Native Grass Type Journal Article Author Jason M. Stevens Author Jeffrey S. Fehmi URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2009.00565.x__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvcvv47zI$ Rights © 2009 Society for Ecological Restoration International Volume 19 Issue 3 Pages 399-406 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2011 DOI 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2009.00565.x Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:36:29 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Buffelgrass (Pennisetum ciliare (L.) Link), a C4 perennial bunchgrass native to Africa and parts of Asia, has invaded broadly across the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Buffelgrass establishment may occur earlier than the natives it displaces which may preempt resource acquisition by native species and contribute to its invasion success. In a greenhouse, buffelgrass aboveground growth was tested against Arizona cottontop (Digitaria californica (Benth.) Henr.), a native C4 perennial bunchgrass, in pairwise combinations in a randomized complete block factorial design with 10 replications, three neighbor identities (self, other, and no neighbor), and three competition treatments (21-day younger neighbor, 21-day older neighbor, and same-aged neighbor). When compared with control plants, there was no significant effect on aboveground biomass for older Arizona cottontop plants competing with younger buffelgrass plants (p > 0.05). However, when Arizona cottontop plants were of the same age or younger than buffelgrass plants, buffelgrass caused 95 and 88% reductions, respectively, in aboveground biomass (p < 0.05 in both cases). Intraspecific competition between same-aged Arizona cottontop plants resulted in only 55% decline in aboveground biomass production (p < 0.05), thus interspecific competition with buffelgrass was more intense than intraspecific competition for Arizona cottontop when plants had similar emergence times. These results suggest that establishing native plants immediately following a disturbance event could be a practical technique for restoring or retaining diversity on sites with high potential for invasion by buffelgrass. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:36:29 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:36:29 PM Tags: o Arizona cottontop o buffelgrass o preventing invasion o priority effects o restoration strategies Attachments o Snapshot * Long-Term Persistence of Cool-Season Grasses Planted to Suppress Broom Snakeweed, Downy Brome, and Weedy Forbs Type Journal Article Author Clinton A. Stonecipher Author Eric Thacker Author Kevin D. Welch Author Michael H. Ralphs Author Thomas A. Monaco URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742418301957__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvkLyrPkI$ Volume 72 Issue 2 Pages 266-274 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date March 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2018.10.008 Abstract Invasive plants are spreading throughout arid and semiarid rangelands of western North America. Long-lived perennial plants that can persist under harsh environmental conditions are needed to compete with invasive species. The objective of this study was to conduct a long-term evaluation of native and introduced grass species planted to suppress and prevent reinvasion of downy brome (Bromus tectorum L.), snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae [Pursh] Britt. & Rusby), and annual forbs. Seeding treatments comprised three introduced grasses: crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum [L.] Gaertner × A. desertorum [Fisch. Ex Link] Schultes), pubescent wheatgrass (Elytrigia intermedia spp. trichophorum [Host] Beauv.), and Russian wildrye (Psathyrostachys junceus [Fisch.] Nevski); a mix of these introduced grass species, three native grasses: bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata [Pursh]), western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii [Rybd.] A. Löve), and squirreltail (Elymus multisetus [J.G. Sm.] Jones); and a mix of these native grass species, or forage kochia (Bassia prostrata [L.] A.J. Scott). The treatments were seeded in October 2003. Frequency and biomass were measured in 2015 and 2017 in Howell, Utah and in 2015 and 2016 in Nephi, Utah. Crested wheatgrass persisted at both locations (> 62% frequency) along with the rhizomatous grass species, pubescent (> 65%) and western wheatgrasses (> 72%). Russian wildrye was still present at Howell (30%) with little remaining at Nephi (7%). Squirreltail frequency was 13% at Howell and 12% at Nephi. Bluebunch wheatgrass was no longer present at either location (< 1%). Forage kochia remained at Nephi (36%) with little remaining at Howell (4%). Downy brome was present at both locations and was suppressed relative to control plots, at Nephi, by crested wheatgrass and the introduced grass mix (< 9%). Downy brome was > 93% in all plots, at Howell, in 2017. In summary, crested, pubescent, and western wheatgrasses were able to persist over 12 yr at both locations. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:33 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:33 PM Tags: o competition o introduced grasses o invasive species o native grasses o restoration o weed management * Relative performance of native cultivar and wild collected seed for grassland restoration Type Journal Article Author Holly Jean Stover Author M. Anne Naeth Author Sarah Rachel Wilkinson URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857417301556__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvHycXfSE$ Volume 103 Pages 141-145 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date June 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2017.03.012 Abstract Availability of native plant materials for grassland restoration is limited. Even when available in sufficient quantities for ecological restoration projects, seed germination and establishment in relatively arid environments is often low. Poor revegetation results in soil erosion, invasion by non-native plant species and reduced aesthetics. Therefore, development and use of native plants bred for traits favourable for restoration should be considered. This study addressed whether native cultivar seed, commercially selected for advantageous growth characteristics, could improve native grass species reestablishment relative to wild collected seed. Cultivar and wild seed types of four cool season native grass species were investigated at three foothills fescue grassland reclamation sites: Bromus carinatus (mountain brome), Elymus trachycaulus (slender wheatgrass), Festuca idahoensis (Idaho fescue) and Koeleria macrantha (June grass). Seeding and transplanting were conducted and germination, emergence, density, height and health were determined from 2011 to 2013. No significant differences were detected between cultivar and wild seed types except laboratory germination, which was greater in the Elymus trachycaulus cultivar and in the wild collected Koeleria macrantha. Bromus carinatus performed poorly as a seedling from either seed type. Consistent trends in cultivar and wild seed performance, that reflected seed germination, were found for each species although results were not significant due to high variability. Results show that for these common grass species, seed type may not influence initial establishment. Differences among species were significant and varied with response measured, suggesting species characteristics are a key factor affecting native grass reestablishment. Species specific responses to seed type highlight the importance of making seed source decisions on a species basis. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:38 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:58:01 PM Tags: o Ecotype o Fescue o Grass o Revegetation o Seeding o Transplanting * Soil disturbance changes arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi richness and composition in a fescue grassland in Alberta Canada Type Journal Article Author Holly J. Stover Author M. Anne Naeth Author Katja Boldt-Burisch URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929139318303780__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv8AfzINw$ Volume 131 Pages 29-37 Publication Applied Soil Ecology ISSN 0929-1393 Date October 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Applied Soil Ecology DOI 10.1016/j.apsoil.2018.07.008 Abstract Native grasslands are endangered by non-native plant invasion worldwide, including foothills fescue grasslands in North America. Large populations of non-native plant species have established in these disturbed fescue grasslands, forming dense monocultures and spreading into undisturbed areas. Soil disturbance and plant invasion can alter the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) community, an important symbiotic partner of most land plants, which could negatively affect native plant reestablishment. The objective of this study was to assess whether AMF communities on a fescue grassland shifted in response to disturbances by landfill storage and gravel quarrying and with invasion of non-native plant species relative to undisturbed grassland. Soil and root-AMF samples were procured from disturbed and undisturbed areas at three sites. Plant canopy cover and species richness were assessed. Soils were analyzed for pH; electrical conductivity; total nitrogen, carbon and phosphorus; and available nutrients. For relative AMF taxa abundance assessment, NS31 and AMF specific primer AML2 were used to amplify a central fragment of the V3 and V4 region of the 18S rRNA gene. AMF were characterized using 454 pyrosequencing and multiplexed barcoded samples amplified from genomic DNA isolated from roots. There were 92 AMF, including 15 potentially novel taxa detected. AMF communities in disturbed and undisturbed sampling locations were distinct except for one site, and indicator AMF virtual taxa (VT) for undisturbed grassland and disturbed sites were identified. AMF richness was higher in undisturbed (72 VT) than disturbed (64 VT) sites and AMF richness was positively correlated with plant species richness, diversity and native plant cover, and negatively correlated with non-native plant cover. There were 43 AMF VT on undisturbed and disturbed sites, 62% with higher relative abundance on disturbed sites. Site disturbance shifted AMF communities relative to undisturbed native fescue grassland; thus restoration success with native plants might be highly dependent on reintroducing native AMF. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:55 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:55 PM Tags: o 454 pyrosequencing o Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi o Native grassland o Non-native plant invasion o Soil disturbance * Restoring Degraded Rangeland Ecosystem In Jordan: Optimizing Mechanized Micro-Water Harvesting Using Rangeland Hydrology And Erosion Model (RHEM) Type Journal Article Author Stefan Strohmeier Date 2018 Date Added 2020-03-17, 9:55:23 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 9:55:23 PM * Fire and Nitrogen Effects on Purple Threeawn (Aristida purpurea) Abundance in Northern Mixed-Grass Prairie Old Fields Type Journal Article Author Dustin J. Strong Author Lance T. Vermeire Author Amy C. Ganguli URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742413500686__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvTdwSS84$ Volume 66 Issue 5 Pages 553-560 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date September 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/REM-D-13-00030.1 Abstract Purple threeawn (Aristida purpurea Nutt. varieties) is a native grass capable of increasing on rangelands, forming near monocultures, and creating a stable state. Productive rangelands throughout the Great Plains and Intermountain West have experienced increases in purple threeawn abundance, reducing overall forage quality. Our objectives were to 1) reveal the effects of prescribed fire and nitrogen amendments on purple threeawn abundance and 2) assess nontarget plant response posttreatment. Season of fire (no fire, summer fire, fall fire) and nitrogen addition (0kg N · ha−1, 46kg N · ha−1, and 80kg N · ha−1) were factorially arranged in a completely randomized design and applied to two similar sites in southeastern Montana. We evaluated fire and nitrogen effects on purple threeawn basal cover, relative composition, and current-year biomass one growing season postfire at two sites treated during different years. Spring weather following fire treatments was very different between years and subsequently impacted community response. Initial purple threeawn biomass at both sites was 1 214 ±  46kg · ha−1 SEc. When postfire growing conditions were wet, current-year biomass of purple threeawn was reduced 90% and 73% with summer and fall fire, respectively. Under dry postfire growing conditions, purple threeawn current-year biomass was reduced 73% and 58% with summer and fall fire, respectively. Nitrogen additions had no effect on purple threeawn current-year biomass at either site. Current-year biomass of C3 perennial grass doubled with nitrogen additions and was not impacted by fire during a wet spring. Nitrogen additions and fire had no effect on C3 perennial grass current-year biomass following a dry spring. Prescribed fire appears to be a highly effective tool for reducing purple threeawn abundance on semiarid rangelands, with limited detrimental impacts to nontarget species. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:49 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:58:03 PM Tags: o grassland o nitrogen amendments o prescribed burning o restoration * Soil and fine roots ecological stoichiometry in different vegetation restoration stages in a karst area, southwest China Type Journal Article Author Liang Su Author Hu Du Author Fuping Zeng Author Wanxia Peng Author Muhammad Rizwan Author Avelino Núñez-Delgado Author Yaoyu Zhou Author Tongqing Song Author Hua Wang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479719314124__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv-Ow6qeg$ Volume 252 Pages 109694 Publication Journal of Environmental Management ISSN 0301-4797 Date December 15, 2019 Journal Abbr Journal of Environmental Management DOI 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109694 Abstract The cyclic process of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) elements is an important factor affecting the function of the forest ecosystem. However, the relation between soil and root stoichiometric ratios, especially in karst areas with extremely fragile geology and intensive human disturbance has rarely been investigated. In the current study the concentrations of C, N, and P and their stoichiometric characteristics were investigated using sequential soil coring under different stages of vegetation restoration (primary forest, secondary forest, shrubland and grassland) and soil layer (0–10 cm, 10–20 cm, 20–30 cm) in fine root and soil samples. The results showed that total C concentration had no significant change in all four vegetation types and three soils layer in the fine root, whereas total N and P concentration reached the maximum value in secondary forest and the minimum in grassland. In addition, soil organic C (SOC) and total N increased continuously with natural succession and decreased with soil depth. Secondary forest showed the largest total P concentration in soil, with the smallest corresponding to grassland. Furthermore, both vegetation type and soil layer significantly affected soil C, N, and P stoichiometric ratios. There was a positive correlation among C, N and P in the fine roots, as well as in the soil. While fine root C:N and C:P ratios were negatively related to soil C:N and C:P, fine root N:P was significantly related to soil N:P. This study can provide a scientific basis for the restoration of fragile ecosystem vegetation and for comprehensive treatment of rocky desertification in karst. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:36 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:36 PM Tags: o Carbon o Karst ecosystem o Nitrogen o Phosphorus o Soil layer o Vegetation type * Impact of climate change on primary production of Inner Mongolian grasslands Type Journal Article Author Rina Su Author Tao Yu Author Buddhi Dayananda Author Rentuya Bu Author Jinhua Su Author Qingyun Fan URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989419304780__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvx3foHO4$ Volume 22 Pages e00928 Publication Global Ecology and Conservation ISSN 2351-9894 Date June 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Global Ecology and Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e00928 Abstract Climate change has dramatic impacts on the aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) of grassland ecosystems. Understanding the impacts of interannual climate change on grassland ecosystems allows strategies to be developed for their sustainable management and protection. However, climate change coupled with overgrazing contribute to the degradation of grassland ecosystems worldwide, affecting the ANPP. In this study, we quantified the effects of temperature, precipitation, and richness of the ANPP across the meadow, typical, and desert steppes on the Inner Mongolian Plateau between 2011 and 2013. Our results indicated that the ANPP of the three grassland types increased significantly as the national ecological program of “Returning Grazing Land to Grassland” implemented by the Chinese government” progressed. There was a significant positive correlation between precipitation and the ANPP of the three types of grasslands. While, temperature had a significant impact on the desert steppes of ANPP. It also implied interaction models between climate factors and richness of three different grassland types. These results have important implications for predicting grassland productivity and developing a grassland restoration plan under climate change in the Inner Mongolian Plateau and beyond. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:46 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:46 PM Tags: o Aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) o Climate change o Grassland type o Mongolian plateau * Hydrologic similarity to reference wetlands does not lead to similar plant communities in restored wetlands Type Journal Article Author Jeremy P. Sueltenfuss Author David J. Cooper URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12964__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv_RvtDFQ$ Rights © 2019 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 27 Issue 5 Pages 1137-1144 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2019 DOI 10.1111/rec.12964 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:23:39 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Few wetland restoration projects include long-term hydrologic and floristic data collection, limiting our understanding of community assembly over restored hydrologic gradients. Although reference sites are commonly used to evaluate outcomes, it remains unclear whether restoring similar water levels to reference sites also leads to similar plant communities. We evaluated long-term datasets from reference and restored wetlands 15 years after restoration to test whether similar water levels in reference and restored sites led to vegetation similarity. We compared the hydrologic regimes for three different wetland types, tested whether restored wetland water levels were different from reference water levels, and whether hydrologic similarity between reference and restored wetlands led to similarity in plant species composition. We found restored wetlands had similar water levels to references 15 years after restoration, and that species richness was higher in reference than restored wetlands. Vegetation composition was similar across all wetland types and was weakly correlated to wetland water levels overall. Contrary to our hypothesis, water table depth similarity between restored and reference wetlands did not lead to similar plant species composition. Our results highlight the importance of the initial planting following restoration and the importance of hydrologic monitoring. When the restoration goal is to create a specific wetland type, plant community composition may not be a suitable indicator of restoration progress in all wetland types. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:23:39 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:23:39 PM Tags: o hydrologic regime o performance standards o plant communities o restoration design o wetland mitigation Attachments o Snapshot * Evaluating Mechanical Treatments and Seeding of a Wyoming Big Sagebrush Community 10 Yr Post Treatment Type Journal Article Author Daniel D. Summers Author Bruce A. Roundy URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742418300150__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv61wiHcc$ Volume 71 Issue 3 Pages 298-308 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date May 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2018.01.006 Abstract Increased cover of perennial grasses and forbs would increase the wildlife and forage value of many Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis Beetle & Young) communities, as well as increase their resistance to weeds. We compared six mechanical treatments in conjunction with seeding a Wyoming big sagebrush community in northern Utah over a 10-yr period. The treatments included disk plow followed by land imprinter, one-way Ely chain, one- and two-way pipe harrow, all applied in fall, and meadow aerator applied in fall and spring. A mixture of native and introduced grasses and forbs was broadcast seeded at 18.3 kg PLS ha−1 after the disk and before the imprinter and all other treatments. The experiment was installed in three randomized blocks, and density and cover data were collected before treatment in 2001 and 1, 2, 5, and 10 yr after treatment. All treatments initially reduced sagebrush and residual herbaceous cover and increased seeded species cover compared with the untreated control. By 10 yr after treatment, sagebrush cover was 24.5% ± 0.35% on the control, 1.6% ± 0.28% on the disk imprinter treatment, and 11.7% ± 0.79% on all other treatments. At that time, seeded grass cover was 16.5% ± 1.22% on the disk imprinter treatment and an average of 2% ± 0.1% on all other mechanical treatments. Sagebrush seedlings were recruited in all of the mechanical treatments, but least in the disk imprinter treatment. After 10 yr, the untreated control was dominated by decadent sagebrush and rabbitbrush, the disk imprinter treatment was dominated by seeded perennial grasses, and the other mechanical treatments shared dominance of sagebrush and native perennial grasses. Mechanical treatments changed the composition of this community while retaining sagebrush, but greatest understory increases were associated with greatest control of sagebrush and establishment of seeded species by disk imprinting. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:52 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:52 PM Tags: o aerating o chaining o habitat restoration o harrowing o imprinting o rangeland revegetation o sagebrush steppe * Grassland degradation and restoration monitoring and driving forces analysis based on long time-series remote sensing data in Xilin Gol League Type Journal Article Author Bin Sun Author Zengyuan Li Author Zhihai Gao Author Zhong Guo Author Bengyu Wang Author Xiaolong Hu Author Lina Bai URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1872203217300367__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvNBwESs8$ Volume 37 Issue 4 Pages 219-228 Publication Acta Ecologica Sinica ISSN 1872-2032 Date August 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Acta Ecologica Sinica DOI 10.1016/j.chnaes.2017.02.009 Abstract Land degradation is a process during which the land's productive capacity declines and eventually becomes completely lost under the influence of natural forces and human activities. With the development of remote sensing technology, long time-series of vegetation parameters has become available. In this study, time-series annual net primary production (NPP) datasets covering Xilin Gol League, Inner Mongolia, China during 2001 to 2012 were established based on an improved Carnegie-Ames-Stanford Approach (CASA) model. Then, the areas of grassland degradation and restoration were determined using the Sen+Mann-Kendall method. Finally, the driving forces of grassland degradation and restoration in this area were distinguished over the past 12years through multiple and partial regression methods. The results showed the following five major findings: (1) From 2001 to 2012, areas showing degraded and restored trends were 2.36% and 9.37%, respectively, at the confidence level of α=0.1. There was a significant restored trend in Otindag sandy land and its surroundings, which indicates that some ecological engineering projects have achieved significant results. (2) Based on the combined analyses of multiple regression and partial regression, the main driver of grassland degradation in Xilin Gol League was identified as human activities, whereas climate change had a small influence. The effects of both human activities and climate change were the main drivers of grassland restoration; the single effect of human activities also played an important role in grassland restoration. (3) By comparing land use types in 2000 and 2010, we found that urban expansion and road construction occupied a major portion of grassland in Xilin Gol League in the past 10years. Under the influence of the human activities, 3.2% of grassland experienced degradation and became bare land. In contrast, some areas showed vegetation recovery: 7.1% of bare land transformed to grassland. (4) By analyzing vegetation changes in the key nature reserves and coal mining areas, we found that vegetation in the earlier exploited mining areas was influenced seriously by human activities and showed a degradation trend; vegetation in the earlier protected nature reserve showed a restored trend under human activities. Simultaneously, in the new nature reserve, grassland productivity is improving. (5) The proposed methods of grassland degradation and restoration monitoring and driving force analysis were suitable for long time-series vegetation indicators datasets at the regional scale. These results may allow the local government to develop land degradation control strategies and provide a basis for using this improved method to study the influence of global climate change on land degradation. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:33 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:33 PM Tags: o Grassland degradation o Multiple regression o NPP o Partial regression o Sen+Mann-Kendall * Effects of climatic and grazing changes on desertification of alpine grasslands, Northern Tibet Type Journal Article Author Jian Sun Author Ge Hou Author Miao Liu Author Gang Fu Author TianYu Zhan Author Huakun Zhou Author Atsushi Tsunekawa Author Nigussie Haregeweyn URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X19306399__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvTm3sT28$ Volume 107 Pages 105647 Publication Ecological Indicators ISSN 1470-160X Date December 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2019.105647 Abstract Alpine grasslands influence global climatic change and local economy in Northern Tibet. There is some debate about whether the grassland desertification is related to climate or grazing. Here, we employed vegetation coverage normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and landscape indexes to investigate the grassland desertification conditions and its impacts. We also linked these indexes to changes in climate and grazing to explore the major drivers. Our results demonstrated that the grassland conditions were improved, and the desertification area (35.28·104 km2) was smaller than the restoration area (38.77·104 km2) from 2001 to 2015 across Northern Tibet through the statistical analysis of different desertified gradient areas. A decrease in landscape indexes (e.g., patch density (PD) and splitting index (SPLIT)) and increases in largest patch index (LPI) and contagion index (CONTAG) were observed across Northern Tibet. The aridity index and grazing significantly influenced the landscape pattern of the whole alpine grassland. In general, changes in climate factors had the positive effects on the vegetation coverage of alpine grassland, but mean annual temperature had insignificant influence in alpine meadow and desert steppe (P > 0.05). In addition, mean annual precipitation had the most significant effect in the desert steppe (93.28%), followed by alpine steppe (79.31%) and alpine meadow (38.25%). Therefore, our results highlighted that the conditions of the alpine grassland were improved and more stable, and landscape fragmentations were mainly influenced by the aridity index and grazing. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:37 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:37 PM Tags: o Alpine grassland o Climate change o Desertification o Grazing o Landscape index o Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) * Precipitation does not amplify the efficiency of fencing measures for temperate grassland restoration: A case study in northern China based on remote sensing Type Journal Article Author Feifei Sun Author Wenjuan Sun Author Yao Huang Author Wen Zhang Author Lingfei Yu Author Jiating Wang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857417302574__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv1yQs7rk$ Volume 105 Pages 252-261 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date August 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2017.05.004 Abstract Increasing anthropogenic interventions involving utilization and conservation of vegetated ecosystems has attracted considerable attention focused on large-scale assessments of the roles played by human-domination. The effects of specific anthropogenic measures have generally been ignored by large-scale assessments, which has probably resulted in irrational regulations and imprecise understanding of these specific measures. This paper aims to reveal the effect of a grassland restoration measure—fencing in northern China—as well as the spatial patterns of fencing efficiency. Spatially continuous Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data based on remote sensing was used to detect grassland vegetation changes during fencing periods. Using subsequent processes to smooth the impact of precipitation from the current year and by setting thresholds for identifying changed/unchanged NDVI, the spatial vegetation changes were converted into two groups of statistical data: the mean NDVI-increase value in each sample region and the pixel areas with different grassland change types in each sample region. The precipitation lag effect on NDVI increases was assessed by multiple comparison tests, and regions with a significant precipitation lag effect were removed from the fencing effect assessment. Finally, the areas with different grassland change types were related to changes in fenced area using regression analyses under different precipitation gradients. The results indicated that the precipitation lag effect caused by legacy moisture significantly affected the spatio-temporal vegetation changes. By excluding the regions with legacy moisture, the increase in fenced area facilitated an expansion of improved grassland and a reduction in degraded grassland. Fencing efficiency was maximized in the 250–300-mm precipitation zone, where the expansion rate of improved grassland area reached 0.70 (R2=0.54, p<0.01). The second-best and least effective zones lay in the mean annual precipitation (MAP) >300-mm and MAP <250mm zones, respectively. We conclude that a wetter climate does not automatically result in a better fencing effect, and legacy moisture will lead to an overestimation of the fencing effect. A rational fencing implementation should consider the resilience and degradation degree of steppes. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:22 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:22 PM Tags: o Change detection o Fencing effect o Inner Mongolian grassland o Normalized difference vegetation index o Precipitation lag effect * Assessing the effects of land use and topography on soil erosion on the Loess Plateau in China Type Journal Article Author Wenyi Sun Author Quanqin Shao Author Jiyuan Liu Author Jun Zhai URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816214001362__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv-X4EBmY$ Volume 121 Pages 151-163 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date October 1, 2014 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2014.05.009 Abstract The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) was used in conjunction with geographic information system (GIS) mapping to determine the influence of land use and topography on soil erosion on the Loess Plateau during the period 2000 to 2010. The average soil erosion on the Loess Plateau was 15.2tha−1yr−1 in 2000–2010. Most of the Loess Plateau fell within the minimal and low erosion categories during 2000 to 2010. Forest, shrub and dense grassland provided the best protection from erosion, but the decadal trend of reduced soil erosion was greater for the lower vegetation cover of woodland and moderate and sparse grassland. Midslopes and valleys were the major topographical contributors to soil erosion. With slope gradient increased, soil erosion significantly increased under the same land use type, however, significant differences in soil erosion responding to slope gradients differed from land uses. The results indicate that the vegetation restoration as part of the Grain-to-Green Program on the Loess Plateau has been effective. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:50 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:50 PM Tags: o Land use o Loess Plateau o Soil erosion o Topography * Drought impacts on ecosystem functions of the U.S. National Forests and Grasslands: Part II assessment results and management implications Type Journal Article Author Shanlei Sun Author Ge Sun Author Peter Caldwell Author Steve McNulty Author Erika Cohen Author Jingfeng Xiao Author Yang Zhang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112715001954__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvARIQsgc$ Volume 353 Pages 269-279 Publication Forest Ecology and Management ISSN 0378-1127 Date October 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Forest Ecology and Management DOI 10.1016/j.foreco.2015.04.002 Abstract The 781,000km2 (193million acre) United States National Forests and Grasslands system (NF) provides important ecosystem services such as clean water supply, timber production, wildlife habitat, and recreation opportunities to the American public. Quantifying the historical impacts of climate change and drought on ecosystem functions at the national scale is essential to develop sound forest management and watershed restoration plans under a changing climate. This study applied the previously validated Water Supply and Stress Index model (WaSSI) to 170 NFs in the conterminous U.S. (CONUS) to examine how historical extreme droughts have affected forest water yield (Q) and gross primary productivity (GPP). For each NF, we focused on the five years with the lowest annual SPI3 (Standardized Precipitation Index on a 3-month time scale) during 1962–2012. The extent of extreme droughts as measured by the number of NFs and total area affected by droughts has increased during the last decade. Across all lands in CONUS, the most extreme drought during the past decade occurred in 2002, resulting in a mean reduction of Q by 32% and GPP by 20%. For the 170 individual NFs, on average, the top-five droughts represented a reduction in precipitation by 145mmyr−1 (or 22%), causing reductions in evapotranspiration by 29mmyr−1 (or 8%), Q by 110mmyr−1 (or 37%) and GPP by 65gCm−2yr−1 (or 9%). The responses of the forest hydrology and productivity to the top-five droughts varied spatially due to different land-surface characteristics (e.g., climatology and vegetation) and drought severity at each NF. This study provides a comprehensive benchmark assessment of likely drought impacts on the hydrology and productivity in NFs using consistent methods and datasets across the conterminous U.S. The study results are useful to the forestry decision makers for developing appropriate strategies to restore and protect ecosystem services in anticipating potential future droughts and climate change. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:07 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:07 PM Tags: o Droughts o Ecosystem productivity o National Forests and Grasslands o Water yield * The effect of small mammal exclusion on grassland recovery from disturbance in the Chihuahuan Desert Type Journal Article Author Lauren N. Svejcar Author Brandon T. Bestelmeyer Author Darren K. James Author Debra P.C. Peters URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196319300370__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv2YJ49kE$ Volume 166 Pages 11-16 Publication Journal of Arid Environments ISSN 0140-1963 Date July 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Journal of Arid Environments DOI 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2019.04.001 Abstract In many arid ecosystems, shrub encroachment is coupled to the loss of perennial grasses and associated ecosystem services. Increased native herbivore abundance associated with shrub encroachment can have negative effects on grass restoration. In the Chihuahuan Desert, native herbivore abundance can be two times greater in shrubland states dominated by Prosopis glandulosa (honey mesquite) than in historical Bouteloua eriopoda (black grama) grasslands. We compared the recovery of B. eriopoda patches following disturbance in plots that were exposed to or protected from native herbivores in shrub-dominated, grass-dominated and ecotone (grass and shrub co-dominated) states. We created a disturbance in the center of B. eriopoda grass patches in each treatment quadrat in 2001. The disturbed areas were measured for recruitment and re-establishment of B. eriopoda in 2002, 2005 and 2008. Although mean rodent abundance was generally greater in shrub-dominated states than other states over the study period, reproductive potential of B. eriopoda was similar in shrub and grass dominated states. Additionally, there was no revegetation by B. eriopoda in any state in response to rodent exclusion. Because increased herbivore abundance in shrub-dominated states did not constrain grass revegetation, other factors are likely to be more important constraints on perennial grass recovery in the Chihuahuan Desert. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:34 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:34 PM Tags: o Chihuahuan desert o Herbivory o Perennial grass regeneration o Rodents * Native vegetation in reclamation: Improving habitat and ecosystem function through using prairie species in mine land reclamation Type Journal Article Author R.M. Swab Author N. Lorenz Author S. Byrd Author R. Dick URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857417302720__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv4JWYqhk$ Volume 108 Pages 525-536 Publication Ecological Engineering of Sustainable Landscapes ISSN 0925-8574 Date November 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2017.05.012 Abstract In the Appalachian region, coal mining has impacted 600,000ha historically. While a return to forest would be a preferable postmining land use, due to the difficulty and higher costs of reforestation, many sites are reclaimed into non-native grasslands. The typical seed mix for these grasslands is low diversity and consists of exotic, cool season grasses and forbs. For this study, we combined several species in standard reclamation mixes with prairie species native to North America to create a higher diversity planting on three mine sites in southeastern Ohio. Vegetation and soil microbial properties were assessed within two years after site establishment. Results were encouraging. The mix that included native plants met reclamation standards of ground cover two years after planting, indicating these alternative mixes can be successful. The first year species richness and diversity were higher in native planted areas when compared with traditional, the second year they were equal between treatments. Soil beta-glucosidase activities tended to be lower or higher in the native planted areas, in contrast to soil organic matter, which was generally higher under native prairie mix. Microbial biomass, Actinobacteria, and gram negative bacteria estimated by ester-linked Fatty acid methyl esters occasionally appeared to be higher under native prairie mix indicating that the experimental mix may have a positive effect on soil microbial biomass after almost two years of establishment. Incorporating hardy native prairie plants into reclamation seed mixes can increase the value of the ecosystem for pollinators and wildlife, and potentially improve soil conditions more quickly than non-native plantings alone. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:45 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:58:05 PM Tags: o Mine land o Native plants o Prairie restoration o Reclamation o Soil beta-glucosidase activity o Soil microbial community composition and biomass * Utilitarian and nonutilitarian valuation of natural resources: a game-theoretical approach Type Journal Article Author Jac A. A. Swart Author Jorien Zevenberg URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12504__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvMI57GPw$ Rights © 2017 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 26 Issue S1 Pages S44-S53 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2018 DOI 10.1111/rec.12504 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:41:43 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Ecological services such as food, fresh water, fuel, minerals, and flood control—to name only a few—are essential conditions for human well-being. Many of the areas that provide such services—wetlands, coastal areas, and deserts—are common pool resources, which are characterized by nonexcludability and subtractability that makes them vulnerable to collective action problems such as the prisoner's dilemma, where individual and collective interests collide and ultimately result in overexploitation and degradation. Damaged areas that provide ecological services are increasingly recognized as targets for ecological restoration. However, restored areas run the risk of backsliding to the previous state if their common pool characteristics are ignored. Collective action problems are often analyzed from a game-theoretical perspective that usually assumes rational, self-interested individuals, who do not take collective and nonutilitarian perspectives into account. However, people do not value natural resources just for utilitarian reasons but also because of ethical nonutilitarian ones. This paper develops a multiple-actor game-theoretical approach to one's “value achievement” by taking into account both utilitarian and nonutilitarian perspectives. It demonstrates that someone's value achievement is contingent on choices made by others and that considering nonutilitarian perspectives may avoid the prisoner's dilemma. Accordingly, this model was empirically tested and confirmed by a survey among life sciences and biology students by presenting them a hypothetical case of a restored natural area. Based on these results, it is argued that emphasizing nonutilitarian considerations may be an important additional strategy in conservation and restoration projects. Short Title Utilitarian and nonutilitarian valuation of natural resources Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:41:43 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:41:43 PM Tags: o common pool resources o ecological restoration o ecological services o game theory o prisoner's dilemma o value achievement Attachments o Snapshot o Submitted Version * Involving society in restoration and conservation Type Journal Article Author Jac A. A. Swart Author Jorien Zevenberg Author Peter Ho Author Jordi Cortina Author Mark Reed Author Mchich Derak Author Steven Vella Author Heng Zhao Author Henny J. van der Windt URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12709__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvSU_gZx8$ Rights © 2018 The Authors. Restoration Ecology published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Society for Ecological Restoration. Volume 26 Issue S1 Pages S3-S6 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2018 DOI 10.1111/rec.12709 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:51:22 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract It is widely acknowledged that ecosystems often cannot be considered as separated from social systems, but that they should rather be seen as interacting, cross-scaled, coupled systems operating on multiple temporal and spatial scales. Humans have an increasing impact on ecosystems worldwide, while at the same time ecosystems are of critical importance for the functioning of human systems through ecosystems services. Often the term “social ecological systems” is used in approaches that consider ecological and social systems as integrated systems. This paper aims to contribute to clarification of the different relationships between social and ecological systems. The focus is on the social side of ecological restoration and conservation, in particular on participation, indigenous knowledge, governance, and ethics. It is concluded that in restoration and conservation of social ecological systems more attention should be paid to the role of social systems and conditions on which ecosystems depend. It implies awareness of the importance of engaging stakeholders and fostering public debate and deliberation. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:51:22 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:51:22 PM Tags: o eco-agricultural regimes o engagement o ethics o indigenous knowledge o participation o social ecological systems Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Managing farm ponds as breeding sites for amphibians: key trade-offs in agricultural function and habitat conservation Type Journal Article Author Timothy M. Swartz Author James R. Miller URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.1964__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvopdY5lQ$ Volume 29 Issue 7 Pages e01964 Publication Ecological Applications ISSN 1051-0761 Date October 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Ecological Applications DOI 10.1002/eap.1964 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Abstract Millions of farm ponds have been constructed in agricultural landscapes around the globe. These ponds are built to support a variety of functions, including erosion control, cattle grazing, and recreational fishing, but their role as breeding habitat for amphibians remains poorly understood. We addressed this knowledge gap by studying farm ponds in the eastern Great Plains of the United States, a pond-dense region dominated by agriculture. We used field surveys and occupancy modeling to identify the important biophysical components of amphibian habitat and to assess the species-specific effects of cattle and fish presence on breeding occupancy. We next used a chronosequence to determine whether pond renovation, which often occurs when ponds are about 40 yr old, threatens the development of amphibian habitat. Nine amphibian species bred in the farm ponds that we surveyed, and the relationship between breeding occupancy and habitat variables varied by species. We found that the pH conditions associated with amphibian breeding occupancy were significantly more likely to occur in older ponds (>50 yr old). Emergent vegetation cover was also associated with increased breeding probability and rarely reached high levels in newer ponds. Since the older ponds with suitable habitat are at an age where renovation is likely needed to restore their agricultural function, this habitat may be at risk. We suggest that conservation of amphibians in farm ponds in the United States will require adopting renovation and management practices that balance the multiple uses of these sites and maintain a mosaic of pond successional states. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:47:24 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:58:06 PM Tags: o agriculture o amphibians o farm dams o farm ponds o management o novel ecosystems o reconciliation ecology o wetlands Notes: o doi: 10.1002/eap.1964 o doi: 10.1002/eap.1964 * Contrasting effects of land use legacies on grassland restoration in burnt pine plantations Type Journal Article Author Katalin Szitár Author Gábor Ónodi Author László Somay Author Ildikó Pándi Author Piroska Kucs Author György Kröel-Dulay URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000632071630307X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvfPBqCtI$ Volume 201 Pages 356-362 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date September 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2016.08.004 Abstract Legacies of previous land use may affect ecosystem recovery after the specific land use has ceased. Determining which legacies do limit ecosystem recovery is critical to perform effective ecological restoration. Pine (Pinus spp.) plantations have replaced various natural habitats including woodlands, shrublands and grasslands worldwide. Following pine tree removal, the restoration of these habitats may be complicated by pine plantation legacies. In this study, we tested three factors that may constrain grassland recovery in a former pine plantation following burning in an inland sand dune region in Hungary. We evaluated the effects of pine litter removal, native grass seeding and the presence of invasive Asclepias syriaca on vegetation composition during seven years of recovery using generalised linear mixed effect models and non-metric multidimensional scaling. We found that litter removal did not facilitate grassland regeneration. Grass seeding led to a fast recovery of grass cover, but negatively affected the abundance of unseeded target species. The presence of Asclepias had only transient effects on seeded grasses but positively affected unseeded target species richness. We conclude that sand grasslands have high restoration potential in burnt pine plantations despite the presence of several land use legacies. We found no evidence that pine litter or the presence of Asclepias would negatively influence grassland recovery, which implies that their removal is not necessary for a successful restoration. We suggest that moderate seeding densities of native grasses need to be applied to avoid the suppression of other target species. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:55 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:55 PM Tags: o Common milkweed o Ecological filters o Facilitation o Nurse effect o Plantation forest o Post-fire recovery * Recovery of inland sand dune grasslands following the removal of alien pine plantation Type Journal Article Author Katalin Szitár Author Gábor Ónodi Author László Somay Author Ildikó Pándi Author Piroska Kucs Author György Kröel-Dulay URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320714000238__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvW-QBLpU$ Volume 171 Pages 52-60 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date March 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2014.01.021 Abstract Exotic pine species are used for afforestation worldwide resulting in negative consequences for biodiversity. Changing economic or conservation priorities are increasingly leading to the removal of these plantations, but the ability of these stands to recover into natural communities varies across ecosystems. In this study, we assessed the recovery of open and closed grasslands over five years following the removal of alien pine plantations through burning at an inland sand dune system in Hungary. We compared soil characteristics, plant species richness, cover, and community composition of recovering and control grasslands at two elevation zones. We found minor differences in soil characteristics between recovering and control grasslands suggesting that abiotic conditions were unlikely to limit vegetation recovery. Plot-level species richness and total cover did not differ between control and recovering plots. Open sand grassland species, which dominated high-zone control grasslands, recovered in both zones in terms of species richness, but not in cover. Closed grassland species, which dominated low-zone control grasslands, did not recover except for a native weed, Calamagrostis epigeios, most likely primarily due to the decline of the water table in the region. The differential recovery of the two grassland types and the dominance of weedy perennials led to biotic homogenization. We conclude that conservation planning should (1) view these recovering stands as valuable secondary grasslands that develop towards open grasslands, and (2) focus on the preservation of primary closed grasslands in order to maintain the landscape-scale mosaic of open and closed grasslands in the region. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:21 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:21 PM Tags: o Environmental change o Grassland restoration o Homogenization o Land-use legacy o Spontaneous succession * Small mammal abundance and seed predation across boundaries in a restored-grazed woodland interface Type Journal Article Author Solana Tabeni Author M. Florencia Miguel Author Claudia M. Campos Author Mónica Cona URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12600__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv8qqBGv4$ Rights © 2017 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 26 Issue 4 Pages 787-795 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2018 DOI 10.1111/rec.12600 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:56:15 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Passive restoration is an effective tool for the maintenance and conservation of biodiversity. Often areas in recovery are immersed in a matrix of land uses, in which the expansion and intensification of human activities exert new visible pressures at their boundaries. The degree of connectivity between these areas and their peripheral lands can be analyzed by mobile link species, organisms that actively move in the landscape by connecting areas to one another through their functional roles. We focus our design on the interface generated by the long-term restoration area and surrounding grazing lands. We analyze the changes on boundary structure, small mammal abundance, and on the function of native seed dispersal by these vertebrate species. We captured small mammals and determined seed removal of Prosopis flexuosa at three distances inside and outside a fence that delineates passively restored and currently grazed areas. Our results indicate that small rodents find more suitable habitats at the site under restoration than in grazing lands. The restored-grazing interface shows a decrease in small mammal abundance from the protected area to the grazed lands. From a functional perspective, an increase in small mammal abundance results in an increase in their seed removal activity with implications for seed fate, because the long-term recovery of vegetation could enhance seed predation on a native tree species. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:56:15 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:56:15 PM Tags: o grazing o passive restoration o Prosopis flexuosa o rodents o woodland Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Doing more with less: Removing trees in a prairie system improves value of grasslands for obligate bird species Type Journal Article Author Jason D. Tack Author Frank R. Quamen Author Kyle Kelsey Author David E. Naugle URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479717303924__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvHeUTFFg$ Volume 198 Pages 163-169 Publication Journal of Environmental Management ISSN 0301-4797 Date August 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Journal of Environmental Management DOI 10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.04.044 Abstract Grassland birds endemic to the Northern Great Plains have declined faster and more severely than any other avian guild on the continent. Remaining prairie fragments that sustain breeding populations are continually converted to a disturbed state, or degraded by fragmentation. Planted tree rows (shelterbelts) in prairie landscapes are a prominent feature and have been implicated in propagating negative edge effects on breeding birds, perhaps through harboring a diverse suite of nest predators. We experimentally removed shelterbelts on areas in the northern tallgrass prairie in North and South Dakota USA while conducting avian surveys to evaluate hypotheses about grassland bird response to the removal of a woodland edge. We predicted that 1) grassland-nesting species would avoid shelterbelt edges, 2) removing shelterbelts would eliminate avoidance, and 3) trends in bird counts would increase at sites with shelterbelts removed. Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus), Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis), and Sedge Wren (Cistothorus platensis) demonstrated avoidance from woodland edges up to 220 m, the farthest distance considered, though results for Grasshopper Sparrows (Ammodramus savannarum) were equivocal. There was no evidence of avoidance following removal of shelterbelts, and predicted counts increased at greater rates in treatment compared to control sites among species that exhibited avoidance. With limited financial resources for conservation, our findings support shelterbelt removal as one cost-effective management strategy to improve grassland bird habitat in the northern tallgrass prairie. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:44 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:44 PM Tags: o Bobolink o Edge effects o Grassland restoration o Savannah Sparrow o Sedge Wren o Shelterbelt * Rays of Hope from the Ecological Restoration Alliance of Botanic Gardens, following its recent meeting in Amman, Jordan Type Journal Article Author Tariq Abu Taleb Author James Aronson Author Kirsty Shaw URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12380__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvWWVK8nQ$ Rights © 2016 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 24 Issue 5 Pages 573-576 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2016 DOI 10.1111/rec.12380 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:43:08 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract In the spring of 2015, the Ecological Restoration Alliance (ERA) of Botanic Gardens held its fourth international meeting in Amman, Jordan, hosted by the Royal Botanic Garden of Jordan. Three regional working groups were launched, for the Middle East, East Africa, and Latin America, and new partnerships were forged to support ecological restoration initiatives led by botanic gardens in Jordan, Oman, and elsewhere. A one-day public symposium, attended by over 100 people, was also held—the most significant public meeting on ecological restoration held to date in the Middle East. A communications strategy for regional outreach was agreed upon starting with the translation of several Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) foundation documents into Arabic. A peer-reviewed translation of the SER International Primer on Ecological Restoration has already been produced by staff of the Royal Botanic Garden of Jordan and posted on the SER website. Further efforts will be made to promote public awareness in Jordan and regionally, in support of existing conservation and restoration programs, and to promote greater integration of ecological restoration programs in national and regional development schemes and government policies. Key action points were agreed upon to promote the practice of ecological restoration and the role of botanic gardens globally vis-à-vis policy makers and funders. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:43:09 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:43:09 PM Tags: o dryland ecosystems o hubs o long-term restoration sites o Middle East o science-based ecological restoration o SER Primer in Arabic Attachments o Snapshot * Effectiveness of seed sowing techniques for sloped restoration sites Type Journal Article Author Nicole Tamura Author Megan E. Lulow Author Chris A. Halsch Author Matthew R. Major Author Kathleen R. Balazs Author Paige Austin Author Travis E. Huxman Author Sarah Kimball URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12515__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvbQy_Vkg$ Rights © 2017 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 25 Issue 6 Pages 942-952 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2017 DOI 10.1111/rec.12515 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:55:44 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Practitioners are challenged with choosing among many potentially effective methods for sowing seed in ecological restoration projects to achieve sufficient native plant establishment. We tested the effectiveness of seed sowing techniques on moderate and steep slopes in a Mediterranean climate by measuring native seedling density immediately following germination, as well as plant density, recruitment success, and soil movement through the second growing season. We calculated cost effectiveness of different methods as the native plant density per dollar spent sowing seed. While all sowing techniques resulted in significant native establishment compared with unseeded controls, hydro seeding on moderate slopes was the most cost effective (native seedlings established per dollar spent). Although all steep-sloped seeding techniques resulted in high densities of native species, all methods also resulted in significant soil loss. Shrubs preferred hand seeding followed by jute netting on steep slopes, while forbs reached greatest densities with hydro seeding on moderate slopes. Seedlings of species with heavy seeds were present in greater densities than species with lighter seeds in imprint sowing treatments. The “best” seed sowing technique varied depending on slope and metric of success (native density, species richness, shrub density, or forb density). Different combinations of slope, technique, and success metric resulted in significantly different project costs, which implies opportunities for savings given careful decision-making relative to mitigation needs on heterogeneous landscapes. Evaluations of techniques for restoring slopes are limited, yet critical for expanding the area capable of being restored and the application of limited conservation funding. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:55:44 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:55:44 PM Tags: o coastal sage scrub o cost-effective restoration o erosion control o native establishment o restoration of steep slopes o seed weight o seeding methods Attachments o Snapshot * Usable Science for Sustainable Rangelands: Conclusions Type Journal Article Author John A. Tanaka Author Kristie A. Maczko Author Lori Hidinger Author Chad Ellis URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190052816000158__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv1JIXwic$ Volume 38 Issue 2 Pages 90-95 Publication Future Directions of Usable Science for Rangeland Sustainability ISSN 0190-0528 Date April 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Rangelands DOI 10.1016/j.rala.2016.02.007 Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:06 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:00:06 PM Tags: o rangeland research o Sustainable Rangelands Roundtable o usable science * Can a mesotrophic grassland community be restored on a post-industrial sandy site with compost made from waste materials? Type Journal Article Author Susan Tandy Author Hilary L. Wallace Author Davey L. Jones Author Mark A. Nason Author Julie C. Williamson Author John R. Healey URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320710004374__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvSUKs_Z4$ Volume 144 Issue 1 Pages 500-510 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date January 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2010.10.004 Abstract Restoration of sites degraded by industry to species-rich semi-natural vegetation communities is difficult; it usually involves the addition of soil ameliorants but excessive fertility may favour dominance by competitive species. In a field-experiment we tested the establishment of a biodiverse mesotrophic grassland community using different compost types (comprising of mixtures of waste materials), application rates and seeding (with species in the target community). Compost addition to the alkaline sandy substrate increased soil organic matter, nutrient content and water holding capacity (WHC), whilst decreasing pH. Over the first two growing seasons compost addition, (especially at a higher rate) increased total vegetation cover (from <20% to a maximum of 67%), although the cover of the target community remained below 20%. Seeding with target species greatly increased their establishment on compost-treated plots, demonstrating its value for restoration of mesotrophic grassland communities in such sites lacking a local seed source. Five soil properties accounted for 46% of the variation in target species density: negative correlations with soil pH and %N, and positive correlations with electrical conductivity (EC), %C, and WHC. For this mesotrophic grassland community, high EC and WHC and low pH were most important for forb species and high %C for grasses. Overall, %C was the soil property that best explained variation in the early restoration success of different compost types and application rates; pH and EC were also correlated with the rate of vegetation establishment and available-P was linked to plant community composition. While a longer time period is needed to judge the sustainability of the outcome, this demonstrates the potential to refine compost properties for restoration of biodiversity. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:43 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:58:08 PM Tags: o Community composition o Compost o Habitat restoration o Nutrient cycling o Plant diversity o Reclamation * Auditing reforested watersheds on the loess plateau: Fangshan Shanxi Type Journal Article Author Haikai Tane Author Tuohuan Sun Author Zhili Zheng Author Ju Liu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X14000247__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvxhxC0Dc$ Volume 41 Pages 96-108 Publication Ecological Indicators ISSN 1470-160X Date June 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2014.01.016 Abstract Mapping watershed ecosystems, evaluating their ecological status and modelling land use futures are the aims of a project undertaken by an interdisciplinary team from Shanxi Forestry Academy and Watershed Systems Living Water Foundation. The project introduces geospatial methodologies and iGiS technologies for (a) mapping and modelling watersheds and (b) monitoring and evaluating rangeland restoration after reassigning collective forest lands to local farmers in accordance with land reform policies. Two contemporary geospatial technologies were instrumental in the Fangshan project. These technologies are driving a paradigm shift in the way primary industries like mining, farming and forestry utilize GIS, engage in land evaluations, resource mapping, environmental assessments and product certification. •Firstly, high resolution, true image 3D orthophoto mapping was produced as the iGiS map platform for the Fangshan project. The true colour orthophoto maps produced by the team proved very suitable, with the high resolution imagery achieving cartographic standards allowing draft mapping at 1:2000. Because unique x,y,z geocentroid coordinates are generated for each and every pixel in the orthophoto mapping process, detailed iGiS data bases with multiple attributes ranked parametrically were readily captured and recorded for every habitat and regolith.•Secondly, the Shanxi Forest Academy team were trained in geospatial methodologies for mapping watershed ecosystems and modelling their habitat/regolith/energy relationships. Using GiS imaging technologies, these cartographic simulation methodologies enable ecological modelling of watersheds and their subterranean water systems, while providing a framework for monitoring and evaluating the environmental health of watersheds using permanent benchmarks and ecological indicators. Habitat mapping and modelling of Fangshan watersheds revealed how ecological restoration is gradually occurring through strategic combinations of planned reforestation, traditional terrace farming systems and natural regeneration. These ecological strategies are shown to be beneficial land use partners in restoring the mountain rangelands, riparian ecostructures and ecosystem functions of degraded loess plateau watersheds. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:27 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:04:27 PM Tags: o Aquifers o Desertification o Ecostructures o Habitats o Rangelands o Regoliths * Effects of excluding grazing on the vegetation and soils of degraded sparse-elm grassland in the Horqin Sandy Land, China Type Journal Article Author Jiao Tang Author Anthony J. Davy Author Deming Jiang Author Ala Musa Author Dafu Wu Author Yongcui Wang Author Chunping Miao URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880916305424__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvOMnGzMk$ Volume 235 Pages 340-348 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date November 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2016.11.005 Abstract Livestock grazing is a crucial cause of vegetation degradation and desertification in sandy lands. The sparse-elm grassland of Horqin Sandy Land, China has suffered severe degradation of biodiversity and ecosystem services. Management to exclude grazing is often necessary for ecological restoration, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. We report effects on vegetation and soils in a 10-year experiment to exclude livestock, completely or seasonally, in comparison with a continuously grazed area in Horqin. Complete exclusion of grazing and restriction of grazing to summer both led to significantly increased plant cover and density relative to the grazed control. Species richness increased, reflected in higher Shannon-Wiener indices; only complete exclusion increased the Simpson diversity index, whereas Pielou evenness was significantly lowest under seasonal grazing. Exclosure treatments were also associated with improved soil texture, and increased water retention, available nitrogen, total nitrogen, total carbon and total phosphorus. Soil pH and C/N ratio were highest under the seasonal grazing regime. The results indicated that exclosure management indeed improved biodiversity and ecosystem services in an erosion-prone region. Although total exclosure was most effective in restoration of degraded sparse-elm grassland, seasonal grazing management was highly beneficial and represented a good compromise with resource utilization and economic development. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:23:01 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:23:01 PM Tags: o Degraded grassland o Exclosure management o Horqin Sandy Land o Soil o Vegetation * How mowing restores montane Mediterranean grasslands following cessation of traditional livestock grazing Type Journal Article Author Federico Maria Tardella Author Alessandro Bricca Author Irina Gabriela Goia Author Andrea Catorci URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880920300657__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv-IwzTpA$ Volume 295 Pages 106880 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date June 15, 2020 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2020.106880 Abstract Traditional land-use cessation allows the spread of invasive tall-grass species and thus leads to a reduction in grassland biodiversity. We hypothesized that long-term multi-year mowing of invaded grassland fosters the recovery of its taxonomic diversity and functional composition by reducing the dominance of the tall grass species Brachypodium rupestre, and that this change increases the pasture feed value. In 2010, we fenced part of a grassland, abandoned for about 30 years, invaded by Brachypodium rupestre (1 ha) in the central Apennine ridge (1,000–1,300 m a.s.l.), and cut it twice a year for six years; another area (1 ha) was fenced and left unmown. Before the experiment started, we recorded species cover in 30 random sampling units (0.5 × 0.5 m) in the experimental area and in the unmown area. The sampling was repeated for the experimental area, every year for six years, except 2013, while it was done for the unmown area only at the end of the six years. We investigated the effect of the reduction of Brachypodium rupestre over time on taxonomic diversity indices, functional traits and pastoral value, using species accumulation curves and generalized linear mixed-effect modelling. Twice-yearly mowing was effective in reducing the abundance of B. rupestre (mean cover 50.7 ± 19.8 % Standard deviation to 9.0 ± 7.2 %), and in increasing significantly species richness (16.6 ± 3.0–26.8 ± 3.2), exponential Shannon (8.8 ± 2.8–14.4 ± 2.7), but not Shannon evenness (0.53 ± 0.1 to 0.54 ± 0.1). At the end of the treatment quite stable richness and diversity values were reached. Reduction of B. rupestre cover increased the pastoral value of the system (39 ± 12 %–64 ± 8 % of pabular species relative cover) and promoted the presence of species without vegetative propagation (17.8 ± 12.3–28.2 ± 10.9), with pleiocorms (25.4 ± 14.3–49.6 ± 17.9), rosettes (5.6 ± 5.6–16.6 ± 12.7) and hemirosettes (32.1 ± 15.8–47.7 ± 13.6), but caused a decrease in species whose clonal growth organs have prevalent vertical spread (123.9 ± 25.7–97.0 ± 23.3), reptant (60.3 ± 20.9–20.2 ± 10.4), and late flowering species (67.4 ± 19.9–46.3 ± 17.2). The decrease of B. rupestre and the increase in mowing frequency reduced the abundance of species with clonal growth organs with prevalent horizontal spread (66.0 ± 19.5–17.9 ± 10.7), caespitose species (96.7 ± 20.9–43.6 ± 21.9), and grasses (94.0 ± 19.5–43.3 ± 22.0). Recurrent twice-yearly mowing seems to be appropriate in the restoration of sub-Mediterranean grasslands invaded by competitive species, facilitating the re-introduction of traditional grazing. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:44 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:44 PM Tags: o Biotic interaction o Functional ecology o Grassland invasion o Grassland restoration o Pastoral value * Plant Recruitment and Soil Microbial Characteristics of Rehabilitation Seedings Following Wildfire in Northern Utah Type Journal Article Author Megan M. Taylor Author Ann L. Hild Author Nancy L. Shaw Author Urszula Norton Author Timothy R. Collier URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12112__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvSYW27-8$ Rights © 2014 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 22 Issue 5 Pages 598-607 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2014 DOI 10.1111/rec.12112 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:13:43 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract One goal of post-fire native species seeding is to increase plant community resistance to exotic weed invasions, yet few studies address the impacts of seeding on exotic annual establishment and persistence. In 2010 and 2011, we investigated the influence of seedings on exotic annuals and the underlying microbial communities. The wildfire site in northern Utah was formerly dominated by Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis, but burned in September 2008. Experimental seeding treatments were installed in November 2008 to examine strategies for establishing native species using two drills, hand broadcasts and different timing of seed applications (resulting in 13 seeding treatments). We collected aboveground biomass of invasive annuals (Halogeton glomeratus, Salsola kali, and Bromus tectorum), other volunteer plants from the extant seed bank, and seeded species from all treatments in the second and third years after fire. We sampled soils within microsites beneath native perennial bunchgrass and exotic annuals to characterize underlying soil microbial communities. High precipitation following seeding led to strong seedling establishment and we found few differences between seeding treatments established with either drill. All seeded treatments reduced exotic biomass by at least 90% relative to unseeded controls. Soil microbial communities (phospholipid fatty acid analysis), beneath B. tectorum, Poa secunda, and Pseudoroegneria spicata microsites differed little 3 years after fire. However, microbial abundance beneath P. spicata increased from June to July, suggesting that microbial communities beneath successful seedings can vary greatly within a single growing season. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:13:43 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:13:43 PM Tags: o Artemisia tridentata o Bromus tectorum o Great Basin o minimum-till drill o phospholipid fatty acid analysis o PLFA o rangeland drill o Salsola kali Attachments o Snapshot * Multi-paddock grazing on rangelands: Why the perceptual dichotomy between research results and rancher experience? Type Journal Article Author Richard Teague Author Fred Provenza Author Urs Kreuter Author Tim Steffens Author Matt Barnes URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479713004131__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvOELXgY4$ Volume 128 Pages 699-717 Publication Journal of Environmental Management ISSN 0301-4797 Date October 15, 2013 Journal Abbr Journal of Environmental Management DOI 10.1016/j.jenvman.2013.05.064 Abstract Maintaining or enhancing the productive capacity and resilience of rangeland ecosystems is critical for the continued support of people who depend on them for their livelihoods, especially in the face of climatic change. This is also necessary for the continued delivery of ecosystem services derived from rangelands for the broader benefit of societies around the world. Multi-paddock grazing management has been recommended since the mid-20th century as an important tool to adaptively manage rangelands ecosystems to sustain productivity and improve animal management. Moreover, there is much anecdotal evidence from producers that, if applied appropriately, multi-paddock grazing can improve forage and livestock production. By contrast, recent reviews of published rangeland-based grazing systems studies have concluded that, in general, field trials show no superiority of vegetation or animal production in multi-paddock grazing relative to continuous yearlong stocking of single-paddock livestock production systems. Our goal is to provide a framework for rangeland management decisions that support the productivity and resiliency of rangelands and then to identify why different perceptions exist among rangeland managers who have effectively used multi-paddock grazing systems and research scientists who have studied them. First, we discuss the ecology of grazed ecosystems under free-ranging herbivores and under single-paddock fenced conditions. Second, we identify five principles underpinning the adaptive management actions used by successful grazing managers and the ecological, physiological, and behavioral framework they use to achieve desired conservation, production, and financial goals. Third, we examine adaptive management principles needed to successfully manage rangelands subjected to varying environmental conditions. Fourth, we describe the differences between the interpretation of results of grazing systems research reported in the scientific literature and the results reported by successful grazing managers; we highlight the shortcomings of most of the previously conducted grazing systems research for providing information relevant for rangeland managers who aim to achieve desired environmental and economic goals. Finally, we outline knowledge gaps and present testable hypotheses to broaden our understanding of how planned multi-paddock grazing management can be used at the ranching enterprise scale to facilitate the adaptive management of rangelands under dynamic environmental conditions. Date Added 2020-03-17, 6:59:58 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:58:10 PM Tags: o Adaptive management o Grazed ecosystems o Grazing systems o Rangeland restoration o Science and management o Socio-ecological resilience * Assessing optimal configurations of multi-paddock grazing strategies in tallgrass prairie using a simulation model Type Journal Article Author Richard Teague Author Bill Grant Author Hsaio-Hsuan Wang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479714004770__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvVIF4cIA$ Volume 150 Pages 262-273 Publication Journal of Environmental Management ISSN 0301-4797 Date March 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Journal of Environmental Management DOI 10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.09.027 Abstract Maintaining or enhancing the productive capacity and resilience of rangeland ecosystems is critical for the continued support of livelihoods and the ecosystem services that benefit society at large. While the benefits of multi-paddock grazing management have been evident for many years in many countries, it is extremely difficult if not impossible to adequately assess the consequences of the different combinations of management options possible when using multi-paddock management under constantly varying conditions on rangelands. To investigate grazing scenarios that would be impractical to conduct in the field we developed a simulation model to focus on addressing the impacts of different cattle grazing management options with multi-paddock management on ecological condition (EC) and profitability. Cattle ranching options are simulated over 25 years periods under varying levels of multi-paddock grazing management complexity at low to moderate stocking levels and fixed or variable stocking rates. We examine the likely ecological and economic effects of shortening grazing periods, lengthening recovery periods, using fixed versus adaptive operational decisions and increasing the number of paddocks in the grazing configuration. At initial stocking levels of up to at 70% of forage standing crop, both EC and profitability are increased with increasing number of paddocks. Shorter periods of grazing increase both EC and profitability while increasing recovery periods increases both EC and profitability initially but profitability decreases if recovery periods are too long. Both EC and profitability are positively related to number of paddocks used. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:28 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:04:28 PM Tags: o Adaptive management o Extensive grazing systems o Grazed ecosystems o Rangeland restoration o Sustainable management * Grazing management impacts on vegetation, soil biota and soil chemical, physical and hydrological properties in tall grass prairie Type Journal Article Author W.R. Teague Author S.L. Dowhower Author S.A. Baker Author N. Haile Author P.B. DeLaune Author D.M. Conover URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880911000934__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvGmcLd0Q$ Volume 141 Issue 3 Pages 310-322 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date May 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2011.03.009 Abstract To assess whether adaptive management using multi-paddock grazing is superior to continuous grazing regarding conservation and restoration of resources we evaluated the impact of multi-paddock (MP) grazing at a high stocking rate compared to light continuous (LC) and heavy continuous (HC) grazing on neighboring commercial ranches in each of three proximate counties in north Texas tall grass prairie. The same management had been conducted on all ranches for at least the previous 9 years. Impact on soils and vegetation was compared to ungrazed areas (EX) in two of the counties. MP grazing was managed using light to moderate defoliation during the growing season followed by adequate recovery before regrazing after approximately 40 days and 80 days during fast and slow growing conditions, respectively. The vegetation was dominated by high seral grasses with MP grazing and EX, and dominated by short grasses and forbs with HC grazing. LC grazing had a lower proportion of high seral grasses than MP grazing or EX. Bare ground was higher on HC than LC, MP and EX, while soil aggregate stability was higher with MP than HC grazing but not LC grazing and EX. Soil penetration resistance was lowest with MP grazing and EX and highest with HC grazing. Bulk density did not differ among grazing management categories. Infiltration rate did not differ among grazing management categories but sediment loss was higher with HC than the other grazing management categories. Soil organic matter and cation exchange capacity were higher with MP grazing and EX than both LC and HC grazing. The fungal/bacterial ratio was highest with MP grazing indicating superior water-holding capacity and nutrient availability and retention for MP grazing. This study documents the positive results for long-term maintenance of resources and economic viability by ranchers who use adaptive management and MP grazing relative to those who practice continuous season-long stocking. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:38 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:38 PM Tags: o Adaptive management o Prescribed grazing o Rangeland restoration o Soil health o Sustainable management * Soil and herbaceous plant responses to summer patch burns under continuous and rotational grazing Type Journal Article Author W.R. Teague Author S.L. Dowhower Author S.A. Baker Author R.J. Ansley Author U.P. Kreuter Author D.M. Conover Author J.A. Waggoner URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880910000265__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dveNG5EqM$ Volume 137 Issue 1 Pages 113-123 Publication Special section Harvested perennial grasslands: Ecological models for farming's perennial future ISSN 0167-8809 Date April 15, 2010 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2010.01.010 Abstract This paper examines if post-fire deferment and periodic rests provided by rotational grazing allowed for more rapid recovery of soil cover, soil chemical and physical parameters, and vegetation composition after summer patch burning than continuous grazing. We evaluated the recovery of native rangeland vegetation and soils subjected to summer patch burns in continuously and rotationally grazed pastures in 2002, 2003 and 2004. Each year, 12% of each treatment replicate was burned as a single patch in a different, non-adjacent area under continuous grazing, and as a single paddock of a rotationally grazed 8-pasture-1-herd system. Recovery of vegetation and soils on burned patches were measured annually until the summer of 2006 and compared to those in immediately adjacent unburned areas in both grazing treatments. Herbaceous cover and biomass took 2 years to recover to control levels on soils with greater mesquite cover and more C3 grasses, and 3 years on soils with more C4 grasses. The rotational grazing treatment had less bare ground and lower soil temperatures on both unburned and burned areas than the continuously grazed treatment, which has significant implications for infiltration rates, runoff and erosion in favor of the rotational management. Soil C and C to N ratios were also higher with rotational grazing. Soil physical parameters were not affected by either the burn or grazing treatments but the presence of trees reduced soil temperature, improved soil physical parameters and infiltration rate relative to open grassland. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:49 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:58:11 PM Tags: o Grazing management o Infiltration o Prescribed burning o Rangeland restoration o Soil health o Summer fire * Integrated Grazing and Prescribed Fire Restoration Strategies in a Mesquite Savanna: I. Vegetation Responses Type Journal Article Author W.R. Teague Author S.L. Dowhower Author R.J. Ansley Author W.E. Pinchak Author J.A. Waggoner URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742410500319__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvgowteP4$ Volume 63 Issue 3 Pages 275-285 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date May 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/08-171.1 Abstract This study evaluated the efficacy of prescribed fire applied within landscape-scale rotational grazing treatments to reduce mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa Torr.) encroachment and restore herbaceous productivity and cover. One-herd, multiple-paddock rotational grazing was used to accumulate herbaceous fine fuel for fires via prefire deferment and to provide periodic postfire deferment for grass recovery. Treatments were an unburned continuous-grazed control, a four-paddock-1 herd system with fire (4:1F), and an eight-paddock-1 herd system with fire (8:1F), with two replicates per treatment (1 294–2 130 ha per replicate). The management plan was to burn 25% of each system (one paddock in the 4:1F; two paddocks in the 8:1F treatments) and defer grazing during all or portions of the 9 mo (May to January) prior to burning. Deferral was “internalized” by grazing on the remaining 75% of each treatment without reducing stocking rate determined for the entire system. Mesquite cover increased on clay-loam soils from 22% to 40% in unburned paddocks over 7yr (1995–2001). This increase, coupled with extended drought, reduced fine fuel amounts for fire and limited the number and intensity of fires that were applied. It was possible to burn one paddock in the 8:1F treatment (12.5% of total area), but not in the 4:1F treatment (25% of total area) during drought. Fires reduced mesquite and cactus (Opuntia spp.) cover by 25–79% and 24–56%, respectively, but cover of these species increased to prefire levels within 6yr. All fires reduced (P ≤ 0.05) total herbaceous biomass for 1yr postfire. The 8:1F treatment increased (P ≤ 0.05) grass biomass on loamy-bottom soils and reduced (P ≤ 0.05) bare ground on clay-loam and loamy-bottom soils in unburned paddocks compared to the unburned continuously grazed control. The 8:1F treatment, through internalized grazing deferment, facilitated the application of fire to reduce woody cover during extended drought without degrading the herbaceous understory. Resumen Este estudio evaluó el beneficio de las quemas prescritas utilizadas a nivel de potreros en tratamientos de pastoreo rotacional para reducir la invasión de Mezquite (Prosopis glandulosa Torr.) y rehabilitar la productividad y la cubierta herbácea. Se utilizó un pastoreo rotacional con varios potreros y un solo hato para la acumulación de combustible fino para la quema, por medio del diferimiento antes de la quema y dando períodos de descanso después de la quema para la recuperación de las gramíneas. Los tratamientos fueron, como control, un pastoreo contínuo sin quema, un sistema de 4 potreros- con 1 hato y quema (4:1Q), y un sistema de 8 potreros con un hato y quema (8:1Q), y con dos repeticiones por tratamiento (1 294–2 130 hectáreas por repetición). El plan de manejo fue quemar el 25% de cada sistema (1 potrero en el tratamiento 4: 1Q; 2 potreros en el tratamiento 8:1Q), y diferimiento del pastoreo durante o parte de todos los 9 meses (mayo a enero) antes de las quemas. El diferimiento por el pastoreo fue “interno” en el restante 75% de cada tratamiento sin reducir la capacidad de carga determinada para todo el sistema. La cobertura del mezquite se incrementó en los suelos arcillo-limosos del 22% a 40% en los potreros sin quemas durante un periodo de 7 años (1995–2001). Este aumento, junto con la sequía prolongada, redujo la cantidad de combustible fino para el uso del fuego, limitando la intensidad y el número de fuegos que se utilizaron. Durante la sequia fue posible quemar un potrero en el tratamiento 8:1Q (12.5% del área total), pero no en el tratamiento 4:1Q (25% del área). El fuego redujo la cobertura tanto del mezquite como de los cactus (Opuntia spp.) 25–79% y 24–56% respectivamente, pero la cobertura de estas especies se incrementó a los niveles encontrados antes del uso del fuego en un lapso de 6 años. Todas las quemas redujeron (P ≤ 0.05) la biomasa total de las herbáceas por un año después de las quemas. El tratamiento de 8:1Q aumentó (P ≤ 0.05) la biomasa de las gramíneas en suelos arcillosos en áreas bajas y redujo (P ≤ 0.05) el suelo desnudo en suelos arcillo-limosos y suelos arcillosos en áreas bajas en potreros no quemados comparados con el pastoreo continuo sin quema utilizado como control. El tratamiento 8:1Q, a través del diferimiento interno, facilitó la aplicación de las quemas para reducir la cubierta leñosa durante la sequía prolongada sin degradar la cubierta herbácea. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:50 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:50 PM Tags: o brush o cactus o drought o ranching systems o rangeland restoration * Impacts of over-seeding bermudagrass pasture with multispecies cover crops on soil water availability, microbiology, and nutrient status in North Texas Type Journal Article Author Richard Teague Author Paul B. DeLaune Author Steven L. Dowhower URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880918305103__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvmsS_X2o$ Volume 273 Pages 117-129 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date March 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2018.12.013 Abstract Cover crops over-sown into established perennial bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) pastures has been effective in improving forage productivity and net farm profitability in wetter grasslands in US. To assess if the use of cover crops can do so in the relatively dry regions of Southern Great Plains of Texas, we evaluated what positive and negative impacts accrue from sowing winter growing mixed species cover crops into bermudagrass pastures by measuring soil water dynamics, soil nutrient and soil microbial dynamics on three separate commercial farms over three growing seasons. There was no evidence that annual, winter growing cover crops reduced soil moisture to negatively affect the following production of the bermudagrass pasture. This result was obtained in years that had average to above average precipitation and may have been different in drier years. At one of the farm sites the key biological function changes we measured positive changes in soil biological activity and fertility to indicate that positive biological changes had taken place and could after more years add up to greater improved outcomes. However, the lack of positive soil biological responses on the other two farms may indicate that soils initially having low soil organic matter, poor permeability, water holding capacity and fertility would need to develop greater levels of soil organic matter with better management before positive responses using cover crops would yield acceptable improvements. However, they are a likely means of contributing to these desired improvements. Cover crop biomass levels were greater on the drill than Broadcast and Control but the improved biomass with broadcasting to establish the cover crops on all three farm sites has important cost lowering implications even though it was applied at a 33% higher seeding rate. It is likely that improved grazing management of perennial pasture is necessary to improve soil organic carbon and soil biological function in conjunction with the use of cover crops. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:09 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:09 PM Tags: o Conservation management o Soil biota o Soil quality o Soil restoration * Changes in plant species composition and diversity along a grazing gradient from livestock watering point in Allaidege rangeland of North-eastern Ethiopia rangelands Type Journal Article Author Asheber Tegegn Author Lisanwork Nigatu Author Amaha Kassahun Volume 23 Issue 9 Pages 2011 Publication Livestock Research for Rural Development Date 2011 Date Added 2020-03-17, 9:55:23 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 9:55:23 PM * Functional syndromes as indicators of ecosystem change in temperate grasslands Type Journal Article Author Marcos Texeira Author Santiago Veron Author Gonzalo Irisarri Author Mariano Oyarzabal Author Luciana Staiano Author Santiago Baeza Author José Paruelo URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X1830743X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvYlG2fnA$ Volume 96 Pages 600-610 Publication Ecological Indicators ISSN 1470-160X Date January 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2018.09.046 Abstract The lack of an organizing conceptual framework to address ecosystem changes reduces our capacity to distinguish biophysical from direct human impacts on grassland dynamics. This is particularly important for subhumid temperate grasslands, one of the world’s most threatened biomes. We identified and mapped 4 functional syndromes of grassland change at the wettest end of its worldwide distribution, the Campos in Uruguay. Syndromes were defined by differences in precipitation use efficiency (PUE, ANPP/precipitation), and in precipitation marginal response (PMR, slope of the linear regression between ANPP and precipitation) between two periods (1981–1995 and 2001–2011). Temporal trends in aboveground net primary production (ANPP, obtained by splicing two sources of NDVI, LTDR and MOD13Q1) were also characterized. To rule out the effect of precipitation we analyzed temporal trends of the residuals from the relationship between ANPP and annual precipitation (RESTRENDS). Functional syndromes associated with increases in seasonality or in the abundance of annual vegetation (ΔPMR > 0, ΔPUE < 0, ∼14,000 km2) and vegetation cover loss (ΔPUE < 0 and ΔPMR < 0, >5000 km2) were the most abundant. ANPP trends were significantly negative in 3.7% of the area (2475 km2) and only positive in 0.3%. However, RESTRENDS were significant in 11% of the area (>7700 km2), and mostly negative (in ∼7200 km2). Most of these negative trends and residual trends were associated to seasonality increase and vegetation loss syndromes. These patterns were consistent with observed changes in the region. We highlight that this conceptual framework is suitable for describing patterns of change and potential causes. Moreover, it provides policymakers with a novel tool to guide management and conservation policies, pointing to sites where intervention (i.e. conservation, restoration) is needed. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:39 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:39 PM Tags: o Aboveground Net Primary Production (ANPP) o Ecosystem functional syndromes o LTDR o MODIS o Precipitation marginal response (PMR) o Precipitation use efficiency (PUE) o Rio de la Plata grasslands * Patch age since disturbance drives patch dynamics for flycatchers breeding in both reservoir and riverine habitat Type Journal Article Author Tad C. Theimer Author Mark K. Sogge Author Eben H. Paxton URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.2425__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvo9O-spQ$ Volume 9 Issue 9 Pages e02425 Publication Ecosphere ISSN 2150-8925 Date September 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Ecosphere DOI 10.1002/ecs2.2425 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Abstract Species dependent upon early-successional landscapes often occupy patches at different stages of recovery after disturbance. The demographic processes that drive patch dynamics in these systems have rarely been described but are important for developing effective conservation and management plans, especially when humans have modified the timing and intensity of disturbances that drive regeneration. In riparian systems, disturbance by floods historically initiated plant regeneration, but many rivers are now regulated and stream flows disrupted by dams and reservoirs. We studied the demography and patch dynamics of an endangered, neotropical migrant bird dependent on remnant riparian patches for breeding, the southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax trailli extimus), over 9 yr at both a riverine and reservoir site in central Arizona. We found that at both sites, number of territories/ha within patches increased for 2?4 yr after colonization and then declined, with several patches abandoned after 6?10 yr. Age of birds increased with patch age, with younger birds in colonizing patches and older, site-faithful birds in older patches, while mean per capita reproductive success did not differ with patch age. Natal dispersal and breeding dispersal were primarily from intermediate-aged patches into either young- or other intermediate-aged patches. At both riverine and reservoir sites, both the number of patches and the number of territorial birds increased over time, with the percentage of territories shifting into younger and younger patches. The type of disturbance driving patch regeneration differed between riverine and reservoir sites (seasonal flooding vs. falling lake levels due to drought), but the demographic patterns did not, indicating that reservoirs can generate patch dynamics similar to those on rivers. Managing stream flows and reservoir levels to maintain disturbance cycles sufficient to generate riparian patches at different stages of regeneration through time would benefit succession-dependent species like the endangered flycatcher we studied, whether those disturbances arise from natural flooding events along free-flowing rivers or through changes in reservoir levels. Date Added 2020-03-12, 4:49:48 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 4:49:48 PM Tags: o riparian o disturbance o flooding o demography o patch dynamics o reservoir o stand age Notes: o doi: 10.1002/ecs2.2425 * Prioritizing bird conservation actions in the Prairie Hardwood transition of the Midwestern United States Type Journal Article Author Wayne E. Thogmartin Author Shawn M. Crimmins Author Jennie Pearce URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320714002298__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvLoEAg0E$ Volume 176 Pages 212-223 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date August 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2014.06.002 Abstract Large-scale planning for the conservation of species is often hindered by a poor understanding of factors limiting populations. In regions with declining wildlife populations, it is critical that objective metrics of conservation success are developed to ensure that conservation actions achieve desired results. Using spatially explicit estimates of bird abundance, we evaluated several management alternatives for conserving bird populations in the Prairie Hardwood Transition of the United States. We designed landscapes conserving species at 50% of their current predicted abundance as well as landscapes attempting to achieve species population targets (which often required the doubling of current abundance). Conserving species at reduced (half of current) abundance led to few conservation conflicts. However, because of extensive modification of the landscape to suit human use, strategies for achieving regional population targets for forest bird species would be difficult under even ideal circumstances, and even more so if maintenance of grassland bird populations is also desired. Our results indicated that large-scale restoration of agricultural lands to native grassland and forest habitats may be the most productive conservation action for increasing bird population sizes but the level of landscape transition required to approach target bird population sizes may be societally unacceptable. