INVESTIGADORES
BERTILLER monica Beatriz
congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
Micro-environmental conditions differentially affect early stages of plant development (plant emergence and establishment) in denuded areas of the Patagonian Monte
Autor/es:
BOSCO, T; BERTILLER, M.B.; CARRERA, A.L.
Lugar:
Manchester
Reunión:
Congreso; 6th World Conference on Ecological Restoration; 2015
Institución organizadora:
Society for Ecological Restoration
Resumen:
Direct seeding of native plants combined with litter amendments could be a key management tool for restoration of disturbed arid ecosystems. We analyzed the effect of abiotic controls on seedling emergence and establishment of perennial grasses (Poa ligularis, Nassella tenuis) and evergreen shrubs (Atriplex lampa, Larrea divaricata, Schinus johnstonii) in denuded areas induced by anthropic disturbance in the Patagonian Monte. We sowed seeds of these species in microcosms subjected to the combined effects of UV radiation (near-ambient, am-UV; attenuated UV radiation, att-UV), high and low soil moisture (15-25%, HSM; 5-15%, LSM), and litter cover (without litter, BS; low quality litter, LQL; high quality litter, HQL). During 7 months, we estimated weekly the seedlings emerged (coleoptile or cotiledons visible) and the seedlings established (two true leaves expanded) as percentage of emerged seedlings. Combined effects of the three factors affected N. tenuis emergence with the highest values under HQL and HSM for both UV treatments. P. ligularis emergence was higher under am-UV radiation except for HSM at BS. The establishment of P. ligularis was not affected by factors while that of N. tenuis was promoted by am-UV. A. lampa emergence was promoted by am-UV in both HQL and LQL while the establishment was enhanced by the combined effects of am-UV and HSM. L. divaricata did not emerge under att-UV and LSM in any of the three litter covers whereas S. johnstonii mostly emerged under am-UV and HSM at the three litter covers. The establishment of the latter species was not affected by factors. We concluded that abiotic factors exerted a stronger control on seedling emergence than on seedling establishment. Moreover, the combination of factors affecting emergence varied among species.  Management tools focused on manipulation of microenvironments of   seedbeds could promote seedling emergence and establishment of target species for restoration of denuded areas