TY - JOUR TI - Seedling recruitment responses to interventions in seed-based ecological restoration of Peninsula Shale Renosterveld, Cape Town AU - Waller, P A AU - Anderson, P M L AU - Holmes, P M AU - Allsopp, N T2 - S. Afr. J. Bot. AB - Peninsula Shale Renosterveld, a Critically Endangered ecosystem, requires ecological restoration intervention on transformed areas. Yet there is little guidance due to very few renosterveld studies and limited knowledge of the mechanisms driving ecological responses. This study set out to test the effects of 32 interventions, comprised of five crossed factors (seeding of 31 species, fire, tillage, herbicide application and rodent exclusion), on vegetation recruitment on a site dominated by alien, annual grasses. Actual experimental responses were compared with predicted responses presented in an a priori ecological-response model. Responses to the interventions were highly variable. Sowing on its own was almost ineffectual, but restoration of species was enhanced when seeding was implemented with one or more of the other factors. In combination with other treatments, seeding made significant contributions to overall seedling density, species richness and canopy cover and is imperative if this ecosystem is to recover from extensive alien grass invasion. Several three- to five-factor interventions resulted in a full set of desired responses. Half of the responses predicted in an ecological-response model were confirmed. Study outcomes have the potential to guide future research and implementation of larger scale renosterveld restoration. DA - 2016/03/01/ PY - 2016 DO - 10.1016/j.sajb.2015.09.009 VL - 103 SP - 193 EP - 209 SN - 0254-6299 UR - http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0254629915004032 KW - Alien plant species KW - Critically Endangered ecosystem KW - Invasive annual grasses KW - Old fields KW - SAEONFynbos KW - Seedling emergence KW - Seedling survival ER -