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Submitted to: Ecological Restoration
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 9/8/2006 Publication Date: 3/8/2007 Citation: Jones, T.A., Monaco, T.A. 2007. A restoration practitioner's guide to the restoration gene pool concept. Ecological Restoration. Interpretive Summary: The Restoration Gene Pool concept delineates a series of alternatives the restorationist may consider when choosing plant materials for restoration. However, to encourage its use, this concept needs a decision-making tool to make it more user friendly. A true/false bifurcating decision-making flowchart was developed that ultimately leads to the tour restoration gene pools. The path is determined by responding to statements about desired genetic identity, genetic diversity, ecological adaptation, enhanced stress tolerance, and seed availability. The flowchart helps the user make appropriate and more objective plant materials choices and provides a way to justify his conclusions. Technical Abstract: Making plant materials decisions is often one of the most difficult steps in developing a restoration plan. The Restoration Gene Pool concept was developed to clarify the options available to the restorationist in terms of plant materials. Here, a decision-making flowchart is presented incorporating the issues delineated in the Restoration Gene Pool concept. This tool is intended to provide restoration practitioners with a tool to make objective and defensible plant materials choices in keeping with the objectives and philosophy of the restoration project. The flowchart consists of a series of boxes with single or multiple statements, each followed by a true/false bifurcation. The statements deal with issues like genetic identity, plant metapopulation, functional guild, ecoregion, invasive weeds, site soil and climate, endangered species presence, commercial seed availability, seed contracting potential, and breeding improvement. Implementing the flowchart is a straightforward way to apply the Restoration Gene Pool concept to a particular project, but each user is encouraged to personalize the flowchart to make it as practical as possible for the situations which he typically encounters. |
