Article (Scientific journals)
Why some species cannot colonize restored habitats? The effects of seed and microsite availability
Piqueray, Julien; Saad, Layla; Bizoux, Jean-Philippe et al.
2013In Journal for Nature Conservation, 21, p. 189-197
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Keywords :
Belgium; Calcareous grasslands; Fire-related cues; Microsite availability; Restoration; Seed availability
Abstract :
[en] 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 colonizing restored habitats. We aimed at explaining this lack of colonization 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 colonization, 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.
Disciplines :
Environmental sciences & ecology
Author, co-author :
Piqueray, Julien ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Forêts, Nature et Paysage > Biodiversité et Paysage
Saad, Layla ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech > Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech
Bizoux, Jean-Philippe ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Forêts, Nature et Paysage > Biodiversité et Paysage
Mahy, Grégory ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Forêts, Nature et Paysage > Biodiversité et Paysage
Language :
English
Title :
Why some species cannot colonize restored habitats? The effects of seed and microsite availability
Publication date :
2013
Journal title :
Journal for Nature Conservation
ISSN :
1617-1381
eISSN :
1618-1093
Publisher :
Elsevier GmbH, Urban & Fischer Verlag
Volume :
21
Pages :
189-197
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Available on ORBi :
since 31 March 2013

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