Restoration rocks: integrating abiotic and biotic habitat restoration to conserve threatened species and reduce fire fuel load

McDougall, Andrew; Milner, Richard N. C.; Driscoll, Don A.; Smith, Annabel L.

doi:10.1007/s10531-016-1136-4

Cited by 14 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…The exotics are two of the most problematic weeds for managers of conservation land as they out‐compete native species and reduce biodiversity (Driscoll, ; Morgan & Lunt, ). Avena increases fire risk (McDougall et al., ) and produces excessive litter containing allelopathic chemicals that inhibit forb germination (Tinnin & Muller, ). There is an extremely high risk of N. neesiana seed being spread by mowing equipment (Taylor, Conolly, & Gruber, ) but our data showed this species was less abundant in mowed areas.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Stock grazing can supplement native herbivore grazing but can negatively impact biodiversity (Eldridge, Poore, Ruiz‐Colmenero, Letnic, & Soliveres, ; Lunt et al., ) and is often difficult due to conflicts between production and conservation (Dorrough et al., ). Burning can control biomass while maintaining ecosystem function and diversity (Prober, Thiele, Lunt, & Koen, ) but is expensive (Setterfield et al., ) and often inappropriate in urban areas where there is concern for public safety (McDougall, Milner, Driscoll, & Smith, ; Radeloff et al., ). Mowing potentially circumvents some of these problems and could be a useful addition to the biomass management toolbox.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Annual mowing maintains plant diversity in threatened temperate grasslands

Smith

Barrett

Milner

2018

Applied Vegetation Science

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Questions: Disturbance regimes shaped the evolution of grasslands but grazing exclusion and fire suppression have caused unprecedented increases in grassland biomass and biodiversity declines. Mowing reduces biomass but is not widely practiced in conservation reserves because of concerns about facilitating exotic plant invasion and altering ecosystem function. We asked whether regular mowing affected (1) the diversity of native and exotic functional groups, (2) spatial turnover in vegetation composition (β-diversity), (3) vegetation attributes relating to biomass and structural heterogeneity, (4) community composition and (5) the distribution and abundance of individual native and exotic species.Location: Five temperate grassland reserves, south-eastern Australia, encompassing C 3 and C 4 dominated communities.Methods: Vegetation within reserves had been cut to 10 cm, once per year, for 10 years in late spring/early summer to maintain access tracks. We surveyed plant communities in mowed areas and nearby (<5 m) unmowed control areas (40 subplots per reserve, 200 total) and used linear mixed-effects models to examine the effects of mowing. Results:Of 24 functional groups, the richness of 16 native and exotic groups significantly increased with mowing. In 14 of these cases, effects were consistent across C 3 -and C 4 -dominated grassland. Mowing reduced spatial turnover, but this did not reduce species richness at any spatial scale. When accounting for species abundance and evenness (Shannon diversity), effects of mowing were generally positive for native species and neutral for exotic species. Mowing increased native perennial grass cover and bare earth, decreased exotic perennial grass cover and litter, and changed community composition. Mowing reduced vegetation height but not structural heterogeneity. Mowing positively affected six individual native species and no exotic species.One native (Asperula conferta) and two exotic (Avena spp. and Nassella neesiana) species were found in lower abundance on mowed plots. Conclusions:Annual mowing can be a useful conservation tool for threatened temperate grasslands but should be heterogeneous to ensure the persistence of mowingsensitive native species. Good vehicle hygiene is essential and localized complementary management (e.g., herbicide) might be required to reduce exotic forbs and grasses. K E Y W O R D S community ecology, disturbance regime, functional ecology, invasive species, meadow, prairie, savanna, slashing 208 | Applied Vegetation Science SMITH eT al.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Annual mowing maintains plant diversity in threatened temperate grasslands

Smith

Barrett

Milner

2018

Applied Vegetation Science

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“…2a). Methods for achieving these recommendations include: 1) reducing grazing pressure and fertiliser use (Fischer et al 2009;Sato et al 2016), particularly in areas with remnant vegetation or important resources such as rocks (Michael et al 2015), and 2) embracing active restoration techniques including planting (Rey Benayas, Bullock & Newton 2008) or addition of rock where previously removed (McDougall et al 2016). Agricultural intensification that reduces tree, litter and forb cover of paddocks should be minimised.…”

