Planting density effects and selective herbivory by kangaroos on species used in restoring forest communities

Parsons, Michael H.; Koch, John M.; Lamont, Byron B.; Vlahos, Stephen; Fairbanks, Meredith

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2006.03.020

Cited by 17 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…In Australia studies on the impacts of macropod browsing on managed forests and mine site revegetation predation by either foxes or dingoes is likely to have had a constraining effect on the abundance of macropods [23], [21], [22].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Both these studies stressed that following fire, herbivores had a substantial effect on the recruitment of a wide range of native plants. Parallel to these investigations are studies in southern Australia on the impact of browsing macropods on the regeneration of commercially valuable Eucalyptus species after forestry operations [19], [20] and revegetation attempts during mine site rehabilitation [21], [22]. This research has revealed that mammalian browsing has major impacts on plant regeneration and plant species composition.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Unintended Consequences of Invasive Predator Control in an Australian Forest: Overabundant Wallabies and Vegetation Change

Dexter¹,

Hudson²,

James³

et al. 2013

PLoS ONE

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Over-abundance of native herbivores is a problem in many forests worldwide. The abundance of native macropod wallabies is extremely high at Booderee National Park (BNP) in south-eastern Australia. This has occurred because of the reduction of exotic predators through an intensive baiting program, coupled with the absence of other predators. The high density of wallabies at BNP may be inhibiting the recruitment of many plant species following fire-induced recruitment events. We experimentally examined the post-fire response of a range of plant species to browsing by wallabies in a forest heavily infested with the invasive species, bitou bush Chrysanthemoides monilifera. We recorded the abundance and size of a range of plant species in 18 unfenced (browsed) and 16 fenced (unbrowsed) plots. We found the abundance and size of bitou bush was suppressed in browsed plots compared to unbrowsed plots. Regenerating seedlings of the canopy or middle storey tree species Eucalyptus pilularis, Acacia implexa, Allocasuarina littoralis, Breynia oblongifolia and Banksia integrifolia were either smaller or fewer in number in grazed plots than treatment plots as were the vines Kennedia rubicunda, Glycine tabacina and Glycine clandestina. In contrast, the understorey fern, Pteridium esculentum increased in abundance in the browsed plots relative to unbrowsed plots probably because of reduced competition with more palatable angiosperms. Twelve months after plots were installed the community structure of the browsed and unbrowsed plots was significantly different (P = 0.023, Global R = 0.091). The relative abundance of C. monilifera and P. esculentum contributed most to the differences. We discuss the possible development of a low diversity bracken fern parkland in Booderee National Park through a trophic cascade, similar to that caused by overabundant deer in the northern hemisphere. We also discuss its implications for broad scale fox control in southern Australian forests.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unintended Consequences of Invasive Predator Control in an Australian Forest: Overabundant Wallabies and Vegetation Change

Dexter¹,

Hudson²,

James³

et al. 2013

PLoS ONE

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“…Many of these species, particularly the grass‐like rushes and sedges and the grass trees of the Xanthorrhoeaceae, are the favorite food source for kangaroos in the post‐mining restored areas and can be killed by intensive grazing pressure (Koch et al 2004; Parsons et al 2006). This has two important implications: first, that these species have an important function in the restored ecosystem as kangaroo food, and second, the plants need protection when they are small, otherwise they can be killed by overgrazing.…”

Section: Sources Of Plantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Restoring a Jarrah Forest Understorey Vegetation after Bauxite Mining in Western Australia

Koch

2007

Restoration Ecology

166

176

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The Southwest of Western Australia is one of the world's biodiversity hotspots. In the jarrah forest there are at least 300-400 plant species in vegetation that is typically mined and as many as 163 species per 0.1 ha. Hence, restoring the plant species to post-mining areas is seen as a priority. Approximately 70% of understorey richness is returned via the direct transfer of fresh topsoil. Additions of provenance-correct seeds of between 78 and 113 native jarrah forest species add significantly to post-mining species richness. Many of the broadcast seeds receive a prebroadcast heat or smoke treatment to increase germinability. Approximately 20 additional species are produced by vegetative multiplication or tissue culture and planted into restored areas. Though sequential improvements during the past 30 years, Alcoa now achieves its target to establish in restored areas the same number of native plant species per 80 m 2 as the natural forest. Resampling of permanent plots revealed that species composition of older post-mining areas does not become more similar to unmined forest over one to three decades. Few species (mostly orchids) establish after the first year of restoration and adherence to the initial floristic composition model of forest succession applies to jarrah forest mine site restoration in Western Australia. Alcoa's strategy, therefore, is to maximize the diversity of understorey species in newly restored sites at the first attempt. Future research will investigate methods to further increase the density of the fire resprouter species, a group of species currently under-represented in the restored bauxite mining sites.

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“…Herbivores (e.g., macropods) can also have significant impacts on plant community composition in newly established mine restoration by preferentially grazing particular plant species (Koch et al 2004;Parsons et al 2006). In particular, in newly restored sites, herbivores can move unobstructed through large open areas containing highly visible plants and seedlings which are often nutrient enriched (Koch et al 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-term restoration success of re-sprouter understorey species is facilitated by protection from herbivory and a reduction in competition

Daws

Koch

2015

Plant Ecol

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Factors affecting the long-term survival and growth of planted understorey species in reintroductions and restoration are poorly known. Seven understorey species were planted in jarrah forest restored after bauxite mining in the Southwest of Western Australia to test the effects of the competitive environment (both over-and understorey) and herbivory by large mammals on survival and growth over a 16-year period. Differences in the overstorey environment were achieved by planting the study species into restored sites differing in age (0, 1, 4 and 10 years of age). The understorey competitive environment was manipulated by removing other understorey species at the time of planting. Reducing both herbivory (using plant guards) and competition with other understorey plants significantly increased survival, spread and height growth of the study species. Planting into different ages of restored site significantly affected plant responses: survival and growth were maximal in either newly restored (year 0) or the oldest (10 years of age) sites. Across species, survival decreased to *50 % after 2 years, but thereafter mortality was low. These data demonstrate survival and spread of planted species over a 16-year period indicating that planting nursery-raised plants can be a viable strategy for establishing long-term persistent plant populations in both newly restored and older restored sites.

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Planting density effects and selective herbivory by kangaroos on species used in restoring forest communities

Cited by 17 publications

References 62 publications

Unintended Consequences of Invasive Predator Control in an Australian Forest: Overabundant Wallabies and Vegetation Change

Unintended Consequences of Invasive Predator Control in an Australian Forest: Overabundant Wallabies and Vegetation Change

Restoring a Jarrah Forest Understorey Vegetation after Bauxite Mining in Western Australia

Long-term restoration success of re-sprouter understorey species is facilitated by protection from herbivory and a reduction in competition

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