Do large scale restoration projects reduce within- species trait variability? Harzé Mélanie*,...

Do large scale restoration projects reduce within-species trait variability?

Harzé Mélanie*, Monty Arnaud and Mahy Grégory

University of Liege, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Biodiversity and Landscape Unit

*[email protected]

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Context Aims Methods Results

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6Adriaens et al. 2006


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1. Diversity : species richness and abundance 2. Vegetation structure : vegetation cover, biomass3. Ecological processes : nutrient cycling, biological interractions

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1. Diversity : species richness and abundance 2. Vegetation structure : vegetation cover, biomass3. Ecological processes : nutrient cycling, biological interractions

Populations?

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Fragmentation


Modified from Lienert 2004

Biotic interactions

Stochasticity (chance)

Natural gene flow

Artificial gene flow

Habitat fragmentation- Small populations- Large isolation

Inbreeding depression

Outbreeding depression

Individual / population fitness

Abiotic effects

Mutation

Inbreeding

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Restoration ?



Biotic interactions


Natural gene flow






Abiotic effects

Mutation

Inbreeding

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Restoration ?


Biotic interactions


Natural gene flow






Abiotic effects

Mutation

Inbreeding


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Biotic interactions


Natural gene flow






Abiotic effects

Mutation

Inbreeding

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Restoration ?

Foundation effectSmall populationsReduced genetic diversity



Biotic interactions


Natural gene flow






Abiotic effects

Mutation

Inbreeding

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Restoration ?


Foundation effectSmall populationsReduced genetic diversity

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“The discipline of population biology provides one perspective on what might be considered a successful restoration.”

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“Restored populations must possess attributes necessary for reproduction, growth, migration, and adaptive evolutionary change.”

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Functional traits= Any measurable features at

the individual level that directly or indirectly affect overall plant fitness(Lavorel et al. 1997; Violle et al. 2007)

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Functional traits

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Functional traits

Specific Leaf Area (SLA)

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Functional traits

Plant height

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Functional traits

Seed mass

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Functional traits variability= one way to understand plant

response to environmental variability and their capacity to cope with environmental changes.

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To compare the environmental heterogeneity and the trait variability of reference and restored populations of a calcareous grasslands

species: Potentilla tabernaemontani.


Potentilla tabernaemontani

A perennial forb producing yellow entomophilous flowers

Specialist of calcareous grasslands in Belgium

Present on various environment

Abundant in the study area

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Species


6 sites

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1.2.

3.4. 5. 6.

6 sites

vs

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6 reference populations 6 restored populations

Protocol


6 sites

vs

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6 reference populations

30 individuals/pop

6 restored populations

30 individuals/pop

Protocol


6 sites

vs

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Intra-population trait variability : • Specific leaf area (2 leaves/indiv)

• Vegetative height


30 individuals/pop


30 individuals/pop

Protocol


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Intra-population trait variability : • Specific leaf area (2 leaves/indiv)

• Vegetative height

Environmental heterogeneity : • Soil depth


30 individuals/pop



30 individuals/pop

Protocol 6 sites

vs

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Soil

dept

h (c

m)

Is restoration recreating the entire range of environmental variability experience by the populations of the species ?


Site 1 Site 2 Site 3 Site 4 Site 5 Site 6

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Is restoration recreating the entire range of environmental variability experience by the populations of the species ?

Soil

dept

h (c

m)

Reference Restoration


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Is restoration selecting only a part of the trait variability of source populations?

SLA

(mm

2 . m

g-1)



Vege

tativ

e he

ight

(cm

)


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Is restoration selecting only a part of the trait variability of source populations?

Vege

tativ

e he

ight

(cm

)


SLA

(mm

2 . m

g-1)

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CONCLUSION A population approach is important to

evaluate more aspects of restoration success

Good news for restored populations and species persistence in the future.

Reference = goal? Or restore more diverse populations?

What about new sites creation? Rare species?

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Thank you for your attention!Any questions?

[email protected]

Do large scale restoration projects reduce within- species trait variability? Harzé Mélanie*,...

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