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:10 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:10 PM Tags: o Conservation conflicts o Conservation design o Conservation planning o Oak savanna o Strategic habitat conservation * Diverging effects of two contrasting tree species on soil and herb layer development in a chronosequence of post-agricultural forest Type Journal Article Author Arno Thomaes Author Luc De Keersmaeker Author Hans Van Calster Author An De Schrijver Author Kris Vandekerkhove Author Gorik Verstraeten Author Kris Verheyen URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112712002447__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv_zgvexc$ Volume 278 Pages 90-100 Publication Forest Ecology and Management ISSN 0378-1127 Date August 15, 2012 Journal Abbr Forest Ecology and Management DOI 10.1016/j.foreco.2012.04.026 Abstract The restoration of forest ecosystems on former agricultural land faces numerous problems. Recolonisation of forest species is hampered by the modified habitat quality and by the isolation from source populations. Tree species are ecosystem engineers that can modify soil and light conditions and can therefore act as a possible catalyst for understory recovery. Therefore, we set out to study the effects of tree species on herb layer development. For this purpose, a chronosequence of post-agricultural oak (Quercus robur and Quercus petraea) and poplar (Populus x euramericana and Populus x interamericana) plantations on silt and sandy silt soils was selected. The selected tree species are frequently planted and have contrasting characteristics (e.g. in terms of litter quality, shade casting ability and growth rate). Under plantations of oak, soils acidified with increasing stand age and dropped into the aluminium buffer range after only 20–30y, whereas soil pH hardly changed under poplar plantations. Carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) soil content increased with stand age, while C/N ratio depended on tree species but remained constant in time. Multivariate analysis revealed that vegetation development depended on tree species, isolation and stand age. Poplar stands were characterised by rough Arrhenaterion grassland species while oaks had low understory cover and consequently had no indicator herb species. No tree species effect was found on the cover of strict forest species and ancient forest species. Oak favoured acid tolerant forest species, while poplars favoured light demanding and acid intolerant forest species. Our results lead to the conclusion that tree species can be important drivers of vegetation development in post-agricultural forests, in particular through their impact on soil development and light availability for the understory. Therefore it is important that goals for soil development and understory restoration are taken into account when tree species are selected for afforestations. Acidifying tree species may have irreversible effects, permanently excluding acid intolerant species. This is especially important when aiming to safeguard acid intolerant forest species from acidification in ancient forest by creating post-agricultural forest as refugee zones. When a species rich herb layer with acid intolerant species are aimed at, selecting a tree species with a good decomposable litter like poplar is a necessity and suppressing competitors by a shady overstory of the tree or shrub layer. Soil acidifying species like oak might be more suitable to enlarge forest habitats that mainly contain acid and shade tolerant species. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:08 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:08 PM Tags: o Ancient woodland species o Forest restoration o Herb layer recovery o Post-agricultural forest o Temperate Northwestern European broadleaved forest o Tree species effect * Long-term acidification of pH neutral grasslands affects soil biodiversity, fertility and function in a heathland restoration Type Journal Article Author Mark Tibbett Author Marta Gil-Martínez Author Tandra Fraser Author Iain D. Green Author Sarah Duddigan Author Vinicius H. De Oliveira Author Karsten Raulund-Rasmussen Author Tom Sizmur Author Anita Diaz URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816219301006__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvTHd4jqw$ Volume 180 Pages 401-415 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date September 1, 2019 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2019.03.013 Abstract In the wider context of heathland restoration, we investigated how field scale experimental acidification with sulphur (sulfur) affected soil biodiversity, fertility and function over a period of 17 years. A field experiment was conducted in the Isle of Purbeck, England, using ferrous sulphate and elemental sulphur as acidifying agents. We tested the effects of acidification on soil fertility, plant communities, litter decomposition, microbiology (including fungi bacteria and actinomycetes), arbuscular and ericoid mycorrhizal colonisation, and soil fauna (including earthworms, nematodes, rotifers and tardigrades). We found that elemental sulphur had a considerable and persistent effect on soil pH, lowering it to levels found in the surrounding reference acid grassland and heathland sites. A newly adapted heathland restoration index based on soil chemistry, found that elemental sulphur was by far the most successful treatment leading to soil conditions similar to the heathlands. Overall, acidification caused a loss of base cations and an increase in toxic aluminium compounds. Consequently the more mesotrophic components of soil biology were reduced by acidification during the course of the experiment. This transformed the soil biological system into one typical of acid grasslands and heathlands. Concomitant litter decomposition was similarly inhibited by acidification, with the microbiota more strongly hindered in acidified soil than the macroscopic fauna. Acidification resulted in a reduction in nematode and rotifer abundance and earthworm biomass. The vegetation community was also strongly modified by the elemental sulphur treatments and, where grazing was restricted, soil acidification allowed a restored heathland community to endure. Arbuscular mycorrhizal colonisation of grasses was reduced where heather plants were established, while ericoid mycorrhizas had developed sufficient populations in the acidified pastures to match the colonisation rate in the native heathlands. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:32 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:32 PM Tags: o Acid grassland o Fungal: bacterial ratio o Heathland o Litter bags o Mycorrhiza o Soil acidification o Soil biology * Temperate Grasslands and Shrublands of Russia Type Book Section Author Arkadiy Tishkov Author Elena Belonovskay Author Ilya Smelansky Author Svetlana Titova Author Iliya Trofimov Author Lyudmila Trofimova URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780124095489124571__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvm6YQbKA$ Publisher Elsevier ISBN 978-0-12-409548-9 Date January 1, 2020 Extra DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-409548-9.12457-1 Abstract For Northern Eurasia and, consequently, for Russia, temperate grasslands and shrublands are an obligatory element of a forestless landscape. They are present in all plain and montane biomes, forming natural and secondary (anthropogenic) communities, and occupy forestless spaces in the bounds of both the forest and steppe zones. In the forest zones, they are predominantly anthropogenic, locating in sites naturally occupied by forests (Molinio-Arrhenatheretea grasslands are specifically extensive and diverse here). Conversely, in the steppe zone, they are natural (Festuco-Brometea grasslands prevail). The total area of temperate grasslands is 920,000km2, of which 680,000km2 are used as pastures and 240,000km2 as hay meadows), and they are widely spread in all natural zones of Russia, especially within the forest zone (250,000km2) and steppe zone (500,000km2 including steppes in mountain areas). The main distinctive features of their spread are small contour; diffusiveness; a strong anthropogenic transformation (of the steppe); and proneness to fires, desertification, etc. Biogeographically, the regions are so different that zonal-provincial variants can be identified. Grasslands are both zonal (steppes) and intrazonal (floodplain meadows). They are mainly composed of graminoids and forbs in different proportions, the composition and production of which change annually (fluctuations) and in perennial autogenous cycles (for example, “a year of grasses” or “a year of legumes”). A spatially extensive and diverse group comprises post-forest or post-agrarian watershed meadows, representing perennial stages of a progressive succession, which follow the pioneer stages. Their conservation (economically and sustainably optimal maintenance) depends on man, who has included them in the cycle of agrarian use as hay fields or pastures and, less often, uses for recreation and for conserving historical landscapes. A similar picture is observed for shrublands, which form both zonal (at watersheds) and intrazonal complexes with herbaceous vegetation. The most stable and spatially extensive shrublands are represented by two types. The first type are arctic and alpine thickets formed by Siberian dwarf pines (Pinus pumila), dwarf birches (Betula rotundifolia, B. fruticosa and others), and Alnus alnobetula subsp. fruticosa. The second type are steppe shrub thickets dominated by many species of genera such as Caragana, Spiraea, Chamaecytisus and Prunus. Shrublands on floodplains or clearing and burn sites are relatively quickly replaced with other kinds of vegetation during succession. The first inventory of grasslands in Russia was performed back in 1932–1938 by the outstanding vegetation scientist Leonty Ramensky (1884–1953), who was the first in the world to create so-called ecological scales (ecological indicator values), which, using data on the contribution of plant species in a community's composition, make it possible to assess habitat parameters (humidity, soil wealth, salinity, etc.). According to a recent phytosociological overview, the diversity of temperate grasslands and shrublands of Russia's plains comprises 18 classes, 35 orders, and 92 alliances for grassland communities and 4 classes, 5 orders, and 8 alliances for steppe shrublands. We highlight distinctive features of meadow and steppe ecology as well as the contribution of these habitats to the conservation of biodiversity, global climate regulation, and the formation of various ecosystem services, including use as hayfields, pastures, recreation and historical sites. Grassland and shrubland conservation and restoration in Russia are associated with the prospects to create a network of protected areas and with the restoration of steppe and meadow animal husbandry. Book Title Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:43 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:43 PM Tags: o Ecosystem service o Grassland conservation o Grassland management o Grassland restoration o Meadow o Russia o Steppe o Temperate grassland o Temperate shrubland * Pastoral Practices to Reverse Shrub Encroachment of Sub-Alpine Grasslands: Dung Beetles (Coleoptera, Scarabaeoidea) Respond More Quickly Than Vegetation Type Journal Article Author Claudia Tocco Author Massimiliano Probo Author Michele Lonati Author Giampiero Lombardi Author Matteo Negro Author Beatrice Nervo Author Antonio Rolando Author Claudia Palestrini URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0083344__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvZN_uM0Q$ Volume 8 Issue 12 Pages e83344 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Dec 16, 2013 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0083344 Accessed 2020-03-12, 12:29:57 AM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract In recent decades, pastoral abandonment has produced profound ecological changes in the Alps. In particular, the reduction in grazing has led to extensive shrub encroachment of semi-natural grasslands, which may represent a threat to open habitat biodiversity. To reverse shrub encroachment, we assessed short-term effects of two different pastoral practices on vegetation and dung beetles (Coleoptera, Scarabaeoidea). Strategic placement of mineral mix supplements (MMS) and arrangement of temporary night camp areas (TNCA) for cattle were carried out during summer 2011 in the Val Troncea Natural Park, north-western Italian Alps. In 2012, one year after treatment, a reduction in shrub cover and an increase in bare ground cover around MMS sites was detected. A more intense effect was detected within TNCA through increases in forage pastoral value, and in the cover and height of the herbaceous layer. Immediately after treatment, changes in dung beetle diversity (total abundance, species richness, Shannon diversity, taxonomic and functional diversity) showed a limited disturbance effect caused by high cattle density. In contrast, dung beetle diversity significantly increased one year later both at MMS and TNCA sites, with a stronger effect within TNCA. Multivariate Regression Trees and associated Indicator Value analyses showed that some ecologically relevant dung beetle species preferred areas deprived of shrub vegetation. Our main conclusions are: i) TNCA are more effective than MMS in terms of changes to vegetation and dung beetles, ii) dung beetles respond more quickly than vegetation to pastoral practices, and iii) the main driver of the rapid response by dung beetles is the removal of shrubs. The resulting increase in dung beetle abundance and diversity, which are largely responsible for grassland ecosystem functioning, may have a positive effect on meso-eutrophic grassland restoration. Shrub encroachment in the Alps may therefore be reversed, and restoration of grassland enhanced, by using appropriate pastoral practices. Short Title Pastoral Practices to Reverse Shrub Encroachment of Sub-Alpine Grasslands Date Added 2020-03-12, 12:29:57 AM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:58:13 PM Tags: o Biodiversity o Dung beetles o Grasslands o Livestock o Shannon index o Shrubs o Species diversity o Taxonomy Attachments o Full Text PDF o Full Text PDF o Snapshot o Snapshot * Soil dumping techniques and afforestation drive ground-dwelling beetle assemblages in a 25-year-old open-cast mining reclamation area Type Journal Article Author Werner Topp Author Katrin Thelen Author Heike Kappes URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857409003577__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvHUjF2BA$ Volume 36 Issue 6 Pages 751-756 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date June 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2009.12.011 Abstract The open-cast lignite mine “Hambach” (NW-Germany) and the accompanying land reclamation replace a large ancient forest. Reclamation of an 1000ha large overburden dump started 25 years ago and is still in progress. Reclamation methods comprise combinations of different topsoil dumping techniques and reclamation measures such as seeding or afforestation. In accordance with the spatial heterogeneity hypothesis, we hypothesize that beetle assemblages from sites where the topsoil was left structured are more diverse than those from sites with levelled topsoil, and that richly structured mid-successional sites harbour more heterogeneous assemblages than afforested sites. We tested the influence of environmental variables on assemblage characteristics of pitfall-trapped beetles from 17 sites on the overburden dump. The results are based on 35,588 individuals from 339 species. Species assemblages differed significantly between almost all sites. Habitat age did not affect assemblage characteristics, while species richness was significantly influenced by surface structure. Sites that were not levelled and that additionally included pits that slope down for several meters exhibited the highest species richness. Abundance of beetles increased in parallel to the canopy cover, whereas assemblage heterogeneity (MVDISP) decreased. Successional and grassland sites usually exhibited higher diversity (Fisher's α) than afforested sites, but diversity was not significantly predicted by a single environmental factor. Instead, diversity increased along with increasing MVDISP-values. Afforestations speed up the successional process and some euryecious forest species are already well established, but stenecious forest specialists have not yet been found. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:40 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:58:15 PM Tags: o Afforestation o Biodiversity o Coleoptera o Heterogeneity o Restoration o Soil dumping technique * Incorporating Ecosystem Services Into Economic Assessments of Restoration Projects Type Journal Article Author L. Allen Torell Author Gregory L. Torell Author Rhonda K. Skaggs URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S019005281450017X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvd61KeSE$ Volume 36 Issue 2 Pages 45-51 Publication Rangelands ISSN 0190-0528 Date April 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Rangelands DOI 10.2111/RANGELANDS-D-13-00054.1 Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:12 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:58:16 PM Tags: o benefit–cost analysis o conservation and restoration practice benefits o range improvement economics o Restore New Mexico o valuing rangeland ecosystem services * Ecological theory provides strong support for habitat restoration Type Journal Article Author Peter Török Author Aveliina Helm URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000632071631103X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv0gdkxwY$ Volume 206 Pages 85-91 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date February 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2016.12.024 Abstract The involvement of ecological theory in habitat restoration has significantly increased in the past decade. However, despite the fact that the field of restoration ecology has grown academically strong in recent years, there are still visible gaps between the advancing discipline of theoretical ecology and current approaches of habitat restoration. We propose bridging these gaps by linking recent developments in theoretical plant ecology with the main questions every restoration practitioner should ask, namely: Q1) How to identify target species and baseline conditions for restoration of the selected habitat?; Q2) When can one count on spontaneous dispersal and when are additional efforts required for facilitating dispersal of desired species?; Q3) Which factors determine the successful establishment of target species and assembly of target communities?; and Q4) What time-scale needs to be considered for the evaluation of species colonisation and restoration success? Knowledge and experience accumulated in practical restoration can considerably benefit theoretical ecology for example by improving the understanding on (i) temporal changes in community, (ii) species assembly, (iii) species dispersal and establishment and (iv) landscape-scale dynamics of biodiversity. We emphasise that to improve joint thinking of practical restoration and theoretical ecology, restoration-problem-driven theoretical research is necessary. We suggest either (i) to translate and link the current findings of theoretical ecology to restoration strategies; and/or (ii) to summarise practical restoration needs by formulation of questions and testable hypotheses based on theory. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:30 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:30 PM Tags: o Colonisation credit o Dispersal o Extinction debt o Grassland restoration o Landscape heterogeneity o Species pool * Grasslands of Eastern Europe Type Book Section Author Péter Török Author Iwona Dembicz Author Zora Dajić-Stevanović Author Anna Kuzemko URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780124095489120421__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvAKjm3ak$ Publisher Elsevier ISBN 978-0-12-409548-9 Date January 1, 2019 Extra DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-409548-9.12042-1 Abstract Grasslands cover around 282,000km2, corresponding to 14.6% of the total area in the countries of Eastern Europe, here defined as East Europe, Eastern Central-Europe, and the non-Mediterranean part of the Balkan Peninsula. Primary (steppes, alpine grasslands, azonal and extrazonal grasslands) and secondary grasslands (created mostly by forest cuts) provide a wide range of ecosystem services, such as biomass production and food for grazing animals and other herbivores, carbon storage and sequestration, home for pollinators as well as for migratory and breeding birds, water infiltration, purification and storage, erosion prevention and recreation. Both primary and secondary grasslands in Eastern Europe harbor a rich flora and fauna, but they are threatened by area loss, the twin threats of intensification and abandonment, invasive species encroachment, and climate change. Large areas of grasslands in the lowland regions have been converted to croplands, and the remaining grassland fragments are in general degraded by intensified use. Intensified use and application of tillage, drainage, intercropping, high intensity grazing or the use of pesticides, mineral and organic fertilizers have a detrimental effect on flora and fauna. In contrast, low accessible areas in mountains, foothills or other marginal areas, the traditional grassland management is abandoned. To recover or improve grassland biodiversity, in many countries, the re-introduction of traditional management regimes by mowing or grazing have been suggested. In case of completely destroyed grasslands, restoration of grassland vegetation and diversity by spontaneous succession and/or technical reclamation are necessary. While in large-scale restoration programs successes were often reported, it was also noted by the authors that the success of restoration was strongly influenced by the availability of high-quality grasslands in the landscape, acting as donor sites or spontaneous sources of propagules. High quality grassland fragments act as hotspots of biodiversity in landscapes dominated by agriculture; thus, their preservation should be prioritized in conservation actions. Book Title Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:37 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:58:18 PM Tags: o Agri-environmental scheme o Ecosystem service o Grazing o Invasive species o Land abandonment o Management intensification o Secondary grassland o Semi-natural grassland o Steppe o Woody encroachment * Fast restoration of grassland vegetation by a combination of seed mixture sowing and low-diversity hay transfer Type Journal Article Author Péter Török Author Tamás Miglécz Author Orsolya Valkó Author András Kelemen Author Katalin Tóth Author Szabolcs Lengyel Author Béla Tóthmérész URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S092585741200105X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv4ozQFWg$ Volume 44 Pages 133-138 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date July 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2012.03.010 Abstract Technical reclamation of grasslands is a powerful tool for conserving biodiversity in fragmented landscapes. Plant material transfer and sowing seeds of local provenance are used most frequently to recover grassland vegetation in former croplands. The joint application of these methods is rarely used, although it has the potential to gain a predictable and directed vegetation development with effective early weed suppression. We studied the effectiveness of combining low diversity seed sowing and hay-transfer in weed suppression and recovery of perennial grassland vegetation in Hortobágy Puszta, Central-Europe, by testing the following hypotheses: (i) lower weed cover and biomass is expected in vegetation recovered by the joint method of sowing and hay transfer than by seed sowing only. (ii) With sowing and additional hay transfer a higher rate of establishment of Festuca species is expected than with sowing only. Our results supported both hypotheses. We found that the additional application of hay significantly accelerated the development of perennial grassland vegetation and provided a higher weed suppression rate in the first year and onwards in most plots than seed sowing only. A higher establishment rate was detected both in the cover and the biomass of perennial grasses including Festuca species in all plots with hay addition than with sowing only. Our results suggest that a combination of hay transfer and low diversity sowing may provide a cost-effective alternative to the more costly high-density sowing and if proper sources for high-diversity hay are available, it may replace high-diversity seed mixtures. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:38 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:58:20 PM Tags: o Biomass o Grassland restoration o Litter o Mulch o Species richness o Weeds * Recovery of native grass biodiversity by sowing on former croplands: Is weed suppression a feasible goal for grassland restoration? Type Journal Article Author Péter Török Author Tamás Miglécz Author Orsolya Valkó Author András Kelemen Author Balázs Deák Author Szabolcs Lengyel Author Béla Tóthmérész URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S161713811100046X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvwAnWZF0$ Volume 20 Issue 1 Pages 41-48 Publication Journal for Nature Conservation ISSN 1617-1381 Date January 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Journal for Nature Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.jnc.2011.07.006 Abstract Grassland restoration on former croplands offers good opportunity to mitigate the loss of grassland biodiversity. Weed suppression can be another benefit, which becomes increasingly important because of the high recent rate of abandonment of arable lands in Central and Eastern Europe. Our aim was to evaluate the usefulness of sowing two low-diversity seed mixtures followed by annual mowing, a frequently used restoration technique, in weed suppression. We found that rapidly forming cover of sown grasses effectively suppressed short-lived weeds and their germination except in the first year. The detected dense seed bank of short-lived weeds points out the possibility and threat of later weed infestation. In the short run perennial weeds cannot be suppressed easily by sowing and annual mowing. We found that the effectiveness of seed sowing followed by mowing in weed suppression can be different on sites with different history or seed mixture. Rapidly establishing perennial weeds, such as Agropyron species were only detected in former alfalfa fields; Cirsium arvense was found in former cereal and sunflower fields but not in former alfalfa fields. We found that the rate of weed suppression and success was influenced by the seed mixtures used. In several alkali restorations the high proportion of perennial weeds was detected in year 3. In loess restorations, much lower scores were typical. This was likely caused by the different seed mixture used. The loess seed mixture contained seeds of a clonally spreading tall-grass, Bromus inermis, which could compete more effectively with clonally spreading weeds, than could short grass species with or without tussock forming. Our findings indicate that post-restoration management require carefully designed actions that are fine-tuned addressing specific threats at the site level. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:40 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:40 PM Tags: o Cropland o Establishment success o Plant trait o Seed sowing o Succession o Weed suppression * Restoring grassland biodiversity: Sowing low-diversity seed mixtures can lead to rapid favourable changes Type Journal Article Author Péter Török Author Balázs Deák Author Enikő Vida Author Orsolya Valkó Author Szabolcs Lengyel Author Béla Tóthmérész URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320709005321__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvqxArNLo$ Volume 143 Issue 3 Pages 806-812 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date March 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2009.12.024 Abstract We studied the effect of sowing low-diversity seed mixtures (containing 2–3 competitive grass species) on the regeneration of vegetation on croplands previously used as alfalfa fields. In four permanent plots in 10 restored fields (four with alkali and six with loess seed mixture) the cover of flowering plants was recorded and phytomass was measured between 2006 and 2008. We asked three questions: (i) How fast will weedy, short-lived species decrease in abundance during secondary succession enhanced by sowing low-diversity seed mixtures? (ii) Can weeds be suppressed by sowing competitive native grasses, followed up by management by mowing? (iii) Can succession towards the target native grasslands be accelerated by sowing only low-diversity seed mixtures compared to set-aside old field succession? Our results showed that in just two years a vegetation dominated by perennial grasses has developed, which successfully prevented the establishment of weed species. These results suggested that sowing seeds of two or three competitive grass species is an effective tool to eliminate weed domination and to lead towards the restoration of species poor grasslands with grass domination such as alkali grasslands. However, the developed dense perennial grass cover and the accumulated litter may hamper the immigration of specialist species characteristic to reference grasslands. Therefore, the restoration of species-rich grasslands requires the facilitation of the immigration of grassland specialist species by further management (grazing, mowing and/or hay-transport). Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:58 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:58 PM Tags: o Habitat restoration o Old field succession o Phytomass production o Short-grass steppe o Species richness o Tall-grass prairie * Managing for species composition or diversity? Pastoral and free grazing systems in alkali steppes Type Journal Article Author Péter Török Author Orsolya Valkó Author Balázs Deák Author András Kelemen Author Edina Tóth Author Béla Tóthmérész URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016788091630010X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvOawzNaA$ Volume 234 Pages 23-30 Publication Grazing in European open landscapes: how to reconcile sustainable land management and biodiversity conservation? ISSN 0167-8809 Date October 16, 2016 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2016.01.010 Abstract Free grazing and herding of local breeds have a long tradition in management and conservation of extended grassland habitats such as alkali steppes. However, there is a lack in studies evaluating the effects of grazing types and regimes on the vegetation composition and functional diversity. We selected Artemisia steppes, a widespread type of alkali steppes, to study the changes of vegetation composition and diversity along a grazing intensity gradient. We recorded the cover of vascular plant species, in altogether 150, 2×2-m-sized plots of 15 steppes in 2014. The steppes were managed by free grazing, traditional Hungarian Grey cattle grazing (low, moderate and high intensity), or by heavy grazing (Grey cattle and sheep, and additional donkey grazing). We answered the following questions: (i) How do the species richness, diversity and species evenness change along the increasing intensity of grazing? (ii) How does the grazing affect the functional trait composition along the intensity gradient? (iii) How similar is the composition and diversity of free grazed steppes to the pastoral grazed ones? We detected no significant differences in species richness but a humped-back curve with a peak at the medium grazing intensity was found for the Shannon diversity, evenness and the proportion of subordinated target species. The highest Rao’s quadratic entropy was found for low intensity grazing. The lowest scores of multi-trait functional evenness were detected for the medium grazing intensity, while for multi-trait functional divergence both medium and very high intensity displayed low scores. The intensity of grazing was negatively correlated with the plant height and LDMC, while positively with the rosette forming, SLA, thousand-seed weights, terminal velocity and flowering period. Our results suggest that for the highest functional diversity a low intensity traditional cattle grazing is recommended. A medium grazing intensity should be chosen to have the highest proportion of subordinated target species of conservation interest, and the highest species diversity and evenness. Our findings suggest that free grazing and low-intensity traditional grazing can be substitutive to each other; various grazing intensities from low to medium, alternating in space and/or time can be appropriate to maintain high compositional diversity. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:14 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:14 PM Tags: o Dry grassland o Functional diversity o Grassland restoration o Grazing intensity o Plant trait o Year-round grazing * Leverage points for sustainable wool production in the Falkland Islands Type Journal Article Author Wesley Tourangeau Author Kate Sherren URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0743016719303730__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv8yhSYJQ$ Volume 74 Pages 22-33 Publication Journal of Rural Studies ISSN 0743-0167 Date February 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Journal of Rural Studies DOI 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2019.11.008 Abstract The Falkland Islands (‘Falklands’) are home to half a million sheep that graze a marginal and drying landscape. This presents new challenges for the grazing management decisions that sustain farmers' livelihoods, lifestyles, and the surrounding natural environment. Our examination deploys Donella Meadows’ (1999; 2008) concept of leverage points to explore the ways farmers intervene to make transformations toward social and ecological sustainability within these systems. The most effective and lasting transformations—called ‘deep’ leverage points—require changes in system design, structure, and way of thinking (e.g. paradigm shifts); these contrast with more common and less impactful ‘shallow’ leverage points, which focus on basic system parameters (e.g. rates and numbers). Thematic analysis of interview and field data reveals that while all methods of sheep grazing involve ‘shallow’ leverage points such as managing livestock numbers and wool quality, Holistic Management (HM)—a rotational grazing method based in systems thinking—facilitates ‘deep’ leverage points for sustainable transformations. Careful planning, goal setting, and learning to think systemically enable HM farmers to make lasting transformations toward more sustainable wool production in the Falklands. Using leverage points as a framework, we explore the transformation potential of HM in this island community, and what this might mean for sustainable transformations in rangelands elsewhere. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:31 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:04:31 PM Tags: o Holistic management o Islas Malvinas o Land restoration o Marginal landscapes o Sustainable grazing o Systems thinking * Rangeland forage availability and management in times of drought – A case study of pastoralists in Afar, Ethiopia Type Journal Article Author Anna C. Treydte Author Andrea Schmiedgen Author Gebreyohannes Berhane Author Kidanie D. Tarekegn URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196316302403__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvgxxjJsg$ Volume 139 Pages 67-75 Publication Journal of Arid Environments ISSN 0140-1963 Date April 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Journal of Arid Environments DOI 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2016.12.014 Abstract Many Eastern African rangelands comprise marginal land, where climatic conditions are poor, access rights are increasingly limited, and land degradation is progressing. We conducted participatory land use mapping and vegetation assessment to identify the most important rangeland locations and their condition in Afar, Ethiopia. Further, we conducted 79 interviews across six villages to assess pastoralist adaptation strategies during drought times. In the dry season, livestock feed resources represented rangelands far away from the village (in 76% of the cases) while 50% and 40% of pastoralists also used cake concentrates and crop residues, respectively. During the wet season, rangeland resources close to villages, albeit with rather low herbaceous cover (<25%), contributed 80% to livestock forage. In times of severe drought, migrating with livestock was the most common (70%) adaptation, in combination with purchasing feed (50%) while <40% of the pastoralists sold or slaughtered animals. Afar pastoralists applied little conservation and mitigation methods, most commonly they removed livestock pressure to allow the pasture to recover. Overall, pastoralists in Afar still strongly depended on natural rangelands and their resources. Hence, to manage these sustainably a monitoring scheme must urgently be established for investigating rangeland quality and resilience to drought and grazing pressure. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:10 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:00:10 PM Tags: o Cattle o Crop residues o Herbaceous and woody vegetation o Livestock o Natural resources * Technical reclamations are wasting the conservation potential of post-mining sites. A case study of black coal spoil dumps Type Journal Article Author Robert Tropek Author Tomas Kadlec Author Martin Hejda Author Petr Kocarek Author Jiri Skuhrovec Author Igor Malenovsky Author Stepan Vodka Author Lukas Spitzer Author Petr Banar Author Martin Konvicka URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857411003296__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv6EmZoY8$ Volume 43 Pages 13-18 Publication Restoration of Areas Affected by Mining ISSN 0925-8574 Date June 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2011.10.010 Abstract Despite the increasing evidence that post-mining sites often provide biodiversity refuges in anthropogenically impacted landscapes, thus offering valuable analogues of natural habitats, technocratic methods still prevail over natural processes in restoration practice. Selection of the restoration approach, however, crucially affects the future conservation value of every site. As a contribution to recent debates, we studied the communities of vascular plants and seven arthropod groups (orthopteroids, spiders, leafhoppers, ground beetles, herbivorous beetles, true bugs, and butterflies and moths) colonising technically reclaimed versus spontaneously developed plots on black coal spoil dumps in the Kladno district, Czech Republic. In all studied groups, spontaneously developed sites hosted a high proportion of species of conservation concern, which were nearly absent from the technically reclaimed plots. Combined with existing single-taxon studies of diverse post-mining sites, and our previous similarly broad study of limestone quarries, our results provide strong evidence of the counterproductivity of costly technical reclamations of postindustrial sites with respect to biodiversity conservation. Relevant legislation should favour natural processes over technical reclamation when deciding the fates of post-mining localities. Technical reclamation should be reserved just for those cases of well-justified public concerns. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:42 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:58:22 PM Tags: o Biodiversity conservation o Conservation legislation o Landscape restoration o Postindustrial biotopes o Spoil heaps o Spontaneous succession * Restoration management of fly ash deposits crucially influence their conservation potential for terrestrial arthropods Type Journal Article Author Robert Tropek Author Ilona Cerna Author Jakub Straka Author Tomas Kadlec Author Pavel Pech Author Filip Tichanek Author Pavel Sebek URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S092585741400408X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvv6V4f6o$ Volume 73 Pages 45-52 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date December 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2014.09.011 Abstract Fly ash deposits are a relatively common component of many industrial landscapes. Recently, these post-industrial sites were shown to host highly endangered communities of bees & wasps of vanishing continental drift sands. Nevertheless, nothing is known about this conservation potential for other arthropods, nor how it has been influenced by the practice of restoration. We sampled communities of bees wasps, moths, spiders, hoverflies, and ants colonizing several spontaneously developed and technically reclaimed plots in two fly ash deposits in northern Czech Republic, Central Europe. In addition to species richness, we also concentrated on the potential for colonization by species included in national red-lists and/or specialized to the highly threatened environments of continental drift sand dunes. In total, we recorded 585 species of the studied arthropods, including six considered as nationally extinct, 17 critically endangered, and 84 other red-listed species. From those numbers, 34 species were highly specialized for drift sands. bees & wasps and spiders comprised the overwhelming majority of the threatened species, and all the specialists. The overwhelming majority of the most threatened species colonized the non-reclaimed habitats and generally avoided afforested plots. Some of the endangered bees & wasps occurred also in the artificial grasslands, probably feeding on nectar. Summarizing, the studied fly ash deposits harbor arthropod communities of high conservation interest, importance of the spontaneously developed habitats differ among individual arthropod groups. However, this conservation potential is suppressed by artificial afforestation. Following the occurrence patterns of the most threatened species we suggest applying a mosaic-like combination of non-reclaimed habitats with reclaimed grasslands as a potentially effective solution combining both biodiversity conservation and environmental protection. The expected ensuing controversy of this approach should be one of the most essential challenges of current restoration ecology research and practice. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:45 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:45 PM Tags: o Biodiversity conservation o Energy industry o Human-modified habitats o Post-industrial biotopes o Psammophilous species o Restoration ecology * Riparian buffer growth and soil nitrate supply are affected by tree species selection and black plastic mulching Type Journal Article Author Benoit Truax Author Daniel Gagnon Author France Lambert Author Julien Fortier URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857417303002__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv8DXy45k$ Volume 106 Pages 82-93 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date September 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2017.05.037 Abstract Tree species selection in the design of agricultural riparian buffers is important to optimize particular ecosystem services, while vegetation management (weed treatment) is often critical in obtaining first-rate tree growth and survival. This farm-scale study took place along a 1km section of a headwater stream in southern Québec (southeastern Canada). Five tree species with contrasted ecological characteristics were planted (Populus×canadensis, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Quercus macrocarpa, Quercus rubra and Pinus strobus), with black plastic (polyethylene) mulches as the vegetation management method, as well as a control with no vegetation management, all within a fenced herbaceous riparian buffer. Tree growth and survival were measured along with soil nutrient supply. Significant Species×Vegetation treatment interactions where observed for all growth variables (p<0.001), but also for soil nitrate (NO3) supply (p<0.01). All species benefited from the plastic mulch treatment, but varied greatly in their responses. After 5 years, mulched hybrid poplar produced 774 times more stem volume than red oak without mulch. Across all species/vegetation treatment combinations, a 13-fold variation in soil NO3 supply rate was observed during the 4th growing season. Compared to the other species, NO3 supply rate in hybrid poplar plots was 39–87% lower in the plastic mulch treatment and 48–62% lower in the control treatment. Significantly higher soil NO3 supply rates were observed beneath the mulches of non nitrophilous species (white pine and red oak). Red oak growth was negatively correlated with NO3 supply (R2=0.57, p<0.05) in the mulch treatment. Early-successional nitrophilous species (hybrid poplar and red ash) planted with the plastic mulch led to the lowest increase in soil NO3 and the greatest gains in buffer structural attributes (stem volume, diameter and height). Hybrid poplar growth was positively correlated with soil NO3 supply (R2=0.86, p<0.001) in the control treatment. Natural abandoned field/grassland invaders (white pine and bur oak) grew well without black plastic mulch, while the growth of non-mulched red oaks was marginal. In the control treatment, stem volume was a strong negative predictor (across all species) of soil NO3 supply (R2=0.91, p<0.05), indicating that under herbaceous vegetation competition larger trees have a greater ability to reduce soil NO3. This study provides evidence that particular tree species/vegetation management treatment combinations strongly influence early riparian buffer structural development and soil NO3 dynamics in agricultural riparian zones. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:32:12 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:32:12 PM Tags: o Agroforestry o Hybrid poplar o Red (green) ash o Red and bur oak o Riparian forest restoration o White pine * Plant volatiles inhibit restoration of plant species communities in dry grassland Type Journal Article Author Mitsuru Tsubo Author Eiji Nishihara Author Ken Nakamatsu Author Yunxiang Cheng Author Masato Shinoda URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S143917911100154X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvpjoB2Kk$ Volume 13 Issue 1 Pages 76-84 Publication Basic and Applied Ecology ISSN 1439-1791 Date February 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Basic and Applied Ecology DOI 10.1016/j.baae.2011.11.005 Abstract Benefits from livestock grazing have declined in regions where vegetation has been degraded by overgrazing. The vegetation can be restored by excluding livestock for a period, but it takes longer in drier regions. Here we propose a possible mechanism for delays in the recovery of poor vegetation for livestock grazing in dry grassland, introducing a case in Mongolia where steppe vegetation dominated by Stipa krylovii, a palatable grass, can become dominated by Artemisia adamsii, an unpalatable forb, when the grassland is overgrazed. Our long-term field experiment shows that the exclusion of livestock has not enhanced the recovery of palatable species in 6 years, indicating that A. adamsii is a strong competitor in the plant community. To understand why livestock exclusion is ineffective, we examined the ecological significance of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by A. adamsii. In ex situ experiments, the VOCs promoted photosynthesis of S. krylovii with enhanced stomatal conductance, and S. krylovii grew faster and consumed more water when exposed to the VOCs even with water deficiency. These findings imply that S. krylovii would be more likely to face severe drought before the next rain falls. We therefore conclude that plant volatiles may reduce the resilience of overgrazed vegetation in arid environments. Zusammenfassung Die Erträge der Viehbeweidung sind in Regionen zurückgegangen, in denen die Vegetation durch Überweidung geschädigt wurde. Die Vegetation kann sich erholen, wenn das Vieh für eine gewisse Zeit ausgeschlossen wird, was aber in trockenen Gebieten länger dauert. Wir schlagen hier einen möglichen Mechanismus vor, der für die Verzögerung bei der Erholung spärlicher Vegetation für die Viehbeweidung in trockenen Steppen verantwortlich ist, indem wir einen Fall in der Mongolei vorstellen, bei dem die Steppenvegetation, die durch das fressbare Gras Stipa kryvlovii dominiert wird, bei einer Überbeweidung des Graslandes durch Artemisia adamsii dominiert wird, das ein nicht fressbares Kraut ist. Unsere langfristigen Freilandexperimente zeigen, dass der Ausschluss des Viehs die Erholung der fressbaren Arten in 6 Jahren nicht gefördert hat, und weisen darauf hin, dass A. adamsii in der Pflanzengemeinschaft ein starker Konkurrent ist. Um zu verstehen, warum der Ausschluss des Viehs nicht effektiv ist, untersuchten wir die Bedeutung von flüchtigen organischen Substanzen (VOCs), die von A. adamsii freigesetzt werden. In Laborexperimenten förderten die VOCs die Photosynthese von S. kryvlovii über eine stärkere Durchlässigkeit der Stomata, und S. kryvlovii wuchs schneller und verbrauchte mehr Wasser, wenn es den VOCs ausgesetzt war, selbst wenn es Wassermangel gab. Diese Ergebnisse lassen vermuten, dass S. kryvlovii mit größerer Wahrscheinlichkeit vor dem nächsten Regen ernste Austrocknungserscheinungen zeigen würde. Wir schließen daraus, dass flüchtige Pflanzensubstanzen die Widerstandfähigkeit einer überweideten Vegetation in trockenen Umgebungen reduzieren können. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:05 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:05 PM Tags: o Allelopathy o Dryland o Hormesis o Overgrazing * Clipping and irrigation enhance grass biomass and nutrients: Implications for rangeland management Type Journal Article Author Samuel Tuffa Author Dana Hoag Author Anna C. Treydte URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1146609X16302521__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvvkXcvTI$ Volume 81 Pages 32-39 Publication Acta Oecologica ISSN 1146-609X Date May 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Acta Oecologica DOI 10.1016/j.actao.2017.05.001 Abstract Increasing frequency of drought and high herbivore pressure significantly affect individual grass functions in semiarid regions. Reseeding of degraded rangelands by native grass species has been recommended as a tool for restoration semiarid rangelands. However, how grass species used for reseeding respond to stressors has not been fully explored. We examined biomass allocation and nutrient contents of Cenchrus ciliaris and Chloris gayana in the semiarid Borana rangelands, Ethiopia. We tested clipped mature tufts of the same species for biomass allocation and nutritive values. Further, shifts in rainfall and herbivory were simulated by three irrigation and four clipping treatments, respectively, for newly established grasses in pot and field plot experiments. Aboveground biomass (AGB) significantly declined by up to 75% under increased clipping in mature tufts. In contrast, clipping significantly stimulated up to 152% higher AGB of newly established grasses. Lower irrigation reduced the AGB by 24 and 42% in C. ciliaris and in C. gayana, respectively. Clipping, further, significantly enhanced grass nutrients in grass tufts by up to 82 and 105% in C. ciliaris and C. gayana, respectively. Hence, management should focus on balancing this trade-off in mature grasses for nutritious rangeland production by clipping and storing for later supplemental feeding when grass nutrients drop. Further, young pastures should be moderately clipped/grazed for better establishment and biomass allocation. Additionally, our experiments established the first interactive effect of clipping and irrigation frequencies on the biomass allocation of native grasses in the semiarid Borana rangelands, Ethiopia. Knowledge of these interacting factors is deemed essential for policy makers to enhance productivity of degraded rangelands such as the Borana rangelands. Date Added 2020-03-17, 6:59:59 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:58:24 PM Tags: o Borana rangelands o Crude protein o Ethiopia o Herbivory o Semiarid * Effects of revegetation and precipitation gradient on soil carbon and nitrogen variations in deep profiles on the Loess Plateau of China Type Journal Article Author Dengfeng Tuo Author Guangyao Gao Author Ruiying Chang Author Zongshan Li Author Ying Ma Author Shuai Wang Author Cong Wang Author Bojie Fu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969718301360__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv3nA_buQ$ Volume 626 Pages 399-411 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date June 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.01.116 Abstract Precipitation is one of the most important factors affecting the variations in soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) following revegetation. However, the effects of revegetation and precipitation gradients on soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN) and C-N interactions in deep profiles over large scales are poorly understood. This study measured the SOC and TN stocks to depth of 300 cm in three revegetation types (grassland, shrubland and forestland) and paired cropland stands at seven sites along a precipitation gradient with mean annual precipitation (MAP) from 280 to 540 mm yr−1 in the Loess Plateau of China. The results showed that the SOC and TN stocks in the 0–300 cm profile increased along the precipitation gradient. Revegetation did not always result in accumulation of SOC and TN stocks, which depended on the precipitation condition and varied among different vegetation types. Grassland restoration resulted in more SOC and TN accumulation than shrubland and forestland in areas with MAP < 510 mm, whereas there were losses in SOC and TN following grass plantation in sites with MAP > 510 mm. The changes in SOC and TN stocks following revegetation (∆SOC and ∆TN) were significantly correlated with MAP in only the 0–20 cm layer, whereas the changes in the C/N ratio of each depth were significantly and negatively correlated with MAP. The correlations between ∆SOC and ∆TN were stronger in the 0–60 cm layer than that in the 60–300 cm layer, and an accumulation of 1 g TN was associated with approximately 7.9 g increase of SOC in the 0–300 cm profile following revegetation. This study indicated that the changes in soil C and N stocks following revegetation had different patterns along precipitation gradient and among depths, and grassland restoration and N fertilizer input benefitted soil C and N sequestration in drier areas. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:34 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:34 PM Tags: o C and N interaction o Deep layer o Precipitation gradient o Soil C and N stocks o Vegetation restoration * Ecosystem functions in mixed cropland–grassland systems influenced by soil legacies of past crop cultivation decisions Type Journal Article Author Benjamin L. Turner Author Melissa Wuellner Author Douglas D. Malo Author Jeffrey E. Herrick Author Barry H. Dunn Author Roger Gates URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.2521__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvLkNPs_g$ Volume 9 Issue 12 Pages e02521 Publication Ecosphere ISSN 2150-8925 Date December 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Ecosphere DOI 10.1002/ecs2.2521 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Abstract As global food demand continues to grow, private landowners and agricultural managers have increased incentives to convert grasslands to expand crop production. These conversions are increasingly occurring on marginal soils susceptible to rapid degradation, which threatens delivery of diverse bundles of ecosystem goods and services (EGS). A growing number of studies have demonstrated that previous land management decisions continue to effect current soil ecosystem functions in the long-term (i.e., soil legacies persist after previous management has ceased). Such legacies could further alter EGS deliveries, especially in mixed-use agroecosystems (grass and croplands) that are susceptible to large, rapid changes in land use. The objective of this work was therefore to identify potential soil legacy effects and recovery time delays after land transformation and to place those effects in the context of EGS tradeoffs. Our overall hypotheses were that soil legacies can be traced back to management's EGS prioritization, that soil legacies persist due to the nature of land use (grass versus cultivation) and the time (years) under management, and that anthropomorphic manipulation from cultivation creates specific kinds of soil legacies. Using a systems approach that integrated ecosystem indicators, physical soil data, and human dimensions, we tested our hypotheses in South Dakota (USA), along the 100th Meridian (west), where recent and rapid cultivation expansion has reached historic highs. We conducted intensive interviews of four private land managers to identify historical land transformations, current goals, and strategies employed to achieve those goals on varying sites within their operations (nine grassland sites, nine cultivated sites; n = 18). Ecosystem assessments were conducted on each site using the US interagency assessment protocol Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health. Field aggregate stability and soil organic matter using loss-on-ignition were also measured. We found that (1) soil legacies continued to be detectable up to 20 yr after land transformation; (2) producers? personal values of EGS were directly linked to observed land uses and ecosystem ratings; and (3) opportunities for reintroducing grasses into crop rotations or crop?livestock integration could likely improve EGS delivery from converted lands while enhancing rural economic outcomes at a low- to no-cost trade-off between ecosystem functions. Date Added 2020-03-12, 4:49:49 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 4:49:49 PM Tags: o soil organic matter o grassland o crop cultivation o ecosystem assessment o ecosystem goods and services o ecosystem indicators o land-use transformation o soil aggregate stability o soil legacy o stakeholder participation Notes: o doi: 10.1002/ecs2.2521 * Advancing Fire Ecology in 21st Century Rangelands Type Journal Article Author Dirac Twidwell Author Christine H. Bielski Author Rheinhardt Scholtz Author Samuel D. Fuhlendorf URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742420300087__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv3U2KhG8$ Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date February 27, 2020 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2020.01.008 Abstract Fire ecology has a long history of empirical investigation in rangelands. However, the science is inconclusive and incomplete, sparking increasing interest on how to advance the discipline. Here, we introduce a new framework for qualitatively and quantitatively understanding the ranges of variability in fire regimes typical of experimental investigations in rangeland fire science compared with the range of conditions that actually occurred during contemporary social-ecological times. We implement this framework for one of rangelands’ most pyrogenic systems—the Great Plains of North America. We identify four social-ecological fire eras that have epitomized people’s relationship with wildland fire in the Great Plains since the last glacial maxima. These cultural fire eras include the now-extinct coexistence era (indigenous fire use), the suppression era (extermination of wildland fire occurrence), the shadow era (localized prescribed burning groups), and the emerging wildfire era (resulting from wildland fire management failures, continued decoupling of human-fire ignitions, and global change). Our synthesis demonstrates that experimental fire conditions have not explored the types and ranges of variation in fire regime components responsible for shaping rangeland vegetation—now, in the past, or into the future. Instead, scientific investigations have focused largely on controlling and minimizing sources of uncertainty and experimental variation, essentially eliminating ranges of variation that underpin the functioning of fire in modern social-ecological systems. Yet a series of scientific investigations exist that targeted a wider range of variability in fire regime components, leading to major advancements and the rejection of a number of long-standing rules of thumb in rangeland science and management. These include 1) the manipulation of fire return interval, 2) the pyric herbivory experiments, and 3) the extreme fire trials. We discuss the general philosophy shared among these studies, introduce scientific standards needed to avoid common pitfalls, and highlight opportunities to better understand how rangeland pattern and process correspond to critical ranges of variation in the human-fire relationship. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:15 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:00:15 PM Tags: o fire culture o fire ecology o fire regime o heterogeneity o landscape ecology o social-ecological system * How Community-Based Rangeland Management Achieves Positive Social Outcomes In Mongolia: A Moderated Mediation Analysis Type Journal Article Author Tungalag Ulambayar Author María E. Fernández-Giménez URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264837717302697__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv-xYbFxo$ Volume 82 Pages 93-104 Publication Land Use Policy ISSN 0264-8377 Date March 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Land Use Policy DOI 10.1016/j.landusepol.2018.11.008 Abstract Evidence-based policy guidance necessary for addressing mixed outcomes of community-based rangeland management (CBRM) is limited, dominated by case studies, and lacking coverage of diverse ecological settings. In remedy, we studied 65 traditional neighborhoods and 77 formally-organized CBRM groups across four ecological zones and investigated how and when CBRM obtains greater social outcomes than non-CBRM neighborhoods. We measured pastoralists’ social capital, rangeland management practices, and behavior using a mixed-methods approach including qualitative interviews, focus groups, and quantitative questionnaires of 706 herder households. We applied a conditional process analysis method, novel to CBRM studies, to investigate potential mechanisms by which CBRM affects social outcomes. CBRM members used significantly more information sources, had stronger leadership, more opportunities for knowledge exchange, and rules for resource use, which were significantly associated with greater social outcomes including the use of traditional and innovative rangeland and herd management practices, proactive behavior, and social networking. Access to diverse information sources emerged as an important variable related to strong local leadership, knowledge exchange, and setting rules for rangeland use. Ecological context had a strong association with the level of CBRM social outcomes achieved through this process. The statistical effect of CBRM, mediated by information, leadership, knowledge exchange, and rules, was significantly greater on proactive behaviors of desert steppe herders compared to herders in non-desert steppe zones. Further, CBRM mediated by the same four variables, was associated with higher social networking among herders in the mountain and forest steppe, steppe, and desert steppe but not in the eastern steppe. Our findings suggest why CBRM outcomes have been mixed in Mongolia and elsewhere, and point to the importance of accounting for local context in facilitating development of pastoral institutions. Policies to support CBRM should consider prioritizing resource users’ access to diverse information, leadership development, and involvement in elaborating community rules for resource management and local forums for information exchange. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:08 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:00:08 PM Tags: o collaborative conservation o common pool resources o community-based natural resource management o conditional process analysis o conservation effects assessment o extensive livestock production o Mongolia o pastoral institutions * Grasslands and Shrublands of Japan Type Book Section Author Atushi Ushimaru Author Kei Uchida Author Makihiko Ikegami Author Takeshi Suka URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780124095489120962__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv9HvCo8w$ Publisher Elsevier ISBN 978-0-12-409548-9 Date January 1, 2019 Extra DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-409548-9.12096-2 Abstract Natural or semi-natural grasslands and shrublands are small but widely distributed throughout Japan, although the forest vegetation is the potential climatic climax under the humid climates in the most parts of the county. Grasslands and shrublands have been formed by natural and anthropogenic disturbances and/or specific soil conditions in the Japanese archipelago. Since the last century, however, grasslands, especially semi-natural ones, have decreased in the area continuously, mostly due to land-use changes (abandonment, intensified use, afforestation and urban development) driven by socioeconomic growth in Japan. The rapid declines, along with fragmentation and degradation, of semi-natural grasslands have caused significant biodiversity loss as in the other Palaearctic regions but most of those grasslands and shrublands are not well protected. Natural grasslands and shrublands, on the other hand, have been protected from anthropogenic developments in general, but their area may decrease by climate changes in the future. The anti-disaster development, such as dams and embankments, reduced natural disturbances and have caused reduction and degradation of grasslands and shrublands in riparian and coastal areas. In some oceanic islands, feral goats have had significant negative impacts on grassland and shrubland vegetation. Some grasslands and shrublands on limestone and serpentine soils and on oceanic islands are often hotspots of endemic species whereas semi-natural, riparian and coastal grasslands harbor many plant and animal species which used to be found throughout Japan but now at high risk of extinction. Thus, in Japan, recent human activities largely degraded and reduced Japanese grasslands and shrublands which have high conservation values. To protect these invaluable ecosystems, a suite of activities have been initiated to promote biodiversity conservation and restoration in Japanese grasslands and shrublands. Book Title Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:41 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:41 PM Tags: o Biodiversity hotspot o Black soil o Conservation o Disturbance o Endangered species o Holocene o Island o Land-use change o Prescribed burning o Semi-natural grassland * Soil conditions and sheltering techniques improve active restoration of degraded Nothofagus pumilio forest in Southern Patagonia Type Journal Article Author Patricio Valenzuela Author Eduardo C. Arellano Author James Burger Author Juan A. Oliet Author Maria F. Perez URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112718301300__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvgvPr1Jo$ Volume 424 Pages 28-38 Publication Forest Ecology and Management ISSN 0378-1127 Date September 15, 2018 Journal Abbr Forest Ecology and Management DOI 10.1016/j.foreco.2018.04.042 Abstract Nothofagus pumilio forests in the Southern Patagonia region of Chile are highly degraded because of clearing for human settlements, extensive livestock grazing, and more recently, the impact of coal mining operations. Most of these legacy areas have remained as extensive meadows of non-native grasses and legumes with limited Nothofagus pumilio forest recovery due to dry soil moisture conditions and exposure to high wind and solar radiation. Therefore, active reforestation is needed to reclaim Nothofagus pumilio forests from abandoned grassland or disturbances caused by surface mine operation. In this study, a surface coal mine operation and an abandoned meadow established in the 1950 s needed to be restored back to N. pumilio forest on Riesco Island, in Southern Chilean Patagonia. We compared the establishment success of Nothofagus pumilio seedlings on replicated blocks under two conditions (experimental treatments): (i) four blocks of meadow previously disturbed by livestock grazing, (MS), and (ii) four blocks where a deep layer of the soil profile was removed, mixed, and then replaced simulating recommendations used for reclaiming surface coal mines (RS). To improve Nothofagus pumilio establishment and protection at each block under both soil conditions, seedlings were planted both unprotected and protected from wind and solar radiation using four different types of shelters: shade cloth, irregular log piles, white polypropylene shelters, and woody branches. Soil physical and chemical properties, seedling survival and growth, leaf water potential, and stomatal conductance were measured. Results at the end of the first and fourth growing seasons showed better conditions for seedling growth in the RS treatment. Mean survival rates began to be different following the second growing season with values of 84.7 ± 2.9% in RS and 60.2 ± 3.2% survival in MS treatments, respectively. At the end of the study, the difference between the treatments was even geater with values of 75.4 ± 5.5% and 32.2 ± 7.1%. Soil removal and replacement significantly changed soil physical properties, but values were still adequate for vegetation development. The use of shelters significantly influenced four-year survival rates of seedlings planted on the disturbed MS treatment with 60 ± 8.2% survival in plastic shelters and less than 25.5 ± 6.5% for all other shelters. The effects of the shelters were less clear in the RS treatment. Our study showed that Nothofagus pumilio restoration on abandoned grassland and reclaimed mine sites in Patagonia is a feasible option when soil conditions and planting techniques improve soil water availability, and when seedling are protected against excessive solar radiation and wind. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:42 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:58:26 PM Tags: o Forest restoration o Mine reclamation o Patagonia o Reforestation techniques * Using facilitation microsites as a restoration tool for conversion of degraded grasslands to Nothofagus forests in Southern Patagonia Type Journal Article Author Patricio Valenzuela Author Eduardo C. Arellano Author James A. Burger Author Pablo Becerra URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857416304414__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvtF5Fxto$ Volume 95 Pages 580-587 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date October 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2016.06.116 Abstract In Southern Patagonia, introduction of exotic grasses after forest fires strongly restricts restoration of Nothofagus spp forests. The use of polycarbonate shelters to shield Nothofagus seedlings has been not enough for getting restoration success. Selection of natural facilitation microsites (i.e. logs, rocks, pioneer plants) for seedling outplanting may improve early performance of Nothofagus pumilio (Poepp. et. Endl.) Krasse (N. pumilio), by reducing the incidence of limiting factors such as soil water and light stress. In 2012, seedlings of N. pumilio shielded with polycarnonate shelters were planted close to log piles, nurse plants of native shrubs, and open areas to evaluate the effect of natural facilitation microsites on early performance of the species. After three growing seasons, soil measurements, seedlings survival, stem diameter and height of plants, electronic transport rate, stomatal conductance, and the chlorophyll index were evaluated to explore leaf photochemistry and any possible limitation to photosynthesis associated to microsite conditions. Seedling survival was significantly lower in open sites in comparison to the other microsite conditions. Seedling height was highest both under nurse plants and log piles microsites. Stomatal conductance was higher for seedlings in nurse plant microsites despite the fact that the soil water content was similar across all conditions. Soil penetration resistance and electron transport rate were higher, but chlorophyll index was lower, in open sites when compared to the other microsites. Our results show that the use of facilitation microsites such as pioneer nurse shrubs and logs for N. pumilio reforestation or restoration plans in degraded grassland areas in Southern Patagonia should be considered even when plants are protected with polyethylene shelters. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:39 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:39 PM Tags: o Facilitation structures o Restoration tools o Seedling stress o Southern Patagonia forests * Filling up the gaps—Passive restoration does work on linear landscape elements Type Journal Article Author Orsolya Valkó Author Balázs Deák Author Péter Török Author András Kelemen Author Tamás Miglécz Author Béla Tóthmérész URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857417300915__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvOzrptfM$ Volume 102 Pages 501-508 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date May 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2017.02.024 Abstract Open landscapes in many parts of Europe have been negatively affected by large-scale drainage and amelioration to support agricultural production. In continental alkali grasslands, amelioration and establishment of drainage ditch systems were typical in the 1950s and 60s. Drainage ditches caused a considerable fragmentation and degradation of natural grasslands; thus several projects aimed at eliminating these linear landscape elements. In a multi-site study, we explored the drivers of grassland recovery after soil-filling of drainage ditches in landscape-scale restoration projects in Hortobágy National Park, East-Hungary. Ditch embankments, formerly built from the excavated soil, were used to fill the 8-m wide ditches and grazing was applied to facilitate the recovery of grasslands similar to the surrounding matrix. Three age classes were selected for the study: 1-, 6- and 8-year-old filled ditches; with nine sites per age group, surrounded by three grassland types (27 ditches in total). We recorded the percentage cover of vascular plant species in 18 plots per ditch, 486 plots in total. We found that the species pool of the filled ditches became more similar to the reference grasslands with increasing successional age and increasing distance to the central zone of the ditches regardless of grassland type. Species richness of the filled ditches became more similar to that of the reference grasslands with increasing successional age. However, we found that several target species, especially salt-tolerant pioneers, could establish even in the first year. Grassland recovery was most successful in sites adjacent to dry grasslands characterised by soils with high salt content, which favoured specialist species and suppressed non-target species. Cover of non-target species was higher in wet meadows with moist, nutrient-rich soils which favoured generalists and non-target species. Our study revealed that passive restoration after soil filling of disused drainage ditches can effectively support grassland recovery even within less than ten years, when restoration sites are surrounded by natural grasslands. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:44 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:44 PM Tags: o Alkali grassland o Channel o Grassland restoration o Linear landscape element o Steppe o Succession * Litter removal does not compensate detrimental fire effects on biodiversity in regularly burned semi-natural grasslands Type Journal Article Author Orsolya Valkó Author András Kelemen Author Tamás Miglécz Author Péter Török Author Balázs Deák Author Katalin Tóth Author János Pál Tóth Author Béla Tóthmérész URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969717334149__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvCejUSyo$ Volume 622-623 Pages 783-789 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date May 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.356 Abstract Regulation of plant biomass accumulation is a key issue in effective grassland conservation in Europe. Burning is an alternative tool to regulate biomass dynamics in semi-natural grasslands even in the absence of grazing or mowing. We tested the effects of regular spring burning on the biomass fractions and fine-scale plant species composition of species-rich foothill grasslands in North-Hungary. There were five regularly burned and five control grasslands in the study; we collected twenty 20×20-cm sized biomass samples from each. We analyzed the main fractions (litter, graminoid and forb biomass), and the species-level biomass scores, and flowering success in the control and burned grasslands. We revealed that fire increased the amount of forb biomass and decreased the amount of litter, which suggested that regular burning might be feasible for regulating biomass dynamics. The non-metric multi-dimensional scaling (NMDS) showed a high similarity of the control and burned grasslands in species composition. However, plant diversity, and the number of flowering shoots decreased significantly in the burned grasslands. In regularly burned sites we found a significant decline of specialist species, as well as of steppic flora elements. Our results showed that besides its positive effect on biomass dynamics, high-frequency burning threatens the overall diversity and specialist plant species in semi-natural grasslands. We recommend that proper fire regimes should be first studied experimentally, to provide a scientific basis for the application of prescribed burning management in such habitats. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:18 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:18 PM Tags: o Biomass o Flowering success o Grassland management o Plant diversity o Prescribed burning o Restoration ecology * Review: Prospects and limitations of prescribed burning as a management tool in European grasslands Type Journal Article Author Orsolya Valkó Author Péter Török Author Balázs Deák Author Béla Tóthmérész URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1439179113001497__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvbaNNMDo$ Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 26-33 Publication Basic and Applied Ecology ISSN 1439-1791 Date January 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Basic and Applied Ecology DOI 10.1016/j.baae.2013.11.002 Abstract Grassland managers and scientists are increasingly interested in cost-effective alternative ways of grassland biodiversity conservation. Prescribed burning is a promising management tool which should be integrated in the planning of management efforts. In addition, small-scale prescribed burning is an effective fire suppression strategy to decrease the serious negative impacts of uncontrolled burnings on ecosystems and human life. Prescribed burning forms an integral part of the North-American grassland management practice, while in Europe it is rarely applied, despite the fact that uncontrolled burning occurs frequently in some regions. Our goal was to evaluate the use of prescribed burning as a promising but neglected management tool in European grasslands. We found that European studies on prescribed burning of grasslands are scarce and we conclude that annual burning is usually not an appropriate option for the conservation of species-rich grasslands. We reviewed burning studies from North-America to identify findings which might be adapted to the European grassland conservation strategy. In North-America, contrary to Europe, the application of burning is fine tuned in terms of frequency and timing, and usually combined with other restoration measures (grazing or seed sowing). Thus, we conclude that with the application of carefully designed prescribed burning, multiple conservation goals, e.g. invasion control and enhancing landscape-level heterogeneity, can be linked with an effective fire suppression strategy. We emphasize that for the application of prescribed burning in Europe, the general findings of carefully designed case studies should be combined with the practical knowledge of conservation managers concerning the local application circumstances to reach specific management objectives. Zusammenfassung Graslandmanager und -wissenschaftler sind zunehmend an kostengünstigen Methoden des Biodiversitätsschutzes auf Grasländern interessiert. Kontrolliertes Abbrennen ist eine vielversprechende Methode, die bei der Planung von Managementmaßnahmen berücksichtigt werden sollte. Darüber hinaus ist kleinräumiges kontrolliertes Abbrennen ein effektives Mittel gegen die negativen Auswirkungen von Wildfeuern auf Ökosysteme und das menschliche Leben. Kontrolliertes Abbrennen bildet einen integralen Bestandteil der praktischen Graslandbewirtschaftung in Nordamerika, während es in Europa nur selten angewendet wird, obwohl unkontrollierte Brände in manchen Regionen häufig auftreten. Unser Ziel war, den Nutzen kontrollierten Abbrennens in Europa zu bewerten. Wir fanden, dass europäische Untersuchungen zum kontrollierten Abbrennen auf Grasländern selten sind, und wir schließen, dass jährliches Abbrennen gewöhnlich keine geeignete Option für den Schutz von artenreichen Grasländern darstellt. Wir werteten auch Feuerstudien aus Nordamerika aus, um Befunde, die an die europäische Strategie zum Graslandschutz angepasst werden könnten, zu identifizieren. In Nordamerika ist die Anwendung von Feuer im Gegensatz zu Europa, was Häufigkeit und Zeitpunkt anlangt, fein abgestimmt und normalerweise mit anderen Rekultivierungsmaßnahmen wie Beweidung oder Aussaat kombiniert. Wir schließen somit, dass mit der Anwendung von sorgfältig geplantem kontrolliertem Abbrennen zahlreiche Schutzziele (z.B. Kontrolle von invasiven Arten, Steigerung der Landschaftsheterogenität) mit einer effektiven Feuerschutzstrategie verbunden werden können. Wir betonen, dass für die Anwendung von kontrolliertem Abbrennen die allgemeinen Ergebnisse von sorgfältig geplanten Fallstudien mit dem praktischen Wissen von Naturschutzmanagern über die lokalen Anwendungsumstände kombiniert werden sollten, um spezifische Managementziele zu erreichen. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:05 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:05 PM Tags: o Biomass o Ecosystem services o Fire o Grazing o Mowing o Prairie * Is regular mowing the most appropriate and cost-effective management maintaining diversity and biomass of target forbs in mountain hay meadows? Type Journal Article Author Orsolya Valkó Author Péter Török Author Gábor Matus Author Béla Tóthmérész URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0367253012000254__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvk1Lv7VI$ Volume 207 Issue 4 Pages 303-309 Publication Flora - Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants ISSN 0367-2530 Date April 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Flora - Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants DOI 10.1016/j.flora.2012.02.003 Abstract Conservation of grassland biodiversity is a key issue in the EU agro-biodiversity policy. We assessed the effects of yearly mowing on target forb biomass in years with contrasting precipitation (2006–2007) in mountain fen and dry-mesophilous hay meadows in NE-Hungary. We hypothesised: (i) Species richness and biomass of target forbs is higher in mown than in abandoned stands. (ii) Mowing has more an effect on the biomass of target forbs, graminoids and litter than precipitation. Mowing increased the species richness of forbs and target forbs. The biomass of forbs and target forbs was not affected by mowing because of the specific responses of certain forbs. The majority of target species were supported, but tall forbs (Succisa pratensis; Lathyrus pratensis) were suppressed by mowing. Precipitation affected only the amount of litter in dry-mesophilous meadows and forb biomass in fen meadows. In the dry year, the biomass of target forbs decreased but the proportion of the species did not change. Our results showed that mowing is necessary to maintain overall plant biodiversity in hay meadows by removal of graminoid biomass and litter, but not all target forbs were favoured by regular yearly mowing. Decreased mowing frequency (mowing in every second or third year) on the entire meadow or temporarily changing mosaics of mown and unmown stripes might be the most suitable management option for maintaining the highest biodiversity of forbs. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:23 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:23 PM Tags: o Cost-effectiveness o Grassland biodiversity o Grassland restoration o Mosaic management o Phytomass o Target species * Facilitating ecosystem assembly: Plant-soil interactions as a restoration tool Type Journal Article Author A.U. van der Bij Author M.J. Weijters Author R. Bobbink Author J.A. Harris Author M. Pawlett Author K. Ritz Author P. Benetková Author J. Moradi Author J. Frouz Author R. van Diggelen URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320717319067__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvipWFwAU$ Volume 220 Pages 272-279 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date April 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2018.02.010 Abstract Although plant-soil interactions are increasingly recognized as an important factor in ecosystem restoration, their effects on community assembly during de novo ecosystem establishment are largely unknown. In a heathland restoration trial after topsoil removal we introduced either only aboveground heathland species with fresh herbage or both above- and belowground heathland species with sods to facilitate community assembly. Sod inoculation increased resemblance of the microbial community to the reference system, with a higher fungal and lower bacterial proportion to the community structure. Also densities of bacteriophagous and phytophagous nematodes, Acari and Collembola increased after sod inoculation. The cover of heathland plant species increased by 49% after sod inoculation. The introduction of solely aboveground heathland species increased the cover of these species by only 13%, and did not affect soil community assembly. Additionally, the increase in cover of heathland species over time was inversely correlated to the cover of mesotrophic grassland species. Inverse correlations were also observed between changes in fungal and bacterial abundances. Simultaneous introduction of key species of both above- and below-ground communities had a critical effect on the establishment of both communities, providing a potential shortcut for successful restoration of target ecosystems on disturbed soils. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:55 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:55 PM Tags: o Bacteria o Ecological filters o Fungi o Heathlands o Mesofauna o Restoration * Restoration of acidified and eutrophied rich fens: Long-term effects of traditional management and experimental liming Type Journal Article Author Josepha M.H. van Diggelen Author Isabelle H.M. Bense Author Emiel Brouwer Author Juul Limpens Author J.M.Martijn van Schie Author Alfons J.P. Smolders Author Leon P.M. Lamers URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857414006648__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvcg1Mqt4$ Volume 75 Pages 208-216 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date February 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2014.12.006 Abstract Rich fens are known for their high botanical diversity encompassing many endangered species. For decades, several management measures, including mowing and burning, have been applied to maintain a high biodiversity by means of slowing down the natural succession from calcareous rich fens to acidic poor fens or woodland. In this study, we assessed the long-term effects of these traditional management measures, and explored the effectiveness of liming as a measure to restore rich fen vegetation. Effects of summer mowing, and of burning after winter mowing, were assessed by comparing current (2013) and historical (1967) vegetation data. Effects of experimental liming, using different levels of lime addition (0, 1000, 2000, and 4000kgDolokal/ha), were monitored in the field during 7.5 years. Summer mowing led to more acidic and nutrient-poor conditions as indicated by a shift from rich to poor fen vegetation, including a well-developed bryophyte cover dominated by Sphagnum with some threatened species. Burning (after winter mowing) counteracted acidification but increased nutrient availability, as indicated by dominance of vascular species characteristic of productive tall-herb grasslands and a sparse bryophyte cover with common species. We conclude that the traditional measures were unable to maintain rich fen composition in the long term. Given the fact that the restoration of hydrological conditions, favouring rich fens, is not always feasible, liming could be an alternative to counteract acidification and improve rich fen conditions in the short term. This measure, however, appeared to be unsustainable as the re-establishment and dominance of Sphagnum spp. seriously complicated the development of rich fen vegetation in the longer term. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:04 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:04 PM Tags: o Acidification o Burning o Eutrophication o Liming o Management measures o Mowing o Rich fens o Successional stages * Monitoring height and greenness of non-woody floodplain vegetation with UAV time series Type Journal Article Author Wimala van Iersel Author Menno Straatsma Author Elisabeth Addink Author Hans Middelkoop URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0924271618301175__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv6bVUwH0$ Volume 141 Pages 112-123 Publication ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing ISSN 0924-2716 Date July 1, 2018 Journal Abbr ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing DOI 10.1016/j.isprsjprs.2018.04.011 Abstract Vegetation in river floodplains has important functions for biodiversity, but can also have a negative influence on flood safety. Floodplain vegetation is becoming increasingly heterogeneous in space and time as a result of river restoration projects. To document the spatio-temporal patterns of the floodplain vegetation, the need arises for efficient monitoring techniques. Monitoring is commonly performed by mapping floodplains based on single-epoch remote sensing data, thereby not considering seasonal dynamics of vegetation. The rising availability of unmanned airborne vehicles (UAV) increases monitoring frequency potential. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the performance of multi-temporal high-spatial-resolution imagery, collected with a UAV, to record the dynamics in floodplain vegetation height and greenness over a growing season. Since the classification accuracy of current airborne surveys remains insufficient for low vegetation types, we focussed on seasonal variation of herbaceous and grassy vegetation with a height up to 3 m. Field reference data on vegetation height were collected six times during one year in 28 field plots within a single floodplain along the Waal River, the main distributary of the Rhine River in the Netherlands. Simultaneously with each field survey, we recorded UAV true-colour and false-colour imagery from which normalized digital surface models (nDSMs) and a consumer-grade camera vegetation index (CGCVI) were calculated. We observed that: (1) the accuracy of a UAV-derived digital terrain model (DTM) varies over the growing season and is most accurate during winter when the vegetation is dormant, (2) vegetation height can be determined from the nDSMs in leaf-on conditions via linear regression (RSME = 0.17–0.33 m), (3) the multitemporal nDSMs yielded meaningful temporal profiles of greenness and vegetation height and (4) herbaceous vegetation shows hysteresis for greenness and vegetation height, but no clear hysteresis was observed for grassland vegetation. These results show the high potential of using UAV-borne sensors for increasing the classification accuracy of low floodplain vegetation within the framework of floodplain monitoring. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:05 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:05 PM Tags: o Consumer-grade camera vegetation index o DSM o Multitemporal aerial photography o River floodplains o UAV o Vegetation height * Soil seed bank dynamics under the influence of grazing as alternative explanation for herbaceous vegetation transitions in semi-arid rangelands Type Journal Article Author Frank van Langevelde Author Zewdu K. Tessema Author Willem F. de Boer Author Herbert H.T. Prins URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304380016302551__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv6hYCWzY$ Volume 337 Pages 253-261 Publication Ecological Modelling ISSN 0304-3800 Date October 10, 2016 Journal Abbr Ecological Modelling DOI 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2016.07.013 Abstract Ecological studies have frequently stressed that the availability of seeds in the soil is important for the recovery of semi-arid rangelands. However, the crucial role of soil seed banks has not been incorporated into rangeland models to understand vegetation states and transitions in semi-arid rangelands. We developed and evaluated a novel model to show that the availability of seeds in the soil seed banks as a function of plant cover can trigger transitions from perennial to annual grasses and from annual grasses to bare soil with increasing grazing pressure. The model indicates that when grazing pressure is low, a high cover of perennial grasses and a large soil seed bank of these grasses may be present, whereas annual grasses with their seeds in the soil appear with increasing grazing. When grazing pressure further increases, vegetation cover and the soil seed bank size decline. We found that the positive feedback between plant cover and the size of the soil seed bank depends on seed traits, i.e., longevity and germination rate. This positive feedback is an alternative explanation for a sudden vegetation changes in rangelands, which are often explained by the positive feedback between plant cover and the infiltration rate of rain into the soil. In contrast to this latter positive feedback, our model can explain shifts in vegetation from perennials to annuals and vice versa on different soil types, which are often seen in semi-arid rangelands. Our model contributes therefore to the understanding of vegetation dynamics for the proper management and possible restoration of degraded semi-arid rangelands. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:07 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:58:28 PM Tags: o Annual grass o Bare soil o Germination o Grazing o Perennial grass o Seed longevity o State-and-transition models * Restoring river grasslands: Influence of soil, isolation and restoration technique Type Journal Article Author Kris Van Looy URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1439179111000417__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv9fZKv-I$ Volume 12 Issue 4 Pages 342-349 Publication Basic and Applied Ecology ISSN 1439-1791 Date June 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Basic and Applied Ecology DOI 10.1016/j.baae.2011.03.003 Abstract For the restoration of river grasslands, soil conditions and isolation from remnant species-rich grasslands are considered critical factors for success. For a large set of newly created restoration sites along the Belgian-Dutch River Meuse reach a multilevel experiment design was drawn up. Different restoration techniques were compared for the realised diversity at different scales. The spatially nested sampling design allowed to distinguish between spatial and local topographical factors determining habitat development. A diversity partitioning approach was used to assess the relative contributions of alpha and beta diversity components to total regional diversity between contrasting restoration techniques. The results indicate that the local species pool and aspects of dispersal limitation and river influence are much stronger reflected in the pioneer vegetation than the environmental conditions. The applied restoration practices of soil and hay transfer proved successful in the recovery of target species. The practices showed significant effect for species richness at the site level yet did not affect vegetation cover or overall species richness. Whether the enhanced restoration practices of sowing and topsoil translocation are more successful in the long run depends on the river influence; surely they are beneficial in zones with less or irregular flooding, to ascertain that target species can prevail in the developments. Zusammenfassung Für die Renaturierung von Grünlandbereichen an Flüssen werden die Bodenbedingungen und die Isolation in Hinsicht auf artenreiche Grünlandbereiche als kritische Faktoren für den Erfolg gesehen. Wir erstellten ein experimentelles Design auf vielen Ebenen für eine große Anzahl von kürzlich geschaffenen Renaturierungsflächen entlang des belgisch-niederländischen Flusses Meuse. Es wurden verschiedene Renaturierungstechniken in Bezug auf die realisierte Diversität auf verschiedenen Skalen verglichen. Das räumlich geschachtelte Design der Probenahme erlaubte es uns, zwischen räumlichen und lokalen topografischen Faktoren zu unterscheiden, welche die Entwicklung des Habitats bestimmen. Es wurde ein Ansatz zur Partitionierung der Diversität gewählt, um die relativen Beiträge der Alpha- und Beta-Diversitätskomponenten bei gegensätzlichen Renaturierungstechiken zur gesamten regionalen Diversität abzuschätzen. Die Ergebnisse weisen darauf hin, dass sich der Einfluss des lokalen Artenpools, der Ausbreitungseinschränkungen und des Flusses selbst sehr viel mehr in der Pioniervegetation widerspiegelt als die Umweltbedingungen. Die angewendeten Renaturierungstechniken des Boden- und Heutransfers erwiesen sich als erfolgreich bei der Ausbreitung von Zielarten. Die Praktiken zeigten einen signifikanten Einfluss auf den Artenreichtum auf dem Probeflächenlevel, beeinflussten aber die Vegetationsdeckung oder den gesamten Artenreichtum nicht. Ob die verbesserten Renaturierungstechniken wie Aussaat und Translokation von Oberboden langfristig erfolgreicher sind, hängt vom Einfluss des Flusses ab. Sicherlich sind sie hilfreich in den Zonen, in denen wenige oder unregelmäßige Überflutungen stattfinden, indem sie sicherstellen, dass sich die Zielarten in der weiteren Entwicklung durchsetzen können. