Abstracts, Reviews, and Meetings

Grasslands

Lucerne-Dominated Fields Recover Native Grass Diversity Without Intensive Management Actions. 2010. Torok, P. (Department of Ecology, University of Debrecen, PO Box 71, H-4010 Decrecen, Hungary, molinia@gmail.com), Kelemen, A., Valko, O., Deak, B., Lukacs, B., and B. Tothmeresz. Journal of Applied Ecology 48(1):451–458.

Torok and colleagues examined the practicality of spontaneous recovery of loess grasslands in lucerne (Medicago sativa) dominated fields using space-for-time substitutions. They recorded the vegetation composition of 1-, 3-, 5-, and 10-yr old fields that had received no restoration treatments (only mowed twice per year). Perennial native grasses gradually replaced lucerne along the space-for-time gradient, but native forbs remained rare. The authors assert that allowing natural recovery of grasslands can be an effective strategy, reducing costs and minimizing the colonization of restoration sites by weeds. However, active management is required for the complete restoration of diverse grasslands.

Rapid Restoration of a Species-Rich Ecosystem Assessed from Soil and Vegetation Indicators: The Case of Calcareous Grasslands Restored from Forest Stands. 2011. Piqueray, J. (University of Liege, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Biodiversity and Landscape Unit, 2, Passage des Deportes, B-5030 Gembloux, Belgium, Julien.Piqueray@ulg.ac.be), Bottin, G., Delescaille, L-M., Bisteau, E., Colinet, G., and G. Mahy. Ecological Indicators 11(2):724–733.

Since the 1990s, over 100 hectares of high diversity calcareous grasslands have been restored in Belgium. Comparing the soil conditions and vascular plant communities of pre-restoration forest stands, restored grasslands of various ages, and reference grasslands, Piqueray and colleagues quantitatively assessed the success of these restoration projects. Their results revealed no significant differences in soil conditions between pre-restoration, restored, and reference lands. Although some differences in plant communities did exist 15 years after restoration, the authors found that species composition in older restoration sites was most similar to reference sites. Some rare species failed to colonize a restored site, despite a proximal seed source. Overall, the authors deemed the restoration projects successful, but they suggest modest management to promote the colonization of rare species.

Woodlands

Landscape and Vegetation Effects on Avian Reproduction on Bottomland Forest Restorations. 2010. Twedt, D.J. (United States Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, 2524 S. Frontage Road, Vicksburg, MS 39180, dtwedt@usgs.gov), Somershoe, S.G., Hazler, K.R., and R.J. Cooper. Journal of Wildlife Management 74(3):423–436.

A standard practice for the conservation of bottomland forest-dwelling birds is to plant a diverse mix of densely spaced seedlings on tracts that are adjacent to existing forests. Twedt and colleagues investigated this practice by quantifying densities and reproductive success of 9 species in 36 bottomland forest restoration sites. Depending on the species, densities of birds were either positively or negatively affected by taller trees, greater stem densities, and greater proportion of forest within the landscape. Nest success for forest and scrub-shrub species was also greater in sites exhibiting these characteristics, but for grassland birds, nest success was most related to distance from the forest edge. Populations of scrub-shrub species in restoration sites appeared self-sustaining, while populations of grassland and woodland birds seemed to decline. Based on these results, the authors recommend strategies to rapidly develop dense forest stands within largely forested landscape tracts to increase forest and scrub-shrub bird populations.

What Makes an Effective Restoration Planting for Woodland Birds? 2010. Lindenmayer, D.B. (Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National Univeristy, WK Hancock Building West (43), Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia, david.lindenmayer@anu.edu.au), Knight, E.J., Crane, M.J., Montague-Drake, R., Michael, D.R, and C.I. MacGregor. Biological Conservation 143(2):289–301.

The success of reforestation from the perspective of woodland bird occupancy is rarely studied. Lindenmayer and others examined the relationship of bird species richness and detection probability and the context, vegetation cover types, configuration, location, geometry, and content of restoration plantings in New South Wales, Australia. The amount of planted vegetation and surrounding native remnant vegetation significantly affected species richness and presence, suggesting that restoration plantings within suitable habitat parcels blended with the woodland matrix. Therefore, the authors suggest that the...