COS 21-2 - Landscape restoration influences plant and soil communities in a coastal rangeland

Monday, August 7, 2023

1:45 PM – 2:00 PM PDT

Location: D136

Presenting Author(s)

YP

Yamina Pressler

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA, United States

Coauthor(s)

NB

Nora Bales

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA, United States
SW

Stewart Wilson

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, United States
AB

Anna Buecheler

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, United States
CC

Cody Cameron

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, United States
MF

Maxwell Farmer

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, United States
SF

Sophia Forstmann

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, United States
LF

Lauren Frost

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, United States
KN

Kylee Nielsen

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, United States
FO

Fiona O'Neill

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, United States
AS

Alison Snyder

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, United States
CS

Carly Sussman

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, United States
NW

Nabila Wildman

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, United States

Abstract: Rangelands are biodiversity hotspots, provide critical ecological functions and economic value, and represent the largest land use in California, extending over 58 million acres. California rangelands face combined challenges of non-native species invasion, drought, and land degradation. Ecological restoration of native grasslands and soil communities in working landscapes is needed. We conducted an observational study along a continuum of rangeland restoration to assess impacts on above- and belowground ecology in a coastal California grassland. Our study compared ecological responses of one ranch under continuous grazing management, one ranch under rotational conservation grazing management, and a county park that has been ungrazed for 4 years. We hypothesize that rangelands restored through conservation management will harbor greater plant and soil biodiversity, leading to accumulations of stable soil organic matter. We quantified plant community composition and biomass, soil nematode abundance and functional diversity, soil microarthropod abundance, spider web activity, animal burrow activity, lichen cover, and soil organic matter content. We placed these ecological responses in the context of the soil environment by assessing differences in soil minerology, texture, and pH. Our survey identified 74 plant species, of which, 30 were native to California and 44 were naturalized. We observed one rare plant (Calystegia subacaulis ssp. episcopalis) with the greatest abundance at the conservation grazing site. We found significantly higher plant species richness under rotational conservation grazing compared to the other two sites. Soil microarthropod abundance was greater under rotational conservation grazing compared to continuous grazing. Surface soil pH and clay content were greater at the continuous grazing site, and surface soil C:N and aboveground biomass C:N were highest at the ungrazed site. We will assess whether soil mineralogy or management are stronger predictors of above- and belowground ecological responses. Our results demonstrate that restoration through grazing management has potential to support biodiversity conservation.