a synthesis of seed-based restoration research in the...

A synthesis of seed-based restoration

research in the desert:

the Pilbara Seed Atlas Project and beyond

Supported by

Todd Erickson Project Manager

Restoration Seed Bank Initiative

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

121.1°F 8.5 % RH

...the Pilbara bioregion......

121.1°F

Bio

div

ers

ity R

esto

ration G

oal

(no

. o

f sp

ecie

s r

ein

sta

ted

)

Seed technology impediments

Quality

assurance (collection

phase)

Storage

capacity (seed bank

phase)

Restoration-

ready seed (seed enablement

phase)

Current capacity

achieves <10%

of desired seed

use

Growing medium (seedling

establishment

phase)

...improving restoration at scale through seed-based research......

Step changes

in technology

development

required

Bio

div

ers

ity R

esto

ration G

oal

(no

. o

f sp

ecie

s r

ein

sta

ted

)

Seed technology impediments

Quality

assurance (collection

phase)

Storage

capacity (seed bank

phase)

Restoration-

ready seed (seed enablement

phase)

Current capacity

achieves <10%

of desired seed

use

Growing medium (seedling

establishment

phase)

...improving restoration at scale through seed-based research......

Step changes

in technology

development

required


Seed Dormancy

Seed Enhancement

Growth Medium / Topsoil

Seed Storage

Seed Bank Management

Seed Farming

Erickson, T.E., Barrett, R.L., Merritt, D.J. & Dixon, K.W. (2016)

Pilbara seed atlas and field guide: plant restoration in

Australia's arid northwest. CSIRO Publishing, Dickson, ACT.

...improving restoration by using the chain-of-seed-use....

Perring et al. (2015),

Ecosphere, Vol 6

James et al. (2013),

J. of App. Ecol., Vol 50

Merritt and Dixon (2011),

Science, Vol 332




Physical

31%

Physiological

34%

Non-dormant

27%

Others

8% 89 species

Seed dormancy classification….




Overcoming physical dormancy….

Erickson et al. (2016),

Australian Journal of Botany,

Vol 64




Overcoming physical dormancy….


Australian Journal of Botany,

Vol 64

Overcoming physiological dormancy….


Restoration Ecology, Vol 24




...improving restoration by using the chain-of-seed-use....

+

Perring et al. (2015),

Ecosphere, Vol 6

James et al. (2013),

J. of App. Ecol., Vol 50

Merritt and Dixon (2011),

Science, Vol 332




Some un-published field trial data removed

Seed enhancement technologies currently being investigated.......

Extruded pellets

Osmo-priming

Precision flash-flaming

Seeding experiment evaluating the influence various seed pre-treatments including the

removal of floret structures in grasses and the application of additional seed

enhancement technologies (e.g. polymer seed coats and osmo-priming) across various

soil types

and simulated rainfall regimes

Seedling emergence in

grasses is greater in

seeded lines treated with a

combination of floret

removal, osmo-priming, and

polymer coated batches.

This photo shows plant

survival after 6 months. This

plot received no more than

120mm of rain over 7d.




soil types


Seedling survival in the

dominant grass genus

Triodia after 6 months. This

plot received no more than

120mm of rain over 7d.




soil types


Clear seedling survival

differences in various

reconstructed soil types.

This photo shows higher

plant establishment and

survival after 6 months.

These plots received the

same simulated rainfall

regime of 120mm of rain

over 7d but clearly show

soil-driven plant recruitment

differences.

Some un-published field trial data removed

• Species available for use in restoration range from deeply dormant to

“ready-to-go”

• Dormancy classes need to be indentified and treatments developed

• Implementing the chain-of-seed-use makes this possible for 100s of species

• Species that have “hard seeded” seeds have a relatively easy to overcome

dormancy mechanism

• To increase the diversity available, research needs to focus on overcoming

physiological dormancy

• Cleaning and dormancy break protocols have been developed to streamline

batch processing (e.g. heat treatments, DAR/WD cycling, flash flaming)

• Seed enhancement technologies, combined with dormancy break

treatments, have improved the likelihood of seedling establishment (i.e. 20-

40% emergence)

• Must implement field trials to determine if our adopted research approach

leads to successful restoration

What does this all mean to Pilbara practitioners?


Seed Dormancy

Seed Enablement

Growth Medium / Topsoil

Seed Storage

Seed Bank Management

Seed Farming

Post-graduate students

• Wolfgang Lewandrowski (PhD)

• Olga Kildisheva (PhD)

• Mallory Barnes (Hons)

• King Yong Ling (Hons)

• Amy Watkins (Hons)

• Ewan Morrison (Hons)

• Amber Bateman (Hons)

• Tayla Kneller (Hons)

• Elvan Ling (Hons)

• Bennett Lovelady (Hons)

Post-Docs + Research Team

• Dr Todd Erickson

• Dr Miriam Munoz-Rojas

• Dr Alison Ritchie

• Dr Shane Turner

• Dr David Merritt

• Prof. Kingsley Dixon

• Mr. David Symons

• Ms. Christine Best

• Mr. Dylan Martini

• BHPBIO staff and research

collaborators

Supported by

a synthesis of seed-based restoration research in the...

Documents