A reintroduced ecosystem engineer provides a germination niche for native plant species

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dc.contributor.authorRoss, Catherine
dc.contributor.authorMcIntyre, Sue
dc.contributor.authorBarton, Philip
dc.contributor.authorEvans, Maldwyn
dc.contributor.authorCunningham, Saul
dc.contributor.authorManning, Adrian
dc.date.accessioned2021-02-19T00:45:59Z
dc.date.issued2020
dc.date.updated2020-11-08T07:24:57Z
dc.description.abstractGrasslands and grassy woodlands worldwide have experienced declines in extent and condition, with substantial changes to their ground-layer biodiversity. In Australia, this decline has coincided with the extinction of many digging mammals that may have once created regeneration niches for native ground layer plants. These digging mammals are widely recognised as ‘ecosystem engineers’, due to their infuence on biopedturbation and resultant soil functions. Yet there is uncertainty as to the benefts of digging in restoring grassland diversity with current levels of modifcation and the presence of exotic plants. We investigated the efect of digging by the reintroduced eastern bettong (Bettongia gaimardi) on seedling germination in a temperate grassy woodland in south-eastern Australia. We marked fresh bettong foraging pits and undisturbed control plots in dense and open grassland. We added seeds of seven native forb species and monitored germination and establishment over 2 years. We found signifcantly more seedlings in bettong pits than controls, particularly in dense grassland. This efect persisted beyond 1 year, suggesting that pits may have increased seedling survival in dry conditions. Surprisingly, native species displayed a stronger positive response to pits than exotic species, particularly in a wet year. There was an initial reduction in exotic species, but this was followed by their increase in 1-year-old pits, suggesting that the disturbance created by digging could eventually lead to an increase in weed abundance. Our results demonstrate that while bettong pits provide a germination niche for native forbs, reintroducing digging animals will not necessarily result in the desired restoration outcomes. Ongoing persistence of exotic species is to be expected, and seed addition may be required for species that are seed-limited.en_AU
dc.description.sponsorshipThis research forms part of the Mulligans Flat-Goorooyarroo Woodland Experiment (Australian Research Council Linkage LP0561817, LP110100126, LP140100209), a partnership between The Australian National University, the Australian Capital Territory Government and James Cook University. Catherine Ross was supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship, and an additional scholarship top-up from the ARC (LP140100209).en_AU
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen_AU
dc.identifier.issn0960-3115en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1885/223273
dc.language.isoen_AUen_AU
dc.publisherSpringer Verlagen_AU
dc.relationhttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/LP0561817en_AU
dc.relationhttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/LP110100126en_AU
dc.relationhttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/LP140100209en_AU
dc.relationhttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/LP140100209en_AU
dc.rights© Springer Nature B.V. 2019en_AU
dc.sourceBiodiversity and Conservationen_AU
dc.subjectBettongia gaimardien_AU
dc.subjectEastern bettongen_AU
dc.subjectDiggingen_AU
dc.subjectDisturbanceen_AU
dc.subjectGrasslanden_AU
dc.subjectGrassy woodlanden_AU
dc.subjectRestorationen_AU
dc.titleA reintroduced ecosystem engineer provides a germination niche for native plant speciesen_AU
dc.typeJournal articleen_AU
local.bibliographicCitation.lastpage837en_AU
local.bibliographicCitation.startpage817en_AU
local.contributor.affiliationRoss, Catherine, College of Science, ANUen_AU
local.contributor.affiliationMcIntyre, Sue, College of Science, ANUen_AU
local.contributor.affiliationBarton, Philip, College of Science, ANUen_AU
local.contributor.affiliationEvans, Maldwyn, College of Science, ANUen_AU
local.contributor.affiliationCunningham, Saul, College of Science, ANUen_AU
local.contributor.affiliationManning, Adrian, College of Science, ANUen_AU
local.contributor.authoremailu4437087@anu.edu.auen_AU
local.contributor.authoruidRoss, Catherine, u4524334en_AU
local.contributor.authoruidMcIntyre, Sue, u1810391en_AU
local.contributor.authoruidBarton, Philip, u4437087en_AU
local.contributor.authoruidEvans, Maldwyn, u4796571en_AU
local.contributor.authoruidCunningham, Saul, u4593341en_AU
local.contributor.authoruidManning, Adrian, u4006250en_AU
local.description.embargo2099-12-31
local.description.notesImported from ARIESen_AU
local.identifier.absfor050202 - Conservation and Biodiversityen_AU
local.identifier.absseo960806 - Forest and Woodlands Flora, Fauna and Biodiversityen_AU
local.identifier.ariespublicationu5786633xPUB1373en_AU
local.identifier.citationvolume29en_AU
local.identifier.doi10.1007/s10531-019-01911-8en_AU
local.identifier.thomsonIDWOS:000499548500001
local.identifier.uidSubmittedByu5786633en_AU
local.publisher.urlhttps://link.springer.comen_AU
local.type.statusPublished Versionen_AU

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