Oak Meadow Restoration

The Pacific Northwest is home to the beautiful and unique camas (Camassia spp.) meadow communities that were created through the stewardship and cultivation of Coast Salish communities. They are breathtaking in their species diversity and cultural importance. More than 95% of the historical range has been lost due to land conversion, and the remaining patches are threatened by the loss of traditional management practices, invasive species, over-browsing, and high pressures of recreational use. Western restoration science and practice in these systems is wide-spread, knowledgeable, yet still facing many challenges including its problematic disconnection from the Nations that are so deeply embedded in these landscapes. Our lab is excited to contribute by exploring landscape context of the remaining meadows, ecosystem function and trait-based restoration tools, and plant-soil interactions in restoration success. We recognize that the perspective we bring is fundamentally Western, from a predominantly colonial context. We continuously push to deepen our relationships with Coast Salish peoples, and hope that what we do can support the resurgence of these spaces.

Springtails

Life in soils is essential to the function of terrestrial ecosystems. The soil also hosts a huge amount of species (estimates of 25 - 50 % of Earth's biodiversity). Springtails are a group of insect-like animals living in the soil and plant litter that can be found at densities from tens to hundreds of thousands per meter squared of soil. They contribute to nutrient cycling and are an important food source for larger animals. 

Sarah Bird's PhD research is looking at how springtails (Order: Collembola) respond to the exclusion of deer from degraded oak meadows, in collaboration with Dr. Tara Martin at UBC, and how decomposition in oak meadows is connected to different components of the soil food web. 

Grassland drought experiment

Diana's PhD research at the University of Victoria explores the functional drivers of grassland response to extreme drought events. ​ As part of her research, we are implementing a common garden experiment with BC native grasses at the University of Victoria Outdoor Research Compound to tease apart the relative importance of functional composition and functional diversity in driving resistance and recovery to extreme drought. The experimental grassland communities were first seeded in the Fall of 2022 and should receive the experimental drought treatment in the Spring of 2025.

Native Grassland Restoration

From the vanishing prairies of Texas to the threatened meadows under oak canopies in British Columbia, grass-dominated ecosystems are complex, diverse, and fascinating. These systems are often heavily used. Be it for grazing, haying, trail riding, or agriculture, they represent the intersection of human dominated landscapes and wild biodiversity values. Our research focuses on improving degraded grassland regions through active restoration management and collaborative planning in multi-use landscapes.

 Restoration species pool

One of the main ways to add native species to restored ecosystems is through seeding and/or planting, but often restoration projects are limited by the commercial availability of species. As part of Diana's PhD research, we are compiling the pool of species that are commercially available for oak meadow restoration in native nurseries and other seed providers  across British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon. By comparing these commercially-available species with species found in remnant sites, we aim to investigate taxonomic and functional biases in this pool, helping to inform seed strategies and programs.

Chatfield Farms Experimental Prairie Restoration

In partnership with Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms (located in Denver, Colorado, USA), we are implementing a multiple staged restoration experiment to examine the resilience of a degraded rangeland state and the management choices that can push it back towards a functional, diverse grassland community by increasing native species recruitment. We are testing diverse seeding strategies exploring planting method (through managed microsites) and seed mixes based on suites of plant functional traits and environmental niches. 

Collaborators on the project include the Suding Lab at the University of Colorado Boulder,  the Madsen lab at Brigham Young University, the Science and Research Team at the Denver Botanic Gardens, and the University of Denver. Together, we are assessing vegetation community trajectories through community assembly, coexistence, and species demography.

The project was launched with the support of the USDA NIFA fellowship program.

Seed-Based Restoration for Prairie-Oak Ecosystems: Understanding the Role of Native Seeds in Ecological Restoration

 Prairie-oak ecosystems of southern Vancouver Island are among the most biodiverse yet imperiled habitats in British Columbia. Understanding native species and the role of native seeds in restoration is essential for restoring these ecosystems.

Kristen's research focuses on advancing seed-based restoration in prairie-oak ecosystems:
What are the seed biology and propagation profiles of key prairie-oak species?
How can seed-based restoration be implemented more effectively across diverse site conditions?

By investigating seed biology, applied restoration, and incorporating community input, this research will provide essential insights to support conservation efforts in these unique and culturally significant landscapes.
 
Seed Biology and Propagation
 A deep understanding of seed biology is essential for scaling up restoration efforts in prairie-oak ecosystems. This work will enhance our understanding of germination ecology, seed dormancy, and propagation requirements for a variety of species.
This work will culminate in a community-accessible resource on native plant propagation, helping the broader community grow native plants from seed and integrate seed-based restoration into their projects.
 
Scaling Up Seed-Based Restoration
 My research will test native seed blends, site preparation techniques, and strategies to optimize germination success and seedling establishment. Key questions include:
By testing restoration strategies across multiple sites and conditions, this research will generate practical guidance for restoration practitioners, helping improve the success and scalability of native plant reintroductions.
 
Collaborative and Community-Engaged Research
 Successful restoration requires collaboration, and this research is built on strong partnerships. By integrating scientific research, traditional ecological knowledge, and applied restoration strategies, this project aims to enhance biodiversity, restore habitat, and strengthen connections between people, plants, and place.
Images provided by Satinflower Nurseries 
We work on the traditional territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples. The Songhees and Esquimalt, as well as the W̱SÁNEĆ peoples have deep, historical relationships with the land that continue to this day. Most of our group are uninvited settlers here. We are committed to deepening our understanding of how we can assist in the movement of reconciliation, dismantling the systems that continue to cause harm, and honoring the traditional stewards that have shaped this land.