Section: Management Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Reducing grazing intensity and fertiliser application increases native vegetation recruitment (Fischer et al 2009;Sato et al 2016). Active methods of vegetation restoration include planting and rock addition (Rey Benayas, Bullock & Newton 2008;McDougall et al 2016). In paddocks, increase tree, litter and forb cover.…”

Section: Accepted Articlementioning

confidence: 99%

Remnant vegetation, plantings and fences are beneficial for reptiles in agricultural landscapes

Pulsford

Driscoll

Barton

et al. 2017

Journal of Applied Ecology

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1. Managing agricultural landscapes for biodiversity conservation is increasingly difficult as land use is modified or intensified for production. Finding ways to mitigate the negative effects of agriculture on biodiversity is therefore critical. We asked the question: How do remnant patches, paddock types and grazing regimes influence reptile assemblages in a grazing landscape? Accepted ArticleThis article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.2. At 12 sites, we surveyed reptiles and environmental covariates in remnant woodland patches and in four paddock types: a) grazed pasture, b) linear plantings, c) coarse woody debris added to grazed pasture and d) fences between grazed pasture. Each site was either continuously or rotationally grazed.3. Remnant vegetation and other vegetation attributes such as tree cover and leaf litter greatly influenced reptiles. We recorded higher reptile abundance and species richness in areas with more tree cover and leaf litter. For rare species (captured in ≤4 sites <70 captures) there were 5.7 more animals and 2.6 more species in sites with 50% woody cover within 3 km compared to 5% woody cover.4. The abundance and richness of rare species, and one common species differed between paddock types and were higher in linear plantings and fence transects compared to coarse woody debris and pasture transects. Synthesis and applications.Grazed paddocks, particularly those with key features such as fences and plantings can provide habitat for reptiles. This suggests that discrete differentiation between patch and matrix does not apply for reptiles in these systems.Management to promote reptile conservation in agricultural landscapes should involve protecting existing remnant vegetation, regardless of amount; and promote key habitat features of trees, leaf litter and shrubs. Establishing plantings and fences is important as they support high numbers of less common reptiles and may facilitate reptiles to move through and use greater amounts of the landscape.

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“…; Goldingay & Newell ), and the translocation of basalt rock to an urban grassland reserve on the outskirts of Canberra resulted in colonisation by the threatened Pink‐tailed Worm‐lizard ( Aprasia parapulchella ) and associated ant prey (McDougall et al . ). Another study in the ACT found that several habitat generalist lizard species increased in abundance following the establishment of large amounts of coarse woody debris to a degraded grassy woodland (Manning et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Revegetation, restoration and reptiles in rural landscapes: Insights from long‐term monitoring programmes in the temperate eucalypt woodlands of south‐eastern Australia

Michael

Crane

Florance

et al. 2018

Eco Management Restoration

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Summary Over the past decade, there has been a concerted effort to better understand the distribution and abundance of reptiles in agricultural landscapes and to specifically evaluate their response to revegetation (tree and shrub plantings) and habitat restoration in the wheat‐sheep belt of south‐eastern Australia. This article reviews the response of reptiles to revegetation and woodland management and provides ten insights and lessons that can be applied to help improve reptile conservation in temperate eucalypt woodlands and fragmented agricultural landscapes in Australia. The review focuses primarily on revegetation programmes conducted by Landcare and Greening Australia, and management interventions funded by Local Land Services in NSW and Catchment Management Authorities in Victoria.

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Restoration rocks: integrating abiotic and biotic habitat restoration to conserve threatened species and reduce fire fuel load

Cited by 14 publications

References 30 publications

Annual mowing maintains plant diversity in threatened temperate grasslands

Annual mowing maintains plant diversity in threatened temperate grasslands

Remnant vegetation, plantings and fences are beneficial for reptiles in agricultural landscapes

Revegetation, restoration and reptiles in rural landscapes: Insights from long‐term monitoring programmes in the temperate eucalypt woodlands of south‐eastern Australia

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