Conserving Rare Plant Species through Ecological Restoration in Missouri Woodlands

Ecological restoration is a vital tool for conserving plant biodiversity. Restoring Missouri’s diverse woodlands often involves removing invasive species and periodically conducting controlled burns. However, these important practices are generally insufficient for fostering the recovery of rare, sensitive plant species. This collaborative experiment at Shaw Nature Reserve will test competing hypotheses about the processes that limit rare plant recolonization of restored woodlands. Specifically, we will test how soil microbes and competition with other plants influence rare plant establishment. By doing so, we aim to develop best practice guidelines for advanced woodland restoration in Missouri and reverse the trend of biotic homogenization.

Publications

Brant, R. A., Edwards, C. E., Reid, J. L., Bassüner, B., Delfeld, B., Dell, N., Mangan, S. A., de la Paz Bernasconi Torres, V., & Albrecht, M. A. (2024). Restoration age affects microbial-herbaceous plant interactions in an oak woodland. Ecology and Evolution, 14, e11360. doi:10.1002/ece3.11360

Other Articles

Brant, R. (2024). Understanding the role of soil microbial communities in oak woodland and restoration using DNA metabarcoding. Natural History of Ecological Restoration. html

Research Team

J. Leighton Reid, Missouri Botanical Garden
Scott Mangan, WashU (Biology)
Claudia Stein, WashU (Tyson Research Center)
Mathew Albrecht, Missouri Botanical Garden
Quinn Long, Shaw Nature Reserve