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:59 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:59 PM Tags: o Dispersal limitation o Diversity partitioning o Flooding o Recruitment o Restoration practice * The Interagency Creeks and Communities Strategy: Creating Healthy Streams and Wetlands by Bringing People Together Type Journal Article Author Laura Van Riper URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190052812500404__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv4WOd7wI$ Volume 34 Issue 4 Pages 5-10 Publication Rangelands ISSN 0190-0528 Date August 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Rangelands DOI 10.2111/RANGELANDS-D-12-00013.1 Accessed 2020-03-17, 5:59:01 PM Library Catalog ScienceDirect Language en Short Title The Interagency Creeks and Communities Strategy Date Added 2020-03-17, 5:59:01 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 5:59:01 PM Attachments o ScienceDirect Snapshot * Women as Collaborative Leaders on Rangelands in the Western United States Type Journal Article Author Laura Van Riper URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190052813500137__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv7V0qeHY$ Volume 35 Issue 6 Pages 47-57 Publication Rangelands ISSN 0190-0528 Date December 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Rangelands DOI 10.2111/RANGELANDS-D-13-00041.1 Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:50 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:50 PM Tags: o Central Idaho Rangelands Network o collaborative rangeland management o gender and community activism o Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement o National Riparian Service Team o Ranching Heritage Alliance o ranching history and gender o rangeland conflict management o Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition o Shoesole Group o Stewardship Alliance of Northeast Elko o Sustainable Northwest o Yainix Partnership * Assessing the impact of grassland management extensification in temperate areas on multiple ecosystem services and biodiversity Type Journal Article Author Laura Van Vooren Author Bert Reubens Author Steven Broekx Author Dirk Reheul Author Kris Verheyen URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880918303554__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvJZr-kW4$ Volume 267 Pages 201-212 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date November 15, 2018 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2018.08.016 Abstract In order to halt further biodiversity loss in the agricultural landscape, measures for grassland management extensification have been proposed and implemented. Apart from biodiversity conservation and enhancement, these measures are expected to affect a range of ecosystem services delivered by these grasslands. It is well-known that grasslands have the potential to contribute to the delivery of multiple ecosystem services, but there generally is a trade-off between provisioning services and regulating services, which is strongly linked to grassland management. This study investigated the effect of the extensification of grassland management on multiple ecosystem service and biodiversity indicators. To do so, two sets of grasslands in Flanders with varying management types were monitored: a regular, intensive management, a meadow bird management and a botanical management. For every monitored grassland, a land use intensity index was calculated and linked to the ecosystem service and biodiversity indicators. The results showed that biomass yield, forage quality, soil mineral N content and number of plant species differed among the various management types and that increasing land use intensity resulted in higher biomass yields, forage quality and soil mineral N content and in a lower number of plant species. However, it was observed that other factors such as the timing of the first cut affected these variables as well. A literature review was subsequently performed to quantify the link between land use intensity of other temperate grasslands and the same response variables. Results of the literature review confirmed the trends that were found in the monitoring data, but an additional effect of manure and slurry application on soil carbon stock was noted. Taken together, the results suggest that the impact of grassland management in terms of fertilization, mowing and grazing on the selected ecosystem service delivery and biodiversity indicators can be predicted, but that other management components should be considered as well. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:26 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:26 PM Tags: o Agri-environment schemes o Agroecology o Multifunctionality o Restoration o Trade-offs * Post-1935 changes in Pinyon-Juniper persistent woodland on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, USA Type Journal Article Author John L. Vankat URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112716306661__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvC3B45ts$ Volume 394 Pages 73-85 Publication Forest Ecology and Management ISSN 0378-1127 Date June 15, 2017 Journal Abbr Forest Ecology and Management DOI 10.1016/j.foreco.2017.03.018 Abstract Pinyon-juniper (Pinus-Juniperus) persistent woodland (PJPW) is widespread in western North America. This study examined changes in PJPW on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park (GCNP), Arizona, USA based on resampling study plots established in 1935 that are the earliest-known, landscape-level, quantitative documentation of PJPW. Resampling provided data essential to understanding post-1935 dynamics and current conditions, as well as developing ecologically based management practices. Plots were divided into Core PJPW, Transition PJPW-Ponderosa Pine Forest (PJPW-PPF), and Seral PJPW. These differed greatly in their post-1935 vegetation dynamics. Core PJPW experienced high mortality of mid-diameter Juniperus osteosperma (JUOS) and Pinus edulis (PIED), large losses of total basal area, and increases of small-diameter JUOS. In context of other research, these changes indicate drought during 1953–1956, 1959–1964, and 2002–2011 led to increased mortality of JUOS and PIED and that Core PJPW is a dynamic system with phases of tree recruitment and mortality related to climate. In contrast, Transition PJPW-PPF was generally stable, likely as a result of less drought stress at the relatively high elevation where PJPW intergrades with PPF. Seral PJPW plots were early successional in 1935 and provided a uniquely long, quantitative documentation of succession. They changed most among the PJPW subtypes with large increases in total tree density and basal area as plots transitioned into tree-dominated successional stages. Current conditions of Core PJPW in GCNP provide a model for restoration of PJPW in areas of similar environment. Elsewhere, managers should consider using contemporary data from the area’s least-disturbed PJ vegetation. In general, the ultimate goal should be to restore to the least-altered present, not attempt to re-establish the past. Likewise, findings suggest ongoing management of PJPW in protected areas should not focus on restoration of historical stand structure and composition, as done in PPF. Instead, management should emphasize leaving naturally occurring processes unimpaired. These include disturbances such as stand-replacing fire and native insect outbreaks that historically led to varied spatial and temporal stand composition and structure. However, active management may be needed when modern anthropogenic factors have potential to substantially alter key processes, e.g., if increasing cover of invasive plants such as cheat grass (Bromus tectorum) is likely to change the historical fire regime. Also, management plans for adjacent vegetation types such as PPF, shrublands, and grasslands need to consider potential short- and long-term impacts on PJPW. Additional challenges to management of PJPW are likely to arise with further climate change. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:07 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:07 PM Tags: o Grand Canyon National Park o Permanent plots o Pinyon-juniper woodland o Southwest o Vegetation change * Response of soil properties and microbial indicators to land use change in an acid soil under Mediterranean conditions Type Journal Article Author Eduardo Vázquez Author Marta Benito Author Rafael Espejo Author Nikola Teutscherova URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816220300357__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvJXhKPCI$ Volume 189 Pages 104486 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date June 1, 2020 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2020.104486 Abstract Land use change (LUC) can alter the soil quality and lead to soil degradation or soil conservation depending on the management practices. In the Mediterranean region, the impact of LUC on soil quality has been well described on neutral or alkaline soils, which are the most common in the area. However, some areas in the west of the Iberian Peninsula are covered by Raña surfaces, a continental detritic formation associated with quartzitic ranges and characterized by very acid and weathered soil. Seven following land uses were selected for this study: cork oak climax vegetation (Cork Oak), pine afforestation (Pine), natural revegetated shrubland (Shrub) and grassland (Grassland) after land abandonment, tilled olive grove (Olive), tilled annual cropland for animal forage (Tillage) and the same annual cropland managed by no-tillage (No-Tillage). The two tree-based uses, Pine and Cork oak, accumulated the highest contents of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) fractions. However, the further acidification and the C accumulation in labile forms of Pine could hinder the feasibility of Pine plantations to restore acid and degraded soils. Instead, the natural revegetation succession after land abandonment (first Grassland and then Shrub) were found as a suitable alternative able to increase the C content and restore the microbial activity in comparison with Tillage and Olive, the two land uses which showed the lowest C and N content and reduced microbial activity. Furthermore, the improved aggregate stability in Shrub, probably caused by root exudates of dominant plant species, could play a key role in soil restoration. Microbial biomass C and N, C decomposability and enzymatic activities were the most sensible microbial indicators to discriminate among the studied land uses. A clear pattern of lower microbial biomass and enzymatic activity was found with increasing human intervention and soil disturbance. In this respect, soil managed by no-tillage contained higher soil C and N contents when compared to Tillage and the microbial indicators were comparable with those obtained under Cork Oak. Our results demonstrate that soil tillage reduction is an essential step to mitigate soil degradation in Raña soils and highlighted the suitability of No-tillage as an alternative to traditional tillage, which can increase crop productivity while building soil organic matter content. In addition, the natural soil revegetation, including natural grasslands, shrublands and climax cork oak vegetation are more preferable for degraded soil improvement when compared to pine plantations. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:35 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:35 PM Tags: o Cork oak o Land abandonment o Land use change o Microbial biomass o No-tillage o Raña soil o Soil enzymes * Thresholds are in the eye of the beholder: plants and wildlife respond differently to short-term cattle corrals Type Journal Article Author Kari E. Veblen Author Lauren M. Porensky URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.1982__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvbg0ugtU$ Volume 29 Issue 8 Pages e01982 Publication Ecological Applications ISSN 1051-0761 Date December 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Ecological Applications DOI 10.1002/eap.1982 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Abstract Rangelands are governed by threshold dynamics, and factors such as drought, wildfire, and herbivory can drive change across thresholds and between ecological states. Most work on this topic has focused on shifts in a single response variable, vegetation, and little research has considered how to reconcile responses of more than one variable to determine whether a system has undergone a genuine state change. In sub-Saharan Africa, mobile overnight livestock corrals (bomas) can be used by managers to precipitate ecological transitions from areas dominated by bare ground to productive ecosystem hotspots (glades) that are attractive to wild herbivores. We asked how long bomas must be occupied by cattle before undergoing a state change, considering both plant and animal response variables, to glade ecosystem hotspots. We tested five durations of boma occupation: 0, 4, 7, 14, and 28 days. Each treatment was replicated five times, and we assessed vegetation as well as herbivore dung (as a proxy of use) at multiple time points over 3 yr following boma abandonment. Vegetation in 7-, 14-, and 28-d boma duration treatments appeared to undergo a complete transition to glade-like plant communities, whereas the shortest 4-d treatment had not converted to a glade plant community by year 3. Wildlife responses appeared to lag behind vegetation responses, with transitions to glade-like herbivore use occurring only in the longest duration (14- and 28-d) treatments. Our results show that different response variables, when considered individually, may provide incomplete or misleading information about state changes. Although shorter-occupied bomas might be effective for reducing bare ground, they may not attract enough wild herbivores to constitute crossing into an alternative state. Understanding threshold dynamics associated not only with vegetation responses but with a broader suite of response variables is challenging, but will provide a more complete representation of ecosystem function and greater opportunity for more successful ecosystem management. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:47:22 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:58:29 PM Tags: o alternative stables states o restoration o savanna o state-and-transition models o targeted grazing o tipping points Notes: o doi: 10.1002/eap.1982 o doi: 10.1002/eap.1982 * Human impact on low-land Vellayani Lake, south India: A record since 3000yrs BP Type Journal Article Author M.P. Veena Author Hema Achyuthan Author Chris Eastoe Author Anjum Farooqui URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213305415000119__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvLpfnd74$ Volume 8 Pages 83-91 Publication Anthropocene ISSN 2213-3054 Date December 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Anthropocene DOI 10.1016/j.ancene.2015.04.001 Abstract Humans have continuously changed the landscape and vegetation cover of the earth, including deserts and lake margins. Vellayani Lake, Kerala, is being severely affected by human activity in the catchment basin. Population increase, leading to increased demand for agricultural land and water, is driving a positive feedback loop resulting in the accelerating siltation of the lake and lowering of water levels. A 145cm sediment core represents deposition since 3000yrs BP, but at least half of the sediment has been deposited since 1650 AD, possibly since 1950 AD. The sediment stratigraphy is disturbed, most likely by slumping since 1970, of an unstable sediment accumulation near the lake margin. The disturbance precludes detailed interpretation of paleoenvironmental proxies, textural variation, chemical weathering index, pollen and phytolith assemblages. The proxies provide evidence of drier climate up to 3000yrs BP, and wetter conditions at about 1210yrs BP. Low frequency of phytoliths morph types indicates reduction in vegetation cover and a significant increase in grassland since 2300yrs BP due to climate warming, weakened southwest monsoon, deforestation reclamation of the lake margins for intensive agricultural practices. Occurrence of diatoms and sponge spicules indicate shallowing of the lake from 2300yrs BP onwards. Occurrence of charcoal pieces post 3000yrs BP represents human impact. Integration of all the results show that the Vellayani Lake has contracted because of a weakened Indian southwest monsoon since 3000yrs BP, intense human impact in the form of deforestation, irrigation and agricultural practices. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:42 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:58:31 PM Tags: o Human impact o Lake margins o Lake sediments o Phytoliths and pollen data o Radiocarbon dates o Weakened southwest monsoon * Application of Landsat-derived vegetation trends over South Africa: Potential for monitoring land degradation and restoration Type Journal Article Author Zander S Venter Author Samantha Luise Scott Author Philip G Desmet Author Michael Timm Hoffman URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X20301436__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvLNmtN0I$ Volume 113 Pages 106206 Publication Ecological Indicators ISSN 1470-160X Date June 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.106206 Abstract Monitoring vegetation change is important because the nature, extent and rate of change in key measures, such as plant biomass, cover and species composition, provides critical insight into broader environmental and land use drivers and leads to the development of appropriate policy. We used Landsat data between 1984 and 2018 to produce a map of Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) change over South Africa at 30 m resolution and an interactive web application to make the analysis both globally applicable and locally meaningful. We found an increase in EVI of 0.37 ± 0.59% yr−1 (mean ± standard deviation), confirming global vegetation greening trends observed with lower-resolution satellites. Mesic, productive biomes including the Albany Thicket and Savanna, exhibited the largest greening trends while browning trends were dominant in more arid biomes, such as the Succulent Karoo and Desert. Although overall EVI trends correspond to vegetation index trends derived from the Advanced Very-High-Resolution Radiometer (8 km resolution), the relative scarcity of Landsat data availability during the 1980 s is a potential source of error. Using repeat very-high-resolution satellite (ca. 3 m resolution) imagery and ground-based photography as reference, we found good correspondence with EVI trends, revealing patterns of degradation (e.g. woody plant encroachment, desertification), and restoration (e.g. increased rangeland productivity, alien clearing) over selected landscapes. The utility of the EVI trend layer to government and industry for monitoring ecosystem changes will be enhanced by the ability to distinguish climatic from anthropogenic drivers of change. This may be partially achieved though interactive exploration of the EVI trends using the application found here: https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://evitrend.zsv.co.za__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv7nsYba8$ Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:18 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:58:32 PM Tags: o Bush encroachment o Desertification o Ecosystem accounts o Net primary productivity o Remote sensing o Repeat photography * Legacy Effects of Oil Road Reclamation on Soil Biology and Plant Community Composition Type Journal Article Author Eric M. Viall Author Laura F. Gentry Author David G. Hopkins Author Amy C. Ganguli Author Peter Stahl URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12115__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvbC-vRKM$ Rights © 2014 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 22 Issue 5 Pages 625-632 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2014 DOI 10.1111/rec.12115 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:49:07 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Following the unprecedented oil drilling presently occurring in western North Dakota, thousands of kilometers of oil roads must be reclaimed to an acceptable post-extraction condition. This study assessed the soil biological and plant communities of nine decommissioned oil roads reclaimed during three periods between 1983 and 2002 in the Little Missouri National Grasslands of western North Dakota. We hypothesized that time-since-reclamation would positively affect soil biological and plant communities and, consequently, success of reclamation at older sites. To assess this hypothesis, we measured soil enzyme activity, soil microbial community composition, plant community composition, and soil physical and chemical properties along a gradient extending from road-center to adjacent native prairie for the nine roads. Time-since-reclamation did not affect soil and plant properties measured, indicating that older reclamations are not more similar to native prairie than reclamations occurring more recently. A strong gradient between samples from road-center and native prairie was identified with univariate and ordination analyses, indicating that soil and plant communities of reclaimed oil roads do not resemble those of the surrounding prairie. Soil organic matter (SOM) was identified as the most significantly affected soil property, being 30% lower on reclaimed roads than prairie. The relationship between SOM, microbial community, and plant community suggests that incorporating additional SOM could hasten reclamation as a result of improving the physical environment for plants and providing a labile carbon and energy source for the soil microbial community which, in turn, will enhance the nutrient and physical conditions for plant growth. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:49:07 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:49:07 PM Tags: o enzymes o microorganisms o phospholipid fatty acid o restoration o soil organic matter o thin loamy ecological sites Attachments o Snapshot * Factors limiting early establishment of the Mediterranean grassland species Brachypodium retusum at disturbed sites Type Journal Article Author Christel Vidaller Author Thierry Dutoit Author Hervé Ramone Author Armin Bischoff URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1439179118303682__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv-8qaXjk$ Volume 37 Pages 10-19 Publication Basic and Applied Ecology ISSN 1439-1791 Date June 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Basic and Applied Ecology DOI 10.1016/j.baae.2019.04.003 Abstract In Mediterranean dry grasslands, water availability and grazing strongly influence plant establishment. Although higher water availability and lower grazing pressure usually increase seedling recruitment in the beginning, higher competition may reduce seedling survival. In our study, we analysed this trade-off for the dominant species of Western Mediterranean steppes Brachypodium retusum which hardly recolonises restoration sites degraded by soil disturbance such as arable use. A split-plot experiment was set up on an ex-arable site in the “La Crau” steppe in order to test the effects of initial watering and sheep grazing on seedling recruitment, survival and early growth during two years. The watering treatment was applied in the first autumn and spring doubling the usual precipitation during this period and grazing was tested using exclosures. Survival and growth of seedlings established from field-sown seeds were compared to those of transplanted seedlings pre-grown in a growth chamber. Watering did not affect germination whereas the grazing effect was negative. Initial watering had a positive effect on survival only in grazed plots suggesting a compensatory effect under grazing disturbance. Significant main effects of watering on early growth disappeared in the second season. Grazing significantly reduced most measured growth traits whereas the effect on survival was only marginally significant. Planted seedlings (49%) survived better than seedlings emerged from field-sown seeds (36%). In conclusion, initial fencing increases establishment success of B. retusum in ecological restoration. Initial watering may help to mitigate negative grazing effects when fencing is not possible. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:18 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:18 PM Tags: o Dry grassland o Plant–environment interactions o Poaceae o Population dynamics * Multitemporal Modelling of Socio-Economic Wildfire Drivers in Central Spain between the 1980s and the 2000s: Comparing Generalized Linear Models to Machine Learning Algorithms Type Journal Article Author Lara Vilar Author Israel Gómez Author Javier Martínez-Vega Author Pilar Echavarría Author David Riaño Author M. Pilar Martín URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0161344__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv9dTXz54$ Volume 11 Issue 8 Pages e0161344 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Aug 24, 2016 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0161344 Accessed 2020-03-12, 3:32:47 PM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract The socio-economic factors are of key importance during all phases of wildfire management that include prevention, suppression and restoration. However, modeling these factors, at the proper spatial and temporal scale to understand fire regimes is still challenging. This study analyses socio-economic drivers of wildfire occurrence in central Spain. This site represents a good example of how human activities play a key role over wildfires in the European Mediterranean basin. Generalized Linear Models (GLM) and machine learning Maximum Entropy models (Maxent) predicted wildfire occurrence in the 1980s and also in the 2000s to identify changes between each period in the socio-economic drivers affecting wildfire occurrence. GLM base their estimation on wildfire presence-absence observations whereas Maxent on wildfire presence-only. According to indicators like sensitivity or commission error Maxent outperformed GLM in both periods. It achieved a sensitivity of 38.9% and a commission error of 43.9% for the 1980s, and 67.3% and 17.9% for the 2000s. Instead, GLM obtained 23.33, 64.97, 9.41 and 18.34%, respectively. However GLM performed steadier than Maxent in terms of the overall fit. Both models explained wildfires from predictors such as population density and Wildland Urban Interface (WUI), but differed in their relative contribution. As a result of the urban sprawl and an abandonment of rural areas, predictors like WUI and distance to roads increased their contribution to both models in the 2000s, whereas Forest-Grassland Interface (FGI) influence decreased. This study demonstrates that human component can be modelled with a spatio-temporal dimension to integrate it into wildfire risk assessment. Short Title Multitemporal Modelling of Socio-Economic Wildfire Drivers in Central Spain between the 1980s and the 2000s Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:32:47 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:32:47 PM Tags: o Agriculture o Fire suppression technology o Fuels o Population density o Probability density o Roads o Rural areas o Wildfires Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Resilience in Plant-Herbivore Networks during Secondary Succession Type Journal Article Author Edith Villa-Galaviz Author Karina Boege Author Ek del-Val URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0053009__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv5UYEsO4$ Volume 7 Issue 12 Pages e53009 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Dec 27, 2012 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0053009 Accessed 2020-03-12, 12:30:43 AM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract Extensive land-use change in the tropics has produced a mosaic of successional forests within an agricultural and cattle-pasture matrix. Post-disturbance biodiversity assessments have found that regeneration speed depends upon propagule availability and the intensity and duration of disturbance. However, reestablishment of species interactions is still poorly understood and this limits our understanding of the anthropogenic impacts upon ecosystem resilience. This is the first investigation that evaluates plant-herbivore interaction networks during secondary succession. In particular we investigated succession in a Mexican tropical dry forest using data of caterpillar associations with plants during 2007–2010. Plant-herbivore networks showed high resilience. We found no differences in most network descriptors between secondary and mature forest and only recently abandoned fields were found to be different. No significant nestedness or modularity network structure was found. Plant-herbivore network properties appear to quickly reestablish after perturbation, despite differences in species richness and composition. This study provides some valuable guidelines for the implement of restoration efforts that can enhance ecological processes such as the interaction between plants and their herbivores. Date Added 2020-03-12, 12:30:43 AM Modified 2020-03-12, 12:30:43 AM Tags: o Community ecology o Ecological succession o Forest ecology o Forests o Plant-herbivore interactions o Species diversity o Species extinction o Species interactions Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Multi-index time series monitoring of drought and fire effects on desert grasslands Type Journal Article Author Miguel L. Villarreal Author Laura M. Norman Author Steven Buckley Author Cynthia S.A. Wallace Author Michelle A. Coe URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0034425716302255__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvG7mOchE$ Volume 183 Pages 186-197 Publication Remote Sensing of Environment ISSN 0034-4257 Date September 15, 2016 Journal Abbr Remote Sensing of Environment DOI 10.1016/j.rse.2016.05.026 Abstract The Western United States is expected to undergo both extended periods of drought and longer wildfire seasons under forecasted global climate change and it is important to understand how these disturbances will interact and affect recovery and composition of plant communities in the future. In this research paper we describe the temporal response of grassland communities to drought and fire in southern Arizona, where land managers are using repeated, prescribed fire as a habitat restoration tool. Using a 25-year atlas of fire locations, we paired sites with multiple fires to unburned control areas and compare satellite and field-based estimates of vegetation cover over time. Two hundred and fifty Landsat TM images, dating from 1985–2011, were used to derive estimates of Total Vegetation Fractional Cover (TVFC) of live and senescent grass using the Soil-Adjusted Total Vegetation Index (SATVI) and post-fire vegetation greenness using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). We also implemented a Greenness to Cover Index that is the difference of time-standardized SATVI-TVFC and NDVI values at a given time and location to identify post-fire shifts in native, non-native, and annual plant cover. The results highlight anomalous greening and browning during drought periods related to amounts of annual and non-native plant cover present. Results suggest that aggressive application of prescribed fire may encourage spread of non-native perennial grasses and annual plants, particularly during droughts. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:49 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:49 PM Tags: o Drought o Fire management o Fractional cover o Grasslands o Landsat o NDVI o SATVI o Time series analysis * Application of the WFD cost proportionality principle to diffuse pollution mitigation: A case study for Scottish Lochs Type Journal Article Author A.J.A. Vinten Author J. Martin-Ortega Author K. Glenk Author P. Booth Author B.B. Balana Author M. MacLeod Author M. Lago Author D. Moran Author M. Jones URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479711003963__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvrM8X2XM$ Volume 97 Pages 28-37 Publication Journal of Environmental Management ISSN 0301-4797 Date April 30, 2012 Journal Abbr Journal of Environmental Management DOI 10.1016/j.jenvman.2011.10.015 Abstract The Water Framework Directive (WFD) aims to deliver good ecological status (GES) for Europe’s waters. It prescribes the use of economic principles, such as derogation from GES on grounds of disproportionate costs of mitigation. This paper proposes an application of the proportionality principle to mitigation of phosphorus (P) pollution of 544 Scottish lochs at national and local water body scales. P loading estimates were derived from a national diffuse pollution screening tool. For 293 of these lochs (31% of the loch area), GES already occurred. Mitigation cost-effectiveness was assessed using combined mitigation cost curves for managed grassland, rough grazing, arable land, sewage and septic tank sources. These provided sufficient mitigation (92% of national P load) for GES to be achieved on another 31% of loch area at annualised cost of £2.09m/y. Mitigation of the residual P loading preventing other lochs achieving GES was considered by using a “mop-up” cost of £200/kg P (assumed cost effectiveness of removal of P directly from lochs), leading to a total cost of £189m/y. Lochs were ranked by mitigation costs per loch area to give a national scale marginal mitigation cost curve. A published choice experiment valuation of WFD targets for Scottish lochs was used to estimate marginal benefits at national scale and combined with the marginal cost curve. This gave proportionate costs of £5.7m/y leading to GES in 72% of loch area. Using national mean marginal benefits with a scheme to estimate changes in individual loch value with P loading gave proportionate costs of £25.6m/y leading to GES in 77% of loch area (491 lochs). Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:32:14 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:32:14 PM Tags: o Disproportionality o Lochs o Phosphorus pollution o Scotland o Screening tool o Water Framework Directive * Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) beloved and despised: A story of an invasive tree in Central Europe Type Journal Article Author Michaela Vítková Author Jana Müllerová Author Jiří Sádlo Author Jan Pergl Author Petr Pyšek URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112716309124__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvbUofLjo$ Volume 384 Pages 287-302 Publication Forest Ecology and Management ISSN 0378-1127 Date January 15, 2017 Journal Abbr Forest Ecology and Management DOI 10.1016/j.foreco.2016.10.057 Abstract Robinia pseudoacacia, invaded many countries a long time ago and is now a common part of the Central European landscape. Positive economic but negative environmental impacts of Robinia result in conflicts of interest between nature conservation, forestry, urban landscaping, beekeepers and the public when defining management priorities. Because current legislation will determine the future distribution of Robinia in the landscape, a comprehensive view of this species is necessary. Although this species is well studied, most of the scientific papers deal with the economic aspects. Other information is published in local journals or reports. Therefore we reviewed the ecological and socio-economic impact of Robinia placing particular emphasis on the species’ history, vegetation ecology, invasiveness and management. In Central Europe, Robinia is limited climatically by late spring frost combined with a short vegetation period, soil hypoxia, shade and frequent major disturbances. The long historical tradition of using Robinia for afforestation has resulted in its popularity as a widespread forest tree and it being an important part of the economy in some countries. The main reasons are its fast growth, valuable and resistant wood, suitability for amelioration, reclamation of disturbed sites and erosion control, honey-making and recently dendromass production. On the other hand, a side-effect of planting this nitrogen-fixing pioneer tree, very tolerant of the nature of the substrate, is its propagation and spread, which pose a problem for nature conservation. Robinia is considered invasive, threatening especially dry and semi-dry grasslands, some of the most species-rich and endangered types of habitat in the region, causing extinction of many endangered light-demanding plants and invertebrates due to changes in light regime, microclimate and soil conditions. Other often invaded habitats include open dry forests and shrubland, alluvial habitats, agrarian landscapes, urban and industrial environments and disturbed sites, e.g. post-fire sites, forest clearings or degraded forestry plantations. Without forestry, black locust abundance would decrease during succession in forests with highly competitive and shade tolerant trees and in mature forests it occurs only as admixture of climax trees. The limited pool of native woody species, lack of serious natural enemies and a dense cover of grasses and sedges can suppress forest succession and favour the development of Robinia monodominant stands over 70years old. A stratified approach, which combines both tolerance in some areas and strict eradication at valuable sites, provides the best option for achieving a sustainable coexistence of Robinia with people and nature. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:44 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:58:34 PM Tags: o Central Europe o History o Invasiveness o Management o Threatened habitat * Economic valuation of landslide damage in hilly regions: A case study from Flanders, Belgium Type Journal Article Author Liesbet Vranken Author Pieter Van Turnhout Author Miet Van Den Eeckhaut Author Liesbeth Vandekerckhove Author Jean Poesen URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004896971300034X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvHMZKlM0$ Volume 447 Pages 323-336 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date March 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.01.025 Abstract Several regions around the globe are at risk of incurring damage from landslides, but only few studies have concentrated on a quantitative estimate of the overall damage caused by landslides at a regional scale. This study therefore starts with a quantitative economic assessment of the direct and indirect damage caused by landslides in a 2910km2 study area located west of Brussels, a low-relief region susceptible to landslides. Based on focus interviews as well as on semi-structured interviews with homeowners, civil servants and the owners and providers of lifelines such as electricity and sewage, a quantitative damage assessment is provided. For private properties (houses, forest and pasture land) we estimate the real estate and production value losses for different damage scenarios, while for public infrastructure the costs of measures to repair and prevent landslide induced damage are estimated. In addition, the increase in amenity value of forests and grasslands due to the occurrence of landslides is also calculated. The study illustrates that a minority of land (only 2.3%) within the study area is used for dwellings, roads and railway lines, but that these land use types are responsible for the vast majority of the economic damage due to the occurrence of landslides. The annual cost of direct damage due to landsliding amounts to 688,148€/year out of which 550,740€/year for direct damage to houses, while the annual indirect damage augments to 3,020,049€/year out of which 2,007,375€/year for indirect damage to real estate. Next, the study illustrates that the increase of the amenity value of forests and grasslands outweighs the production value loss. As such the study does not only provide quantitative input data for the estimation of future risks, but also important information for government officials as it clearly informs about the costs associated with certain land use types in landslide areas. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:25 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:25 PM Tags: o Assessment of societal benefits o Direct and indirect damage o Estimated value loss of immovable assets o Quantitative damage assessment o Replacement or restoration cost method * Species indicators for naturally-regenerating and old calcareous grassland in southern England Type Journal Article Author Markus Wagner Author Kate C. Fagan Author Richard G. Jefferson Author Rob H. Marrs Author Simon R. Mortimer Author James M. Bullock Author Richard F. Pywell URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X19301001__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvx7Nb-BQ$ Volume 101 Pages 804-812 Publication Ecological Indicators ISSN 1470-160X Date June 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2019.01.082 Abstract Habitat restoration requires realistic goals. To naturally regenerate European lowland calcareous grassland, whose extent has severely declined, over a century may be required for vegetation to become indistinguishable from that of old calcareous grassland. Progress of natural regeneration can be characterized using member species of the reference vegetation as indicators of favourable site condition. Chronosequence studies have suggested that calcareous-grassland species differ predictably in their ability to colonize ex-arable land, with some usually colonizing early on, and others in later stages. If such patterns are affected by gradually-attenuating establishment limitation, this would have important implications for restoration practice and indication of progress. Particularly, late-colonizing species might be better indicators of favourable site conditions than early colonizers. To explore these aspects, we have reanalysed chronosequence data previously used to investigate causal mechanisms affecting calcareous-grassland restoration progress. We carried out an indicator species analysis to determine which species are indicative of particular stages of natural regeneration. Using correlation analyses, we tested whether species colonization patterns matched those found by previous chronosequence studies that were geographically more limited or relied on more informal approaches to determine species order of colonization. Correlation analyses were also used to test whether order of colonization could be explained by establishment limitation or by dispersal limitation, or by established plant strategies that underlie such limitations. We identified 30 species as indicative of particular stages of natural regeneration, including nine that specifically indicate old calcareous grassland. Correlation results confirmed high congruence with species order of colonization in previous chronosequence studies, and indicated that establishment limitation plays a role in shaping species order of colonization, potentially mediated through differential stress tolerance. We failed to demonstrate a role of dispersal limitation in shaping order of colonization. Based on our results, we derived three categories of indicator species for passively-restored calcareous grassland, mirroring the regeneration stage during which these species usually colonize. This includes a category labelled by us as ‘old-grassland indicators’ that achieve notable abundance only in old grassland. We conclude by discussing how such a categorization can benefit the measurement of restoration progress, the tentative identification of old grassland and its conservation, e.g. through linking agri-environment payments to the occurrence of old-grassland indicators, thus fostering positive change in farmer attitudes towards old grassland. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:42 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:42 PM Tags: o Calcareous grassland o Dispersal limitation o Establishment limitation o Indicator species analysis o Management continuity o Natural regeneration o Passive restoration * Methods for tracking sagebrush-steppe community trajectories and quantifying resilience in relation to disturbance and restoration Type Journal Article Author Claire E. Wainwright Author G. Matt Davies Author Eva Dettweiler‐Robinson Author Peter W. Dunwiddie Author David Wilderman Author Jonathan D. Bakker URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.13060__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvjR07JlI$ Rights © 2019 The Authors. Restoration Ecology published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 28 Issue 1 Pages 115-126 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2020 DOI 10.1111/rec.13060 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:37:20 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Understanding how plant community dynamics are impacted by altered disturbance regimes is a pressing challenge for restoration ecology. Most assessments of community dynamics involve computationally intensive statistical techniques, while management often defers to derived, qualitative “state-and-transition” models. Here, we demonstrate an intermediate approach to track and predict community resilience, diversifying the tools available to assess ecosystem change. First, we develop indices of sagebrush-steppe community structure in permanent monitoring plots based on plant functional types and our conceptual understanding of the ecosystem. The indices define a bivariate space within which the trajectories of permanent monitoring plots can be tracked. Second, we quantify two metrics of community resilience: resistance (overall change during the time period) and stability (average amount of movement per monitoring period). Plots dominated by obligate seeder shrubs displayed low resilience relative to those dominated by grasses and forbs or resprouting shrubs. Resilience was strongly related to initial plant functional type composition and elevation. Our results suggest restoration objectives should consider how plant traits control ecosystem responses to disturbance. We suggest that the approach developed here can help assess longer-term resilience, evaluate restoration success, and identify communities at risk of state transitions. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:37:20 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:37:20 PM Tags: o plant functional types o resilience o resistance o restoration o sagebrush-steppe o stability Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Long Term Positive Effect of Grassland Restoration on Plant Diversity - Success or Not? Type Journal Article Author Emelie Waldén Author Regina Lindborg URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0155836__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv3jgjwU8$ Volume 11 Issue 5 Pages e0155836 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date May 19, 2016 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0155836 Accessed 2020-03-12, 2:50:56 PM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract Restoration is important for biodiversity conservation worldwide, but surprisingly little is known about its efficiency in a long-term perspective. In this study, we re-examined Swedish semi-natural grasslands 12–20 years after the restoration, by comparing field inventories of vascular plant species diversity made in 2001 with follow-up inventories in 2012. We also analysed restoration effect in relation to six environmental factors and used continuously managed semi-natural grasslands as references of desired state after restoration. We found that total species richness increased over time but not to reference levels, while there were no significant changes in species density or number of grassland specialists. However, the overall species composition in the restored sites, as well as grassland specialist composition, now largely resembled reference conditions. Fertilisation and time between abandonment and restoration were the only environmental variables that affected total species composition change, while site area affected change in grassland specialist composition. Our results show that restoration of semi-natural grasslands can contribute to conservation of semi-natural habitats and their associated biodiversity. Yet, due to the vague restoration goals for these sites, it is difficult to evaluate the restoration success, which emphasise the general need for clear and measurable goals. Date Added 2020-03-12, 2:50:56 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 2:50:56 PM Tags: o Biodiversity o Cattle o Conservation genetics o Fertilization o Grasslands o Grazing o Plants o Species diversity Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Facing the future for grassland restoration – What about the farmers? Type Journal Article Author Emelie Waldén Author Regina Lindborg URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479718309678__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvEwEiF4Y$ Volume 227 Pages 305-312 Publication Journal of Environmental Management ISSN 0301-4797 Date December 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Journal of Environmental Management DOI 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.08.090 Abstract In line with the 2010 Aichi Convention for Biological Diversity, the European Union has a goal to restore 15% of degraded ecosystems and their services by the year 2020 (target 2, Europe 2020). This includes restoration of semi-natural grasslands (SNGs). Management of both intact and restored SNGs is dependent on people's willingness to manage them. Due to low profitability, management abandonment still occurs all over Europe, which highlights the need to raise farmers' and landowners' perspectives. In this study, we combined survey data and in-depth interviews with farmers/landowners managing previously restored SNGs, to understand how they perceive the restoration process, the outcome and future management. Survey and interview data were analysed in relation to biodiversity and Agri-environmental payments data from the restored sites. Almost all respondents considered the restoration successful and the re-inventoried restored SNGs also showed an increase in plant diversity. Nevertheless, 10% of the restored SNGs were abandoned again post-restoration and 40% of the respondents were unsure if they would continue the management in the future. Abandoned management may cause a negative trend in terms of decreased biological, cultural and aesthetic values, in the local community, as well as for the society in general. Most respondents explained a strong dependency on Agri-environmental payments, both as a restoration incentive and for post-restoration management. Also non-financial support from authorities in form of feedback and advice was requested, as well as support from the local community and society as a whole. Future management in a longer time perspective was strongly coupled to the farm economy, i.e. received Agri-environmental payments at farm-level and profit from selling agricultural products, and whether the farmers had successors. We conclude that both social and ecological factors, here farm economy, authority support and proper management, must be in place for long-term success of grassland restoration. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:50 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:50 PM Tags: o Agri-environmental scheme o Farmer o Restoration o Semi-natural grassland o Social aspects o Sweden * Effects of landscape composition, species pool and time on grassland specialists in restored semi-natural grasslands Type Journal Article Author Emelie Waldén Author Erik Öckinger Author Marie Winsa Author Regina Lindborg URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320717305797__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv9Wj6v3Y$ Volume 214 Pages 176-183 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date October 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2017.07.037 Abstract Habitat restoration is an important complement to protecting habitat for the conservation of biodiversity. Semi-natural grasslands are target habitats for ecological restoration in temperate Europe. Restoration of abandoned semi-natural grasslands often relies on spontaneous colonisation of plant species from the soil seed bank or the surrounding landscape. Although many studies show that the regional species pool is important for upholding local diversity, its effect on restoration outcome in semi-natural grasslands is poorly known. In this multi-landscape study, we examined grassland specialist species occurring in restored grasslands and the effect of specialist species pool, landscape composition and local temporal factors. We found that specialist richness and frequency was positively affected by specialist richness and frequency in the surrounding landscape. Specialist richness in the restored grasslands also increased with time since restoration. Moreover, specialist frequency in the restored grassland increased with the proportion of semi-natural and remnant grassland habitats in the landscape. We also found a positive relationship between the proportion of species occurring in both the restored grassland and its surrounding landscape and time since restoration, in landscapes with high proportions of semi-natural grasslands. This suggests that both temporal factors, as well as the landscape composition and species pool, affect plant recolonisation in restored semi-natural grasslands. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:39 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:39 PM Tags: o Biodiversity o Landscape composition o Recolonisation o Restoration o Semi-natural grassland o Species pool * Mixed evidence for the cultivar vigour hypothesis: The case of calcareous grassland forbs in a matrix of Festuca rubra Type Journal Article Author Emer A. Walker Author Harald Meimberg Author Johannes Kollmann URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857414003115__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvZNER2AM$ Volume 71 Pages 301-307 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date October 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2014.07.021 Abstract According to the cultivar vigour hypothesis, cultivars are frequently selected for traits such as increased biomass and resource capture, which may hinder the establishment of non-cultivars. Despite this concern, cultivar seed material is still used in grassland restoration. An alternative is wild plant material, which is commercially produced and used in the respective region (‘regional seed’). We established a greenhouse experiment to examine the performance of cultivar and regional forb species with and without competition from cultivar and regional dominant grass species. This was conducted in order to understand the potential effects of sowing cultivar seed in grassland restoration projects. Three calcareous grassland forb species (Buphthalmum salicifolium, Dianthus carthusianorum and Linum perenne) and one dominant grass species (Festuca rubra ssp. commutata) were selected. One forb species was sown in the centre of each pot and either zero, two or four F. rubra ssp. commutata individuals were planted around it. Above-ground biomass, plant height, leaf length, leaf width, number of leaves and stems were measured. When grown without competitors, each forb species performed differently with only L. perenne exhibiting cultivar vigour. Cultivar forbs were less negatively affected by competition with F. rubra ssp. commutata than their regional counterparts, thus supporting the cultivar vigour hypothesis. Overall, regional F. rubra ssp. commutata suppressed the above-ground biomass of the forbs species more than the cultivar F. rubra ssp. commutata, thus highlighting the potential competitiveness of regional seed. Ultimately, the goals of the restoration project will determine the source of seed material to be used in the project. Due to the complex nature of the issues involved in restoration, it should be considered that the reliance on simple guidelines in relation to the source of seed material used in grassland restoration has its limitations. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:37 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:37 PM Tags: o competitive ability o Dominant species o Grassland restoration o Greenhouse experiment o Subordinate species * An evaluation of United States forest Service prescribed fire regimes in East Texas Type Journal Article Author Trey P. Wall Author Brian P. Oswald Author Kathryn R. Kidd Author Ray L. Darville URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112719304517__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvXxRCOo0$ Volume 449 Pages 117485 Publication Forest Ecology and Management ISSN 0378-1127 Date October 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Forest Ecology and Management DOI 10.1016/j.foreco.2019.117485 Abstract The National Forests and Grasslands in Texas (NFGT) adopted a standardized methodology to collect vegetation data in regards to both short-term and long-term effects of their prescribed fire regimes in Texas National Forests. Using this methodology, 24 research plots were installed in six unique forest cover/monitoring types in East Texas on the Sam Houston, Davy Crockett, and Angelina/Sabine National Forests. Each forest has defined objectives and target goals based on forest composition and cover type. The effectiveness of existing burn regimes and prescriptions was analyzed using data collected between 2015 and 2018 and comparing outcomes to the ecosystem-specific objectives outlined by NFGT. Ecosystem-specific objectives include parameters regarding fuel loads, litter depth, percent herbaceous cover, and understory woody stem density. Under current burn practices, the majority (85%) of objectives are not being met. Our findings suggest there is need to review or modify existing definitions and verify if current objectives are realistically achievable. Linear curve predictive models display a strong correlation between overstory density and litter weight. The models illustrate deleterious effects on herbaceous species composition from the encroachment of woody stems, as well as the benefits of frequent prescribed burns for improving herbaceous composition while reducing understory woody stem intrusion. Recommendations include altering current burn seasons and ignition patterns to be more analogous to historical standards, as well as reducing overstory tree basal area to more effectively obtain desired stand conditions and meet the defined ecosystem-specific objectives. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:39 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:39 PM Tags: o Ecosystem restoration o Fire effects monitoring o National Forests and Grasslands in Texas o Prescribed fire o United States Forest Service * Water infrastructures in the U.S./Mexico borderlands Type Journal Article Author Casey Walsh URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1890/ES12-00268.1__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvH5UKK5M$ Volume 4 Issue 1 Pages art8 Publication Ecosphere ISSN 2150-8925 Date January 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Ecosphere DOI 10.1890/ES12-00268.1 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract This article discusses the infrastructures involved in the management and use of water in the borderlands of Mexico and the United States. I maintain that both the physical works and the institutions of water management should be understood as infrastructures, and locate infrastructures within larger political and economic processes. Archaeological, historical and ethnographic literature on irrigation in the borderlands provides data about the evolution and functioning of small- and large-scale infrastructures. Since European contact, water infrastructures have enabled different regimes of accumulation to grow, overlap and decline: mining; ranching; agriculture; urbanization and industry; and the service economy. This process continues into the twenty first century, and changes to infrastructures that respond to current issues of scarcity and conflict must be understood in relation to this material history. I argue that in the present conjuncture new infrastructures must be developed to confront unsustainability, and the management and knowledge of these must be decentralized, democratic, and collective. Date Added 2020-03-12, 4:06:19 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 4:06:19 PM Tags: o infrastructure o irrigation o regimes of accumulation o Special Feature: Sustainability on the U.S./Mexico Border o water culture Notes: o doi: 10.1890/ES12-00268.1 * Comparison of Reclamation Techniques to Re-establish Western White Pine on Smelter-impacted Hillsides in Idaho Type Journal Article Author James R. Walsh Author Edward F. Redente URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2010.00750.x__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvi6uSjj0$ Rights © 2010 Society for Ecological Restoration International Volume 19 Issue 201 Pages 141-150 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2011 DOI 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2010.00750.x Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:22:43 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract In the spring of 1991, a study was initiated to identify techniques that could be used to reclaim steep hillsides at the Bunker Hill Superfund site with low pH soils and elevated concentrations of heavy metals near an old smelter site. Treatments included fertilizer to alleviate nutrient deficiencies, lime to raise soil pH, wood chips to increase organic matter content, and mulching to improve plant establishment and reduce erosion. Plots were planted to Pinus monticola (western white pine) seedlings alone and in combination with four species of shrubs. A mixture of eight grasses was also seeded on some plots planted to trees and shrubs to provide ground cover for erosion control. Overall, white pine survival averaged 60–80% in the best treatments after five growing seasons. The height of white pine transplants ranged between 37.1 and 69.5 cm after five years of growth across all treatments and sites which are comparable to growth rates reported elsewhere for this species. White pine survival and growth was greatest on the control, phosphorus, and lime treatments and lowest on treatments that received organic matter as an amendment primarily due to the competitive influence of herbaceous plants as opposed to any particular soil amendment. Treatments that supported high amounts of grass cover had poor white pine survival and growth, while treatments with low amounts of grass cover had high white pine survival. A combination of lime and N, P, and K fertilizer is recommended as the appropriate treatment to restore white pine in this type of environment. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:22:43 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:22:43 PM Tags: o disturbance o metal toxicity o organic amendments o Pinus monticola o reforestation Attachments o Snapshot * Long-Term Grazing Exclusion Improves the Composition and Stability of Soil Organic Matter in Inner Mongolian Grasslands Type Journal Article Author Chunyan Wang Author Nianpeng He Author Jinjing Zhang Author Yuliang Lv Author Li Wang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0128837__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvUshoxpU$ Volume 10 Issue 6 Pages e0128837 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Jun 9, 2015 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0128837 Accessed 2020-03-12, 3:23:22 PM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract Alteration of the composition of soil organic matter (SOM) in Inner Mongolian grassland soils associated with the duration of grazing exclusion (GE) has been considered an important index for evaluating the restoring effects of GE practice. By using five plots from a grassland succession series from free grazing to 31-year GE, we measured the content of soil organic carbon (SOC), humic acid carbon (HAC), fulvic acid carbon (FAC), humin carbon (HUC), and humic acid structure to evaluate the changes in SOM composition. The results showed that SOC, HUC, and the ratios of HAC/FAC and HAC/extractable humus carbon (C) increased significantly with prolonged GE duration, and their relationships can be well fitted by positive exponential equations, except for FAC. In contrast, the HAC content increased logarithmically with prolonged GE duration. Long-term GE enhanced the content of SOC and soil humification, which was obvious after more than 10 years of GE. Solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy showed that the ratios of alkyl C/O-alkyl C first decreased, and then remained stable with prolonged GE. Alternately, the ratios of aromaticity and hydrophobicity first increased, and then were maintained at relatively stable levels. Thus, a decade of GE improved the composition and structure of SOM in semiarid grassland soil and made it more stable. These findings provide new evidence to support the positive effects of long-term GE on soil SOC sequestration in the Inner Mongolian grasslands, in view of the improvement of SOM structure and stability. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:23:22 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:23:22 PM Tags: o Agricultural soil science o Carbon sequestration o Distillation o Ecosystems o Erosion o Grasslands o Grazing o Solid-state NMR spectroscopy Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Value Assessment of Ecosystem Services in Nature Reserves in Ningxia, China: A Response to Ecological Restoration Type Journal Article Author Yan Wang Author Jixi Gao Author Jinsheng Wang Author Jie Qiu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0089174__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvx76pJWc$ Volume 9 Issue 2 Pages e89174 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Feb 19, 2014 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0089174 Accessed 2020-03-12, 3:30:15 PM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract Changes in land use can cause significant changes in the ecosystem structure and process variation of ecosystem services. This study presents a detailed spatial, quantitative assessment of the variation in the value of ecosystem services based on land use change in national nature reserves of the Ningxia autonomous region in China. We used areas of land use types calculated from the remote sensing data and the adjusted value coefficients to assess the value of ecosystem services for the years 2000, 2005, and 2010, analyzing the fluctuations in the valuation of ecosystem services in response to land use change. With increases in the areas of forest land and water bodies, the value of ecosystem services increased from 182.3×107 to 223.8×107 US$ during 2000–2010. Grassland and forest land accounted for 90% of this increase. The values of all ecosystem services increased during this period, especially the value of ecosystem services for biodiversity protection and soil formation and protection. Ecological restoration in the reserves had a positive effect on the value of ecosystem services during 2000–2010. Short Title Value Assessment of Ecosystem Services in Nature Reserves in Ningxia, China Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:30:15 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:30:15 PM Tags: o Biodiversity o Ecosystems o Forest ecology o Grasslands o Land use o Restoration ecology o Surface water o Wetlands Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Vertical Profiles of Soil Water Content as Influenced by Environmental Factors in a Small Catchment on the Hilly-Gully Loess Plateau Type Journal Article Author Bing Wang Author Fenxiang Wen Author Jiangtao Wu Author Xiaojun Wang Author Yani Hu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0109546__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv1dTPERQ$ Volume 9 Issue 10 Pages e109546 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Oct 14, 2014 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0109546 Accessed 2020-03-12, 3:31:06 PM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract Characterization of soil water content (SWC) profiles at catchment scale has profound implications for understanding hydrological processes of the terrestrial water cycle, thereby contributing to sustainable water management and ecological restoration in arid and semi-arid regions. This study described the vertical profiles of SWC at the small catchment scale on the hilly and gully Loess Plateau in Northeast China, and evaluated the influences of selected environmental factors (land-use type, topography and landform) on average SWC within 300 cm depth. Soils were sampled from 101 points across a small catchment before and after the rainy season. Cluster analysis showed that soil profiles with high-level SWC in a stable trend (from top to bottom) were most commonly present in the catchment, especially in the gully related to terrace. Woodland soil profiles had low-level SWC with vertical variations in a descending or stable trend. Most abandoned farmland and grassland soil profiles had medium-level SWC with vertical variations in varying trends. No soil profiles had low-level SWC with vertical variations in an ascending trend. Multi-regression analysis showed that average SWC was significantly affected by land-use type in different soil layers (0–20, 20–160, and 160–300 cm), generally in descending order of terrace, abandoned farmland, grassland, and woodland. There was a significant negative correlation between average SWC and gradient along the whole profile (P<0.05). Landform significantly affected SWC in the surface soil layer (0–20 cm) before the rainy season but throughout the whole profile after the rainy season, with lower levels on the ridge than in the gully. Altitude only strongly affected SWC after the rainy season. The results indicated that land-use type, gradient, landform, and altitude should be considered in spatial SWC estimation and sustainable water management in these small catchments on the Loess Plateau as well as in other complex terrains with similar settings. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:31:06 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:31:06 PM Tags: o Agricultural soil science o Clustering algorithms o Grasslands o Landforms o Loess o Plateaus o Soil ecology o Water resources Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Grazing management options for restoration of alpine grasslands on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Type Journal Article Author Yingxin Wang Author Yi Sun Author Zhaofeng Wang Author Shenghua Chang Author Fujiang Hou URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.2515__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvdu3Sz2k$ Volume 9 Issue 11 Pages e02515 Publication Ecosphere ISSN 2150-8925 Date November 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Ecosphere DOI 10.1002/ecs2.2515 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Abstract In an attempt to alleviate the problem of grassland degradation on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in China, state and local authorities in 2003, initiated the ?Retire Livestock and Restore Pastures? ecological engineering program, requiring the use of enclosure fencing to enable grazing exclusion and rotational grazing. A five-year controlled grazing experiment was conducted to determine the effects of this program on (1) sheep live weight gain; and (2a) standing herbage biomass; and (2b) species diversity. Effects of temporal within-year variation in precipitation and temperature on livestock productivity, standing herbage biomass, and species diversity were also investigated. At the end of 5 yr, grazing exclusion showed no significant difference in standing herbage biomass or in species diversity, compared with either continuous grazing or rotational grazing. Rotational grazing at the high stocking rate significantly promoted sheep live weight gain per hectare, but not per sheep; neither standing herbage biomass, nor species diversity, whether under continuous (i.e., traditional) or rotational grazing, showed a significant difference. Under rotational grazing, higher standing herbage biomass and species diversity were required to maintain or increase sheep liveweight, compared with continuous grazing. Temporal distribution of precipitation and temperature had more influence on alpine grassland parameters, than did grazing. Results of this study suggest that herders? local traditional knowledge and expertise might be useful in modifying Government guidelines to fine tune grazing management with the dynamics of the alpine meadow ecosystem, and that it is important to consider equilibrium and non-equilibrium theory in formulating a policy which benefits both herders and grassland. Traditional continuous grazing at a carefully chosen light stocking rate appears to be the most appropriate way to manage livestock and grassland in this region. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:52:01 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:52:01 PM Tags: o plant diversity o alpine grassland o climate factors o grassland policies o grazing exclusion o rotational grazing o sheep productivity Notes: o doi: 10.1002/ecs2.2515 * Land Management History of Canadian Grasslands and the Impact on Soil Carbon Storage Type Journal Article Author Xiaoyu. Wang Author A. J. VandenBygaart Author Brian C. McConkey URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S155074241450070X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvjHn6gMk$ Volume 67 Issue 4 Pages 333-343 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date July 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/REM-D-14-00006.1 Accessed 2020-03-17, 6:05:00 PM Library Catalog ScienceDirect Language en Abstract Grasslands represent a large potential reservoir in storing carbon (C) in plant biomass and soil organic matter via C sequestration, but the potential greatly depends on how grasslands are managed, especially for livestock and wild animal grazing. Positive and negative grazing effects on soil organic carbon have been reported by various studies globally, but it is not known if Canadian grasslands function as a source or a sink for atmospheric C under current management practices. This article examines the effect of grassland management on carbon storage by compiling historical range management facts and measurements from multiple experiments. Results indicate that grazing on grasslands has contributed to a net C sink in the top 15-cm depth under current utilization regimes with a removal rate of CO2 at 0.19± Mg · C · ha-1 · yr-1 from the atmosphere during recent decades, and net C sequestration was estimated at 5.64± Mg · C · ha-1 on average. Naturalization of 2.3M ha of previously cultivated grasslands in the 1930s has also led to C sequestration in the Canadian prairies but has likely abated as the pool has saturated. Efforts made by researchers, policymakers, and the public has successfully led to the restoration of the Canadian prairies to a healthier state and to achieve considerable C sequestration in soils since their severe deterioration in the 1930s. In-depth analysis of management, legislation, and agricultural programs is urgently needed to place the focus on maintaining range health and achieving more C storage in soils, particularly when facing the reduced potential for further C sequestration. Date Added 2020-03-17, 6:05:00 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:58:37 PM Tags: o Canadian grazing grasslands o cultivation abandonment o grassland carbon restoration o grassland deterioration o naturalized grasslands o soil carbon sequestration Attachments o ScienceDirect Snapshot * Restoration Practices Affect Alpine Meadow Ecosystem Coupling and Functions Type Journal Article Author Yingxin Wang Author Yi Sun Author Shenghua Chang Author Zhaofeng Wang Author Hua Fu Author Weiguo Zhang Author Fujiang Hou URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S155074242030004X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvQ7yqx0M$ Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date February 25, 2020 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2020.01.004 Abstract Degradation of alpine meadows on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau is an important issue for ecological science, policy making, and the welfare of local herders. Destruction of alpine meadows results from degeneration of vegetation and soil systems and from the mechanical decoupling of the environment, grassland, livestock, and herders and, subsequently, discordance among these subsystems. In this study, systematic integration of restoration techniques based on the grassland agroecosystems coupling theory was developed for the management and restoration of degraded alpine meadows. To test the effectiveness of these integrated restoration techniques, we conducted restoration trials that included grazing management, enclosed, fertilization, overseeding, and sward ripping by evaluating the ecosystem coupling of soil, plant and livestock, and ecosystem functions. The results of this study suggest that comprehensive restoration practices include grazing and agronomy techniques (fertilizer, overseeding, and sward ripping) that result in the greatest level of ecosystem coupling, while the single restoration practice leads to poorly coupled ecosystems. Restoration practice changes in ecosystem functionality are positively related to changes in ecosystem coupling. Our results highlight the importance of diversified restoration practices for facilitating ecological coupling and functioning in the degraded alpine meadow. The restorative scheme also bridges the gap between restoration theory and practice by providing guidelines for herders and policy makers for the urgent task of restoring degraded alpine meadows. Date Added 2020-03-17, 6:59:59 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:58:41 PM Tags: o coupling theory o degraded alpine meadow o ecosystem coupling o ecosystem functioning o grazing o restoration practice * Land-use conversion and its attribution in the Kaidu–Kongqi River Basin, China Type Journal Article Author Yang Wang Author Yaning Chen Author Jianli Ding Author Gonghuan Fang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1040618214007538__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvo9DRZ6Y$ Volume 380-381 Pages 216-223 Publication Larger Asian Rivers 8: Impacts from human activities and climate change ISSN 1040-6182 Date September 4, 2015 Journal Abbr Quaternary International DOI 10.1016/j.quaint.2014.10.010 Abstract In the past 50 years, the Kaidu–Kongqi River Basin (KKRB) in the arid region of northwest China (ARNC) has experienced drastic climate variability. Meanwhile, from 2000 to 2013, the growths of population and socioeconomic development in the area were drastic, along with much more intensive water management activities. These factors may have caused considerable land use/cover change (LUCC) in the area. Based on the land use/cover classification data derived from the Landsat TM imageries in 1990, 2000, and 2010, as well as the governmental socioeconomic statistics and field observation data, this study investigated the LUCC in the KKRB during 1990–2010. The findings include: (1) The LUCC in the Kaidu–Kongqi River Basin was considerable during the study period, and this change was largely limited to the grassland and cultivated land. The natural grassland in the area decreased with a rate of 118.1 km2/y, whereas the cultivated land increased with a rate of 79.2 km2/y. The rapid expansion of cultivated land was mainly sourced from reclamations of wasteland and natural grassland. (2) The LUCC has been resulted from the interaction of natural environmental changes and human activities. The changing runoff affected by climate change has played a fundamental role in land use conversion. The human activity intensity index value rose from 0.75 for 1990–2000 to 0.88 for 2000–2010. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:40 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:58:39 PM Tags: o Climate change o Human activities o Oasis cultivated land evolution * Response of deep soil drought to precipitation, land use and topography across a semiarid watershed Type Journal Article Author Yunqiang Wang Author Ming'an Shao Author Hui Sun Author Zihuan Fu Author Jun Fan Author Wei Hu Author Linchuan Fang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168192319304824__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvptUbPzs$ Volume 282-283 Pages 107866 Publication Agricultural and Forest Meteorology ISSN 0168-1923 Date March 15, 2020 Journal Abbr Agricultural and Forest Meteorology DOI 10.1016/j.agrformet.2019.107866 Abstract Soil drought caused by climatic change and/or poor land management in arid and semi-arid regions are seldom recognised due to a lack of comparative data on soil moisture (SM) in soil profiles. This lack of information endangers the sustainability of these fragile ecosystems. The current study assessed spatial-temporal variations of soil drought, as indicated by dried soil layers (DSL), at a watershed scale, and tested the hypothesis that soil drought in deep profiles is controlled by the combined effects of meteorological processes, land use, and topography. We measured SM to a depth of 500 cm on 20 occasions at 73 locations from 2013 to 2016 at a small watershed on the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP). We also collected data on possible environmental factors including meteorological variables, land use, topographical elements, and soil properties. The DSLs occurred at > 90% of the sampling sites within the watershed, and the spatially and temporally averaged DSL formation depth (DSLFD), DSL thickness (DSLT) and soil water content within the DSL (DSL-SWC) were 125 cm, 257 cm, and 10.4%, respectively. This suggests that 51.4% of the 500-cm-profile is drying out below 125 cm. The DSLFD, DSLT and DSL-SWC demonstrated a moderate degree of variability (20% < CV < 84%) in space, and showed a moderate, moderate and weak temporal variability, in time, respectively. The temporal series of the mean spatial DSLT and DSLFD were significantly correlated with climatic variables. The spatial variation of the mean temporal DSL-SWC differed significantly among the land uses and between shaded and sunlit aspects. We found that plan curvature, slope gradient, clay and silt content regulated DSLs in both space and time. This result verified our hypothesis that meteorological processes, land use, and topography play an essential role in shaping DSL variation and distribution pattern. Taking DSL reclamation into account in the study area, grassland would be the optimum land use type. Understanding this information is helpful for watershed soil and water conservation, and soil drought meditation via the best management practices in the CLP and other water-limited regions with deep soils. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:52 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:58:43 PM Tags: o Deep soils o Land use o Meteorological variables o Soil texture o The Loess Plateau o Topography * Quantitative assess the driving forces on the grassland degradation in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, in China Type Journal Article Author Zhaoqi Wang Author Yanzhen Zhang Author Yue Yang Author Wei Zhou Author Chencheng Gang Author Ying Zhang Author Jianlong Li Author Ru An Author Ke Wang Author Inakwu Odeh Author Jiaguo Qi URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1574954116300279__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvKhE_h2k$ Volume 33 Pages 32-44 Publication Ecological Informatics ISSN 1574-9541 Date May 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Ecological Informatics DOI 10.1016/j.ecoinf.2016.03.006 Abstract Grassland degradation in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP), has attracted considerable concern because of its negative influence on the development of the local economy and the ecological security of China. Climate and human activities are considered as the main driving forces of grassland degradation. However, distinguishing their respective contributions to grassland degradation is a challenge. This study used the Carnegie–Ames–Stanford Approach model, which coupling remote sensing (e.g. NDVI, LAI, near and mid-infrared bands) and meteorological data (precipitation, temperature and radiation), was adopted to simulate the actual and potential NPP in the QTP from 2001 to 2013. The difference between potential NPP and actual NPP was used to represent the influence of human activities. Results showed that nearly 38.8% of the total grassland area underwent degradation, whereas 61.2% experienced restoration. Furthermore, 56.7% of the degraded grassland areas were influenced by climate, and 19.9% were affected by human activities. The restored areas induced by human activities, climate variation, and the combination of the two factors accounted for 28.6%, 12.8% and 19.9% with an increases in NPP of 5923.4, 3188.1 and 5959.2GgC, respectively. Therefore, climate was the principal driving force of grassland degradation, whereas human activities were the dominant factor in grassland restoration. Climate and human activities, as the potential driving force in grassland NPP variations, should be fully understood by a long term monitoring and the main causes exploring in its dynamics. In addition, the uncertainty of the driving forces should be clarifying immediately in the future, and provide scientific basis for policies and plans making in grassland management. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:32 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:32 PM Tags: o Climate variation o Grassland degradation o Human activities o Net primary production o Qinghai–Tibet Plateau * Regional water-energy cycle response to land use/cover change in the agro-pastoral ecotone, Northwest China Type Journal Article Author Xuejin Wang Author Baoqing Zhang Author Xuefeng Xu Author Jie Tian Author Chansheng He URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022169419309813__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvVX6nWZo$ Volume 580 Pages 124246 Publication Journal of Hydrology ISSN 0022-1694 Date January 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Journal of Hydrology DOI 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2019.124246 Abstract A better understanding of responses of the regional water-energy cycle to land use/cover change (LUCC) is important for ecological restoration in the agro-pastoral ecotone, Northwest China (APENWC). In this study, we examined the responses to various types of LUCC in the APENWC during the implementation of the Grain-for-Green project between 1993 and 2010 using the weather research and forecasting (WRF) model. The performance of the WRF model was validated by multiple types of observations. Results show that the WRF can accurately simulate regional water and energy processes in the APENWC, and that the water-energy cycles in the region are strongly affected by vegetation dynamics. During the period of 1993 and 2010, the most obviously increased land cover types were the grassland and barren land, and the decreased land cover types were shrublands and croplands in the study region. A significantly negative correlation (R2 = 0.78) between land surface temperature (LST) and albedo was found, associated with a 0.5 °C reduction in the annual mean surface temperature in the APENWC between 1993 and 2010. Negative correlations between changes in evapotranspiration (ET) and albedo during the period in all seasons were also detected, except summer, when the correlation was positive (R2 = 0.49). This is attributed to transpiration from plants being the main contributor to ET in summer and, hence total ET. The changes resulted in an increase of ET by 19.79 mm in summer, and decreases of ET by 1.15 mm, 13.22 mm, and 0.96 mm, respectively, in spring, fall, and winter. The LUCC also resulted in reductions in precipitation (of 2.3, 7.31, and 7.8 mm in spring, summer, and fall, respectively) by altering local ET and vapor flux cycles in the APENWC, and the study region contributed additional moisture from the local ET into the north of the region. The findings show that the grassland expansion reduces mean land surface temperature, which will delay germination of seeds and initiation of vegetation growth in spring. Increases in seasonal ET and reductions in seasonal precipitation will lead to soil drying, exacerbating risks of summer drought in the APENWC. The findings provide important information in facilitating formulation of effective strategies for sustainable development and ecological restoration in the APENWC and similar regions. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:17 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:17 PM Tags: o Evapotranspiration o Land surface temperature o Land use/cover change o Land-atmosphere interaction o Precipitation * Soil organic carbon sequestration potential of artificial and natural vegetation in the hilly regions of Loess Plateau Type Journal Article Author Zhiqi Wang Author Shengli Guo Author Qiqi Sun Author Nana Li Author Jishao Jiang Author Rui Wang Author Yanjun Zhang Author Qingfang Liu Author Defeng Wu Author Rujian Li Author Lanlan Du Author Man Zhao URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857415300495__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvjhtmxm0$ Volume 82 Pages 547-554 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date September 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2015.05.031 Abstract The objectives of this study were (i) to determine the stock and distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC) and the quantity and quality of fine root; and (ii) the correlation between SOC stock and fine root quantity and quality in soils of artificial and natural vegetation in the Loess Plateau. Three vegetation types (grassland, shrubland and woodland) and two restoration approaches (artificially and naturally restored from cropland) were investigated in the Yangou watershed of the Loess Plateau. SOC stock, fine root biomass and root C/N ratio at the 0–20, 20–40, 40–60, 60–80, and 80–100cm depths were determined. The mean SOC stock of natural vegetation at the 0–100cm depth was significantly greater than that of artificial vegetation, with an increase of 100% for woodland, 15% for shrubland, and 23% for grassland. Natural vegetation restoration led to a significantly greater SOC stock up to a depth of 100cm for woodland, 40cm for shrubland, and 40cm for grassland. The fine root biomass of natural vegetation at the 0–100cm depth was also significantly greater than that of artificial vegetation, with an increase of 170% for woodland, 140% for shrubland, and 20% for grassland. Natural vegetation restoration led to a significantly greater fine root biomass up to a depth of 100cm for woodland, 60cm for shrubland, and only 20cm for grassland. There was a significant linear correlation between SOC stock and fine root biomass. Thus, natural vegetation restoration could lead to a significantly greater SOC stock, fine root biomass, and fine root C/N ratio than the artificial vegetation restoration. Fine root was an important factor influencing the differences in the SOC stock between artificial and natural vegetation. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:22 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:22 PM Tags: o Fine root biomass o Loess Plateau o Natural and artificial vegetation restoration o SOC stock * Precipitation gradient determines the tradeoff between soil moisture and soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, and species richness in the Loess Plateau, China Type Journal Article Author Cong Wang Author Shuai Wang Author Bojie Fu Author Zongshan Li Author Xing Wu Author Qiang Tang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969716322136__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvyarvwlo$ Volume 575 Pages 1538-1545 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date January 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.10.047 Abstract A tight coupling exists between biogeochemical cycles and water availability in drylands. However, studies regarding the coupling among soil moisture (SM), soil carbon/nitrogen, and plants are rare in the literature, and clarifying these relationships changing with climate gradient is challenging. Thus, soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and species richness (SR) were selected as soil-plant system variables, and the tradeoff relationships between SM and these variables and their variations along the precipitation gradient were quantified in the Loess Plateau, China. Results showed these variables increased linearly along the precipitation gradient in the woodland, shrubland, and grassland, respectively, except for the SR in the woodland and grassland, and SOC in the grassland (p>0.05). Correlation analysis showed that the SM-SOC and SM-TN tradeoffs were significantly correlated with mean annual precipitation (MAP) across the three vegetation types, and SM-SR tradeoff was significantly correlated with MAP in grassland and woodland. The linear piece-wise quantile regression was applied to determine the inflection points of these tradeoffs responses to the precipitation gradient. The inflection point for the SM-SOC tradeoff was detected at MAP=570mm; no inflection point was detected for SM-TN tradeoff; SM-SR tradeoff variation trends were different in the woodland and grassland, and the inflection points were detected at MAP=380mm and MAP=570mm, respectively. Before the turning point, constraint exerted by soil moisture on SOC and SR existed in the relatively arid regions, while the constraint disappears or is lessened in the relatively humid regions in this study. The results demonstrate the tradeoff revealed obvious trends along the precipitation gradient and were affected by vegetation type. Consequently, tradeoffs could be an ecological indicator and tool for restoration management in the Loess Plateau. In further study, the mechanism of how the tradeoff is affected by the precipitation gradient and vegetation type should be clarified. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:46 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:46 PM Tags: o Loess Plateau o Precipitation gradient o Restoration management o Soil-plant system o Tradeoff analysis * Variation in soil erodibility under five typical land uses in a small watershed on the Loess Plateau, China Type Journal Article Author Hao Wang Author Guang-hui Zhang Author Ning-ning Li Author Bao-jun Zhang Author Han-yue Yang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816218304909__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvXdUOtpQ$ Volume 174 Pages 24-35 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date March 1, 2019 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2018.11.003 Abstract The adjustment of land use can alter the near soil surface characteristics and thus likely affects soil erodibility. However, few studies have been carried out to assess the variations in soil erodibility under different land uses on the Loess Plateau after many slope farmlands have been converted to green lands in the past several decades. This study was conducted to quantify comprehensively the effects of five typical land uses (cropland, orchard, grassland, shrubland and woodland) on soil erodibility based on soil cohesion (Coh), saturated conductivity (Ks), the number of drop impact (NDI), the mean weight diameter of soil aggregates (MWD), soil penetration resistance (PR) and soil erodibility K factor from different aspects, as well as a comprehensive soil erodibility index (CSEI) produced by a weighted summation method. The results showed that Coh of grassland, Ks of woodland, and MWD and NDI of shrubland were the maximum, while PR of woodland and K of shrubland were the minimum among five tested land uses. Soil erodibility (reflected by CSEI) of shrubland was the minimum, while cropland had the maximum CSEI. Compared to cropland, soil erodibility decreased by 15.5%, 53.0%, 77.2% and 59.6% for orchard, grassland, shrubland and woodland, respectively. The variation in soil erodibility under different land uses was closely related to near soil surface characteristics. Soil erodibility increased with soil bulk density, and decreased with biological soil crust thickness, organic matter content, plant litter density, and root density. The results are helpful for optimizing spatial planning and improving eco-environment on the Loess Plateau. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:47 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:47 PM Tags: o Land use o Near soil surface characteristics o Soil erodibility o The loess plateau o Vegetation restoration * Effects of reforestation on plant species diversity on the Loess Plateau of China: A case study in Danangou catchment Type Journal Article Author Jing Wang Author Wenwu Zhao Author Xiao Zhang Author Yue Liu Author Shuai Wang Author Yanxu Liu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969718337161__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv0arXBD4$ Volume 651 Pages 979-989 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date February 15, 2019 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.266 Abstract Large-scale vegetation restoration has important impacts on plant species diversity, which then influences plant community stability and resilience. The purpose of this paper is to compare the diversity of plantations as well as the diversity of artificially restored and naturally restored grasslands under different years of recovery and to identify the plots with the highest species diversity by vegetation type and restoration duration to determine strategies for vegetation restoration in hilly and gully regions of the Loess Plateau. Stands of Robinia pseudoacacia and Caragana korshinskii of different ages (10, 20, 30 and 40 years old) in the Danangou catchment on the Loess Plateau of China were selected as a case study to analysis effects of afforestation on the structure and function of ecosystems. The results showed that (1) under different numbers of years of recovery, the species diversity of woodland changes with changes in the coverage of woody plants, and the species diversity of R. pseudoacacia plantations planted on sunny slopes and R. pseudoacacia and C. korshinskii plantations planted on shady slopes reaches its maximum when coverage reaches a minimum value after 20 and 30 years of recovery, respectively; (2) soil moisture (in both shallow and deep layers) is the key factor controlling species diversity in woodlands, as the soil moisture changes with the coverage of woody plants following different numbers of years of recovery, which then influences the species diversity; (3) compared to the woodlands, the natural grassland exhibited higher species diversity under all recovery duration. Therefore, natural recovery is recommended if only species diversity is considered rather than human demand for wood, but if demand for materials is considered, we recommend thinning R. pseudoacacia on sunny and shady slopes at the ages of 10–20 and 10–30 years, respectively. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:54 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:54 PM Tags: o Community stability o Recovery period o Recovery strategy o Vegetation restoration o Vegetation types * Grassland Coverage Changes and Analysis of the Driving Forces in Maqu County Type Journal Article Author Qian Wang Author Qi-peng Zhang Author Wei Zhou URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S187538921201526X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvX9-lEZs$ Volume 33 Pages 1292-1297 Publication 2012 International Conference on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering (ICMPBE2012) ISSN 1875-3892 Date January 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Physics Procedia DOI 10.1016/j.phpro.2012.05.213 Abstract Vegetation coverage is an important indicator of weighting ecological environment; grassland ecosystem plays an important role in regional ecological safety and sustainable development. Statistics was used to analysis the grassland coverage changes in Maqu County. Results showed that: 1) the grassland coverage show decreasing trend overall, and has period characteristics; 2) changes in grass coverage both have positive and negative conversion, depending on using rationality of grassland resource; 3) Climate warming and drying and irrational exploitation activities are the main driving factors of ecological environment deterioration; 4) Prohibition grazing project have obvious effect on grassland restoration. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:59 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:59 PM Tags: o ecological safety o Maqu grassland o sustainable development o Vegetation coverage * Soil nutrients and stoichiometric ratios as affected by land use and lithology at county scale in a karst area, southwest China Type Journal Article Author Miaomiao Wang Author Hongsong Chen Author Wei Zhang Author Kelin Wang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969717332357__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvLr411HQ$ Volume 619-620 Pages 1299-1307 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date April 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.175 Abstract Soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) are the main soil nutrients required for plant development and their stoichiometric ratios are important indicators of ecosystem functions. However, there have been few studies on the effects of land use and lithology on soil nutrients and stoichiometric ratios, especially in karst areas with extremely fragile geology and intensive human disturbance. To evaluate the synergistic effect of land use and lithology, soil samples at depth of 0–15cm were collected from five land-use types (arable land, plantation forest, grassland, shrubland, and secondary forest) over three lithologies (karst dolomite and limestone and non-karst clasolite) in a typical karst area in southwest China. For natural succession, grassland, shrubland, and secondary forest corresponded to the early, middle, and late successional stage after agricultural abandonment, while from arable land to plantation forest can be treated as a manual reversion after agricultural abandonment. The results showed that, in dolomite, soil organic C (SOC) and total N (TN) increased continuously with natural succession and increased in plantation forest compared to arable land. Total P (TP) continued to decrease from arable land to grassland and then to shrubland. In limestone, SOC and TN did not follow the same pattern because SOC and TN were slightly higher in grassland than shrubland, while TN was slightly lower in plantation forest compared to arable land. TP was remarkably higher in arable land than the other land-use types. For clasolite, SOC was highest in grassland, while TN was not significantly different among land-use types. Compared to arable land, TP was lower in other types of land use. These soil nutrient characteristics led to various stoichiometric ratios under the five land-use types over different lithologies. Therefore, ecological restoration projects based on land use conversion should consider differences in regional lithology and human disturbance. