Long‐term effects of prairie restoration on plant community structure and native population dynamics

摘要: The key to restoring degraded grassland habitats is identifying feasible and effective techniques reduce the negative impacts of exotic species promote self-sustaining native populations. It often difficult extend monitoring restoration efforts evaluate long-term success, but doing so essential understanding how initial outcomes change over time. To assess treatment effects persist, we revisited patches Pacific Northwest prairie habitat 6 years after experimental ceased. We evaluated plant community composition determine lasting supplemental seeding disturbance treatments (burning, mowing, herbicide species). tracked persistence seeded measured spread their populations suitability for ability support found that plots received continued exhibit higher richness than those left unseeded, both could positively influence abundance long term. initially observed on reducing grass had diminished, highlighting importance ongoing control species. Nevertheless, these significantly influenced population trajectories 4 out 8 There was evidence spatial advance most Results from extended confirm dispersal limitation difficulties maintaining reduction grasses continue be major barriers success in invaded grasslands.