Filter-based community assembly is a promising theoretical framework to support ecological restoration. The conceptual separation of ecological filters helps to guide necessary restoration interventions. The aim of the project is to integrate and scale up the local knowledge gained on sand grassland restoration in Hungary within the framework of filter-based assembly models in order to help the elaboration of a future national restoration strategy and to test related ecological theory.
We re-sample previous restoration experiments (expansion in time), and local results are completed with landscape scale factors that might influence the outcome of restoration measures (expansion in space). The species pool (target and neophyte species) and the distance from primary grasslands and plantations (as a source of target and neophyte species, respectively) were estimated in a 500-m landscape buffer.
Long-term analysis of previous restoration experiments revealed that all treatments applied (seeding, mowing, carbon amendment) were beneficial for target sand grassland species. Seeding proved to be the best method in restoring sand grasslands by both favouring target species and controlling invasion. Mowing can successfully control the re-sprouting of invasive alien black locust and open up spaces for establishment of new species, but if alien species are present, they can easily occupy these establishment gaps. Carbon amendment had only delayed and temporary impact on the vegetation. The longer time scale was very important in detecting the treatment impacts. A larger species pool of neophytes and proximity to plantations increased the cover of neophytes in restored plots.
We conclude that treatments can have a stronger impact on restoration success than landscape factors or the elapsed time in the long-term. Dispersal was the strongest limiting factor in grassland restoration. The presence of invasive alien plants can threaten restoration outcome.

The project has finished. See our report here.

Related publications

2021

Halassy M., Kövendi‐Jakó A., Reis B., Szitár K., Seyidova Z., & Török K. (2021): N immobilization treatment revisited: a retarded and temporary effect unfolded in old field restoration. Applied Vegetation Science, e12555. 

Llumiquinga, Y.B., Reis, B.P., Sáradi, N., Török, K., Szitár, K., Halassy, M., (2021): Long-term results of initial seeding, mowing and carbon amendment on the restoration of Pannonian sand grassland on old fields. Tuxenia 41: 361-379.

Reis, B.P., Kövendi-Jakó A., Szitár K., Török K., Halassy M. (2021): Long-term effect of mowing on the restoration of Pannonian sand grassland to replace invasive black locust plantation. Restoration Ecology,  29: e13152.

Csákvári E., Bede-Fazekas Á., Horváth F., Molnár Zs., Halassy M. (2021): Do environmental predictors affect the regeneration capacity of sandy habitats? A country-wide survey from Hungary. Global Ecology and Conservation p. e01547 Paper: e01547.

2019

Kövendi-Jakó A. Halassy M., Csecserits A., Hülber K., Szitár K., Wrbka T., Török K. (2019): Three years of vegetation development worth 30 years of secondary succession in urban-industrial grassland restoration. Applied Vegetation Science 2019;22:138-149.

2016

Halassy M., Singh A.N., Szabó R., Szili-Kovács T., Szitár K., Török K. (2016): The application of a filter-based assembly model to develop best practices for Pannonian sand grassland restoration. Journal of Applied Ecology 53: 765-773.