Do large scale restoration projects reduce within- species trait variability? Harzé Mélanie*, Monty Arnaud and Mahy Grégory University of Liege, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Biodiversity and Landscape Unit

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10 ContextAimsMethods Results 1. Diversity : species richness and abundance 2. Vegetation structure : vegetation cover, biomass 3. Ecological processes : nutrient cycling, biological interractions

11 ContextAimsMethods Results 1. Diversity : species richness and abundance 2. Vegetation structure : vegetation cover, biomass 3. Ecological processes : nutrient cycling, biological interractions  Populations?

12 Fragmentation ContextAimsMethods Results Modified from Lienert 2004 Biotic interactions Stochasticity (chance) Natural gene flow Artificial gene flow Habitat fragmentation -Small populations -Large isolation Inbreeding depression Outbreeding depression Individual / population fitness Abiotic effects Mutation Inbreeding

13 Restoration ? ContextAimsMethods Results Modified from Lienert 2004 Biotic interactions Stochasticity (chance) Natural gene flow Artificial gene flow Habitat fragmentation -Small populations -Large isolation Inbreeding depression Outbreeding depression Individual / population fitness Abiotic effects Mutation Inbreeding

14 Restoration ? ContextAimsMethods Results Biotic interactions Stochasticity (chance) Natural gene flow Artificial gene flow Habitat fragmentation -Small populations -Large isolation Inbreeding depression Outbreeding depression Individual / population fitness Abiotic effects Mutation Inbreeding Modified from Lienert 2004

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Modified from Lienert 2004 Biotic interactions Stochasticity (chance) Natural gene flow Artificial gene flow Habitat fragmentation -Small populations -Large isolation Inbreeding depression Outbreeding depression Individual / population fitness Abiotic effects Mutation Inbreeding 16 Restoration ? Foundation effect Small populations Reduced genetic diversity ContextAimsMethods Results

Modified from Lienert 2004 Biotic interactions Stochasticity (chance) Natural gene flow Artificial gene flow Habitat fragmentation -Small populations -Large isolation Inbreeding depression Outbreeding depression Individual / population fitness Abiotic effects Mutation Inbreeding 17 Restoration ? ContextAimsMethods Results Foundation effect Small populations Reduced genetic diversity

18 ContextAimsMethods Results “The discipline of population biology provides one perspective on what might be considered a successful restoration.”

19 ContextAimsMethods Results “Restored populations must possess attributes necessary for reproduction, growth, migration, and adaptive evolutionary change.”

20 ContextAimsMethods Results “Restored populations must possess attributes necessary for reproduction, growth, migration, and adaptive evolutionary change.” Functional traits = Any measurable features at the individual level that directly or indirectly affect overall plant fitness (Lavorel et al. 1997; Violle et al. 2007)

21 ContextAimsMethods Results “Restored populations must possess attributes necessary for reproduction, growth, migration, and adaptive evolutionary change.” Functional traits

22 ContextAimsMethods Results “Restored populations must possess attributes necessary for reproduction, growth, migration, and adaptive evolutionary change.” Functional traits Specific Leaf Area (SLA)

23 ContextAimsMethods Results “Restored populations must possess attributes necessary for reproduction, growth, migration, and adaptive evolutionary change.” Functional traits Plant height

24 ContextAimsMethods Results “Restored populations must possess attributes necessary for reproduction, growth, migration, and adaptive evolutionary change.” Functional traits Seed mass

25 ContextAimsMethods Results “Restored populations must possess attributes necessary for reproduction, growth, migration, and adaptive evolutionary change.” Functional traits variability = one way to understand plant response to environmental variability and their capacity to cope with environmental changes.

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31 To compare the environmental heterogeneity and the trait variability of reference and restored populations of a calcareous grasslands species: Potentilla tabernaemontani. ContextAimsMethods Results

Potentilla tabernaemontani A perennial forb producing yellow entomophilous flowers Specialist of calcareous grasslands in Belgium Present on various environment Abundant in the study area 32 Species ContextAimsMethods Results

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6 sites vs 34 6 reference populations6 restored populations Protocol ContextAimsMethods Results

6 sites vs 35 6 reference populations 30 individuals/pop 6 restored populations 30 individuals/pop Protocol ContextAimsMethods Results

6 sites vs 36 Intra-population trait variability : Specific leaf area (2 leaves/indiv) Vegetative height 6 reference populations 30 individuals/pop 6 restored populations 30 individuals/pop Protocol ContextAimsMethods Results

37 Intra-population trait variability : Specific leaf area (2 leaves/indiv) Vegetative height Environmental heterogeneity : Soil depth 6 reference populations 30 individuals/pop ContextAimsMethods Results 6 restored populations 30 individuals/pop Protocol 6 sites vs

38 Soil depth (cm) Is restoration recreating the entire range of environmental variability experience by the populations of the species ? ContextAimsMethods Results Site 1 Site 2 Site 3 Site 4 Site 5 Site 6

39 Is restoration recreating the entire range of environmental variability experience by the populations of the species ? Soil depth (cm) Reference Restoration ContextAimsMethods Results

40 Is restoration selecting only a part of the trait variability of source populations? SLA (mm 2. mg -1 ) Reference Restoration ContextAimsMethods Results Vegetative height (cm) Reference Restoration

41 ContextAimsMethods Results Site 1 Site 2 Site 3 Site 4 Site 5 Site 6 Is restoration selecting only a part of the trait variability of source populations? Vegetative height (cm) Site 1 Site 2 Site 3 Site 4 Site 5 Site 6 SLA (mm 2. mg -1 )

42 CONCLUSION  A population approach is important to evaluate more aspects of restoration success  Good news for restored populations and species persistence in the future.  Reference = goal? Or restore more diverse populations?  What about new sites creation? Rare species?

43 Thank you for your attention! Any questions?