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60 results for “native grasses”
Data from: Effects of native bryophytes on exotic grass invasion across an environmental gradient
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Herbicide effects on the establishment of a native bunchgrass in annual grass invaded areas: Indaziflam vs. imazapic
<p>Annual grass invasion is transforming the western US and driving a need for restoration techniques that can both reduce exotic annual grass abundance and allow revegetation of native species. Pre-emergent herbicides can provide control of annual grasses, but when applied concurrently with direct seeding efforts, the herbicide can also impact seeded species. Indaziflam is a relatively new herbicide that may provide extended control of exotic annual grasses, but little is known about its effects when applied at the time of seeding. </p> <p>In this study, we compared indaziflam to imazapic, a popular herbicide used in restoration efforts, to understand how indaziflam affects plant establishment of a native species, bluebunch wheatgrass Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) Á. Löve. We created furrows on half our treatments to limit herbicide concentrations and potentially create a safe-site for seeding bluebunch wheatgrass. </p> <p>During the two-year study, indaziflam provided consistent control of the annual weed, downy brome Bromus tectorum L., whereas imazapic control decreased sharply with time. Indaziflam and imazapic decreased bluebunch wheatgrass seedling emergence by 96 and 46%, and two-year plant density by 91 and 65%, respectively, compared to non-herbicide treatments. Both herbicides reduced aboveground biomass of bluebunch wheatgrass by over 85% two years after seeding/herbicide application. </p> <p>Furrow treatments mitigated imazapic effect on bluebunch wheatgrass, but did not limit the impacts by indaziflam. </p> <p>Herbicide can be used in conjunction with direct seeding efforts, but mitigation of the effects to native seeds will depend on herbicide specifics such as mode of action and soil mobility. </p>
Data from: Positive effects of non-native grasses on the growth of a native annual in a southern California ecosystem
Fire disturbance is considered a major factor in the promotion of non-native plant species. Non-native grasses are adapted to fire and can alter environmental conditions and reduce resource availability in native coastal sage scrub and chaparral communities of southern California. In these communities persistence of non-native grasses following fire can inhibit establishment and growth of woody species. This may allow certain native herbaceous species to colonize and persist beneath gaps in the canopy. A field manipulative experiment with control, litter, and bare ground treatments was used to examine the impact of non-native grasses on growth and establishment of a native herbaceous species, Cryptantha muricata. C. muricata seedling survival, growth, and reproduction were greatest in the control treatment where non-native grasses were present. C. muricata plants growing in the presence of non-native grasses produced more than twice the number of flowers and more than twice the reproductive biomass of plants growing in the treatments where non-native grasses were removed. Total biomass and number of fruits were also greater in the plants growing in the presence of non-native grasses. Total biomass and reproductive biomass was also greater in late germinants than early germinants growing in the presence of non-native grasses. This study suggests a potential positive effect of non-native grasses on the performance of a particular native annual in a southern California ecosystem.
Data from: Restoring dryland old fields with native shrubs and grasses: does facilitation and seed source matter?
Restoration of agricultural fields is challenging, especially in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. We conducted experiments in two fields in the Great Basin, USA, which differed in cultivation history and fertility. We tested the effects of different levels of functional diversity (planting grasses and shrubs together, vs. planting shrubs alone), seed source (cultivars, local or distant wild-collections), and irrigation regime (spring or fall and spring) on restoration outcomes. We sowed either: 1) grasses and shrubs in year one, 2) shrubs only, in year one, 3) grasses in year one with herbicide, shrubs in year two, or 4) shrubs alone in year two, after a year of herbicide. We irrigated for two years and monitored for three years. Shrub emergence was highest in the lower fertility field, where increasing functional diversity by seeding grasses had a neutral or facilitative effect on shrub emergence. In the higher fertility field, increasing functional diversity appeared to have a neutral to competitive effect. After declines in shrub densities after irrigation ceased, these effects did not persist. Grasses initially suppressed or had a neutral effect on weeds relative to an unseeded control, but had neutral or facilitative effects on weeds relative to shrub-only seeding. Initially, commercial grasses were either equivalent to or outperformed wild-collected grasses, but after irrigation ceased, commercial grasses were outperformed by wild-collected grasses in the higher fertility field. Local shrubs initially outperformed distant shrubs, but this effect did not persist. Fall and spring irrigation combined with local shrubs and wild-collected grasses was the most successful strategy in the higher fertility field, while in the lower fertility field, irrigation timing had fewer effects. Superior shrub emergence and higher grass persistence indicated that the use of wild and local seed sources is generally warranted, whereas the effects of functional diversity and irrigation regime were context-dependent. A bet-hedging approach that uses a variety of strategies may maximize the chances of restoration success.