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:43 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:43 PM Tags: o Clasolite o County scale o Dolomite o Karst o Limestone o Soil properties * Effects of the Grain for Green Program on the water ecosystem services in an arid area of China—Using the Shiyang River Basin as an example Type Journal Article Author Yuchun Wang Author Jun Zhao Author Jiewen Fu Author Wei Wei URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X19303905__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvbhXCjHw$ Volume 104 Pages 659-668 Publication Ecological Indicators ISSN 1470-160X Date September 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2019.05.045 Abstract The Grain for Green Program (GFGP) is one of the largest land restoration/afforestation and one of the most ambitious ecosystem conservation programmes in the world; the programme has altered the land-use pattern and exerted a significant influence on the ecosystem services. Water ecosystem services are important for arid and semiarid China, however, few of the researchers tried to quantify the effect of GFGP on water ecosystem services. The Shiyang River Basin is one of the key areas of GFGP implementation in the arid region of northwest China. We used the integrated valuation of ecosystem services and trade-offs (InVEST) model to quantitatively evaluate the changes in water yield and water conservation of water ecosystem services during the implementation of the GFGP from 2000 to 2015. The results indicate the following: 1) Land use/cover patterns in Shiyang River Basin have changed dramatically after the implementation of GFGP. Forest and grassland has increased significantly. 2) The average water yield depth and the total water yield decreased from 56.4 mm/year to 55.89 mm/year and 22.88 × 108 m3/year to 22.68 × 108 m3/year, respectively, and the average water conservation capacity and total water conservation increased from 16.90 mm/year to 17.99 mm/year and 6.86 × 108 m3/year to 7.30 × 108 m3/year, respectively. 3) The total water yield and total water conservation of forest and grassland increased, due to the increasing area of forest and grassland. 4) Thanks to the adoption of relatively rational land-use conversion patterns, at regional scale, the implementation of GFGP improved water conservation and did not result in a significant reduction of water yield in Shiyang River Basin. Results underline the importance of selecting appropriate land-use conversion types in order to achieve sustainable provision of ecosystem services at the regional scale. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:44 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:44 PM Tags: o Arid area of China o Grain-for-Green Program o InVEST model o Water conservation o Water yield * Grazing exclusion effects on above- and below-ground C and N pools of typical grassland on the Loess Plateau (China) Type Journal Article Author Dong Wang Author Gao-Lin Wu Author Yuan-Jun Zhu Author Zhi-Hua Shi URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816214002240__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvcgjTLE4$ Volume 123 Pages 113-120 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date December 1, 2014 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2014.07.018 Abstract Fencing with grazing exclusion is an effective grassland restoration and management practice used to achieve sustainability of grassland ecosystems worldwide. However, how the fencing with grazing exclusion affects ecosystem services related to carbon and nitrogen dynamics in grassland ecosystems has remained controversial over the past two decades. We investigated plant biomass, diversity and function groups, as well as soil bulk density, pH, soil carbon and nitrogen contents and the carbon/nitrogen ratio within the upper 0–1m soil layer in fenced grassland with grazing exclusion and in grazed grassland on the Loess Plateau (China) in 2012 and 2013. We estimated the carbon and nitrogen pools of the plants and soils to determine how the grazing exclusion affected them. Results showed that soil carbon content in the topsoil, plant biomass and diversity, and grasses increased, while bulk density, pH and forbs decreased after grazing exclusion. The increases in soil carbon content, the cumulative organic carbon pool and the rate of change in the cumulative organic carbon pool mainly occurred in the upper 20cm soil layer after 8years of grazing exclusion. Our study suggested that the 8-year grazing exclusion had a great influence on the carbon pools, but there were no changes in the soil nitrogen pool. Identifying the main factors that affect the carbon and nitrogen dynamics after grazing exclusion among the soil and plant properties should be given more attention in future studies. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:45 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:45 PM Tags: o Carbon pool o Grazing exclusion o Nitrogen pool o Plant–soil interface o Semi-arid grassland * Effects of vegetation restoration on soil organic carbon sequestration at multiple scales in semi-arid Loess Plateau, China Type Journal Article Author Yafeng Wang Author Bojie Fu Author Yihe Lü Author Liding Chen URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816210001803__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvb4wW1DQ$ Volume 85 Issue 1 Pages 58-66 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date April 1, 2011 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2010.12.003 Abstract Soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration by vegetation restoration is the theme of much current research. Since 1999, the program of “Grain for Green”has been implemented in the semi-arid Loess Plateau, China. Its scope represents the largest vegetation restoration activity in China. However, it is still unclear for the SOC sequestration effects of vegetation cover change or natural succession promoted by the revegetation efforts at different scales under the semi-arid conditions. In this study, the changes in SOC stocks due to the vegetation restoration in the middle of Loess Plateau were estimated at patch, hill slope transect and small watershed scale from 1998 to 2006. Soil samples were taken from field for the determination of cesium-137 (137Cs) and SOC contents. Vegetation cover change from 1998 to 2006 at the small watershed scale was assessed using Geographic Information System. The results showed that cropland transforming to grassland or shrubland significantly increased SOC at patch scale. Immature woodland, however, has no significant effect. When vegetation cover has no transformation for mature woodland (25years old), SOC has no significant increase implying that SOC has come to a stable level. At hill slope scale, three typical vegetation cover patterns showed different SOC sequestration effects of 8.6%, 24.6%, and 21.4% from 1998 to 2006, and these SOC increases mainly resulted from revegetation. At the small watershed scale, SOC stocks increased by 19% in the surface soil layer at 0–20cm soil depth from 1998 to 2006, which was equivalent to an average SOC sequestration rate of 19.92tCy−1 km−2. Meanwhile, SOC contents showed a significant positive correlation (P<0.001) with the 137Cs inventory at every soil depth interval. This implied significant negative impacts of soil erosion on SOC sequestration. The results have demonstrated general positive effects of vegetation restoration on SOC sequestration at multiple scales. However, soil erosion under rugged topography modified the spatial distribution of the SOC sequestration effects. Therefore, vegetation restoration was proved to be a significant carbon sink, whereas, erosion could be a carbon source in high erosion sensitive regions. This research can contribute to the performance assessment of ecological rehabilitation projects such as “Grain to Green” and the scientific understanding of the impacts of vegetation restoration and soil erosion on soil carbon dynamics in semi-arid environments. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:47 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:47 PM Tags: o Cesium-137 o Ecological restoration o Loess plateau o Multiple scales o Semi-arid environment o Soil erosion o Soil organic carbon o Vegetation cover * Management and land use change effects on soil carbon in northern China's grasslands: a synthesis Type Journal Article Author Shiping Wang Author Andreas Wilkes Author Zhicai Zhang Author Xiaofeng Chang Author Rong Lang Author Yanfen Wang Author Haishan Niu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880911001939__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dveEnci80$ Volume 142 Issue 3 Pages 329-340 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date August 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2011.06.002 Abstract Grasslands cover about 40% of China's land area. This paper synthesizes 133 papers from China on the impacts of land use conversion and improved management practices on soil organic carbon (SOC) in China's grasslands. The synthesis finds that overgrazing and conversion of freely grazed grassland to cropland lead to an annual average decline of 2.3–2.8% in SOC, and have caused a loss of 30–35% of total grassland SOC in China. Improved management practices may reverse the loss of SOC. Exclosure of degraded grassland from grazing and conversion of cropland to abandoned fields (i.e. natural restoration) increased carbon content by 34% and 62% on average. Carbon sequestration rates were greatest during the first 30yr after treatments began and tended to be greatest in the top 10cm of soil. Carbon sequestration potential was negatively related to initial carbon and nitrogen concentrations in soils. Exclosure from grazing and the conversion of cropland to abandoned fields resulted in average carbon sequestration rates of 130.4gCm−2yr−1 for 0–40cm soil and 128.0gCm−2yr−1 for 0–30cm soil, representing annual average increases of 5.4–6.3%. Based on our results, achievement of the national objective to exclude grazing livestock from 150 million ha of China's grasslands and to establish 30 million ha of cultivated pasture by 2020 would sequester over 0.24PgCyr−1, which is equivalent to about 16% of fossil fuel CO2 emissions in China in 2006. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:48 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:48 PM Tags: o Carbon sequestration o Cultivation o Grasslands o Grazing o Land use change o Pasture * Long-term net transformation and quantitative molecular mechanisms of soil nitrogen during natural vegetation recovery of abandoned farmland on the Loess Plateau of China Type Journal Article Author Honglei Wang Author Na Deng Author Duoyang Wu Author Shu Hu Author Meng Kou URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969717317175__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvQHI_SZg$ Volume 607-608 Pages 152-159 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date December 31, 2017 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.07.014 Abstract The availability of nitrogen (N) can alter vegetation species composition and diversity in degraded ecosystems. A comprehensive understanding of the dynamic fate of ammonium (NH4+-N) and nitrate (NO3−-N) processing and the underlying mechanisms are still lacking, particularly in arid to semi-arid degraded ecosystems. We compared and quantified the changes in the rates of net ammonification (Ra), nitrification (Rn) and total mineralization (Rm) and the abundance of bacteria, archaea, and microbial genes related to N transformation on the northern Loess Plateau of China across a 40-year chronosequence of farmland undergoing spontaneous restoration. We found that Ra, Rn, and Rm decreased in grassland soils (0–30-y sites) of different ages and exhibited significant increases at the 40-y sites. The capabilities of the soil to deliver NH4+-N and NO3−-N were not a limiting factor during the growing season after 40years of vegetation recovery. Soil mineral nitrogen may be not suitable for predicting and assessing the long-term (approximately 40years) restoration success and progress. The abundance of functional N genes showed differences in sensitivity to natural vegetation recovery of abandoned farmland, which likely reflects the fact that the multi-pathways driven by N functional microbial communities had a large influence on the dynamic fate of NH4+-N and NO3−-N. Quantitative response relationships between net N transformation rates and microbial genes related to N transformation were established, and these relationships confirmed that different N transformation processes were strongly linked with certain N functional genes, and collaboratively contributed to N transformation as vegetation recovery progressed. Specifically, Ra was controlled by AOA-amoA, AOB-amoA, and nxrA; Rn was governed by napA, narG, nirK, nirS, and nosZ; and Rm was controlled by nifH, apr, AOA-amoA, AOB-amoA, nirS, and nirK. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:50 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:50 PM Tags: o Denitrification o Functional gene o Grassland o Loess Plateau o Nitrification * The effects of a 9-year nitrogen and water addition on soil aggregate phosphorus and sulfur availability in a semi-arid grassland Type Journal Article Author Ruzhen Wang Author Courtney A. Creamer Author Xue Wang Author Peng He Author Zhuwen Xu Author Yong Jiang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X15005841__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvOAJVgF8$ Volume 61 Pages 806-814 Publication Ecological Indicators ISSN 1470-160X Date February 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2015.10.033 Abstract Previous studies have demonstrated that higher nitrogen (N) and water availability affect both above- and below-ground communities, soil carbon and N pools, and microbial activity in semi-arid grasslands of Inner Mongolia. However, how soil phosphorus (P) and sulfur (S) pools, and related soil enzyme activities (as indicators of P and S cycles) respond to long-term N and water addition has still remained unclear. Since 2005, a field experiment with urea and water amendments has been conducted to examine their effects on total and available P and S concentrations and alkaline phosphomonoesterase (PME) and aryl-sulfatase (ArS) activities in three soil aggregate fractions: large macroaggregates (>2mm), small macroaggregates (0.25–2mm), and microaggregates (<0.25mm) in an Inner Mongolia semi-arid grassland. Normalized to aggregate mass, microaggregates retained the highest total P and S concentrations. Both N and water additions increased the available P (by up to 84.5%) and the available S (by up to 150%) in the soil aggregate fractions. Soil acidification, as a result of the N addition, decreased both alkaline PME and ArS activities by up to 62.9% and 39.6%, respectively, while the water addition increased their activities. Our observations revealed that soil acidification (under the N addition) and elevated enzyme activity (under the water addition) played important roles in the levels of soil available P and S. The depression of P- and S-acquiring enzymes with soil acidification may decrease P and S availability, potentially impacting ecosystem processes and limiting the restoration of these grassland systems. The water addition was shown to be a more effective practice than the urea amendment for improving soil structure, supplying available P and S, and maintaining the sustainability of this semi-arid grassland. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:52 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:52 PM Tags: o Global change o Nitrogen deposition o Precipitation increment o Soil extracellular enzymes o Soil phosphorus and sulfur * Changes in soil nutrient and enzyme activities under different vegetations in the Loess Plateau area, Northwest China Type Journal Article Author Bing Wang Author Sha Xue Author Guo Bin Liu Author Guang Hui Zhang Author Gary Li Author Zong Ping Ren URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816211002396__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvfSHw9QY$ Volume 92 Pages 186-195 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date May 1, 2012 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2011.12.004 Abstract This study examined the changes in soil properties and soil quality 30years after cultivated farmland was restored back to forest land in Loess Plateau, China. Specifically, organic matter, total nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), available N, P and Potassium (K) contents in soils were tested and analyzed. In addition, enzyme activities of α-amylase, saccharase, polyphenol oxidase, cellulase, urease, catalase and alkaline phosphatase were also investigated. The study area has mostly been restored, in the past 30years, back to grassland in some parts, and the other parts of forest lands of black locust, korshinsk peashrub, Chinese pine, mixed trees of Chinese pine and amorpha, and mixed trees of black locust and amorpha. Soil properties on a sloped farmland, located in the study area but has not had a chance to be restored, were tested and the result was treated as the soil properties of non-restoration. Soil properties of an 80-year old forest land of Chinese arborvitae were tested and the result was treated as that of a climax community. The study showed that after 30years of restoration, nutrients content in the soil of mixed forest of black locust and amorpha increased significantly. However, nutrients content in the soil of mixed forest of Chinese pine and amorpha decreased. As to soil enzyme activities, saccharase, cellulase, urease, catalase and alkaline phosphatase increased while polyphenol oxidase activity decreased compared to non-restoration and climax community soils. The study also found that the organic matter content was relatively low in the restored soils, compared with not-restored land. This may be caused by the high enzyme activity per unit of organic carbon in the soils of the study area which tends to help decompose and therefore decrease the organic matter in soil. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:04 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:04 PM Tags: o Land use o Loess plateau o Soil enzymes o Soil nutrients o Vegetation restoration * Promise and reality of market-based environmental policy in China: Empirical analyses of the ecological restoration program on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Type Journal Article Author Pu Wang Author Steven A. Wolf Author James P. Lassoie Author Gregory L. Poe Author Stephen J. Morreale Author Xukun Su Author Shikui Dong URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959378016300486__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvNPc6Noc$ Volume 39 Pages 35-44 Publication Global Environmental Change ISSN 0959-3780 Date July 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Global Environmental Change DOI 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2016.04.004 Abstract Environmental conservation programs in China have increasingly emphasized integration of market-based logic into regulatory programs. But the realization of market logic and the effectiveness of such efforts are widely questioned by scientists and policy analysts. We empirically analyze the design, implementation, and outcomes of the ecological restoration program in the Three-Rivers Headwater Region in China, a large-scale conservation scheme aimed at restoring degraded grasslands and improving local livelihoods. Results indicate that the market mechanisms emphasized in the design of the policy were not realized in practice due to inadequate use of scientific measurements, lack of accountability, and poor monitoring and enforcement. Moreover, because enrollment was not voluntary, as is generally expected in market-based programs, there were negative impacts on herders. A household survey (n=202) of local herders shows that if conservation incentives were properly designed and implemented, 67% would voluntarily participate in the program. Variance recorded in ecological and socioeconomic conditions points to opportunities to use market-based policy instruments to integrate local information into decision making regarding targeting of land conservation and land retirement. The potential of market-based environmental policies can be expanded through commitments to scientific measurement, voluntary participation, and outcome-based payments. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:18 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:18 PM Tags: o Eco-compensation o Market-based environmental policy o Payments for ecosystem services o Resettlement o Three-Rivers headwater region o Willingness to accept * Effects of mowing disturbance and competition on spatial expansion of the clonal plant Leymus chinensis into saline-alkali soil patches Type Journal Article Author Jianyong Wang Author Iram Abdullah Author Tongtong Xu Author Wanyue Zhu Author Ying Gao Author Ling Wang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0098847219308883__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvYUwRzfs$ Volume 168 Pages 103890 Publication Environmental and Experimental Botany ISSN 0098-8472 Date December 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Environmental and Experimental Botany DOI 10.1016/j.envexpbot.2019.103890 Abstract Mowing disturbance and interspecific competition could affect the expansion of clonal plant under homogeneous conditions. However, with the current degradation of patchy grasslands, how these factors affect the expansion of clonal plant–Leymus chinensis, a dominant perennial grass in meadow steppe, into saline-alkali patches with different stress levels is largely unknown. To test this, we conducted an experiment in which L. chinensis was grown in a pot with half healthy and half saline-alkali soils and the healthy part was treated with mowing and interspecific competition (with Hierochloe glabra). Results showed that mowing or competition treatment alone significantly promoted the expansion of L. chinensis in healthy patches into saline-alkali patches under a moderate saline-alkali stress (i.e., higher rhizome length was found), while this effect was not significant in the combined mowing and competition treatment. On the contrary, all of the mowing and competition treatments decreased the expansion of L. chinensis into the saline-alkali patches (i.e. lower rhizome length) under a severe saline-alkali stress. Also, results showed that mowing or competition alone reduced aboveground biomass of ramets in healthy patches, but increased their above- and below-ground biomass in saline-alkali patches under a moderate stress, indicating that mowing and competition promoted L. chinensis to allocate more biomass to improve expansion abilities. Moreover, compensatory growth was induced by mowing treatment from a physiological perspective (e.g., with an increase in photosynthesis rate). L. chinensis employed different adaptive strategies in response to mowing and competition during the process of expansion. We conclude that mowing and competition can significantly affect the expansion of L. chinensis into saline-alkali patches, and the effects strongly depend on the stress level of saline-alkali patches. Overall, our results imply that in slightly degraded patchy grasslands, moderate grazing or mowing utilization may accelerate their restoration, and that L. chinensis communities with more diverse species mixtures could have larger potential to restore the degraded patches. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:23 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:23 PM Tags: o Biomass allocation o Compensatory growth o Interspecific competition o Mowing o Spatial expansion * Local-scale spatial variability of soil organic carbon and its stock in the hilly area of the Loess Plateau, China Type Journal Article Author Yafeng Wang Author Bojie Fu Author Yihe Lü Author Chengjun Song Author Yong Luan URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0033589408001440__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvGyiwEzY$ Volume 73 Issue 1 Pages 70-76 Publication Environmental Changes in Arid and Semi-arid Regions ISSN 0033-5894 Date January 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Quaternary Research DOI 10.1016/j.yqres.2008.11.006 Abstract Soil organic carbon (SOC) is one of the key components for assessing soil quality. Meanwhile, the changes in the stocks SOC may have large potential impact on global climate. It is increasingly important to estimate the SOC stock precisely and to investigate its variability. In this study, Yangjuangou watershed was selected to investigate the SOC distribution under different land uses. We found that SOC concentration decreased with increasing soil depth under all land uses and was significantly different across the vertical soil profile (P<0.01). However, considering effect of land use on SOC, it is only significant (P<0.01) in the topsoil (0–5 cm) layer. This indicated that land use has a large effect on the stocks of SOC in the surface soil. The stratification ratio of SOC >1.2 may mean that soil quality is improving. The order of the SOC density (0–30 cm) under different land uses is forestland>orchard land>grassland>immature forestland>terraced cropland. The SOC stock is found to be as large as 2.67×103 t (0–30 cm) in this watershed. Considering time effect of restoration, the slope cropland just abandoned is more efficient for SOC accumulation than trees planted in the semi-arid hilly loess area. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:22 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:22 PM Tags: o Land-use change o Loess Plateau o Soil organic carbon (SOC) o Soil quality o Stratification ratio * An event-based approach to understanding the hydrological impacts of different land uses in semi-arid catchments Type Journal Article Author Shengping Wang Author Zhiqiang Zhang Author Tim R. McVicar Author Jianjun Zhang Author Jinzhao Zhu Author Junting Guo URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022169411008201__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvstMXl80$ Volume 416-417 Pages 50-59 Publication Journal of Hydrology ISSN 0022-1694 Date January 24, 2012 Journal Abbr Journal of Hydrology DOI 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2011.11.035 Abstract Summary In semi-arid catchments around the world re-vegetation is often implemented to reduce quick surface runoff, combat severe soil erosion, restore degraded ecosystem functionality, and, ultimately, improve ecosystem productivity. However, to date, in these water stressed regions, the event-based hydrological impact of different land uses induced by re-vegetation activities is not fully understood at the watershed scale. Traditional hillslope plot experiments and paired watershed experiments have proved difficult to up-scale to a watershed level. In 2006 and 2007, we used broad-crested weirs to measure event streamflow from six catchments within the Caijiachuan watershed (area=40.1km2), located in the Loess Plateau, a semi-arid region in China. The six catchments have different land use compositions with functional combinations of crop, grassland, shrubland, secondary forest, and plantations. Over the same period, event rainfall was measured by a network of rainfall gauges deployed over the study site. We examined the difference in hydrological properties between the catchments using the non-parametric Firedman test, and differentiated the role of each land use in governing watershed hydrology using a numerical analysis technique. Our results showed important differences between the six catchments with respect to event runoff coefficients, normalized peak flow, and event duration. Each land use played a different role in catchment hydrology, as shown by the different mean runoff coefficients (rc) and mean representative surface flow velocities (V). Compared to secondary forest (rc=0.017 and V=0.07ms−1), plantations (rc=0.001 and V=0.18ms−1) provide a greater potential for increasing shearing force and had a larger impact on runoff reduction. Although shrubland (rc=0.096 and V=0.20ms−1) and grassland (rc=0.127 and V=0.02ms−1) have similar magnitude of mean runoff coefficients, grassland seems more capable of trapping sediment due to its lower surface runoff velocity. Cropland (rc=0.008 and V=0.05ms−1) exerted an important effect on runoff reduction and a moderate effect on flow retardation. We concluded that, to combat severe soil erosion while minimizing water use, re-vegetation in the semi-arid Loess Plateau should not overly, or even solely, rely on plantations. Alternatively, to produce the desired ecosystem functionality, preservation and establishment of grassland during re-vegetation processes should be encouraged, at least, in the early stage of ecological restoration within a “successional re-vegetation” framework. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:26 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:26 PM Tags: o Event hydrological impacts o Land use change o Loess Plateau o Re-vegetation o Semi-arid region * Aggregate stability and associated organic carbon and nitrogen as affected by soil erosion and vegetation rehabilitation on the Loess Plateau Type Journal Article Author Yixia Wang Author Lishan Ran Author Nufang Fang Author Zhihua Shi URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816218301711__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvgF0drZY$ Volume 167 Pages 257-265 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date August 1, 2018 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2018.05.005 Abstract Although soil erosion and land use change have long been focuses in carbon research, the combined influence of soil erosion and vegetation rehabilitation on aggregate stability and the associated soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) remains unclear. The current study evaluated the effects of soil erosion on aggregate stability and the associated SOC and TN dynamics in relation to vegetation rehabilitation after the implementation of the “Grain-for-Green” project in the hilly Loess region. A check dam sediment sequence was dated using 137Cs activity and erosive rainfall events. The SOC and TN in the bulk soil and aggregate fractions were measured in soils from rehabilitated grasslands and sloping croplands and in sediments retained by the check dam. The results showed that vegetation rehabilitation led to 78%, 27% and 9% average increases in the macroaggregate amount, mean weight diameter (MWD) and mean geometric diameter (MGD), respectively. In addition, rehabilitation resulted in the highest SOC and TN concentrations and contents in macroaggregates among all the aggregate size fractions. Soil erosion facilitated the modification of the aggregate size distributions along with soil mineralization and induced the incorporation of deeper SOC-poor soils during transport. These processes resulted in the aggregate-associated SOC and TN concentrations and contents in the sediments being significantly lower than those in the eroding sloping cropland soils. The highest reductions were found in microaggregates, which exhibited decreases of 48% and 44% for SOC and TN, respectively. Moreover, reaggregation and gully soils incorporated during soil erosion led to higher values of macroaggregate amount and aggregate stability at depositional sites than those at eroding sloping cropland sites in this study. Our study contributes to the understanding of the effects of soil erosion and vegetation rehabilitation on SOC and TN dynamics, which is crucial for understanding the restoration efficiency in soil erosion control and ecosystem security evaluation. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:27 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:27 PM Tags: o Aggregate o Check dam o Land use o Soil erosion o Soil organic carbon * Feces nitrogen release induced by different large herbivores in a dry grassland Type Journal Article Author Jingzhi Wang Author Deli Wang Author Chunqiang Li Author Timothy R. Seastedt Author Cunzhu Liang Author Ling Wang Author Wei Sun Author Maowei Liang Author Yu Li URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.1640__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvYD9Rg7w$ Volume 28 Issue 1 Pages 201-211 Publication Ecological Applications ISSN 1051-0761 Date January 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Ecological Applications DOI 10.1002/eap.1640 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Abstract Large herbivores have pronounced effects on nutrient cycling in grasslands. These organisms are known to alter the quality and quantity of plant production as well as the amounts and quality of plant litter and animal wastes. The generalization that the relative quality of detritus inputs is enhanced by herbivores is well known, but how this process is affected by diet selection processing and feces production of different large herbivores remains largely unstudied. Here, we measured how these differences for cattle and sheep on a dry grassland might influence nitrogen (N) mineralization from feces. We found that cattle of larger body size tended to select the low quality grass Stipa grandis as their major food source. In contrast, the subdominant grass Leymus chinensis, with relatively high N content, was a majority in the diet of smaller sheep, when palatable forbs were insufficient in the field. This diverse diet quality resulted in a C:N ratio of cattle feces that was higher than that of sheep feces. Relatively higher labile C availability in the cattle feces, namely relatively higher cellulose/hemicellulose contents, promoted microbial growth and in turn accelerated cattle feces decomposition. A surprise finding was that the feces from cattle mineralized about twice as much N as feces from sheep, despite the latter having slightly higher N content. From a grassland productivity perspective, increasing the proportion of large body-sized species in grazing herbivore assemblages perhaps is beneficial to forage productivity and nutrient recycling by the rapid degradation of feces. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:47:22 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:58:36 PM Tags: o cattle o diet selection o feces decomposition o N cycling o N mineralization o sheep Notes: o doi: 10.1002/eap.1640 o doi: 10.1002/eap.1640 * The influence of prescribed fire on wild turkeys in the Southeastern United States: A review and synthesis Type Journal Article Author Gregory T. Wann Author James A. Martin Author Michael J. Chamberlain URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112719314689__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvgWg2dtQ$ Volume 455 Pages 117661 Publication Forest Ecology and Management ISSN 0378-1127 Date January 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Forest Ecology and Management DOI 10.1016/j.foreco.2019.117661 Abstract The pine-grassland ecosystems once prevalent in the Southeastern United States were dependent on frequent fire events to maintain plant communities and avoid succession to hardwood and shrub-dominant communities. The use of prescribed fire has replaced naturally occurring fires produced from lightning strikes to maintain remaining pine-grassland systems, and to expand and promote restoration into reclaimed areas. Currently, prescribed fire is a widely accepted management tool promoted by both state and federal wildlife and land-management agencies, and is assumed to be beneficial for both game and non-game species. However, a comprehensive set of guidelines related to use of prescribed fire for promotion of wildlife is lacking for most species, including species whose dependence on fire is presumed to be critical. We reviewed available literature on prescribed fire and its influence on wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) in the Southeastern distribution of its range. We reviewed extant literature relative to historical use of prescribed fire for upland gamebird management, and focused on documented effects of fire on life-history characteristics of wild turkeys, including habitat selection, demography, and movement. The literature supported preferential use of areas burned in the previous 3 years, with avoidance of areas lacking a recent fire history. Fire return intervals between 2 and 3 years were generally supported in the literature as optimal to reduce woody shrub encroachment and maintain an herbaceous understory. However, areas infrequently burned, such as mature hardwood forests, provide important habitat during fall and winter, and provide important roosting sites. Contrary to misperceptions among the public, growing-season fire appears to pose little direct risk to wild turkey nests and poults, but research on this topic is limited and only recently initiated. We lack a collective knowledge of the most appropriate spatial scale and extent of prescribed fires for wild turkeys, and a single set of values for these metrics that can be applied throughout the Southeastern U.S. is likely to be unrealistic given variations in local plant communities and landscape composition. Non-target species should be carefully considered before implementing prescribed fire regimes targeted specifically towards wild turkeys, as such fire regimes may not be optimal for other species. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:20 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:20 PM Tags: o Habitat selection o Movement o Pine-grassland o Prescribed fire o Return interval o Survival * Balancing trade-offs between biodiversity and production in the re-design of rangeland landscapes Type Journal Article Author C. M. Waters Author T. D. Penman Author R. B. Hacker Author B. Law Author Rodney P. Kavanagh Author F. Lemckert Author Y. Alemseged Volume 35 Issue 2 Pages 143-154 Publication The Rangeland Journal Date 2013 Date Added 2020-03-17, 9:55:23 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 9:55:23 PM * Breeding Biology of the Threadstalk Milkvetch, Astragalus filipes (Fabaceae), with a Review of the Genus Type Journal Article Author KRISTAL M. WATROUS Author JAMES H. CANE URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.jstor.org/stable/41288662__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvrHZkdJs$ Volume 165 Issue 2 Pages 225-240 Publication The American Midland Naturalist ISSN 00030031, 19384238 Date 2011 Abstract Astragalus L. (Fabaceae) is an enormous and diverse plant genus with a cosmopolitan distribution, but relatively few breeding biologies are known for its member species. Threadstalk (or basalt) milkvetch, Astragalus filipes Torrey ex. A. Gray, is common and widespread throughout the U. S. Intermountain West, including the Great Basin. It is being studied and ultimately propagated for extensive rangeland restoration projects throughout the sagebrush steppe. Understanding the breeding biology of A. filipes will be necessary for reliable and consistent commercial seed production with this species. We examined reproductive output from four manual pollination treatments (autogamy, geitonogamy, xenogamy and distant xenogamy) in a common garden. As measures of fitness, we counted fruit and seed set, then germinated viable seeds, to assess reproductive output. This species is weakly self compatible; xenogamous pollen transfer results in nine times more seed per pollination. Pollen transfer between geographically distant seed accessions resulted in a decrease in seed germination, but no difference in fruit or seed set. Cross pollination by bees will be necessary for copious seed production by this species. In the wild, flowers of A. filipes are visited most commonly and ubiquitously by a diversity of Osmia bee species plus several bee species each of Eucera, Anthidium, Bombus and sometimes Hoplitis. Archive JSTOR Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:50:01 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:50:01 PM * Enhancing Wind Erosion Monitoring and Assessment for U.S. Rangelands Type Journal Article Author Nicholas P. Webb Author Justin W. Van Zee Author Jason W. Karl Author Jeffrey E. Herrick Author Ericha M. Courtright Author Benjamin J. Billings Author Robert Boyd Author Adrian Chappell Author Michael C. Duniway Author Justin D. Derner Author Jenny L. Hand Author Emily Kachergis Author Sarah E. McCord Author Beth A. Newingham Author Frederick B. Pierson Author Jean L. Steiner Author John Tatarko Author Negussie H. Tedela Author David Toledo Author R. Scott Van Pelt URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190052817300160__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvpalkCIg$ Volume 39 Issue 3 Pages 85-96 Publication Rangelands ISSN 0190-0528 Date June 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Rangelands DOI 10.1016/j.rala.2017.04.001 Accessed 2020-03-17, 5:58:46 PM Library Catalog ScienceDirect Language en Date Added 2020-03-17, 5:58:46 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:58:44 PM Tags: o air quality o dust o Long-Term Agroecosystem Research o network o soil health Attachments o ScienceDirect Full Text PDF o ScienceDirect Snapshot * Comparing the Effect of Naturally Restored Forest and Grassland on Carbon Sequestration and Its Vertical Distribution in the Chinese Loess Plateau Type Journal Article Author Jie Wei Author Jimin Cheng Author Weijun Li Author Weiguo Liu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0040123__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv38DeqMY$ Volume 7 Issue 7 Pages e40123 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Jul 2, 2012 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0040123 Accessed 2020-03-12, 3:17:40 PM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract Vegetation restoration has been conducted in the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP) since the 1950s, and large areas of farmland have been converted to forest and grassland, which largely results in SOC change. However, there has been little comparative research on SOC sequestration and distribution between secondary forest and restored grassland. Therefore, we selected typical secondary forest (SF-1 and SF-2) and restored grassland (RG-1 and RG-2) sites and determined the SOC storage. Moreover, to illustrate the factors resulting in possible variance in SOC sequestration, we measured the soil δ13C value. The average SOC content was 6.8, 9.9, 17.9 and 20.4 g kg−1 at sites SF-1, SF-2, RG-1 and RG-2, respectively. Compared with 0–100 cm depth, the percentage of SOC content in the top 20 cm was 55.1%, 55.3%, 23.1%, and 30.6% at sites SF-1, SF-2, RG-1 and RG-2, suggesting a higher SOC content in shallow layers in secondary forest and in deeper layers in restored grassland. The variation of soil δ13C values with depth in this study might be attributed to the mixing of new and old carbon and kinetic fractionation during the decomposition of SOM by microbes, whereas the impact of the Suess effect (the decline of 13C atmospheric CO2 values with the burning of fossil fuel since the Industrial Revolution) was minimal. The soil δ13C value increased sharply in the top 20 cm, which then increased slightly in deeper layers in secondary forest, indicating a main carbon source of surface litter. However the soil δ13C values exhibited slow increases in the whole profile in the restored grasslands, suggesting that the contribution of roots to soil carbon in deeper layers played an important role. We suggest that naturally restored grassland would be a more effective vegetation type for SOC sequestration due to higher carbon input from roots in the CLP. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:17:40 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:17:40 PM Tags: o Carbon sequestration o Carbon sink o Decomposition o Forests o Fractionation o Grasses o Grasslands o Soil ecology Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Dynamics of soil organic carbon storage following restoration of grassland on Yunwu Mountain Type Journal Article Author Jie Wei Author Weiguo Liu Author Jimin Cheng Author Weijun Li URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1872203211000485__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvCw-SUzU$ Volume 31 Issue 5 Pages 271-275 Publication Acta Ecologica Sinica ISSN 1872-2032 Date October 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Acta Ecologica Sinica DOI 10.1016/j.chnaes.2011.06.009 Abstract Grassland recovery and reconstruction are critical to ecological restoration in the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP). Investigating changes in soil organic carbon density (SOCD), soil organic carbon (SOC) storage, and the rate of SOC sequestration is very important to assess the effect of ecological recovery and estimate the capacity of soil carbon sequestration. Here, we present the data of SOCD, SOC storage, and SOC sequestration rate from grasslands conversion from farmlands in the CLP. Our results indicate that: (1) The average SOCD (0–100cm) in sites continued cultivation (CC), cultivation abandonment at 1999 (AC-99) and cultivation abandonment at 1989 (AC-89) is 6.00, 21.64 and 22.23kgm−2, respectively. SOCD in sites AC-99 and AC-89 is significantly higher than that in site CC and the average SOCD of China (10.53kgm−2), which indicates that vegetation restoration is benefit to increase soil carbon storage as well as preserve soil and water in this area. (2) The SOC storage (0–100cm) in sites CC, AC-99 and AC-89 is 60.02, 216.35 and 222.32kgm−2, respectively. Results of ANOVA indicate that SOC storage of AC-99 is significantly higher than that of CC, while SOC storage of AC-89 is significantly higher than that of AC-99 at the depth of 0–50cm (P<0.001). It suggests that the capability of soil carbon sequestration increases after vegetation restoration, which is mainly due to the increase of plant roots. (3) The rate of SOC sequestration varies at different depths, which is high at the depth of 0–50cm while low at the depth of 50–100cm. This is probably due to the accumulation of plant root in the surface layer, which is the main controlling factor of SOC in this area. Our results indicate that the SOCD and SOC storage increase with vegetation restoration in our study site significantly. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:27 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:27 PM Tags: o Rate of SOC sequestration o SOC dynamics with depth o SOC storage o SOCD o Vegetation restoration * δ13C values of plants as indicators of soil water content in modern ecosystems of the Chinese Loess Plateau Type Journal Article Author Jie Wei Author Weiguo Liu Author Jimin Cheng Author Weijun Li URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857415000130__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvcwagKP0$ Volume 77 Pages 51-59 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date April 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2015.01.012 Abstract We selected typical restored grassland along a chronosequence of natural vegetation restoration on the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP) and determined the soil water content once each month from April to October as well as the stable carbon isotope composition of six plant species (C3), for both the aboveground (δ13CAP) and belowground (δ13CBP) portions, to examine the sensitivity of plant δ13C values to soil water content in modern ecosystems. The study sites include three restored grasslands, which have been restored for 3 years (RG1), 13 years (RG2) and 23 years (RG3) since farmland abandonment. Results showed that the soil water content increased significantly with vegetation restoration, with means of 7.3%, 10.7% and 13.1% for RG1, RG2 and RG3, respectively. The multispecies mean δ13CAP and δ13CBP values were −27.1‰, −27.5‰, −28‰ and −26.9‰, −27.4‰, −27.6‰ in RG1, RG2, RG3, respectively, decreasing significantly with vegetation restoration. Further analysis indicates that the multispecies mean δ13CAP and δ13CBP values were negatively correlated with soil water content, with r2 values of 0.72 and 0.98, respectively. The δ13CAP and δ13CBP values of all individual species were also significantly and negatively correlated with soil water content, except for Saussurea japonica, for which the δ13CBP value increased with soil water content. Of all the plant species, the responses of both the δ13CAP and δ13CBP values to soil water content were more sensitive for Potentilla bifurca. We suggest that the δ13CAP and δ13CBP values of individual plant species are likely reliable indicators of the soil water content of the specific year of sampling and a longer-term (several years) integrated signal, respectively. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:40 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:40 PM Tags: o Indicator o Negative correlation o Soil water content o Vegetation restoration o δC * Development of remote sensing indicators for mapping episodic die-off of an invasive annual grass (Bromus tectorum) from the Landsat archive Type Journal Article Author Peter J. Weisberg Author Thomas E. Dilts Author Owen W. Baughman Author Susan E. Meyer Author Elizabeth A. Leger Author K. Jane Van Gunst Author Lauren Cleeves URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X17302005__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvyOlJqNo$ Volume 79 Pages 173-181 Publication Ecological Indicators ISSN 1470-160X Date August 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2017.04.024 Abstract The exotic annual grass Bromus tectorum (cheatgrass) dominates vast acreages of rangeland in the western USA, leading to increased fire frequency and ecosystem degradation that is often irreversible. Episodic regeneration failure (“die-off”) has been observed in cheatgrass monocultures and can have negative ecosystem consequences, but can also provide an opportunity for restoration of native species and ecological function within the imperiled sagebrush steppe ecosystem. Proximate causes of cheatgrass die-off are uncertain, although several taxa of fungal soil pathogens have been implicated. Die-off occurrence is stochastic and can occur in remote areas. Thus, developing remote sensing indicators that are repeatable over long time periods, across extensive regions, and at relatively fine spatial resolution would be beneficial for accurately pinpointing events. We developed a remote sensing approach for mapping historical die-off from the Landsat archive (1985–2015), and used this to quantify spatial and temporal patterns of die-off occurrence annually at 30-m resolution. A Random Forests classification of image-derived spectral endmembers, trained on 2014 data, predicted die-off with 93% accuracy (κ=0.845) when applied to independent validation data from 2009. Die-off extent varied greatly across years, though some areas experienced die-off multiple times during the observation period. We found a strong correspondence between die-off occurrence and winter drought conditions, with strongest negative associations with current-year winter precipitation and previous years’ lagged winter and annual precipitation. Die-off duration was heavily skewed towards single-year die-off (81.5% of events), even in localized areas of more frequent occurrence (‘die-off hotspots’). Our retrospective classification of the Landsat archive suggests that cheatgrass die-off occurrence is predictable as the intersection of particular site environmental conditions with annual weather conditions, possibly because they are favorable for disease expression. Associations with previous year conditions suggest that die-off may also depend upon feedbacks between cheatgrass dominance and litter production, suitable sites for seedling establishment, and abundance and persistence of pathogen inoculum. Remote sensing indicators such as those developed in this study are needed to develop hypotheses about die-off causal factors, as well as support improved management of cheatgrass, mitigation for negative consequences associated with die-off (e.g. wind erosion), and successful restoration of native plant communities on die-off areas. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:44 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:44 PM Tags: o Cheatgrass o Great Basin o Invasive plants o Landscape pathology o Remote sensing o Seed pathogens * Regional adaptation improves the performance of grassland plant communities Type Journal Article Author Karoline Weißhuhn Author Daniel Prati Author Markus Fischer Author Harald Auge URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1439179112000710__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvTNy_xrE$ Volume 13 Issue 6 Pages 551-559 Publication Basic and Applied Ecology ISSN 1439-1791 Date September 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Basic and Applied Ecology DOI 10.1016/j.baae.2012.07.004 Abstract Many plant species are adapted locally or regionally. Whether such individual species performance translates into effects at community and ecosystem levels has rarely been tested. Such tests are crucial, however, to predict ecosystem consequences of sowing seed mixtures for grassland restoration or hay production. We compared the performance of replicated sown plant communities of regional origin with the performance of four foreign communities consisting of the same grassland species but originating from distances up to 890km from our experimental site. The regional communities performed better than foreign communities in plant cover and diversity but not in aboveground biomass production. Additionally, in communities based on regional seeds fewer unsown species occurred and less bare ground was left open for erosion. Variation in community performance among source regions was related to climatic differences rather than to geographic distance to source regions. Individual species performance only partly explained community patterns, highlighting the importance of community level experiments. Our results suggest that the use of regional seeds represents an important approach to improve sown managed grasslands. Zusammenfassung Viele Pflanzenarten sind lokal oder regional angepasst. Ob sich diese Entwicklung einzelner Arten in Effekte auf der Ebene von Gemeinschaften oder Ökosystemen umsetzt, ist kaum untersucht. Dies wäre aber wichtig, um die Konsequenzen der Verwendung von Saatgutmischungen für Heuwiesen oder die Restaurierung von Grasland vorherzusagen. Wir verglichen angesäte replizierte Graslandgemeinschaften regionaler Herkunft mit vier Gemeinschaften gleicher Artenzusammensetzung, aber fremder Herkunft aus Entfernungen bis zu 890km von der Experimentalfläche. Die Gemeinschaften regionaler Herkunft entwickelten eine höhere Pflanzendeckung und Diversität als die fremden Herkünfte, produzierten aber nicht mehr oberirdische Biomasse. Außerdem traten in den Gemeinschaften regionaler Herkunft weniger nicht eingesäte Pflanzenarten und für Erosion besonders anfälliger unbedeckter Boden auf. Unterschiede zwischen Gemeinschaften unterschiedlicher Herkunft hingen eher mit dem Herkunfts- klima zusammen als mit der geografischen Distanz zur Experimentalfläche. Das Verhalten der einzelnen Arten konnte die Gemeinschaftsmuster nur teilweise erklären, was die Wichtigkeit von Experimenten auf der Gemeinschaftsebene unterstreicht. Unsere Ergebnisse legen nahe, dass der Einsatz von regionalem Saatgut einen wichtigen Ansatz für die Verbesserung von angesätem Wirtschaftsgrünland darstellt. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:00 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:00 PM Tags: o Central Europe o Climate o Community ecology o Grassland management o Multi-species transplant experiment * Geographic variation in the response to drought in nine grassland species Type Journal Article Author Karoline Weißhuhn Author Harald Auge Author Daniel Prati URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1439179110001544__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvNsBQpyU$ Volume 12 Issue 1 Pages 21-28 Publication Basic and Applied Ecology ISSN 1439-1791 Date February 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Basic and Applied Ecology DOI 10.1016/j.baae.2010.11.005 Abstract Summer precipitation is expected to decrease in Europe due to climate change, which in turn will increase the risk for plants to suffer from drought. To maintain ecosystem functions in grasslands under the conditions of climate change, drought adapted varieties of plant species may be needed. With our experiment, we bridge the gap between single species experiments and field experiments with whole plant communities under proposed scenarios of climate change. In a greenhouse experiment, we investigated the drought response of nine common grassland species which are normally utilized for restoration of mesic grasslands. We chose five European provenances of each species to test for a consistent, provenance-specific drought response. Plants of all nine species were negatively affected by drought with respect to their biomass production, and consistently allocated less resources to roots than control plants. On the other hand, reproductive allocation increased under drought conditions in some species whereas no response to drought could be detected in specific leaf area. In contrast to our expectation, we found little evidence for intraspecific variation in response to simulated drought. However, we found a clear correlation between responsiveness in root allocation, and climatic conditions at the provenance's origin. This pattern became evident only when all species were analysed together, highlighting the advantage of multi-species experiments. Zusammenfassung In Zukunft wird sich das Risiko erhöhen, dass Pflanzen in Europa unter Trockenstress leiden, denn durch den Klimawandel sind geringere Sommerniederschläge zu erwarten. Um die Ökosystemfunktionen im Grasland aufrecht zu erhalten, werden Pflanzenherkünfte benötigt, die an die Trockenheit angepasst sind. Mit unserem Experiment füllen wir die Lücke im Wissen um mögliche Auswirkungen des Klimawandels, die sich hier zwischen Feldexperimenten und Experimenten mit einzelnen Arten auftut. Hierzu haben wir in einem Gewächshausexperiment neun mesophile Graslandarten, die häufig für die Renaturierung von Grünland verwendet werden, Trockenstress ausgesetzt. Um zu sehen, ob es eine konsistente herkunftsspezifische Reaktion über alle Arten hinweg gibt, untersuchten wir von jeder Pflanzenart Individuen aus denselben fünf europäischen Herkünften. Im Vergleich zu normal bewässerten Kontrollpflanzen produzierten Pflanzen im Trockenstress weniger Gesamtbiomasse und verlagerten weniger Ressourcen in ihre Wurzeln. Andererseits erhöhte sich in einigen Arten die reproduktive Allokation unter Trockenheit, während die spezifische Blattfläche nicht auf Trockenstress reagierte. Im Gegensatz zu unserer Erwartung fanden wir kaum Hinweise auf eine intraspezifische Differenzierung in der Reaktion auf Trockenstress. Allerdings fanden wir einen Zusammenhang zwischen der Reaktion in der Wurzelallokation und der Herkunftsregion, wenn alle Arten gemeinsam analysiert wurden, was die Bedeutung von Experimenten mit mehreren Pflanzenarten betont. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:21 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:21 PM Tags: o Climate change o Intraspecific variability o Reproductive allocation o Root allocation o Specific leaf area * Effect of degradation and rebuilding of artificial grasslands on soil respiration and carbon and nitrogen pools on an alpine meadow of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Type Journal Article Author Li Wen Author Wang Jinlan Author Zhang Xiaojiao Author Shi Shangli Author Cao Wenxia URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857417305803__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvHiSPxzY$ Volume 111 Pages 134-142 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date February 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2017.10.013 Abstract The alpine meadow ecosystem on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has degenerated greatly in recent decades. The most effective means of restoration for severely degraded grasslands is rebuilding artificial grasslands. However, the effects of converting severely degraded grasslands to artificial grasslands on soil respiration and the relationships between soil respiration and carbon and nitrogen storage remain unclear. Therefore, we evaluated soil respiration and carbon and nitrogen storage on native grasslands with different levels of degradation (no degradation (ND), lightly degraded (LD), moderately degraded (MD) and severely degraded (SD)); the study was on a perennial artificial grassland with different restoration years (cultivated for 3 years (A3) and cultivated for 16 years (A16)) and on an annual oat grassland in an alpine meadow of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and applied a structural equation model to explore the relative contributions of biotic and abiotic variables in the regulation of soil respiration. Our results demonstrated that grassland degradation significantly decreased the growing season soil respiration, annual mean soil respiration, vegetation, and the soil and ecosystem carbon and nitrogen storage. Meanwhile, the establishment of annual oat grasslands significantly decreased the growing season soil respiration, annual mean soil respiration, 0–30cm soil layer and ecosystem carbon and nitrogen storage, whereas it significantly increased the vegetation carbon and nitrogen storage. In contrast, the perennial artificial grassland had no significant effect on the growing season soil respiration or on the annual mean soil respiration but significantly increased the forage yield and ecosystem carbon and nitrogen storage. Grassland degradation and artificial grassland establishment had no significant effect on the dormant season soil respiration. Furthermore, soil moisture had a greater impact on growing season soil respiration, whereas soil temperature had a more significant effect on the dormant season soil respiration. Furthermore, a structural equation model indicated that the carbon storage in the roots and the 0–10cm soil layer were two important biotic factors that controlled soil respiration. Considering the ecological and productive properties, establishing a perennial artificial grassland could be the best strategy for restoring the black-soil-type grasslands native to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:47 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:47 PM Tags: o Alpine meadow o Carbon and nitrogen storage o Grassland degradation o Rebuilding artificial grassland o Soil respiration * Scale effects of vegetation restoration on soil and water conservation in a semi-arid region in China: Resources conservation and sustainable management Type Journal Article Author Xin Wen Author Xiangzheng Deng Author Fan Zhang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921344919303805__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvA9M1gKs$ Volume 151 Pages 104474 Publication Resources, Conservation and Recycling ISSN 0921-3449 Date December 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Resources, Conservation and Recycling DOI 10.1016/j.resconrec.2019.104474 Abstract The scale effect of vegetation restoration on soil and water conservation has received little attention, despite numerous studies on the assessments of vegetation restoration at different spatial scales. This study investigated the scale effect of vegetation restoration on soil erosion and water yield at Yanhe watershed, Chinese Loess Plateau. It provides the site-based temporal and spatial varying relationships among vegetation restoration, soil erosion, and water yield. Spatial modeling and mapping methods were used to analyze the scale effect at regional and sub-watershed scales. Our results indicated vegetation restoration has generated positive impacts on soil erosion reduction and negative impacts on water provision in the whole watershed. Croplands, sparse grasslands, and moderate grasslands were the land types which contributed the most to soil erosion. The decrease of cropland was the major contribution to soil erosion reduction. Moreover, the trade-off relationship between soil erosion and water yield existed in the whole watershed, but the degree of trade-off varied from one sub-watershed to another. High-risk soil erosion regions were concentrated in the central watershed. But in this region, the impacts of vegetation restoration on soil erosion control varied with different sub-watersheds. A simple increase of vegetation might not help reduce soil erosion in sub-watersheds where are characterized by low vegetation coverage and scattered vegetation restoration. Vegetation restoration should be based on past spatial LULC patterns. Soil erosion control should focus on the current level of cropland management and areas of vegetation maintenance than new afforestation in the high-risk soil erosion regions. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:57 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:57 PM Tags: o Restoration o Scale effects o Soil erosion o Trade-offs o Vegetation o Water yield * The construction of Grassland Degradation Index for Alpine Meadow in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Type Journal Article Author L. Wen Author S.K. Dong Author L. Zhu Author X.Y. Li Author J.J. Shi Author Y.L.Wang Author Y.S. Ma URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1878029610002434__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvatOkJxw$ Volume 2 Pages 1966-1969 Publication International Conference on Ecological Informatics and Ecosystem Conservation (ISEIS 2010) ISSN 1878-0296 Date January 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Procedia Environmental Sciences DOI 10.1016/j.proenv.2010.10.210 Abstract Diagnosing the degradation degree of grassland ecosystem is the basis for ecological restoration. However, there is no literature documenting how to quantify the grassland degradation degree by using visible indicators. In this study, an integrated degradation index was developed to assess the grassland condition on the basis of applicability and certainty analysis through a cases study from degraded alpine grassland on Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau of China. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:37 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:37 PM Tags: o Alpine grassland o Grassland Degradation Index (GDI) o Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) * Remotely sensing the spatial and temporal land cover changes in Eastern Mau forest reserve and Lake Nakuru drainage basin, Kenya Type Journal Article Author K.O. Were Author Ø.B. Dick Author B.R. Singh URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0143622813000830__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvwoXoAIo$ Volume 41 Pages 75-86 Publication Applied Geography ISSN 0143-6228 Date July 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Applied Geography DOI 10.1016/j.apgeog.2013.03.017 Abstract This study aimed at characterizing land cover dynamics for four decades in Eastern Mau forest and Lake Nakuru basin, Kenya. The specific objectives were to: (i) identify and map the major land cover types in 1973, 1985, 2000 and 2011; (ii) detect and determine the magnitude, rates and nature of the land cover changes that had occurred between these dates, and; (iii) establish the spatial and temporal distribution of these changes. Land cover types were discriminated through partitioning, hybrid classification and spatial reclassification of multi-temporal Landsat imagery. The land cover products were then validated and overlaid in post-classification comparison to detect the changes between 1973 and 2011. The accuracies of the land cover maps for 1973, 1985, 2000 and 2011 were 88%, 95%, 80% and 89% respectively. Six land cover classes, namely forests-shrublands, grasslands, croplands, built-up lands, bare lands and water bodies, were mapped. Forests-shrublands dominated in 1973, 1985 and 2000 covering about 1067 km2, 893 km2 and 797 km2 respectively, but were surpassed by croplands (953 km2) in 2011. Bare lands occupied the least area that varied between 2 km2 and 7 km2 during this period. Overall, forests-shrublands and grasslands decreased by 428 km2 and 258 km2 at the annual average rates of 1% each, whereas croplands and built-up lands expanded by 660 km2 and 24 km2 at the annual rates of 6% and 16% respectively. The key hotspots of these changes were distributed in all directions of the study area, but at different times. Therefore, policies that integrate restoration and conservation of natural ecosystems with enhancement of agricultural productivity are strongly recommended. This will ensure environmental sustainability and socio-economic well-being in the area. Future research needs to assess the impacts of the land cover changes on ecosystem services and to project the future patterns of land cover changes. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:10 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:10 PM Tags: o Change detection o Eastern Mau o Hybrid classification o Kenya o Lake Nakuru o Land cover o Remote sensing o Spatial reclassification * Carbon and nitrogen storage in California sage scrub and non-native grassland habitats Type Journal Article Author Megan M. Wheeler Author Madison M. Dipman Author Tessa A. Adams Author Annemieke V. Ruina Author Colin R. Robins Author Wallace M. Meyer URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196316300234__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvfLbQrqQ$ Volume 129 Pages 119-125 Publication Journal of Arid Environments ISSN 0140-1963 Date June 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Journal of Arid Environments DOI 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2016.02.013 Abstract Human activity has altered global carbon and nitrogen cycles, leading to changes in global temperatures and plant communities. Because atmospheric carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) concentrations are affected by storage in terrestrial vegetation and soil, it is critical to understand how conversions from native to non-native vegetation may alter the C and N storage potential of terrestrial landscapes. In this study, we compared C and N storage in native California sage scrub, non-native grassland, and recovering California sage scrub habitats in the spring and fall by determining the C and N content in aboveground biomass, litter, and surface soil. Significantly more C and N were stored in intact and recovering California sage scrub than in grassland habitats. Intact and recovering sage scrub did not differ significantly in C or N storage. Our results highlight that preserving and restoring California sage scrub habitat not only provides habitat for native biodiversity, but also increases carbon and nitrogen storage potential even without restoration to intact sage scrub. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:32 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:32 PM Tags: o Habitat modification o Invaded shrubland o Invasive grass o Shrub biomass modeling * Carbon sequestration and biodiversity following 18years of active tropical forest restoration Type Journal Article Author Charlotte E. Wheeler Author Patrick A. Omeja Author Colin A. Chapman Author Martin Glipin Author Charles Tumwesigye Author Simon L. Lewis URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112716301906__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvCsZ0SJA$ Volume 373 Pages 44-55 Publication Forest Ecology and Management ISSN 0378-1127 Date August 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Forest Ecology and Management DOI 10.1016/j.foreco.2016.04.025 Abstract Vast areas of degraded tropical forest, combined with increasing interest in mitigating climate change and conserving biodiversity, demonstrate the potential value of restoring tropical forest. However, there is a lack of long-term studies assessing active management for restoration. Here we investigate Above-Ground Biomass (AGB), forest structure, and biodiversity, before degradation (in old-growth forest), after degradation (in abandoned agricultural savanna grassland), and within a forest that is actively being restored in Kibale National Park, Uganda. In 1995 degraded land in Kibale was protected from fire and replanted with native seedlings (39 species) at a density of 400seedlingsha−1. Sixty-five plots (50m×10m) were established in restoration areas in 2005 and 50 of these were re-measured in 2013, allowing changes to be assessed over 18years. Degraded plots have an Above Ground Biomass (AGB) of 5.1Mgdrymassha−1, of which 80% is grass. By 2005 AGB of trees ⩾10cm DBH was 9.5Mgha−1, increasing to 40.6Mgha−1 by 2013, accumulating at a rate of 3.9Mgha−1year−1. A total of 153 planted individuals ha−1 (38%) remained by 2013, contributing 28.9Mgha−1 (70%) of total AGB. Eighteen years after restoration, AGB in the plots was 12% of old-growth (419Mgha−1). If current accumulation rates continue restoration forest would reach old-growth AGB in a further 96years. Biodiversity of degraded plots prior to restoration was low with no tree species and 2 seedling species per sample plot (0.05ha). By 2005 restoration areas had an average of 3 tree and 3 seedling species per sample plot, increasing to 5 tree and 9 seedling species per plot in 2013. However, biodiversity was still significantly lower than old-growth forest, at 8 tree and 16 seedling species in an equivalent area. The results suggest that forest restoration is beneficial for AGB accumulation with planted stems storing the majority of AGB. Changes in biodiversity appear slower; possibly due to low stem turnover. Overall this restoration treatment is an effective means of restoring degraded land in the area, as can be seen from the lack of regeneration in degraded plots, which remain low-AGB and diversity, largely due to the impacts of fire and competition with grasses. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:28:01 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:28:01 PM Tags: o Arrested succession o Biodiversity co-benefits o Biomass accumulation o Forest degradation o Natural regeneration o Replanting * Shifting Baselines in a California Oak Savanna: Nineteenth Century Data to Inform Restoration Scenarios Type Journal Article Author Alison A. Whipple Author Robin M. Grossinger Author Frank W. Davis URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2009.00633.x__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvV2oZ424$ Rights © 2010 Society for Ecological Restoration International Volume 19 Issue 101 Pages 88-101 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2011 DOI 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2009.00633.x Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:31:25 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract For centuries humans have reduced and transformed Mediterranean-climate oak woodland and savanna ecosystems, making it difficult to establish credible baselines for ecosystem structure and composition that can guide ecological restoration efforts. We combined historical data sources, with particular attention to mid-1800s General Land Office witness tree records and maps and twentieth century air photos, to reconstruct 150 years of decline in extent and stand density of Valley oak (Quercus lobata Neé) woodlands and savannas in the Santa Clara Valley of central coastal California. Nineteenth century Valley oak woodlands here were far more extensive and densely stocked than early twentieth century air photos would suggest, although reconstructed basal areas (7.5 m2/ha) and densities (48.9 trees/ha) were not outside the modern range reported for this ecosystem type. Tree densities and size distribution varied across the landscape in relation to soil and topography, and trees in open savannas were systematically larger than those in denser woodlands. For the largest woodland stand, we estimated a 99% decline in population from the mid-1800s to the 1930s. Although most of the study area is now intensely developed, Valley oaks could be reintroduced in urban and residential areas as well as in surrounding rangelands at densities comparable to the native oak woodlands and savannas, thereby restoring aspects of ecologically and culturally significant ecosystems, including wildlife habitat and genetic connectivity within the landscape. Short Title Shifting Baselines in a California Oak Savanna Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:31:25 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:31:25 PM Tags: o bearing tree data o ecological baseline o GLO survey o historical landscape reconstruction o Quercus lobata o urban forestry Attachments o Snapshot o Submitted Version * Relationships among land use, soil texture, species richness, and soil carbon in Midwestern tallgrass prairie, CRP and crop lands Type Journal Article Author K.M. Whisler Author H.I. Rowe Author J.S. Dukes URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880915301079__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvv97X4ZE$ Volume 216 Pages 237-246 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date January 15, 2016 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2015.09.041 Abstract Accumulation of soil carbon (C) in ecosystems could help mitigate climate change, particularly in agricultural landscapes, but accumulation rates are thought to depend on land cover and management practices. To uncover relationships between soil properties and vegetation management strategies in the Midwestern USA, we examined soil C and nitrogen (N) content on lands under five management types that produced different levels of plant species diversity: remnant prairies, high-, medium- and low-diversity grassland restorations, and crop fields. We examined the relationships of soil C, labile C, and N with plant species richness, aboveground biomass production and silt+clay content on land under each of the five management types, in two non-adjacent counties. Field plots were located in sites predicted to have mid-range soil C contents for each county (2.0–2.5% or 2.4–2.9%) based on a SOLIM (Soil Land Inference Model) C model (Libohova, 2010), in an effort to limit variability among sites. However, we found that soil texture data from the Soil Survey Geographic Database (SSURGO; the base data layer for SOLIM) frequently overestimated silt+clay content relative to the hydrometer-measured silt+clay content of our collected soil samples. We found that the low-diversity restorations (which were the most productive sites) had the greatest soil C and N content over the full soil profile (to 90cm depth). On average soil C was 1.3 and 1.9 times greater, and soil N was 3.7 and 1.5 times greater, in the low diversity restorations compared to remnant prairies in Newton and Lee Counties, respectively. This was likely a consequence of (and a driver of) the high biomass production of the grasses that tended to dominate these fields. We attribute low soil C content in the remnant prairies and high diversity restorations in large part to the patterns of soil texture that led to the historical patterns of land use change, in which less productive areas were left as prairie and the more productive areas tilled. Labile C was highest in the low-diversity restorations at the 0–15 and 15–30cm depths in both counties. Labile C was greatest from 0–15cm and decreased with soil depth. Patterns of soil C across the intensely cultivated Midwestern landscape depend on the interaction between the suitability of soil for cultivation, and historical land management in terms of both the soil and vegetation. Our results suggest that the more heavily managed and productive fields in this region often harbor the greatest soil C, and that this soil C cannot be accurately predicted from the SSURGO database, highlighting the challenges and opportunities associated with maintaining and sequestering soil C in the Midwestern agricultural landscape. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:26 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:26 PM Tags: o Conservation Reserve Program o Soil carbon o Soil texture o Tallgrass prairie * Restoring species diversity: assessing capacity in the U.S. native plant industry Type Journal Article Author Abigail White Author Jeremie B. Fant Author Kayri Havens Author Mark Skinner Author Andrea T. Kramer URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12705__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvKURIF-o$ Rights © 2018 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 26 Issue 4 Pages 605-611 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2018 DOI 10.1111/rec.12705 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:35:55 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Large quantities of diverse and appropriately adapted native plant germplasm are required to facilitate restoration globally, yet shortages can prevent restorations from attaining desired species diversity and structure. An extensive native plant industry has developed in the United States to help meet these demands, yet very little is known about its capacity to support germplasm needs. To better understand current capacity and germplasm availability, we report results of the first comprehensive and quantitative assessment of the native plant industry in the United States, which includes at least 841 vendors nationwide and the species they make available for restoration. We synthesized lists of commercially available species from native plant vendors across the United States and identified gaps in species availability to inform germplasm research, development, and production. Of the approximately 25,000 vascular plant taxa native to the United States, 26% are sold commercially, with growth form, conservation status, distribution, and taxonomy significantly predicting availability. In contrast, only 0.07% of approximately 3,000 native nonvascular taxa are sold commercially. We also investigated how demand for germplasm to support high-quality restoration efforts is met by vendors in the Midwestern tallgrass prairie region, which has been targeted extensively by restoration efforts for decades. In this well-developed native plant market, 74% of more than 1,000 target species are commercially available, often from vendors that advertise genetically diverse, locally sourced germplasm. We make recommendations to build on the successes of regional markets like the tallgrass prairie region, and to fill identified gaps, including investing in research to support production, ensuring more consistent and clear demand, and fostering regional collaboration. Short Title Restoring species diversity Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:35:55 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:35:55 PM Tags: o ecological restoration o germplasm o national gap analysis o native plant materials production o native plant vendors o tallgrass prairie Attachments o Snapshot * Chapter 14 - Monitoring and Assessment Type Book Section Author Walter G. Whitford Author Benjamin D. Duval Editor Walter G. Whitford Editor Benjamin D. Duval URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B978012815055900014X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvbTc8O9Y$ Publisher Academic Press Pages 413-424 ISBN 978-0-12-815055-9 Date January 1, 2020 Extra DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-815055-9.00014-X Abstract Monitoring and assessment systems are needed to (1) detect ecosystem degradation changes in early stages when management interventions are most effective, and (2) monitor land use over long-time periods (decades) to detect change. Two monitoring systems are widely used, (1) landscape function analysis, and (2) qualitative (fast) and quantitative (robust) monitoring. These monitoring systems have been used successfully to evaluate rangeland degradation, open cast mine rehabilitation, and other restoration efforts in drylands. Book Title Ecology of Desert Systems (Second Edition) Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:27 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:04:27 PM Tags: o Alien weeds o AVHRR o Forage value o Goals o Indicators o Landsat o Landscape function analysis o Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) o Remote sensing o Soil health o Source-sink * Biofuels and biodiversity Type Journal Article Author John Wiens Author Joseph Fargione Author Jason Hill URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1890/09-0673.1__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvT3w3Uxg$ Volume 21 Issue 4 Pages 1085-1095 Publication Ecological Applications ISSN 1051-0761 Date June 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Ecological Applications DOI 10.1890/09-0673.1 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract The recent increase in liquid biofuel production has stemmed from a desire to reduce dependence on foreign oil, mitigate rising energy prices, promote rural economic development, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The growth of this industry has important implications for biodiversity, the effects of which depend largely on which biofuel feedstocks are being grown and the spatial extent and landscape pattern of land requirements for growing these feedstocks. Current biofuel production occurs largely on croplands that have long been in agricultural production. The additional land area required for future biofuels production can be met in part by reclaiming reserve or abandoned croplands and by extending cropping into lands formerly deemed marginal for agriculture. In the United States, many such marginal lands have been enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), providing important habitat for grassland species. The demand for corn ethanol has changed agricultural commodity economics dramatically, already contributing to loss of CRP lands as contracts expire and lands are returned to agricultural production. Nevertheless, there are ways in which biofuels can be developed to enhance their coexistence with biodiversity. Landscape heterogeneity can be improved by interspersion of land uses, which is easier around facilities with smaller or more varied feedstock demands. The development of biofuel feedstocks that yield high net energy returns with minimal carbon debts or that do not require additional land for production, such as residues and wastes, should be encouraged. Competing land uses, including both biofuel production and biodiversity protection, should be subjected to comprehensive cost?benefit analysis, so that incentives can be directed where they will do the most good. Date Added 2020-03-12, 4:49:53 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 4:49:53 PM Tags: o biodiversity o Conservation Reserve Program o land use o biofuels o corn ethanol o Henslow's Sparrow Notes: o doi: 10.1890/09-0673.1 * Contour ripping is more beneficial than composted manure for restoring degraded rangelands in Central Texas Type Journal Article Author Bradford P. Wilcox Author William E. Fox Author Lisa J. Prcin Author Jason McAlister Author June Wolfe Author Diana M. Thomas Author Robert W. Knight Author Dennis W. Hoffman Author Fred E. Smeins URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479712003441__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvDI8T0a8$ Volume 111 Pages 87-95 Publication Journal of Environmental Management ISSN 0301-4797 Date November 30, 2012 Journal Abbr Journal of Environmental Management DOI 10.1016/j.jenvman.2012.06.029 Abstract Rangelands in the United States that have been the site of military training exercises have suffered extensive ecological damage, largely because of soil compaction, creation of ruts, and damage to or destruction of vegetation—all of which lead to higher runoff and accelerated erosion. In this paper we report on a study carried out within the Fort Hood Military Reservation in Central Texas, where we evaluated the extent to which application of composted dairy manure and contour ripping affect soil infiltrability, amount of runoff, and nutrient concentrations in runoff. We conducted experiments at two locations, using rainfall simulation at one and monitoring discharge from small (0.3-ha) watersheds at the other. At the rainfall simulation site, we used six levels of compost application: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 Mg/ha. We found that compost application had little effect on runoff, soil infiltration, sediment production, or nutrient concentrations in the runoff—except at the micro-watershed scale (12 and 24 Mg/ha); in this case, nutrient concentrations in runoff were initially high (for the rainfall simulations done immediately after compost application). In contrast, contour ripping—carried out 22 months after compost application on two of the micro-watersheds—was highly effective: runoff on the treated micro-watershed was reduced by half compared with the untreated micro-watershed. Our results suggest that (1) one-time applications of composted dairy manure do little to enhance infiltration of degraded rangelands over the short term (at the same time, these experiments demonstrated that compost application poses very little risk to water quality); and (2) for degraded rangelands with limited infiltration capacity, contour ripping is an effective strategy for increasing infiltration rates. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:39 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:04:39 PM Tags: o Composted manure o Contour furrowing o Contour ripping o Erosion o Land application o Military training o Nutrients o Rainfall simulation o Restoration o Runoff * Influence of fire and mechanical sagebrush reduction treatments on restoration seedings in Utah, United States Type Journal Article Author Lacey E. Wilder Author Kari E. Veblen Author Kevin L. Gunnell Author Thomas A. Monaco URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12860__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvE9mx5og$ Rights © 2018 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 27 Issue 2 Pages 308-319 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2019 DOI 10.1111/rec.12860 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:40:42 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Overabundance of woody plants in semiarid ecosystems can degrade understory herbaceous vegetation and often requires shrub reduction and seeding to recover ecosystem services. We used meta-analysis techniques to assess the effects of fire and mechanical shrub reduction over two post-treatment timeframes (1–4 and 5–10 years) on changes in cover and frequency of 15 seeded species at 63 restoration sites with high potential for recovery. Compared to mechanical treatments, fire resulted in greater increases in seeded species. Native shrubs did not increase, and forbs generally declined over time; however, large increases in perennial grasses were observed, suggesting that seeding efforts contributed to enhanced understory herbaceous conditions. We found greater increases in a few non-native species than native species across all treatments, suggesting the possibility that interference among seeded species may have influenced results of this regional assessment. Differences among treatments and species were likely driven by seedbed conditions, which should be carefully considered in restoration planning. Site characteristics also dictated seeded species responses: while forbs showed greater increases in cover over the long term at higher elevation sites considered to be more resilient to disturbance, surprisingly, shrubs and grasses had greater increases in cover and frequency at lower elevation sites where resilience is typically much lower. Further research is needed to understand the causes of forb mortality over time, and to decipher how greater increases of non-native relative to native seeded species will influence species diversity and successional trajectories of restoration sites. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:40:42 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:40:42 PM Tags: o Artemisia tridentata o dryland restoration o herbaceous understory o mechanical treatment o restoration seeding o seedling establishment o shrub encroachment Attachments o Snapshot * Developing Sources of Native Grass Seed for Revegetation in Florida Type Journal Article Author Mary J. Williams Author Janet Grabowski Author Brandee Williams URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190052813500290__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv8fff8yM$ Volume 35 Issue 5 Pages 93-97 Publication Rangelands ISSN 0190-0528 Date October 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Rangelands DOI 10.2111/RANGELANDS-D-13-00024.1 Accessed 2020-03-17, 5:56:56 PM Library Catalog ScienceDirect Language en Date Added 2020-03-17, 5:56:56 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:58:49 PM Tags: o evaluation o native seed production o native vegetation o rangeland o restoration Attachments o ScienceDirect Snapshot * Effectiveness of prescribed fire to re-establish sagebrush steppe vegetation and ecohydrologic function on woodland-encroached sagebrush rangelands, Great Basin, USA: Part I: Vegetation, hydrology, and erosion responses Type Journal Article Author C.J. Williams Author Frederick B. Pierson Author Sayjro K. Nouwakpo Author Osama Z. Al-Hamdan Author Patrick R. Kormos Author Mark A. Weltz URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816218300729__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvDc_ay_8$ Volume 185 Pages 103477 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date February 1, 2020 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2018.02.027 Abstract Pinyon (Pinus spp.) and juniper (Juniperus spp.) woodland encroachment has imperiled a broad ecological domain of the sagebrush steppe (Artemisia spp.) ecosystem in the Great Basin Region, USA. As these conifers increase in dominance on sagebrush rangelands, understory vegetation declines and ecohydrologic function can shift from biotic (vegetation) controlled retention of soil resources to abiotic (runoff) driven loss of soil resources and long-term site degradation. Scientists, public land management agencies, and private land owners are challenged with selecting and predicting outcomes to treatment alternatives to improve ecological structure and function on these rangelands. This study is the first of a two-part study to evaluate effectiveness of prescribed fire to re-establish sagebrush steppe vegetation and improve ecohydrologic function on mid- to late-succession pinyon-and juniper-encroached sagebrush sites in the Great Basin. We used a suite of vegetation and soil measures, small-plot (0.5 m2) rainfall simulations, and overland flow experiments (9 m2) to quantify the effects of tree removal by prescribed fire on vegetation, soils, and rainsplash, sheetflow, and concentrated flow hydrologic and erosion processes at two woodlands 9-yr after burning. For untreated conditions, extensive bare interspace (87% bare ground) throughout the degraded intercanopy (69–88% bare ground) between trees at both sites promoted high runoff and sediment yield from combined rainsplash and sheetflow (~45 mm, 59–381 g m−2) and concentrated flow (371–501 L, 2343–3015 g) processes during high intensity rainfall simulation (102 mm h−1, 45 min) and overland flow experiments (15, 30, and 45 L min−1, 8 min each). Burning increased canopy cover of native perennial herbaceous vegetation by >5-fold, on average, across both sites over nine growing seasons. Burning reduced low pre-fire sagebrush canopy cover (<1% to 14% average) at both sites and sagebrush recovery is expected to take >30 yr. Enhanced herbaceous cover in interspaces post-fire reduced runoff and sediment yield from high intensity rainfall simulations by >2-fold at both sites. Fire-induced increases in herbaceous canopy cover (from 34% to 62%) and litter ground cover (from 15% to 36%) reduced total runoff (from 501 L to 180 L) and sediment yield (from 2343 g to 115 g) from concentrated flow experiments in the intercanopy at one site. Sparser herbaceous vegetation (49% cover) and litter cover (8%) in the intercanopy at the other, more degraded site post-fire resulted in no significant reduction of total runoff (371 L to 266 L) and sediment yield (3015 g to 1982 g) for concentrated flow experiments. Areas underneath unburned shrub and tree canopies were well covered by vegetation and ground cover and generated limited runoff and sediment. Fire impacts on vegetation, ground cover, and runoff and sediment delivery from tree and shrub plots were highly variable. Burning litter covered areas underneath trees reduced perennial herbaceous vegetation and increased invasibility to the fire-prone annual cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.). Cheatgrass cover increased from <1% pre-fire to 16–30%, on average, post-fire across the sites and was primarily restricted to areas around burned trees. High herbaceous cover (73%) under burned trees at the less degraded site resulted in similar low total runoff and sediment from concentrated flow experiments as pre-fire (136–228 L, 204–423 g). In contrast, fire-reduction of litter (from 79% to 49%) resulted in increased total runoff (from 103 L to 333 L) and sediment yield (from 619 g to 2170 g) from concentrated flow experiments in burned tree areas at the more degraded site. The experimental results demonstrate pinyon and juniper removal by prescribed fire can effectively re-establish a successional trajectory towards sagebrush steppe vegetation structure and thereby improve ecohydrologic function. Responses to burning at the more degraded site suggest results should be interpreted with caution however. Although burning substantially increased perennial grass cover and reduced fine-scale runoff and erosion at the more degraded site, poor sagebrush recovery, delayed litter recruitment, and persistent high concentrated flow erosion at that site suggest not all sites are good candidates for prescribed fire treatments. Furthermore, high levels of cheatgrass in burned tree areas (~30% of area) at both sites increases wildfire risk, but cheatgrass is expected to decline over time in absence of fire. Our results in context with the literature suggest fire-surrogate tree-removal treatments (e.g., tree cutting or shredding) may be more appropriate on degraded sites with limited pre-treatment sagebrush and perennial herbaceous vegetation and that seeding may be necessary to improve post-fire establishment of sagebrush steppe vegetation structure and associated ecohydrologic function under these conditions. Lastly, vegetation, runoff, and erosion responses in this study are not directly applicable outside of the Great Basin, but similar responses in woodland studies from the southwestern US suggest potential application of results to woodlands in that region. The concept of re-establishing vegetation structure to improve ecohydrologic function is broadly applicable to sparsely vegetated lands around the World. Date Added 2020-03-17, 6:59:59 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:58:47 PM Tags: o Erosion o Fire o Great Basin o Hydrologic recovery o Infiltration o Interrill o Islands of fertility o Juniper o Pinyon o Prescribed fire o Rainfall simulation o Rangeland o Restoration o Rills o Runoff o Sagebrush steppe o Soil water repellency o Woodland encroachment * Application of Ecological Site Information to Transformative Changes on Great Basin Sagebrush Rangelands Type Journal Article Author C. Jason Williams Author Frederick B. Pierson Author Kenneth E. Spaeth Author Joel R. Brown Author Osama Z. Al-Hamdan Author Mark A. Weltz Author Mark A. Nearing Author Jeffrey E. Herrick Author Jan Boll Author Peter R. Robichaud Author David C. Goodrich Author Philip Heilman Author D. Phillip Guertin Author Mariano Hernandez Author Haiyan Wei Author Viktor O. Polyakov Author Gerardo Armendariz Author Sayjro K. Nouwakpo Author Stuart P. Hardegree Author Patrick E. Clark Author Eva K. Strand Author Jonathan D. Bates Author Loretta J. Metz Author Mary H. Nichols URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190052816300736__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv8RDG3Gc$ Volume 38 Issue 6 Pages 379-388 Publication Ecological Sites for Landscape Management ISSN 0190-0528 Date December 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Rangelands DOI 10.1016/j.rala.2016.10.004 Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:21 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:00:21 PM Tags: o adaptive management o ecological site o erosion o Rangeland Hydrology and Erosion Model o resilience o runoff * Vegetation, Hydrologic, and Erosion Responses of Sagebrush Steppe 9 Yr Following Mechanical Tree Removal Type Journal Article Author C. Jason Williams Author Frederick B. Pierson Author Patrick R. Kormos Author Osama Z. Al-Hamdan Author Sayjro K. Nouwakpo Author Mark A. Weltz URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742418302185__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvuH47v-g$ Volume 72 Issue 1 Pages 47-68 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date January 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2018.07.004 Abstract Land managers across the western United States are faced with selecting and applying tree-removal treatments on pinyon (Pinus spp.) and juniper (Juniperus spp.) woodland-encroached sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) rangelands, but current understanding of long-term vegetation and hydrological responses of sagebrush sites to tree removal is inadequate for guiding management. This study applied a suite of vegetation and soil measures (0.5−990 m2), small-plot rainfall simulations (0.5 m2), and overland flow experiments (9 m2) to quantify the effects of mechanical tree removal (tree cutting and mastication) on vegetation, runoff, and erosion at two mid- to late-succession woodland-encroached sagebrush sites in the Great Basin, United States, 9 yr after treatment. Low amounts of hillslope-scale shrub (3−15%) and grass (7−12%) canopy cover and extensive intercanopy (area between tree canopies) bare ground (69−88% bare, 75% of area) in untreated areas at both sites facilitated high levels of runoff and sediment from high-intensity (102 mm • h−1, 45 min) rainfall simulations in interspaces (~45 mm runoff, 59−381 g • m−2 sediment) between trees and shrubs and from concentrated overland flow experiments (15, 30, and 45 L • min−1, 8 min each) in the intercanopy (371−501 L runoff, 2 342−3 015 g sediment). Tree cutting increased hillslope-scale density of sagebrush by 5% and perennial grass cover by twofold at one site while tree cutting and mastication increased hillslope-scale sagebrush density by 36% and 16%, respectively, and perennial grass cover by threefold at a second more-degraded (initially more sparsely vegetated) site over nine growing seasons. Cover of cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.) was < 1% at the sites pretreatment and 1−7% 9 yr after treatment. Bare ground remained high across both sites 9 yr after tree removal and was reduced by treatments solely at the more degraded site. Increases in hillslope-scale vegetation following tree removal had limited impact on runoff and erosion for rainfall simulations and concentrated flow experiments at both sites due to persistent high bare ground. The one exception was reduced runoff and erosion within the cut treatments for intercanopy plots with cut-downed-trees. The cut-downed-trees provided ample litter cover and tree debris at the ground surface to reduce the amount and erosive energy of concentrated overland flow. Trends in hillslope-scale vegetation responses to tree removal in this study demonstrate the effectiveness of mechanical treatments to reestablish sagebrush steppe vegetation without increasing cheatgrass for mid- to late-succession woodland-encroached sites along the warm-dry to cool-moist soil temperature−moisture threshold in the Great Basin. Our results indicate improved hydrologic function through sagebrush steppe vegetation recruitment after mechanical tree removal on mid- to late-succession woodlands can require more than 9 yr. We anticipate intercanopy runoff and erosion rates will decrease over time at both sites as shrub and grass cover continue to increase, but follow-up tree removal will be needed to prevent pinyon and juniper recolonization. The low intercanopy runoff and erosion measured underneath isolated cut-downed-trees in this study clearly demonstrate that tree debris following mechanical treatments can effectively limit microsite-scale runoff and erosion over time where tree debris settles in good contact with the soil surface. