scholarly journals Pre-Sowing Treatments Improve Germinability of South Texas Native Plant Seeds

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 2545
Author(s):  
Kaitlynn Lavallee ◽  
Pushpa Gautam Soti ◽  
Hansapani Rodrigo ◽  
Rupesh Kariyat ◽  
Alexis Racelis
Keyword(s):  
Seed Germination ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Native Plants ◽  
Germination Rate ◽  
South Texas ◽  
Cold Stratification ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Native Plant Species ◽  
Plant Seeds ◽  
Wide Range

The incorporation of native plant species is central to restoration efforts, but this is often limited by both the availability of seeds and the relatively low viability and germination rates of commercially available seeds. Although pre-sowing treatments are commonly used to improve germination rates of seeds, the efficacy of these treatments is found to vary across species. In this study, we tested how four pre-sow treatments (physical scarification, acid scarification, cold stratification, and aerated hydropriming) affected the viability and seed germination rates of 12 commercially available plant species native to south Texas and commonly used in restoration efforts. Our results show that the viability of the seeds have a wide range, from 78% to 1.25%. Similarly, the total germination rate ranged from 62% to 0%. We found that pre-sowing treatments accelerated the germination rate in 9 of 12 plant species tested, but the effect varied by treatment. Collectively, our results identify various methods to achieve the best germination rates for native plants of south Texas, to help improve restoration efforts across the region.

scholarly journals Seed Germination of Roundleaf Buffaloberry (Shepherdia rotundifolia) and Silver Buffaloberry (Shepherdia argentea) in Three Substrates

2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 129-133
Author(s):  
Taun Beddes ◽  
Heidi A. Kratsch
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Seed Germination ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Calcined Clay ◽  
Native Plant Species ◽  
Sphagnum Peat ◽  
Drought Tolerant ◽  
Poor Seed ◽  
Container Capacity

Abstract Many western native plant species occur in areas characterized by well-drained soils low in organic matter. Some drought-tolerant native plant species exhibit poor seed germination. It was hypothesized that traditional growing substrates high in organic matter may impede their germination; therefore, stratified seeds of roundleaf buffaloberry (Shepherdia rotundifolia) and silver buffaloberry (Shepherdia argentea) were sown in three substrates differing in organic matter and drainage properties. Seed flats were irrigated twice daily to container capacity, and held on a greenhouse bench for 40 days. Seeds of roundleaf buffaloberry exhibited greatest total germination in a calcined montmorillonite calcined clay substrate (66%); seeds exhibited low germination in a commercial peat-based germination mix (13%) and in a self-prepared, locally popular substrate (22%) that contained sphagnum peat: perlite: calcined clay: sand (2: 2: 1: 1 by vol). Seed germination of silver buffaloberry varied from 42 to 54% and was not different among the three substrates. When substrates are kept consistently moist, a calcined-clay substrate can improve germination of roundleaf buffaloberry, but not silver buffaloberry.

Imperata cylindrica (cogon grass).

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Parker
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Imperata Cylindrica ◽  
Environmental Damage ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Natural Areas ◽  
Native Plant Species ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Allelopathic Effects

Abstract I. cylindrica is a serious weed not only in crops but also in natural areas, causing serious economic and environmental damage. The ability of I. cylindrica to effectively compete for water and nutrients, spread and persist through the production of seeds and rhizomes that can survive a wide range of environmental conditions, and its allelopathic effects and pyrogenic nature, allow it to exclude native plant species and other desirable plants and dominate large areas of land.

Seed dispersal interactions promoting plant invasions.

2020 ◽  
pp. 90-104
Author(s):  
M. Celeste Díaz Vélez ◽  
Ana E. Ferreras ◽  
Valeria Paiaro
Keyword(s):  
Seed Germination ◽  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Seedling Establishment ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Native Plants ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Invasional Meltdown ◽  
Native Plant Species ◽  
Origin Life

Abstract Animal dispersers are essential for many non-native plants since they facilitate seed movement and might promote seed germination and seedling establishment, thereby increasing their chances of invasion. This chapter reviews the published literature on seed dispersal of non-native plant species by native and/or non-native animals. The following questions are addressed: (i) Are interactions between non-native plants and their animal dispersers evenly studied worldwide? (ii) Which are the distinctive traits (i.e. geographical origin, life form, dispersal strategy and propagule traits) of non-native plants that are dispersed by animals? (iii) Which are the most studied groups of dispersers of non-native plants around the world? (iv) Does the literature provide evidence for the Invasional Meltdown Hypothesis (non-native plant-non-native disperser facilitation)? (v) What is the role of animal dispersers at different stages of the non-native plant regeneration process? Our dataset of 204 articles indicates that geographical distribution of the studies was highly heterogeneous among continents, with the highest number coming from North America and the lowest from Asia and Central America. Most of the non-native plants involved in dispersal studies were woody species from Asia with fleshy fruits dispersed by endozoochory. More than the half of the animal dispersal agents noted were birds, followed by mammals, ants and reptiles. The dominance of bird-dispersal interactions over other animal groups was consistent across geographical regions. Although most of the studies involved only native dispersers, interactions among non-native species were detected, providing support for the existence of invasional meltdown processes. Of the total number of reviewed articles reporting seed removal, 74% evaluated seed dispersal, but only a few studies included seed germination (35.3%), seedling establishment (5.4%) or seed predation (23.5%). Finally, we discuss some research biases and directions for future studies in the area.

