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  1. Synthesis Projects
    1. Understory Vegetation Responses to Rapid Canopy Loss
    2. Range-wide Demographic Analysis of Pitcher’s Thistle
    3. Integrating Trait Seedling Data Into Restoration Efforts
    4. Broadening Restoration Through Integrating Diverse Perspectives and Underused Techniques
    5. Why Are Some Plant Species Missing from Restorations?
    6. Phenological Responses to Climate Change
  2. Project Proposals
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Ongoing

Integrating Trait Seedling Data Into Restoration Efforts

  1. Plant functional trait-based approaches

    Plant functional trait-based approaches show great promise for improving restoration outcomes because they relate species function to establishment and performance in specific environmental conditions. Seedling emergence and establishment often shape the trajectory of restoration outcomes, yet early traits reflecting functional variation at these stages are understudied, less accessible (via databases), and have not been synthesized for many priority species. With this project, we aim to open new pathways for restoration research and success at the national level.

Project Goals

With this project, we aim to open new pathways for restoration research and success at the national level by:

Documenting functional traits

Developing a database of seedling functional traits for taxa within the US (Early Plant Information Combined database, EPiC)

Aligning with restoration needs

Synthesizing areas of alignment and mismatch between the EPiC database and ecological restoration needs within the U.S. The EPIC database will be created and shared inclusively to serve as a foundation for ongoing synthesis and collaboration, spurring the transition from seedling trait-based science to practice in ecological restoration.

Project Collaborators

Dr. Alicia Foxx, Dr. Carrie Havrilla, Dr. Daniel Winkler, Dr. Magda Garbowski, Dr. Julie Larson, Leah Lenzo, Dr. Mandy Slate, Dr. Marina LaForgia, Amelia Renner, Dr. Nia Johnson, Tayah Carlisle, Dr. Sarah Barga

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