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Drivers of seedling establishment success in dryland restoration efforts

September 2021
Nature Ecology & Evolution 5(9)

DOI:10.1038/s41559-021-01510-3

Authors:

Nancy Shackelford

University of Victoria

Gustavo Brant Paterno

Georg-August-Universität Göttingen

Daniel E. Winkler

United States Geological Survey

Todd E. Erickson

University of Western Australia

Show all 76 authorsHide

Restoration of degraded drylands is urgently needed to mitigate climate change, reverse desertification and secure livelihoods for the two billion people who live in these areas. Bold global targets have been set for dryland restoration to restore millions of hectares of degraded land. These targets have been questioned as overly ambitious, but without a global evaluation of successes and failures it is impossible to gauge feasibility. Here we examine restoration seeding outcomes across 174 sites on six continents, encompassing 594,065 observations of 671 plant species. Our findings suggest reasons for optimism. Seeding had a positive impact on species presence: in almost a third of all treatments, 100% of species seeded were growing at first monitoring. However, dryland restoration is risky: 17% of projects failed, with no establishment of any seeded species, and consistent declines were found in seeded species as projects matured. Across projects, higher seeding rates and larger seed sizes resulted in a greater probability of recruitment, with further influences on species success including site aridity, taxonomic identity and species life form. Our findings suggest that investigations examining these predictive factors will yield more effective and informed restoration decision-making.

Distribution of native and exotic richness of seeded species (a) Frequency distribution of species richness across treatments. (b) Richness of seeded native species across regions. (c) Relationship between richness of seeded species and aridity, and (d) Richness of seeded exotic species across regions.

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Frequency distribution of response and predictors for initial recruitment (a) Frequency distribution of species success (response) and (b) seeded and unseeded treatments (predictor).

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Frequency distribution of response and predictors for Q3 (trends in vegetation development) (a) Frequency distribution of species success (response), and predictors: (b) life form, (c) weed control), (d) aridity, (e) seed rate, (f) weeks since restoration and (g) seed mass (g).

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Predicted species presence (%) across biotic and abiotic drivers (a) seed rate, (b) site aridity, (c) weed control, (d) time since restoration, and (e) seed mass. Solid lines (a, b, d, f) and dots (c) indicate population-level predictions (that is marginal means) conditioned on the fixed effects. Confidence bands and error bars represent 95% confidence intervals. Continuous predictors (a, b, d, e) are shown after centering and standardization (z-score transformation).

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Frequency distribution of response and predictors for Q3 (North America only, trends in vegetation development) (a) Frequency distribution of species success (response), and predictors: (b) life form, (c) weed control), (d) aridity, (e) seed rate, (f) weeks since restoration and (g) seed mass (g). Data was cropped to studies performed in North America.

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Articles

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-021-01510-3

A full list of affiliations appears at the end of the paper.

Restoration ecology is rapidly advancing in response to the

ever-expanding global decline in ecosystem integrity and its

associated socio-economic repercussions1–4. Nowhere are

these dynamics more evident than in drylands, which help sustain

39% of the world’s human population5 but remain some of the most

difficult areas to restore6,7. Restoration of degraded dryland ecosys-

tems is frequently constrained by low and variable precipitation,

extreme temperatures, relatively low soil fertility, seed quality and

availability and a prevalence of invasive species8–11. As a result, suc-

cessful establishment of seeded species in dryland restoration proj-

ects may be as low as 1%12,13. Despite these challenges, only a small

fraction of terrestrial ecology (6%)14 and restoration studies (<5%)15

are conducted in drylands.

Dryland ecosystems are ecologically distinct16,17, increasing in

global extent under shifting climates18–20 and have been recognized

as degraded in over 50% of their range21. Depending on the sever-

ity of degradation, vegetation recovery of depleted and denuded

dryland landscapes through natural succession processes is very

slow, if not impossible22. Passive restoration methods (for example

reducing livestock and wildlife grazing) are often ineffective alone,

as degraded dryland environments can show stability and resilience

in undesired states11. Resource-intensive methods such as seedling

Drivers of seedling establishment success in

dryland restoration efforts

Nancy Shackelford 1,2,71 ✉ , Gustavo B. Paterno 3,4,71, Daniel E. Winkler5, Todd E. Erickson6,7,

