首页|Moss-covered biodegradable weed barriers promote biocrust establishment but fail to suppress exotic plants

Moss-covered biodegradable weed barriers promote biocrust establishment but fail to suppress exotic plants

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  • NETL
  • NSTL
  • Wiley
Ecological restoration often requires exotic invasive plant control. In many ecosystems, reestablishment of biological soil crusts (biocrusts) is a desired restoration outcome because biocrusts enhance ecosystem function andmay favor native plants over exotics. We sought to pair exotic plant suppression with biocrust restoration using a novel restoration material: biocrust-covered weed barriers.We tested five different barriers, including three biodegradable weed barriers, one synthetic weed barrier commonly used in the study area, and burlap cloth, because it has previously been shown to be useful in biocrust establishment. We grew biocrust moss over the surface of each barrier type in a fog chamber. Each barrier type was attached to the ground in the fieldwithmoss on the underside of the barrier (moss-down), the top, or not present. We monitored the establishment of moss biocrusts and exotic plants and the durability of the barriers. Themost successful barrier type for biocrust establishment was burlap, but one biodegradable weed barrier made ofmaize-derived polylactic acid (corn) promoted biocrusts, especially in the moss-down position. Only the synthetic weed barrier suppressed exotic plants for two growing seasons. The corn barrier only partially suppressed exotic plants for one growing season. Less durable weed barriers were less able to suppress exotic plants. Though we failed to identify a biodegradable barrier that both stimulates biocrust recovery and suppresses exotic plants beyond one growing season, our results suggest that our goal may be attainable if more durable biodegradable weed barriers were used or created.

biological soil crustbryophytecryptogamexotic plantsinvasive plantsweed cloth

Matthew A. Bowker、Jasmine Anenberg、Anita Antoninka、Philip W. Ramsey、Rebecca A. Durham

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School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, U.S.A.||Center for Ecosystem Science and Society, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff,AZ, U.S.A.

School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, U.S.A.

MPG Ranch, Missoula, MT, U.S.A.

2025

10.1111/rec.14372

Restoration ecology

Restoration ecology

ISSN：1061-2971
年,卷(期)：2025.33(3)
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