Recent advances in restoration ecology, with a focus on the Banksia woodland and the smoke germination tool (Review)

This paper details some of the recent research findings concerning restoration needs of the Banksia woodland in Western Australia, including the importance of, and recent advances in, smoke-technology research. Research has enabled testing of a wide spectrum of restoration technologies that enhance plant replacement at sites via treatments of the topsoil seedbank, broadcast seed and seedlings. By the use of smoke technology, which in some systems produces a 48-fold increase in the total number of germinants and a 3-fold increase in the number of species at restoration sites, improved species replacement is a very real possibility in Banksia woodland. At the same time, some commonly employed practices in restoration are a cause for concern, including the application of a herbicide widely used to control a priority Banksia-woodland weed and fire-suppressing agents used to assist fire management. These findings may have broader implications for restoration programs

Optimising seed broadcasting and greenstock planting for restoration in the Australian arid zone

Vegetation within some parts of Western Australia has been degraded by resource extraction, and ecological restoration is necessary to prevent erosion and reinstate plant biodiversity. Two restoration approaches, seed broadcasting and planting of seedlings, were tested with plant species (Acacia tetragonophylla F. Muell., Atriplex bunburyana F. Muell. and Solanum orbiculatum Poir.) known to have been dominant prior to mining activities in the World Heritage Area at Shark Bay. For broadcast seeding, soil raking and/or ripping increased seedling emergence, but only after sufficient rainfall. Survival of A. bunburyana seedlings (<= 92%) was higher than A. tetragonophylla (<= 13%) almost two years after planting and soil ripping partly alleviated soil impedance and resulted in increased seedling survival. Shoot pruning, fertiliser and moisture retaining gel had a reduced or detrimental effect on survival. Seedling survival differed between the three experimental sites, with electrical conductivity being the most noted soil difference between the sites. Restoration in the arid environs of the World Heritage Area at Shark Bay in Western Australia is challenging, but this study shows that seedling establishment is technically feasible and provides methodology useful to other arid restoration projects

Fluazifop-p-butyl herbicide: Implications for germination, emergence and growth of Australian plant species

Five experiments were implemented to collect information related to the effects of fluazifop-p-butyl (active chemical in grass selective herbicides, Fusilade® and Fusilade Forte™) on seed germination, seedling emergence, growth and health of species native to southwest Australia (a grass and non-grasses), together with several co-occurring introduced species (grasses and a non-grass). Experiments investigated effects of herbicide concentrations, seed burial depths, seed-sowing times since herbicide application and application locations (foliage versus soil). Both herbicides, at half to quadruple strength of recommended field application concentrations, adversely affected development of native and introduced species, both grasses and non-grasses. Herbicidal effects were observed during the seed germination phase, and if germination had occurred, during seedling emergence and, finally, during plant establishment. However, effects were more pronounced after seed germination, particularly on development of seedlings and plants, with retardation and/or discoloration of either radicles or shoots. Not unexpectedly, seedlings from seeds buried deeper in the sand medium (20 mm) struggled to emerge. Both herbicides demonstrated residual characteristics by impeding seedling emergence and growth from seeds sown at various dates (up to maximum test duration of 3 weeks) following exposure of the sand medium to the herbicides. Further, herbicide application to sand only, produced effects on 5-6 months old plants that were similar as application to foliage only, demonstrating herbicide uptake from sand. While the findings support independent research, they contradict the purported herbicide characteristics by commercial sources - grass selective, post-emergent, non-residual, rapid breakdown and active through foliar application only. Implications of these herbicides for biodiversity conservation are discussed

Ecophysiology of species with distinct leaf morphologies: Effects of plastic and shadecloth tree guards

Ecological restoration using seedling tubestock is challenging under a Mediterranean-type climate of hot, dry summers. We investigated the ecophysiological effects of plastic tree guards and shadecloth tree guards during seedling establishment of four co-occurring tree species that differ in leaf morphology. Average temperature was 6.7°C higher in plastic guards than controls over a summer, with a maximum of 53.5°C compared to 47.9°C in controls. Light levels were 2-fold lower in both tree guard treatments relative to control. In spring, photosynthesis and specific leaf area were significantly elevated in shadecloth tree guards relative to other treatments. In summer, photosynthetic rate was significantly lower, and midday photochemical efficiency was significantly higher, in both tree guard treatments relative to controls. The effect of elevated temperature in plastic tree guards may partially explain our results of higher mortality of seedling in plastic tree guards. The relatively elevated spring photosynthesis of seedlings in shadecloth tree guards may partially explain the result of reduced mortality and increased growth in this treatment. We conclude that shadecloth tree guards create a microclimate more favorable for seedling establishment in a Mediterranean-type environment than plastic tree guards and control treatments. Our results may have wide applicability to the range of restoration settings where seedling tubestock is planted, except in environments where low temperature is limiting to plant growth

Seletividade dos herbicidas setoxidim, isoxaflutol e bentazon a espécies arbóreas nativas Selectivity of the herbicides sethoxydim, isoxaflutole and bentazon on native tree species

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a sensibilidade de espécies nativas usadas em recuperação de áreas degradadas aos herbicidas setoxidim, isoxaflutol e bentazon. As espécies estudadas foram Senna multijuga, Guazuma ulmifolia e Croton urucurana. Os tratamentos de herbicida consistiram de uma testemunha (sem aplicação) e aplicação de um quarto, metade, uma vez, duas vezes e quatro vezes a dose recomendada. As doses recomendadas são 184 g ha-1 de setoxidim, 37,5 g ha-1 de isoxaflutol e 720 g ha-1 de bentazon. Avaliaram-se os sintomas de fitotoxicidade, crescimento em altura, acréscimo no número de folhas e massa de matéria seca de folhas. Em outros experimentos, as doses recomendadas dos mesmos herbicidas foram aplicadas em outras 22 espécies arbóreas nativas, nas quais avaliou-se a massa de matéria seca de folhas. O delineamento experimental dos experimentos foi o inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições. Cada parcela experimental se constituiu de uma muda em estádio inicial de desenvolvimento. Os herbicidas não provocaram a morte das mudas, embora todas tenham apresentado sintomas de fitotoxicidade. A aplicação de isoxaflutol reduziu a massa de matéria seca das folhas em 20% das espécies, a aplicação de bentazon, em uma espécie, e a aplicação de setoxidim não reduziu a massa de matéria seca das folhas de nenhuma espécie.<br>The objective of this work was to evaluate the sensitivity of native tree species used in the recovery of degraded land to the herbicides sethoxydim, isoxaflutole and bentazon. The species studied were Senna multijuga, Guazuma ulmifolia and Croton urucurana, and the treatment applied comprised one control sample (no herbicides were applied) and the application of the herbicides at one fourth, half, one, two and fourfold the recommended dose (sethoxydim: 184 g ha-1, isoxaflutole: 37.5 g ha-1, bentazon: 720 g ha-1). Phytotoxicity symptoms, growth in length, increase in leaf number, and leaf dry mass were evaluated. In another experiments, the recommended doses of the same herbicides were applied to other 22 native tree species, for which the leaf dry mass was evaluated. The experiments were carried out in completely randomized design with four replicates. Each experimental plot comprised one sapling in initial developmental stage. The herbicides did not cause saplings death, even though all of them showed phytotoxicity symptoms. Herbicide application reduced the leaf dry mass as follows: isoxaflutole, 20% of the species; bentazon, one of the species; and sethoxydim did not reduce leaf dry mass in any of the species