Data from: Short-term priority over exotic annuals increases the initial density and longer-term cover of native perennial grasses
Temporal priority can affect individual performance and reproduction, as well as community assembly, but whether these effects persist over time remains unclear, and their demographic mechanisms have been little explored. The continued dominance of exotic annual grasses in California has been commonly attributed to their demonstrated early germination and rapid early growth relative to native perennial grasses. This advantage may play a crucial role in the structure of California exotic annual grasslands, as well as in the practice of native grassland restoration. We tested whether a two-week planting advantage under field conditions increased individual survival, growth, and reproduction for four native perennial grass species and whether these effects persisted over three years. We show that short-term priority significantly increased the establishment success of native perennial grasses. Increased density of native grass seedlings presaged later large increases in cover that were not evident in the first year after planting. Although priority effects at the individual level may diminish over time, short differences in emergence timing can have long-lasting effects on community structure. Earlier germination and faster initial growth of exotic annual species may help explain their unprecedented invasion and continued dominance of California grasslands. Finally, these results highlight the importance of priority effects for effective exotic annual control during native grassland restoration in California: initial control can increase the establishment of native perennial seedlings, which then results in long-term control by mature native individuals.
Data from: Native grass ground covers provide multiple ecosystem services in Californian vineyards
1. The mechanisms responsible for the success or failure of agricultural diversification are often unknown. Most studies of arthropod pest management focus on enhancing the effectiveness of natural enemies, but non-crop plants can also improve or hamper pest suppression by changing the host quality of crop plants by reducing or adding available soil nutrients or water. Native perennial ground covers may provide resources and long-term habitat to resident natural enemies and be more compatible than exotic annuals for crop management in terms of competition for soil nutrients or water. 2. A three-year study was conducted in a California vineyard to examine the impacts of native perennial grasses on pests, natural enemies, crop plant condition and soil properties. Three ground cover treatments were included: bare soil with a grower standard drip irrigation, native grasses with the drip irrigation, or native grasses with the drip irrigation and an additional flood irrigation to keep the grasses green and growing during the season. 3. Numbers of leafhopper pests (Erythroneura spp.) decreased in both native grass treatments, where parasitism rates and spider densities were higher. 4. Nitrate levels in vine leaf petioles were lower in grass treatments, indicating competition with vines for soil nitrogen, which is most often considered to be detrimental. Berry weight was higher in the irrigated treatment but did not differ between the bare soil and non-irrigated native grass treatments. Grape quality (brix) was similar in the bare soil and native grass treatments, suggesting that increased soil moisture in the presence of native grasses did not compromise grape quality. In fact, leaf water stress was lower and available soil moisture higher not only in the irrigated native grass treatment but, at times, in the non-irrigated native grass treatment, in comparison to the no ground cover treatment. 5. We conclude that native grasses contributed to a reduction in leafhopper density by reducing host quality through competition with vines for soil nitrogen and providing food resources and/or habitat for natural enemies. Native grasses also improved soil water content and may be part of a water conservation program for perennial crops in dry climate regions.
