Mojave Desert restoration: drought and facilitation influences on plant communities and soil seed banks in annual grass invaded shrublands
type: CreativeWork
description: Non-native grasses, like Bromus rubens, have become widespread in arid ecosystems across the western United States, including the Mojave Desert. Their prolific seed production and rapid spread pose significant threats to native flora and wildlife habitats. These invasive grasses alter fire cycles, degrade habitats, and reduce biodiversity. In desert ecosystems, soil seed banks are critical reservoirs for future vegetation, supporting plant diversity and ecosystem resilience. In particular, annual plants rely on seed banks to buffer against fluctuating climatic conditions, which helps sustain population stability and ecosystem function. Native annuals often use bet-hedging strategies like delayed germination to persist through unfavorable conditions. In contrast, invasive species like B. rubens lack a persistent seed bank, relying on early germination, rapid growth, and high reproductive output, allowing them to quickly dominate soil seed banks. As climate change intensifies with shifting precipitation patterns and increasing drought episodes, native and invasive species plant and seed bank dynamics become more complex. In addition to seed banks, desert shrubs play a crucial role in shaping plant communities by creating microsites that buffer harsh climate conditions and facilitate plant germination and establishment. Shrub microsites often enhance native and invasive plant abundance, but it remains unclear whether these patterns persist in seed banks under changing climate conditions. Additionally, efforts to control non-native grasses with pre-emergent herbicides like imazapic can unintentionally affect native species. Historically, invasive grass management has been reactive, targeting areas post-disturbance, such as after wildfire events that remove established vegetation. Here, I evaluated the effectiveness of imazapic applications in reducing B. rubens cover and seed banks in invaded, but otherwise intact, plant communities. Using a split-plot design, I examine…
abstract: Non-native grasses, like Bromus rubens, have become widespread in arid ecosystems across the western United States, including the Mojave Desert. Their prolific seed production and rapid spread pose significant threats to native flora and wildlife habitats. These invasive grasses alter fire cycles, degrade habitats, and reduce biodiversity. In desert ecosystems, soil seed banks are critical reservoirs for future vegetation, supporting plant diversity and ecosystem resilience. In particular, annual plants rely on seed banks to buffer against fluctuating climatic conditions, which helps sustain population stability and ecosystem function. Native annuals often use bet-hedging strategies like delayed germination to persist through unfavorable conditions. In contrast, invasive species like B. rubens lack a persistent seed bank, relying on early germination, rapid growth, and high reproductive output, allowing them to quickly dominate soil seed banks. As climate change intensifies with shifting precipitation patterns and increasing drought episodes, native and invasive species plant and seed bank dynamics become more complex. In addition to seed banks, desert shrubs play a crucial role in shaping plant communities by creating microsites that buffer harsh climate conditions and facilitate plant germination and establishment. Shrub microsites often enhance native and invasive plant abundance, but it remains unclear whether these patterns persist in seed banks under changing climate conditions. Additionally, efforts to control non-native grasses with pre-emergent herbicides like imazapic can unintentionally affect native species. Historically, invasive grass management has been reactive, targeting areas post-disturbance, such as after wildfire events that remove established vegetation. Here, I evaluated the effectiveness of imazapic applications in reducing B. rubens cover and seed banks in invaded, but otherwise intact, plant communities. Using a split-plot design, I examine…
author: Sullivan, Ranae Michelle
language: en_US
language: English
keywords: Bromus, drought, facilitation, invasive species, Mojave Desert, seed bank
date published: 2024
date modified: 2026-07-27T21:48:09Z
provider: University of Nevada - Reno
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Nevada - Reno