Topic
Stackhousia monogyna
About: Stackhousia monogyna is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 2 publications have been published within this topic receiving 15 citations.
Papers
TL;DR: At optimal temperatures, scarification treatment produced the highest mean germination for D. longifolia and S. monogyna, and this was significantly higher than for control seeds, suggesting that seeds of all species are likely to be orthodox.
Abstract: Restoration is vital for the re-establishment and maintenance of biodiversity of temperate grassy woodlands, but limited understanding of species’ reproductive biology restricts the efficiency of restoration practice. The present study aimed to explore germination cues and seed dormancy of Dianella longifolia R.Br., Dianella revoluta R.Br., and Stackhousia monogyna Labill., three native Australian forb species that have been difficult to germinate in large-scale restoration projects. A series of experiments investigated the effect of various dormancy-alleviation or germination-promoting treatments on germination of these three species. Significant interactions were found between some treatments and germination temperatures for D. longifolia and S. monogyna, but no significant interactions were observed for D. revoluta. At optimal temperatures, scarification treatment produced the highest mean germination for D. longifolia and S. monogyna, and this was significantly higher than for control seeds. Storage conditions (ambient, dry, frozen) did not decrease viability after 10 weeks of storage, suggesting that seeds of all species are likely to be orthodox. To maximise the effectiveness of seed use in restoration programs, it is recommended that scarification of D. longifolia and S. monogyna seed be undertaken to improve field germination. Further work should focus on how to scale up application of the scarification treatment, optimise methods for alleviating dormancy in D. revoluta, and examine the ecological cues that naturally alleviate dormancy and promote germination of these three species.
12 citations
TL;DR: An ordination of floristic data from sites with and without S. gunnii showed that the species occupies a floristically distinct environment and is susceptible to elimination in the absence of environmental conditions and disturbances that create bare ground.
Abstract: Although being possibly widespread on the mainland of Australia, where it is recognised as part of the Stackhousia monogyna Labill. complex, S. gunnii Hook.f. is an endangered species in Tasmania, with only 10 known extant populations, all in the drier parts of the southern Midlands. These populations occur largely on roadsides or lightly grazed paddocks in vegetation that was originally either Themeda triandra grassland or Eucalyptus pauciflora woodland. An ordination of floristic data from sites with and without S. gunnii showed that the species occupies a floristically distinct environment. The floristic differences between stands of S. gunnii relate partly to the presence or absence of tree cover and substantially to precipitation. The groups of species that preferentially occur with S. gunnii are geophytes, non-geophytic herbs and exotic plants, while those that are concentrated elsewhere include shrubs, grasses and non-geophytic graminoids. Permanent transects were monitored over a 4-year period at seven sites with varying grazing, firing and disturbance. The number of shoots varied markedly between years in all sites, but not synchronously, even when transects were in close proximity. Although shoot numbers increased after fires occurred on several ungrazed transect lines, they decreased on one grazed line. Deep mechanical disturbance of one site resulted in a dramatic decrease in shoot numbers in the following year. However, they increased steadily over the following 2 years. Shoot emergence occurred at twice the expected rate on bare ground in all years and at all sites, and a substantial proportion of shoots was confined to this type of surface. However, shoots were also recorded in fewer numbers in grass cover, herb cover and non-vascular plant crusts. Like some other threatened plants of grassy ecosystems, S. gunnii seems to be rare because it cannot survive with heavy grazing disturbance, ploughing and fertilisation, and, at the other extreme, because it is susceptible to elimination in the absence of environmental conditions and disturbances that create bare ground.
Related Topics (5)
Performance Metrics
| Year | Papers |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 |
| 1998 | 1 |