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Restoration Ecology: |
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Restoration Research in Gypsum-Rich Soils at Lake Mead NRA |
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RECENT RESEARCH |
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Contact: Dr. Scott Abella Scott.Abella@unlv.edu (702) 895-5163 University of Nevada Las Vegas 4505 Maryland Pkwy Las Vegas, NV 89154-2040 |
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The recent road construction of the Lakeshore Road and Northshore Road within Lake Mead NRA is providing a unique opportunity to study restoration in soils with high gypsum content. In October 2008, 2056 perennial plants were removed from the proposed path of destruction and stored for care and monitoring. Samples of biological soil crusts (BSC) were also collected and stored. Topsoil was salvaged and piled for storage at or close to each construction zone. During the spring 2009, 55 reference plots were established close to the realignment areas to gain a site-specific perspective of the vegetation communities. With this information, planting treatments will be conducted once construction |
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Evaluating Efficacy of Restoration Techniques: |
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Keys View road reconstruction, Joshua Tree National Park |
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Road repaving, such as that which occurred along Key’s View Road in Joshua Tree National Park, may result in a buffer of vegetation and soil disturbance along the roadsides. To restore and mask the disturbance, Joshua Tree NP planted perennial species salvaged from the path of destruction and applied salvaged topsoil along the disturbance corridor. Additionally, they also placed dead plants and branches (referred to as vertical mulch) to provide cover and habitat and promote natural revegetation. We monitored the restoration sites to assess outplanting survival, seed bank structure, and established plant community composition among the restoration treatments. After one year, survival rates of outplanted individuals was very high, with 60% of the species monitoried having a survival rate of 93% or higher. Annual plant community composition, richness, and diversity did not differ among treatments. Most of the established species were native species, but exotic species such as |
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invasive annual grasses in the Bromus genus are highly prevalent. Bromus is particularly successful around the outplants, but is not dominant enough to be correlated at the plot level to outplantings, as it has not readily established in the open interspaces, which is dominated by native annuals. Very few native perennials have established, which is expected for one year post-disturbance in a Mojave Desert system. The native annual species are establishing in abundances similar to that of undisturbed sites. For more information contact Cayenne Engel |
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Insect Communities in Gypsum and Non-Gypsum Habitats |
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In undisturbed systems, insect diversity and abundance are often positively correlated with plant community composition. Therefore, insect assemblages in disturbed or sites under restoration should reliably track the establishment of plant communities. To test this hypothesis, insects were collected from two habitat types before disturbance and their density will be compared after disturbance to assess restoration efforts. Number of insects collected before disturbance indicates that beetles (Coleoptera) were higher under shrubs in Gypsum soils. For more information contact Alex Suazo |
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Preparing for construction along the Northshore Road. |
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is completed (November 2009). The reference sites will also serve as control plots for long-term monitoring to compare the established BSC, desert pavement, and soil community to disturbed sites, as well as, identifying impacts and changes in the established seed bank. This research, combined with the study of watering treatments and topsoil reapplication will provide valuable information on the restoration of gypsum soil communities. For more information: Contact Lindsay Chiquione |
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