Riparian Forest in California
Research description
For nearly two decades I have studied questions about large-scale ecosystem recovery in restored riparian forests along the Sacramento River. The Nature Conservancy and other government and non-profit agencies have restored thousands of acres of riparian forest along the river. My lab has conducted field surveys and experiments to assess the importance of landscape vs. local site factors on the colonization and establishment of native understory plant species in restored riparian forest. Our past research suggests that establishment of native understory plants is primarily influenced by local factors and much less so by the surrounding landscape (Holl & Crone 2004, McClain et al. 2011). Work with former masters’ student Prairie Moore investigated planting and direct seeding as methods to restore riparian understory species (Moore et al. 2013). Doctoral student Brook Constantz is following up on long-term data sets from my lab and Dr. John Stella (SUNY ESF) to quantify vegetation recovery and heterogeneity over >30 sites and 30 years of forest restoration. I have also collaborated with social science graduate students and faculty at UCSC studying ecological and management feedbacks between restored sites and agricultural land in this landscape.
Selected Publications
Golet, GH, DL Brown, M Carlson, T Gardali, A Henderson, KD Holl, . . . DM Wood. 2013. "Successes, failures and suggested future directions for ecosystem restoration of the middle Sacramento River, California." San Francisco Estuary and Watershed Science 11
McClain, C. D., K. D. Holl, and D. M. Wood. 2011. Successional models as guides for restoration of riparian forest understory. Restoration Ecology
19:280-289.
Moore, P.L., K.D. Holl and D.M. Wood. 2011. Strategies for Restoring Native Riparian Understory Plants Along the Sacramento River: Timing, Shade, Non-native Control, and Planting Method. San Francisco Estuary and Watershed Science, 9(2).
Langridge, S.M., M. Buckley, and K.D. Holl, 2007. Overcoming obstacles to restore natural capital: large-scale restoration on the Sacramento River. Pages 146-153 in J. Aronson, S.J. Milton, and J.N. Blignaut (eds)., Restoring Natural Capital, Washington, DC, Island Press.
Holl, K. D. and E. E. Crone. 2004. Local vs. landscape factors affecting restoration of riparian understorey plants. Journal of Applied Ecology 41:922-933.
Holl, K. D., E. E. Crone, and C. B. Schultz. 2003. Landscape restoration: moving from generalities to methodologies. BioScience 53: 491-502.
For nearly two decades I have studied questions about large-scale ecosystem recovery in restored riparian forests along the Sacramento River. The Nature Conservancy and other government and non-profit agencies have restored thousands of acres of riparian forest along the river. My lab has conducted field surveys and experiments to assess the importance of landscape vs. local site factors on the colonization and establishment of native understory plant species in restored riparian forest. Our past research suggests that establishment of native understory plants is primarily influenced by local factors and much less so by the surrounding landscape (Holl & Crone 2004, McClain et al. 2011). Work with former masters’ student Prairie Moore investigated planting and direct seeding as methods to restore riparian understory species (Moore et al. 2013). Doctoral student Brook Constantz is following up on long-term data sets from my lab and Dr. John Stella (SUNY ESF) to quantify vegetation recovery and heterogeneity over >30 sites and 30 years of forest restoration. I have also collaborated with social science graduate students and faculty at UCSC studying ecological and management feedbacks between restored sites and agricultural land in this landscape.
Selected Publications
Golet, GH, DL Brown, M Carlson, T Gardali, A Henderson, KD Holl, . . . DM Wood. 2013. "Successes, failures and suggested future directions for ecosystem restoration of the middle Sacramento River, California." San Francisco Estuary and Watershed Science 11
McClain, C. D., K. D. Holl, and D. M. Wood. 2011. Successional models as guides for restoration of riparian forest understory. Restoration Ecology
19:280-289.
Moore, P.L., K.D. Holl and D.M. Wood. 2011. Strategies for Restoring Native Riparian Understory Plants Along the Sacramento River: Timing, Shade, Non-native Control, and Planting Method. San Francisco Estuary and Watershed Science, 9(2).
Langridge, S.M., M. Buckley, and K.D. Holl, 2007. Overcoming obstacles to restore natural capital: large-scale restoration on the Sacramento River. Pages 146-153 in J. Aronson, S.J. Milton, and J.N. Blignaut (eds)., Restoring Natural Capital, Washington, DC, Island Press.
Holl, K. D. and E. E. Crone. 2004. Local vs. landscape factors affecting restoration of riparian understorey plants. Journal of Applied Ecology 41:922-933.
Holl, K. D., E. E. Crone, and C. B. Schultz. 2003. Landscape restoration: moving from generalities to methodologies. BioScience 53: 491-502.