scholarly journals Species diversity, composition and the regeneration potential of native plants at the Wainiveiota Mahogany Plantation, Viti Levu, Fiji Islands

2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Senilolia H. Tuiwawa ◽  
Gunnar Keppel
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Native Plants ◽  
Line Transect ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Regeneration Potential ◽  
Native Plant Species ◽  
Fiji Islands ◽  
Lowland Rainforest ◽  
Over Time

Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King) plantations cover a considerable area on the south-eastern parts of Viti Levu, Fiji. The understorey of these plantations often comprise a diverse, but undocumented, assemblage of native plant species. This study investigates the diversity, composition and regeneration potential of native plant species in the Wainiveiota mahogany plantation 40?50 years after establishment. Ten 10 m x 10 m plots were alternately placed at 10 m intervals perpendicular to a 200 m line transect. A total of 491 individual plants with dbh ≥ 1 cm, comprising 69 species, 51 genera and 34 families, were sampled. In addition to the exotic mahogany, there were 68 native (39 endemic, 24 indigenous and 5 identified to genus only) species recorded. Girronniera celtidifolia Gaud., Dillenia biflora (A.Gray) Martelli ex Dur. & Jacks and Barringtonia edulis Seem. had the highest recruitment and Endospermum macrophyllum (Muell.Arg.) Pax & Hoffm. was the dominant native species. Syzygium Gaertn. (Myrtaceae) was the most diverse genus and Myrtaceae the most diverse family. With 98% of the sapling recruitment consisting of native species, there is potential for re-establishment of a lowland rainforest dominated by native species over time.

The risk of exotic and native plants as hosts for four pest thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripinae)

2010 ◽  
Vol 100 (5) ◽  
pp. 501-510 ◽  
Author(s):  
N.A. Schellhorn ◽  
R.V. Glatz ◽  
G.M. Wood
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Frankliniella Occidentalis ◽  
Native Plants ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Thrips Tabaci ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Native Plant Species ◽  
Thrips Species ◽  
Weed Hosts

AbstractInteractions among insect pests, crops and weeds are well recognised. In fact, the elimination of weed hosts outside of the crop is a common practice to control many insect-vectored viruses. However, little is known about interactions among insect pests, crops and native vegetation, and whether native plants may be used to revegetate areas where weed hosts have been eliminated as part of horticultural management regimes. We used the Northern Adelaide Plains horticultural region (South Australia, Australia) as a model system to study the potential of various plant taxa in hosting four pest thrips (three exotic, one native; Frankliniella occidentalis, F. schultzei, Thrips tabaci and T. imaginis) when located adjacent to, and distant from, horticultural crops. Flower funnels were used for standardised sampling of thrips on flowers from 19 exotic weed and 12 native plant species, representing 13 and three families, respectively. Flowers were sampled monthly over a year, and statistical analyses were performed to identify significant determinants of probability of thrips occurrence and density. Plant family was found to significantly influence both measures for each thrips species. In addition, crop proximity influenced the probability of occurrence for the two Frankliniella species (but only influenced density of the key pest F. occidentalis), and season influenced density of all four pest thrips. All native plant species tested had a low likelihood of hosting the three exotic thrips species. Overall, results suggest that judicious choice of surrounding vegetation has potential to be an important component of integrated pest management (IPM) while increasing biodiversity conservation.

Survival of native plants of Hawkesbury Sandstone communities with additional nutrients: effect of plant age and habitat

2004 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 141 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. P. Thomson ◽  
M. R. Leishman
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Native Plants ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Native Plant Species ◽  
Run Off ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Disturbed Soils

Australian soils are naturally low in nutrient concentrations, particularly nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Native plants are well adapted to low-nutrient soils, and can be adversely affected when exposed to higher concentrations of nutrients. The Hawkesbury Sandstone soils in northern Sydney are naturally low in nutrients, but often receive additional nutrient input from urban stormwater run-off. Increases in soil nutrients in urban bushland are associated with the presence of exotic species, and the decline in the diversity of native species. This study tested the hypothesis that high concentrations of nutrients, in particular P, in the disturbed soils of urban bushland, reduce survival of native plants. We examined the survival of native species under five different nutrient concentrations that are typical of nutrient-enriched urban bushland soil, in two glasshouse experiments. The experiments examined both survival of seedlings and survival of 6-month-old plants. We used native species that are adapted to both nutrient-poor and nutrient-rich soils. In general, the survival of native plants decreased with increasing nutrient concentrations. At soil total-P concentrations >200 mg kg–1, most plants died. Seedlings were more sensitive to added nutrients than the 6-month-old plants. Species that were from higher-nutrient soil had consistently higher survival than species from low-nutrient soils, under the nutrient addition treatments. These results suggest that at high soil nutrient concentrations typical of stormwater-affected urban bushland, native plant species of low-nutrient soils will be unable to survive. If ecological restoration works are to be done in such areas, replanting with more mature plants from naturally high-nutrient habitats is likely to be the most successful. However, restoration of these areas may have limited success and they are likely to remain dominated by exotic plant species.