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:46 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:46 PM Tags: o cheatgrass invasion o erosion o Great Basin o hydrologic recovery o infiltration o juniper o mastication o mechanical treatments o pinyon o rainfall simulation o rangeland o runoff o sagebrush restoration o soil loss o tree cutting o tree shredding o woodland encroachment o woodland expansion * In tallgrass prairie restorations, relatedness influences neighborhood-scale plant invasion while resource availability influences site-scale invasion Type Journal Article Author Evelyn W. Williams Author Rebecca S. Barak Author Meghan Kramer Author Andrew L. Hipp Author Daniel J. Larkin URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1439179118302238__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvkJU1nIM$ Volume 33 Pages 37-48 Publication Basic and Applied Ecology ISSN 1439-1791 Date December 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Basic and Applied Ecology DOI 10.1016/j.baae.2018.10.001 Abstract Attempting to control invasive plant species in tallgrass prairie restorations is time-consuming and costly, making improved approaches for predicting and reducing invasion imperative. Both biotic and abiotic factors mediate plant invasions, and can potentially be used by restoration managers to reduce invasion rates. Biotic factors such as plant species richness and phylogenetic diversity of the native community may impact invasion. Relatedness of invading species to those in recipient communities has also been shown to influence invasion success. However, the direction of this influence is variable, reflecting Darwin’s Naturalization Conundrum. Abiotic factors such as fire regime and soil factors may impact invasion by selecting against invasive species or indicating suitable habitats for them. We surveyed 17 tallgrass prairie restorations in Illinois, USA, to investigate the effects of biotic and abiotic factors on invasion by non-native plant species at two different scales. We predicted we would find support for Darwin’s Naturalization Hypothesis at the plot (neighborhood) scale with invasion by distantly related species, and find support for the Pre-adaptation Hypothesis at the site scale. We hypothesized that biotic factors would exert more influence at the neighborhood scale, while abiotic factors would be more influential at a coarser site scale. Contrary to our expectations, at the neighborhood scale we found that closely related invasive species are more likely to invade, supporting the Pre-adaptation Hypothesis. We found that native species richness and age of restoration were negatively correlated with invasion. At the site scale, soil organic matter [SOM] concentrations and heterogeneity in SOM were positively associated with the number of invasive species while pH heterogeneity was negatively associated. Restoration practitioners may be able to reduce plant invasions by increasing native species richness, and non-native species most closely related to the resident community should potentially be prioritized as those most likely to be highly invasive. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:48 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:48 PM Tags: o Grassland o Invasion o Phylogenetic diversity o Relatedness * Growth and competitiveness of the New Zealand tree species Podocarpus cunninghamii is reduced by ex-agricultural AMF but enhanced by forest AMF Type Journal Article Author Alwyn Williams Author Hayley J. Ridgway Author David A. Norton URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0038071710004049__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvmWe7CTo$ Volume 43 Issue 2 Pages 339-345 Publication Soil Biology and Biochemistry ISSN 0038-0717 Date February 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Soil Biology and Biochemistry DOI 10.1016/j.soilbio.2010.10.021 Abstract The composition of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) communities found in agricultural systems has been found to be very different to that of forest. The implications of this, if any, for the restoration of indigenous forest on ex-agricultural land is poorly understood. This study investigated the effect that AMF communities isolated from ex-agricultural and forest soils have on the growth of an indigenous New Zealand tree species (Podocarpus cunninghamii). The forest AMF community was isolated from a remnant stand of P. cunninghamii forest and the ex-agricultural AMF from a retired grazing grassland. In addition, the study examined how the two AMF communities affected the competitiveness of P. cunninghamii when grown in competition with an invasive grass species (Agrostis capillaris), which is frequently dominant on ex-agricultural land in New Zealand. P. cunninghamii growth was significantly decreased by inoculation with ex-agricultural AMF compared to forest AMF. Furthermore, the forest AMF community was able to significantly increase P. cunninghamii root production when in competition with A. capillaris. The findings suggest that when attempting to restore indigenous forest on ex-agricultural land, inoculation of tree seedlings with appropriate forest AMF may improve their growth and survival. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:34 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:34 PM Tags: o Agriculture o Arbuscular mycorrhiza o Competition o Forest restoration o Mutualism o New Zealand * Biodiversity, phenology and temporal niche differences between native- and novel exotic-dominated grasslands Type Journal Article Author Brian J. Wilsey Author Pedram P. Daneshgar Author H. Wayne Polley URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1433831911000394__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvyxbLCmc$ Volume 13 Issue 4 Pages 265-276 Publication Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics ISSN 1433-8319 Date November 20, 2011 Journal Abbr Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics DOI 10.1016/j.ppees.2011.07.002 Abstract Many exotic species have been introduced or have escaped into grasslands where they form ‘novel ecosystems’ of species with no evolutionary history of interaction. Novel ecosystems are good model systems for understanding how diversity maintenance mechanisms might differ between species with a history of interaction (natives) and species without a history (exotics) in cases where exotics originated from several continents. We tested for lower species diversity and richness in exotic grasslands and found a negative correlation between species diversity measures and proportion of exotic species across 15 grasslands in an observational study in Texas. We then planted 9-species mixtures of all native or all exotics under ambient or elevated summer precipitation to compare dynamics of diversity and to test if exotic species respond more strongly to altered resource availability. Species diversity was lower in communities of exotic than native species by the second year. Reduced diversity in exotic communities resulted from lower complementarity and higher temporal niche overlap among species and occurred in both ambient and irrigated plots. In general, summer irrigation had additive positive effects and did not interact with native–exotic status. Exotic species and communities had much earlier green-up during spring than natives, and altered inter-correlations among phenology variables. There were no differences in flowering dates. Taken together, our results suggest that rapid and synchronous growth may increase niche overlap among exotic species and reduce local diversity in exotic-dominated grassland communities. Earlier green-up by exotics may complicate attempts to ascertain relationships between phenology and climate. An increase in exotic species may cause earlier green-up regardless of any climate change effects and our results suggest that phenology networks should take a species-based rather than an ecosystem approach to evaluate green-up if the abundance of exotics increases within the time-frame in question. These differences between native and exotic species and communities should be considered in future management and restoration projects. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:01 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:01 PM Tags: o Altered precipitation o Equalizing and stabilizing effects o Global change o Invasive species o Niche partitioning o Novel ecosystems o Phenology o Plant diversity o Tallgrass prairie * Grassland connectivity in fragmented agricultural landscapes of the north-central United States Type Journal Article Author Michael C. Wimberly Author Diane M. Narem Author Peter J. Bauman Author Benjamin T. Carlson Author Marissa A. Ahlering URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320717311308__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvPrqkBwE$ Volume 217 Pages 121-130 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date January 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2017.10.031 Abstract In the prairies of North America, remnant native grasslands are threatened by continuing agricultural extensification. Fragmentation of the remaining grassland isolates patches and limits the potential for dispersal of native species. We explored these impacts by analyzing the spatial pattern of native grassland habitats in the Prairie Coteau region of eastern South Dakota and western Minnesota, USA. Undisturbed grasslands were mapped using a GIS database of land use history combined with manual interpretation of high-resolution aerial photographs. Network analysis based on graph theory was used to examine how connectivity changed depending on the potential movement distances of organisms and to identify important patches that made large contributions to connectivity throughout the broader network. Interpatch movement was assessed using Euclidian distance as well as cost-weighted distance that assigned lower movement cost to grasslands than to human-modified land cover types. Much of the undisturbed grassland was concentrated in a single large cluster, which was connected to other habitat concentrations via corridors of “stepping stone” patches. A small number of “keystone patches”, whose loss would have a disproportionately large effect on overall connectivity, were also identified. The locations of the major corridors were relatively consistent across different movement distances. Information about patch-level importance for overall network connectivity should be taken into account when prioritizing conservation and restoration. Future studies can build on this research by conducting more detailed assessments focused on particular species of concern and portions of the study area where connectivity is most limited. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:20 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:20 PM Tags: o Connectivity o Dispersal o Fragmentation o Graph theory o Grassland o Movement o Network analysis * If we build it, will they colonize? A test of the field of dreams paradigm with soil macroinvertebrate communities Type Journal Article Author Ben R. Wodika Author Sara G. Baer URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929139315000360__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvyi-Vu4o$ Volume 91 Pages 80-89 Publication Applied Soil Ecology ISSN 0929-1393 Date July 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Applied Soil Ecology DOI 10.1016/j.apsoil.2015.02.005 Abstract Soil invertebrates transfer energy and material between belowground and aboveground systems, but a clear understanding of their recovery following long-term disturbance to soil is lacking. We quantified trophic, taxonomic, and compositional change of soil macroinvertebrates in cultivated fields, prairies restored for 1–21 years, and prairies that had never been cultivated. Taxonomic diversity (H′; based on morphospecies), richness, and evenness did not change across the chronosequence. Average taxonomic richness across all restorations was intermediate to cultivated fields and remnant prairie. Detritivores increased linearly across the chronosequence, while omnivores peaked at 5–8 years following restoration, coinciding with high plant richness. Spiders were the only predators that increased across the chronosequence. Proportional similarity of the macroinvertebrate communities to the average structure of remnant prairies increased across the chronosequence, but this relationship was not upheld when individual remnant prairies with different community structures were used. This study demonstrates that remnants can vary widely in macroinvertebrate trophic structure, diversity, and taxonomic composition and include exotic macroinvertebrate species, indicating a real dilemma for assessing recovery of restorations to a “target” community. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:28:00 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:28:00 PM Tags: o Arthropods o Chronosequence o Community o Disturbance o Grassland o Insect o Prairie o Recovery o Restoration * Wood chip soil amendments in restored wetlands affect plant growth by reducing compaction and increasing dissolved phenolics Type Journal Article Author Evan C. Wolf Author Eliška Rejmánková Author David J. Cooper URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12942__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvv9Gb1ZE$ Rights © 2019 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 27 Issue 5 Pages 1128-1136 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2019 DOI 10.1111/rec.12942 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:27:40 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Adding chipped wood to soil ameliorates compaction, allowing faster plant growth that is critical to successful wetland restorations. Following the filling and planting of an erosion gully in Halstead Meadow, Sequoia National Park, the tallest leaf height and maximum clone width of transplanted Scirpus microcarpus seedlings were negatively correlated with soil compaction. Plant height decreased by 9.8 cm and width decreased by 11.9 cm per MPa of soil compaction (range of 0.74–4.50 MPa). We experimentally amended mineral soil in a test trench and found that every 0.10 cm3/cm3 addition of wood chips (range of 0.00–0.75 cm3/cm3) reduced compaction by 0.174 MPa. Had the Halstead Meadow gully fill contained an equivalent volume of wood chips to the reference area soil organic matter content (0.64 cm3/cm3), we predict compaction would have been reduced by 1.11 MPa, increasing individual transplant width spread by 36%, approximately doubling the vegetated area after two growing seasons. In a greenhouse phytometer experiment, conifer bark leachate (phenolics 211 mg/L) significantly reduced plant growth and, in the presence of added nutrients, increased the production of the enzyme polyphenol oxidase (PPO). However, phenolics concentration in bark-free conifer wood leachate (12 mg/L), similar to field-sampled concentrations, did not affect plant growth or PPO production. Pure conifer bark is not recommended as a soil amendment, but the addition of low-bark-content wood chips to gully fill may be a feasible and effective means of reducing soil compaction, accelerating plant establishment, and lowering wetland restoration project costs. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:27:40 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:27:40 PM Tags: o meadow o phytometer o polyphenol oxidase o Scirpus microcarpus o Sierra Nevada o soil organic matter Attachments o Snapshot * Meeting global land restoration and protection targets: What would the world look like in 2050? Type Journal Article Author Sarah Wolff Author Elizabeth A. Schrammeijer Author Catharina J.E. Schulp Author Peter H. Verburg URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959378017311718__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv9Vuril4$ Volume 52 Pages 259-272 Publication Global Environmental Change ISSN 0959-3780 Date September 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Global Environmental Change DOI 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2018.08.002 Abstract Land restoration has received increased attention recently as a tool to counteract negative externalities of unsustainable land management on human well-being. This is reflected in targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the United Nations Framework of the Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). However, the implications of these targets for land use, especially considering their potential conflict with growing food production demands, are largely unexplored. We study the potential and aggregated consequences of meeting these targets on land cover and land system change. We do so by analyzing targets originating from these global commitments towards land restoration and protection and implement them in a global land system change model. We compare this Restoration and Protection scenario with simulation results of two plausible pathways of socio-economic development in the absence of these targets, following the Shared Socio-Economic Pathway (SSP) storylines. We find that meeting global land restoration and protection targets would increase global tree cover by 4 million km², increasing forest carbon stocks by 50 Gt and protecting 28% of the terrestrial area with the highest value of both biodiversity and carbon storage. Gains in tree cover and natural land systems would cause a contraction of crop, pasture- and bare land. This results in further cropland intensification and the expansion of land systems that are combining land use demands in mosaics of forest and agriculture. Without these targets, land system architecture tends to become more specialized, while many carbon and biodiversity hotspots, such as in the Americas, India, and Indonesia would be lost. Grassland-agriculture mosaics were threatened by land use change under all scenarios, requiring greater consideration in research and environmental policy. Our results emphasize the need for targeted land management in line with the analyzed policy targets if global restoration and protection targets are to be achieved. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:24 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:24 PM Tags: o Ecosystem services demand o Land change modelling o Land restoration o Scenarios o Sustainable development goals * Nonnative grass litter enhances grazing arthropod assemblages by increasing native shrub growth Type Journal Article Author Elizabeth M. Wolkovich URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1890/09-0147.1__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv0rAmx7U$ Volume 91 Issue 3 Pages 756-766 Publication Ecology ISSN 0012-9658 Date March 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Ecology DOI 10.1890/09-0147.1 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Recent theory and research have highlighted how the brown (detritus-based) world may control the trophic structure of the green (grazing) world. Detritus can alter bottom-up control of green webs by affecting autotroph biomass and quality through its ability to alter ecosystem properties, including soil moisture and nutrient cycling. Additionally, the role of detritus as the food resource base of brown webs may subsidize omnivorous predators that can provide top-down control of green webs. Brown?green connections may be especially important following plant invasions, which often lead to increased detritus and altered food webs. I combine field experiments, observational data, and path analysis to understand how nonnative grasses impact native arthropod communities in a semiarid shrub system. Theory and correlative evidence predict that decreased shrub growth and nutritional quality, and increased feeding of detrital predators on the grazing web, would decrease the abundance of shrub arthropods. In contrast, I found nonnative litter increased shrub growth via increased soil moisture and produced a strong bottom-up increase of the grazing arthropod web; effects of detrital predators and plant quality were comparatively unimportant. I link these findings to the apparent lack of overlapping predators between the brown and green webs, and to the important abiotic role of litter in this xeric system, which increased native plants and the abundance and richness of arthropods on them. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:52:05 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:52:05 PM Tags: o bottom-up control o coastal sage scrub o USA o Artemisia californica (California sagebrush) o detritus o exotic and alien species o harvestmen (Opiliones) o leafhoppers (Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae) o Mediterranean climate cf. xeric systems o PERMANOVA o plant quality o resource-shunt hypothesis o southern California o spiders (Araneae) Notes: o doi: 10.1890/09-0147.1 * Grass Mortality and Turnover Following Core Rangeland Restoration Practices Type Journal Article Author Carissa L. Wonkka Author Jason B. West Author Dirac Twidwell Author William E. Rogers URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742416301063__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvWGmIVhs$ Volume 70 Issue 3 Pages 290-300 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date May 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2016.10.011 Abstract In rangelands, management interventions have sought to minimize disturbances that decrease survival of perennial grasses to avoid compositional shifts toward less desirable species. However, the effects of rangeland management techniques on perennial grass survival and turnover are not known for individual species because the discipline has largely focused on structural metrics, measuring cover or biomass rather than tracking individual plants. In this study, we quantified perennial grass survival and recruitment in response to core rangeland restoration practices across multiple soil types to determine the potential for different interventions to cause shifts to undesirable grass community assemblages. We mapped individual grass tufts and recorded basal area annually. We used these maps to track survival and recruitment of grasses in response to mechanical brush removal, chemical woody plant control, and low-intensity prescribed burning. Additionally, we performed ordinations of the grass community to explore compositional shifts resulting from management interventions. We found perennial grass mortality to be higher for mechanically treated plots on all soil types than it was in chemically treated plots, burned plots, or untreated controls. Levels of mortality from fire were similar to baseline mortality in control plots for all soil types. However, relative species turnover was variable among soils and treatments. Brush removal only resulted in compositional shifts on sandy soils, where annual grasses and species capable of rapid expansion following disturbance became dominant. Differential responses are related to differences in species turnover, which is a function of individual grass species mortality and recruitment mediated by interactions between management approach and abiotic conditions. Given this response variability, understanding effects of management actions on perennial grass turnover and the potential for those actions to result in a community shift toward less desirable species is necessary for managers to achieve restoration goals on encroached rangelands. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:24 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:58:51 PM Tags: o brush management o bunchgrass mortality o grassland community composition o perennial grassland o relative species turnover o state and transition models o woody vegetation control * Shrubland resilience varies across soil types: implications for operationalizing resilience in ecological restoration Type Journal Article Author Carissa L. Wonkka Author Dirac Twidwell Author Jason B. West Author William E. Rogers URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.jstor.org/stable/24701226__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv57E8_VY$ Volume 26 Issue 1 Pages 128-145 Publication Ecological Applications ISSN 10510761 Date 2016 Abstract In ecosystems with alternative stable states, restoration success can be thought of as overcoming the resilience of an undesirable state to promote an alternative state that yields greater ecosystem services. Since greater resilience of undesirable states translates into reduced restoration potential, quantifying differences in resilience can enhance restoration planning. In the context of shrub-encroached rangeland restoration, shrubland resilience is the capacity of a woody vegetated state to absorb management interventions designed to produce a more desirable grass-dominated state, and remain within its current regime. Therefore, differences in the resilience of a state can be quantified in a relative sense by measuring whether a state switches to an alternate state following perturbation or remains in its current stability domain. Here we designed an experimental manipulation to assess the contribution of soils to differences in the relative resilience of a shrub-invaded state. In this large-scale experiment, we repeated perturbations across a gradient of soil textures to inform restoration practitioners of differences in the relative resilience of shrubland occurring on different soil types to common rangeland restoration practices. On each soil type, we compared the relative ability of the shrubland state to withstand chemical and mechanical brush control treatments, commonly employed in this study region, to untreated controls. While the shrubland community composition did not differ prior to the study, its capacity to absorb and recover from brush removal treatments depended on soil type. Shrubland resilience to chemical and mechanical brush removal was highest on coarse soils. On these soils, brush removal temporarily restored grassland dominance, but woody plants quickly regained pretreatment levels of dominance. However, shrublands on fine soils did not recover following treatments, continuing to be grass-dominated for the duration of the study. This study highlights a simple approach for prioritizing restoration actions by mapping the locations of different soil attributes that support shrub-dominated states with differing levels of resilience to brush control. This experimental approach provides a basis for operationalizing resilience in restoration and prioritizing management actions across a range of environmental conditions, which is critical given the economic constraints associated with broad-scale mechanical and chemical interventions for rangeland restoration. Archive JSTOR Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:49:56 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:49:56 PM * Identifying time lags in the restoration of grassland butterfly communities: A multi-site assessment Type Journal Article Author B.A. Woodcock Author J.M. Bullock Author S.R. Mortimer Author T. Brereton Author J.W. Redhead Author J.A. Thomas Author R.F. Pywell URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320712002480__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvcVRviuI$ Volume 155 Pages 50-58 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date October 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2012.05.013 Abstract Although grasslands are crucial habitats for European butterflies, large-scale declines in quality and area have devastated many species. Grassland restoration can contribute to the recovery of butterfly populations, although there is a paucity of information on the long-term effects of management. Using eight UK data sets (9–21years), we investigate changes in restoration success for (1) arable reversion sites, were grassland was established on bare ground using seed mixtures, and (2) grassland enhancement sites, where degraded grasslands are restored by scrub removal followed by the re-instigation of cutting/grazing. We also assessed the importance of individual butterfly traits and ecological characteristics in determining colonisation times. Consistent increases in restoration success over time were seen for arable reversion sites, with the most rapid rates of increase in restoration success seen over the first 10years. For grasslands enhancement there were no consistent increases in restoration success over time. Butterfly colonisation times were fastest for species with widespread host plants or where host plants established well during restoration. Low mobility butterfly species took longer to colonise. We show that arable reversion is an effective tool for the management of butterfly communities. We suggest that as restoration takes time to achieve, its use as a mitigation tool against future environmental change (i.e. by decreasing isolation in fragmented landscapes) needs to take into account such time lags. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:34 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:34 PM Tags: o Arable reversion o Calcareous o Functional traits o Grassland Enhancement o Mesotrophic o Recreation * Limiting factors in the restoration of UK grassland beetle assemblages Type Journal Article Author B.A. Woodcock Author J.M. Bullock Author S.R. Mortimer Author R.F. Pywell URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320711004629__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvjmxpqxI$ Volume 146 Issue 1 Pages 136-143 Publication Biological Conservation ISSN 0006-3207 Date February 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Biological Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2011.11.033 Abstract Grasslands restoration is a key management tool contributing to the long-term maintenance of insect populations, providing functional connectivity and mitigating against extinction debt across landscapes. As knowledge of grassland insect communities is limited, the lag between the initiation of restoration and the ability of these new habitats to contribute to such processes is unclear. Using ten data sets, ranging from 3 to 14years, we investigate the lag between restoration and the establishment of phytophagous beetle assemblages typical of species rich grasslands. We used traits and ecological characteristics to determine factors limiting beetle colonisation, and also considered how food-web structure changed during restoration. For sites where seed addition of host-plants occurred the success in replicating beetle assemblages increased over time following a negative exponential function. Extrapolation beyond the existing data set tentatively suggested that success would plateau after 20years, representing a c. 60% increase in assemblage similarity to target grasslands. In the absence of seed addition, similarity to the target grasslands showed no increase over time. Where seed addition was used the connectance of plant–herbivore food webs decreased over time, approaching values typical of species rich grasslands after c. 7years. This trend was, however, dependent on the inclusion of a single site containing data in excess of 6years of restoration management. Beetles not capable of flight, those showing high degrees of host-plant specialisation and species feeding on nationally rare host plants take between 1 and 3years longer to colonise. Successful grassland restoration is underpinned by the establishment of host-plants, although individual species traits compound the effects of poor host-plant establishment to slow colonisation. The use of pro-active grassland restoration to mitigate against future environmental change should account for lag periods in excess of 10years if the value of these habitats is to be fully realised. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:24 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:24 PM Tags: o Calcareous o Food web o Functional traits o Lowland grassland o Mesotrophic o Meta-analysis o Recreation * Root channels to indicate the increase in soil matrix water infiltration capacity of arid reclaimed mine soils Type Journal Article Author Gao-Lin Wu Author Yu Liu Author Zheng Yang Author Zeng Cui Author Lei Deng Author Xiao-Feng Chang Author Zhi-Hua Shi URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022169416308447__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvKuEhYFU$ Volume 546 Pages 133-139 Publication Journal of Hydrology ISSN 0022-1694 Date March 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Journal of Hydrology DOI 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2016.12.047 Abstract Soil matrix flow plays a critical role in redistributing the precipitation input and enhancing water storage in arid areas. Root channels can result in macropore flow which strongly influences soil infiltration. Prior research has addressed the influence of vegetation on erosion and runoff, but the effects of root channels on infiltration capacity are less studied. In this study, we studied the root channels and soil water infiltration rates in ten artificial grasslands in an arid area. The results showed that the average root channel diameter (ARCD) of leguminous grasslands and of shrub grasslands were greater than that of gramineous grasslands (p<0.05). Importantly, the ARCD and root channel area (RCA) were significantly and positively related to the average infiltration rate in stage I (AIRS I) and the initial infiltration rate (IIR). The IIR and the AIRS I increased at rates of 31.13 and 14.60mmh−1, respectively, and at the same time there was an increase in ARCD. Overall, our results suggest that root channels played a significant role in the matrix infiltration capacity, resulting in a higher infiltration rate in leguminous grasslands and in mixed sown grasslands than in gramineous grasslands. We suggest that leguminous grasslands or the combination of leguminous and gramineous species in grassland should be given greater attention as suitable materials for mine-soil reclamation in arid regions. Our research improve the understanding of the influence of vegetation on soil hydrological processes and of the hydrology of reclaimed mine soils in arid regions. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:41 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:58:52 PM Tags: o Arid area o Artificial grassland o Root channels o Soil infiltration rate * Particulate nutrient loss from drylands to grasslands/forestlands in a large-scale highly erodible watershed Type Journal Article Author Lei Wu Author Xiaopin Li Author Xiaoyi Ma URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X19306661__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvEh8ZuDY$ Volume 107 Pages 105673 Publication Ecological Indicators ISSN 1470-160X Date December 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2019.105673 Abstract Land use structure is an important factor affecting soil nutrient loss but the influencing mechanism of land use change on particulate nutrient loss is still unclear in large-scale ecological restoration regions. In this study, an integrated, physically-based modeling framework was put forward to identify the dynamic effects of land use change on particulate nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) loss in Jinghe River Watershed (JRW), China. Results indicate that: (i) The proposed modeling framework is a robust tool for quantifying the dynamic effects of land use change on particulate nutrient loss and evaluating agricultural planting stategies at multiple spatial and temporal scales; (ii) The increase of dry land and low-coverage grassland, and the decrease of forestland and high- and middle-coverage grassland from 1985 to 1995 led to a sharp increase of particulate N and P loss load, which increased by 39.06% and 42.69% respectively. (iii) The significant decrease in both dry land and low-coverage grassland from 1995 to 2005 caused the decrease of particulate N and P loss load by 28.22% and 31.99% respectively. This is because the forestland increased but dryland decreased, and the low-coverage grassland was transformed into middle- and high-coverage grassland during this period; and (iv) There was no decrease but increase by 13.65% and 13.50% for particulate N and P loss from 2005 to 2010 because the erosive rainstorm and runoff volume in 2010 were both larger than that in 2005. Results provide effective data support for scientific decision-makers and land management practices in the loess hilly and gully region. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:42 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:42 PM Tags: o Integrated modeling framework o Land use change o Large-scale highly erodible watershed o Particulate nutrient loss o Soil erosion * Spatial distribution of the impact of surface mining on the landscape ecological health of semi-arid grasslands Type Journal Article Author Zhenhua Wu Author Shaogang Lei Author Qingqing Lu Author Zhengfu Bian Author Sijie Ge URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X19309914__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvXIFXzrE$ Volume 111 Pages 105996 Publication Ecological Indicators ISSN 1470-160X Date April 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2019.105996 Abstract Coal mining and utilization have always been a great impact on landscape ecology. Many studies have identified the impact of surface mining through landscape changes, but the spatial distribution and extent of the impacts are considered less in existing studies. The objective of this study is to determine the spatial distribution and extent of the impact of surface mining on the Landscape Ecological Health (LEH) of semi-arid grasslands. The research area of this paper is Shengli surface mines, Xilinhot City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. The main steps of the research method include LEH assessment, buffer analysis, Landscape Ecological Function Contribution Rate (LEFCR) and Modified Landscape Disturbance Index (MLDI) measurement. The results indicated that: 1) the theoretical reference range of the impact of Shengli surface mines on the semi-arid grassland LEH is 5 km. 2) The proposed MLDI can effectively monitor the disturbance of surface mining on landscape ecology. 3) The heavily affected area is mainly the open-pit landscape; the moderately affected area is mainly the dumping landscape and the mining area industrial square landscape, and the slightly affected area is mainly a small part of the dumping landscape and the surrounding grassland landscape of the mining area. The spatial distribution of the impact of surface mining on the landscape ecology of semi-arid grasslands is heterogeneous, which should be taken into account in landscape ecological management, restoration, and planning. This paper may serve as a reference for the study of the disturbances and impacts of human activities on landscape ecology. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:46 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:46 PM Tags: o Landscape Ecological Health o Modified Landscape Disturbance Index o Semi-arid grassland o Spatial distribution o Surface coal mining * Restoration of ecosystem carbon and nitrogen storage and microbial biomass after grazing exclusion in semi-arid grasslands of Inner Mongolia Type Journal Article Author Xing Wu Author Zongshan Li Author Bojie Fu Author Wangming Zhou Author Huifeng Liu Author Guohua Liu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857414004881__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv_d0RTqc$ Volume 73 Pages 395-403 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date December 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2014.09.077 Abstract The semi-arid grasslands in Inner Mongolia have been degraded as a result of long-term grazing and poor grassland management. A series of ecological restoration strategies have been implemented to enhance the ecosystem services of China’s grasslands. To understand the response of ecosystem C and N to grazing exclusion within a nationwide conservation project–Returning Grazing Lands to Grasslands (RGLG), the C and N storages in different parts of the plant–soil system as well as soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and nitrogen (MBN) contents were determined and compared between three grazing exclusion sites (6 years) and the paired adjacent grazing sites in the Hulunbuir grassland of Inner Mongolia. Our results showed that the exclusion of grazing for 6 years resulted in significant increases of ecosystem biomass and soil C and N contents, leading to a substantial restoration of ecosystem C and N storage. The average C and N accumulation rates in the whole ecosystem were 173.6gCm−2year−1 and 19.8gNm−2year−1, respectively. The accumulation of C and N in soil contributed to more than 87.6% and 98.2% of the increases in ecosystem C and N, respectively, indicating that the restoration of ecosystem C and N were mainly due to the increase of C and N in soil after exclusion of grazing. The higher MBC and MBN in exclosure sites than grazing sites might be partly because of the enhanced organic matter inputs from plant litter and root exudates. The significant correlations between soil organic matter and microbial biomass suggested that soil microbial biomass could be a sensitive indicator of the soil C and N dynamics. These results indicated that exclusion of grazing pressure within the RGLG project is an effective restoration approach to control grassland degradation in this region. However, more comprehensive multidisciplinary studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of the RGLG project and to improve the management strategies for grassland restoration. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:24 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:24 PM Tags: o Carbon and nitrogen storage o Grazing exclusion o Restoration o Returning Grazing Lands to Grasslands (RGLG) project o Semi-arid grassland o Soil microbial biomass * Mixed artificial grasslands with more roots improved mine soil infiltration capacity Type Journal Article Author Gao-Lin Wu Author Zheng Yang Author Zeng Cui Author Yu Liu Author Nu-Fang Fang Author Zhi-Hua Shi URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022169416000779__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvR1wI510$ Volume 535 Pages 54-60 Publication Journal of Hydrology ISSN 0022-1694 Date April 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Journal of Hydrology DOI 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2016.01.059 Abstract Summary Soil water is one of the critical limiting factors in achieving sustainable revegetation. Soil infiltration capacity plays a vital role in determining the inputs from precipitation and enhancing water storage, which are important for the maintenance and survival of vegetation patches in arid and semi-arid areas. Our study investigated the effects of different artificial grasslands on soil physical properties and soil infiltration capacity. The artificial grasslands were Medicago sativa, Astragalus adsurgens, Agropyron mongolicum, Lespedeza davurica, Bromus inermis, Hedysarum scoparium, A. mongolicum+Artemisia desertorum, A. adsurgens+A. desertorum and M. sativa+B. inermis. The soil infiltration capacity index (SICI), which was based on the average infiltration rate of stage I (AIRSI) and the average infiltration rate of stage III (AIRS III), was higher (indicating that the infiltration capacity was greater) under the artificial grasslands than that of the bare soil. The SICI of the A. adsurgens+A. desertorum grassland had the highest value (1.48) and bare soil (−0.59) had the lowest value. It was evident that artificial grassland could improve soil infiltration capacity. We also used principal component analysis (PCA) to determine that the main factors that affected SICI were the soil water content at a depth of 20cm (SWC20), the below-ground root biomasses at depths of 10 and 30cm (BGB10, BGB30), the capillary porosity at a depth of 10cm (CP10) and the non-capillary porosity at a depth of 20cm (NCP20). Our study suggests that the use of Legume-poaceae mixtures and Legume-shrub mixtures to create grasslands provided an effective ecological restoration approach to improve soil infiltration properties due to their greater root biomasses. Furthermore, soil water content, below-ground root biomass, soil capillary porosity and soil non-capillary porosity were the main factors that affect the soil infiltration capacity. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:47 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:47 PM Tags: o Artificial grassland o Soil infiltration capacity o Soil infiltration capacity index (SICI) o Soil physical properties * Land use optimization based on ecosystem service assessment: A case study in the Yanhe watershed Type Journal Article Author Xutong Wu Author Shuai Wang Author Bojie Fu Author Yu Liu Author Yuan Zhu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264837717312590__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvx8bRYoM$ Volume 72 Pages 303-312 Publication Land Use Policy ISSN 0264-8377 Date March 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Land Use Policy DOI 10.1016/j.landusepol.2018.01.003 Abstract Regional land use change can significantly change the ecosystem patterns and processes, resulting in changes of ecosystem services supplies. Large-scale ecological restoration programmes have been implemented in China to restore and sustain ecosystem services. We selected the Yanhe watershed on China’s Loess Plateau, which has experienced the Grain for Green Programme (GFGP), as study area, and we used specialized models to quantify four ecosystem services (water provision, soil conservation, carbon sequestration, and agricultural production) under land use scenarios relative to actual land use change from 2000 to 2015. These scenarios were set according to slope, land use type and water constraint of the watershed to improve water quantity, carbon sequestration, soil retention, agricultural production, and sub-watershed water sustainability. The results show that from 2000 to 2015, 66% of farmlands converted to grassland, 12% of farmlands converted to forest, and farmland proportion declined from 42.0% to 5.3%, while water provision and agricultural production services declined by 12% and 87%, and soil conservation and carbon sequestration services increased by 13% and 3%. Furthermore, under five specific scenarios that converted all retired farmland to grassland in the water-short area and maintained farmland at 0–10° slope in the water-adequate area, all four ecosystem services improved compared with 2015 levels. By identifying optimized land use scenario of retired farmland, we refined general principles of future analyses and decision making in ecological restoration. Comprehensively analyzing slope, land use type and water constraint of the watershed when choosing land use scenarios for GFGP can effectively resolve trade-offs among multiple ecosystem services and can promote regional sustainable development. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:38 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:38 PM Tags: o Ecosystem service o Grain for Green Programme o Land use o Loess Plateau * Artificial Management Improves Soil Moisture, C, N and P in an Alpine Sandy Meadow of Western China Type Journal Article Author Gao-Lin WU Author Wei LI Author Ling-Ping ZHAO Author Zhi-Hua SHI URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1002016011601422__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv808KEUw$ Volume 21 Issue 3 Pages 407-412 Publication Pedosphere ISSN 1002-0160 Date June 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Pedosphere DOI 10.1016/S1002-0160(11)60142-2 Abstract Regeneration of degraded grassland ecosystems is a significant issue in restoration ecology globally. To understand the effects of artificial management measures on alpine meadows, we surveyed topsoil properties including moisture, organic carbon (SOC), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) contents five years after fencing and fencing + reseeding management practices in a sandy meadow in the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, northwestern China. Both the fencing and fencing + reseeding management practices significantly increased soil moisture storage, SOC, total N, available N, total P, and available P, as compared to the unmanaged control. Fencing plus reseeding was more effective than fencing alone for improving soil C, N, and P contents. These suggested that rehabilitation by reseeding and fencing generally had favorable effects on the soil properties in degraded sandy alpine meadows, and was an effective approach for restoration of degraded meadow ecosystems of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:59 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:59 PM Tags: o degraded ecosystem o fencing o reseeding o restoration ecology o soil properties * Increasing terrestrial vegetation activity of ecological restoration program in the Beijing–Tianjin Sand Source Region of China Type Journal Article Author Zhitao Wu Author Jianjun Wu Author Jinghui Liu Author Bin He Author Tianjie Lei Author Qianfeng Wang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857412003953__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvBcIIrxE$ Volume 52 Pages 37-50 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date March 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2012.12.040 Abstract China's capital city, Beijing, has been suffering from sandstorms due to grassland degradation and the large distribution of deserts in western and Northern China, named as the Beijing–Tianjin Sand Source Region (BTSSR). To improve the ecological condition in the BTSSR and to reduce its impacts, the Chinese government has adopted the Beijing–Tianjin Sand Source Control Program since 2001. It is necessary to rigorously evaluate the effectiveness of this 10 years’ program, not only as an essential topic of environmental change in an ecologically vulnerable area, but also as an important aspect of policy efficiency assessments. Toward this aim, this study assessed vegetation changes both temporally and spatially in the areas under the program from 2000 to 2010 with the Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) monthly Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data and trend analysis method. The results showed an overall improvement and its spatial variation in vegetation activity. The annual NDVI increased by 0.0121year−1 over 64.33% of the total area, with the greatest increasing trend of NDVI occurring in the spring. However, the change in NDVI varied remarkably in space. This study identified a southwest-to-northeast band in the study area where NDVI decreased notably, while most of the BTSSR experienced a positive trend of NDVI. Although the cause of the increased NDVI in the BTSSR remains uncertain, drought may result in a non-significant increasing trend in vegetation activity and the ecological restoration program may be one of the main driving forces behind the increasing trend in vegetation activity. All of these findings will enrich our knowledge of human activities that impact vegetation in arid and semi-arid environments and will provide a scientific basis for the management of ecological restoration programs. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:10 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:10 PM Tags: o Beijing–Tianjin Sand Source Region o Drought o Ecological restoration program o NDVI o Vegetation activity * Management Effects on the Vegetation of Rangeland in the Middle of Southern Slope of Tianshan Mountains Type Journal Article Author Linqiao Xi Author Shuqi Wu Author Hui Liu Author Dong Wang Author Chunhui Ma Date 2020 Date Added 2020-03-17, 9:55:23 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 9:55:23 PM * Effects of freeze-thaw cycles on aggregate-associated organic carbon and glomalin-related soil protein in natural-succession grassland and Chinese pine forest on the Loess Plateau Type Journal Article Author Lie Xiao Author Yang Zhang Author Peng Li Author Guoce Xu Author Peng Shi Author Yi Zhang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706117318694__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvBQ2090w$ Volume 334 Pages 1-8 Publication Geoderma ISSN 0016-7061 Date January 15, 2019 Journal Abbr Geoderma DOI 10.1016/j.geoderma.2018.07.043 Abstract Glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) is a hydrophobic glycoprotein that can protect soil organic carbon (SOC) from decomposition by promoting the formation of soil aggregates. Few studies, however, have evaluated the response of aggregate-associated SOC and GRSP to freeze-thaw cycles (FTs) under different patterns of vegetation restoration. Soil samples were collected from three typical natural-succession grasslands (dominated by Artemisia capillaris, A. sacrorum, and Bothriochloa ischaemum) and a Chinese pine (Pinus tabuliformis) forest before and after natural FTs during a winter-spring season on the Loess Plateau in China. The soil aggregate stability and concentrations of SOC, easily extractable GRSP (EE-GRSP) and total GRSP (T-GRSP) in different aggregate fractions were measured. The FTs decreased the proportion of >5.0 mm wet-sieved fractions, increased the proportion of <0.25 mm wet-sieved fractions, and decreased the mean weight diameters by 8.7, 9.5, 2.9, and 9.4% in the soils of A. capillaris, A. sacrorum, B. ischaemum, and P. tabuliformis, respectively. The SOC, T-GRSP, and EE-GRSP concentrations in each aggregate fraction generally decreased after FTs in the four vegetation types. The SOC, T-GRSP, and EE-GRSP concentrations did not differ significantly in the larger aggregate fractions before the FTs in the soils for B. ischaemum and P. tabuliformis, but their concentrations were significantly higher for B. ischaemum than P. tabuliformis after FTs. The SOC and GRSP concentrations were significantly and linearly correlated in most aggregate fractions both before and after the FTs. These results indicated that the FTs decreased SOC by decreasing the GRSP concentration in each aggregate fraction and that SOC was more sensitive to FTs in forest than in natural-succession grassland. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:45 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:45 PM Tags: o Aggregate stability o GRSP o Seasonal freeze-thaw o SOC o Vegetation restoration * Responses of soil diazotrophs to legume species and density in a karst grassland, southwest China Type Journal Article Author Dan Xiao Author Yongjun Tan Author Xin Liu Author Rong Yang Author Wei Zhang Author Xunyang He Author Zhihong Xu Author Kelin Wang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880919303238__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvOTNvhzY$ Volume 288 Pages 106707 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date February 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2019.106707 Abstract Diazotrophs have potential for fixing atmospheric nitrogen (N) in terrestrial ecosystems. The effects of legumes on free-living N-fixing diazotrophs in the karst grassland were determined to provide a basis for ecosystem restoration. In a field experiment, diazotroph responses were examined in five treatments: control, low, and high densities of Amorpha fruticosa and Indigofera atropurpurea. The abundance and community composition of diazotrophs were significantly affected by sampling time and the interaction between different leguminous shrubs and planting density. Legume treatments significantly increased diazotroph abundance compared with the control in December (non-growing season). Greater N input with I. atropurpurea at high density in July (growing season) may suppress soil free-living N-fixing bacteria by decreasing diazotroph abundance. Diazotroph diversity was highest under I. atropurpurea in July. Phyllobacteriaceae and Beijerinckiaceae were abundant in the A. fruticosa plots, while Burkholderiaceae, Comamonadaceae, and Geobacteraceae were abundant in the I. atropurpurea plots. Regardless of the treatments, dissolved organic carbon was the key factor driving seasonal changes in diazotroph abundance and community composition. It suggests seasonal changes in temperature and soil moisture that drive nutrient availability (e.g., ammonium N and nitrate N) under planting legumes may explain the variation in diazotroph communities. Legumes reduced negative interactions among the species in network analyses. These findings suggest that increasing N availability by legume N fixation reduced inter-specific competition among the diazotrophs, with essential roles of rare taxa during the restoration of degraded lands in the karst region. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:50 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:50 PM Tags: o Calcareous soil o Diazotroph o Fragile ecosystems o Hiseq sequencing o Leguminous shrubs * Characterizing historical (1992–2010) transitions between grassland and cropland in mainland France through mining land-cover survey data Type Journal Article Author Ying Xiao Author Catherine Mignolet Author Jean-François Mari Author Marc Benoît URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095311915611030__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvO6Slv_A$ Volume 14 Issue 8 Pages 1511-1523 Publication Journal of Integrative Agriculture ISSN 2095-3119 Date August 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Journal of Integrative Agriculture DOI 10.1016/S2095-3119(15)61103-0 Abstract Grassland, as one of the largest ecosystems on the earth, supports various goods and services to humanity. Historically, humans have increased agricultural output primarily by cropland expansion and agricultural intensification. The cropland area was primarily gained at the expense of grassland and forests. Apart from grassland conversion, increasing consumption of calorie- and meat-intensive diets drives the intensification of livestock systems, which is shifting steadily from grazing to feeding with crops. To cope with the environmental degradation due to agriculture, various forms of ‘green payment’ were implemented to promote the adoption of sustainable farming practices over the last two decades in the European Union. The aim of this study is to monitor the recent transitions (1992–2010) between grassland and cropland during two Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reforms at the French mainland scale. We proposed an innovative approach to link grassland conversion to agricultural commodities and farming systems practices. We first assessed the grassland-to-cropland conversion and further investigated the crop sequence patterns that were observed to be dominant after the conversion through mining land-cover survey data Teruti and Teruti-Lucas. We found the trends of the transitions between grassland and cropland over the two time intervals: The loss of grassland (1992–2003) and restoration or re-expansion of grassland (2006–2010) in mainland France. Our finding on the crop sequence patterns after the grassland conversion reveals two notable evolutions of agricultural production systems. These evolutions were related to the increase in the proportion of cropland in the total agricultural land use. One evolution was most likely influenced by the demand for fodder: The conversion from grazing livestock to feeding livestock. Another evolution was the conversion from livestock production to field crop production. Our results indicate that the intensification of livestock farming systems continued over the last two decades in France. We conclude that, the approach developed in this study can be considered as a generic method for monitoring the transitions between grassland and cropland and further identifying the crop sequence patterns after the grassland conversion from time-series land cover data. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:20 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:20 PM Tags: o agricultural land-use change o conversion o crop sequence patterns o land-cover survey * Effects of different legume species and densities on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities in a karst grassland ecosystem Type Journal Article Author Dan Xiao Author Yongjun Tan Author Xin Liu Author Rong Yang Author Wei Zhang Author Xunyang He Author Kelin Wang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969719318285__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvw6JY9nk$ Volume 678 Pages 551-558 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date August 15, 2019 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.293 Abstract Legumes can increase nitrogen (N) input to soil via N2 fixation, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can colonize legumes, which further promotes the acquisition of nutrients such as phosphorus (P). Nevertheless, little is known about how different legume species or planting densities affect soil AMF communities. We measured soil AMF abundance, diversity, and community composition in two legume species that had been planted at two densities in a karst grassland. Five treatments were used: control (CK), Amorpha fruticosa at 1.5 × 2 m density (AFD1), A. fruticosa at 1 × 1 m density (AFD2), Indigofera atropurpurea at 1.5 × 2 m density (IAD1), and I. atropurpurea at 1 × 1 m density (IAD2). The results showed that A. fruticosa plots were significantly richer in Redeckera spp., while I. atropurpurea plots were richer in Septoglomus. AMF abundance in AFD1, AFD2, and IAD1 was significantly higher than in CK, but AMF abundance in IAD2 was significantly lower than that in the other treatments. AMF richness and Chao1 estimator in AFD1 were significantly higher than in CK. Funneliformis, Septoglomus, and Acaulospora were significantly more abundant in IAD2 than in the other treatments. The interaction between legume species and density had a significant effect on AMF abundance and community composition. AMF abundance and diversity were significantly negatively and positively correlated with available P and microbial biomass N, respectively. These results suggest that different species and densities of legumes may increase available N, which could improve AMF abundance and alleviate soil P deficiencies. Planting A. fruticosa or I. atropurpurea at a low density may be an effective method to increase AMF colonization of roots, and thus, nutrient transport in karst grasslands. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:35 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:35 PM Tags: o Ecological restoration o Hiseq sequencing o Mycorrhiza o Nitrogen fixing shrubs o Soil properties * Increased soil aggregate stability is strongly correlated with root and soil properties along a gradient of secondary succession on the Loess Plateau Type Journal Article Author Lie Xiao Author Kehan Yao Author Peng Li Author Ying Liu Author Enhao Chang Author Yi Zhang Author Tiantian Zhu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857419303957__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvoGv9_VE$ Volume 143 Pages 105671 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date January 15, 2020 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2019.105671 Abstract The stability of soil aggregates is an indicator of restoration of soil in degraded ecosystems. A multitude of factors such as properties of plant roots and soil have been suggested to contribute to aggregate stability, but little information is available on the relative importance of these factors in temperate grass zones. We examined how root and soil properties modified aggregate stability along a gradient of secondary succession grassland on the Loess Plateau in China. We selected three cropland abandoned for 3, 10, and 16-year and measured the distribution of aggregates, mean weight diameter (MWD), bulk and aggregate-associated soil organic carbon (SOC) and glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) contents, root biomass density, root length density, and specific root length (SRL). Compared with 3-year site, the amount of large macroaggregates (>2 mm) and aggregate stability (indicated by MWD) at 16-year site increased by 25.6% and 8.5%. The higher MWD contributed the most to the accumulation of SOC in large and small macroaggregates and to the accumulation of GRSPs in microaggregates (<0.25 mm). SRL was significantly positively correlated with MWD. Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that soil and plant variables together explained 89.1% of the aggregate distribution variation. Partial RDA further revealed that soil variables solely explained 6.4% of the variation, plant root variables explained 47.9% of the variation, and interaction of soil and plant variables accounted for 34.8% of the variation. Our study indicated that increased soil aggregate stability during plant secondary succession depended on both plant roots and aggregate-associated SOC and GRSPs, and plant root exerted a stronger influence on soil aggregate stability than soil. Allowing secondary succession may be a promising strategy for restoring degraded ecosystems on the plateau. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:40 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:40 PM Tags: o Aggregate stability o Ecological restoration o GRSP fractions o Loess plateau o Root traits o SOC * Using Landsat observations (1988–2017) and Google Earth Engine to detect vegetation cover changes in rangelands - A first step towards identifying degraded lands for conservation Type Journal Article Author Zunyi Xie Author Stuart R. Phinn Author Edward T. Game Author David J. Pannell Author Richard J. Hobbs Author Peter R. Briggs Author Eve McDonald-Madden URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0034425719303360__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvyjCTAyk$ Volume 232 Pages 111317 Publication Remote Sensing of Environment ISSN 0034-4257 Date October 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Remote Sensing of Environment DOI 10.1016/j.rse.2019.111317 Abstract Globally, the area of agricultural land is shrinking in part due to environmental degradation. Acquisition and restoration of degraded lands no longer used for agriculture may present a major conservation opportunity with minimal social and political opposition. The ability to efficiently and accurately identify these lands from regional to global scales will aid conservation management, ultimately enhancing the global prospects of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Remote Sensing provides a potential tool to identify areas where surface property changes can be mapped and linked with land degradation. In this study, we begin to tackle a small section of this challenge by presenting novel approach to mapping changes in vegetation cover amounts at the pixel level (30 m), using Google Earth Engine (GEE). We illustrate our approach across large-scale rangelands in Queensland Australia, using three decades of Landsat satellite imagery (1988–2017) along with field observations of land condition scores for validation. The approach used an existing method for dynamic reference cover to remove the rainfall variability and focused on the human management effects on the vegetation cover changes. Results showed the identified vegetation cover changes could be categorized into five classes of decrease, increase or stable cover compared with a set reference level, which was obtained from locations of the most persistent ground cover across all dry years. In total, vegetation cover decrease was observed in 20% of our study area, with similar portion of lands recovering and the rest (~60%) staying stable. The lands with decrease in vegetation cover, covering a considerable area of ~2 × 105 km2, exhibited a markedly reduced resilience to droughts. The accuracy assessment yielded an overall classification accuracy of 82.6% (±3.32 standard error) with 75.0% (±5.16%) and 70.0% (±4.13%) producer's and user's accuracy for areas experiencing a significant decrease in vegetation cover, respectively. Identifying areas of degraded land will require multiple stages of spatial data analysis and this work provided the first stage for identifying vegetation cover changes in large-scale rangeland environment, and provides a platform for future research and development to identify degraded lands and their utility for achieving conservation endeavours. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:19 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:58:55 PM Tags: o Big data o Google Earth Engine o Landsat o Rangelands o SDGs o Vegetation cover * Spatial variability in soil organic carbon and its influencing factors in a hilly watershed of the Loess Plateau, China Type Journal Article Author Zhongbao Xin Author Yunbin Qin Author Xinxiao Yu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816215000429__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvsV0w0-E$ Volume 137 Pages 660-669 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date February 1, 2016 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2015.01.028 Abstract In the last 30years, a number of large-scale multi-ecological projects have been implemented on the Chinese Loess Plateau, where there has been a significant trend toward ecological restoration, which will certainly affect the spatial distribution of soil cabon sequestration. We investigated 180 topsoil sites (to 20cm depth) to enhance the understanding of the spatial patterns of soil organic carbon (SOC) and its dominant influencing factors in the Luoyugou watershed (72km2), which is a typical watershed in the gully-hill area of the Loess Plateau, China. The results indicate that the SOC in the Luoyugou watershed follows a distinct spatial pattern, whereby the SOC increases as altitude increases. The SOC of the mountain ridge area (high elevation area) is measurably higher than that of the sides of the valley. Four spatially interpolated methods (IDW, Ordinary Kriging, land use types and multiple linear regression) were used to express the SOC spatial patterns, but all of them have low estimate accuracy because the SOC in the hilly loess area is highly heterogeneous given the complex topography and land use/cover. The estimate accuracy should improve with the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), given auxiliary information. SOC in the Luoyugou watershed is influenced by altitude, land use, and NDVI. Altitude has a significant relationship with SOC in the Luoyugou watershed. Annual precipitation significantly increases with increased altitude, and land use/vegetation cover changes between terraced cropland, orchard to grassland, and woodland. The SOC of Luoyugou has no significantly correlated relationship to topographic indices (slope, upslope area, and TWI), which have been profoundly disturbed by human activity, particularly by the conversion from sloped land to terraced cropland. The study results show that afforestation can significantly increase SOC. The SOC in immature forests (10years old) is 17.91% higher than that in terraced cropland, but 32.25% lower than that in 30-year-old forests. The SOC concentration of 30-year-old forest is significant higher than that in other land cover. On a 10-year time scale, orchard is not a good ecological restoration type for increasing SOC; the contribution to enhancing SOC is not obvious and even shows a weak decreasing trend. In general, the SOC sink role of the Loess Plateau is being enhanced by ecological restoration. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:20 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:20 PM Tags: o Land use o Loess plateau o Soil organic carbon o Spatial variability o Vegetation restoration * Effects of grazing exclusion on carbon sequestration and plant diversity in grasslands of China—A meta-analysis Type Journal Article Author Dingpeng Xiong Author Peili Shi Author Xianzhou Zhang Author Chris B. Zou URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857416304499__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvOb4Dcwc$ Volume 94 Pages 647-655 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date September 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2016.06.124 Abstract Widespread land degradation has strengthened the urgent need to restore overgrazing grasslands. China has implemented the program ‘Returning Grazing Land to Grassland’ (RGLG) through grazing exclusion by fence since 2003. Despite a lot of field experiments, there is still controversy on the effects of grazing exclusion on rangeland restoration, highlighting the need for synthetic analysis. We conducted a meta-analysis of 447 entries from 78 papers to analyze the spatiotemporal effects of grazing exclusion on plant diversity, productivity and soil carbon sequestration in the major RGLG-implemented provinces of China. Our results showed that, compared with the grazed sites, grazing exclusion significantly increased carbon stored in aboveground biomass, litter mass, belowground biomass and soils by 84.7%, 111.6%, 25.5% and 14.4%, respectively. Plant coverage, soil available nitrogen, soil available phosphorus and soil microbial biomass carbon increased by 52.0%, 21.7% 22.8% and 26.3%, respectively. However, grazing exclusion had little effects on recovering plant diversity in China’s grasslands. Of the factors examined, climatic factors strongly modified the effects of grazing exclusion on ecosystem carbon stocks, for example, precipitation significantly amplified the positive effects. Grazing exclusion played a positive role in soil carbon sequestration in most grassland types except in temperate desert-steppe. But annual soil carbon sequestration rates decayed rapidly over time in both alpine meadow and temperate steppe. Short-term (≤5years) grazing exclusion remarkably increased species richness, but not significantly in the long run. The threshold from neutral to negative effects of grazing exclusion on species evenness occurs after approximately ten years. Our findings provide evidence that grazing exclusion is an effective way to restore vegetation and sequestrate carbon in degraded grasslands, but not beneficial to plant diversity maintenance. The benefits of grazing exclusion are more effective in humid area than arid area. We suggest that grazing exclusion should be ceased after about six to ten years. Additionally, grazing exclusion should integrate with other appropriate management practices instead of operating on a stand-alone basis. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:47 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:58:59 PM Tags: o Carbon stocks o Grasslands o Grazing exclusion o Meta-analysis o Plant diversity * A global comparison of soil erosion associated with land use and climate type Type Journal Article Author Muqi Xiong Author Ranhao Sun Author Liding Chen URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706118318871__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvkAuye4s$ Volume 343 Pages 31-39 Publication Geoderma ISSN 0016-7061 Date June 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Geoderma DOI 10.1016/j.geoderma.2019.02.013 Abstract Soil erosion measurements are important for land management and ecological restoration. However, the current results of these measurements are varied and located in specific areas around the world. Thus far, the impacts of land use and climate on soil erosion are unclear. In this study, a comprehensive database representing 1531 field runoff plots in 27 countries was compiled, comprising soil loss data for 2036 runoff plots, representing 11,439 plot years, and runoff data for 1350 runoff plots, representing 6465 plot years. We analyzed the annual soil loss rate (SL) and annual runoff (R) associated with different land use types and four climate zones (CZs). The results showed that (1) bare lands had the highest mean SL values (10.6–109.2 t·ha−1·yr−1), followed by croplands (3.9–41.8 t·ha−1·yr−1), orchards (23.5 t·ha−1·yr−1), grasslands (0.3–3.6 t·ha−1·yr−1), shrublands (0.3–1.57 t·ha−1·yr−1) and forestlands (0.2–0.6 t·ha−1·yr−1). The correlation between SL and R was positive (p < 0.01) in anthropogenically disturbed lands (bare lands, croplands and orchards), whereas the correlation was not significant in natural lands (forestland, grassland and shrubland). (2) In general, the anthropogenically disturbed lands in the tropical CZ had the highest R and SL values, followed by the temperate, cold and arid CZs. Runoff plots in the cold CZ had comparatively high SL values, likely due to the active freeze-thaw cycle. With respect to natural lands, the mean SL values were similar (0.2–0.7 t·ha−1·yr−1) between different CZs apart from grasslands. The overgrazing of grasslands in temperate zones led to high SL (3.6 t·ha−1·yr−1). (3) Soil conservation techniques were highly efficient in reducing R (by 22% for croplands and by 58% for orchards) and SL (by 59% for croplands and by 81% for orchards), especially in the temperate zone. This study provides a systematic comparison of soil erosion measurements according to different land use types and CZs. The results can be used for improvement of the model coefficient and optimization of management strategies in specific regions. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:44 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:44 PM Tags: o Climate zone o Land use o Runoff o Soil conservation technique o Soil loss * Change pathway and intersection of rainfall, soil, and land use influencing water-related soil erosion Type Journal Article Author Erqi Xu Author Hongqi Zhang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X20302181__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvPJJd6Zs$ Volume 113 Pages 106281 Publication Ecological Indicators ISSN 1470-160X Date June 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.106281 Abstract Soil erosion causes fertility loss and land degradation, threatening food security and environmental quality. Understanding the spatial relationship and joint impact of factors on the water-related soil erosion can help combat erosion. Change pathway and intersection of trigger factors, key metrics for determining the soil erosion aggravation or improvement, remain unclear and limited in the quantification in previous researches. To solve this problem, this study performed a spatially statistical exploration by using multiple models. Taking the Yili region as the case-study area, the field soil survey, remote sensing inversion and modified Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation were used to estimate the soil erosion in 1990 and 2015. Then, a spatial analysis model was used to quantify the relative importance of multiple indicators and mutual interactions in the soil erosion. The spatial distribution of soil erosion was shown to be basically related to topography with the largest importance in Yili region. Importance of land use, rainfall, and soil changes along with the rugged topography influencing the soil erosion evolution decreased successively. The largest interacted impact was found in the topography with a non-linear enhancement with vegetation factor. The decrease in soil erosion cannot be explained by the increase in rainfall erosivity, but it is likely to the result of land-use changes, reflected in the improvement of the vegetation cover and management factor and erosion control practice factor within the sloping areas. Examining the spatial consistency and intersection of triggering factors, it implied that reasonably reclaiming the desert grassland with the soil improvement and biomass accumulation would mitigate the soil erosion in the Yili region. Our study demonstrated that quantifying the importance for the different pathways of changing factors and their intersection would provide a better understanding and new insight into the soil erosion process. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:35 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:59:01 PM Tags: o Contribution importance o Human activity o Interacted impact o Multiple indicators o Rainfall change o Soil erosion * Response of Vegetation and Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Storage to Grazing Intensity in Semi-Arid Grasslands in the Agro-Pastoral Zone of Northern China Type Journal Article Author Min-yun Xu Author Fan Xie Author Kun Wang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0096604__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv4y9lP14$ Volume 9 Issue 5 Pages e96604 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date May 12, 2014 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0096604 Accessed 2020-03-12, 12:25:04 AM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract Overgrazing has been the primary cause of grassland degradation in the semi-arid grasslands of the agro-pastoral transition zone in northern China. However, there has been little evidence regarding grazing intensity impacts on vegetation change and soil C and N dynamics in this region. This paper reports the effects of four grazing intensities namely un-grazed (UG), lightly grazed (LG), moderately grazed (MG) and heavily grazed (HG) on vegetation characteristics and soil properties of grasslands in the Guyuan county in the agro-pastoral transition region, Hebei province, northern China. Our study showed that the vegetation height, canopy cover, plant species abundance and aboveground biomass decreased significantly with increased grazing intensity. Similarly, soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (STN) in the 0–50 cm were highest under UG (13.3 kg C m−2 and 1.69 kg N m−2) and lowest under HG (9.8 kg C m−2 and 1.22 kg N m−2). Soil available nitrogen (SAN) was significantly lower under HG (644 kg N hm−2) than under other treatments (725–731 kg N hm−2) in the 0–50 cm. Our results indicate that the pasture management of “take half-leave half” has potential benefits for primary production and livestock grazing in this region. However, grazing exclusion was perhaps the most effective choice for restoring degraded grasslands in this region. Therefore, flexible rangeland management should be adopted in this region. Date Added 2020-03-12, 12:25:04 AM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:59:07 PM Tags: o Biomass (ecology) o Edaphology o Grasslands o Grazing o Livestock o Plants o Sheep o Species diversity Attachments o Full Text PDF o Full Text PDF o Full Text PDF o Snapshot o Snapshot o Snapshot * Using the CENTURY model to assess the impact of land reclamation and management practices in oasis agriculture on the dynamics of soil organic carbon in the arid region of North-western China Type Journal Article Author Wenqiang Xu Author Xi Chen Author Geping Luo Author Qing Lin URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1476945X10000875__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvZQQSJIg$ Volume 8 Issue 1 Pages 30-37 Publication Ecological Complexity ISSN 1476-945X Date March 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Ecological Complexity DOI 10.1016/j.ecocom.2010.11.003 Abstract Large-scale reclamation of arid land in North-western China over the past 50 years has converted the natural desert landscape into anthropogenic oasis, particularly in the lower part of watersheds. Drastic human activities may have caused the change of soil organic carbon (SOC) in anthropogenic oasis. This study employs the CENTURY model (Version 4.0) to investigate the effects of land reclamation and management practices in oasis agriculture on the dynamic of SOC at the lower part of Sangong river watershed, a typical anthropogenic oasis reclaimed at 50 years ago. Based on field investigation, history of crop rotations, and past farm practices in study area, land management practices were divided into five categories, corresponding five periods, 0–1958, 1959–1984, 1985–1992, 1993–1998 and 1999–2008. The model successfully simulated the SOC dynamics of the top layer soil (0–20cm) in the different periods. The state of equilibrium of total SOC and the active, slow, and passive carbon pools were built by CENTURY model in 0–1959. Over the 50 years’ cultivation (1959–2008), the mean change in total SOC exhibited complex ways. SOC increased rapidly in the first 2 years (1959–1960) after shrubland reclamation, and declined slowly during the period 1961–1984 and then decreased rapidly from 1985 to 1992. Between 1993 and 1998, it remained relatively stable, and climbed rapidly again during 1999–2008. The trend in total SOC showed “N” shape, i.e., increase, decrease, then increase. Finally, total SOC is greater (8.2%) in 2008 than the original level of SOC under the natural desert shrub. The improvements of land management practices such as ploughing being replaced with no tillage, straw being crushed before returning it to soil, and reasonable application of fertilizers, played a key role in the change in total SOC. Especially, soil carbon sequestration was obviously increased since protective management practices were implemented in 1993, such as no tillage, straw returning to soil, and the balanced fertilization technique. The results were different from the conclusions that loss of soil organic carbon would happen due to reclamation and continuous farming in tropical forests, semiarid grasslands of northern China and Nigerian semiarid Savannah. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:32 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:59:09 PM Tags: o Anthropogenic oasis o CENTURY model o Crop rotation o Fertilization o Land reclamation o No tillage * Managed grassland alters soil N dynamics and N2O emissions in temperate steppe Type Journal Article Author Lijun Xu Author Xingliang Xu Author Xuejuan Tang Author Xiaoping Xin Author Liming Ye Author Guixia Yang Author Huajun Tang Author Shijie Lv Author Dawei Xu Author Zhao Zhang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S100107421730579X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvtHN3HJs$ Volume 66 Pages 20-30 Publication Journal of Environmental Sciences ISSN 1001-0742 Date April 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Journal of Environmental Sciences DOI 10.1016/j.jes.2017.04.003 Abstract Reclamation of degraded grasslands as managed grasslands has been increasingly accelerated in recent years in China. Land use change affects soil nitrogen (N) dynamics and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. However, it remains unclear how large-scale grassland reclamation will impact the grassland ecosystem as a whole. Here, we investigated the effects of the conversion from native to managed grasslands on soil N dynamics and N2O emissions by field experiments in Hulunber in northern China. Soil (0–10cm), nitrate (NO3−), ammonium (NH4+), and microbial N were measured in plots in a temperate steppe (Leymus chinensis grassland) and two managed grasslands (Medicago sativa and Bromus inermis grasslands) in 2011 and 2012. The results showed conversion of L. chinensis grassland to M. sativa or B. inermis grasslands decreased concentrations of NO3−–N, but did not change NH4+–N. Soil microbial N was slightly decreased by the conversion of L. chinensis grassland to M. sativa, but increased by the conversion to B. inermis. The conversion of L. chinensis grassland to M. sativa (i.e., a legume grass) increased N2O emissions by 26.2%, while the conversion to the B. inermis (i.e., a non-legume grass) reduced N2O emissions by 33.1%. The conversion from native to managed grasslands caused large created variations in soil NO3−–N and NH4+–N concentrations. Net N mineralization rates did not change significantly in growing season or vegetation type, but to net nitrification rate. These results provide evidence on how reclamation may impact the grassland ecosystem in terms of N dynamics and N2O emissions. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:32 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:59:05 PM Tags: o Land use o Managed grassland o Nitrogen mobility o NO emissions o Temperate steppe * Energy modeling simulation of changes in ecosystem services before and after the implementation of a Grain-for-Green program on the Loess Plateau—A case study of the Zhifanggou valley in Ansai County, Shaanxi Province, China Type Journal Article Author Zihan Xu Author Hejie Wei Author Weiguo Fan Author Xuechao Wang Author Bingling Huang Author Nachuan Lu Author Jiahui Ren Author Xiaobin Dong URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212041617307064__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvPAgbMy0$ Volume 31 Pages 32-43 Publication Ecosystem Services ISSN 2212-0416 Date June 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Ecosystem Services DOI 10.1016/j.ecoser.2018.03.013 Abstract Understanding the relationship between land use change and ecosystem services is critical for achieving sustainable ecosystem services and for developing scientifically effective eco-conservation policies. The Zhifanggou watershed is a typical hill and gully region on the Loess Plateau that has experienced a process of serious damage and rapid recovery in recent decades, and the accompanying land use changes have been dramatic. Taking the Zhifanggou watershed as an example, this study built an energy flow model for the watershed considering croplands, woodlands and grasslands as components. This study evaluated the changes in ecosystem service values before and after the implementation of a Grain for Green (GFG) program using the method of equivalent value factor per-unit of ecosystem area. Then changes in ecosystem service values in the Zhifanggou watershed were simulated. The results were as follows: (1) the total value of ecosystem services showed a linear increase (P < 0.01) from 1995 to 2010, increase 44.2% over this time. In addition, the provisioning, regulating, supporting and cultural service values showed a cooperative growth trend (P < 0.01). (2) The change in ecosystem service values in the watershed was very small over the period examined and if the GFG program continues, it will stabilize after a slight net increase. Provisioning services showed a downward trend, while regulating, supporting and cultural services show an upward trend, furthermore, provisioning services showed a trade-off relationship with the other three services (P < 0.01). (3) If the cycle of deforestation and reclamation to agriculture continues, the ecosystem service values will decrease by approximately 83% in the next 30 years, the ecosystems will be seriously damaged again, and the values of all four types of ecosystem services will show a decreasing trend (P < 0.01). In general, the ecological environment of the Zhifanggou watershed has been stabilized by the Grain for Green program. However, the government’s scientific and rational policies to ensure that the GFG program results are not destroyed and to achieve stable and sustainable development on the Loess Plateau are still needed. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:40 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:59:10 PM Tags: o Ecosystem service o Grain for Green o Land use change o Zhifanggou watershed * Exploring land reclamation history: Soil organic carbon sequestration due to dramatic oasis agriculture expansion in arid region of Northwest China Type Journal Article Author Erqi Xu Author Hongqi Zhang Author Yongmei Xu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X19307393__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvHikAI-c$ Volume 108 Pages 105746 Publication Ecological Indicators ISSN 1470-160X Date January 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2019.105746 Abstract A better understanding of land reclamation history and its influence on soil organic carbon (SOC) is critical to SOC sequestration. The arid region, significantly influencing the global trend and inter-annual variability of the carbon sink, experienced the large-scale oasis agriculture expansion had significantly depleted native vegetation, and how this altered the soil carbon balance is still unclear. Taking the typical Tarim Basin as study area, this study proposed a spatial method of identifying agricultural reclamation histories and applied it to the specific field soil sampling design for exploring SOC changes under different histories, including the prior land use types changing to cropland and cultivation ages after the reclamation. Results showed that oasis agriculture area nearly doubled over nearly 40 years, majorly from grasslands and part from forests. Comparison of the SOC densities collected in 2015 to data in the late 1970s found an accumulation effect of SOC in agricultural practices, where croplands reclaimed before the late 1970s have a higher SOC density (1.86 kg C m−2) than those reclaimed after the late 1970s. The change trend and magnitude in SOC density upon the prior land uses were significantly different, with a mean value of 0.37, 0.03, and −0.99 kg C m−2 for the previous cropland, grassland, and forest, respectively. An increase in the cultivation ages would raise the magnitude of SOC sequestration, where the SOC loss reclaimed from the grassland was recovered after nearly 30 years of farming activities, but that from the forest cannot be recovered even within as much as 40 years of cultivation. These findings provide a new insight to the significantly different effect of agricultural reclamation histories on the SOC dynamics and indicated the considerable potential of the carbon sink, if sustainably managed, in the arid region of Northwest China. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:49 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:59:03 PM Tags: o Carbon sequestration o Land use change o Oasis agriculture expansion o Soil organic carbon o Tarim Basin * Alpine grasslands response to climatic factors and anthropogenic activities on the Tibetan Plateau from 2000 to 2012 Type Journal Article Author Hao-jie Xu Author Xin-ping Wang Author Xiao-xiao Zhang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857416302191__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvbGkmOjc$ Volume 92 Pages 251-259 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date July 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2016.04.005 Abstract To address pasture degradation on the Tibetan Plateau, the Chinese government has launched the ecological restoration project Grazing Withdrawal Program (GWP) since 2004. However, few studies have evaluated the impact of the GWP on grassland recovery. Based on monthly remote-sensed vegetation index and meteorological data from 2000 to 2012, we assessed the dynamics of annual net primary productivity (NPP) in alpine grasslands and quantified the effects of climatic factors and anthropogenic activities on NPP change by using the climate-driven NPP and the Carnegie-Ames-Stanford Approach (CASA) models. We found that there existed two distinct periods with an accelerating trend in NPP increase before and after 2004. The area percentage of NPP change induced by climatic factors increased from 41.55% to 83.75%, but that percentage caused by human activities decreased from 58.45% to 16.25% in the two periods of 2000–2004 and 2004–2012. Between 2000 and 2004, overgrazing reduced the positive effect of climate change on NPP variability, resulting in wide-scale grassland degradation. Between 2004 and 2012, grassland ecosystems gradually recovered from heavy grazing pressure, and the human-induced degradation was reversed after the implementation of the GWP. Thus, temperature and solar radiation became dominant factors in driving NPP change. Our results indicated that the GWP produces a significant positive effect on the restoration of alpine grasslands by controlling livestock numbers and decreasing grazing intensity. This study provides an objective assessment of restoration actuation on grassland ecosystems, having important implications for demonstrating the effectiveness of the GWP on grassland restoration on the Tibetan Plateau. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:54 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:54 PM Tags: o Alpine grassland o Climate change o Ecological restoration o Net primary productivity o Tibetan Plateau * Trade-offs and cost-benefit of ecosystem services of revegetated degraded alpine meadows over time on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Type Journal Article Author Yudan Xu Author Shikui Dong Author Xiaoxia Gao Author Mingyue Yang Author Shuai Li Author Hao Shen Author Jiannan Xiao Author Yuhui Han Author Jing Zhang Author Yu Li Author Yangliu Zhi Author Yunfeng Yang Author Shiliang Liu Author Quanming Dong Author Huakun Zhou Author Paul Stufkens URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880919301021__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvvbThyh4$ Volume 279 Pages 130-138 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date July 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2019.04.015 Abstract A great number of ecological conservation and restoration projects have been implemented to prevent the deterioration of alpine grasslands on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. However, few researches have documented the effects of ecological projects on the improvement of ecosystem services of alpine grasslands based on field investigations. In this study, 24 plots of alpine meadow along different succession times were investigated to estimate the impacts of ecological restoration on four key ecosystem services (i.e., soil organic carbon sequestration (SOCS), soil total nitrogen sequestration (STNS), biodiversity, and aboveground biomass) in the Glog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Qinghai Province, China. The results showed that STNS and biodiversity of degraded alpine meadows were significantly improved through restoration actions, while SOCS and aboveground biomass didn’t change. The relationships of above- and belowground ecosystem services changed over restoration time. Trade-offs between aboveground biomass and biodiversity, between aboveground biomass and SOCS at stage Ⅲ were significantly improved, in contrast to those at stage Ⅰ. Trade-off between STNS and biodiversity at stage Ⅱ was significantly increased, in contrast to those at stage Ⅰ. Economic profit of ecological restoration was insignificantly changed along restoration time. Our results suggested that human-induced restoration was a feasible approach to improve the ecological and economical values of “Black Beach” on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, and further restoration actions and long-term research are required to enhance the ecosystem services of revegetated degraded meadow. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:55 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:55 PM Tags: o Aboveground biomass o Biodiversity o Economic profit o Recovery chronosequence o Soil organic carbon sequestration o Soil total nitrogen sequestration * Restoring the degraded grassland and improving sustainability of grassland ecosystem through chicken farming: A case study in northern China Type Journal Article Author Hong Xu Author Hua Su Author Benying Su Author Xingguo Han Author Dilip K. Biswas Author Yonggeng Li URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880914000504__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvjRwKZck$ Volume 186 Pages 115-123 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date March 15, 2014 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2014.02.001 Abstract Long-term irrational land uses have fatigued the fragile grasslands globally, causing severe environmental problems and socio-economic losses. This paper addresses the feasibility of a new land use of chicken farming (CF) from natural, economic and social perspectives for devising sustainable development in a semi-arid grassland in northern China. The results of a 4-year controlled field experiment showed that CF could amend the infertile soils through feces inputs as indicated by the improvements in soil properties. Although there were some damage to grass growth in the first year of the experiment, vegetation coverage and aboveground biomass increased greatly in the following years, particularly in the third and fourth years. A quarter of feedstuff could be saved by chickens farmed in grassland compared with cage-raised chickens, accompanied by biological control of pest outbreaks. The 4-year practice at large scales by local household suggested that CF could be a more profitable enterprise compared to the conventional land use of ruminate grazing. Besides, CF could diversify livelihoods, which will lighten the reliance on traditional livestock grazing and thus help improve local social-ecological development. It was concluded that CF could be an integrative ecosystem management to rehabilitate the degraded grassland ecosystems toward a sustainable way. Finally, we highlighted an essential integration of bottom-up mechanism among local households with top-down incentives created by governments for sustainable development of chicken farming in the degraded grassland regions. