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Demographic, seed and microsite limitations to seedling recruitment in semi-arid mine site restoration

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Abstract

Aims

Understanding limitations to plant recruitment is a key element in devising effective restoration of semi-arid ecosystems: only when these limitations are identified can management interventions be effectively targeted. This study investigated demographic, seed and microsite limitations to establishing native plant species in a semi-arid, post-mining restoration context.

Methods

We assessed ex situ and in situ germination and in situ emergence for eight key tree, shrub and annual herb species. We sowed non-treated seeds and seeds that were pre-treated to overcome dormancy, at differing densities and across diverse microsites to assess the roles of dormancy, seed density and microsite type as limiting factors for seedling recruitment.

Results

We found that dormancy loss, in situ germination and in situ emergence limited one or more species, and we were able to improve emergence of one species by seed addition and targeted manipulation of microsites.

Conclusions

The study has resulted in management implications including the importance of understanding methods to overcome dormancy to maximise germination; identifying key and species-specific demographic transitions; the importance of species-specific testing of seed sowing density; and the potential for increasing emergence by sowing seeds in furrows rather than broadcasting across rises and furrows, or on flat, unripped soil.

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Acknowledgements

This research was the product of a collaborative program between Kings Park Science (Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions; formerly Botanic Gardens and Park Authority) and Sinosteel Midwest Corporation (SMC). SMC is thanked for assisting in project development, research funding and significant site support. KD is supported by the Australian Research Council Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Mine Site Restoration (Project Number ICI 15000041). Thanks to Craig Miskell for assistance with Fig. 1. Thanks to Kings Park Science research support provided by Clare Courtauld, Arielle Fontaine, Rachel Omodei, Davide Abate and Ellery Mayence for their diligence and proficiency. Thanks to David Merritt for early discussions on experimental design. Thanks to the Friends of Kings Park for financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kings Park Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, 1 Kattidj Close, Kings Park, WA, Australia

    Lucy Elizabeth Commander, Carole P. Elliott, Ben P. Miller & Jason Stevens

  2. School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia

    Lucy Elizabeth Commander, Carole P. Elliott & Ben P. Miller

  3. CEFE, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, Université Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France

    Luis Merino-Martín

  4. AMAP, INRA, CNRS, CIRAD, IRD, Univ Montpellier, Montpellier, France

    Luis Merino-Martín

  5. Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia

    Kingsley Dixon

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  1. Lucy Elizabeth Commander
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Correspondence to Lucy Elizabeth Commander.

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Commander, L.E., Merino-Martín, L., Elliott, C.P. et al. Demographic, seed and microsite limitations to seedling recruitment in semi-arid mine site restoration. Plant Soil 457, 113–129 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-019-04081-2

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