scholarly journals Altitudinal occurrence of non-native plant species (neophytes) and their habitat affinity to anthropogenic biotopes in conditions of South-Western Slovakia

2015 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 163-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michal Beniak ◽  
Žaneta Pauková ◽  
Alexander Fehér
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Unit Area ◽  
Elevation Gradient ◽  
Linear Increase ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Ecological Studies ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
Native Plant Species ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Variable Species

AbstractMany ecological studies showed that species density (the number of species per unit area) in nonnative organism groups of the mountain areas decreases with increasing altitude. The aim of the paper is to determine the variability in the incidence of non-native plant species (neophytes) associated with the change in altitude and links of the invading taxons to reference habitat types, as well as their links to three ecologically very similar, however in natural conditions, different areas. In general, the most invaded habitats are those which are highly influenced by human activities. Firstly, data collection was conducted through field mapping of build-up areas in South-western Slovakia. Subsequently, with the assistance of ordination methods, we evaluated the level of association of invasive neophytes according to the set objectives. We found that altitude was an important factor determining variability of invasive neophytes’ occurrence. Total amount of habitats with invasive neophytes’ occurrence showed a linear increase along the altitudinal gradient. Many invasive neophytes adapted to abandoned habitats of upland territory were also able to grow along roads, and vice versa, abandoned and unused habitats of lowland areas created conditions for many typical invasive neophytes occurring along roads and habitats of gardens and yards. Railways of lowland areas provided habitats and means of spread of invasive woody neophytes. Gardens and yards were important sources of alien neophytes in all observed territories. Invasive neophyte Aster novi-belgii can be described as a very variable species tolerant to a wide range of factors limiting the spread of species along the elevation gradient.

scholarly journals Alien Plants are Less Palatable to Pest Herbivores than Native Plants: Evidence from Cafeteria Experiments in Search of Suitable Plant Species to Restore Degraded Ecosystems

2021 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-24
Author(s):  
Mouldi Gamoun ◽  
Mounir Louhaichi
Keyword(s):  
Alien Species ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Native Plants ◽  
Feeding Preference ◽  
Alien Plants ◽  
General Tendency ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Evolutionary Potential ◽  
Wide Range

Abstract Nowadays, the ecology and evolutionary potential of alien species are the subjects of several ecological studies. The goal of this study was to compare the feeding preference of Arion ater on seedlings and leaves of alien and native plant species. Seedlings of three native species and one alien species were offered to slugs individually and in combination. Afterward, leaf discs from the native and alien species collected from the same source site of slug’s habitat were offered individually and in combination for slugs. When the new plant emerges, it constitutes a generous source of potential food and slugs would even feed on seedlings, which are not particularly palatable. Nonetheless, when given a choice, slug often preferentially feeds on some food items while ignoring others. Alien plants are more resistant to herbivory than native plants. There is a general tendency for alien species to be less palatable than native species. In general, slugs may eat a wide range of seedlings that are much more attractive than mature plants of the same species. Therefore, the native herbivores were found to attack native plants and promoted alien plants. Consequently, highly unacceptable alien species such as Eucalyptus globulus may play an important role in the restoration process.

scholarly journals Consumer Preferences for Native Plants in Montana Residential Landscapes and Perceptions for Naturalistic Designs

2008 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yousef R. Zadegan ◽  
Bridget K. Behe ◽  
Robert Gough
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Native Plants ◽  
Consumer Preferences ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Native Plant Species ◽  
Internet Study ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
Design Style

Abstract In a preliminary study, consumer perceptions of native plants in traditional and naturalistic settings was investigated. In Montana, 361 participants in an internet study reported their familiarity with both woody and herbaceous native plant species. Additional data were collected to determine their perceptions of native plants used in naturalistic designs through a conjoint study. Nearly half of the study participants recognized or had purchased most of the native plants shown in photographs. Results of the conjoint study showed that participants placed the greatest relative importance (62%) on landscape style as the most important factor in landscape design. They also preferred a naturalistic style over a more traditional style and mixed plant species to single species. Across all comparisons, the high relative importance of landscape style remained constant and was consistent with prior studies. Plant material (21.9%) and species diversity (16.2%) were half the relative importance of design style and remained relatively consistent through most comparisons. Even among those participants not familiar with native plants and those who had not purchased native plants, native plants were preferred in the landscapes. The demand for native plants may be reaching a critical stage for both commercial growers and the landscape profession. Although this study was limited to one state, results show that consumer interest is present and further investigation is warranted.

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