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:27 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:27 PM Tags: o Chicken farming o Grassland restoration o Integrative ecosystem management o Nutrient addition o Sustainability development * Soil total nitrogen sources on dammed farmland under the condition of ecological construction in a small watershed on the Loess Plateau, China Type Journal Article Author Guoce Xu Author Shengdong Cheng Author Peng Li Author Zhanbin Li Author Haidong Gao Author Kunxia Yu Author Kexin Lu Author Peng Shi Author Yuting Cheng Author Binhua Zhao URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857417305153__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvu6Z64nE$ Volume 121 Pages 19-25 Publication Soil and Water Conservation and Restoration: Innovative Engineering tools and New Approaches ISSN 0925-8574 Date October 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2017.09.005 Abstract The construction of check dams and terraces, and the ‘Grain-for-Green’ project are major soil and water conservation measures on the Loess Plateau, China. The sediment load of the Yellow River has decreased by approximately 90% over the past 60 years and its average annual runoff has reduced from 55.9 billionm3 to 45.6 billionm3. However, whether watersheds act as sources or sinks of soil nitrogen following ecological construction measures is unknown. To understand the impacts of check dams combined with forests, grasslands, and terraces on soil nitrogen content, soil samples were collected at 20-cm intervals down to a depth of 60cm across a small watershed of the Loess Plateau. The probability density function of the Weibull distribution was used to analyze the nitrogen sources in dammed farmland. The results indicated the mean soil total nitrogen (STN) concentrations at soil depths of 0–20, 20–40 and 40–60cm in the watershed were 0.45, 0.32 and 0.29g/kg, respectively. The STN concentrations among the three soil layers showed significant differences (p<0.01). The mean STN concentration decreased as follows: dammed farmland>grassland>forestland>terrace>sloping cropland. Slope and soil texture had a significant impact on STN concentration across the watershed. The STN density of terrace, grassland, forestland, sloping cropland and dam farmland at a soil depth of 0–60cm were 0.271, 0.289, 0.279, 0.264, and 0.288kg/m2, respectively. The source percentages of STN deposited in dam farmland were 51% (grassland), 34% (forestland) and 15% (sloping cropland). Thus, check dam constructions have made the role of gully in the small watershed as a sink for soil nitrogen. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:42 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:42 PM Tags: o Check-dam o Land use change o Soil total nitrogen o Terrace o Vegetation restoration * Soil properties in natural grassland, Caragana korshinskii planted shrubland, and Robinia pseudoacacia planted forest in gullies on the hilly Loess Plateau, China Type Journal Article Author Ming Xu Author Jian Zhang Author Guo Bin Liu Author Norikazu Yamanaka URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816214000940__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvYRcceOg$ Volume 119 Pages 116-124 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date August 1, 2014 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2014.03.016 Abstract Revegetation plays an important role in controlling soil erosion and improving eco-environmental conditions on the Loess Plateau in China, yet little is known about its beneficial effect on soil properties in gully areas. In this study, we examined the relationship between three revegetation types and ten soil properties along five gully position transects on the loess hilly region of Ansai County, China. Three different vegetation restoration patterns in gullies included 1) an artificial Robinia pseudoacacia forest (G-Rp), 2) an artificial Caragana korshinskii shrubland (G-Ck), and 3) a natural grassland (G-Ng). After two decades of revegetation in the gully area, overall levels of C, N, P (except between G-Rp and G-Ck), and available K in the accumulated soil were similar between revegetation types in the gully areas. However, there were significant differences in levels of nitrate, ammonium, available P, and soil pH between the revegetated gullies. Soil properties mainly increased in quality from the top to the bottom of gully areas, except at the bottom of the G-Rp. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMS) ordinations and multi-response permutation procedure (MRPP) analyses indicated that soil properties significantly differed depending on revegetation types and gully positions. Our results demonstrate that soil properties could be improved by different revegetation types in the gully areas, and artificial plantations could significantly better improve available soil nutrients than natural grasslands in the gully areas. Thus, artificial revegetation could be a valuable measure for controlling soil erosion, and improving eco-environmental conditions in the gully areas of the Loess Plateau. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:23 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:23 PM Tags: o Gully o Loess soil o Revegetation o Soil properties o Topography o Variability * Evaluation and simulation of the impact of land use change on ecosystem services based on a carbon flow model: A case study of the Manas River Basin of Xinjiang, China Type Journal Article Author Zihan Xu Author Weiguo Fan Author Hejie Wei Author Peng Zhang Author Jiahui Ren Author Zhicheng Gao Author Sergio Ulgiati Author Weidong Kong Author Xiaobin Dong URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004896971834097X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvW3OVgEQ$ Volume 652 Pages 117-133 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date February 20, 2019 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.10.206 Abstract Land use change affects ecosystem services by changing the structure and function of ecosystems. Carbon flows throughout natural and socioeconomic systems can effectively reveal this process. The Manas River Basin has experienced rapid oasis expansion for decades, and land use change in the basin is very typical. Oasis expansion has caused a large amount of cropland to invade natural vegetation, thus affecting ecosystem services. This study used a biomass-based ecosystem service estimation model to assess changes in ecosystem services in the Manas River Basin. The carbon flow model was constructed using energy systems language, and the future development of ecosystem services was simulated based on different land use scenarios. The results show the following: (1) From 1980 to 2015, the river basin provisioning service was continuously optimized, while the regulating, supporting and cultural services were reduced. (2) If the expansion of cropland continues, then carbon will be transferred from the natural ecosystem to the cropland. Regulation, support and cultural services in the basin continue to decrease. Due to the shortage of water resources in the basin, the growth of provisioning services is limited. (3) If the project of returning cropland to grassland is implemented, then the carbon in the natural ecosystem will gradually recover. The regulating, supporting and cultural services of the river basin are rising, but provisioning services are gradually decreasing. In general, the model based on energy systems language can reflect the ecological process within the system and effectively reveal the carbon flow process between ecosystems. The use of carbon to quantify ecosystem services can harmonize dimensions, facilitate comparisons, and mitigate errors in outcomes due to different evaluation criteria or subjective factors. Therefore, this study combines energy systems language with carbon flow, which helps to more rationally explore the impact of land use change on ecosystem services, thereby providing valuable information for river basin management. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:29 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:29 PM Tags: o Carbon flow model o Ecosystem services o Land use change o The Manas River Basin * Soil nitrogen distributions for different land uses and landscape positions in a small watershed on Loess Plateau, China Type Journal Article Author Zhijing Xue Author Man Cheng Author Shaoshan An URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857413002966__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvlLBG6_o$ Volume 60 Pages 204-213 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date November 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2013.07.045 Abstract The comprehensively managed Shanghuang watershed has been subjected to vegetation restoration since 1982 and is continuing through the Grain for Green project. Because land use and landscape position are the most important factors that influence soil nitrogen, understanding the effects of landforms and slope position on the distribution of soil nitrogen is an important prerequisite for estimating soil quality on the Loess Plateau. The results of our study showed that soil total nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen and ammonium nitrogen were highly variable in the small watershed. The soil nitrogen concentrations declined in the following order: natural grassland>shrub land>abandoned farmland>orchard>farmland>man-made grassland. Among the different landscape positions, soil nitrogen showed the highest values in valleys. There was a significant positive correlation between soil nitrogen and soil organic carbon, which were negatively correlated with soil pH and soil bulk density. The total soil nitrogen concentration decreased with increasing soil depth, and the highest nitrate nitrogen content and lowest ammonium nitrogen concentration were detected in the 10–30-cm layer. Regarding land use conversion, farmland to shrub land and abandoned farmland was more effective than orchard and man-made grassland for increasing total soil nitrogen and promoting soil nitrogen mineralization, which plays an essential role in ecological restoration. The potential contribution of land use change on soil organic carbon (SOC) and total N concentration could be estimated by assessing the land use conversion in the Shanghuang watershed. It was found that the implemented projects on the Chinese Loess Plateau were successful with regard to benefiting soil nitrogen. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:57 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:57 PM Tags: o Correlation o Land use o Landscape position o Soil nitrogen * Changes in Soil Hot-Water Extractable C, N and P Fractions During Vegetative Restoration in Zhifanggou Watershed on the Loess Plateau Type Journal Article Author Sha XUE Author Peng LI Author Guo-bin LIU Author Zhan-bin LI Author Chao ZHANG URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095311913605274__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvdNQJ9nY$ Volume 12 Issue 12 Pages 2250-2259 Publication Journal of Integrative Agriculture ISSN 2095-3119 Date December 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Journal of Integrative Agriculture DOI 10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60527-4 Abstract The study was conducted in Zhifanggou Watershed, Shaanxi Province, China, to evaluate the effect of different vegetation types on hot-water extractable C, N and P fractions, with the aim to determine whether hot-water extractable fractions could be used as indicators of soil quality change in Loess Plateau. The six vegetation types established in 1975 were (i) Robinia pseudoacacia L., (ii) Caragana korshinkii Kom., (iii) Pinus tabulaeformis Carr., (iv) P. tabulaeformis-Amorpha fruticosa L., (v) R. pseudoacacia-A. fruticosa, and (vi) grassland. A cropped hillslope plot and a Platycladus orientalis L. native forest plot were used as references. The results indicated that the conversion of native forest to cropland resulted in a significant decline in the hot-water extractable C, N and P fractions. Hot-water extractable C, N, and P increased when cultivated land was revegetated, but after 30 years the amount of hot-water extractable C, N, and P in revegetated fields was still much lower compared to native forest. Hot-water extractable fractions increased more under mixed-forest than under pure-forest stands. Furthermore, there was a significant correlation between the hot-water extractable fractions and soil chemical and microbiological properties. The results showed that hot-water extractable fractions could be used as indicators of soil quality change on the Loess Plateau. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:04 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:04 PM Tags: o Loess Plateau o soil hot-water extractable fraction o vegetative restoration * Knowledge and community resilience in rangelands recovery: the case of Wadi Allaqi Biosphere Reserve, South Eastern Desert, Egypt Type Journal Article Author Hoda Yacoub URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12667__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvW2qdpW8$ Rights © 2018 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 26 Issue S1 Pages S37-S43 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2018 DOI 10.1111/rec.12667 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:07:42 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Many ecosystems are actually social–ecological systems (SESs) consisting of mutually interacting natural and social subsystems. Resilience, the capacity to absorb or withstand perturbations while maintaining structure and functions, is an important feature of these systems. Indigenous or traditional knowledge is considered to be an important factor in being able to absorb change and maintain structure in the context of ecosystem dynamics. In this article, I use the framework of resilience to analyze how the Bedouin communities in Wadi Allaqi, Egypt, experienced and responded to the disturbing impact of Lake Nasser's formation in the mid-1960s. Prior to that disturbance, the Bedouin lifestyle was characterized by traditional pastoral life based on rotational grazing by their herds. Afterward, the Bedouins permanently settled along the shores to make use of the new abundant water resource. This resulted in overgrazing of the rangelands along the lakeside and the disappearance of the traditional pastoral lifestyle. However, the Bedouins later learned to use the Najas species in the lake, ushering in a new SES. This new system is based on tactical grazing along the shores, giving the rangelands the opportunity to recover from the temporary grazing pressure. I argue that because many degraded ecosystems are actually SESs, ecological restoration should also focus on societal-level measures. Short Title Knowledge and community resilience in rangelands recovery Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:07:43 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:07:43 PM Tags: o ecological restoration o indigenous knowledge o knowledge and community resilience o Lake Nasser o social–ecological system Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Influence of farmland abandonment on the species composition of wetland ground beetles in Kushiro, Japan Type Journal Article Author Satoshi Yamanaka Author Takumi Akasaka Author Yuki Yabuhara Author Futoshi Nakamura URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880917303262__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvE3a1TRY$ Volume 249 Pages 31-37 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date November 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2017.07.027 Abstract Depopulation trends in many developed regions are resulting in an increase in areas of abandoned farmland, which could provide an alternative habitat for species endangered by past conversion of wetlands for agriculture. Additionally, various spatial and temporal factors (landscape structure, local habitat quality, and abandonment age) could influence species composition in abandoned farmland. In this study, we explored the spatio-temporal effects of land abandonment on the species composition of wetland ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) to examine whether abandoned farmland can contribute to conserve wetland species’ habitats. We first compared ground beetle assemblages among four land uses (grassland, wetland, and newly and previously abandoned farmland) in the Kushiro region, eastern Hokkaido, Japan. We then examined the factors influencing differences in wetland species composition between abandoned farmland and wetland. We found that the composition of wetland species in abandoned farmland was more similar to that of wetland than that of grassland. Our results also showed that soil moisture in abandoned farmland was positively related to the land abandonment age and that differences in wetland species composition between abandoned farmland and wetland were negatively related to both soil moisture and surrounding wetland area. Our findings suggest that abandoned farmland can serve as an alternative habitat for wetland ground beetles. Maintaining a high level of soil moisture in abandoned farmland and conserving the surrounding wetland could be an effective strategy for restoring natural habitats for these species. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:42 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:42 PM Tags: o Agricultural landscape o Biodiversity o Carabid o Fen o Passive restoration o Re-wilding * Quantitative analysis of the contributions of climatic and human factors to grassland productivity in northern China Type Journal Article Author Yuchao Yan Author Xiaoping Liu Author Youyue Wen Author Jinpei Ou URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X19302663__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvqsNpof8$ Volume 103 Pages 542-553 Publication Ecological Indicators ISSN 1470-160X Date August 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2019.04.020 Abstract An accurate quantitative analysis of the contributions of climate change (CC) and human activities (HA) to grassland productivity is crucial for elucidating the relevant driving mechanisms. In this study, grassland in northern China was analyzed. We chose the net primary productivity (NPP) as an evaluation indicator of grassland productivity and identified the relative roles of climatic and human factors in NPP changes. A quantitative method based on partial derivatives was used for evaluating the contributions of climatic factors to NPP changes, and the difference between the inter-annual variation rate of NPP and climatic factors contribution was considered as the HA contribution. Then, different scenarios were designed to evaluate the relative contribution proportions of CC and HA to grassland restoration and degradation. The results revealed that the average grassland NPP over northern China showed a significant increasing trend at a rate of 1.66 g C m−2 year−1 from 2000 to 2015. The contributions of temperature, precipitation, and solar radiation to grassland NPP changes were 0.06, 0.50, and 0.52 g C m−2 year−1, respectively. Solar radiation made the greatest positive contribution among all of the climatic factors, followed by precipitation. The contributions of CC and HA to grassland NPP changes were 1.08 and 0.58 g C m−2 year−1, respectively. Moreover, the role of HA in both grassland restoration and degradation was larger than that of CC. Overall, the positive effect of HA on grassland productivity may be greatly offset by its negative effect, and therefore the positive contribution of HA to grassland NPP changes was less than that of CC. Thus, the effective measures and policies used to control grassland degradation should be further strengthened to protect grassland resources. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:52 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:52 PM Tags: o Climate change o Grassland productivity o Human activities o NPP o Quantitative analysis * Responses of soil C stock and soil C loss to land restoration in Ili River Valley, China Type Journal Article Author Meifang Yan Author Wenjing Zhang Author Zeyu Zhang Author Lu Wang Author Hongrui Ren Author Yuan Jiang Author Xinshi Zhang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816218303138__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvNss8fHY$ Volume 171 Pages 469-474 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date December 1, 2018 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2018.07.035 Abstract In the past decades, massive destroying of natural vegetation and extension of agricultural lands strongly affected soil carbon (C) cycling. Returning cropland to forestry or grass land is one of restoration measures sponsored by the Chinese government. Land use change exerts a great influence on soil microclimate and litter quality, and is therefore an important determinant of soil C dynamics. However, knowledge on the effects of land restoration on soil C in northwest China was limited. To address this problem, a study was undertaken in the arid Ili River Valley to estimate soil C dynamics for representative land uses: grassland and forest plantations (transformed from croplands), and cropland. The results showed that there were significant differences in soil C stock among the vegetation types. Soil C stock increased in poplar plantation eight years after conversion from cropland, whereas it significantly declined after conversion to spruce plantation. The 15-year-old poplar plantation had the highest soil C stock (59.60 Mg C ha−1), including C sequestration in forest floor and in mineral soil (0–30 cm). High litter mass in the old poplar forest facilitated the accumulation of soil C. There were significant differences in soil respiration rate and cumulative soil C loss among the land use types, with the highest in clover grassland. Furthermore, the grassland had a higher Q10 value, which implies that an increase in soil temperature would lead to more soil C loss under global warming. Our results suggested that conversion of croplands to fast-growing woody crops might be beneficial to soil C sequestration, which was helpful for land management and mitigation of climate change. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:29 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:29 PM Tags: o Afforestation o Arid area o Land management o Soil C sequestration * Estimating soil erosion response to land use/cover change in a catchment of the Loess Plateau, China Type Journal Article Author Rui Yan Author Xiaoping Zhang Author Shengjun Yan Author Hao Chen URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095633917300606__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvTfHu0rI$ Volume 6 Issue 1 Pages 13-22 Publication International Soil and Water Conservation Research ISSN 2095-6339 Date March 1, 2018 Journal Abbr International Soil and Water Conservation Research DOI 10.1016/j.iswcr.2017.12.002 Abstract The vegetation restoration project, named the Grain to Green Program, has been operating for more than ten years in the upper reaches of the Beiluo River basin, located in the Loess Plateau of China. It is significant to be able to estimate the success of preventing soil erosion. In this study, the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and the Sediment Distributed Delivery (SEDD) model were used to assess the annual soil loss derived from water erosion. The results showed that the study area suffered from primary land use changes, with increasing grassland and forest and decreasing farmland from 1990 to 2010. Based on that, the average soil erosion modulus decreased from 18,189.72 t/(km2 a) in 1990–7408.93 t/(km2 a) in 2000 and 2857.76 t/(km2 a) in 2010. Compared with 1990, the average soil erosion modulus decreased by 59.0% and 84.3% for 2000 and 2010, respectively. Benefiting from the increased vegetation coverage and improved ecological environment, the soil erosion in this study area clearly declined. This research also found that the distribution of the three years of soil erosion was similarly based on topographic factors. The soil erosion modulus varied with different land use types and decreased in the order of residential area>farmland>grassland>forest. The average soil erosion modulus gradually increased with the increase of the slope gradient, and 76.08% of the total soil erosion was concentrated in the region with a gradient more than 15 degrees. The soil erosion modulus also varied with slope aspects in the order of sunny slope>half-sunny slope>half-shady slope>shady slope. This research provides useful reference for soil and water conservation and utilization in this area and offers a technical basis for using the RUSLE to estimate soil erosion in the Loess Plateau of China. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:46 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:46 PM Tags: o Land use changes o Loess Plateau o RUSLE o SEDD o Soil erosion * Effects of vegetation type on the microbial characteristics of the fissure soil-plant systems in karst rocky desertification regions of SW China Type Journal Article Author Youjin Yan Author Quanhou Dai Author Gang Hu Author Quan Jiao Author Lina Mei Author Wenbing Fu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004896972030053X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv57dyJz8$ Volume 712 Pages 136543 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date April 10, 2020 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136543 Abstract In karst regions, shallow karst fissure (SKF) soil has proven to be an important plant habitat and soil resource. However, how plants affect the microbial abundance and community composition of SKF soil remains poorly studied. We explored the soil microbial community structure differences in fractured soil-plant systems by determining phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiles under three vegetation types (herbs, shrubs and trees) in SKF and used a bare SKF without vegetation as the control in a karst rocky desertification area. The total microbial biomass and microbial community composition differed between surface soil and SKF soil. The total microbial biomass in surface soil was higher than that in SKF soil. In addition, in contrast to surface soil, the microbial communities in SKF soil were more vulnerable to the effects of environmental variables. Furthermore, plants had a significant positive effect on the accumulation of microbial biomass in surface and SKF soil: shrubs had the strongest effect, followed by trees. Vegetation types significantly affected the ratios of saturated PLFAs to monounsaturated PLFAs (SAT/MONO ratio) and cyclopropyl PLFAs to precursors (cy/pre ratio). In contrast to the SKF without vegetation, the SAT/MONO ratio and cy/pre ratio under grasslands, shrublands and trees were low. Herbs and shrubs had the greatest capacity to enhance the ability of soil to respond to environmental stress compared to trees. Our results suggest that, as an important plant habitat in karst regions, the condition of SKF soil should be urgently improved. The stereoscopic collocation of shrub-grass vegetation may be the preferred measure for vegetation restoration. Deep-rooted shrubs and grasses are best at improving soil and plant growth. Our study can be useful for developing strategies for vegetation rehabilitation in karst regions. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:17 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:17 PM Tags: o Karst rocky desertification (KRD) o Microbial community composition o Phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) o Shallow karst fissure (SKF) o Vegetation type * Estimating spatiotemporal patterns of aboveground biomass using Landsat TM and MODIS images in the Mu Us Sandy Land, China Type Journal Article Author Feng Yan Author Bo Wu Author Yanjiao Wang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168192314002214__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvdaouBmM$ Volume 200 Pages 119-128 Publication Agricultural and Forest Meteorology ISSN 0168-1923 Date January 15, 2015 Journal Abbr Agricultural and Forest Meteorology DOI 10.1016/j.agrformet.2014.09.010 Abstract Aboveground biomass (AGB) in areas of desertification cannot only represent the status of vegetation but can also provide evidence to evaluate the effects of ecological restoration and help land managers realize sustainable development of desert ecosystems. Current research estimating AGB by remote sensing has mainly focused on forest, grasslands and crops, and has infrequently been applied to desert ecosystems. We used Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) images and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectro-Radiometer (MODIS) data to estimate AGB and its spatiotemporal patterns from 2000 to 2012 in the Mu Us Sandy Land of China. Results showed that: (1) AGB varied from 2000 to 2012 and total AGB showed an increasing trend of 0.1743Tg per year. The lowest total AGB was observed in 2000 and 2001 and the highest in 2012, with slightly less in 2007. (2) AGB spatial extent (percent of ground covered) had a decreasing trend of 5.37% during the study period and AGB was mainly in the southwestern and eastern parts of the study area. AGB had no change in 2.23% of this area, and areas of no change were mainly in the northwestern and southwestern parts. There was an increasing AGB trend in 92.40% of the area, which was mainly in large areas of the middle, northeastern, and southern parts of the Mu Us Sandy Land. (3) In the sandy land from 2000 to 2012, areas with mild and moderate fluctuations and increasing AGB made up the largest part of the study area. Those two types of fluctuations accounted for 74.60% of the total area, and were widely distributed in the northeastern, eastern, central, and southern portions of the sandy land. Areas with severe and extremely severe fluctuations and decreasing AGB were relatively small. These two types represented 0.86% of the total area and were scattered in the northwestern and western parts of the sandy land. (4) With the increase of temperature and precipitation, total AGB tended to increase from 2000 to 2012, somewhat in agreement with precipitation (r=0.595). However, precipitation was not the only factor affecting AGB. Human factors such as population, livestock, and particularly positive policies also impacted the spatiotemporal patterns of AGB. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:32:10 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:32:10 PM Tags: o Aboveground biomass (AGB) o Spatiotemporal pattern o The Mu Us Sandy Land * Factors limiting vegetation recovery processes after cessation of cropping in a semiarid grassland in Mongolia Type Journal Article Author Aki Yanagawa Author Takehiro Sasaki Author Undarmaa Jamsran Author Toshiya Okuro Author Kazuhiko Takeuchi URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196316300337__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvVZqFvvo$ Volume 131 Pages 1-5 Publication Journal of Arid Environments ISSN 0140-1963 Date August 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Journal of Arid Environments DOI 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2016.03.008 Abstract Land degradation in an abandoned field, such as the loss of palatable species for livestock and low species richness, is a serious problem in Mongolia where the dominant land use is livestock grazing historically. Here, we show the factors limiting vegetation recovery processes after cessation of cropping in a semiarid grassland. We selected fields abandoned in 1990 (CA18), 1999 (CA9), and 2006 (CA2) and continuously grazed grassland (CGG) as a control site. Plant species cover and soil were sampled during summer (June–July) 2008. Soil physicochemical properties were analyzed. Low similarity index of an early succession stage, CA2, with CGG was associated with abundant P and coarse sand. The proportion of coarse sand was not abundant in middle stage (CA9) because of domination by perennial rhizomatous species. In the later stage (CA18), the fine sand proportion did not increase; however, the dominant species were associated with fine sand in CGG. The results suggest the limiting factors of recovery processes in abandoned Mongolian cropland are abundantly available P and coarse sand at an early succession stage (CA2). The small proportion of fine sand in CA18 indicated that the impacts of cropping in Mongolia persist for a long time. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:28 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:28 PM Tags: o Historical land use o Mongolia o Phosphorus o Restoration o Semiarid grassland * The effects of different land use patterns on the microclimate and ecosystem services in the agro-pastoral ecotone of Northern China Type Journal Article Author Yuejuan Yang Author Kun Wang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X19305072__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvpEQK5Fs$ Volume 106 Pages 105522 Publication Ecological Indicators ISSN 1470-160X Date November 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2019.105522 Abstract The land use structure is extremely unstable and grassland is reclaimed as cultivated land at a large scale in the Northern Foot of Yinshan-Otindag Sandy Land Windbreak and Sand-Fixation Ecological Conservation Area, a representative region of the agro-pastoral ecotone of Northern China. To study the effects of land use patterns on the microclimate and ecosystem services, we selected five land use patterns by using a grid cell approach: pattern 1 (6.35% of the cultivated land, 86.98% of the grassland), pattern 2 (20.66% of the cultivated land, 71.14% of the grassland), pattern 3 (47.02% of the cultivated land, 44.76% of the grassland), pattern 4 (58.65% of the cultivated land, 31.49% of the grassland), and pattern 5 (70.55% of the cultivated land, 18.04% of the grassland) in 2010–2015. The results were as follows: (1) compared with pattern 1, the other four patterns had higher evapotranspiration (ET) and lower land surface temperature (LST), but no significant differences in albedo; (2) based on the partial correlation analysis, ET was the key driving factor in response to energy budget, and the global sensitivity analysis showed that LST had a strong independent influence on the ET, while LST, normalized differential vegetation index (NDVI), and albedo had strong interaction effects on the ET; (3) from June to August, the relationship between the proportion of cultivated land and ET was a logistic curve, and the inflection point was respectively 16.76%, 22.27% and 19.50%, respectively; (4) the losses of ecosystem service values (ESVs) had a significant trend in the whole ecological conservation area, and for five land use patterns, the order of losses was pattern 5 > pattern 4 > pattern 3 > pattern 2 > pattern 1; (5) pattern 5 lost the most ESVs, mainly due to three types of ecosystem services, which were soil conservation, climate regulation and waste regulation. This study provides references for fully understanding the ecological effects of land use change and helps to objectively evaluate ecological civilization construction in the agro-pastoral ecotone of Northern China. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:36 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:59:14 PM Tags: o Albedo o Ecosystem services o Evapotranspiration o Land surface temperature o Land use pattern * The Effects of Cattle Manure and Garlic Rotation on Soil under Continuous Cropping of Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.) Type Journal Article Author Ruiping Yang Author Yanling Mo Author Changming Liu Author Yongqi Wang Author Jianxiang Ma Author Yong Zhang Author Hao Li Author Xian Zhang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0156515__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv-mX42tU$ Volume 11 Issue 6 Pages e0156515 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Jun 3, 2016 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0156515 Accessed 2020-03-12, 12:26:44 AM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract Continuous cropping of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.) can lead to reduced yield and quality. We aimed to determine the effects of cattle manure addition and rotation with green garlic to improve yield and reduce disease incidence in watermelon and to examine the effects on the biological and chemical characteristics of the soil. Field experiments were performed during 2012–2014 on land previously under two years of continuous watermelon cropping in northwest China. We examined three treatment combinations: watermelon and garlic rotation, cattle manure application before watermelon planting, and combined cattle manure addition and crop rotation. Watermelon monoculture was retained as a control. Watermelon yield was significantly higher and disease incidence was lower in the treatments than the control. The populations of soil bacteria and actinomycetes and the bacteria/fungi ratio increased significantly and soil enzyme activities were generally enhanced under treatments. Available nutrients and soil organic matter contents were much higher under experimental treatments than the control. Results suggest both cattle manure application and garlic rotation can ameliorate the negative effects of continuous cropping. The combined treatment of cattle manure addition and green garlic rotation was optimal to increase yield, reduce disease incidence and enhance soil quality. Date Added 2020-03-12, 12:26:44 AM Modified 2020-03-12, 12:26:44 AM Tags: o Agricultural soil science o Cattle o Edaphology o Epidemiology o Garlic o Livestock care o Soil chemistry o Veterinary diseases Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau peatland sustainable utilization under anthropogenic disturbances and climate change Type Journal Article Author Gang Yang Author Changhui Peng Author Huai Chen Author Faqin Dong Author Ning Wu Author Yanzheng Yang Author Yao Zhang Author Dan Zhu Author Yixin He Author Shengwei Shi Author Xiaoyang Zeng Author Tingting Xi Author Qingxiang Meng Author Qiuan Zhu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1002/ehs2.1263__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvycciWyI$ Volume 3 Issue 3 Pages e01263 Publication Ecosystem Health and Sustainability ISSN 2332-8878 Date March 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Ecosystem Health and Sustainability DOI 10.1002/ehs2.1263 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Abstract Often referred to as the ?Third Pole,? China's Qinghai?Tibetan Plateau developed large amounts of peatland owing to its unique alpine environment. As a renewable resource, peat helps to regulate the climate as well as performing other important functions. However, in recent years, intensifying climate change and anthropogenic disturbances have resulted in peatland degradation and consequently made sustainable development of peatland more difficult. This review summarizes peatland ecological and economic functions, including carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, energy supplies, and ecotourism. It identifies climate change and anthropogenic disturbances as the two key factors attributing to peatland degradation and ecosystem carbon loss. Current problems in environmental degradation and future challenges in peatland management under the effects of global warming are also discussed and highlighted. Date Added 2020-03-12, 4:49:51 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 4:49:51 PM Tags: o climate change mitigation o peatland management o renewable resource o sustainable development Notes: o doi: 10.1002/ehs2.1263 * Forest restoration scenarios produce synergies for agricultural production in southern Ethiopia Type Journal Article Author Kevin F. Yang Author Sarah E. Gergel Author Frédéric Baudron URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880920300736__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvEp_38sE$ Volume 295 Pages 106888 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date June 15, 2020 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2020.106888 Abstract Understanding the factors influencing agricultural productivity is vital to food security, especially for food insecure smallholder farmers. Within agricultural landscape mosaics, the arrangement of tree cover such as forests, trees, and hedgerows can positively or negatively impact agricultural productivity in fields. In such settings, forest restoration has the potential to impact food security goals in addition to the typical restoration goals of reversing land degradation and supporting carbon storage. Here, we compare and contrast forest restoration scenarios in order to explore whether there are ideal amounts and configurations of forests that optimize benefits for food production. To do so, we explored forest restoration scenarios in an agricultural-forest landscape in southern Ethiopia where previous research showed increased wheat productivity in sections of fields adjacent to forests. We used hypothetical historically-relevant and plausible future scenarios to examine the landscape-level implications of forest restoration on total wheat production. To accomplish this, we first characterized contemporary forest cover as well as long-term trends using remote sensing. Then, trends in forests and hedgerows were used to create a series of hypothetical yet realistic scenarios to explore trade-offs among total forest cover, its configuration, and total wheat production. From 1967–2013, analysis of historical aerial photography and Landsat imagery showed a general trend of reforestation (an 8% increase in forest cover). While the abundance of primary forests remained constant from 1986–2013, mixed vegetation expanded from 16 % to occupy 26 % of the landscape, generally in the form of small forest fragments with sparse tree cover. Our hypothetical reforestation and hedgerow planting scenarios found that field productivity increases near forest edges resulted in non-linear food production benefits with hedgerow expansion. Benefits to total landscape-level wheat production were almost twice as great when transitioning from low to medium tree cover than when transitioning from medium-high to high tree cover. Furthermore, the benefits of hedgerows on agricultural production were asymptotic; productivity gains eventually levelled off with increasing hedgerows. Our results highlight potential benefits of a landscape approach for enhancing smallholder agricultural productivity in southern Ethiopia and beyond. We argue that considering a landscape perspective can help support food security goals particularly within the context of climate change and should play a more prominent role in forest conservation and restoration. Date Added 2020-03-17, 6:59:57 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 6:59:57 PM Tags: o Afforestation o Ecosystem services o Edge effects o Forest landscape restoration o Fragmentation o Land sharing o Livelihoods o Multi-functional landscapes o Reforestation o Wheat yields * Influence of land use change on the ecosystem service trade-offs in the ecological restoration area: Dynamics and scenarios in the Yanhe watershed, China Type Journal Article Author Siqi Yang Author Wenwu Zhao Author Yanxu Liu Author Shuai Wang Author Jing Wang Author Ruijie Zhai URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969718324240__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvR7k2C3U$ Volume 644 Pages 556-566 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date December 10, 2018 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.06.348 Abstract Land use change can result in variations in ecosystem services (ESs) and their relationships. Studying the temporal dynamics of ESs and their relationships can support scenario analyses that provide the theoretical basis for policy decisions and regional ecosystem management. Previous studies have revealed the trade-offs between two ESs on multiple scales, while the trade-offs between multiple ESs require further analysis. Furthermore, trade-offs are rarely considered in scenario constructions, which weakens the ability of scenarios to inform land use policy. In this study, the InVEST model was applied to assess carbon sequestration, habitat quality, nutrient retention, sediment retention and seasonal water yield at five-year intervals from 1990 to 2015 and to construct five simulated scenarios that represented different ecological restoration and land reclamation policies. The results indicated that the Grain for Green Project (GFGP) increased all ESs, with seasonal water yield increasing by approximately 1.29 times above the initial stage. However, decreasing cropland area reduced the correlations between ESs both in trade-offs and synergies. Among all scenarios studied, the Returning Cropland to Grassland trade-off scenario had the maximum effect, while the natural succession to shrubland scenario had a minimum effect at the pixel level. Except for the land reclamation scenario, the overall ES benefits in the other scenarios exceeded the benefits received in 2015. Given the extent of watershed areas impacted by different overall ES benefit and trade-off situations, the Returning Cropland to Grassland scenario appears to best reduce the impacts of the worst situation compared to 2015, reducing the negative impacts by 22.6%. We suggest that scenarios that combine both overall ESs values and their trade-offs can support more effective and efficient land use decisions. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:49 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:59:12 PM Tags: o Ecological restoration o Ecosystem service trade-offs o InVEST model o Land use change o Scenarios * Comparative assessment of grassland degradation dynamics in response to climate variation and human activities in China, Mongolia, Pakistan and Uzbekistan from 2000 to 2013 Type Journal Article Author Yue Yang Author Zhaoqi Wang Author Jianlong Li Author Chencheng Gang Author Yanzhen Zhang Author Ying Zhang Author Inakwu Odeh Author Jiaguo Qi URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196316301641__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvgzdsrjE$ Volume 135 Pages 164-172 Publication Journal of Arid Environments ISSN 0140-1963 Date December 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Journal of Arid Environments DOI 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2016.09.004 Abstract Quantifying the driving force is significant to understand the impact of climate variation and human activities on grassland degradation. In this study, we selected net primary productivity (NPP) as an indicator to quantitatively assess the relative roles of climate variation and human activities in China, Mongolia, Pakistan and Uzbekistan from 2000 to 2013. The results showed that 1.9% of grassland areas experienced degradation in Uzbekistan. By contrast, 29.6%, 16%, and 32.5% of grassland areas underwent restoration in China, Mongolia and Pakistan, respectively. Furthermore, 83.9%, 85.1%, 6.7% of restored grassland areas were influenced by climate variation and 65%, 79.1%, 11.6% of degraded areas were affected by human activities in Mongolia, Pakistan and Uzbekistan, respectively. The NPP variation also could be calculated to evaluate the impacts of these factors and results were consistent with the findings based on area. Therefore, climate variation dominated grassland restoration, human activities dominated degradation in Mongolia and Pakistan, and Uzbekistan was just the opposite. In China, 38.5% of the grassland restoration areas was caused by climate variations compared with 38% induced by human activities. On the contrary, 37.4% of grassland degradation was caused by climate variation and 30% resulted from human activities. In addition, the results based on NPP variation revealed that 39.2% of restored grassland areas were influenced by human activities and 38.2% of degraded areas were affected by climate variation. Therefore, climate variation dominated grassland degradation and the driving force of restoration was determined by the effectiveness of environmental protection programs. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:33 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:33 PM Tags: o Climate variation o Grassland degradation o Human activities o Net primary productivity (NPP) o Quantitative assessment * Climate Benefits of Increasing Plant Diversity in Perennial Bioenergy Crops Type Journal Article Author Yi Yang Author Evelyn C. Reilly Author Jacob M. Jungers Author Jihui Chen Author Timothy M. Smith URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590332219302210__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvgrSdeHQ$ Volume 1 Issue 4 Pages 434-445 Publication One Earth ISSN 2590-3322 Date December 20, 2019 Journal Abbr One Earth DOI 10.1016/j.oneear.2019.11.011 Abstract Bioenergy from perennial grasses mitigates climate change via displacing fossil fuels and storing atmospheric CO2 belowground as soil carbon. Here, we conduct a critical review to examine whether increasing plant diversity in bioenergy grassland systems can further increase their climate change mitigation potential. We find that compared with highly productive monocultures, diverse mixtures tend to produce as great or greater yields. In particular, there is strong evidence that legume addition improves yield, in some cases equivalent to mineral nitrogen fertilization at 33–150 kg per ha. Plant diversity can also promote soil carbon storage in the long term, reduce soil N2O emissions by 30%–40%, and suppress weed invasion, hence reducing herbicide use. These potential benefits of plant diversity translate to 50%–65% greater life-cycle greenhouse gas savings for biofuels from more diverse grassland biomass grown on degraded soils. In addition, there is growing evidence that plant diversity can accelerate land restoration. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:37 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:37 PM * Effects of “Grain for Green” program on soil hydrologic functions in karst landscapes, southwestern China Type Journal Article Author Jiao Yang Author Xianli Xu Author Meixian Liu Author Chaohao Xu Author Yaohua Zhang Author Wei Luo Author Rongfei Zhang Author Xuezhang Li Author Gerard Kiely Author Kelin Wang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880917302682__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv5ow-UJQ$ Volume 247 Pages 120-129 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date September 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2017.06.025 Abstract Soil hydrologic functions are important for karst landscapes where soil water loss is significant. The largest global ecological restoration engineering project, namely the “Grain for Green” program, is being implemented since 2000 in karst landscapes across southwestern China. However, its effects on soil hydrologic functions are still unknown. Using data acquired in field investigations and a generalized linear model (GLM), this study examines the effects of different vegetation restoration types on soil field saturated-hydraulic conductivity (Kfs) in karst landscapes of southwest China. The results indicate that the Kfs of artificial grassland (napiergrass) was higher than in other vegetation restoration types (zenia insignis, toona sinensis, orchard, and natural restoration shrubland) and cropland at both the surface and 10cm depths. The Kfs of vegetation restoration lands was lower than that of Mulun nature reserve (primary forest) at both the surface and 30cm depths. We found significant differences of Kfs in different depths of vegetation restoration lands but not significant for primary forest. The GLM model explains 64.75% of the total variation in Kfs. Among the input variables, vegetation type explained the largest proportion (11.29%) of the variation, followed by bulk density (BD), soil organic carbon, and BD and vegetation type interactions. The factors above were significantly related to Kfs. This study suggests that the implementation of different vegetation restoration types can alter soil hydrologic functions and provides useful knowledge for ecological restoration practices and management in karst landscapes. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:38 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:38 PM Tags: o Climate change o Earth’s critical zone o Ecohydrology o Landscape ecology o Soil hydrology * Effects of ecological restoration projects on land use and land cover change and its influences on territorial NPP in Xinjiang, China Type Journal Article Author Hongfei Yang Author Shaojie Mu Author Jianlong Li URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816213002981__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvvgl9B14$ Volume 115 Pages 85-95 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date April 1, 2014 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2013.11.020 Abstract Since the Chinese government initiated its economic reform in 1978, rapid economic development has spurred land use and land cover change (LULCC) in China, which resulted in many ecological problems such as land degradation and desertification. To address these serious ecological crises, the government launched a series of ecological restoration programs which have caused significant LULCC and a profound impact on the terrestrial ecosystem. This study used net primary productivity (NPP) as an important indicator of the arid and semi-arid ecosystem's productivity to estimate the impacts of the LULCC driven by ecological restoration programs in Xinjiang from 2001 to 2009. The modeling method was based upon the Carnegie–Ames–Stanford Approach (CASA) terrestrial carbon model and Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) remote sensing data and meteorological data for modeling simulation. The results demonstrated that the forest area of Xinjiang had the most net increase of 9093km2 in the study period, compared to other land cover types. The most dominant land cover changes during 2001–2009 were from grassland to forest and mutual transformation between grassland and desert. Total NPP of whole area increased by 252.51GgC during the study period. The increase of total NPP in forest was the most obvious among all vegetation types, with a net increase of 1782.88GgCyr−1. It can be concluded that the increase of regional NPP mainly resulted from forest expansion. During 2001–2009, the mean NPP in forest, grassland and desert had a slight decrease, whereas the cropland and crop/natural vegetation mosaic land mean NPP increased fractionally. By using the climate in 2001 to simulate the NPP of Xinjiang in 2009, we explored the influences of land use and cover changes and climate change on regional NPP. Compared to climate change, human activities produced an obvious positive effect in the increase of total NPP, especially for forest land. As a result, ecological restoration programs produced positive impacts on forest expansion and carbon sequestration in Xinjiang. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:23:02 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:23:02 PM Tags: o CASA model o Ecological restoration o Forest expansion o LULCC o NPP * Testing association between soil bacterial diversity and soil carbon storage on the Loess Plateau Type Journal Article Author Yang Yang Author Yanxing Dou Author Shaoshan An URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969718301025__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvCCKjaIA$ Volume 626 Pages 48-58 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date June 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.01.081 Abstract Bacteria are widely distributed and play an important role in soil carbon (C) cycling. The impact of soil bacterial diversity on soil C storage has been well established, yet little is known about the underlying mechanisms and the interactions among them. Here, we examined the association between soil bacterial diversity and soil C storage in relation to vegetation restoration on the Loess Plateau. The dominant phyla among land use types (artificial forest, Af; natural shrubland, Ns; artificial grassland, Ag; natural grassland, Ng; slope cropland, Sc) were Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, and Betaproteobacteria, which transited from Acidobacteria-dominant to Actinobacteria-dominant community due to vegetation restoration. Soil C storage and the Shannon diversity index of soil bacterial community (HBacteria) showed the order Ns > Ng > Af > Ag > Sc, whereas no significant difference was found in Good's coverage (p > .05). Further, a strong relationship was observed between the relative abundance of dominant bacterial groups and soil C storage (p < .05). Additionally, soil bacterial diversity was closely related to soil C storage based on the structural equation model (SEM) and generalized additive models (GAMs). Specifically, soil C storage had the largest deterministic effects, explaining >70% of the variation and suggesting a strong association between soil C storage and soil bacterial diversity. Overall, we propose that further studies are necessary with a focus on the soil bacterial groups with specific functions in relation to soil C storage on the Loess Plateau. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:29 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:29 PM Tags: o High-throughput sequencing o Land use types o Loess Plateau o Soil bacterial diversity o Soil C storage * Plowing, seeding, and fertilizing differentially influence species diversity, functional groups and community productivity in a degraded steppe Type Journal Article Author Jian-Xia Yang Author Dong-Jie Hou Author Xian-Guo Qiao Author Xi-Mei Geng Author Ke Guo Author Wei-Ming He URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0367253019300520__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvZlMVtEw$ Volume 257 Pages 151414 Publication Flora ISSN 0367-2530 Date August 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Flora DOI 10.1016/j.flora.2019.05.013 Abstract The restoration of degraded grasslands can be achieved via multiple methods (e.g., increasing plant propagule input, improving site conditions, and enhancing soil resources); however, little is known about the relative roles of these methods. We conducted an experiment in Inner Mongolia (China) to address how plowing, seeding, and fertilizing influenced species diversity, functional groups, and community productivity in a degraded steppe. Plowing decreased plant species richness by disproportionally enhancing species loss and gain, had no effect on the relative abundance of grasses, legume forbs, and non-legume forbs, and marginally decreased the community biomass. Seeding legumes decreased plant species richness by disproportionally enhancing species loss and gain; seeding legumes or both grasses and legumes significantly affected the relative abundance of grasses, legume forbs, and non-legume forbs. Unexpectedly, seeding decreased aboveground plant community biomass, which might be linked to a nonproportional decrease in per capita biomass. Fertilization did not influence plant species richness, loss, gain, or turnover; however, fertilization increased the relative abundance of grasses and decreased that of legumes and enhanced community biomass. There were significant interactions among plowing, seeding and fertilizing, but these interactions were not synergistic. Over 70% of lost or gained species were perennial plants, implying that perennials might be more susceptible to these treatments than annuals/biennials. These findings suggest that these three restoration practices might have differential effects on plant species diversity, plant functional groups, and plant community productivity in Inner Mongolia and that their combined effects might not be positive for degraded steppes. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:32 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:32 PM Tags: o Community composition o Community production o Degraded steppe o Plant species interchange o Restoration approach * Response of deep soil moisture to land use and afforestation in the semi-arid Loess Plateau, China Type Journal Article Author Lei Yang Author Wei Wei Author Liding Chen Author Baoru Mo URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002216941200858X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv6IrsFxY$ Volume 475 Pages 111-122 Publication Journal of Hydrology ISSN 0022-1694 Date December 19, 2012 Journal Abbr Journal of Hydrology DOI 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2012.09.041 Abstract Summary Soil moisture is an effective water source for plant growth in the semi-arid Loess Plateau of China. Characterizing the response of deep soil moisture to land use and afforestation is important for the sustainability of vegetation restoration in this region. In this paper, the dynamics of soil moisture were quantified to evaluate the effect of land use on soil moisture at a depth of 2m. Specifically, the gravimetric soil moisture content was measured in the soil layer between 0 and 8m for five land use types in the Longtan catchment of the western Loess Plateau. The land use types included traditional farmland, native grassland, and lands converted from traditional farmland (pasture grassland, shrubland and forestland). Results indicate that the deep soil moisture content decreased more than 35% after land use conversion, and a soil moisture deficit appeared in all types of land with introduced vegetation. The introduced vegetation decreased the soil moisture content to levels lower than the reference value representing no human impact in the entire 0–8m soil profile. No significant differences appeared between different land use types and introduced vegetation covers, especially in deeper soil layers, regardless of which plant species were introduced. High planting density was found to be the main reason for the severe deficit of soil moisture. Landscape management activities such as tillage activities, micro-topography reconstruction, and fallowed farmland affected soil moisture in both shallow and deep soil layers. Tillage and micro-topography reconstruction can be used as effective countermeasures to reduce the soil moisture deficit due to their ability to increase soil moisture content. For sustainable vegetation restoration in a vulnerable semi-arid region, the plant density should be optimized with local soil moisture conditions and appropriate landscape management practices. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:45 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:45 PM Tags: o Afforestation o Land use o Loess Plateau o Soil water o Vegetation restoration * Nitrous oxide emissions from an agro-pastoral ecotone of northern China depending on land uses Type Journal Article Author Xinming Yang Author Haiqing Chen Author Yuanshi Gong Author Xunhua Zheng Author Mingsheng Fan Author Yakov Kuzyakov URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880915300554__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvSL8TaTw$ Volume 213 Pages 241-251 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date December 25, 2015 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2015.08.011 Abstract Overgrazing and intensive farming have led to severe land degradation in the past half century in the agro-pastoral ecotone of northern China. Currently, complete and periodical exclusions of grazing are commonly adopted for the restoration of these degraded grasslands. However, little is known about the effects of such land uses on nitrous oxide (N2O) emission in this region. Using static chamber technique, we quantified annual N2O emissions (from May 2012 to September 2013) from four land uses: summer-grazed grassland (SG), winter-grazed grassland (WG), ungrazed grassland since 1997 (UG) and oat cropland (OC). N2O emissions occurred mainly after farmyard manure fertilization and during spring thaw periods. Annual N2O fluxes from the SG, WG, UG and OC were 0.19, 0.15, 0.43 and 0.98kg Nha−1yr−1, respectively. The spring–thaw N2O emissions from UG and OC dominated the annual emission and accounted for 70% and 65% of the annual fluxes, respectively. In contrast, the contributions of spring thaw fluxes to total annual N2O emissions for SG and WG were only 32%. N2O fluxes during spring thaw season were positively related to soil NH4++ NO3− content accounting for 80% of N2O flux variability across all land uses. Land use conversion from the native grassland to cropland increased N2O flux both during growing and spring thaw seasons due to farmyard manure application. Instead, grazing has the potential to decrease annual N2O losses mainly through reducing spring–thaw N2O emissions. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:49 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:49 PM Tags: o Annual NO emissions o Cropland o Grazing o Land use change o Semi-arid grassland o Spring thaw * Comparison of deep soil moisture in two re-vegetation watersheds in semi-arid regions Type Journal Article Author Lei Yang Author Liding Chen Author Wei Wei Author Yang Yu Author Handan Zhang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022169414002340__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvUAH8Phs$ Volume 513 Pages 314-321 Publication Journal of Hydrology ISSN 0022-1694 Date May 26, 2014 Journal Abbr Journal of Hydrology DOI 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2014.03.049 Abstract Summary Soil moisture stored below rainfall infiltration depth is a reliable water resource for plant growth in semi-arid ecosystems. Along with the large-scale ecological restoration in Chinese Loess Plateau, identifying the ecohydrological response to human-introduced vegetation restoration has become an important issue in current research. In this study, soil moisture data in depth of 0–5m was obtained by field observation and geostatistical method in two neighboring re-vegetation watersheds. Profile characteristics and spatial pattern of soil moisture was compared between different land use types, transects, and watersheds. The results showed that: (1) Introduced vegetation drastically decreased deep soil moisture when compared with farmland and native grassland. No significant differences in deep soil moisture were found between different introduced vegetation types. (2) An analysis of differences in soil moisture for different land use patterns indicated that land use had significant influence on deep soil moisture spatial variability. Land use structure determined the soil moisture condition and its spatial variation. (3) Vegetation restoration with introduced plants diminished the spatial heterogeneity of deep soil moisture on watershed scale. The improvement of land use management was suggested to improve the water management and maintain the sustainability of vegetation restoration. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:50 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:50 PM Tags: o Land use structure o Loess Plateau o Soil moisture o Spatial variation o Vegetation restoration * The linkage between vegetation and soil nutrients and their variation under different grazing intensities in an alpine meadow on the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Type Journal Article Author Zhenan Yang Author Qiuan Zhu Author Wei Zhan Author Yingyi Xu Author Erxiong Zhu Author Yongheng Gao Author Shiqing Li Author Qunying Zheng Author Dan Zhu Author Yixin He Author Changhui Peng Author Huai Chen URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857417305840__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvd11n_2Q$ Volume 110 Pages 128-136 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date January 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2017.11.001 Abstract The grassland degradation caused by overgrazing is the result of imbalance of energy flow and material cycle under grazing pressure in the ecosystem, and numerous ecological restoration and ecological engineering techniques widely used to restore some ecosystem. However, little research known focused on the relationship (energy flow and material cycle) between plant and soil under different grazing intensity, especially at the rhizosphere which is the most powerful area of plant and soil interaction. In this research we conducted a 5-year grazing experiment including 4 different grazing intensities (no grazing, UG; light grazing, LG; moderate grazing, MG; and heavy grazing, HG) in an alpine meadow on the northeastern margin of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP). Plants and soil materials were sampled in July 2015, and to examine the nutrients concentration and ecological stoichiometric of vegetation and soil, the soil microbial biomass and activity, as well as their relationship with vegetation and soil characteristics. We found that grazing increased vegetation and soil nutrient concentrations and increased the ratio of microbial biomass carbon (MBC) to microbial biomass nitrogen (MBC), but the grazing intensity did not significantly influence the nutrients enrichment ratio of rhizosphere soil. There was significant relationship between total carbon (TC) concentration of vegetation and soil, and between vegetation total phosphorus (TP) and soil PO43−-P concentration. These results suggested that vegetation and soil nutrient concentrations respond differently to the grazing intensity. Coupling relationship exists in specific nutrients of vegetation and soil and rhizosphere is a powerful tool to understanding the linkage between plant and soil. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:07 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:07 PM Tags: o Above- and belowground o Ecological stoichiometric o Nutrients o Rhizosphere * Dynamic variations in profile soil water on karst hillslopes in Southwest China Type Journal Article Author Jing Yang Author Hongsong Chen Author Yunpeng Nie Author Kelin Wang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816218304004__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvGi6_Hxc$ Volume 172 Pages 655-663 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date January 1, 2019 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2018.09.032 Abstract Precipitation in the karst regions of southwest China is plentiful, however, soils are shallow and highly permeable, which results in rapid transportation of surface water through a soil profile. Therefore, the presence and amount of water stress in a soil layer can be unpredictable. This study will investigate the soil water conditions on karst hillslopes in southwest China through dynamic in situ observations of profile soil moisture (θ). Three profiles at two slope positions on two shrub-grasslands (S1 and S2) were selected, respectively. At each profile, TDR 100 probes were set at 10, 20, 30, 50, and 70 cm and for 100 cm, only on downslopes. Soil samples (undisturbed and disturbed) were collected to measure basic physical and chemical properties. Precipitation and θ were monitored manually each week between July 15, 2012 and November 25, 2014. Results show that soil properties, which have an important effect on θ, varied among slope positions and between the two hisllslopes. A higher clay content, which led to greater water holding capacity, explained a higher θ in downslopes and on S2. Shallow soil layers (0–30 cm), especially in the coarse textured soil layers of S1, were susceptible to water stress due to the limited availability of soil water. Water stress was low during water supplying (December through April) and relatively stable periods (May to June). However, during water consuming periods (July to November), profile θ decreased greatly which resulted in severe water stress for the whole profile. Although precipitation was seasonally uneven, based on weekly observations, profile θ on both hillslopes was not temporally active (coefficients of variation of θ was smaller than 20%) and the variance of each depth was similar. Generally, the effects of precipitation on θ can last two (0–50 cm) to five (70–100 cm) weeks. Nevertheless, θ of downslope deep soil, which was (or near) saturated all year round, was barely affected by precipitation. These results can provide valuable information for hydrological models and rational strategies for ecological restoration designing in karst regions. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:07 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:07 PM Tags: o Soil moisture o Soil water storage o Time series analysis o Vertical stratification * Preventing plant invasions at early stages of revegetation: The role of limiting similarity in seed size and seed density Type Journal Article Author Florencia A. Yannelli Author Phillip Hughes Author Johannes Kollmann URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857416307157__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvuO3yLmI$ Volume 100 Pages 286-290 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date March 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2016.12.001 Abstract Revegetation of roadsides is an opportunity for grassland restoration, yet these habitats are prone to be colonised by invasive alien plant species (IAS). Therefore, the selection of seed mixtures for revegetation should consider potential competition with IAS present in the soil seed bank or arriving by traffic-related seed rain. We investigated whether the limiting similarity hypothesis, in terms of plant seed-size-output strategy, could be used to design native grassland communities resistant to IAS. In a greenhouse experiment, a small- or a large-seeded IAS was sown into factorial combinations of two native communities with small or large seed-size-output strategies at two sowing densities. Height and aboveground biomass of the IAS were measured after four and eight weeks, respectively. Small-seeded native communities at high density were highly effective in suppressing the small- and large-seeded IAS, mostly controlled by a density effect. Thus, limiting similarity in seed-size-output strategy only partly explained resistance to IAS, while density-driven suppression was more effective. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:44 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:44 PM Tags: o Biotic resistance o Competition o Density-driven suppression o IAS o Non-native species o Restoration o Roadsides o Seed mixtures * Soil bacterial community shifts driven by restoration time and steppe types in the degraded steppe of Inner Mongolia Type Journal Article Author Minjie Yao Author Junpeng Rui Author Jiabao Li Author Junming Wang Author Weidong Cao Author Xiangzhen Li URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816218300432__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv_sjGdzQ$ Volume 165 Pages 228-236 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date June 1, 2018 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2018.02.006 Abstract Degraded grassland can be restored through management practices such as fencing to protect land from overgrazing. However, little is known about the dynamics of underground microbial communities and their associated ecological function during the restoration process. In this study, we investigated changes in the soil bacterial community composition with varying restoration time in the Leymus chinensis steppe. We also studied the differences in the soil bacterial community composition between a Leymus chinensis steppe and a Stipa grandis steppe at the same restoration time in the Inner Mongolia of China. Results showed that restoration of the degraded steppe through fencing significantly changed the bacterial community composition through the restoration time. The relative abundances of Chloroflexi and Cyanobacteria decreased significantly with restoration. However, the relative abundances of copiotrophic Proteobacteria and Bacteriodetes increased. Significant changes for many dominant taxa occurred between 7 and 13 years of restoration time in the Leymus chinensis steppe. Shifts in the composition of bacterial communities with fencing and grazing were driven by multiple factors, including soil moisture, pH, nutrients (organic carbon and nitrogen, etc.). Network analysis of soil bacterial community compositions showed that the three largest modules in co-occurrence networks were separated by fencing, grazing and steppe type. This study revealed the successions of underground microbial communities associated with steppe restoration management over time. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:46 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:46 PM Tags: o Fencing o Grazing o Inner Mongolia steppe o Restoration o Soil bacterial community * Evidence for relationship between carbon storage and surface cover characteristics of soil in rangelands Type Journal Article Author Habib Yazdanshenas Author Ali Tavili Author Mohammad Jafari Author Elham Shafeian URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816218301528__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvlKXf2Ec$ Volume 167 Pages 139-146 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date August 1, 2018 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2018.04.037 Abstract Carbon storage (CS) and consequently carbon sequestration by plants is the most natural and least expensive method for atmospheric CO2 mitigation. Areas with high CS potential should be identified, maintained and subject to investment. CS depends strongly on status of vegetation and soil surface cover characteristics. Therefore, the objectives of the present study was an assessment of the relationship between aridisols CS and characteristics of soil cover in some plant types in western rangelands of Isfahan in Iran. Three different plant types including Scariola orientalis-Astragalus gossypinus, Hordeum fragile-Astragalus gossypinus and Cousinia bachtiarica-Astragalus gossypinus were identified. Then, some sampling plots were placed along the four transects in each plant type, which were placed obliquely to the general and the lateral slope of the region. Plants' characteristics and soil surface characteristics were recorded. The soil samples were taken along transects at depths of 0–20 and 20–75 cm. Soil samples were transferred to the soil laboratory and analysed. The results demonstrated that the soil carbon storge (SCS) is different between three plant types. SCS in Sc. or-As. go, Ho.fr-As. go and Co. ba-As.go plant types were 340, 182 and 173 kg/ha, respectivly. Moreover, there was a positive and significant relationship (R2 = 0.88|0.42, p < 0.01) between coverage and density of shrubby species and soil surface gravel with amount of CS. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:00:04 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:00:04 PM Tags: o Aridisols o Carbon storage o Plant type o Rangelands o Soil surface cover * Land Suitability Assessment on a Watershed of Loess Plateau Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process Type Journal Article Author Xiaobo Yi Author Li Wang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0069498__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvMtn1yjo$ Volume 8 Issue 7 Pages e69498 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Jul 26, 2013 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0069498 Accessed 2020-03-12, 3:19:26 PM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract In order to reduce soil erosion and desertification, the Sloping Land Conversion Program has been conducted in China for more than 15 years, and large areas of farmland have been converted to forest and grassland. However, this large-scale vegetation-restoration project has faced some key problems (e.g. soil drying) that have limited the successful development of the current ecological-recovery policy. Therefore, it is necessary to know about the land use, vegetation, and soil, and their inter-relationships in order to identify the suitability of vegetation restoration. This study was conducted at the watershed level in the ecologically vulnerable region of the Loess Plateau, to evaluate the land suitability using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The results showed that (1) the area unsuitable for crops accounted for 73.3% of the watershed, and the main factors restricting cropland development were soil physical properties and soil nutrients; (2) the area suitable for grassland was about 86.7% of the watershed, with the remaining 13.3% being unsuitable; (3) an area of 3.95 km2, accounting for 66.7% of the watershed, was unsuitable for forest. Overall, the grassland was found to be the most suitable land-use to support the aims of the Sloping Land Conversion Program in the Liudaogou watershed. Under the constraints of soil water shortage and nutrient deficits, crops and forests were considered to be inappropriate land uses in the study area, especially on sloping land. When selecting species for re-vegetation, non-native grass species with high water requirements should be avoided so as to guarantee the sustainable development of grassland and effective ecological functioning. Our study provides local land managers and farmers with valuable information about the inappropriateness of growing trees in the study area along with some information on species selection for planting in the semi-arid area of the Loess Plateau. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:19:26 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:19:26 PM Tags: o Agricultural soil science o Erosion o Forest ecology o Forests o Grasslands o Land use o Loess o Trees Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Ecosystem changes following the eradication of invasive species: Evaluation of various eradication scenarios by computer simulation Type Journal Article Author Katsuhiko Yoshida Author Kenji Hata Author Kazuto Kawakami Author Syuntaro Hiradate Author Takeshi Osawa Author Naoki Kachi URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304380019303394__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvjCFkLvE$ Volume 413 Pages 108831 Publication Ecological Modelling ISSN 0304-3800 Date December 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Ecological Modelling DOI 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2019.108831 Abstract The decline of the natural ecosystem on the Ogasawara Islands caused by invasive species has been an important environmental problem and projects for eradicating invasive species are currently underway. Some invasive species have proliferated in the host environment and are affecting the material cycle in the ecosystem. If the invasive species were removed from the environment, the material cycle of the ecosystem may be altered and native species that should be protected may be negatively affected. After the introduction of invasive alien species, namely goats and rats, the vegetation declined on Nakoudojima Island, an island that belongs to the Ogasawara Islands. Therefore, in this study, a mathematical model was developed to simulate and analyze the ecosystem changes that occurred following the eradication of goats and rats. When only rats were eradicated, the island’s vegetation changed to grassland but revegetation was delayed and the biomass of the native animal species did not recover significantly. When only goats were eradicated, the vegetation recovered and the biomass of the native animal species increased; however, the island became forested and many native herbaceous plant species became extinct. When goats and rats were eradicated simultaneously, the vegetation recovered and the biomass of the native animal species increased; however, the ecosystem became very unstable and two extreme results were obtained – the vegetation of the entire island changed to either forest or grassland. The results of this study suggest that instead of simply eradicating invasive species, it is necessary to monitor post-eradication changes in the ecosystem and take adaptive measures as required. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:25:39 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:25:39 PM Tags: o Computer simulation o Ecosystem change o Eradication o insular ecosystem o Invasive species o Scenario evaluation * Ecological correlates of fuel dynamics and potential fire behavior in former upland prairie and oak savanna Type Journal Article Author Gabriel I. Yospin Author Scott D. Bridgham Author Jane Kertis Author Bart R. Johnson URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112711006785__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvS8eZikE$ Volume 266 Pages 54-65 Publication Forest Ecology and Management ISSN 0378-1127 Date February 15, 2012 Journal Abbr Forest Ecology and Management DOI 10.1016/j.foreco.2011.10.046 Abstract Fire behavior has changed drastically in North America following Euro-American settlement. We sought to identify potential fire behavior in former prairie and savanna following forest succession, and to predict potential fire behavior from plant community data. We collected data on fuel loads, soils, topography, and plant communities from 239 plots at seven sites in the southern Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA. We defined eight plant cover types; an ordination based on tree species basal area by diameter classes and the cover of ground layer functional types supported these community types. Extant prairie and savanna plots had the lowest fuel loads, but there were no consistent differences in fuels among wooded communities. We used a fire behavior model, BehavePlus, to simulate potential fire behavior in our study plots. Because plant community data, standard fuel models and the ordination axes were poor predictors of fuels and potential fire behavior, we explored a new method of incorporating ecological data into predictions of fire behavior. We used classification and regression trees (CARTs) to find groups of plots that differed in their potential fire behavior. Although the best CART explained only 32% of the variance in potential fire behavior, the CARTs suggest ways to more effectively manage fire behavior – for example, indicating the importance of the legacy effects of savanna trees. Our results suggest that the legacies of succession on historic prairie and savanna have led to novel and heterogeneous fuels complexes, making it difficult to predict potential fire behavior from standard fuel models or community types. CARTs could be useful in other regions, both to indicate locations that should be management priorities and specific management techniques to attenuate fire behavior. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:13 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:13 PM Tags: o BehavePlus o Pacific Northwest o Wildland-urban interface * Restoration Ecology: The New Frontier, 2nd edition Type Journal Article Author Truman P. Young URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12037__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvTC8UCf8$ Rights © 2013 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 21 Issue 4 Pages 526-526 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2013 DOI 10.1111/rec.12037 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:55:07 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Short Title Restoration Ecology Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:55:07 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:55:07 PM Attachments o Snapshot * The Role of Light and Soil Moisture in Plant Community Resistance to Invasion by Yellow Starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis) Type Journal Article Author Stephen L. Young Author Guy B. Kyser Author Jacob N. Barney Author Victor P. Claassen Author Joseph M. DiTomaso URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2010.00686.x__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvbSOnHr8$ Rights © 2010 Society for Ecological Restoration International Volume 19 Issue 5 Pages 599-606 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2011 DOI 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2010.00686.x Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:40:29 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract To resist establishment by an invasive plant, a community may require one or more species functionally similar to the invader in their resource acquisition pattern. In this study, communities consisting of native winter annual forbs, non-native annual grasses, native perennials, or a combination of the two native communities were established with and without Centaurea solstitialis to determine the effect of soil moisture and light availability on plant community invasion resistance. The annual plant communities were unable to resist invasion by C. solstitialis. In the native winter annual forb community, senescence in late spring increased light penetration (>75%) to the soil surface, allowing seeded C. solstitialis to quickly establish and dominate the plots. In addition, native annual forbs utilized only shallow soil moisture, whereas C. solstitialis used shallow and deep soil moisture. In communities containing native perennials, only Elymus glaucus established well and eventually dominated the plots. During the first 2 years of establishment, water use pattern of perennial communities was similar to native annual forbs and resistance to invasion was associated with reduced light availability during the critical stages of C. solstitialis establishment. In later years, however, water use pattern of perennial grass communities was similar or greater than C. solstitialis-dominated plots. These results show that Central Valley grasslands that include E. glaucus resist C. solstitialis invasion by a combination of light suppression and soil water competition. Spatiotemporal resource utilization patterns, and not just functional similarity, should be considered when developing restoration strategies to resist invasion by many non-native species. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:40:29 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:40:29 PM Tags: o Elymus glaucus o functional similarity o grassland o invasive plant o light availability o native perennial grasses o soil moisture Attachments o Full Text o Snapshot * Species dominance rather than species asynchrony determines the temporal stability of productivity in four subtropical forests along 30 years of restoration Type Journal Article Author Qingshui Yu Author Xingquan Rao Author Chengjin Chu Author Suping Liu Author Yongbiao Lin Author Dan Sun Author Xiangping Tan Author Abu Hanif Author Weijun Shen URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112719318274__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvj6MGlME$ Volume 457 Pages 117687 Publication Forest Ecology and Management ISSN 0378-1127 Date February 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Forest Ecology and Management DOI 10.1016/j.foreco.2019.117687 Abstract Understanding biodiversity and its relationship with ecosystem functioning along forest succession is extremely important to assessing dynamics of community stability and ecosystem integrity. Previous studies have revealed that increases in species richness, phylogenetic diversity (PD), species asynchrony and dominance can stabilize the temporal stability of community biomass in grasslands. However, how these determinants influence the stabilizing effect of biodiversity on forest productivity remains poorly understood. We analyzed the relationships between woody plant diversity and productivity stability along 30 years of restoration (1985–2015) in four types of subtropical forest: a mixed Eucalyptus plantation (EE), an Acacia mangium monoculture (AM), a mixed native species plantation (NS), and a mixed coniferous plantation (MC). Our results showed that community stability in three mixed species plantations (EE, NS, and MC) rather than the AM monoculture augmented remarkably as restoration proceeded. Both species richness and phylogenetic diversity significantly stabilized community productivity in the mixed species plantations instead of the monoculture during the 30-year restoration period. Species asynchrony was not a significant factor contributing to the forest productivity stability. Instead, community stability was mainly driven by that of the dominant tree species, and to a lesser extent, by the species richness. We demonstrated the more important role of species dominance in maintaining the temporal stability of forest productivity, which differs from that (species asynchrony) for grassland communities. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:52 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:52 PM Tags: o Biodiversity o Phylogenetic diversity o Restoration o Species asynchrony o Species richness o Stability * Effects of grazing exclusion on soil carbon dynamics in alpine grasslands of the Tibetan Plateau Type Journal Article Author Lingfei Yu Author Yue Chen Author Wenjuan Sun Author Yao Huang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706119302629__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvb2HEl14$ Volume 353 Pages 133-143 Publication Geoderma ISSN 0016-7061 Date November 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Geoderma DOI 10.1016/j.geoderma.2019.06.036 Abstract Globally, excessive grazing is identified as one of the key disturbances leading to grassland degradation and soil carbon (C) loss. Grazing exclusion has been proposed as an effective practice to restore degraded grasslands and to promote C sequestration. However, there is still little knowledge about how soil C changes with grazing exclusion in high-altitude alpine ecosystems with very cold climates. We synthesized data from 63 sites in the literature and 15 sites in a field sampling and investigated the dynamics of soil C stocks following grazing exclusion in alpine grasslands of the Tibetan Plateau. The results showed that the soil C stock increased with grazing exclusion at most sites, with average C sequestration rates of 0.84, 0.58, and 0.49 Mg ha−1 yr−1 in the soil layers of 0–10, 10–20, and 20–30 cm, respectively. Based on these results, if 60 million ha of the grasslands on Tibetan Plateau were excluded from grazing livestock by 2020 according to the national plan, then approximately 0.11 Pg C yr−1 would be sequestered in the soil which equates to about 4.4% of fossil fuel and cement CO2 emissions in China in 2013. Generally, the rates of soil C increase exhibited a declining pattern with increasing years of grazing exclusion, with a significant decrease occurring after ten years of grazing exclusion. Of the factors examined, the rates of absolute and relative soil C change were both positively related to mean annual precipitation but negatively related to the year of grazing exclusion and initial soil C stock, respectively. The rates of soil C changes increased linearly with those of N change, and no matter how soil C changed (whether it increased or decreased), soil C:N ratios remained stable over the years of grazing exclusion. Our results implied that grazing exclusion is beneficial for soil C sequestration in degraded alpine grassland, especially in humid areas. Moreover, the intrinsic increase in N could keep up with the pace of soil C changes and would sustain soil C sequestration during the recovery process. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:36 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:36 PM Tags: o Grassland o Grazing exclusion o Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau o Restoration o Soil C * Selecting the minimum data set and quantitative soil quality indexing of alkaline soils under different land uses in northeastern China Type Journal Article Author Pujia Yu Author Shiwei Liu Author Liang Zhang Author Qiang Li Author Daowei Zhou URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004896971733019X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvLSNfyqc$ Volume 616-617 Pages 564-571 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date March 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.10.301 Abstract Understanding the influences of land use conversions on soil quality (SQ) and function are essential to adopt proper agricultural management practices for a specific region. The primary objective of this study was to develop soil quality indices (SQIs) to assess the short-term influences of different land uses on SQ in semiarid alkaline grassland in northeastern China. Land use treatments were corn cropland (Corn), alfalfa perennial forage (Alfalfa), monoculture Lyemus chinensis grassland (MG) and successional regrowth grassland (SRG), which were applied for five years. Twenty-two soil indicators were determined at 0–20cm depth as the potential SQ indicators. Of these, thirteen indicators exhibited treatment differences and were identified as the total data set (TDS) for subsequent analysis. Principal component analysis was used with the TDS to select the minimum data set (MDS), and four SQIs were calculated using linear/non-linear scoring functions and additive/weighted additive methods. Invertase, N:P ratio, water-extractable organic carbon and labile carbon were identified as the MDS. The four SQIs performed well, with significant positive correlations (P<0.001, n=16) among them. However, the SQI calculated using the non-linear weighted additive integration (SQI-NLWA) had the best discrimination under different land-use treatments due to the higher F values and larger coefficient of variance as compared to the other SQIs. The SQI value under the MG treatment was the highest, followed by that under the SRG and Alfalfa treatments, and all of these were significantly higher than that of Corn treatment. These results indicated that conversion of cropland to perennial forage or grassland can significantly improve the SQ in the Songnen grassland. In addition, SQI-NLWA can provide a better practical, quantitative tool for assessing SQ and is recommended for soil quality evaluation under different land uses in semiarid agroecosystems. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:45 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:45 PM Tags: o Grassland restoration o Method comparison o Short-term o Soil quality index o Solonetz * Ecological compensation for inundated habitats in hydropower developments based on carbon stock balance Type Journal Article Author Bing Yu Author Linyu Xu Author Zhifeng Yang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652615009993__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvAkxHyiw$ Volume 114 Pages 334-342 Publication Towards Post Fossil Carbon Societies: Regenerative and Preventative Eco-Industrial Development ISSN 0959-6526 Date February 15, 2016 Journal Abbr Journal of Cleaner Production DOI 10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.07.071 Abstract Hydroelectric power reservoirs have been identified as potentially important sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to the large areas of habitat which are inundated, leading to doubts as to whether hydropower is actually a net low-carbon energy source. In this study we propose a ‘service-to-service’ ecological analysis of inundated habitats from the viewpoint of carbon stock balance compared with the carbon stock loss from hydropower reservoirs. We consider whether the lost ecological service of carbon sequestration by inundated farmland, grassland and woodland could be offset by an increased ecological service provided by a grassland rehabilitation project. We also establish an integrated ecological compensation accounting methodology for inundated habitats by combining habitat equivalency analysis and estimates of carbon stock loss. This ecological compensation framework is illustrated by calculations from a case study of the Pondo hydropower project in Tibet, China. The results estimate that the total carbon stock losses from the construction and operation of this reservoir was 124,662 tons; requiring a compensatory restoration of areas of slightly, moderately, or severely degraded grasslands of 17.80, 8.90, and 5.93 thousand hectares, in a lump-sum payment mode. By means of such ecological compensations, carbon stock balance could be realized at the watershed scale, and the advantages of low-carbon hydropower developments could be fully realized. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:49 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:49 PM Tags: o Carbon sequestration o Ecological compensation o Grassland rehabilitation o Habitat equivalency analysis o Tibet * Conversion of cropland to forage land and grassland increases soil labile carbon and enzyme activities in northeastern China Type Journal Article Author Pujia Yu Author Shiwei Liu Author Kexin Han Author Shengchao Guan Author Daowei Zhou URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880917302128__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvd2_LJAI$ Volume 245 Pages 83-91 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date July 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2017.05.013 Abstract Soil labile carbon (C) and enzyme activities are valuable indicators of changes in soil quality and health. Understanding the changes in soil labile C and enzyme activities under different land uses is important to maintain soil quality and health and for sustainable land use. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the short-term influences of different land uses on SOC, soil labile C and enzyme activities in semiarid alkaline grassland of northeastern China. The experiment was organized as a block design with four replications of each land use treatment. Land use treatments were corn cropland (Corn), alfalfa forage land (Alfalfa), Lyemus chinensis grassland (AG), Lyemus chinensis grassland for mowing (AG+Mow) and restored grassland (RG), which were applied for five years. Total soil organic carbon (SOC), three labile C pools (oxidizable labile C; water-extractable organic C; microbial biomass C) and the activities of four soil enzymes (catalase; urease; alkaline phosphatase; invertase) were determined at the 0–20cm depth in the five land use treatments. Results showed that soil labile C and enzyme activities were sensitive indicators of land use change. Conversion of cropland to forage land and grassland increased SOC (40.42%), soil labile C measures (25.50%) and enzyme activities (55.60%). However, the responses of different forms of soil labile C and enzyme activities to different land uses were not similar. Under Corn, AG+Mow, AG and RG land uses, the geometric means of labile C (27.01%, 10.95%, 17.52% and 5.11%, respectively) and enzyme activities (40.92%, 13.54%, 11.38% and 7.38%, respectively) were lower than those under Alfalfa, demonstrating that soil labile C and enzyme activities improved more under Alfalfa than under other land uses in northeastern China. Significant correlations were also obtained between SOC, soil labile C measures and enzyme activities. To conclude, soil labile C and enzyme activities can be expected to gradually increase with the conversion of cropland to grasslands and forage land, and planting to alfalfa offers a profitable and sustainable solution to our requirement for pairing forage production with rapid restoration of soil quality in the areas in which soils are not suitable for growing crops in the Songnen Grassland. