Riparian Native Plant Diversity andPerformance following Restoration from

a Paved Parking Lot

Reyna MattiesM.Sc. Candidate, Biology Department

Why consider Native Plant Species?�Native plant species are adapted to the local climate and geography of a location.�

Black-eyed susan�

Environmental Benefits ● Habitat for local wildlife● Boosting local genetic and species diversity● Climate change resiliency● Resiliency from invasives● Restore lost native ecosytems

Social benefits ● Education for youth and community● Recreation opportunities● Improved mental and physical well-being

Economic Benefits ● Reducing stormwater and wastewater costs● Reducing cooling and heating costs

Marsh marigold�

Swamp Aster�

Native Plants in Urban Spaces?�

Green Infrastructure goals: -“Green and Stable” vegetation conditions - minimal erosion, good infiltration, flood prevention

Green Infrastructure projects provide the opportunity to utilize�native plants to Design with Nature�

Image: Green Infrastructure Ontario

Great Lakes Context�

HAMILTON�

DETROIT�

PARKING LOT M

ANCASTER CREEK�SUBWATERSHED:�

Why should we protect Ancaster Creek?�

● Rare cold water creek providing specialized habitat ● Flows from Niagara Escarpment to Lake Ontario ● Part of an important wildlife corridor ● Northern extent of diverse Carolinian Forest ● Hundreds of plant and animal species

Garter snake New england aster Red back salamander Ancaster Creek

“Pave Paradise and Put up a Parking Lot”�

● Lot M is located on McMaster's West Campus ● A former nature sanctuary ● Borders Ancaster Creek and impacts the ecosystem:

-parking lot contaminants, habitat degredation

Green Infrastructure at Parking Lot M�

Tall Grass Praire Restoration�In 2014, a mix of 33 native tall grass plant species were seeded�

Spring 2014 Fall 2014 Spring 2015

Summer 2016

Spring 2017:�“Green and Stable”�

Ecological classification - Terminology

Forb vs. Graminoid

- Grasses, Sedges, and Rushes - Herbaceous (non-woody) flowering plant - Above: Black-eyed susan – Rudbeckia hirta - Above: Virginia Rye – Elymus virginicus�

- 13 graminoids planted in 2014 - 20 forbs planted in 2014

Vegetation Study�

Position: EDGE, MIDDLE, CREEK 10 metres

Distance: 10 to 460 m

460 metres�

Buffer Salinity

- Salinity decreases from EDGE to CREEK�- Salinity also decreases from 0m to 460m�

EDGE MIDDLE CREEK

Distance (m)�

Research QuestionsWith buffer salinity being so variable across the buffer, we then

questioned the plant performance, and asked:

1.What is the performance of species from the original seed mix?

2. How does plant biomass vary across the buffer width and length?

3. How do native plants perform in comparison to non-native plants?

4. How are plants impacted by parking lot runoff, especially from the effects of road salting?

Field Work . August 2016

16 distances x 3 positions = 48 plots�

New Buffer

Old Buffer

Lab Work . April 2017�

1. Species Identification > Guidebooks, Internet,

Databases, Plant ecologist�

< 2. Biomass Data Weigh each species in a quadrat

3. Analysis: Sort by non-native and native, Rstudio to plot graphs and run statistics�

Plant Biomass Along the Buffer�

Native Plant Biomass Non-Native Plant Biomass

Distance (m)

EDGE MIDDLE CREEK

- As you move away from the bus stop: - Native biomass decreases at E and M, increases at C - Non-Native biomass has the opposite trend

STATISTICS Plant Biomass Along the Buffer

Native Plant Biomass Non-Native Plant Biomass

Distance (m)

EDGE MIDDLE CREEK

- Edge and Middle had significantly different Native plant biomass (p=0.03) - Edge and Middle had nearly significantly different Non-Native plant biomass (p=0.06)�

Number of Species - Species Richness�

EDGE MIDDLE CREEK

Non-Native Species Richness Native Species Richness Forb Species Richness

Distance (m)�

-Edge and Creek positions had significantly greater Species Richness than the Middle position (p=0.03 and 0.04 respectively)

- Non-native species made up a sizeable fraction of the Species Richness

Salt Impact on Plant Growth�

Native Plant Biomass Non-Native Plant Biomass

EDGE MIDDLE CREEK

Salinity (EC)�

- Native Plant Biomass significantly increases with increased salt at Edge and Middle (p=0.03)

- Non-Native Plant Biomass decrease decreases with increasing salt, a nearly significant effect between positions (p=0.08)

Salt Marsh Sand Spurry - Spergularia marina

- Native to NA coastal regions (Ocean salt) - Range shift to central great lakes due to road salting - 50% of native plant biomass on buffer – (416 g /854 g) - Highest biomass at Edge and Middle where most salt available

Salinity (EC)

-Sand Spurry biomass significantly increases with salinity (p=0.004) - Growth equilibrium around 2000 mS/m

Dominant Native Species�

Salt Marsh Sand Spurry - Spergularia marina - Volunteer plant (Seeded in) - Could be from fill seed bank - 50% of Native Plant Biomass

Canada Goldenrod – Solidago canadensis - Volunteer plant (Seeded in) - 25% of Native Plant Biomass

Virginia, Riverbank Rye – Elymus virginicus, riparius�- Seeded in 2014 - 22% of Native Plant Biomass

Conclusions

- Native plant biomass was greater in high salinity at the Edge and Middle- Non-native plant biomass had opposite trends

- Species Richess (# of species) was higher where less salt was present

- Sand Spurry (A native plant) accounted for 50% of the Native Plant biomass and thrived in high salinity

- Goldenrod and Rye were two other succesful native plants, but in lowersalinity

Parking to Paradise Outreach�

Follow the restoration project @MacP2P on Twitter and Instagram�

Acknowledgements: - Dr. Susan Dudley (Supervisor), - Noah Stegman (Assistant) - Stefan Weber (Plant ID)

Reyna Matties matties@mcmaster.ca Twitter and Instagram @MacP2P

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