Data from: Crop-associated virus infection in a native perennial grass: reduction in plant fitness and dynamic patterns of virus detection
To understand the eco-evolutionary significance of plant viruses in nature, we must (i) quantify the effects of infection on plant fitness and (ii) recognize that native plants are increasingly exposed to crop-associated viruses. Studies of perennials are particularly needed: most of our knowledge of plant-virus interactions is from annuals, yet long-lived species dominate landscapes. Here we used aster models for life-history analysis and longitudinal measures of plant virus status to evaluate multi-year consequences of crop virus infection in a native perennial. We used Barley yellow dwarf virus acquired from wheat to inoculate seedlings of Panicum virgatum L. (switchgrass), a North American prairie grass. We grew inoculated and mock-inoculated individuals of two ecotypes for 3 years in the field. We measured plant size, infection status and fitness components. Aster modelling provided integrated multi-year measures of fitness. Crop virus inoculation reduced multi-year native plant fitness by 30% over 2 years despite generally asymptomatic infection and evidence of resistance. This reduction was greater than predicted from individual fitness components or most size measures. Ecotypes differed in response, with the lowland ecotype experiencing higher apparent recovery from infection. Virus treatment in the upland ecotype delayed flowering phenology and reduced seed filling. Synthesis. Our use of field experimentation, surveys of plant infection status and aster modelling demonstrates a rigorous and broadly applicable approach for quantifying the effects of viruses and other microbes on multi-year plant fitness. We found that a crop virus had negative multi-year effects on native plant fitness even after infection was no longer detected. Viruses may have substantial effects on native vegetation with domestication of landscapes and agricultural expansion.
Data from: Effect of plant root symbionts on performance of native woody species in competition with an invasive grass in multispecies microcosms
The majority of terrestrial plants form mutualistic associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and rhizobia (i.e. nitrogen fixing bacteria). Understanding these associations has important implications for ecological theory and for restoration practice. Here we tested whether the presence of AMF and rhizobia influence the performance of native woody plants invaded by a non-native grass in experimental microcosms. We planted eight plant species (i.e. Acacia acuminata, A. microbotrya, Eucalyptus loxophleba subsp. loxophleba, E. astringens, Calothamnus quadrifidus, Callistemon phoeniceus, Hakea lissocarpha and H. prostrata) in microcosms of field-conditioned soil with and without addition of AMF and rhizobia in a fully factorial experimental design. After seedling establishment, we seeded half the microcosms with an invasive grass Bromus diandrus. We measured shoot and root biomass of native plants and Bromus, and on roots, the percentage colonization by AMF, number of rhizobia-forming nodules and number of proteaceous root clusters. We found no effect of plant root symbionts or Bromus addition on performance of myrtaceous, and as predicted, proteaceous species as they rely little or not at all on AMF and rhiozbia. Soil treatments with AMF and rhiozbia had a strong positive effect (i.e. larger biomass) on native legumes (A. microbotrya and A. acuminata). However, the beneficial effect of root symbionts on legumes became negative (i.e. lower biomass and less nodules) if Bromus was present, especially for one legume, i.e. A. acuminata, suggesting a disruptive effect of the invader on the mutualism. We also found a stimulating effect of Bromus on root nodule production in A. microbotrya and AMF colonization in A. acuminata which could be indicative of legumes' increased resource acquisition requirement, i.e. for nitrogen and phosphorus, respectively, in response to the Bromus addition. We have demonstrated the importance of measuring belowground effects because the aboveground effects gave limited indication of the effects occuring belowground.