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:56 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:56 PM Tags: o Alkaline soils o Field experiment o Short-term o Solonetz * Shifts in composition and diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and glomalin contents during revegetation of desertified semiarid grassland Type Journal Article Author Jun Yu Author Zike Xue Author Xueli He Author Chunmao Liu Author Yosef Steinberger URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929139316303894__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvh4AMr24$ Volume 115 Pages 60-67 Publication Applied Soil Ecology ISSN 0929-1393 Date July 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Applied Soil Ecology DOI 10.1016/j.apsoil.2017.03.015 Abstract Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi may facilitate the revegetation of degraded ecosystems by decreasing abiotic and biotic stresses on pioneer plants. In addition to assessing the AM status of pioneer plants, monitoring the dynamics of an AM fungal community after revegetation can provide key information for the selection of plant-AM fungal combinations that adapt to the disturbed conditions to promote the establishment and growth of mycorrhizal-dependent pioneer plants. Accordingly, species composition, diversity, and spore density of the AM fungal community inhabiting the root zones of 12-year- and 30-year-old planted Caragana microphylla were determined in the desertified grassland in northern China. Moreover, the content of glomalin-related soil proteins (GRSP) was measured to assess AM fungal biomass. A total of 23 AM fungal species belonging to Acaulospora, Claroideoglomus, Dentiscutata, Funneliformis, Glomus, Rhizophagus, and Septoglomus, were identified. Soil phosphorus availability or organic-carbon content significantly affected AM fungal composition and diversity. However, edaphic properties can explain only approximately 30% of the variations in the AM fungal community. Spore density and GRSP content recorded at the 30-year revegetated dune were significantly higher than those at the 12-year revegetated dune. No significant differences in community composition and diversity of AM fungi were recorded at the dunes with different revegetation duration. This indicates that there might be a certain degree of host-specificity existing in the C. microphylla-AM fungal association. Both taxonomic and phylogenetic analyses should be performed in further research to obtain comprehensive information about the composition and dynamics of an AM fungal community during revegetation of the desertified grassland. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:38 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:38 PM Tags: o Community structure o Phytoremediation o Plant-mycorrhizal association o Spore density * Using Remote Sensing and GIS Technologies to Estimate Grass Yield and Livestock Carrying Capacity of Alpine Grasslands in Golog Prefecture, China Type Journal Article Author Long YU Author Li ZHOU Author Wei LIU Author Hua-Kun ZHOU URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1002016010600239__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvueLvLVs$ Volume 20 Issue 3 Pages 342-351 Publication Pedosphere ISSN 1002-0160 Date June 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Pedosphere DOI 10.1016/S1002-0160(10)60023-9 Abstract Remote sensing data from the Terra Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and geospatial data were used to estimate grass yield and livestock carrying capacity in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Golog, Qinghai, China. The MODIS-derived normalized difference vegetation index (MODIS-NDVI) data were correlated with the aboveground green biomass (AGGB) data from the aboveground harvest method. Regional regression model between the MODIS-NDVI and the common logarithm (LOG10) of the AGGB was significant (r2 =0.51, P < 0.001), it was, therefore, used to calculate the maximum carrying capacity in sheep-unit year per hectare. The maximum livestock carrying capacity was then adjusted to the theoretical livestock carrying capacity by the reduction factors (slope, distance to water, and soil erosion). Results indicated that the grassland conditions became worse, with lower aboveground palatable grass yield, plant height, and cover compared with the results obtained in 1981. At the same time, although the actual livestock numbers decreased, they still exceeded the proper theoretical livestock carrying capacity, and overgrazing rates ranged from 27.27% in Darlag County to 293.99% in Baima County. Integrating remote sensing and geographical information system technologies, the spatial and temporal conditions of the alpine grassland, trend, and projected stocking rates could be forecasted for decision making. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:58 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:58 PM Tags: o grass production o grassland degradation o MODIS production o overgrazing rate o restoration * Responses of the soil microbial catabolic profile and diversity to vegetation rehabilitation in degraded semiarid grassland Type Journal Article Author Jun Yu Author Adrian Unc Author Xiaoke Zhang Author Yosef Steinberger URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929139316300221__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvikckfhk$ Volume 101 Pages 124-131 Publication Applied Soil Ecology ISSN 0929-1393 Date May 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Applied Soil Ecology DOI 10.1016/j.apsoil.2016.01.022 Abstract Changes in the soil labile C pools induced by vegetation rehabilitation on semiarid lands are assumed to correlate with changes in the microbial catabolic profiles. To verify this, soil was sampled under the canopies of 12-year-old (R12Y) and 30-year-old (R30Y) planted Caragana microphylla shrubs, as well as native C. microphylla shrubs, all located in the Horqin Sandy Land, China. Community Level Physiological Profiles (CLPPs) of soils were determined to reveal any qualitative and quantitative shifts in soil microbial catabolism linked with the revegetation process. water-soluble C (WSC) and hot-water extractable C (HWEC) were measured to indicate the availability of labile C pools. As the restoration proceeds, soil organic C (Corg) increased 2–3 times at the R30Y habitat compared to the R12Y habitat. The total utilization rate of the 15C substrates also increased from 0.68μg CO2-Cg−1 soilh−1 at the R12Y habitat to 4.90μg CO2-Cg−1 soilh−1 at the R30Y habitat, but a slight decline in catabolic diversity, from 2.53 to 2.29, was recorded. Principal component analysis and redundancy analysis revealed that soil microbial communities colonizing the R12Y habitat exhibited an affinity to carbohydrates, which positively correlated to the relative concentration of WSC. Those colonizing the R30Y and native habitats mainly preferred carboxylic acids and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid due to higher Corg content and relative concentration of HWEC. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:12 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:12 PM Tags: o Community level physiological profile o Functional diversity o Labile C o MicroResp™ approach o Soil restoration * Soil microbial communities are affected more by land use than seasonal variation in restored grassland and cultivated Mollisols in Northeast China Type Journal Article Author Zhenhua Yu Author Guanghua Wang Author Jian Jin Author Judong Liu Author Xiaobing Liu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1164556311000896__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvr4JpxG8$ Volume 47 Issue 6 Pages 357-363 Publication European Journal of Soil Biology ISSN 1164-5563 Date November 1, 2011 Journal Abbr European Journal of Soil Biology DOI 10.1016/j.ejsobi.2011.09.001 Abstract Seasonal variations of soil microbial communities in a cultivated black soil (0–20 cm) with different fertilizing treatments [no fertilizer (NoF), chemical fertilizer (CF) and chemical fertilizer plus manure (CFM)] and in a neighboring plot of natural restoration (NR) in Northeast China were studied over a period of two years. The cultivated soils were plowed and had a rotation of maize–soybean–wheat. The NR plot was revegetated naturally with grasses since 1985. The soil microbial biomass C content across the five sampling times was 102, 89, and 53% larger in NR plot than that in NoF, CF, and CFM plots, respectively. Dominant members of bacterial and fungal communities as assessed by DGGE banding patterns of partial PCR products of bacterial 16S rDNA and fungal rDNA ITS were different between cultivated plots and NR plot but not between cultivated plots, and less influenced among seasonal sampling times. These findings indicate that land use was a major factor in influencing dominant members of microbial communities in black soils in Northeast China and that they were little affected by fertilization and very stable over time despite the distinct seasonal fluctuations in temperature and rainfall. Sequence analysis of several excised DGGE bands indicated that bacterial phyla of Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria, and fungal phyla of Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes contributed to the dominant microbial community members in black soils in Northeast China. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:13 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:13 PM Tags: o Bacterial community o Black soil o Fungal community o PCR–DGGE o Seasonal variation * Did a meta-analysis accurately estimate the temporal trends of carbon stock change after grazing exclusion in China's grasslands? A comment on “Effects of grazing exclusion on carbon sequestration in China's grassland,” by Deng et al. (2017) Type Journal Article Author Yecheng Yuan Author Baolin Li Author Yuhao Jiang Author Xizhang Gao Author Tao Zhang Author Yan Liu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0012825218304896__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvxWdYPHU$ Volume 194 Pages 449-451 Publication Earth-Science Reviews ISSN 0012-8252 Date July 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Earth-Science Reviews DOI 10.1016/j.earscirev.2019.04.007 Abstract The temporal pattern of carbon stock changes in response to grazing exclusion (GE) is important for grassland ecosystem restoration policy. The carbon stock change rate is the quotient computed by dividing the change in carbon stock after GE by GE duration. We modeled varying carbon stock change rates with GE durations based on data from a meta-analysis by Deng et al. (2017). We found that the close relationship between the carbon stock change rate and GE duration was mostly driven by GE duration in the denominator, rather than by carbon stock changes in the numerator. We argue that Deng et al.'s conclusion that the exponential decay trend varies with GE duration was inaccurate and that it was misleading to suggest there is a temporal pattern to carbon stock changes that is associated with GE duration. Their model may further encourage GE-based policy that includes fencing as a major practice of grassland restoration. However, this practice yields clearly negative impacts on herders' livelihoods, animal husbandry, pastoral social development and wildlife protection. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:48 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:48 PM Tags: o Biomass carbon o Dynamics o Ecological restoration o Grazing exclusion o Soil carbon * Effects of different grassland restoration approaches on soil properties in the southeastern Horqin sandy land, northern China Type Journal Article Author Jiyou Yuan Author Zhiyun Ouyang Author Hua Zheng Author Weihua Xu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929139312001102__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvsHzNGvA$ Volume 61 Pages 34-39 Publication Microorganisms and the Sustainable Management of Soil ISSN 0929-1393 Date October 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Applied Soil Ecology DOI 10.1016/j.apsoil.2012.04.003 Abstract In the semi-arid Horqin sandy grassland, continuous grazing has led to decreased ground cover. The bare land surface is then directly exposed to strong wind erosion, leading to desertification. Different restoration approaches have been used to recover these desertified sandy grasslands. This study compared soil properties subjected to different grassland restoration approaches, i.e., three restoration treatments and an unrestored control: FG, grassland enclosed by sheltering forest (Populus×beijingensis); MG, artificially sparse Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica grassland; UG, artificially sparse Ulmus pumila grassland; CK, desertified grassland. Soil samples were taken from depths of 0–20cm, and physical (i.e., bulk density, particle size distribution, waterholding capacity, total porosity), chemical (i.e., pH, soil organic matter, total N, total P, total K, available N, available P, available K, cation exchange capacity, exchangeable Ca2+, exchangeable Mg2+, exchangeable Na+, exchangeable K+), and biological (i.e., microbial biomass carbon, substrate richness index, Shannon's diversity index) properties were selected as soil indicators. The three different approaches to grassland restoration were confirmed to alleviate wind erosion and enhance sand surface stabilization, as well as improve soil physicochemical and biological properties, in comparison with unrestored control. Soil physical, chemical, and biological properties in two types of artificial sparsely forested grassland were significantly better than those in grassland enclosed by shelter forest; however, there was no significant difference between the two types of artificial sparsely forested grassland. These results suggest that an artificial sparsely forested grassland restoration approach may be more effective at restoring the poor and arid soils of desertified sandy grasslands, such as the Horqin sandy land. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:49 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:49 PM Tags: o China o Grassland o Restoration o Soil properties * Rangeland Use Rights Privatisation Based on the Tragedy of the Commons Type Journal Article Author Yonten Nyima Yundannima URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.jstor.org/stable/26393295__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvTsiVFHE$ Volume 15 Issue 3 Pages 270-279 Publication Conservation and Society ISSN 09724923, 09753133 Date 2017 Accessed 2020-03-17, 6:00:00 PM Abstract [Rangeland use rights privatisation based on a tragedy of the commons assumption has been the backbone of state policy on rangeland management and pastoralism in China. Through an empirical case study from Pelgon county, Tibet Autonomous Region in China, this paper provides an empirical analysis of rangeland use rights privatisation. It shows that the tragedy of the commons is not the correct model to apply to Tibetan pastoralism because pasture use in Tibet has never been an open-access institution. Thus, when the tragedy of the commons model is applied as a rationale for rangeland use rights privatisation, the result is not what is intended by the policy, but rather a misfit to features of pastoralism and thus disruption of the essence of pastoralism, i.e. mobility and flexibility. The paper further shows that a hybrid institution combining household rangeland tenure with community-based use with user fees is a restoration of the pastoralist institution. This demonstrates the capacity of pastoralists to create adaptive new institutions congruent with the interdependent and integrated nature of pastoralism consisting of three components: pastoralists, livestock, and rangeland.] Archive JSTOR Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:49:56 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:49:56 PM * Impact of vegetation restoration on plants and soil C:N:P stoichiometry on the Yunwu Mountain Reserve of China Type Journal Article Author Quanchao Zeng Author Yang Liu Author Ying Fang Author Rentian Ma Author Rattan Lal Author Shaoshan An Author Yimei Huang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S092585741730561X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dviePP3Eo$ Volume 109 Pages 92-100 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date December 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2017.10.003 Abstract Natural succession plays an important role in the accumulation and distribution of soil and plant stoichiometry. Little is known about the effects of grazing exclusion on soil and plant stoichiometry across a natural succession. Thus, this experiment was designed to measure soil and plant C:N:P stoichiometry following a chronosequence after the grazing exclusion (age ranged from 1-, 12-, 20- to 30 years) in northwestern China. Our results indicated that the vegetation succession had significant effects on the soil organic carbon, soil total N contents and plant total C, N and P contents, as well as the soil C:P and N:P ratios and the plant C:N, C:P and N:P ratios. The soil organic C, total N concentration and the soil C:P and N:P ratios increased with the increasing restoration age. The soil total P and C:N ratio remained relatively stable between the different successional ages. The plant nutrients in the different plant tissues showed different trends across the succession. The living biomass N and P contents showed an increase across the succession, whereas root N and P contents remained stable. The root, litter and living biomass N:P ratios significantly decreased in the first 12 years and subsequently increased. The value of the living biomass N:P ratio suggested that the grasslands in northwestern China were limited by N in the first 12 years, and those in 20 and 30-year-old restored grasslands were constrained by the deficit of N, P and other nutrients. These results demonstrated that the grazing exclusion with a natural restoration was an effective measure to accumulate the soil organic carbon and total N contents and improve the limitation of grassland. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:39 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:39 PM Tags: o Ecological stoichiometry o Grazing exclusion o Litter o Living biomass o Natural grassland * Remote detection of grassland nutrient status for assessing ground layer vegetation condition and restoration potential of eucalypt grassy woodlands Type Journal Article Author Andre Zerger Author Sue Mcintyre Author David Gobbett Author Jacqui Stol URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169204611001861__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvd1rRF6g$ Volume 102 Issue 4 Pages 226-233 Publication Landscape and Urban Planning ISSN 0169-2046 Date September 30, 2011 Journal Abbr Landscape and Urban Planning DOI 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2011.05.001 Abstract Regional-scale native vegetation mapping in Australia has traditionally focussed on the detection of woody vegetation. However there is an increasing recognition that transformation of the native herbaceous ground layer to exotic species is an equally important element of vegetation loss. In grass-dominated vegetation, the ground layer contains most of the plant diversity and hence its condition is critical for maintaining the ecological function of grasslands and woodlands. However, decades of fertiliser use have transformed native pastures to exotic dominance and there is a need for regional-scale ground layer condition assessment. We used time-series Landsat 5 imagery, combined with rainfall and soil moisture data, and coupled with site-based soil phosphorus data to develop assessments of ground layer nutrient status from spectral indices. We found significant relationships between soil available phosphorus and NDVI seasonal change. A constraint in the exploration of this relationship is the need for active plant growth, and therefore sufficient rainfall for a signal to be detected. Similarly performing models were derived from two time periods and while they differed in their direction of response, both were able to predict sites with low P. Differences were due to the functional attributes of the dominant vegetation that were active at the time of image collection. Further refinement of the models should be achievable by designing plot sampling strategies more aligned to synoptic remote sensing needs, and incorporating plant composition data into the analysis. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:03 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:03 PM Tags: o Grasslands o Landsat o Nutrient status o Phenology o Soil moisture * Factors affecting species diversity of plant communities and the restoration process in the loess area of China Type Journal Article Author Jin-Tun Zhang Author Yiru Dong URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857409001207__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvOTHbzr0$ Volume 36 Issue 3 Pages 345-350 Publication Special Issue: Vegetation and Slope Stability ISSN 0925-8574 Date March 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2009.04.001 Abstract The Loess Plateau of China is a special region that has suffered from soil erosion and water loss for a long time. Ecological restoration is an urgent task for this region. This study aims to characterize the variation in the vegetation restoration process on the abandoned croplands in the loess area. A series of quadrats were set up in different restoration stages in the Yancun watershed, Shanxi Province, an area of typical loess hills and gullies. Species and environmental data were recorded in each quadrat. Multivariate analysis and indices for species richness, diversity and evenness were used in the analysis. A series of plant community stages with different composition, structure and environments were identified by clustering analysis (UPGMA). These communities included three main restoration stages, grassland stage, scrubland stage and forest stage, and nine sub-stages, i.e. nine associations. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed that time since abandonment was the key factor for the restoration process, and the first CCA axis was effectively a time gradient. Elevation, soil type, slope and aspect were also important in the restoration process in the loess area. Species richness and diversity increased, and evenness decreased in the restoration process. The variation of species richness and diversity significantly correlated with time since abandonment, elevation and soil type. Time since abandonment is most important to the restoration process and species diversity is the main indicator of community changes in restoration in the Loess Plateau. For effective management, abandoned lands should be kept from disturbance. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:51 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:51 PM Tags: o Abandoned cropland o Biodiversity o Ecological restoration o The Loess Plateau * Differential Effects of Conservational Management on SOC Accumulation in the Grasslands of China Type Journal Article Author Ping Zhang Author Jie Tang Author Wenjuan Sun Author Yongqiang Yu Author Wen Zhang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0137280__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvs93HLRo$ Volume 10 Issue 9 Pages e0137280 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Sep 10, 2015 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0137280 Accessed 2020-03-12, 3:23:00 PM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract Conservational management practices in grasslands have been considered one of the efficient options to enhance the soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation. However, the SOC changes after the conservational management practices vary significantly under different grassland vegetation types and the environmental conditions. At present, it is not clear how the SOC accumulation changes along the soil profile if conservational management practice was adopted. In this study, we collected 663 paired observational data of SOC changes with and without conservational management practices in grasslands of China from 176 published literatures that has both the surface (0‒20 cm) and subsurface (to 40 cm depth) SOC measurements. The differences of SOC density (SOCD) between pre‒management and post‒management in the vertical soil layers were analyzed in order to establish a quantitative relationship of the SOC changes between the subsurface and the surface. The results revealed that in all grasslands, conservational management practices benefits the SOC accumulation by enhancing 0.43‒1.14 Mg C ha–1 yr–1. But the SOC increment weakened downwards along the soil profile. While the surface SOC was enhanced by 17% after conservational management, the subsurface SOC was enhanced by only 7%. The SOC accumulation was closely correlated with restoration duration, pre-management SOCD and the environmental factors and differed greatly among different grasslands and the practices adopted. The alpine and mountain grassland showed a higher annual SOC increment than the temperate grassland with the annual rate of 1.62 and 0.72 Mg C ha-1 yr-1, respectively. The SOC increment caused by the artificial plantation and the grazing exclusion conservational management was more than 2-fold that of the cropland abandonment and the extensive utilization. With the quantitative relationship of the SOC changes between soil layers, we provide a methodological option to estimate SOC changes to layers deeper than the recommendation of IPCC when only the surface layer SOC increment is available. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:23:00 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:23:00 PM Tags: o Agricultural soil science o Carbon sequestration o Ecosystems o Grasslands o Grazing o Latitude o Longitude o Paleopedology Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Soil Bacterial Communities Respond to Mowing and Nutrient Addition in a Steppe Ecosystem Type Journal Article Author Ximei Zhang Author Quansheng Chen Author Xingguo Han URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0084210__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvSTUqdTw$ Volume 8 Issue 12 Pages e84210 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Dec 31, 2013 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0084210 Accessed 2020-03-12, 3:31:47 PM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract In many grassland ecosystems, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are added to improve plant productivity, and the aboveground plant biomass is mowed and stored as hay for the bullamacow. Nutrient addition and mowing affect the biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, and most of the previous studies have primarily focused on their effects on macro-organisms, neglecting the responses of soil microbial communities. In this study, we examined the changes in three community attributes (abundance, richness, and composition) of the entire bacterial kingdom and 16 dominant bacterial phyla/classes in response to mowing, N addition, P addition, and their combinations, by conducting a 5-year experiment in a steppe ecosystem in Inner Mongolia, China. Overall, N addition had a greater effect than mowing and P addition on most of these bacterial groups, as indicated by changes in the abundance, richness and composition in response to these treatments. N addition affected these soil bacterial groups primarily through reducing soil pH and increasing available N content. Meanwhile, the 16 bacterial phyla/classes responded differentially to these experimental treatments, with Acidobacteria, Acidimicrobidae, Deltaproteobacteria, and Gammaproteobacteria being the most sensitive. The changes in the abundance, richness, and composition of various bacterial groups could imply some potential shift in their ecosystem functions. Furthermore, the important role of decreased soil pH caused by N addition in affecting soil bacterial communities suggests the importance of restoring acidified soil to maintain soil bacterial diversity. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:31:47 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:31:47 PM Tags: o Actinobacteria o Bacteria o Community structure o DNA o Ecosystem functioning o Microbial ecosystems o Polymerase chain reaction o Soil ecology Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Regrowth strategies of Leymus chinensis in response to different grazing intensities Type Journal Article Author Zihe Zhang Author Jirui Gong Author Biao Wang Author Xiaobing Li Author Yong Ding Author Bo Yang Author Chenchen Zhu Author Min Liu Author Wei Zhang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.2113__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvxO2z7Gs$ Volume n/a Issue n/a Publication Ecological Applications ISSN 1051-0761 Date February 29, 2020 Journal Abbr Ecological Applications DOI 10.1002/eap.2113 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Abstract In temperate grassland ecosystems, grazing can affect plant growth by foraging, trampling and excretion. The ability of dominant plant species to regrow after grazing is critical, since it allows the regeneration of photosynthetic tissues to support growth. We conducted a field experiment to evaluate the effects of different grazing intensities (control, light, medium, and heavy) on the physiological and biochemical responses of Leymus chinensis and the carbon (C) sources utilized during regrowth. Light grazing promoted regrowth and photoassimilate storage of L. chinensis, by increasing the net photosynthetic rate (Pn), photosynthetic quenching, light interception, sugar accumulation, sucrose synthase activities, and fructose supply from stems. At medium grazing intensity, L. chinensis had low Pn, light interception, and sugar accumulation, but higher expression of a sucrose transporter gene (LcSUT1) and water-use efficiency, which reflected a tendency to store C in belowground to promote survival. This strategy was associated with regulation by abscisic acid (ABA), jasmonate, and salicylic acid (SA) signaling. However, L. chinensis tolerated heavy grazing by increased ABA and jasmonate-induced promotion of C assimilation and osmotic adjustment, combined with photoprotection against photo-oxidation, suggesting a strategy based on regrowth. In addition, stems were the main C source organs and energy supply rather than roots. Simultaneously, SA represented a weaker defense than ABA and jasmonate. Therefore, L. chinensis adopted different strategies for regrowth under different grazing intensities, and light grazing promoted regrowth the most. Our results demonstrate the regulation of C reserves utilization by phytohormones, and this regulation provides an explanation for recent results about grazing responses. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:52:05 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:52:05 PM Tags: o grazing o carbon reserve utilization o gene expression o photosynthesis o phytohormones o regrowth o sucrose transport and metabolism Notes: o doi: 10.1002/eap.2113 * Exacerbated grassland degradation and desertification in Central Asia during 2000–2014 Type Journal Article Author Geli Zhang Author Chandrashekhar M. Biradar Author Xiangming Xiao Author Jinwei Dong Author Yuting Zhou Author Yuanwei Qin Author Yao Zhang Author Fang Liu Author Mingjun Ding Author Richard J. Thomas URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.1660__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvDAXW8Yk$ Volume 28 Issue 2 Pages 442-456 Publication Ecological Applications ISSN 1051-0761 Date March 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Ecological Applications DOI 10.1002/eap.1660 Accessed 2020-03-11, 6:00:00 PM Abstract Abstract Grassland degradation and desertification is a complex process, including both state conversion (e.g., grasslands to deserts) and gradual within-state change (e.g., greenness dynamics). Existing studies hardly separated the two components and analyzed it as a whole based on time series vegetation index data, which cannot provide a clear and comprehensive picture for grassland degradation and desertification. Here we propose an integrated assessment strategy, by considering both state conversion and within-state change of grasslands, to investigate grassland degradation and desertification process in Central Asia. First, annual maps of grasslands and sparsely vegetated land were generated to track the state conversions between them. The results showed increasing grasslands were converted to sparsely vegetated lands from 2000 to 2014, with the desertification region concentrating in the latitude range of 43?48° N. A frequency analysis of grassland vs. sparsely vegetated land classification in the last 15 yr allowed a recognition of persistent desert zone (PDZ), persistent grassland zone (PGZ), and transitional zone (TZ). The TZ was identified in southern Kazakhstan as one hotspot that was unstable and vulnerable to desertification. Furthermore, the trend analysis of Enhanced Vegetation Index during thermal growing season (EVITGS) was investigated in individual zones using linear regression and Mann-Kendall approaches. An overall degradation across the area was found; moreover, the second desertification hotspot was identified in northern Kazakhstan with significant decreasing in EVITGS, which was located in PGZ. Finally, attribution analyses of grassland degradation and desertification were conducted by considering precipitation, temperature, and three different drought indices. We found persistent droughts were the main factor for grassland degradation and desertification in Central Asia. Considering both state conversion and gradual within-state change processes, this study provided reference information for identification of desertification hotspots to support further grassland degradation and desertification treatment, and the method could be useful to be extended to other regions. Date Added 2020-03-12, 4:49:52 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 4:49:52 PM Tags: o drought o remote sensing o Central Asia o Enhanced Vegetation Index o gradual change o grassland degradation and desertification o MODIS o state conversion Notes: o doi: 10.1002/eap.1660 * Restoration approaches used for degraded peatlands in Ruoergai (Zoige), Tibetan Plateau, China, for sustainable land management Type Journal Article Author Xiaohong Zhang Author Hongyu Liu Author Chris Baker Author Suzette Graham URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857411003004__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvYU-S0G4$ Volume 38 Issue 1 Pages 86-92 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date January 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2011.09.004 Abstract Sedge dominated peatlands do not rehabilitate well after being drained for rangelands and specific approaches are required in order to restore these sites. Restoration by blocking drainage canals aims to recover peatland functions, principally by raising the water table. Field surveys in Ruoergai, China identified the status of peatland degradation and satellite image analysis concluded that most of Ruoergai's peatlands are degraded mainly due to drainage and overgrazing. The restoration approach used in Ruoergai resulted in increased water levels up to 26cm higher than previously recorded in canals. Levels in shallow water canals also increased up to 50cm, which led to an overflow of water and rewetting of the adjacent peatlands. This resulted in one peat-mining site being filled with water and aquatic vegetation. Pioneering vegetation including Heleocharis Horsetail (Equisetum heleocharis) and Halerpestes (Halerpestes tricuspis) colonized in the restored sites. It was concluded that blocking canals could be an effective method to restore hydrological function of drained peatlands and contribute to vegetation recovery. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:04:26 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:04:26 PM Tags: o Degraded peatland o Ecological restoration o Hydrology o Tibetan Plateau * Response of shorebird habitat selection to coastal reclamation and urbanization in an extensively developed delta: A case study in Macao, China Type Journal Article Author Min Zhang Author Yongmi Hong Author Fasheng Zou Author Qiang Zhang Author Hongmin Fan Author Sot Chan Author Kuai-tat Cheong Author Kun-Fong Leong URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0964569118310354__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvaYRMaEQ$ Volume 179 Pages 104871 Publication Ocean & Coastal Management ISSN 0964-5691 Date September 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Ocean & Coastal Management DOI 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2019.104871 Abstract Land-claim and human disturbance are major threats to shorebird population declines along the East Asian–Australasian Flyway. When existing tidal flats undergo greater anthropogenic disturbance from intensive urbanization, newly-formed tidal flats may provide alternative habitats for shorebirds. Knowledge of the key habitat factor influencing shorebirds communities is essential for tidal flat restoration and management, especially on intensively urbanized coasts. We compared the differences between old and newly-formed tidal flats in terms of habitat characteristics and shorebird communities, analyzed the influence of habitat metrics on shorebird species abundance and feeding strategies in Macao, China, from 2006 to 2009. Habitat characteristics and shorebird communities were significantly different between old and newly-formed tidal flats which represented different urbanization level. The greatest difference of shorebird communities between two tideland types occurred in winter. Artificial shoreline rather than high rise buildings had direct and negative impact on shorebird communities. The habitat factors relieved shorebirds from surrounding urbanized environment were vegetation coverage within tidal flat and adjacent grassland areas. Under the pressure of rapid urbanization, the newly-formed tidal flat, which had more natural boundaries, adequate vegetation coverage and extensive adjacent undisturbed grassland, provided more suitable habitat than old tidal flats for shorebirds in Macao. Conservation efforts for shorebirds should primary focus on maintaining the extent of current tidal flats, with emphasized management on reducing anthropogenic disturbance around tidal flats. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:35 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:59:17 PM Tags: o Disturbance o Habitat selection o Land claim o Shorebird o Tidal flat * Effect of Different Vegetation Types on the Rhizosphere Soil Microbial Community Structure in the Loess Plateau of China Type Journal Article Author Chao ZHANG Author Guo-bin LIU Author Sha XUE Author Lie XIAO URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095311913603962__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvgV-D_nM$ Volume 12 Issue 11 Pages 2103-2113 Publication Journal of Integrative Agriculture ISSN 2095-3119 Date November 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Journal of Integrative Agriculture DOI 10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60396-2 Abstract The Loess Plateau in China is one of the most eroded areas in the world. Accordingly, vegetation restoration has been implemented in this area over the past two decades to remedy the soil degradation problem. Understanding the microbial community structure is essential for the sustainability of ecosystems and for the reclamation of degraded arable land. This study aimed to determine the effect of different vegetation types on microbial processes and community structure in rhizosphere soils in the Loess Plateau. The six vegetation types were as follows: two natural grassland (Artemisia capillaries and Heteropappus altaicus), two artificial grassland (Astragalus adsurgens and Panicum virgatum), and two artificial shrubland (Caragana korshinskii and Hippophae rhamnoides) species. The microbial community structure and functional diversity were examined by analyzing the phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) and community-level physiological profiles. The results showed that rhizosphere soil sampled from the H. altaicus and A. capillaries plots had the highest values of microbial biomass C, average well color development of carbon resources, Gram-negative (G−) bacterial PLFA, bacterial PLFA, total PLFA, Shannon richness, and Shannon evenness, as well as the lowest metabolic quotient. Soil sampled from the H. rhamnoides plots had the highest metabolic quotient and Gram-positive (G+) bacterial PLFA, and soil sampled from the A. adsurgens and A. capillaries plots had the highest fungal PLFA and fungal:bacterial PLFA ratio. Correlation analysis indicated a significant positive relationship among the microbial biomass C, G− bacterial PLFA, bacterial PLFA, and total PLFA. In conclusion, plant species under arid climatic conditions significantly affected the microbial community structure in rhizosphere soil. Among the studied plants, natural grassland species generated the most favorable microbial conditions. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:39 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:59:15 PM Tags: o community-level physiological profiles o microbial community structure o PLFA o soil microbial biomass o vegetation types * Temporal and spatial change of land use in a large-scale opencast coal mine area: A complex network approach Type Journal Article Author Min Zhang Author Jinman Wang Author Yu Feng URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S026483771831158X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv7IPRCrw$ Volume 86 Pages 375-386 Publication Land Use Policy ISSN 0264-8377 Date July 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Land Use Policy DOI 10.1016/j.landusepol.2019.05.020 Abstract Large-scale opencast coal mining results in the severe destruction of original ecosystems, as well as changes in land use. The complex network approach can be helpful for understanding the complex land use process. In this study, the complex network approach was used to analyze the land use change in the Pingshuo opencast coal mine area in the Shanxi province of China. Using six periods of land use data from 1986 to 2015, a complex network of land use change of five stages was constructed. The values of node degree, betweenness, and average shortest path in the network were calculated to identify the key land use type, the transformation process of different land use types and to discuss the stability of land use systems. Moreover, the main parts of complex networks were selected to evaluate the temporal and spatial changes of land use processes. From 1986 to 2015, with the dual influence of coal mining and high-speed urbanization, the amount of agricultural land decreased; in contrast, the amount of construction land, industrial and mining area land generally increased. Agricultural land was the main output land type, and construction land and industrial and mining area land were the main input land types. Cultivated land, forest land, and grassland were the key land use types during land processes from 1986 to 2009. Cultivated land, forest land, stripping areas and dumping areas became the key land types from 2009 to 2013, and from 2013 to 2015, cultivated land, forest land, and transportation land became the key land types. Large-scale opencast mining activities severely affect land use change. The overall stability of the land-use system was poor, and the system had the worst stability because of the intensification of mining activities from 2009 to 2013. Local government and coal enterprise should carry out some measures to improve the land use in large-scale opencast coal mine areas, including laying emphasis on land-saving use during mining processes, protecting agricultural land, controlling construction land, strengthening land reclamation, optimizing the use of reclamation land, and using “lease instead of expropriation” to carry out the reform of mined land. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:14:51 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:59:19 PM Tags: o Complex network o Land use process o Opencast coal mine area o Temporal and spatial change * Ecological Protection and Restoration Program Reduced Grazing Pressure in the Three-River Headwaters Region, China Type Journal Article Author Liangxia Zhang Author Jiangwen Fan Author Decheng Zhou Author Haiyan Zhang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742417300416__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv1L_iuyM$ Volume 70 Issue 5 Pages 540-548 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date September 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2017.05.001 Abstract The Ecological Protection and Restoration Program (EPRP), initiated in 2005 in the Three-River Headwaters (TRH, the headwaters of the Yangtze, Yellow, and Lantsang rivers) region, is the largest project for nature reserve protection and reconstruction in China. This massive effort was expected to improve the trade-off between grassland productivity and grazing pressure in the region. However, the impacts of EPRP on forage supply and livestock carrying capacity remain poorly understood. Using the Global Production Efficiency Model and grazing pressure index, we investigated the influences of the EPRP by comparing the grassland yield and grazing pressure index before (1988−2004) and after (2005−2012) implementation of the program. Vegetation cover, represented by the annual maximum Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), increased by 11.2% after implementation of the EPRP. The increase of NDVI, together with increasing temperature and precipitation, led to a 30.3% increase of the mean annual grassland yield in 2005−2012 relative to that in 1988−2004 (694 kg ha−1 vs. 533 kg ha−1 dry matter). We show that grazing pressure was largely alleviated by the EPRP due to increased grassland yield and decreased livestock number. This was indicated by a 36.1% decline of the grazing pressure index. The effects of the EPRP varied spatially. As examples, there were larger increases of grassland yield in the southeast of the region dominated by alpine meadow and greater reduction of grazing pressure in the central and eastern parts. Nevertheless, the ecological effectiveness of the EPRP may vary with the measures used and is indicated to be coupled with climate change. This calls for more detailed comparison and attribution analyses to predict the ongoing consequences of the EPRP in order to attain sustainable implementation of restoration practices in the TRH region. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:30 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:30 PM Tags: o ecological restoration o forage supply o GLO-PEM o grassland degradation o livestock reduction * Plant traits in influencing soil moisture in semiarid grasslands of the Loess Plateau, China Type Journal Article Author Qindi Zhang Author Wei Wei Author Liding Chen Author Lei Yang Author Yiqi Luo Author Andong Cai URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969720308652__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvob-0dEE$ Volume 718 Pages 137355 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date May 20, 2020 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137355 Abstract Large-scale vegetation restoration projects pose threats to water resource security in water-limited regions. Thus, the quantification of how vegetation cover affects soil moisture is of key importance to support effective restoration schemes in drylands. However, the current understanding of such effects remains poor. For this study, an in-situ vegetation-removal experiment was conducted at 36 herbaceous grassland sites having different community compositions and topographical conditions in two adjacent loess watersheds of the Loess Plateau, China. The effects of vegetation cover (vegetation effects) on soil moisture were analyzed across soil profiles (0–180 cm) and two growing seasons. Overall, 13 plant traits and 7 topographic and soil properties were employed to evaluate how community compositions modulated vegetation effects on soil moisture. The results showed that vegetation cover increased soil moisture in the surface layer (0–20 cm) by 6.81% during wet periods (semi-monthly rainfall >30 mm) relative to an in-situ unvegetated control, but primarily induced a decline of soil moisture in the deep soil layer (20–180 cm) by 19.44% across two growing seasons. Redundancy analysis (RDA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) suggested that these vegetation effects on soil moisture were significantly correlated with vegetative height, leaf area, shallow root allocation, and slope gradient. Our study revealed that tall, small-leaved, and shallow-rooted plants on flat topographies were beneficial to soil water retention and replenishment. This implied that current restoration strategies may be significantly improved through the development of optimal communities and diverse terracing measures. Our findings are anticipated to provide effective guidance for soil water conservation, as well as ecosystem rehabilitation in dry and degraded regions. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:43 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:43 PM Tags: o Beneficial community structure o Functional traits o Loess Plateau o Semiarid grasslands o Soil moisture o Vegetation removal * Spatial and temporal variability of grassland yield and its response to climate change and anthropogenic activities on the Tibetan Plateau from 1988 to 2013 Type Journal Article Author Haiyan Zhang Author Jiangwen Fan Author Junbang Wang Author Wei Cao Author Warwick Harris URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X18304394__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvNznM6IM$ Volume 95 Pages 141-151 Publication Ecological Indicators ISSN 1470-160X Date December 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2018.05.088 Abstract Accurate and periodic assessment of grassland yield (GY) is of great importance for the management of high altitude plateau grasslands. The Tibetan Plateau (TP) is a very important pastoral area that provides a microcosm of typical alpine grassland ecosystems. Based on remote sensing data, meteorological datasets and observational plant biomass data, we used the Global Production Efficiency Model and Soil and Atmosphere Model (GLOPEM-CEVSA) to estimate GY and its response to climate change and anthropogenic activities on the TP from 1988 to 2013. We quantitatively analyzed spatiotemporal dynamic changes of GY for four geomorphological divisions and five main grassland types. For the 26 years of the study, average annual total GY was 515.8 kg/ha/yr and gradually decreased from the southeast to the northwest of the TP. Annual GY fluctuated from year to year but had an overall positive trend (4.2 kg/ha/yr). Spatiotemporal variation of GY was greatly influenced by spatial heterogeneity. For the total area, the proportion showing a significant increase in GY was 45.2%, while only 12.6% showed a significant decrease. For the main grassland types, GY of Alpine Meadow was highest and had the highest slope of increase. The pattern of decrease of GY from the southeast to the northwest was predominantly related to climate gradients. Regional correlation analysis indicated that warming temperature promoted positive increase of GY for almost all the region. Annual precipitation was related to a less significant decreasing trend of GY over all the TP apart from an increase of GY in the middle area of the north. The grazing pressure index decreased over the years by control of livestock numbers, the reduction of grazing pressure assisting restoration of alpine grasslands. However, grazing pressure on the TP in 2013 remained too high and overloaded. Nevertheless, grassland protection and restoration projects have mitigated grassland degradation in some areas, promoted grassland restoration, and increased incomes of herdsmen. The study indicates that continuation of these projects is critical for the restoration and sustainable use of the TP grasslands. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:50 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:50 PM Tags: o Climate change o Grassland yield changes o Grazing activities o Protection and restoration projects o Tibetan Plateau * Impact of human activities and climate change on the grassland dynamics under different regime policies in the Mongolian Plateau Type Journal Article Author Yanzhen Zhang Author Qian Wang Author Zhaoqi Wang Author Yue Yang Author Jianlong Li URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969719342937__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvomB5cc8$ Volume 698 Pages 134304 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date January 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134304 Abstract To mitigate the grassland degradation in the Mongolian Plateau (MP), both China and Mongolia governments have carried out a series of new policies and ecological projects. However, the effect of such restoration measures on the productivity of grassland in the MP under different political systems remains unclear. Here we study the effects of land use and land cover change, human activities and climate change on the net primary productivity (NPP) of grassland in Mongolia (MG) and Inner Mongolia (IM) from 2001 to 2014. Results showed that the area of grassland increased in both MG and IM, accounted for 4.45 × 104 and 10.31 × 104 km2, respectively. The extended grassland contributed 4.34 × 108 Gg C (Gg = 109 g) to the total NPP, while the loss of grassland led to a decrease of 0.19 × 108 Gg C. The total NPP of grasslands in 2014 increased about 17.88% and 30.49% respectively in MG and IM since 2001. Specifically, IM exhibited a higher increase in land converted NPP than MG. The area of grassland restoration in IM and MG accounted for 90.21% and 81.45%, respectively, indicating that the grassland of the MP was restored. Although human activity was the dominant factor on grassland degradation, which was accounted for 9.79% and 18.55% in IM and MG, it has a positive effect on most of the grassland NPP in the MP. Overall, policy measures and ecological projects in IM brought a more positive effect compared with that in MG. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:51 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:51 PM Tags: o Grassland degradation o Land use and cover change o Major ecological projects o Sustainable development of grassland o The Mongolia Plateau * Spatio-temporal variation in grassland degradation and its main drivers, based on biomass: Case study in the Altay Prefecture, China Type Journal Article Author Guangpeng Zhang Author Junjie Yan Author Xiaotong Zhu Author Hongbo Ling Author Hailiang Xu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989418305134__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvlFhnSEo$ Volume 20 Pages e00723 Publication Global Ecology and Conservation ISSN 2351-9894 Date October 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Global Ecology and Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.gecco.2019.e00723 Abstract Analyzing the spatio-temporal characteristics and identifying of main factors that drive grassland degradation are essential for formulating ecological restoration measures for grassland. In this study, we addressed two main scientific questions: (1) how to accurately characterize the spatial and temporal variability in grassland degradation; and (2) how to identify the dominant factors that affect grassland degradation. Based on the data obtained from 270 field sampling points (912 quadrats) and MODIS, we selected the temperature vegetation dryness index (TVDI), vegetation coverage (VC), biomass and ecosystem service values (ESVs) to study the degradation of grassland in Altay Prefecture, China. From 2000 to 2016, the area with decrease in TVDI accounted for 93.4% of the total grassland. The VC values in the warm steppe and mountain meadow areas decreased by 5.3% and 1.6%, respectively, and the biomass decreased by 80% and 76.4% in these areas. Compared with 2000–2005, the mean total ESVs decreased by 5.1% in 2011–2016, where the reductions in the ESVs for warm steppe and mountain meadow accounted for 54.3% and 38% of the total reduction, respectively. The results showed that the degradation trends were more significant in the warm steppe and mountain meadow than the other land types. These findings improve our understanding of the spatial heterogeneity of grassland degradation. Human disturbance was the main factor responsible for grassland degradation in Altay Prefecture, according to the framework developed in this study based on biomass and TVDI metrics. Our results provide a reference for characterizing the spatio-temporal variability of grassland degradation by combining statistical and spatial analyses, as well as a simple framework for application in similar regions to analyze the effects of climate change and human disturbance on grassland degradation. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:57 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:57 PM Tags: o Altay o Biomass o Ecosystem service values o Grassland degradation o Human activities o TVDI * Changes in multiple ecosystem services between 2000 and 2013 and their driving factors in the Grazing Withdrawal Program, China Type Journal Article Author Haiyan Zhang Author Jiangwen Fan Author Wei Cao Author Huaping Zhong Author Warwick Harris Author Guoli Gong Author Yaxian Zhang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857418300661__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv63GnTGg$ Volume 116 Pages 67-79 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date June 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2018.02.028 Abstract Quantitative assessment of ecosystem services in the Grazing Withdrawal Program (GWP) of China is required to understand the effectiveness of environmental protection programs and the sustainability of grassland ecosystems. This study focused on quantitative assessment of changes of key ecosystem services and their driving factors in the GWP from 2000 to 2013. Based on widely used biophysical models, including the GLOPEM-CEVSA model, the precipitation storage method, Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-Offs (InVEST), Revised Wind Erosion Equation (RWEQ) and Underground Productivity Model (UPM), this study integrated multi-source data to analyze dynamic changes of regulating services, including carbon sequestration, water regulation, sand fixation and soil retention, and the provisioning service of grassland yield. For the GWP area during 2000–2013, the ecosystem pattern remained relatively stable and multiple ecosystem services showed overall improvement but there were local deteriorations. For the 14 years net primary productivity (NPP) and grassland yield (GY) increased substantially. Water regulation in forest, grassland and wetland/water body ecosystems improved slightly. The soil conservation function of the entire ecosystem was slightly enhanced with soil retention showing an increasing spatial homogenization and wind erosion having a decreasing tendency. Ecological restoration and reconstruction efforts and climate change helped to improve ecosystem services. Increases in both temperature and precipitation and ecological rehabilitation had a positive effect on vegetation restoration related to a marked increase of vegetation coverage. Increase in annual precipitation increased rainfall related erosion but also assisted water regulation. Reduction in wind speed effectively lowered the occurrence of wind erosion. Vegetation restoration directly increased NPP and GY, and was conducive to water regulation and soil conservation. However, grassland degradation still continued in local areas. Ecological programs applied to the grasslands of China should be continued. Adopting adaptive management approaches that facilitate the synergy of multiple ecosystem services are required to maximize their benefit to the people of China. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:21 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:21 PM Tags: o China o Climate variability o Ecological rehabilitation o Grazing Withdrawal Program o Provisioning service o Regulating service * The relationships between grasslands and soil moisture on the Loess Plateau of China: A review Type Journal Article Author Xiao Zhang Author Wenwu Zhao Author Yuanxin Liu Author Xuening Fang Author Qiang Feng URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816216301916__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv0YS2Zcs$ Volume 145 Pages 56-67 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date October 1, 2016 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2016.05.022 Abstract Drylands are important ecosystems that are facing severe challenges under a changing climate. The relationships between soil moisture and vegetation have garnered international interest because of their significant impact on ecosystem restoration in semi-arid and arid regions. Grasslands are among the largest ecosystems in the world and are very important to dryland ecosystems. The Loess Plateau in China is an important example of drylands, and grasslands occupy more than 1/3 of its area. Water is the primary limiting factor of vegetation restoration, so understanding the relationship between grasslands and soil moisture on the Loess Plateau is imperative. The processes of precipitation, soil surface infiltration and evaporation, root water uptake and leaf transpiration are important for the relationship between grasslands and soil moisture. This paper found the following research topics that were related to the Loess Plateau based on 283 references of local studies from CNKI, ScienceDirect and Springer: (1) the effects of grasslands on soil moisture, including the influence of precipitation, geography, grassland type, grass age and growth stage on soil moisture and soil moisture determination methods; (2) the influence of soil moisture on grasslands, including the influence of soil moisture stress on grass growth and the methods for determining the physiological and ecological characteristics of grass; and (3) models of the relationships between grasslands and soil moisture. International references were used to explain certain processes and were compared with studies on Loess Plateau. Existing studies on the Loess Plateau paid more attention to these phenomena compared to water transport processes. Additional process-based studies with greater accuracy, longer time series, and larger spatial scales are needed to achieve ecosystem sustainability on the Loess Plateau. This summary of studies on the Loess Plateau may provide examples for research on arid and semi-arid areas in other countries. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:22 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:22 PM Tags: o Ecohydrology o Grassland o Loess Plateau of China o Soil moisture * Driving Factors That Reduce Soil Carbon, Sugar, and Microbial Biomass in Degraded Alpine Grasslands Type Journal Article Author Rui Zhang Author Yanfu Bai Author Tao Zhang Author Zalmen Henkin Author A. Allan Degen Author Tianhua Jia Author Cancan Guo Author Ruijun Long Author Zhanhuan Shang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742418300265__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvw1G_vQg$ Volume 72 Issue 2 Pages 396-404 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date March 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2018.10.001 Abstract Soil carbon and sugars play key roles in carbon (C) cycling in grassland ecosystems. However, little is known about their changes in quantity and composition in degraded alpine meadows in the Tibetan plateau. We compared vegetation C density, soil organic carbon (SOC) density, and soil sugars in nondegraded (ND), degraded (DA; following artificial restoration), and extremely degraded (ED) grasslands and analyzed the relation among these parameters by redundancy analysis (RDA) and structural equation models (SEMs). Belowground biomass, soil microbial biomass C, soil microbial biomass nitrogen (N), belowground biomass C density, SOC density, and soil sugars were lower in DA and ED grasslands than in ND grasslands. In addition, the ratio of belowground biomass to aboveground biomass (BAR) decreased with an increase in degradation. The ratio of belowground biomass to aboveground biomass was identified as the main indirect driving force of ecosystem C density by affecting total vegetation C and SOC densities. Soil dissolved organic carbon (DOC), microbial biomass carbon (SMBC), neutral sugars (NS), and total nitrogen (TN) were identified as main direct driving forces. The ratio of belowground biomass to aboveground biomass altered DOC, SMBC, NS, and TN and, consequently, was the primary driving force for the alpine meadows’ ecosystem C density. It was concluded that land management in alpine meadows should include practices that maintain a relatively high BAR in order to curb degradation and increase ecosystem C density. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:31 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:31 PM Tags: o carbon o degraded grassland o soil sugars o structure equation model o Tibetan plateau * Enhancement of nutrient resorption efficiency increases plant production and helps maintain soil nutrients under summer grazing in a semi-arid steppe Type Journal Article Author Tongrui Zhang Author Frank Yonghong Li Author Chunjun Shi Author Yanlong Li Author Shiming Tang Author Taogetao Baoyin URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880920300256__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv74aMiqI$ Volume 292 Pages 106840 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date April 15, 2020 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2020.106840 Abstract Grazing regime is the most important factor that alters nutrient cycling in grassland ecosystems. Grazing exclusion has been used for restoration of degraded natural grasslands in Northern China during past two decades, while we propose that 'summer grazing' could be a better management than grazing exclusion for this purpose. Summer grazing allows plants to resorb more nutrients in autumn, thus preventing grazing-induced grassland degradation while keeping grassland in production. However, our understanding of grazing effects on nutrient resorption remains limited. In the present study, we examined plant nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) resorption at plant species and community levels in a natural steppe grassland that had experienced contrasting 'summer grazing' versus no-grazing treatments over a 6-year period in central Inner Mongolia. Plant community nutrient resorption efficiency (RE) and resorption fluxes were estimated, along with nutrient return fluxes via animal excreta and litter deposition. We found that (1) Summer grazing at moderate intensity increased plant production, but did not alter soil quality indicators such as soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, and total and plant available phosphorous. (2) Summer grazing increased plant community nutrient RE as the post-grazing plant re-growth with elevated nutrient concentration compensated for the nutrient removal by defoliation. Summer grazing increased nitrogen RE in Leymus chinensis and Cleistogenes squarrosa, but not in Stipa krylovii; and increased phosphorous RE in L. chinensis, but decreased that in S. krylovii and C. squarrosa. (3) Summer grazing accelerated nutrient cycling via animal excreta and litter deposition, but did not reduce plant nutrient resorption fluxes in autumn, which is a major mechanism for plant production enhancement and soil nutrient maintenance under the grazing regime. Our findings provide the key evidence to support moderate-intensity summer grazing as a sustainable grassland management regime to improve plant production while maintaining soil nutrients. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:35 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:35 PM Tags: o Grazing o Nutrient pool o Nutrient resorption efficiency o Nutrient resorption flux o Typical steppe * Effects of vegetation restoration on soil quality in degraded karst landscapes of southwest China Type Journal Article Author Yaohua Zhang Author Xianli Xu Author Zhenwei Li Author Meixian Liu Author Chaohao Xu Author Rongfei Zhang Author Wei Luo URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969718338713__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv6xds9HI$ Volume 650 Pages 2657-2665 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date February 10, 2019 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.372 Abstract Vegetation restoration was implemented to control soil erosion in the karst regions of southwest China. It is essential to assess the soil function and quality scientifically during this process and to adopt suitable management practices for this area. However, few studies have been conducted to comprehensively evaluate the effect of vegetation restoration on soil quality in this severely eroded karst area. By taking 302 soil samples from 11 vegetation types, this study investigated the influence of different types of vegetation restoration on soil quality using an integrated soil quality index (SQI) and a generalized linear model (GLM). Vegetation types had significant effects on soil properties and thus on soil quality. SQI was developed by using TN, TP, TK, AP, and clay content; TN had highest weighting values (0.58), which indicated that it contributed the most to final SQI. The highest and lowest SQI values were observed for primary forest and cropland, respectively. Overall, vegetation restoration (e.g., natural restoration, artificial forests and artificial grassland) improved soil quality significantly. A GLM model explained 73.20% of the total variation in SQI, and vegetation type explained the largest proportion (46.39%) of the variation, which implies that the vegetation restoration practices can greatly enhance the soil quality in karst landscapes of southwest China. The results of this study may be used to improve implication of ecological restoration and management in degraded regions. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:43 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:43 PM Tags: o Earth critical zone o Ecohydrology o Karst area o Soil quality index o Vegetation restoration * Soil Water Availability Drives Changes in Community Traits Along a Hydrothermal Gradient in Loess Plateau Grasslands Type Journal Article Author Qindi Zhang Author Wei Wei Author Liding Chen Author Lei Yang Author Han Y.H. Chen Author Yiqi Luo URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742419300958__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvi0U37mY$ Volume 73 Issue 2 Pages 276-284 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date March 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.1016/j.rama.2019.10.012 Abstract Plant functional traits can be used to predict ecosystem responses to climate gradients, yet precipitation explains very little variation for most traits. Soil water availability directly influences plant water uptake and thus may assist with the improvement of plant trait–water relationships. However, this promise remains poorly realized due to rare tests. Here, we provide the first study that attempts to link climate factors, vertical soil water availability, and community composition at a regional scale. Our study paired field-measured vertical soil available water (0–300 cm) and community functional composition at 46 herbaceous grassland sites along a steep hydrothermal gradient in the Loess Plateau of Central China. Community functional composition was expressed via community-weighted means of eight traits. Structural equation modeling was employed to evaluate the role of vertical soil available water content, controlled by precipitation and air temperature, in affecting plant community-weighted traits. We found that soil available water content at depths of 20–100 cm was typically responsible for mediating the effects of precipitation and air temperature on plant community composition. This emerged as the predominant factor to explain variations in grassland response traits, including leaf area, specific leaf area, and leaf dry matter content. These traits exhibited clear drought-induced shifts along soil desiccation gradients and responded to drier conditions by reducing leaf area/specific leaf area and increasing leaf dry matter content. Our findings rehighlighted soil water availability as the core driver that needs to be considered in the restoration and management of dryland ecosystems. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:37 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:37 PM Tags: o community-weighted means o Loess Plateau o plant functional traits o soil available water o water availability * The effects of different vegetation restoration patterns on soil bacterial diversity for sandy land in Hulunbeier Type Journal Article Author Haifang Zhang Author Xiaolong Song Author Cailing Wang Author Hongmei Liu Author Jingni Zhang Author Yujie Li Author Gang Li Author Dianlin Yang Author Shulan Zhao URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S187220321300036X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvKfp8TAI$ Volume 33 Issue 4 Pages 211-216 Publication Acta Ecologica Sinica ISSN 1872-2032 Date August 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Acta Ecologica Sinica DOI 10.1016/j.chnaes.2013.05.008 Abstract Grassland desertification seriously threatens sustainable economic and social development. Much attention has been paid to the control of grassland desertification, and even to the restoration and reconstruction of the grassland. Vegetation restoration is considered to be a very effective solution. Soil sustains an immense diversity of microbes, and the characteristics of soil microbial communities are sensitive indicators of soil. It is important to understand the relationship between vegetation and soil microbial diversity during the restoration process. Soil microbial, which is the main index to evaluate soil quality, plays a significant role in ecosystem and soil microbial diversity is the important one of global diversity. Exploring the effects of different vegetation patterns on soil microbial diversity can provide scientific bases and technical support for systemic and impersonal assessment of the best vegetation restoration patterns, as well as the vegetation restoration and reconstruction of Hulunbeier sandy land. Based on PCR–DGGE technology, a case study was carried out to investigate the effects of five different vegetation restoration patterns on soil microbial functional diversity after 4years in sandy land in Hulunbeier, China. The five vegetation restoration patterns included mono-cultivar planting of Agropyron cristatum (UA), mono-cultivar planting of Hedysarum fruticosum (UH), mono-cultivar planting of Caragana korshinskii (UC), mixed-cultivar planting of Agropyron cristatum and Hedysarum fruticosum (AC) and mixed-cultivar planting of Agropyron cristatum, Hedysarum fruticosum, Caragana korshinskii and Elymus nutans (ACHE). Completely degraded sandy land was used as control. The results indicated that the vegetation restoration increased the genetic diversity of soil bacterial community obviously, and the structure of soil bacterial community was changed. The results of phylogenetic analysis suggested that the bacterial community in Hulunbeier sandy land mainly attributed to Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Acidobacteria. The dominant groups were Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes. The effects of different vegetation type on soil bacterial community structures were different. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:40 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:40 PM Tags: o Genetic diversity o Hulunbeier o PCR–DGGE o Sandy land o Soil microbe o Vegetation restoration * Changes in soil microbial functional diversity under different vegetation restoration patterns for Hulunbeier Sandy Land Type Journal Article Author Haifang Zhang Author Gang Li Author Xiaolong Song Author Dianlin Yang Author Yujie Li Author Jiang Qiao Author Jingni Zhang Author Shulan Zhao URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1872203212000728__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvL6juTwM$ Volume 33 Issue 1 Pages 38-44 Publication Acta Ecologica Sinica ISSN 1872-2032 Date February 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Acta Ecologica Sinica DOI 10.1016/j.chnaes.2012.12.006 Abstract Grassland desertification seriously threatens economic and social sustainable development. How to control grassland desertification, and even to restore and reconstruct grassland has been paid much attention. Vegetation restoration is considered to be a very effective solution. Soil contains an immense diversity of microbes, and the characteristics of soil microbial communities are sensitive indicators of soil. It is important to understand the relationship between vegetation and soil microbial diversity during the restoration process. Based on Biolog-Eco technology, a case study was carried out to investigate the effects of five different vegetation restoration patterns on soil microbial functional diversity after four years in sandy land in Hulunbeier, China. The five vegetation restoration patterns included mono-cultivar planting of Agropyron cristatum (UA), mono-cultivar planting of Hedysarum fruticosum (UH), mono-cultivar planting of Caragana korshinskii (UC), and mixed-cultivar planting of A. cristatum and H. fruticosum (AC), mixed-cultivar planting of A. cristatum, H. fruticosum, C. korshinskii and Elymus nutans (ACHE). Completely degraded sandy land was used as control. The results indicated that the vegetation restoration significantly increased soil microbial activity. The Average Well Color Development (AWCD), which represents soil microbial metabolic activity, followed the order of UC>UH>UA>ACHE>AC > control. AWCD of five vegetation restoration patterns were all higher than that of control, and the highest soil microbial metabolic activity in mono-cultivar planting of C. korshinskii treatment was found. Five vegetation restoration patterns resulted in significant increase in Shannon index (H), evenness (E) and Simpson’s Dominance (D) of soil microbial community. Greater Shannon index and Simpson’s Dominance was observed in UC treatment than in other four vegetation restoration treatments and control. ACHE treatment had the highest evenness index (E) of soil microbial community. The principal component analysis (PCA) indicated a similar mode in carbon utilization for soil microbial community of UA, AC, ACHE and CK. However, UH and UC treatments had special carbon utilization mode. Treatments of UA, AC, ACHE and CK concentrated in the negative direction of the first principal component. Conversely, treatments of UH and UC concentrated in the positive direction of the first and second principal component respectively. The carbon sources mostly used by soil microbes were carbohydrates, amino acids, metabolic mediates and secondary metabolites. Therefore, vegetation restoration enhanced the metabolic activity and functional diversity of microbial community in sandy soil. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:42 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:42 PM Tags: o Biolog-Eco o Functional diversity o Hulunbeier o Sandy land o Soil microbe o Vegetation restoration * Grazing induced changes in plant diversity is a critical factor controlling grassland productivity in the Desert Steppe, Northern China Type Journal Article Author Ruiyang Zhang Author Zhongwu Wang Author Guodong Han Author Michael P. Schellenberg Author Qian Wu Author Chen Gu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880918302044__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv3eoV5fk$ Volume 265 Pages 73-83 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date October 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2018.05.014 Abstract The desert steppe is a large component of the semi-arid grassland ecosystem in northern China, and provides significant resources for livestock production. However, overgrazing is regarded as one of main causes of its degradation and desertification over recent decades. Quantifying the direct and indirect effects of grazing disturbance on plant community productivity in the desert steppe ecosystem can provide insights into appropriate measures for the restoration of degraded grassland and biodiversity conservation. Here, we examine the effects of four grazing intensity treatments: no grazing (control), light grazing (LG), moderate grazing (MG) and heavy grazing (HG) on the plant community and soil nutrients with sheep grazing over 12 years in a desert steppe in Inner Mongolia, northern China. The results showed that increasing grazing intensity resulted in decreased species richness, Shannon-Wiener and Pielou’s index, as well as above- and belowground biomass. Soil moisture, nitrogen, available potassium and soil organic carbon were not affected (P > 0.05) by grazing disturbance. In addition, grazing disturbance had a greater indirect effect on aboveground biomass via plant diversity. Consequently, plant diversity is a key indirect factor that determines community productivity in response to grazing disturbance. Reducing grazing pressure can contribute to maintaining relatively high species diversity and productivity in the desert steppe of northern China. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:52 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:52 PM Tags: o Desert steppe o Productivity o Soil nutrients o Species diversity o Stocking rate * Interactions of soil bacteria and fungi with plants during long-term grazing exclusion in semiarid grasslands Type Journal Article Author Chao Zhang Author Guobin Liu Author Zilin Song Author Jie Wang Author Liang Guo URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0038071718301822__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvm2CX08k$ Volume 124 Pages 47-58 Publication Soil Biology and Biochemistry ISSN 0038-0717 Date September 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Soil Biology and Biochemistry DOI 10.1016/j.soilbio.2018.05.026 Abstract Microbial succession has been extensively investigated during the restoration of degraded environments, but the interactions of microbes with plants and soils have not been well documented. We examined changes in the plant communities, soil variables, and microbial communities of grasslands after different periods of grazing exclusion (0, 10, 25, and 35 y) on the Loess Plateau in China. The microbial communities were characterized based on their biomass, enzymatic activities, quantity of functional microbes, and composition using high-throughput sequencing. Grazing exclusion increased the plant diversity, above- and belowground biomass, organic carbon content, total nitrogen content, microbial biomass, enzymatic activities, abundance of ammonia-oxidizing microbes, and diversities of the bacterial and fungal communities; however, the highest values of these variables occurred at the 25-y exclusion site and subsequently declined, indicating that long-term exclusion could have a negative effect on this grassland. Decreases in the abundances of Alphaproteobacteria and Leotiomycetes and increases in Acidobacteria and Sordariomycetes along the chronosequence indicated different successional patterns in the microbial communities. The patterns of change in the composition and diversity of the plant, bacterial, and fungal communities suggest that plant and bacterial succession occurred in parallel and proceeded faster than fungal succession. Indicators of the bacterial and fungal communities, including their biomass, enzymatic activities, and community composition and diversity, were affected by the plant diversity and organic carbon, total nitrogen, and nitrate nitrogen contents. Fungal succession was also susceptible to changes in the soil moisture content. These results suggest that plant diversity plays an important role in shaping the microbial communities, likely by altering the levels of soil nutrients and moisture. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:57 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:57 PM Tags: o Enzymatic activities o Grassland o Grazing exclusion o Microbial diversity o Microbial-community composition * Grassland gap effects on Elymus dahuricus Turcz. seedling emergence, survival and growth Type Journal Article Author M.Y. Zhang Author D. Huang Author K. Wang Author Y.J. Zhang Author C.J. Wang Author R.C. Wang Author Y.L. You URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196311002837__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvEuH9998$ Volume 77 Pages 11-16 Publication Journal of Arid Environments ISSN 0140-1963 Date February 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Journal of Arid Environments DOI 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2011.09.009 Abstract The influence of gaps in degraded semi-arid steppe grassland in northern China on the establishment of Elymus dahuricus seeds sown for the restoration purpose was investigated. There were seven treatments: no gap (control; CK), shoot and shoot + root gaps each with diameters of 10, 20 and 40 cm. Shoot gaps were formed by removing above- and below-ground biomasses without restricting the re-growth of roots and rhizomes back into the gap, and shoot + root gaps were formed by barriers restricting root and rhizomes extension back into the gaps. Seedling emergence, survival and growth after 85 days of seed sowing were recorded. Increase in the size of gaps increased soil temperature and moisture especially for the shoot + root gaps. Survival and size of seedlings followed a similar response pattern. It was concluded that creating gaps, particularly larger root gaps, would assist seedling establishment to restore degraded grassland. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:59 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:59 PM Tags: o Degraded grassland o Reseeding management o Restoration ecology o Seedling establishment * Responses of soil respiration to land use conversions in degraded ecosystem of the semi-arid Loess Plateau Type Journal Article Author Yanjun Zhang Author Shengli Guo Author Qingfang Liu Author Jishao Jiang Author Rui Wang Author Nana Li URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857414005357__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvT-h4mNY$ Volume 74 Pages 196-205 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date January 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2014.10.003 Abstract A better understanding of the response of soil respiration to land-use conversion has important practical implications for ecological restoration in degraded regions. In this study, in situ soil respiration was monitored in a typical land-use sequence on a ridge slope in Wangdonggou watershed of the Loess Plateau, China, during a three-year period from 2011 to 2013. The land-use conversion sequences included cropland (control), apple orchard, grassland, and woodland. The results clearly showed that soil respiration and temperature sensitivity (Q10) varied significantly with land-use conversion. Soil respiration was decreased by 10% after conversion of cropland to orchard, and increased by 7–46% after conversion of cropland to grassland and woodland. Q10 was increased by 19% after conversion of cropland to woodland, and decreased by 9–26% after conversion of cropland to grassland and orchard. Soil respiration increased linearly with soil organic carbon (SOC) storage and fine root biomass (<2mm). The results indicated that root biomass and SOC storage were the major factors influencing Q10 after conversion of cropland to non-natural ecosystem, and substrate quality or root system adaptability may be the real reason for the difference in Q10 after conversion of cropland to natural grassland ecosystem. Although soil temperature and moisture significantly influenced soil respiration among the four typical land-use types, their difference derived from land-use conversions could not well explain the difference in soil respiration among land-use conversions. In conclusion, the increases in SOC storage and fine root biomass were the major factors influencing soil respiration among land-use conversions. Thus, conversion of cropland to natural grassland seemed to be the most effective integrated small watershed management to increase soil carbon storage and decrease CO2 concentration in the loess regions of China. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:49 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:49 PM Tags: o Fine root biomass o Revegetation o Soil organic carbon o Soil respiration o Temperature sensitivity * Characteristics of the soil seed bank of planted and natural restored draw-down zones in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region Type Journal Article Author Miao Zhang Author Fangqing Chen Author Yang Wu Author Yanran Ma Author Shoupeng Guan Author Yongwen Huang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857417301532__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvNJyX7-w$ Volume 103 Pages 127-133 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date June 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2017.03.011 Abstract The large-scale reverse seasonal water-level fluctuation caused by the Three Gorges Reservoir Project has dramatically changed the ecology of draw-down zones leading to degradation of local riparian vegetation. We studied the Wanzhou draw-down zones in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region via field investigations and soil seed bank (SSB) germination experiments. The composition and spatial distribution of the SSB in the planted and natural restored sites revealed the effects of restoration modes on seed bank development and demonstrated responses of SSB composition and structure to water fluctuation. The SSB of planted sites contained 43 species of plants, with a mean seed bank density of 9418.79 seeds/m2, where annual herb species accounted for 57.34%. The SSB at natural restored sites had 38 species of plants, with a mean seed bank density of 6090.09 seeds/m2, where annual herb species accounted for 52.57% of the species. Species diversity was low and annual plants dominated the two restoration sites. SSB species diversity was the highest in mid to upper levels of the draw-down zones. Plantation has increased co-occurrence species of SSB and standing vegetation, and increased their similarity. The number of co-occurrence dominant species of SSB and standing vegetation in planted areas was greater than in natural restored areas. However, the stability of plant communities naturally restored was greater than artificial plant communities as there was a higher proportion of perennials in the SSB with more dominant species similar to standing plant communities. In conclusion, the reverse water-level fluctuation simplified the species composition and shaped the spatial distribution of the SSB at the two restoration sites, and plantation promotes the development both of SSB and vegetation. However, plant communities of the two restoration areas, influenced by water-level fluctuations, will be mainly grasslands dominated by annual plants. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:28:59 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:28:59 PM Tags: o Draw-down zone o Seed density o Soil seed bank o Species composition o Three Gorges Reservoir region * Characteristics of water erosion and conservation practice in arid regions of Central Asia: Xinjiang, China as an example Type Journal Article Author Wentai Zhang Author Jianqin Zhou Author Guanglong Feng Author David C. Weindorf Author Guiqing Hu Author Jiandong Sheng URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095633915300617__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv8ykzVLE$ Volume 3 Issue 2 Pages 97-111 Publication International Soil and Water Conservation Research ISSN 2095-6339 Date June 1, 2015 Journal Abbr International Soil and Water Conservation Research DOI 10.1016/j.iswcr.2015.06.002 Abstract Located in the inland arid area of Central Asia and northwest China, Xinjiang has recently received heightened concerns over soil water erosion, which is highly related with the sustainable utilization of barren soil and limited water resources. Data from the national soil erosion survey of China (1985–2011) and Xinjiang statistical yearbook (2000–2010) was used to analyze the trend, intensity, and serious soil water erosion regions. Results showed that the water erosion area in Xinjiang was 87.6×103km2 in 2011, mainly distributed in the Ili river valley and the northern and southern Tian Mountain. Soil erosion gradient was generally slight and the average erosion modulus was 2184t/(km2a). During the last 26 years, the water erosion area in Xinjiang decreased by 23.2%, whereas the intensity was still increasing. The driving factors from large to small impact included: population boom and human activities>vegetation degradation>rainfall and climate change>topography and soil erodibility>tectonics movement. Soil water erosion resulted in eco-environmental and socioeconomic losses, such as destroying farmland and grassland, triggering floods, sedimentation of reservoirs, damaging transportation and irrigation facilities, and aggravating poverty. A landscape ecological design approach is suggested for integrated control of soil erosion. Currently, an average of 2.07×103km2 of formerly eroded area is conserved each year. This study highlighted the importance and longevity of soil and water conservation efforts in Xinjiang, and offered some suggestions on ecological restoration and combating desertification in arid regions of Central Asia. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:00 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:00 PM Tags: o Arid region o Ecological restoration o Soil and water conservation o Soil water erosion o Xinjiang * Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Can Accelerate the Restoration of Degraded Spring Grassland in Central Asia Type Journal Article Author Tao Zhang Author Yu Sun Author Zhaoyong Shi Author Gu Feng URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742412500552__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv_757Wf8$ Volume 65 Issue 4 Pages 426-432 Publication Rangeland Ecology & Management ISSN 1550-7424 Date July 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Rangeland Ecology & Management DOI 10.2111/REM-D-11-00016.1 Abstract Three years of field inoculation experiments were carried out in a central Asian desert to understand the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on the restoration process of degraded grassland. The results indicate that the biomass, density, and cover of ephemerals improved significantly after inoculation with AMF. Compared to the control treatment, aboveground biomass per plant of the mycorrhizal plant species Erodium oxyrrhynchum, Hyalea pulchella, Trigonella arcuata, and Schismus arabicus significantly increased in mycorrhizal treatment, but no significant differences were observed in the nonmycorrhizal species Alyssum linifolim and Ceratocarpus arenarius between mycorrhizal and control treatments. The total seedling numbers per square meter in the mycorrhizal treatment were much more than control treatment in all 3 yr. Inoculation with AMF increased the total cover of ephemeral plants from 7% to 14% in 2005, 15% to 38% in 2006, and 39% to 62% in 2009 than control treatment. Moreover, community productivity (shoot dry weight, grams per square meter) in mycorrhizal treatments significantly increased from 6 to 29 in 2005, 11 to 36 in 2006, and 27 to 81 in 2009 compared with the control treatment. It is concluded that AMF can speed up the regeneration process of grassland and this may be used as an effective biological approach in the restoration of degraded desert ephemeral plant communities. Resumen Se realizaron tres años de experimentos de inoculación de campo en un desierto de Asia central para entender los efectos del hongo micorriza arbuscular (AMF) sobre el proceso de restauración de un pastizal degradado. Los resultados indican que la biomasa, densidad y cobertura de plantas efímeras mejoraron significativamente después de la inoculación con AMF. Comparada con el control la biomasa de la cobertura vegetal por planta de la especie micoriza Erodium oxyrrhynchum, Hyalea pulchella, Trigonella arcuata y Schismus arabicus incrementó significativamente en los tratamientos con micorrizas. Sin embargo, no se observaron diferencias significativas en las especies sin micorrizas Alyssum linifolim y Ceratocarpus arenarius entre micorrizas y los tratamientos control. El número total de plántulas por metro cuadrado en el tratamiento con micorrizas fue mucho mayor que el observado en el tratamiento control durante los tres años. La inoculación con AMF incrementó la cobertura total de plantas efímeras de 7% a 14% en 2005, de 15% a 38% en 2006 y 39% a 62% en 2009 comparado con los tratamientos control. Adicionalmente, la productividad de la comunidad (peso seco, gramos por metro cuadrado) en los tratamientos con micorrizas incrementó significativamente de 6 a 29 en 2005 de 11 a 36 en 2006, y 27 a 81 en 2009 comparado con el tratamiento control. Se concluyó que AMF puede incrementar la velocidad del proceso de regeneración de los pastizales y esto puede ser un efectivo método biológico para restauración de comunidades desérticas degradadas efímeras. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:03 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:03 PM Tags: o desertification o ephemeral plants o Gurbantunggut Desert o mycorrhizae o reestablishment * Evaluation of soil erosion and ecological rehabilitation in Loess Plateau region in Northwest China using plutonium isotopes Type Journal Article Author Weichao Zhang Author Shan Xing Author Xiaolin Hou URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167198719301096__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvgt2wf-Y$ Volume 191 Pages 162-170 Publication Soil and Tillage Research ISSN 0167-1987 Date August 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Soil and Tillage Research DOI 10.1016/j.still.2019.04.004 Abstract Soil erosion is a critical threat to the agriculture and ecosystem in the Chinese Loess Plateau area. Ecological rehabilitation has been applied in large area for reduction of the soil erosion. Six soil depth profiles were collected from Nanxiaohegou watershed in the Loess Plateau in northwest China and analyzed for the activity concentrations of plutonium isotopes. The measured 240Pu/239Pu atomic ratios in all these samples (0.186±0.017) showed that the global fallout was the dominant source of plutonium in this region. An exponential decline of 239,240Pu activity concentrations with depth was observed in most of soil profiles. The total inventory of 239,240Pu in the reference site was calculated to be 110 Bq/m2, agreeing well with the reported total fallout value in this latitude. The soil erosion rates were estimated by comparison with the reference site to be 538–941  t/km2/yr in the most of sites. While an excessive inventory of 239,240Pu (186 Bq/m2) compared to the reference site was observed in one site in the base area, indicating a significant accumulation of soil occurred in this area. The soil erosion depths were estimated to be 2.4–4.6 cm in most of sites during 1963–2016, which can be classified as minor erosion. Compared with the erosion rates in the Nanxiaohegou watershed in 1963–2012 which was estimated by other methods, it is suggested that the natural grass is better for long-term ecological restoration, especially in slope area. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:04 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:04 PM Tags: o Ecological rehabilitation o ICP-MS/MS o Loess Plateau o Pu o Soil erosion * Different land management measures and climate change impacts on the runoff – A simple empirical method derived in a mesoscale catchment on the Loess Plateau Type Journal Article Author Lulu Zhang Author Christian Podlasly Author Karl-Heinz Feger Author Yanhui Wang Author Kai Schwärzel URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196315000920__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvmGEdIT0$ Volume 120 Pages 42-50 Publication Journal of Arid Environments ISSN 0140-1963 Date September 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Journal of Arid Environments DOI 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2015.04.005 Abstract Large-scale vegetation restoration and climate change triggered a significant decline in runoff in the middle reaches of the Yellow River and its tributaries. This runoff decline intensifies inherent water shortage and results in more severe water use conflicts that are threatening sustainable development in the Loess Plateau. Innovative strategies for more water-efficient land management are essential. To this end, the factors controlling runoff were investigated using the upstream area of the Jing River as an example. Runoff was found to be mainly controlled by evaporative demand, precipitation, and land cover type. Budyko's frameworks were applied to predict the annual and long-term runoff; however, the effect of changes in land management (e.g., afforestation) on runoff cannot be assessed due to lack of vegetation factors. Therefore, an empirical analysis tool was derived based on an existing relationship for runoff estimation. This method was found to be more effective in reproducing the annual and long-term runoff than others. The incorporation of temporal changes in land cover and form in approach enables the estimation of the possible impact of soil conservation measures (e.g., afforestation or terracing). Our study highlights the importance of adaptive land management strategies for mitigating water shortage on the Loess Plateau. