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Phytometers are underutilised for evaluating ecological restoration
Umeå universitet, Teknisk-naturvetenskapliga fakulteten, Institutionen för ekologi, miljö och geovetenskap. (Landskapsekologi)
Umeå universitet, Teknisk-naturvetenskapliga fakulteten, Institutionen för ekologi, miljö och geovetenskap. (Landskapsekologi)
Umeå universitet, Teknisk-naturvetenskapliga fakulteten, Institutionen för ekologi, miljö och geovetenskap. (Landskapsekologi)
2013 (Engelska)Ingår i: Basic and Applied Ecology, ISSN 1439-1791, E-ISSN 1618-0089, Vol. 14, nr 5, s. 369-377Artikel i tidskrift (Refereegranskat) Published
Abstract [en]

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 meters, i.e. phytometers, of restoration success. Phytometer plants are transplanted to different conditions to integrate measures of the prevailing conditions. We analysed 100 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 wet 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.

Ort, förlag, år, upplaga, sidor
Jena: Elsevier, 2013. Vol. 14, nr 5, s. 369-377
Nyckelord [en]
Bioassay, Ecosystem change, Environmental disturbance, Indicator, Plants, Transplants
Nationell ämneskategori
Naturvetenskap Ekologi
Forskningsämne
ekologisk botanik
Identifikatorer
URN: urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-67639DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2013.05.008ISI: 000321497300001Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-84879887395OAI: oai:DiVA.org:umu-67639DiVA, id: diva2:619495
Forskningsfinansiär
Forskningsrådet Formas, 215-2006-491Tillgänglig från: 2013-05-03 Skapad: 2013-03-25 Senast uppdaterad: 2023-03-24Bibliografiskt granskad
Ingår i avhandling
1. Use of phytometers for evaluating ecological restoration
Öppna denna publikation i ny flik eller fönster >>Use of phytometers for evaluating ecological restoration
2013 (Engelska)Doktorsavhandling, sammanläggning (Övrigt vetenskapligt)
Abstract [en]

The increase in ecological restoration can be attributed to valuation of healthyecosystems and concerns for future climate changes. Freshwaters belong among theglobally most altered ecosystems and are restored to counteract human impacts.Many Swedish streams that were channelized to facilitate timber floating have beenrestored by returning boulders and reconnecting riparian with instream habitats.Evaluation of restoration lacks reliable indicators of organism performance, possiblydue to the complexity of ecosystem responses. Phytometers, i.e. standardized plantstransplanted to different environments, are important indicators of restorationsuccess. Phytometers integrate multiple environmental factors and measureecosystem functions directly. This thesis combines a literature review with threeexperiments and focuses on phytometer use for evaluating ecological restoration. Werecommend using different phytometer species, life-forms and life-stages and longexperiments (>1 year) to obtain high resolution and generality (I). In greenhouse andfield experiments we investigated the effect of restoring channelized rivers onphytometers and abiotic variables in the riparian zone. We hypothesized thatphytometer performance varies with stream size and climate. In the greenhouse, weanalysed differences in fertility between channelized and restored reaches by growingphytometers on soils from experimental sites (II). Phytometers grew better on soilsfrom restored sites in small streams, indicating a positive effect of restoration on soil.We detected this effect already 3-7 years after restoration, suggesting a fasterrecovery than predicted. In a short-term field experiment focusing on germinationand establishment of sunflowers, seedling survival, substrate availability, and soilnutrient content in large streams were enhanced by restoration (III). Overall,phytometers performed best at high altitudes and short growing seasons. The use ofMolinia caerulea and Filipendula ulmaria as phytometers in a long-term fieldexperiment (IV) revealed a better performance at restored sites. One reason was thatsummer flow-variability was higher, particularly in medium-sized streams. Sincephytometers allocated more biomass to belowground parts at restored compared tochannelized sites, it seems important to separate above- and belowground biomass inrestoration evaluation. Restoration outcomes vary with location in the catchment.Knowing such potentially different responses could guide restorationists in where tolocate restoration to be effective or successful. We suggest that small streams reactparticularly fast to restoration. Given that the proportion of small streams is high andthat restoration success in headwaters may favour downstream reaches, werecommend restoration to begin in tributaries to larger rivers. It is not always knownwhy phytometers react the way they do. Greenhouse experiments can disentangle thecauses of phytometer responses in the field by focusing on single environmentalfactors. We demonstrate that phytometers integrate ecosystem responses torestoration by reflecting how environmental factors affect plants under fieldconditions. Further studies are needed to better understand the underlyingmechanisms.

Ort, förlag, år, upplaga, sidor
Umeå: Umeå Universitet, 2013. s. 31
Nyckelord
Bioassay, Channelization, Ecosystem change, Ecosystem response
Nationell ämneskategori
Ekologi
Forskningsämne
ekologisk botanik
Identifikatorer
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-70098 (URN)978-91-7459-623-6 (ISBN)
Disputation
2013-05-31, Uminova Science Park, Tvistevägen 48, Älgsalen, Umeå universitet, Umeå, 10:00 (Engelska)
Opponent
Handledare
Forskningsfinansiär
Forskningsrådet Formas, 215-2006-491
Tillgänglig från: 2013-05-08 Skapad: 2013-05-03 Senast uppdaterad: 2018-06-08Bibliografiskt granskad

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Dietrich, AnnaNilsson, ChristerJansson, Roland

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Basic and Applied Ecology
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