Restoring Soil Ecology and Native Plant Communities in an Altered Salt Pond Ecotone

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1 Restoring Soil Ecology and Native Plant Communities in an Altered Salt Pond Ecotone Dylan Chapple Save The Bay/UC Berkeley 10/24/2012

2 Overview Eden Landing Ecological Reserve Ecotone background Restoration challenges Compost tea and mulch experimental design Lessons learned

3 Tidal Marsh Transitional Ecotone the gradient between terrestrial and tidal marsh habitats. * CA Clapper Rail and Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse refuge At least 90% lost in San Francisco Bay Deficient vegetation cover is widely regarded as a critical limiting factor for many resident marsh wildlife species. * *Baye, Peter R. (2008) Vegetation management in terrestrial edges of tidal marshes, western San Francisco Estuary, California: Integrated vegetation management strategies and practical guidelines for local stewardship programs. Prepared for Marin Audobon Society, Mill Valley, Calif.

4 Eden Landing Ecological Reserve Mustard/annual grass Graded prior to study Developing tidal marsh September 2011

Establishing Native Ecotones ~70 miles levee over ~15,000 acres of habitat in South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project Breaking cycle of invasion Bacteria and fungi have been shown to

5 Establishing Native Ecotones ~70 miles levee over ~15,000 acres of habitat in South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project Breaking cycle of invasion Bacteria and fungi have been shown to drive plant success* December 2011 *Zink, T. A., and M. F. Allen The effects of organic amendment on the restoration of a disturbed coast sage scrub habitat. Restoration Ecology 6:52 58.

Compost Tea and Mulch Organic gardening technique for developing fungi and bacteria in soil* Soils collected from reference sites Brewed in aerated liquid Mulch: woody and herbaceous Provides water

6 Compost Tea and Mulch Organic gardening technique for developing fungi and bacteria in soil* Soils collected from reference sites Brewed in aerated liquid Mulch: woody and herbaceous Provides water retention, carbon substrate for microbes, slow nutrient release** Hypothesis: The treatment combination of compost tea and mulch with produce the highest crown volumes. *Lowenfels, Jeff and Wayne Lewis. Teaming with Microbes. Timber Press, **Zink, T. A., and M. F. Allen The effects of organic amendment on the restoration of a disturbed coast sage scrub habitat. Restoration Ecology 6:52 58.

7 Species Grindelia stricta (Marsh Gumplant): woody perennial shurb Baccharis douglasii (Marsh Coyote Bush): rhizomatus perennial herb Leymus triticoides (Creeping Wild Rye): rhizomatus grass

8 Treatments Control: Planted Compost tea (.5 Gallons) Mulch (2 inches) Compost tea and mulch (2 inches) All treatments received.5 gallons of water All plots weeded

9 Consistent elevations 4 blocks, variable order Primary productivity measured by crown volume of canopy in cm 3 Field Design

10 Results Average Crown Volume for all Species Across Treatments Treatments not significantly different (p-value: ) using ANOVA on square root transformation of data

11 Results Average Crown Volume for Each Species Across Treatments

12 Results Hypothesis Rejected Mulch alone produces highest primary productivity Approaches significance Compost tea does not improve performance in first year

13 Discussion Heterogeneity in site, low survival in Block 2 Low growth in compost tea for Baccharis and Leymus: both taken from extant communities Soil microbial communities may be dormant, mulch may provide sufficient substrate* Mycorrhizae not included in compost tea No funding for soil microbial tests *(Peter Baye, Personal Communication, November 2011)

14 Microorganism and soil nutrient studies Recommendations December 2011 October 2012 Microorganism survival on plant divisions Native soil direct application Create trials with no weeding Leymus triticoides Baccharis douglasii Keep mulching! Grindelia stricta

15 Thank you! Lyngso Garden Materials CA Dept of Fish and Game Ducks Unlimited Save The Bay s Community- Based Restoration Department Loralee Larios Denise Della-Santina David Thompson Donna Ball Max Busnardo Contact: dylanchapple@berkeley.edu

Appendix 5 Vegetation Management of Tidal Marsh Edges, San Francisco Estuary

Appendix 5 Vegetation Management of Tidal Marsh Edges, San Francisco Estuary Vegetation Management of Tidal Marsh Edges, San Francisco Estuary Working examples of vegetation management strategies for tidal marsh terrestrial edges 5.1. Sonoma Baylands, Sonoma County. Shoreline type: