Does the type of disturbance matter when restoring disturbance-dependent grasslands?
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Published source details
MacDougall A.S. & Turkington R. (2007) Does the type of disturbance matter when restoring disturbance-dependent grasslands?. Restoration Ecology, 15, 263-272.
Published source details MacDougall A.S. & Turkington R. (2007) Does the type of disturbance matter when restoring disturbance-dependent grasslands?. Restoration Ecology, 15, 263-272.
Summary
Garry oak Quercus garryana savanna (wooded prairie) occurs from southwest British Columbia (Canada) to California (USA). Fire suppression (fire being a natural process in shaping the community) over 150 years has led to increased tree cover and litter accumulation. In many areas non-native grasses have invaded. In British Columbia, reinstatement of burning extant fragments may adversely affect now rare fauna and flora, and is impractical near built-up areas. This study within Cowichan Garry Oak Reserve (48°48′N, 123°38′W), assessed alternative methods to restore native flora at two grasslandsites invaded by non-native smooth meadow-grass Poa pratensis and cock’s-foot Dactylis glomerata.
In May 2000 at each site, 10, 4 x 10 m blocks were established and 1 m² plots within each randomly assigned one of three treatments applied annually (2000 to 2004) in July or early October: selective manual removal of Poa and Dactylis, cutting and raking, or burning, plus a control. One site had shallow soil (8 cm deep) the other deep soil (43 cm).
Output references
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