Data from: Fire and non-native grass invasion interact to suppress tree regeneration in temperate deciduous forests
1. While many ecosystems depend on fire to maintain biodiversity, non-native plant invasions can enhance fire intensity, suppressing native species and generating a fire–invasion feedback. These dynamics have been observed in arid and semi-arid ecosystems, but fire–invasion interactions in temperate deciduous forests, where prescribed fires are often used as management tools to enhance native diversity, have rarely been investigated. 2. Here we evaluated the effects of a widespread invasive grass on fire behaviour in eastern deciduous forests in the USA and the potential effects of fire and invasions on tree regeneration. We planted native trees into invaded and uninvaded forests, quantified fuel loads, then applied landscape-scale prescribed fires and no-burn controls, and measured fire behaviour and tree seedling and invasive plant performance. 3. Our results show that fires in invaded habitats were significantly more intense, including higher fire temperatures, longer duration and higher flame heights, even though invasions did not alter total fuel loads. The invasion plus fire treatment suppressed native tree seedling survival by 54% compared to invasions without fire, and invasions reduced natural tree recruitment by 66%. 4. We also show that invasive plant biomass did not change from one season to the next in plots where fire was applied, but invader biomass declined significantly in unburned reference plots, suggesting a positive invasive grass–fire feedback. 5. Synthesis and applications. These findings demonstrate that fire–invasion interactions can have significant consequences for invaded temperate forest ecosystems by increasing fire intensity and reducing tree establishment while promoting invasive plant persistence. To encourage tree regeneration and slow invasive spread, we recommend that forest managers remove invasions prior to applying prescribed fires or avoid the use of fire in habitats invaded by non-native grasses.
Native ants help to spread an invasive African grass in the Cerrado
<p><span>Plant-animal interactions may facilitate biological invasions. The African grass </span><i>Urochloa decumbens</i> is an aggressive invader in the Cerrado. We demonstrate that native ants are dispersing the seeds to short distances, allowing the gradual spread of the invasive to sites without the need of great anthropogenic soil disturbances.</p>
Data from: Loss of fungal symbionts at the arid limit of the distribution range in a native Patagonian grass – resource ecophysiological relations
<p>1. Crucial to our understanding of plant ecology is the consideration of the eco-physiological responses and constraints of plant-fungal symbioses throughout the native distribution range of their host.</p> <p>2. We examined key eco-physiological roles of two co-occurring fungal symbionts [Epichloë endophytes and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)] in the endemic grass Hordeum comosum across a wide bioclimatic gradient and contrasting grazing severity. We sampled H. comosum plants along four humid-to-arid transects in Patagonia, Argentina, covering its entire distribution range and determined Epichloë presence, AMF root colonization, nitrogen and phosphorus concentration, intrinsic water use-efficiency (iWUE, the ratio of photosynthesis to stomatal conductance) and 18O-enrichment of cellulose in shoots.</p> <p>3. Root colonization by AMF increased with Epichloë-presence. All plants hosted Epichloë in the humid range of the gradient, but symbioses occurrence decreased towards arid sites which also displayed severe grazing symptoms at site level.</p> <p>4. Symbiosis with Epichloë correlated positively with shoot nitrogen concentration in the centre of the distribution range, and with shoot phosphorus concentration across the entire distribution range.</p> <p>5. The site-level relationship of AMF colonization with 18O-enrichment and iWUE suggested that mycorrhiza boosted stomatal conductance in humid environments but curbed it in arid environments.</p> <p>6. While the interpretation of interactions and potential causalities from observational studies should be done with caution, this study demonstrates distinct correlations between plant-fungal symbiont associations and key resource parameters (phosphorus, nitrogen, and iWUE vs 18O-enrichment). Such correlations may suggest particular functional roles for these symbionts in the ecology of their host plant.</p>
Data from: Emerging wild virus of native grass bioenergy feedstock is well established in the Midwestern USA and associated with premature stand senescence
<p>This dataset includes values for the prevalence of switchgrass mosaic virus (Genus Marafivirus, Family Tymoviridae) detected with molecular diagnostics (RT-PCR) in individual Panicum virgatum (switchgrass) plants and in Graminella leafhoppers that feed on them. Surveys were conducted in 15 sites in August 2012. Stands surveyed had been established for some time and represent a range of landscape contexts. Measures of stand height and percent senescence were also collected. Land cover composition surrounding each site was calculated from the USDA-NASS Cropland Data Layer and estimates of drought impact were derived from the US Drought Monitor.</p>
