Biogeochemical and microbial legacies of non-native grasses can affect restoration success.

摘要: The restoration of disturbed ecosystems is challenging and often unsuccessful, particularly when non-native plants are abundant. Ecosystem may be hindered by the effects on soil biogeochemical characteristics microbial communities that persist even after removed. To examine importance legacy effects, we used experimental restorations Florida shrubland habitat had been degraded introduction grasses coupled with either mechanical disturbance or pasture conversion. We removed inoculated soils native at each site, then examined how structure, nitrogen, abundances, seed germination responded over two years compared to undisturbed sites. Grass removal treatments effectively restored some aspects including decreased exotic grass cover, increased bare ground, reduced litter cover. Soil fungal abundance was also somewhat removals, but algal unaffected. In addition, inoculation improved rates in sites, these remained quite low High nitrogen persisted throughout experiment regardless treatment. Many treatment were site-specific, however, legacies more vegetation type tending difficult overcome. These results support need for context-dependent approaches suggest degree a good indicator potential.