Plant recolonization of reclamation areas from patches of salvaged forest floor material |
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| Authors: | Caren E Jones Simon M Landhäusser |
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| Affiliation: | Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada |
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| Abstract: | Question Understorey development is a great challenge in the restoration of many forest sites, particularly when sources of vegetation propagules are scarce. Can placement of propagule‐rich soil patches within reclaimed landscapes otherwise covered with propagule‐poor material promote the dispersal of vegetation from the patches into the surrounding areas? Location Large reclamation site in the Canadian (Alberta) boreal forest. Method Patches of propagule‐rich forest floor material were placed within a matrix of propagule‐poor peat material. Vegetation assessments (cover estimates, seed rain) were done surrounding these patches in the third and fourth growing seasons. Results There was significant egress of species from the patches into the peat after four growing seasons, and overall species associated with the patches had higher cover in the peat than species that were associated with the peat itself. While wind‐dispersed herbaceous species from the patches were found at the leading edge of the egressing community, most species used vegetative propagation, resulting in short egress distances. Several patch‐associated species were found in seed rain collected on the peat areas but were not observed in this material, suggesting seedbed limitations. Conclusion Despite the relatively short distance of egress, this experiment suggests that placement of propagule‐rich soil material within reclaimed landscapes will promote egress into adjacent propagule‐poor soil material. |
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| Keywords: | applied nucleation boreal forest plant community plant egress propagule bank reclamation restoration ecology soil placement soil salvage understorey |
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