Data from: Native lagomorphs suppress grass establishment in a shrub‐encroached, semiarid grassland
Shrub encroachment into arid grasslands has been associated with reduced grass abundance, increased soil erosion, and local declines in biodiversity. Livestock overgrazing and the associated reduction of fine fuels has been a primary driver of shrub encroachment in the southwestern United States, but shrublands continue to persist despite livestock removal and grassland restoration efforts. We hypothesized that herbivory feedbacks from native mammals may contribute to continued suppression of grasses after the removal of livestock. Our herbivore exclusion experiment in southeastern Arizona included five treatment levels and allowed access to native mammals based on their relative body size, separating the effects of rodents, lagomorphs, and mule deer. We included two control treatments and replicated each treatment 10 times (n = 50). We introduced uniform divisions of lawn sod (Cynodon dactylon) into each exclosure for 24-hour periods prior to (n = 2) and following (n = 2) the monsoon rains and used motion-activated cameras to document herbivore visitations. In the pre-monsoon trials, treatments that allowed lagomorph access had less sod biomass relative to other treatments (p < 0.001), averaging 44% ( 36%) and 29% ( 45%) remaining biomass after the 24-hour trial periods. Following the onset of monsoons, differences in remaining biomass among treatments disappeared. Desert cottontails (Sylvilagus audubonii) were detected more frequently than any of the other 11 herbivore species present at the site, accounting for 83% of detections during the pre-monsoon trials. Significantly more (p < 0.001) desert cottontails were detected during the pre-monsoon trials (2,077) compared to the post-monsoon trials (174), which coincided with biomass removal from lagomorph accessible treatments. We conclude that desert cottontails are significant consumers of herbaceous vegetation in shrub-encroached arid grasslands and they, along with other native herbivores, may act as a biotic feedback contributing to the competitive advantage and persistence of shrubs.
Data from: Stress in native grasses under ecologically relevant heat waves
Future increases in the intensity of heat waves (high heat and low water availability) are predicted to be one of the most significant impacts on organisms. Using six native grasses from Eastern Australia, we assessed their capacity to tolerate heat waves with low water availability. We were interested in understanding differential response between native grasses of differing photosynthetic pathways in terms of physiological and some molecular parameters to ecologically relevant summer heat waves that are associated with low rainfall. We used a simulation heatwave event in controlled temperature cabinets and investigated effects of the different treatments on four stress indicators: leaf senescence, leaf water content, photosynthetic efficiency and the relative expression of two heat shock proteins, Hsp70 and smHsp17.6. Leaf senescence was significantly greater under the combined stress treatment, while declines in leaf water content and photosynthetic efficiency were much larger for C3 than C4 plants, particularly under the combined stress treatment. Species showed an increase in expression of Hsp70 associated with heat treatment, rather than drought stress. In contrast Hsp17.6 was only detected in two species, responding to heat rather than drought, although species' responses were variable. Overall, the C3 species were less tolerant than C4 species. Variation in individual plants within species was evident, especially under multiple stresses, and indicates that losses of individual plants may occur during a heat wave associated with this variability in tolerance. Heat waves will impose significant stress on plant communities that would not otherwise occur when heat and drought stress are experienced singly. Using ecologically relevant heat stress is likely to yield better predictability of how native plants will cope under a hotter, drier future.
Data from: Native lagomorphs suppress grass establishment in a shrub‐encroached, semiarid grassland
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Data from: Stress in native grasses under ecologically relevant heat waves
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Data from: Comparing the genetic architecture and potential response to selection of native and invasive populations of reed canary grass
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Data from: Short-term priority over exotic annuals increases the initial density and longer-term cover of native perennial grasses
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Data from: Effect of plant root symbionts on performance of native woody species in competition with an invasive grass in multispecies microcosms
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Data from: Native grass ground covers provide multiple ecosystem services in Californian vineyards
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