Restoration Of Native Plants On Catalina Island California

Abstract

Catalina Island’s diverse flora and fauna, as well as its protected status, provide many opportunities and challenges for integrating nursery operations with the restoration efforts of the Catalina Island Conservancy. This paper reviews strategies for dealing with nonnative flora and fauna and the importance of coordinating research and monitoring efforts with nursery operations. Three case studies involving a grass production field, oak ecosystem research, and trials to improve restoration techniques are presented. Lessons learned from research trials cover a variety of topics including herbivory, water availability, weed competition, and the impact of container size on survivorship. These lessons stress the importance of site-specific solutions to achieve best management practices in nursery operations.