Elizabeth A. Leger8, Lauren N. Svejcar9, Martin F. Breed 10, Akasha M. Faist11, Peter A. Harrison 12,

Michael F. Curran13, Qinfeng Guo 14, Anita Kirmer 15, Darin J. Law16, Kevin Z. Mganga17,

Seth M. Munson 18, Lauren M. Porensky19, R. Emiliano Quiroga20,21, Péter Török 22,

Claire E. Wainwright23, Ali Abdullahi24, Matt A. Bahm25, Elizabeth A. Ballenger26, Nichole Barger2,

Owen W. Baughman27, Carina Becker 28, Manuel Esteban Lucas-Borja29, Chad S. Boyd9,

Carla M. Burton30, Philip J. Burton 30, Eman Calleja31, Peter J. Carrick32, Alex Caruana 31,

Charlie D. Clements33, Kirk W. Davies9, Balázs Deák 34, Jessica Drake35, Sandra Dullau 15,

Joshua Eldridge36, Erin Espeland37, Hannah L. Farrell18, Stephen E. Fick5, Magda Garbowski38,

Enrique G. de la Riva39, Peter J. Golos 7, Penelope A. Grey40, Barry Heydenrych41,

Patricia M. Holmes 42, Jeremy J. James43, Jayne Jonas-Bratten 44, Réka Kiss34, Andrea T. Kramer45,

Julie E. Larson2, Juan Lorite 46,47, C. Ellery Mayence48, Luis Merino-Martín 49, Tamás Miglécz50,

Suanne Jane Milton 51,52, Thomas A. Monaco53, Arlee M. Montalvo54, Jose A. Navarro-Cano55,

Mark W. Paschke56, Pablo Luis Peri57, Monica L. Pokorny58, Matthew J. Rinella59, Nelmarie Saayman60,

Merilynn C. Schantz61, Tina Parkhurst62, Eric W. Seabloom 63, Katharine L. Stuble64,

Shauna M. Uselman65, Orsolya Valkó 34, Kari Veblen 66, Scott Wilson67, Megan Wong68,

Zhiwei Xu 69 and Katharine L. Suding 2,70

Restoration of degraded drylands is urgently needed to mitigate climate change, reverse desertification and secure livelihoods

for the two billion people who live in these areas. Bold global targets have been set for dryland restoration to restore millions

of hectares of degraded land. These targets have been questioned as overly ambitious, but without a global evaluation of suc-

cesses and failures it is impossible to gauge feasibility. Here we examine restoration seeding outcomes across 174 sites on six

continents, encompassing 594,065 observations of 671 plant species. Our findings suggest reasons for optimism. Seeding had

a positive impact on species presence: in almost a third of all treatments, 100% of species seeded were growing at first monitor-

ing. However, dryland restoration is risky: 17% of projects failed, with no establishment of any seeded species, and consistent

declines were found in seeded species as projects matured. Across projects, higher seeding rates and larger seed sizes resulted

in a greater probability of recruitment, with further influences on species success including site aridity, taxonomic identity

and species life form. Our findings suggest that investigations examining these predictive factors will yield more effective and

informed restoration decision-making.

NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION | VOL 5 | SEPTEMBER 2021 | 1283–1290 | www.nature.com/natecolevol 1283

Content courtesy of Springer Nature, terms of use apply. Rights reserved

Performance of five arid land shrub species in direct seeding: implications for seed-based restoration

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Direct seeding is one of the most feasible techniques in practical, logistical, and economic terms for large-scale restoration of arid lands. However, several factors are still under study to enhance the outcomes of this restoration alternative, with species selection being a pivotal component. To evaluate differences in the performance of species in direct seeding, we selected five shrubs from the arid region known as "Monte Desert" in Argentina: Atriplex lampa, Hyalis argentea, Larrea divaricata, Neltuma flexuosa var. depressa, and Parkinsonia praecox. Direct seeding was carried out in furrows (4.0 m long, 0.5 m wide, and 0.4 m deep) with seeds previously treated to dormancy alleviation and with a density of 250 seeds/m 2. We evaluated results in 12 furrows, where topsoil and hydrogel were deposited. The biological variables considered were seedling emergence, seedlings establishment regarding sowed seeds, and seedling success (survival in relation to emerged seedlings) after almost 3 years. The species with the highest emergence and establishment rates was A. lampa (50.16 and 23.75%, respectively). L. divaricata showed the lowest values for these variables (2.17 and 0.83%, respectively). On the other hand, the survival of N. flexuosa seedlings was >2Â that of L. divaricata (65.02 vs. 30.36%). We discuss the notable differences in species performance and the possible role of furrows in the results.

