Diversity–function relationships changed in a long-term restoration experiment

Published source details Doherty J.M., Callaway J.C. & Zedler J.B. (2011) Diversity–function relationships changed in a long-term restoration experiment. Ecological Applications, 21, 2143-2155.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Restore/create brackish/saline marshes or swamps (multiple actions) Action Link

Restore/create brackish/saline marshes or swamps (multiple actions)

A study in 1996–2009 of a salt marsh restoration site in California, USA (Doherty et al. 2011) reported that 12–13 growing seasons after multiple interventions, the site contained salt marsh vegetation dominated by pickleweed Salicornia virginica and salt marsh daisy Jaumea carnosa. Pickleweed was present in 100% of plots, with 110 g/0.25 m² above-ground biomass. Salt marsh daisy was present in 87% of plots, with 75 g/0.25 m² above-ground biomass. Total above-ground biomass was 210 g/0.25 m² (vs 79 after 1–3 growing seasons). There were 4.0 plant species/plot (vs 3.0–4.5), 3.5 canopy layers (vs 1.9–2.7) and a maximum vegetation height of 33–37 cm (vs 20–38). Relationships between these outcomes and the number of species planted in restoration plots that were significant after 1–3 growing seasons were no longer significant after 11–12 years (see original paper). Methods: In 1996/1997, an upland area was lowered to intertidal elevations and graded into a slope. In this area, eighty-five 4-m² plots were amended with fine sediment, tilled and levelled. Most were then planted with salt marsh herbs/succulents (90 seedlings/plot; 1–6 species/plot; eight species total). Non-planted vegetation was cleared from all plots in 1997 and 1998, but was left to grow from 1999. Vegetation was surveyed in 45 planted plots in 1997–2000 and 2008–2009. Biomass included standing vegetation only and was dried before weighing. This study used a subset of the plots from (2) and (3).

(Summarised by: Nigel Taylor)