Establishing the plant component of a tallgrass prairie restoration using a remnant reference ecosystem model: A case study

Ecological restoration practitioners have debated the use of ecosystem models and reference ecosystems as targets for achieving ecological restoration of plant communities.
We used an ecosystem model based on nine tallgrass prairie remnants to establish high-quality tallgrass prairie plots in a prairie restoration. We planted 82 of the most common remnant species in five 10 x10m plots, aiming to replicate remnant-like species composition.
Most species required one to two planting attempts and established within the first few years. Within 5 years, we had planted all 82 species, most persisted and were still present in year six.
The most common clonal species in remnants became most abundant and spread rapidly beyond plot boundaries, while individual plot richness (64-72 species, mean 68.8) was similar to that found in remnant reference ecosystems (82 species).
Practical implication: Our results demonstrate the feasibility of replicating the plant composition and species richness of mesi..., All data were collected between 2018 and 2021. We made annual visual percent cover estimates of all species >1% (1m2) in the plots from 2018–2021, after the initial abundance of agricultural weeds declined and we could accurately estimate which species had become established. We defined an “established” species as one that was observed in 2018 and still present in 2021. In 2021, we made cover estimates of all species in five randomly located, nested 0.25m2 and 1m2 quadrats (a 0.25m2 quadrat nested in the center of each 1.0 m2 quadrat) in each 10 x 10m plot. Total plot richness was determined using meander searches throughout the growing season. To assess dispersal and spread beyond plot boundaries, we conducted meander searches in the buffer around each plot for the 42 species planted in the INAI plots but not in the buffer, and recorded the maximum distance that species unique to the INAI model seed mix had spread from each side of each plot.
Statistical analysis
We compiled species..., , # Data from: Establishing the plant component of a tallgrass prairie restoration using a remnant reference ecosystem model: A case study

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.vdncjsz4s](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.vdncjsz4s)

## Description of the data and file structure

As part of a larger experiment examining additional questions, we randomized fifteen 10 x10m plots in a 3x5 plot grid within the 117-hectare restoration area. We randomly assigned each plot one of three species assemblages, with five replicate plots per assemblage. We focus here only on the establishment and analysis of the five plots planted with the INAI model assemblage.

All data were collected between 2018 and 2021. We made annual visual percent cover estimates of all species >1% (1m2) in the plots from 2018–2021. In 2021, we made cover estimates of all species in five randomly located, nested 0.25m2 and 1m2 quadrats (a 0.25m2 quadrat nested in the center of each 1.0 m2 quadrat) in each 10 x 10m plot. Total plot r...