Assessing and Mitigating the Effects of Windblown Soil on Rare and Common Vegetation |
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Authors: | Sean M Gleason Dave T Faucette Mai M Toyofuku Carlos A Torres Calvin F Bagley |
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Institution: | (1) Environmental Division, Directorate of Public Works, Pohakuloa Training Area, U.S. Army Garrison, Hawaii, P.O. Box 6346, Hilo, HI 96720, USA;(2) Present address: School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Victoria, 3800, Australia;(3) Center for the Environmental Management of Military Lands (CEMML), Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA |
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Abstract: | Acting under the auspices of the US Endangered Species Act, we quantified wind erosion and its effects on rare and common
plant species on a semi-arid military installation in Hawaii. Our goal was to develop management strategies, based on local
data, to aid the conservation of rare and common indigenous plants and their habitats. We collected windblown soil coming
off of roads and other disturbed soils to assess likely impacts to plants occurring at certain heights and distances from
disturbed surfaces. We then subjected plants in a glasshouse to windblown dust treatments, designed from our field data to
simulate erosion events, and evaluated the effect of these treatments on photosynthesis and survival. We also designed several
field experiments to examine the in-situ effects of windblown soil and soil substrate on germination, growth rate, and survival
of indigenous and nonindigenous plants. We conclude from these experiments that most direct effects of windblown soil to plants
can be effectively mitigated by locating roads and training areas at least 40 m from sensitive plant habitats and through
vegetation management to maintain at least 11% aerial cover on disturbed surfaces. Effects of soil type on germination, growth,
and survival was species-specific, emphasizing the importance of species trials prior to, or during, rehabilitation efforts. |
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Keywords: | Wind erosion Resource management Rare plants Photosynthesis Amax Endangered Species Act |
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