Restoring Populations of the Endangered Plant Scorzonera humilis: Influence of Site Conditions, Seed Source, and Plant Stage

• DOI: 10.1111/j.1526-100x.2009.00522.x
• Publication Date: 2009-05-04T07:40:22Z
• Authors: Claude Reckinger; Guy Colling; Diethart Matthies
• Keywords: Propagule; Transplanting

Changes in land-use have resulted the decline of many formerly common plants nutrient-poor grasslands Europe. Recently, extensification schemes been applied at sites order to restore former habitat conditions. However, establishment rare and endangered is often severely limited by lack propagules both seed bank surrounding landscape. For such species deliberate introductions may be necessary overcome these limitations. In a 7-year study, we assessed importance gaps created sod cutting, plant stage, origin for restoration populations Scorzonera humilis, threatened long-lived nutrient-poor, wet grasslands. The effect on seedling emergence survival varied strongly among 12 sites. Gaps increased nutrient-rich, but reduced it Remarkably, young grown only 5 weeks laboratory transplanted into same had much higher than seedlings from seeds sown there were no differences between nutrient-rich field performance various depending site which they transplanted, indicating genotype environment interactions genetic differentiation populations, was home-site advantage. While sowing succeeded producing adult five sites, transplanting 10 Our results suggest that could more effective faster way establish new seeds.