The importance of seed origin in grassland restoration schemes.

Abstract

Using non-local seed in restoration projects may lead to poor vegetation establishment and may also negatively affect resident invertebrate herbivores. We investigated the effect of distance (geographical and ecological) of propagule donor sites on the fitness of Lotus corniculatus using garden and field trials. A pilot study investigated the effect of propagule origin on the development of Polyommatus icarus. Geographical distance was correlated negatively with plant fitness on a field plot with added topsoil. A positive relationship with ecological distance was identified on a field plot with no topsoil addition, possibly demonstrating an adaptive response to localised environmental conditions. Larval growth of P. Icarus was affected by larval food origin. Practitioners should avoid collecting seed from distant populations and choose donor sites with similar ecological conditions to the restoration site. In the case of sites adjacent to populations of threatened invertebrates, local plant genotypes should be selected.