Restoration of foothills rough fescue grassland following pipeline disturbance in southwestern Alberta
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Published source details
Desserud P., Gates C.C., Adams B. & Revel R.D. (2010) Restoration of foothills rough fescue grassland following pipeline disturbance in southwestern Alberta. Journal of Environmental Management, 91, 2763-2770.
Published source details Desserud P., Gates C.C., Adams B. & Revel R.D. (2010) Restoration of foothills rough fescue grassland following pipeline disturbance in southwestern Alberta. Journal of Environmental Management, 91, 2763-2770.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Sow grass seeds Action Link |
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Sow grass seeds
A replicated, site comparison study in 2004 in 14 sites disturbed by pipeline construction in Alberta, Canada (Desserud et al. 2010) found that areas where grass seeds had been sown had lower cover of native plants, shrubs, grasses and forbs than nearby natural grasslands, but had higher cover of non-native plants. Areas where seeds had been sown after disturbance by pipeline construction had lower cover of native plants (39%) than nearby natural grasslands (71%). There was a similar pattern for native shrubs (seeded: 2%, natural: 7%), native grasses (seeded: 27%, natural: 35%) and native forbs (seeded: 11%, natural: 29%). However, non-native species cover was higher in seeded areas (32%) than in natural grasslands (21%). Fourteen sites where pipelines had been constructed 7–40 years prior were selected for the study. All sites were sown with native grass seeds, including rough fescue Festuca campestris, after construction. In June–August 2004, plant cover was surveyed using 10 quadrats along one 30 x 1 m transect in the reseeded area of each site and one transect in adjacent intact grasslands.
(Summarised by: Philip Martin)