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Synthetic‐auxin herbicides are often used to control woody plants and aid in grassland restoration. Seed‐based restoration is common alongside herbicide applications and there may be unintended effects of these herbicides on dryland plants at the seed and seedling stages. Additionally, abiotic conditions at the time of herbicide application may influence herbicide–soil–plant interactions. We conducted a greenhouse study to examine the effects of a common shrub‐control herbicide mix and its interaction with soil type and a post‐herbicide water pulse on common desert plant seeds and seedlings. In this greenhouse study, we found that a subset of species responded negatively to soil residual herbicide activity of a mixture of aminopyralid, clopyralid, and triclopyr at the seed and seedling stages. Species sensitive to soil herbicide residues were primarily shrub and forb species that are often the target species of herbicide applications for woody plant control, such as honey mesquite ( Prosopis glandulosa ) and creosote bush ( Larrea tridentata ). However, two shrub species (four‐wing saltbush [ Atriplex canescens ], soaptree yucca [ Yucca elata ]) and one perennial grass species (Arizona cottontop [ Digitaria californica ]), which are used in dryland restoration projects, were found to be particularly sensitive to soil residual herbicide activity. Thus, if using these herbicides to control woody plants and restore herbaceous vegetation via active seeding or relying on the in situ seed bank, considerations should be given to what species are used in the seed mix, what species are already present in the soil seed bank, and other details of the circumstances of herbicide application.

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Time, climate, and soil settings set the course for reclamation outcomes following dryland energy development

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Accelerated dryland expansion regulates future variability in dryland gross primary production

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Ecological restoration is practiced worldwide as a direct response to the degradation and destruction of ecosystems. In addition to its ecological impact it has enormous potential to improve population health, socio‐economic wellbeing, and the integrity of diverse national and ethnic cultures. In recognition of the critical role of restoration in ecosystem health, the United Nations declared 2021–2030 as the Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. We propose six practical strategies to strengthen the effectiveness and amplify the work of ecological restoration to meet the aspirations of the Decade: (1) incorporate holistic actions, including working at effective scale; (2) include Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK); (3) collaborate with allied movements and organizations; (4) advance and apply soil microbiome science and technology; (5) study and show the relationships between ecosystem health and human health; and (6) provide training and capacity‐building opportunities for communities and practitioners. We offer these in the hope of identifying possible leverage points and pathways for collaborative action among interdisciplinary groups already committed to act and support the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Collectively, these six strategies work synergistically to improve human health and also the health of the ecosystems on which we all depend, and can be the basis for a global restorative culture. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

The right trait in the right place at the right time: Matching traits to environment improves restoration outcomes

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The challenges of restoration in dryland ecosystems are growing due to a rise in anthropogenic disturbance and increasing aridity. Plant functional traits are often used to predict plant performance and can offer a window into potential outcomes of restoration efforts across environmental gradients. We analyzed a database including 15 years of seeding outcomes across 150 sites on the Colorado Plateau, a cold desert ecoregion in the western United States, and analyzed the independent and interactive effects of functional traits (seed mass, height, and specific leaf area) and local biologically‐relevant climate variables on seeding success. We predicted that the best models would include an interaction between plant traits and climate, indicating a need to match the right trait value to the right climate conditions to maximize seeding success. Indeed, we found that both plant height and seed size significantly interacted with temperature seasonality, with larger seeds and taller plants performing better in more seasonal environments. We also determined that these trait‐environment patterns are not influenced by whether a species is native or non‐native. Our results inform the selection of seed mixes for restoring areas with specific climatic conditions, while also demonstrating the strong influence of temperature seasonality on seeding success in the Colorado Plateau region.

TRY plant trait database – enhanced coverage and open access

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Jan 2020
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Plant traits—the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants—determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait-based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits—almost complete coverage for ‘plant growth form’. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait– nvironmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives.

Direct seeding and outplantings in drylands of Argentinean Patagonia: estimated costs, and prospects for large-scale restoration and rehabilitation

Article

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May 2019

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. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

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