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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
agricultural and biological sciences
Pioneers and perches-promising restoration methods for degraded renosterveld habitats?
Restoration Ecology, Volume 20, No. 1, Year 2012
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Description
Areas of abandoned agricultural fields are globally increasing and are also common features in the Cape Lowlands of South Africa. Previous restoration attempts in degraded West Coast renosterveld, a Mediterranean-climate shrubland, have attained limited success and therefore novel approaches are needed for this area. The study reports on two restoration experiments, designed to re-introduce key plant functional types back into this critically endangered habitat. The first experiment concentrated on a common pioneer species in renosterveld vegetation, Otholobium hirtum. Although in vitro experiments showed a significantly elevated germination response after scarification, in vivo experiments failed to produce establishment in an abandoned field. The second restoration experiment focused on bush clumps, a sub-type of renosterveld vegetation that is characterized by broad-leaved shrubs with fleshy bird-dispersed diaspores. The effect of artificial bird perches and their potential to enhance diaspore dispersal by frugivorous birds in two abandoned field communities was tested. Results showed a significant increase in seed dispersal at artificial perch sites. However, in the next fruiting season, and after perch removal, seed germination and establishment in abandoned fields was not successful. The experiments revealed that restoration using early-succession species and natural dispersal vectors appear not to produce demonstrable benefits, despite their promising potential and pre-testing of effectiveness. Before launching large-scale restoration programs in abandoned fields of renosterveld, preliminary studies in-field are strongly recommended. © 2011 Society for Ecological Restoration International.
Authors & Co-Authors
Heelemann, Steffen
Germany, Regensburg
Universität Regensburg
Krug, Cornelia B.
France, Orsay
Laboratoire Écologie, Systématique et Évolution
Esler, Karen J.
South Africa, Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch University
Reisch, Christoph
Germany, Regensburg
Universität Regensburg
Poschlod, Peter
Germany, Regensburg
Universität Regensburg
Statistics
Citations: 42
Authors: 5
Affiliations: 3
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1111/j.1526-100X.2011.00842.x
ISSN:
10612971
e-ISSN:
1526100X
Study Approach
Quantitative
Study Locations
South Africa