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:05 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:05 PM Tags: o Climate change o Empirical method o Land-use pattern o Runoff reduction o Soil erosion o Water resources management * Relationship between soil water content and soil particle size on typical slopes of the Loess Plateau during a drought year Type Journal Article Author Xiao Zhang Author Wenwu Zhao Author Lixin Wang Author Yuanxin Liu Author Yue Liu Author Qiang Feng URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969718331759__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvztPB0FU$ Volume 648 Pages 943-954 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date January 15, 2019 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.08.211 Abstract In the context of global climate change as well as local climate warming and drying on the Loess Plateau of China, understanding the relationship between soil particle size and soil water distribution during years of atypical precipitation is important. In this study, fractal geometry theory is used to describe the mechanical composition and texture of soils to improve our understanding of hydropedology and ecohydrology in the critical zone on the Loess Plateau. One grassland slope and two shrubland slopes were selected in the hilly and gully region of the Loess Plateau, and soils were sampled along hillslope transects at depths of 0–500 cm. Fractal theory and redundancy analysis (RDA) were used to identify relationships between the fractal dimension of soil particle-size distributions and the corresponding van Genuchten parameters for the soil-water-characteristic curves. The oven-drying method was used to measure soil water content, and the high-speed centrifugation method was used to generate soil-water-characteristic curves. The results show that (1) the soil water that can be used by Caragana korshinskii during a drought year is distributed below 2 m from the surface, whereas the soil water that can be used by grass is below 1.2 m; (2) Caragana korshinskii promotes the conservation of fine soil particles more than does natural restored grass, and the soil particle-size distribution fractal dimension changes with depth and position; and (3) soil hydraulic properties correlate strongly with soil pedological properties such as bulk density and the soil particle-size distribution fractal dimension. These results provide a case study of the relationships among soil distributions, hydrologic and geomorphic processes for vegetation restoration in drylands with a thick vadose zone. More studies on soil property changes are needed to provide case studies and empirical support for ecological restoration in the Loess Plateau of China. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:21 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:21 PM Tags: o Drought year o Fractal dimension o Loess plateau o Particle-size distribution o Soil-water characteristic curve * Decreased temporary turnover of bacterial communities along soil depth gradient during a 35-year grazing exclusion period in a semiarid grassland Type Journal Article Author Chao Zhang Author Jing Li Author Jie Wang Author Guobin Liu Author Guoliang Wang Author Liang Guo Author Shouzhang Peng URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706118311960__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv1Mn3jPU$ Volume 351 Pages 49-58 Publication Geoderma ISSN 0016-7061 Date October 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Geoderma DOI 10.1016/j.geoderma.2019.05.010 Abstract The activity and composition of soil microbial communities during natural restoration have been widely studied, but their succession rates and metabolic functions remain unknown, especially with respect to soil depth. Here, we examined a chronosequence of grasslands that were subjected to grazing exclusion for 0, 10, 15, 25, and 35 years (y) on the semiarid Chinese Loess Plateau, and we investigated the succession rate and the metabolic functions of microbial communities at different soil layers (0–10, 10–20, 20–40, and 40–60 cm). Microbial succession rates represented by temporary turnover were assessed using the slope of linear regressions, based on log-transformed microbial community similarity over time. Metagenome functional content was predicted from the sequence data using PICRUSt. Most soil physicochemical properties, microbial biomass, enzyme activity, bacterial diversity, and carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism increased as a result of grazing exclusion but decreased as a function of soil depth. Bacterial communities showed a transition from fast-growing copiotrophic taxa (Proteobacteria) to slow-growing oligotrophic taxa (Actinobacteria) with soil depth. Notably, a higher temporary turnover rate of bacterial communities in the topsoil than in the subsoil layer indicated a decreased successional rate of bacterial communities along the soil depth profile. Nitrospirae had the highest succession rate, followed by Gemmatimonadetes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. Variance partitioning and redundancy analysis demonstrated that soil physico-chemical properties had a greater effect on bacterial composition and metabolic functions than plant characteristics (aboveground and root biomasses), and that soil C and N levels and bulk density were the most influential factors. Our study indicated a positive effect of long-term grazing exclusion on the activities, diversity, and functions of the microbial community, and revealed a decreasing successional rate of bacterial communities with soil depth. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:21 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:21 PM Tags: o Bacterial diversity o Grazing exclusion o Metabolic function, soil depth o Temporal turnover * Response of wind erosion dynamics to climate change and human activity in Inner Mongolia, China during 1990 to 2015 Type Journal Article Author Haiyan Zhang Author Jiangwen Fan Author Wei Cao Author Warwick Harris Author Yuzhe Li Author Wenfeng Chi Author Suizi Wang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969718317170__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvZ9NW9Sw$ Volume 639 Pages 1038-1050 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date October 15, 2018 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.082 Abstract Soil erosion caused by wind is a serious environmental problem that results in land degradation and threatens sustainable development. Accurately evaluating wind erosion dynamics is important for reducing the hazard of wind erosion. Separating the climatic and anthropogenic causes of wind erosion can improve the understanding of its driving mechanisms. Based on meteorological, remote sensing and field observation data, we applied the Revised Wind Erosion Equation (RWEQ) to simulate wind erosion in Inner Mongolia, China from 1990 to 2015. We used the variable control method by input of the average climate conditions to calculate human-induced wind erosion. The difference between natural wind erosion and human-induced wind erosion was determined to assess the effect of climate change on wind erosion. The results showed that the wind erosion modulus had a remarkable decline with a slope of 52.23 t/km2/a from 1990 to 2015. During 26 years, the average wind erosion for Inner Mongolia amounted to 63.32 billion tons. Wind erosion showed an overall significant decline of 49.23% and the partial severer erosion hazard significantly increased by 7.11%. Of the significant regional decline, 40.72% was caused by climate changes, and 8.51% was attributed to ecological restoration programs. For the significant regional increases of wind erosion, 4.29% was attributed to climate changes and 2.82% to human activities, mainly overgrazing and land use/cover changes. During the study, the driving forces in Inner Mongolia of wind erosion dynamics differed spatially. Timely monitoring based on multi-source data and highlighting the importance of positive human activities by increasing vegetation coverage for deserts, reducing grazing pressure on grasslands, establishing forests as windbreaks and optimizing crop planting rotations of farmlands can all act to reduce and control wind erosion. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:06 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:06 PM Tags: o Climate change o Human activity o Inner Mongolia o RWEQ o Wind erosion * Meta-analysis of the effects of grassland degradation on plant and soil properties in the alpine meadows of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Type Journal Article Author Wenjuan Zhang Author Xian Xue Author Fei Peng Author Quangang You Author Aihua Hao URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989419303270__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvH1Ctq04$ Volume 20 Pages e00774 Publication Global Ecology and Conservation ISSN 2351-9894 Date October 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Global Ecology and Conservation DOI 10.1016/j.gecco.2019.e00774 Abstract Alpine meadows on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau (QTP) are particularly important for both ecosystem functioning and pastoral livelihoods, but they have been severely degraded in the last several decades. There have been numerous studies on the responses of plants and soils to alpine meadow degradation across the region, but they are mostly focused on single sites and are incapable of determining a general response pattern of plants and soils to degradation on the QTP. A meta-analysis including 61 individual published studies was conducted to examine the biotic and abiotic characteristics in slightly (LDAM), moderately (MDAM), severely (SDAM), and very severely degraded alpine meadows (VDAM). The results showed that the aboveground biomass (AGB) significantly decreased (P < 0.01) by 23.17%, 31.85%, 47.24%, and 66.66% in the LDAM, MDAM, SDAM, and VDAM compared with that in nondegraded alpine meadows (NDAM), respectively. The belowground biomass (BGB) did not change in the LDAM but began to decrease with the MDAM. The AGBs of graminoids significantly decreased in all degraded-level meadows, and sedges significantly decreased from MDAM to VDAM, whereas the AGBs of forbs significantly increased except in the VDAM. The Shannon-wiener index did not change until the VDAM. Soil organic matter (SOM) declined starting with the LDAM, and the magnitude of the decrease increased with degradation severity. The change in total nitrogen (TN) was similar to the change in the SOM. Significant available nitrogen (AN) decrease began with the MDAM and significant (P < 0.05) available potassium (AK) decrease only occurred at depth of 0.0–0.1 m in the SDAM and the VDAM. Soil moisture (SM) showed a significant decrease, whereas soil bulk density (BD) increased in the degraded alpine meadow. The response of AGB was significantly correlated with the changes in SOM and TN only in the SDAM and VDAM, whereas the response of BGB was significantly correlated with the changes in SOM and TN for all degraded stages. In the LDAM and MDAM, SOM and TN mainly came from the dense rooting of the turf layer, and the changes of SOM and TN thus had no correlation with AGB. However, in the SDAM and VDAM, SOM and TN mainly came from AGB and BGB, and the changes of SOM and TN were thus significantly correlated with AGB and BGB. Our results indicate that biological and biochemical processes regulate the plant and soil changes in LDAM and MDAM and that physical processes such as water and wind erosion might be responsible for the changes in plants and soils in SDAM and VDAM. Therefore, restoration strategies should be based on the processes and stages of alpine meadow degradation. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:12 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:12 PM Tags: o Alpine meadow degradation o Community structure o Ecological and physical processes o Meta-analysis o Qinghai-Tibet Plateau * Temporal variations in soil erodibility indicators of vegetation-restored steep gully slopes on the Loess Plateau of China Type Journal Article Author Bao-jun Zhang Author Guang-hui Zhang Author Ping-zong Zhu Author Han-yue Yang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880919302774__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvBYvvZCI$ Volume 286 Pages 106661 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date December 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2019.106661 Abstract Near soil-surface characteristics change considerably with vegetation growth during one growing season, and thus likely induce the temporal variations in soil erodibility indicators. This study was performed to investigate the temporal variations in soil erodibility indicators under different vegetation-restored gully slope lands on the Loess Plateau of China. Soil erodibility indicators included the K factor, mean weight diameter (MWD), mean number of drop impacts (MND), saturated conductivity (Ks), cohesion (Coh), penetration resistance (PR), and one comprehensive soil erodibility index (CSEI). One slope cropland (as the control) and seven vegetation-restored gully slope lands were selected to measure soil erodibility indicators for seven times from April 23 to October 10, 2018. Near soil-surface characteristics were also measured to explain the temporal variations in soil erodibility indicators. The results showed that the temporal variations in soil erodibility indicators of different vegetation lands were similar. The K factor fluctuated considerably, while the MWD, MND, Ks, Coh, and PR gradually increased over time. However, all erodibility indicators of the control cropland fluctuated over time with no distinctive trend. The CSEI of all sites fluctuated significantly over time. Compared to the control cropland, the mean K factors of different vegetation lands decreased by 2%–24%, but the mean values of MWD, MND, Ks, Coh, and PR increased by 108%–217%, 152%–343%, 94%–306%, 73%–175%, and 30%–199%, respectively. Consequently, the mean CSEI of different vegetation lands was reduced by 41% to 86%. The temporal variations in soil erodibility indicators were closely related to the seasonal changes in root mass density. Bothriochloa ischaemum (Linn.) Keng was considered the most effective restoration community to reduce soil erodibility of steep gully slope lands. The results contribute to improving the eco-environment on the Chinese Loess Plateau. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:18 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:18 PM Tags: o Chinese Loess Plateau o Near soil-surface characteristics o Soil erodibility indicator o Temporal variability o Vegetation growth * China's desertification deconstructed: towards a scientists' model based on long-term perceptions of grassland restoration (1995–2011) Type Journal Article Author Heng Zhao Author Ying Zhao Author Guiying Gao Author Peter Ho URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12555__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvYENu160$ Rights © 2017 Society for Ecological Restoration Volume 26 Issue S1 Pages S26-S36 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2018 DOI 10.1111/rec.12555 Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:12:15 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract There is considerable debate about the causes of grassland degradation and desertification in China. The discussion is rekindled by recent studies that claim restoration. The reversal in degradation is attributed to policies, which include the grazing ban and the pasture contract system. Contrarily, this article maintains that these studies disregard the complexity and multilayered nature of grassland degradation, and questions whether aforementioned policies have had this effect. In this context, we report on one of the first long-term surveys (1995 and 2011) of herders' perceptions. The survey (492 valid responses) represents two ecoregions: the semiarid desert/steppe and Loess Plateau pasture. Based on the data, we adopted a renewed analytical model for scientists, termed the CCC-Framework. The model calls for caution in proposing certain restoration measures when uncertainties are identified around a “triple C”: (1) condition of vegetation; (2) causality of degradation; and (3) costs of implementation. According to this framework, we establish uncertainty about the condition of allegedly restored vegetation, with particular reference to herders' perceived rise in nonpalatable grass species. Moreover, causality between grassland restoration and effect is difficult to ascertain due the short time frame in which most studies have been conducted. Lastly, it is doubtful whether to date undetermined ecological benefits outweigh implementation costs, especially as the survey pinpointed herders' loss of livelihood without alternative income, illegal grazing, low legal understanding, and limited access to grassland rights. Short Title China's desertification deconstructed Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:12:15 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:12:15 PM Tags: o CCC-Framework o desertification o grassland policy o grassland tenure privatization o grazing ban o pastoralism o rangeland Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * The Soil Biota Composition along a Progressive Succession of Secondary Vegetation in a Karst Area Type Journal Article Author Jie Zhao Author Shengping Li Author Xunyang He Author Lu Liu Author Kelin Wang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0112436__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv5XffBn8$ Volume 9 Issue 11 Pages e112436 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Nov 7, 2014 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0112436 Accessed 2020-03-12, 3:25:23 PM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract Karst ecosystems are fragile and are in many regions degraded by anthropogenic activities. Current management of degraded karst areas focuses on aboveground vegetation succession or recovery and aims at establishing a forest ecosystem. Whether progressive succession of vegetation in karst areas is accompanied by establishment of soil biota is poorly understood. In the present study, soil microbial and nematode communities, as well as soil physico-chemical properties were studied along a progressive succession of secondary vegetation (from grassland to shrubland to forest) in a karst area in southwest China. Microbial biomass, nematode density, ratio of fungal to bacterial biomass, nematode structure index, and nematode enrichment index decreased with the secondary succession in the plant community. Overall, the results indicated a pattern of declines in soil biota abundance and food web complexity that was associated with a decrease in soil pH and a decrease in soil organic carbon content with the progressive secondary succession of the plant community. Our findings suggest that soil biota amendment is necessary during karst ecosystem restoration and establishment and management of grasslands may be feasible in karst areas. Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:25:23 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:25:23 PM Tags: o Biomass (ecology) o Biota o Ecological succession o Ecosystems o Forest ecology o Forests o Grasslands o Plant communities Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Spatiotemporal variations and its influencing factors of grassland net primary productivity in Inner Mongolia, China during the period 2000–2014 Type Journal Article Author Yuling Zhao Author Haixin Liu Author Anbing Zhang Author Ximin Cui Author Anzhou Zhao URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196318303586__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvwIJwQd0$ Volume 165 Pages 106-118 Publication Journal of Arid Environments ISSN 0140-1963 Date June 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Journal of Arid Environments DOI 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2019.01.004 Abstract The quantification of changes in long-term trends in grassland net primary productivity (NPP) and its large-scale driving forces are important for understanding terrestrial ecosystem changes in arid and semi-arid regions. Based on the MODIS-NPP dataset, this study investigated patterns in the spatiotemporal variations in NPP and its possible influencing factors in Inner Mongolia during 2000–2014 using the linear trend analysis method, correlation analysis, and an F test. The results show that grassland NPP had an annual rate of increase of 4.53 g C/(m2·a) with a significant increasing trend (p < 0.01). Spatial analysis results indicate that the average grassland NPP presented a gradual increasing trend from southwest to northeast, with an area of longitudinal zonality being identified. Grassland NPP presented a significant increase (p < 0.05) in more than 31.93% of the region. Grassland NPP and growing season precipitation (GSP) had a significant negative correlation in 54.78% of the study area. Grassland NPP and the growing season average land surface temperature (GSALST) had a significant negative correlation for 65.93% of the study area; growing season average temperature (GSAT) had no significant effect on the grassland NPP. For different grassland types, GSP had the greatest impact on alpine meadows (r = 0.73), and GSALST had the greatest impact on alpine steppes and alpine meadows (r = −0.81). Related ecological restoration projects such as fenced rangeland and planted grass played a positive impact on annual NPP in the study area. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:45 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 10:59:20 PM Tags: o Anthropogenic activities o Climate change o Growing season average land surface temperature o MOD17-A3 o Net primary productivity * Grazing exclusion promotes grasses functional group dominance via increasing of bud banks in steppe community Type Journal Article Author Ling-Ping Zhao Author Dong Wang Author Fang-Hui Liang Author Yu Liu Author Gao-Lin Wu URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479719313076__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvcqWKyD0$ Volume 251 Pages 109589 Publication Journal of Environmental Management ISSN 0301-4797 Date December 1, 2019 Journal Abbr Journal of Environmental Management DOI 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109589 Abstract To understand the bud banks response to grazing exclusion, we conducted a demographic experiment in long-term grazing exclusion (20 year and 30 year) typical steppe. Results showed that grass functional group constituted the vast majority of the aboveground vegetation and belowground bud bank in all treatments. Long-term grazing exclusion significantly increased total aboveground biomass (2.5 and 2.6 times in 20y and 30y grazing exclusion grasslands, respectively), and decreased total stem density (31% and 37% in 20y and 30y grazing exclusion grasslands, respectively). Grazing exclusion for 20 and 30 years increased grass aboveground biomass respectively by 6.0 and 8.0 times, and decreased grass stem density by 38% and 33%. Grazing exclusion had different effects on belowground bud density of grass and forb functional group. Long-term grazing exclusion significantly increased plant buds and bud bank size (25% and 37% in 20y and 30y grazing exclusion grasslands, respectively), especially for grass functional group (49% and 95% in 20y and 30y grazing exclusion grasslands, respectively), but had no significant effects on forb bud density. Changes of aboveground community were significantly related to changes of belowground bud bank under both grazing and grazing exclusion grasslands. The bud bank density of grass functional group was significantly positive with total (R2 = 0.33, P < 0.05) and grass aboveground biomass (R2 = 0.36, P < 0.01), while negative related with total (R2 = −0.27, P < 0.05) and grass stem density (R2 = −0.22, P < 0.05). Grazed grasslands, 20y and 30y grazing exclusion grasslands all were not meristem limited and had large reserve bud banks, which would completely replace the aboveground stem population during the growing season. These findings indicate that grazing exclusion could not only improve a large bud bank for grassland restoration but also improve the dominance of grass functional group by increasing grass belowground bud banks in typical steppe community. We propose that the belowground bud bank might be a good approach to indicating potential succession direction of aboveground community. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:36 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:36 PM Tags: o Belowground bud bank o Grazing exclusion o Plant functional group o Typical steppe * Variation of soil infiltrability across a 79-year chronosequence of naturally restored grassland on the Loess Plateau, China Type Journal Article Author Yonggang Zhao Author Pute Wu Author Shiwei Zhao Author Hao Feng URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022169413006926__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv6bdqJQA$ Volume 504 Pages 94-103 Publication Journal of Hydrology ISSN 0022-1694 Date November 11, 2013 Journal Abbr Journal of Hydrology DOI 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2013.09.039 Abstract Summary Soil infiltrability plays a critical role in controlling soil erosion and enhancing water storage in arid and semi-arid areas. Presently, knowledge is lacking regarding the dynamic mechanism and characteristics of soil infiltration during long-term natural vegetation restoration. This study evaluated how soil infiltrability changes along a 79-year chronosequence of natural restoration from cropland to permanently restored grassland. A slope cropland (control) and five grasslands of successive age-classes (6-, 16-, 36-, 56-, and 79-year natural restoration treatments) were selected to establish a chronosequence on China’s Loess Plateau. Soil infiltrability was measured under simulated rainfall conditions at three intensities (20, 40, and 60mm/h) using a run off–on–out method. The steady-state infiltration rate (SIR) of the control treatment decreased with increasing intensity of rainfall while those of the natural restoration treatments showed a contrary tendency. With the extension of restoration period, the SIR was gradually increased while the runoff was decreased and the time-to-runoff and time-to-SIR were prolonged. The SIR had a significant negative exponential relationship with the restoration period under different rainfall conditions (P<0.01). Soil infiltrability showed rapid increases within 16year of natural restoration and slight changes thereafter. Soil parameters including SIR and the contents of macroaggregates (>0.25mm) and organic matter were significantly correlated with each other (P<0.01). Long-term natural restoration of grassland, especially for 16-year, significantly enhanced soil infiltrability and reduced soil erosion through organic matter accumulation and the resulting improvement of structural properties. This study provides reference data for describing hydrological parameters on the Loess Plateau. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:41 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:41 PM Tags: o Rainfall simulation o Runoff plot o Semi-arid hydrology o Soil infiltration o Soil organic matter o Soil structure * Effect of vegetation type on microstructure of soil aggregates on the Loess Plateau, China Type Journal Article Author Dong Zhao Author Mingxiang Xu Author Guobin Liu Author Luyang Ma Author Shengmin Zhang Author Tiqiao Xiao Author Guanyun Peng URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880917301366__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvOJic9NA$ Volume 242 Pages 1-8 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date May 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2017.03.014 Abstract Several types of vegetation restoration have been implemented on the Loess Plateau in China to control soil erosion and improve soil quality. Different revegetation types, however, have varying effects on soil structure; effects on the pore network of aggregates are especially not well understood. We used synchrotron-based high-resolution X-ray micro-computed tomography to quantify the microstructure of soil aggregates under four types of revegetation and an active cropland on the plateau. Five aggregates (3–5mm) collected from the topsoil at each site were scanned at a voxel resolution of 3.25μm, and the aggregate pore structure was visualized and quantified with ImageJ. Total porosities, >75μm porosities, fractions of elongated pores, 3D mass fractal dimensions, and connectivity were higher and the numbers of pores, <75μm porosities, the mean pore-shape factors, and the fractions of regular and irregular pores were lower in the revegetated sites than the control plot. Total porosities, macro-porosities, micro-porosities, fractions of regular pores, and 3D mass fractal dimensions differed significantly among the revegetated sites. We suggest that the fraction of elongated pores can be used as an important indicator for monitoring the recovery of soil structure. 3D mass fractal dimensions differed more than connectivity in the aggregates in the same samples, and thus could be a more sensitive indicator of changes in the pore network. Age and revegetation type both significantly affected the development of soil structure, but revegetation type was more important for the recovery of soil structure. We used a soil structural index (SSI) obtained by principal component analysis to assess the overall quality of soil structure. SSI values were higher in all revegetated sites than the cropland site and differed among the revegetated sites in the order: shrubland>grassland>woodland>pastureland. We recommend shrub plantation and natural grassland for the revegetation of degraded land on the Loess Plateau. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:46 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:46 PM Tags: o Aggregate pore o Micro-computed tomography o Soil organic matter o Soil texture o Vegetation restoration * Long-term temporal variations of soil water content under different vegetation types in the Loess Plateau, China Type Journal Article Author Chunlei Zhao Author Xiaoxu Jia Author Yuanjun Zhu Author Ming'an Shao URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816217301984__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvjGUw_j8$ Volume 158 Pages 55-62 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date November 1, 2017 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2017.06.006 Abstract The temporal characteristics of soil moisture are critical for the stability and sustainability of rebuilt ecosystems. In China's Loess Plateau (CLP), large areas of unsuitable croplands were restored to forest or grassland in order to control soil and water loss. Thus, knowledge of the temporal pattern and its controlling factors of soil moisture in revegetated areas over long-term is indispensable. In this study, four plots with different land uses (shrubland, grassland, fallow land and cropland) were set up on a loess slope in northern CLP. The profile soil moisture in the 0–4m soil layer was measured from 2004 to 2015. Semivariogram models were established to analyze the profile temporal characteristics of soil water content (SWC) over 12years of revegetation. The results suggested that: temporal stability of SWC under cropland was better than that under the three types of revegetated lands. Among the three types of revegetated lands, fallow land had stronger stability and higher value of SWC and was thus recommended as the best revegetation type. Generally, variation of SWC decreased with the increase of soil depth under shrubland, fallow land and cropland. However, under grassland, an inverse trend of SWS variation was observed and huge water absorption by deep grass roots was responsible for this trend. The temporal variation in SWC was under the joint influence of land use, soil depth and slope position, and land use was regarded as the dominant one. The study provided wider insight into scientific and reasonable vegetation restoration strategies in CLP region. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:40 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:40 PM Tags: o China's Loess Plateau o Long-term time series o Revegetation o Soil moisture content o Temporal characteristics * Potential nitrogen fixation activity of different aged biological soil crusts from rehabilitated grasslands of the hilly Loess Plateau, China Type Journal Article Author Y. Zhao Author M. Xu Author J. Belnap URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196310001047__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvAozVFOw$ Volume 74 Issue 10 Pages 1186-1191 Publication Journal of Arid Environments ISSN 0140-1963 Date October 1, 2010 Journal Abbr Journal of Arid Environments DOI 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2010.04.006 Abstract Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) cover up to 60–70% of the soil surface in grasslands rehabilitated during the “Grain for Green” project implemented in the hilly Loess Plateau region in 1999. As biocrusts fix nitrogen (N), they are an important part of restoring soil fertility. We measured nitrogenase activity (NA) in biocrusts from sites rehabilitated at six different time periods to estimate 1) the effects of moisture content and temperature on NA in biocrusts of different ages and 2) the potential N contribution from biocrusts to soils and plants in this region. Results show that NA in the biocrusts was mostly controlled by the species composition, as the activity of biocrusts dominated by free-living soil cyanobacteria was significantly higher than that of moss-dominated biocrusts. Nitrogenase activity was also influenced by soil moisture content and ambient temperature, with a significant decline in activity when moisture levels were decreased to 20% field water-holding capacity. The optimal temperature for NA was 35–40 °C and 30–40 °C for cyanobacteria- and moss-dominated biocrusts, respectively. Biocrust fixed N is likely an important source of N in this ecosystem, as we estimated annual potential N inputs per hectare in these grasslands to be up to 13 kg N ha−1 and 4 kg N ha−1 for cyanobacteria- and moss-dominated biocrusts, respectively. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:42 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:42 PM Tags: o Cyanobacteria o Drylands o Moss o Nitrogenase activity o Restoration * Photosynthetic and morphological characters of Caragana microphylla in different slope aspects and positions Type Journal Article Author Tingting Zhao Author Junpeng Li Author Xinjun Zhang Author Nianxi Zhao Author Yubao Gao URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1872203211000229__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvQ-RMupM$ Volume 31 Issue 3 Pages 163-168 Publication Acta Ecologica Sinica ISSN 1872-2032 Date June 1, 2011 Journal Abbr Acta Ecologica Sinica DOI 10.1016/j.chnaes.2011.03.007 Abstract In order to find out how small scale topographical factors affect growth and physiological characters of Caragana microphylla, which is a widely distributed shrub species and has an important role in restoring degraded grassland in natural ecosystem, a natural population of C. microphylla was chosen in a typical steppe community in June, 2009. The population was 34km to the southeast of Xilinhot City, China, and a total of 54 shrubs were selected from different slope aspects and positions. We investigated the photosynthetic and morphological characters of these shrubs and analyzed the relationship between plant traits of C. microphylla and soil nitrogen and phosphorus availability. Moreover, the relationship between plant traits of C. microphylla and herbaceous aboveground biomass was studied. (1) The maximum net photosynthetic rate (Pnmax) was significantly lower on shady slopes than that on sunny slopes and higher on upper slopes than that on lower slopes. Stomatal conductance (Gs), net photosynthetic rate/intercellular CO2 concentration (Pn/Ci) and intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) under saturated irradiance showed similar trends with slope aspect and position. Likewise, the maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm), PSII potential activity (Fv/Fo) and the first-year shoot morphological characters of C. microphylla were also correlated with slope aspect and position. (2) Soil nitrogen availability showed no significant effect on photosynthetic or morphological traits of C. microphylla, however, there were several significant relationships between soil phosphorus availability and plant traits. Dry weight, shoot length, compound leaf size, and leaflet length of first-year shoots of C. microphylla were significantly negatively correlated with soil C:P ratio. Though not significant, photosynthetic parameters under saturated light and other morphological characters of first-year shoots were negatively correlated with soil C:P ratio, i.e., these traits increased with increasing soil phosphorus availability. These suggested that the difference of soil phosphorus availability played an important role in making C. microphylla having different photosynthetic and morphological characters on different slope aspects and positions. The individuals grown in relatively P-rich site had longer shoots and larger leaves and grew better. Low phosphorus content was thought to limit photosynthetic activity through several different mechanisms, including both stomatal and non-stomatal limitations, the latter being more likely in the present study. (3) Photosynthetic and morphological characters of C. microphylla were all negatively correlated with herbaceous aboveground biomass, though only Pn/Ci and length of first-year shoot were significantly correlated with it. This indicated that the difference in plant community was a factor making C. microphylla have different growth and physiological characters on different aspects and positions of slope. A number of studies showed that grazing of the herbaceous layer promoted the establishment and proliferation of woody species, and then led to grassland deterioration; but in arid and semi-arid ecosystems, some widely distributed shrub species like C. microphylla created resource islands and provide favorable microhabitat for grass species. In the present study, we found negative correlations between traits of C. microphylla and herbaceous aboveground biomass. We suggested that the removal of livestock grazing result in the decrease of the distribution C. microphylla and increase of grass coverage, and lead to the restoration of the typical steppe. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:04 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:04 PM Tags: o Herbaceous aboveground biomass o Morphological character o Photosynthetic character o Slope aspect o Slope position o Soil phosphorus nutrient availability * Changes of soil hydraulic properties under early-stage natural vegetation recovering on the Loess Plateau of China Type Journal Article Author Xining Zhao Author Pute Wu Author Xiaodong Gao Author Lei Tian Author Hongchen Li URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S034181621300221X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvCNM1Skg$ Volume 113 Pages 386-391 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date February 1, 2014 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2013.08.023 Abstract The changes of soil hydraulic properties under early-stage (from several years to a few decades) natural vegetation recovering are not well understood in semiarid zones. We hypothesized that early-stage vegetation recovering can change measurably soil hydraulic properties and this would behave differently from long-term (from several decades to hundreds of years) vegetation recovering. This study investigated the dynamics of soil hydraulic properties under natural vegetation recovering of different ages (1, 5, 9, and 16–20years) as compare to cropland and 30-year-old secondary grassland (two controls) on the semiarid Loess Plateau. The hydraulic properties included dry bulk density, total porosity, and near-saturated hydraulic conductivity at the potential of −0.5, −1, −3 and −5cm of water. The results showed that the increases of vegetation species, coverage and aboveground biomass did not improve soil hydraulic properties. Specifically, dry bulk density increased while total porosity and near-saturated hydraulic conductivity at various potentials decreased with the increase of abandonment years. Moreover, we found that it would take at least 20years to reverse the decreasing trend for soil hydraulic conductivities. These results suggest that vegetation recovering may not necessarily ameliorate soil hydraulic properties. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:28 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:28 PM Tags: o Land use change o Mini-disk tension infiltrometer o Soil hydraulic conductivity o Vegetation restoration * Scale-Dependent Effects of Grazing on Plant C: N: P Stoichiometry and Linkages to Ecosystem Functioning in the Inner Mongolia Grassland Type Journal Article Author Shuxia Zheng Author Haiyan Ren Author Wenhuai Li Author Zhichun Lan URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371*journal.pone.0051750__;Lw!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvzd1bnBU$ Volume 7 Issue 12 Pages e51750 Publication PLOS ONE ISSN 1932-6203 Date Dec 14, 2012 Journal Abbr PLOS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0051750 Accessed 2020-03-12, 3:24:53 PM Library Catalog PLoS Journals Language en Abstract Background Livestock grazing is the most prevalent land use of grasslands worldwide. The effects of grazing on plant C, N, P contents and stoichiometry across hierarchical levels, however, have rarely been studied; particularly whether the effects are mediated by resource availability and the underpinning mechanisms remain largely unclear. Methodology/Principal Findings Using a multi-organization-level approach, we examined the effects of grazing on the C, N, and P contents and stoichiometry in plant tissues (leaves and roots) and linkages to ecosystem functioning across three vegetation types (meadow, meadow steppe, and typical steppe) in the Inner Mongolia grassland, China. Our results showed that the effects of grazing on the C, N, and P contents and stoichiometry in leaves and roots differed substantially among vegetation types and across different hierarchical levels (species, functional group, and vegetation type levels). The magnitude of positive effects of grazing on leaf N and P contents increased progressively along the hierarchy of organizational levels in the meadow, whereas its negative effect on leaf N content decreased considerably along hierarchical levels in both the typical and meadow steppes. Grazing increased N and P allocation to aboveground in the meadow, while greater N and P allocation to belowground was found in the typical and meadow steppes. The differences in soil properties, plant trait-based resource use strategies, tolerance or defense strategies to grazing, and shifts in functional group composition are likely to be the key mechanisms for the observed patterns among vegetation types. Conclusions/Significance Our findings suggest that the enhanced vegetation-type-level N contents by grazing and species compensatory feedbacks may be insufficient to prevent widespread declines in primary productivity in the Inner Mongolia grassland. Hence, it is essential to reduce the currently high stocking rates and restore the vast degraded steppes for sustainable development of arid and semiarid grasslands. Short Title Scale-Dependent Effects of Grazing on Plant C Date Added 2020-03-12, 3:24:53 PM Modified 2020-03-12, 3:24:53 PM Tags: o Biomass (ecology) o Ecosystem functioning o Grasslands o Grazing o Leaves o Photosynthetic efficiency o Plant-herbivore interactions o Stoichiometry Attachments o Full Text PDF o Snapshot * Net value of grassland ecosystem services in mainland China Type Journal Article Author Xinyi Zheng Author Junze Zhang Author Shixiong Cao URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264837718307701__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvj9plDC4$ Volume 79 Pages 94-101 Publication Land Use Policy ISSN 0264-8377 Date December 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Land Use Policy DOI 10.1016/j.landusepol.2018.07.043 Abstract To understand the difference between the value and the net value of ecosystem services (VES and NES, respectively), we used government statistics and data from published papers about the values and costs of grassland services to calculate their VES and NES in China. We found that when the associated costs (investment in ecological conservation and restoration, reduction of the risk of natural disasters, water consumption, and land rent) are subtracted from this total, the NES of China’s grassland ecosystem services equaled −0.12 × 103 RMB ha−1 yr−1. Except for northeastern China and Inner Mongolia, which have abundant natural resources and lower population and livestock pressure, China’s other seven regions had a negative grassland NES. The pressure on grassland by livestock has increased steeply (by 1066.1%), from 29.2 × 106 sheep units in 1977 to 340.5 × 106 sheep units in 2014. This strongly suggests that China’s grasslands are being heavily overexploited. In contrast with China’s well-funded afforestation programs, the low investments in grassland restoration and management have combined to produce severe degradation of grasslands. China’s government should re-examine the benefits of livestock culture by accounting for the costs of this land use and of various restoration methods, and should take measures to preserve and restore the country’s fragile grasslands. Our results provide a warning for managers of other ecosystems around the world where calculations of grassland VES may be ignoring significant costs of ecological restoration and preservation, leading to overuse and degradation of the ecosystem. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:43 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:43 PM Tags: o Environmental conservation o Grassland degradation o Land management o Net value of ecosystem services o Policy development o Potential cost * Conversion of encroached juniper woodland back to native prairie and to switchgrass increases root zone soil moisture and watershed runoff Type Journal Article Author Yu Zhong Author Chris B. Zou Author Adrian Saenz Author Elaine Stebler Author Gopal Kakani Author Rodney E. Will URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022169420301001__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvvJux8oY$ Volume 584 Pages 124640 Publication Journal of Hydrology ISSN 0022-1694 Date May 1, 2020 Journal Abbr Journal of Hydrology DOI 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2020.124640 Abstract Mechanical removal of encroached juniper (Juniperus spp.) is a common practice to restore native grasslands. However, the hydrological responses to grassland restoration remain mostly unquantified for the climate transition zone in the southern Great Plains of the USA where ecosystem evapotranspiration is highly sensitive to the change of vegetation functional type. We used a paired watershed approach to directly quantify the impact of mechanical removal of eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana L., redcedar) and restoration to native prairie or establishment of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) on root zone soil moisture and event-based runoff for eight years including three main phases - calibration, transition, and restored grassland in north-central Oklahoma, USA. Results showed that the root zone soil water storage on average increased 1.6 and 1.9 times for restored prairie and switchgrass, respectively, after juniper removal. The regression model estimation based on the relationships established in the calibration phases between event-based runoff from control watershed and the treatment watersheds found that the restored prairie and switchgrass production system increased annual runoff by 4.46 and 4.54 times, respectively. These results indicated that both soil moisture and runoff are highly responsive to land use change in the southern Great Plains. Reestablishment of herbaceous dominance by mechanically removing encroached woody species is closely followed by restoration of soil moisture dynamics and watershed runoff regime. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:41 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:41 PM Tags: o Eastern redcedar o Land use management o Oklahoma o Switchgrass o Tallgrass prairie * Distinguishing the vegetation dynamics induced by anthropogenic factors using vegetation optical depth and AVHRR NDVI: A cross-border study on the Mongolian Plateau Type Journal Article Author Xiang Zhou Author Yasushi Yamaguchi Author Sanjiwana Arjasakusuma URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969717329649__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvDEbnC4s$ Volume 616-617 Pages 730-743 Publication Science of The Total Environment ISSN 0048-9697 Date March 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Science of The Total Environment DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.10.253 Abstract Distinguishing the vegetation dynamics induced by anthropogenic factors and identifying the major drivers can provide crucial information for designing actionable and practical countermeasures to restore degraded grassland ecosystems. Based on the residual trend (RESTREND) method, this study distinguished the vegetation dynamics induced by anthropogenic factors from the effects of climate variability on the Mongolian Plateau during 1993–2012 using vegetation optical depth (VOD) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), which measure vegetation water content in aboveground biomass and chlorophyll abundance in canopy cover respectively; afterwards, the major drivers within different agricultural zones and socio-institutional periods were identified by integrating agricultural statistics with statistical analysis techniques. The results showed that grasslands in Mongolia and the grazing zone of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (IMAR), China underwent a significant human-induced decrease in aboveground biomass during 1993–2012 and 1993–2000 respectively, which was attributable to the rapid growth of livestock densities stimulated by livestock privatization and market factors; by contrast, grasslands in these two regions did not experience a concurrent human-induced reduction in canopy greenness. Besides, the results indicated that grasslands in the grazing zone of IMAR underwent a significant human-induced increase in aboveground biomass since 2000, which was attributable to the reduced grazing pressure induced by China's ecological restoration programs; concurrently, grasslands in this region also experienced a remarkable increase in canopy greenness, however, this increase was found not directly caused by the decreased stocking densities. Furthermore, the results revealed that the farming and semi-grazing/farming zone of IMAR underwent a significant human-induced increase in both aboveground biomass and canopy greenness since 2000, which was attributable to the intensified grain production stimulated by market factors, open grazing regulation and confined feeding popularization. These findings suggest that China's grassland restoration practice has important implications for Mongolia to reverse the severe and continuous grassland degradation in the future. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:34 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:34 PM Tags: o Ecological restoration programs o Grain yields o Livestock populations o RESTREND o The Mongolian Plateau o Vegetation dynamics * Dynamic of grassland vegetation degradation and its quantitative assessment in the northwest China Type Journal Article Author Wei Zhou Author Chengcheng Gang Author Liang Zhou Author Yizhao Chen Author Jianlong Li Author Weimin Ju Author Inakwu Odeh URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1146609X13002002__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvuD3KhYQ$ Volume 55 Pages 86-96 Publication Acta Oecologica ISSN 1146-609X Date February 1, 2014 Journal Abbr Acta Oecologica DOI 10.1016/j.actao.2013.12.006 Abstract Grasslands, one of the most widespread land cover types in China, are of great importance to natural environmental protection and socioeconomic development. An accurate quantitative assessment of the effects of inter-annual climate change and human activities on grassland productivity has great theoretical significance to understanding the driving mechanisms of grassland degradation. Net primary productivity (NPP) was selected as an indicator for analyzing grassland vegetation dynamics from 2001 to 2010. Potential NPP and the difference between potential NPP and actual NPP were used to represent the effects of climate and human factors, respectively, on grassland degradation. The results showed that 61.49% of grassland areas underwent degradation, whereas only 38.51% exhibited restoration. In addition, 65.75% of grassland degradation was caused by human activities whereas 19.94% was caused by inter-annual climate change. By contrast, 32.32% of grassland restoration was caused by human activities, whereas 56.56% was caused by climatic factors. Therefore, inter-annual climate change is the primary cause of grassland restoration, whereas human activities are the primary cause of grassland degradation. Grassland dynamics and the relative roles of climate and human factors in grassland degradation and restoration varied greatly across the five provinces studied. The contribution of human activities to grassland degradation was greater than that of climate change in all five provinces. Three outcomes were observed in grassland restoration: First, the contribution of climate to grassland restoration was greater than that of human activities, particularly in Qinghai, Inner Mongolia, and Xinjiang. Second, the contribution of human activities to grassland restoration was greater than that of climate in Gansu. Third, the two factors almost equally contributed to grassland restoration in Tibet. Therefore, the effectiveness of ecological restoration programs should be enhanced whenever climate change promotes grassland restoration. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:38 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:38 PM Tags: o Climate change o Grassland degradation o Grassland restoration o Human intervention o Tibetan plateau * Grassland degradation remote sensing monitoring and driving factors quantitative assessment in China from 1982 to 2010 Type Journal Article Author Wei Zhou Author Han Yang Author Lu Huang Author Chun Chen Author Xiaosong Lin Author Zhongjun Hu Author Jianlong Li URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X1730496X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvxorpBcQ$ Volume 83 Pages 303-313 Publication Ecological Indicators ISSN 1470-160X Date December 1, 2017 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2017.08.019 Abstract Remote sensing monitoring of grassland degradation will make a clear of the grassland degradation status of China. At the same time, quantitative assessment of the driving factors will benefit to the understanding of degradation mechanism and grassland degradation control. In this study, net primary productivity (NPP) and grass coverage were selected as indicators to analyze grassland degradation dynamics. And we designed a method to assess the driving force of grassland degradation based on NPP. Specifically, the potential NPP and LNPP (NPP loss because of human activities), which is the difference between potential NPP and actual NPP, were used to calculate the contribution of climate and human factors to grassland degradation, respectively. Results showed that grassland degradation area accounted for 22.7% of the total grassland area in China from 1982 to 2010. The contribution of climate change and human activities to grassland degradation was almost equilibrium (47.9% vs 46.4%). Overall, on the grassland restoration, human activities were the dominant driving factors, accounting for 78.1%, whereas the contribution of climate change was only 21.1%. However, there are obviously spatial heterogeneous on driving factors. And the contribution of climate change was larger than human activities. But for the grassland restoration, human activities were the dominant factors. Warm-dry climate was harmful to grass growth but useful restoration measurements were benefit to grassland restoration. Methods in this study can be widely used in other regions of grassland degradation evaluation. The probability distribution functions (pdfs) of habitat suitability were different for the 7 dominant grassland types. Among, the pdfs of Imperata cylindrica (Linn.) Beauv. and Themeda japonica (Willd.) Tanaka was uniform distribution and mainly distributed in the southeastern of China. The pdf of Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. was normal distribution and widely spread all over of China. The pdfs of the Kobre siapygmaea C.B. Clarke and Stipa purpurea Griseb were “leptokurtic shape” and concentrated in the Tibetan Plateau. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:55 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:55 PM Tags: o Driving mechanism o Grassland degradation o Human activities o Net primary productivity o Probability distribution functions * Dynamics of grassland carbon sequestration and its coupling relation with hydrothermal factor of Inner Mongolia Type Journal Article Author Wei Zhou Author Han Yang Author Liang Zhou Author Yizhao Chen Author Lu Huang Author Weimin Ju URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X18305302__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvswopLlQ$ Volume 95 Pages 1-11 Publication Ecological Indicators ISSN 1470-160X Date December 1, 2018 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2018.07.008 Abstract Grassland carbon (C) sink/source evaluation is important to terrestrial ecosystem C cycling research. In this paper, boreal ecosystem productivity simulator (BEPS) model was used to simulate the net ecosystem productivity (NEP) of Inner Mongolia (IM) from 1982 to 2008. The coupling relation between NEP and climate factors was then explored. Results showed that the mean annual value of grassland NEP is 12.2 gC/m2/yr, and regions with NEP of >0 (C sink) accounts for 73.2% of the total grassland area of IM. Additionally, the total C sequestration reaches 0.35 Pg C yearly. NEP was positively correlated with precipitation (R = 0.31), and the positive correlation percentage accounted for 90% of total grassland area. But NEP was negative correlated with temperature (R = −0.11), and the negative correlation percentage was 72% of case. And the partial correlation coefficient between NEP and precipitation and between NEP and temperature was 0.30 and −0.06 respectively. Meanwhile, the monthly NEP of the grassland is obviously lagging behind the precipitation and temperature, and the lag time is both three months. We defined a precipitation differential (PD) parameter to explore the coupling relation between grassland NEP and precipitation. Generally, areas with positive PD are typically a C sinks (72% of the grassland area of IM). However, regions with negative PD are likely a C source (28% of case). The obtained mean PD value of IM is 18 mm, indicating that IM is a C sink. Further analysis showed that 69% of regions have positive PD and positive NEP, and 20% of regions have negative PD and negative NEP. This result confirmed that precipitation deficit restrains C sequestration. However, the rest of 11% of regions was sensitive area of carbon sink and carbon source transition. Among 8% of the regions (with negative PD but positive NEP) have insufficient precipitation, although other conditions (i.e., ecological restoration program) are favorable to C sink. Moreover, 3% of the regions (with positive PD but negative NEP) have sufficient precipitation, but have negative NEP because of inappropriate management or low temperature. Thus, appropriate measures that can convert a C source to a C sink are necessary. This paper can serve as a reference for policy makers for the efficient targeted implementation of ecological engineering. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:38 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:38 PM Tags: o Carbon sink o Coupling relation o Net ecosystem productivity o Precipitation differential o Targeted management * Effects of precipitation and restoration vegetation on soil erosion in a semi-arid environment in the Loess Plateau, China Type Journal Article Author Ji Zhou Author Bojie Fu Author Guangyao Gao Author Yihe Lü Author Yu Liu Author Nan Lü Author Shuai Wang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816215300977__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv-3Y0-Ag$ Volume 137 Pages 1-11 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date February 1, 2016 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2015.08.015 Abstract Soil erosion is a critical environmental problem of the Loess Plateau, China. As an important project for soil and water conservation in the semi-arid environment, the Grain-for-Green extensively transformed a wide range of farmland into vegetated land after the 1980s. Yet, the effects of vegetation restoration on soil erosion reduction are not well understood. In this study, we monitored runoff and sediment yield at sites restored with six typical restoration vegetation types including shrubs (Armeniaca sibirica, Spiraea pubescens and Artemisia coparia), grasses (Andropogon), and shrub–grass-compounds (Andropogon and A. coparia) in the Loess Plateau. We employed structural equation modelling (SEM) to systematically analyze the relative effects of precipitation and vegetation on soil erosion. The results showed that the runoff and sediment yield at the grasslands were significantly higher than other cover types. The shrub cover had the strongest soil conservation capacity of all restoration vegetation. SEM results showed varying impacts of precipitation (i.e., total amount and erosive rainfall intensity) on runoff and soil erosion under different vegetation types owing to differences in canopy structure and surface litter layer. Our study quantitatively revealed the interactive effects of precipitation and vegetation on runoff and sediment, which may be beneficial to conserving available water and soil resources in the semi-arid environment. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:47 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:47 PM Tags: o Restoration vegetation o Soil erosion o Structure equation modelling o The Loess Plateau * Short-term rather than long-term exclusion of grazing increases soil bacterial diversity in an Inner Mongolian steppe Type Journal Article Author Xiaoqi Zhou Author Yanfen Wang Author Yanbin Hao URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1872203212000248__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvDuBrx2M$ Volume 32 Issue 4 Pages 180-183 Publication Acta Ecologica Sinica ISSN 1872-2032 Date August 1, 2012 Journal Abbr Acta Ecologica Sinica DOI 10.1016/j.chnaes.2012.04.009 Abstract Cessation of grazing is an important management practice in restoration of grassland ecosystem productivity and function. However, little is known about the effects of long-term exclusion of grazing on soil bacterial community structure and diversity in grassland ecosystems. This study utilized three grassland sites over two consecutive years (2004 and 2005) in a semi-arid Inner Mongolia steppe; there were a free grazing site (FG), fenced site since 1999 (UG99) and fenced site since 1979 (UG79). Soil moisture content, organic carbon (C) and nitrogen (N), NH4+–N and NO3-–N concentrations were measured across the treatments. Bacterial community structure and diversities were assessed with PCR amplification of genomic DNA extracted from soils and following denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) separation. Results showed that the UG99 soil had higher moisture, organic C, organic N and NH4+–N concentrations than the other soils. Principal components analysis of DGGE patterns showed that soil bacterial community structure sampled in 2004 was different from that in 2005, and the UG99 soil was significantly different from the FG and UG79 soils across the two consecutive years. In addition, the UG99 soil had significantly higher bacterial diversity and evenness compared with the FG and UG79 soils. These results indicate that long-term exclusion of grazing decreases bacterial diversity, which has significant implication for grassland ecosystem management. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:51 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:51 PM Tags: o Bacteria o Community structure o DGGE o Diversity o Grassland o Grazing o Inner Mongolia * Assessing the impacts of an ecological water diversion project on water consumption through high-resolution estimations of actual evapotranspiration in the downstream regions of the Heihe River Basin, China Type Journal Article Author Yanzhao Zhou Author Xin Li Author Kun Yang Author Jian Zhou URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168192317303842__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvnddWnUM$ Volume 249 Pages 210-227 Publication Agricultural and Forest Meteorology ISSN 0168-1923 Date February 15, 2018 Journal Abbr Agricultural and Forest Meteorology DOI 10.1016/j.agrformet.2017.11.011 Abstract Ecological Water Diversion Projects (EWDPs) have been implemented in several endorheic river basins in the arid region of northwest China since the beginning of the new millennium to restore the deteriorated ecosystems. However, the effects of these EWDPs are difficult to evaluate quantitatively. Here, we assessed changes in water use in Ejin Oasis in the downstream region of the Heihe River Basin, which is a typical endorheic river basin in northwest China, based on the estimated evapotranspiration (ET) during the growing season (May to October) in 2000 (before the EWDP) and 2014 (after the EWDP). The ET estimates were based on the modified surface energy balance algorithm for land (M-SEBAL) model and Landsat images. The estimated ET was validated against observations using eddy covariance towers installed on different landscapes in 2014 and was found to have a root mean square error of 1.20mmday−1 and a coefficient of determination of 0.67 at the footprint scale on satellite overpass days. The estimated ETs in two years were also compared with another remote sensing product that showed a similar spatial pattern, with a spatial mean difference of 4mm and 0.5mm, respectively. The estimated ET was then used to evaluate the impact of the EWDP on water consumption. The ET over different land use and land cover types increased, with a mean increase of 52% over the 15 years of the implementation of the EWDP in Ejin Oasis. The water consumption in Ejin Oasis in 2014 was approximately twice that in 2000. Among the changes, water consumption by croplands increased significantly, with a maximum increase of 264% because of cropland expansion and increased ET. The increases in water consumption by forests and grasslands were 60% and 25%, respectively. The lake area expanded drastically (from 0 to 37.46km2), and the corresponding water consumption caused by evaporation was zero in 2000 and approximately 3.9×107m3 from May to October in 2014. This work demonstrates that estimates of the ET based on remote sensing can be used as reliable indicators for comprehensive assessments of the impacts of the EWDPs. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:31:30 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:31:30 PM Tags: o Ejin Oasis o Evapotranspiration o EWDP o Landsat o Water consumption * Soil aggregate stability and aggregate-associated carbon and nitrogen in natural restoration grassland and Chinese red pine plantation on the Loess Plateau Type Journal Article Author Guang-yu Zhu Author Zhou-ping Shangguan Author Lei Deng URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S034181621630399X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvr4ugrJc$ Volume 149 Pages 253-260 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date February 1, 2017 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2016.10.004 Abstract Artificial afforestation and natural recovery from abandoned cropland are two typical recovery types on the Loess Plateau, China. However, few studies have investigated the difference of natural secondary vegetation restoration and man-made plantation in soil aggregate physicochemical properties and soil aggregate stability. Therefore, we have selected natural restoration grassland and Chinese red pine plantation to study the differences of soil aggregate size distributions, aggregate carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) distributions, soil aggregate stability index (fractal dimension, D; mean weight diameter, MWD; geometric mean diameter, GMD; percentage of aggregation destruction, PAD) as well as their relationships. The results showed that after ~15years restoration from abandoned cropland, natural restoration grassland had higher soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), ammonium nitrogen (AN), microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) and MWD compared to Chinese red pine forest, but Chinese red pine forest had higher aggregate C and N, D, GMD and PAD. In addition, SOC positively correlated with MWD in natural restoration grassland but opposite in Chinese red pine forest. In detail, the differences of soil general properties and aggregate size fraction percentages between two land use types were found mainly in 2–5mm, 1–2mm, 0.25mm and clay water-stable aggregate size fractions. The results suggested that higher C content would further contribute the soil aggregate stability in natural restoration grassland, and higher N content would be more important in Chinese red pine plantation. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:51 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:51 PM Tags: o Aggregate stability o Natural restoration o Plantation o SOC o Soil aggregate o Soil TN o Vegetation restoration * Variation in soil surface roughness under different land uses in a small watershed on the Loess Plateau, China Type Journal Article Author Ping-zong Zhu Author Guang-hui Zhang Author Bao-jun Zhang Author Hong-xiao Wang URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S034181622030014X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvueX7MHU$ Volume 188 Pages 104465 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date May 1, 2020 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2020.104465 Abstract Soil surface roughness (SSR) significantly influences hydrological and erosion processes under different conditions. Land use and its adjustment may greatly influence SSR via altering near soil surface characteristics and tillage operations, but few studies have been performed to quantify their effects on soil surface roughness. This study was conducted to investigate the variation in soil surface roughness under different land use types, and identify the main influencing factors contributing to these changes in a small watershed on the Loess Plateau, China. Eighteen sites were selected from five typical land use types (cropland, grassland, shrub land, orchard, and woodland) to measure random roughness (RR) by a photogrammetric method. The results showed that random roughness was greatly affected by land use types, plant species, and tillage operations. The mean RR under different land use types ranged from 9.47 to 10.06 mm. Woodland had the maximum RR, followed by cropland, shrub land, orchard, and grassland. For a given land use type, RR differed significantly between different plant species. The variation in random roughness was greatly influenced by the changes in near soil surface characteristics and tillage operations induced by land use adjustment. For the testing sites without tillage operations, RR increased linearly with soil median grain size, sand content, organic matter content, plant litter coverage, litter thickness, and litter density, while it decreased linearly with soil cohesion, silt content, and clay content. For the testing sites with tillage operations, RR was dominated by tillage operations. These results are helpful to understand the potential effects of vegetation restoration on hydrological and erosion processes on hillslopes in arid and semi-arid regions. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:20 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:20 PM Tags: o Chinese Loess Plateau o Land use change o Photogrammetry o Random roughness o Vegetation restoration * Effects of grazing exclusion on plant community and soil physicochemical properties in a desert steppe on the Loess Plateau, China Type Journal Article Author Guang-yu Zhu Author Lei Deng Author Xi-biao Zhang Author Zhou-ping Shangguan URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857416300970__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvZDuucOQ$ Volume 90 Pages 372-381 Publication Ecological Engineering ISSN 0925-8574 Date May 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Ecological Engineering DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2016.02.001 Abstract Although fencing is an effective restoration strategy used to achieve the global sustainability of grassland ecosystem, it is unclear from the literature whether fencing results in positive effects on soil physicochemical properties, plant diversity and the relationship between soil particle and soil chemical properties in a desert steppe on the Loess Plateau. Therefore, we selected fenced communities and grazed communities to study the effects of grazing exclusion on desert grassland on the Loess Plateau in China. Our results indicate that plant coverage, plant height, richness index, above- and below-ground biomass, root/shoot ratio, the number of grasses and the number of perennials increased significantly, whereas litter biomass, the number of forbs and annuals significantly decreased after approximately 12 years of fencing. Fencing also resulted in marked increases in ammonium nitrogen (AN) in the 0–10cm soil depth, soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), nitrate nitrogen (NN), clay and silt in the 0–30cm soil depth and soil total phosphorus (TP) in 0–100cm soil depth. Our results also indicated that SOC, TN, NN, clay, silt, sand and belowground biomass were significantly affected by land use type, soil layer and their interaction between land use type and soil layer. However, AN was affected by only land use type, and TP was affected by land use type and soil layer but not their interaction. In addition, there was s significant correlation between soil chemical properties (SOC, TN, TP, NN, AN) and soil particles (silt, clay and sand) in the 0–5cm soil depth. As part of our ongoing research, this paper can produce substantial ecological benefits by contributing to the development of a more scientific strategy for grassland management on the Loess Plateau. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:57 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:57 PM Tags: o Fencing o Plant diversity o Soil carbon o Soil nitrogen o Soil particle o Soil phosphorus * Land use and topographic position control soil organic C and N accumulation in eroded hilly watershed of the Loess Plateau Type Journal Article Author Hanhua Zhu Author Jinshui Wu Author Shengli Guo Author Daoyou Huang Author Qihong Zhu Author Tida Ge Author Tingwu Lei URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816214001052__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvkV8K68E$ Volume 120 Pages 64-72 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date September 1, 2014 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2014.04.007 Abstract Land use and topography strongly influence soil organic C (SOC) and N accumulation in eroded hilly regions. However, their combined effects and the underlying mechanism remain unclear. In this study, five land uses and three topographic positions across an eroded hilly watershed of the Loess Plateau were selected to investigate their effects on SOC and N accumulation. The restored grassland, shrubland and woodland (25 to 30years) increased SOC and total N by 32% to 119% in the slope and 17% to 81% in the gully, respectively compared with the cropland. These restored vegetation increased soil dissolved organic C (DOC) and microbial biomass C and N (MBC and MBN) by 1.1- to 3.0-fold in the slope and 30% to 108% in the gully, respectively. Similar increases were observed in soil aggregates, MBN/total N, soil C:N and microbial C:N ratios. These improvements were higher in the shrubland than in the other land uses. The SOC significantly decreased from the gully to the slope, and the magnitudes decreased in a sequence of cropland, grassland, shrubland and woodland. Soil DOC, total N, and MBN also decreased from the gully to the slope in the cropland, but remained unchanged in the grassland, shrubland, and woodland. Land use (P<0.05), topographic position (P<0.05), and their interaction (P<0.1) influenced SOC, total N, DOC, MBC, MBN, soil C:N and microbial C:N ratios. There were close relationships among soil aggregates, SOC and total N, and DOC, MBC and MBN. Therefore, land use, topographic position (erosion and deposition), and their interactions regulate SOC and N accumulation and their labile fractions in the eroded hilly region at a watershed scale. Our results suggested that converting cropland to shrubland is an initial strategy to restore degraded ecosystems and increase soil C sequestration in eroded hilly region of the Loess Plateau. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:01 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:01 PM Tags: o Eroded hilly watershed o Land use o Loess Plateau o Soil organic carbon o Topographic position o Total nitrogen * Greenhouse gas emission of pastoralism is lower than combined extensive/intensive livestock husbandry: A case study on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau of China Type Journal Article Author Minghao Zhuang Author Gongbuzeren Author Wenjun Li URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652617301415__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvcUjL8KY$ Volume 147 Pages 514-522 Publication Journal of Cleaner Production ISSN 0959-6526 Date March 20, 2017 Journal Abbr Journal of Cleaner Production DOI 10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.01.126 Abstract The increasing demand of livestock products and production efficiency of livestock husbandry, and restoration of grassland ecosystem have been inducing the rapid transition of livestock husbandry systems from pastoralism into intensive systems. Such transition has been resulted in changes in the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, though it is rarely studied, especially in the pastoral area of China. Aimed to address this question, on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau we selected Chanaihai village as the pastoralism system, and Guinan Grassland Development Limited Company as the combination of extensive and intensive livestock husbandry system, to compare the GHG emission between the two systems using life cycle assessment method. Our results showed that the GHG emission intensity both in per unit of area and per unit of carcass weight in the combined extensive/intensive livestock husbandry were higher than the pastoralism, indicating that the shift into the combined extensive/intensive livestock husbandry system increased the GHG emission. Such results could be attributed to the lower soil carbon uptake and higher GHG emission derived from the external inputs such as seed, diesel, and electricity in the combined extensive/intensive system. These findings demonstrated that the ongoing transition in the pastoral area of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau may be inappropriate under the background of global GHG mitigation. As suggestions, we argued that reduction in the manure combustion and increase in soil carbon uptake could be effective measures to reduce the GHG emission intensity of livestock husbandry. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:18 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:18 PM Tags: o Combined extensive/intensive system o GHG emission intensity o Life cycle assessment o Pastoralism o Qinghai-Tibet Plateau * Mammoth steppe: a high-productivity phenomenon Type Journal Article Author S.A. Zimov Author N.S. Zimov Author A.N. Tikhonov Author F.S. Chapin URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277379112003939__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvu_ueKbw$ Volume 57 Pages 26-45 Publication Quaternary Science Reviews ISSN 0277-3791 Date December 4, 2012 Journal Abbr Quaternary Science Reviews DOI 10.1016/j.quascirev.2012.10.005 Abstract At the last deglaciation Earth's largest biome, mammoth-steppe, vanished. Without knowledge of the productivity of this ecosystem, the evolution of man and the glacial–interglacial dynamics of carbon storage in Earth's main carbon reservoirs cannot be fully understood. Analyzes of fossils 14C dates and reconstruction of mammoth steppe climatic envelope indicated that changing climate wasn't a reason for extinction of this ecosystem. We calculate, based on animal skeleton density in frozen soils of northern Siberia, that mammoth-steppe animal biomass and plant productivity, even in these coldest and driest of the planet's grasslands were close to those of an African savanna. Numerous herbivores maintained ecosystem productivity. By reducing soil moisture and permafrost temperature, accumulating carbon in soils, and increasing the regional albedo, mammoth-steppe amplified glacial–interglacial climate variations. The re-establishment of grassland ecosystems would slow permafrost thawing and reduce the current warming rate. Proposed methods can be used to estimate animal density in other ecosystems. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:29:00 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:29:00 PM Tags: o Extinction o Global change o Mammoth ecosystem o Productivity * Modelling habitat suitability for alpine rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta helvetica) combining object-based classification of IKONOS imagery and Habitat Suitability Index modelling Type Journal Article Author Margit Zohmann Author Josef Pennerstorfer Author Ursula Nopp-Mayr URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304380013000355__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvkUAmMk4$ Volume 254 Pages 22-32 Publication Ecological Modelling ISSN 0304-3800 Date April 10, 2013 Journal Abbr Ecological Modelling DOI 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2013.01.008 Abstract The maintenance and restoration of high-quality habitats of wildlife species in alpine ecosystems are key issues in conservation biology. The rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta helvetica), which prefers open habitats above the treeline, is listed in Annex II of the EU Bird Directive. Large areas identified as potentially important for conservation and restricted financial resources for the implementation of conservation activities necessitate the development of tools supporting habitat monitoring and management. We developed a knowledge-based Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) model for rock ptarmigan and combined it with results of an object-based image analysis of very high resolution (VHR) satellite images (IKONOS) to create a rock ptarmigan habitat suitability map in the eastern Alps of Austria. The mechanistic habitat model contained 9 habitat variables, decisive for summer habitat use of rock ptarmigan (i.e., slope, patchiness, and land cover classes for: rocks, rocks intermixed with vegetation, scree, dwarf shrubs, dwarf pine, alpine/subnival grassland, and forest). We used Definiens Professional 5.0© software for the object-based image analyses, applying multi-resolution segmentation methods. We generated a classification hierarchy comprising the same variables used in the HSI model, each augmented by areas “in shadow”, and took into account clouds, water bodies and human infrastructures. We assessed classification accuracies, applying an Error Matrix based on TTA Mask. We reached an overall classification accuracy of 0.75 and a kappa statistic value of 0.70, the latter indicating good to very good agreement. The classification results indicated that the object-oriented image classification approach using VHR data was appropriately used to create an adequate thematic map for further habitat modelling. We calculated the habitat suitability maps using MapModels. Model output was validated with ptarmigan presence–absence data, using signs (droppings) as indicators of presence. We compared presence–absence data and results of habitat suitability classification employing contingency tables and non-parametric correlations. Frequencies of sample plots with rock ptarmigan signs significantly differed between the habitat suitability classes and significantly correlated with the HSI level. Combining the mechanistic HSI model with an object-base image analysis of VHR satellite images was an effective tool for the spatially explicit assessment of habitat suitability and could be useful in regional monitoring, planning and management activities for ptarmigan. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:32:12 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:32:12 PM Tags: o Alpine rock ptarmigan o Habitat monitoring tool o Habitat suitability modelling o IKONOS o Image classification o Object-based image analysis * Effects of restoration actions on soil and landscape functions: Atriplex nummularia L. plantations in Ouled Dlim (Central Morocco) Type Journal Article Author Claudio Zucca Author Manuel Pulido-Fernández Author Francesco Fava Author Leonarda Dessena Author Maurizio Mulas URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167198713000743__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv0NIuBLY$ Volume 133 Pages 101-110 Publication Soil and Tillage Research ISSN 0167-1987 Date October 1, 2013 Journal Abbr Soil and Tillage Research DOI 10.1016/j.still.2013.04.002 Abstract Fodder shrub plantations (Atriplex nummularia L.) were extensively introduced in dryland areas of central Morocco (Marrakech province, Ouled Dlim and Ouled Nejim municipalities) to rehabilitate degraded rangeland and to mitigate desertification processes. These interventions deeply modified the original rural landscape, characterized by sparse vegetation cover in relation to a long history of intense grazing and subsistence cropping, and by soils prone to surface crusting and to high runoff generation. The Landscape Function Analysis (LFA) was applied to study the effects of the Atriplex plantation on soil and landscape functions. The LFA landscape functional indicators (Landscape Organization Index, LOI; Patch Area Index, PAI; Number of Patches, NP; Patch Number Index, PNI) were measured along seventeen 50-m-long transects, established to compare five “actions” (CR, Cropped; GR, Grazed; MA, Mature plantation; YA-1, Young plantation with moderate biomass development; YA-2, Young plantation with good biomass development). The LFA soil surface indicators, and the related NC (Nutrient Cycling) and IR (Infiltration/Runoff) indices were assessed in the observed ecological patches and inter-patches, for a total number of 157 microsites. Biomass production was measured in all the studied plantations. Multiple group comparison analysis was performed to compare the mean values of the LFA indices according to action and patch types. Correlation analysis was carried out to study the relationships between biomass and functional indices. The results obtained show that the young and well developed plantations have the stronger impacts on all the LFA indices and that the plantation effects are mostly linked to the localized synergistic effect of the plant–furrow association. In the study area the LFA provided an effective metric to assess the relative effectiveness of the actions compared. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:44 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:44 PM Tags: o Landscape Function Analysis o LFA o Nutrient cycling o Runoff and infiltration o Vegetation pattern * Land restoration by fodder shrubs in a semi-arid agro-pastoral area of Morocco. Effects on soils Type Journal Article Author Claudio Zucca Author Francesca Julitta Author Franco Previtali URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S034181621100138X__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvIhNC08w$ Volume 87 Issue 3 Pages 306-312 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date December 1, 2011 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2011.06.017 Abstract The present study assesses the effects of Atriplex nummularia Lindl. growth on soil chemical properties in a semi-arid area. The area is located in the Marrakech province (Morocco), in a degraded agropastoral region subjected to soil restoration actions based on fodder shrub plantations. Three plantations of different age (1995, 2000, 2001), conducted in three different sites, were investigated. In each site, three plots with different degree of plant development (Good, Medium, Poor), were chosen. Three under-canopy (Uc) and three between-plants (Bp) minipits were sampled (0–10cm and 10–20cm) and analysed in each plot, for a total number of 54 minipits. Statistic analysis was carried out to check the significance of the observed Uc–Bp average differences. A significant increase under canopy was observed in soil Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR; +139%) and OC (+32%) in the top layer (0–10cm). The overall effects of the plantations on soil quality are discussed. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:06:55 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:06:55 PM Tags: o Alkalinity o Desertification o Land restoration o Organic carbon o Rangeland * The Role of Propagule Banks from Drainage Ditches Dominated by Free-Floating or Submerged Plants in Vegetation Restoration Type Journal Article Author Jeroen P. van Zuidam Author Ernst P. Raaphorst Author Edwin T. H. M. Peeters URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2011.00784.x__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvcQ-l5vQ$ Rights © 2011 Society for Ecological Restoration International Volume 20 Issue 3 Pages 416-425 Publication Restoration Ecology ISSN 1526-100X Date 2012 DOI 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2011.00784.x Accessed 2020-03-11, 11:54:51 PM Library Catalog Wiley Online Library Language en Abstract Dominance by free-floating plants results in a loss of plant species in many waters. An important source for re-establishment of non-floating aquatic plants can be the propagule bank. This study focuses on whether the propagule bank of free-floating plant–dominated ditch sediments can serve as potential source for recovery of a diverse plant community. The first objective was to determine differences in propagule germination from sediments of ditches in the Netherlands that differ in vegetation composition through a seedling-emergence experiment. The second objective was to analyze the effect of sediment disturbance on the number of germinating propagules. The results show that, compared to sediments from ditches with submerged vegetation, sediments from free-floating plant–dominated ditches produced significantly lower numbers of individuals and species of submerged and emergent plants, while numbers of individuals and species of free-floating plants were higher. These results suggest that sediments from free-floating plant–dominated ditches have lower potential to recover a diverse plant community probably resulting from positive feedback mechanisms caused by the vegetation present, maintaining the free-floating plant–dominated state. Sediment disturbance strongly favors the germination of free-floating plant propagules, especially from free-floating plant–dominated ditch sediments. Ditch maintenance activities such as mowing and dredging will therefore likely favor persistence of the free-floating plant–dominated state. To shift from dominance by free-floating plants to a more diverse plant community, alternative maintenance methods should be considered that cause less sediment disturbance together with measures that promote colonization such as temporary drawdown or re-introduction of species. Date Added 2020-03-11, 11:54:51 PM Modified 2020-03-11, 11:54:51 PM Tags: o macrophytes o monocultures o propagules o recovery potential o sediment disturbance o seedbank Attachments o Snapshot * Changes in carbon and nitrogen storage along a restoration gradient in a semiarid sandy grassland Type Journal Article Author Xiaoan Zuo Author Jing Zhang Author Xin Zhou Author Xueyong Zhao Author Shaokun Wang Author Jie Lian Author Peng Lv Author Johannes Knops URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1146609X15300138__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvKv7Y5jY$ Volume 69 Pages 1-8 Publication Acta Oecologica ISSN 1146-609X Date November 1, 2015 Journal Abbr Acta Oecologica DOI 10.1016/j.actao.2015.08.004 Abstract Understanding carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pools in degraded ecosystems is useful to predict future C and N sequestration potential during restoration. Here we examined the distribution of C and N pools in plant–soil system at four successional stages: mobile dune, semi-fixed dune, fixed dune and grassland. The four stages reflect the successional sequence during sandy grassland restoration in Horqin Sandy Land, Northern China. C and N storage in plant biomass, litter and soil increased significantly with advancing sandy grassland restoration. With the conversion from mobile dune to semi-fixed dune, fixed dune and grassland, total ecosystem C and N storage increased by 1.9, 4.8, 7.1 and 3.3, 15.7, 20.6 times, respectively. More than 80% of C and N storage were stored in soil in sandy grassland restoration. C or N storage in plant and root biomass, litter and soil was positively correlated to species richness. Soil C and N storage was positively correlated to the C and N in plant and root biomass. These results suggest that sandy grassland restoration has a high potential to sequester C and N in the soil. Increasing plant production and species diversity via restoration likely enhance the C and N sequestration in sandy grassland ecosystems. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:17:57 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:17:57 PM Tags: o Carbon sequestration o Dune stabilization o Plant–soil system o Sandy grassland o Species richness o Vegetation restoration * Plant functional diversity mediates the effects of vegetation and soil properties on community-level plant nitrogen use in the restoration of semiarid sandy grassland Type Journal Article Author Xiaoan Zuo Author Jing Zhang Author Peng Lv Author Xin Zhou Author Yulin Li Author Yayong Luo Author Yongqing Luo Author Jie Lian Author Xiyuan Yue URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X16000169__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dve5-Aj1A$ Volume 64 Pages 272-280 Publication Ecological Indicators ISSN 1470-160X Date May 1, 2016 Journal Abbr Ecological Indicators DOI 10.1016/j.ecolind.2016.01.012 Abstract Species-rich plant communities use nitrogen (N) more efficiently in grassland ecosystems; however, the role of plant functional diversity in affecting community level plant N-use has received little attention. We examined plant N content, stock and N-use efficiency at community-level along a restoration gradient of sandy grassland (mobile dune, semi-fixed dune, fixed dune and grassland) in Horqin Sand Land, northern China. We used the functional trait-based approach to examine how plant functional diversity, reflected by the most abundant species’ traits (community-weighted mean, CWM) and the dispersion of functional trait values (FDis), affected N-use efficiency in sandy grassland restoration. We further used the structure equation model (SEM) to evaluate the direct or indirect effects of plant species richness, biomass, functional diversity and soil properties on community-level plant N-use efficiency. We found that plant biomass and its N stock increased following sandy grassland restoration, and there were lower plant N content and higher N-use efficiency in semi-fixed dune, fixed dune and grassland as compared with mobile dune. N-use efficiency was positively associated with plant species richness, biomass, CWM plant height, CWM leaf C:N, FDis and soil gradient, but SEM results showed that species richness, CWM leaf C:N, plant biomass and FDis controlled by soil properties were the main factors exerting direct effects. CWM plant height also had a positive effect on N-use efficiency through its indirect effect on plant biomass. Soil gradient increased N-use efficiency through an indirect effect on vegetation rather than a direct effect. Final SEM models based on different plant functional diversity explained over 74% of variances in N-use efficiency. Effects of plant functional diversity on N-use efficiency supported both the mass ratio hypothesis and the complementarity hypothesis. Our results clearly highlight the important role of plant functional diversity in mediating the effects of vegetation and soil properties on community level plant N-use in sandy grassland ecosystems. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:20:20 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:20:20 PM Tags: o Functional dispersion o Functional traits o Mass ratio hypothesis o Niche complementarity o Structure equation model o Vegetation restoration * Assessment of snow drift impact in the northern steppe region of China Type Journal Article Author Hejun Zuo Author Min Yan Author Haibing Wang Author Zhi Dong Author Gangtie Li URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816219300736__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dvZQrS8s0$ Volume 177 Pages 219-226 Publication CATENA ISSN 0341-8162 Date June 1, 2019 Journal Abbr CATENA DOI 10.1016/j.catena.2019.02.023 Abstract The process of blowing snow is important for secondary distribution of water resources in seasonal grassland snow areas because it affects the regeneration, growth, and nutrient circulation of vegetation. This study conducted field observations of blowing snow and snow accumulation in a grassland area typical of northern China. The results showed that in the near-surface area (0 to 100 cm), snow drifting intensity increased exponentially with a mean wind speed of 2 m/s, and that the maximum snow drifting intensity, which was found within 30 cm of the surface, accounted for 89.61% of the total amount of snow drifting within the near-surface area. The snow drifting intensity was strong under conditions of an abundant snow source and sparse vegetation, with an average value of 2.203 g/cm/min. The snow drifting intensity was lower under conditions of an insufficient snow source and higher vegetation coverage, with an average value of 0.545 g/cm/min. In typical grassland areas with a bare surface and sparse vegetation, snow cover is generally thin; the mean snow depth in such areas during the observation period of this study was 4.03 cm, and this constituted the source of the drifting snow. Snow cover was thicker in areas with taller grass and greater vegetation coverage; the mean value of snow depth in such areas during the observation period was 16.56 cm, and this constituted the main snow cover area. The observation results provide basic data to support the estimation of snow cover amount in grassland ecosystems, optimization of the utilization of snow water resources, regularization of snow cover, restoration of vegetation, and prevention and control of snowstorms. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:22:58 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:22:58 PM Tags: o Blowing snow o Field observation o Snow cover o Snow drifting intensity o Typical steppe * Rebuilding soil hydrological functioning after swidden agriculture in eastern Madagascar Type Journal Article Author B.W. Zwartendijk Author H.J. van Meerveld Author C.P. Ghimire Author L.A. Bruijnzeel Author M. Ravelona Author J.P.G. Jones URL https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880917300038__;!!JYXjzlvb!y2uVD_wpMdQbZe70j8xZN2yHn0oWZNn-ZLZlAASPdjCqI-SZLJ20h5Gxw7dv5yQiYpo$ Volume 239 Pages 101-111 Publication Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment ISSN 0167-8809 Date February 15, 2017 Journal Abbr Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2017.01.002 Abstract Land-use change due to the widespread practice of swidden agriculture affects the supply of ecosystem services. However, there is comparatively little understanding of how the hydrological functioning of soils, which affects rainfall infiltration and therefore flood risk, dry-season flows and surface erosion, is affected by repeated vegetation clearing and burning, the extent to which this can recover following land abandonment and vegetation regrowth, and whether active restoration speeds up recovery. We used interviews with local land users and indicator plant species to reconstruct the land-use history of 19 different sites in upland eastern Madagascar that represent four different land-use categories: semi-mature forests that were never burnt but were influenced by manual logging until 15–20 years ago; fallows that were actively reforested 6–9 years ago; 2–10year old naturally regenerating fallows; and highly degraded fire-climax grassland sites. Surface- and near-surface (down to 30cm depth) saturated soil hydraulic conductivities (Ksat), as well as the dominant flow pathways for infiltration and percolation were determined for each land-cover type. Surface Ksat in the forest sites was very high (median: 724mmh−1) and infiltration was dominated by flow along roots and other preferential flow pathways (macropores), whereas Ksat in the degraded land was low (median: 45mmh−1) with infiltration being dominated by near-surface matrix flow. The total area of blue-dye stains was inversely correlated to the Ksat. Both surface- and near-surface Ksat had increased significantly after 6–9 years of forest regeneration (median values of 203 and 161mmh−1 for reforestation and natural regeneration, respectively). Additional observations are needed to more fully understand the rates at which soil hydrological functioning can be rebuilt and whether active replanting decreases the time required to restore soil hydrological functioning or not. Date Added 2020-03-17, 7:27:43 PM Modified 2020-03-17, 7:27:43 PM Tags: o Forest regeneration o Preferential flow pathways o Reforestation o Runoff generation o Saturated hydraulic conductivity o Swidden agriculture