Is transplanting an effective means of preserving vegetation?

Abstract

Transplantation to new locations is used widely to propagate horticultural and agricultural species but is also promoted as a means of relocating whole communities that stand in the way of development. It may be used as well to move vegetation from the field for experimentation under controlled conditions. Transplantation has not in the past been considered a reliable means of conserving threatened species or reproducing functional characteristics of natural communities, and has been regarded by many as highly ineffective. However, its potential must now be re-examined because of the many recent transplant attempts as well as advances in related fields. Recent trials illustrate that individual endangered species are still particularly difficult to transplant and displaced multi-species sods are almost always changed in the process. Exact reconstruction of communities from individual components is next to impossible because the full complement of species, including critical microbial components, is almost never known. Owing to a limited understanding of phenology, reproduction, functional roles, and interrelationships among constituent microbes, cryptogams, vascular plants, and fauna, transplants may be placed into sites with both biological and physical insufficiencies. Genetic diversity may be lost or, if genotypes from diverse sources are mixed, outbreeding depression may result. Recent advances in soil science, microbial ecology, and population genetics have in some cases improved the effectiveness of transplantation, but new insights mainly permit a fuller appreciation of the causes of failure. Home-site advantage has been demonstrated, and habitat protection appears to be the best and perhaps only reliable way of preserving intact natural communities and rare species. Furthermore, experimentation with vegetational mats under controlled conditions may have little relevance to natural ecosystems.Key words: vegetation, simulation, transplantation, conservation, home-site advantage.Résumé : On utilise souvent la transplantation sur de nouveaux sites pour propager les plantes et stabiliser les paysages perturbés, cependant plusieurs considèrent ce procédé hautement inefficace comme méthode fiable pour conserver les espè-ces menacées et les communautés naturelles. Tout de même, on doit réexaminer sa pertinence, compte tenu de nombreux essais récents de transplantation, ainsi que de progrès dans les domaines connexes. Dans des essais récents, on a constaté, que les espèces menacées demeurent particulièrement difficiles à transplanter, et que le patron des communautés en tapis d'espèces multiples, se modifie presque toujours au cours du processus. La reconstruction exacte des communautés, à partir des composantes individuelles frôle l'impossible parce que l'apport de la totalité des espèces, incluant les composantes microbiennes, demeure presque toujours un inconnu. Comme on comprend peu la phénologie, la reproduction, les rôles fonctionnels et les interrelations entre les microbes, les cryptogames, les p...

Comparison of translocation methods to conserve metallophyte communities in the Southeastern D.R. Congo

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Temporary wetland restoration after rice cultivation: is soil transfer required for aquatic plant colonization?

“…Short-term observations are not sufficient in predicting community dynamics (Collinge and Ray, 2009;Mesléard et al, 1991;Weiher et al, 1996). An initial success may be compromised by long-term mortality, undesired successional trajectories, and does not reflect long-term success (Dawe et al, 2000;Fahselt, 2007), although long-term studies confirm a beneficial role of soil transfer in wetland restoration (Balcombe et al, 2005;Nishihiro et al, 2006;Reinartz and Warne, 1993). Long-term monitoring of changes in plant communities of restored wetlands is required to evaluate the potential of this technique for restoring or creating Mediterranean temporary wetlands.…”

Clonal Re-Introduction of Endangered Plant Species: The Case of German False Tamarisk in Pre-Alpine Rivers

“…Although adequate guidelines were already established by IUCN (1998) and a large number of re-introduction projects have been conducted, determining the most suitable methods remains controversial and needs to be assessed for each species separately (Fahselt 2007). One aspect, that has to be considered when re-introducing plant species, is the question whether seeds, seedlings, adults or clonal fragments would be most successful (Whisenant 1999).…”