Predicting Performance for Ecological Restoration: A Case Study Using Spartina alterniflora

Authors:
Travis, S.E. and J.B. Grace

Publication Date:
2010

Abstract/Summary:
The success of population-based ecological restoration relies on the growth and reproductive performance of selected donor materials, whether consisting of whole plants or seed. Accurately predicting performance requires an understanding of a variety of underlying processes, particularly gene flow and selection, which can be measured, at least in part, using surrogates such as neutral marker genetic distances and simple latitudinal effects. We suggest that dispersal distance and latitude should provide an adequate means of predicting performance in future S. alterniflora restorations and propose a maximum sampling distance of 300 km (holding latitude constant) to avoid the sampling of inappropriate ecotypes.

Resource Type:
Peer-reviewed Article

Source:
Ecological Applications

Link:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1890/08-1443.1/abstract