TY - JOUR T1 - Effect of habitat and plant position relative to the soil surface on survival of Basin Wildrye Seedlings (<em>Leymus cinereus</em>) JF - Native Plants Journal JO - NATIVE PLANTS JOURNAL SP - 69 LP - 73 DO - 10.2979/NPJ.2009.10.1.69 VL - 10 IS - 1 AU - Steven O Link AU - David JM Bradney Y1 - 2009/03/20 UR - http://npj.uwpress.org/content/10/1/69.abstract N2 - The initial survival of basin wildrye (Leymus cinereus (Scribn. &amp; Merr.) A. Löve [Poaceae]) plugs used in restoration of riparian habitats in the Crooked River National Grassland in northeastern Oregon was strongly associated with habitat type and planting depth. Five plots in each of 4 study areas were assessed. Survival was strongly dependent on habitat, ranging from 18.8% at the lowest elevation to 70.5% at the highest elevation. Northern pocket gophers (Thomomys talpoides (Richardson) [Geomyidae]) were considered a major cause of mortality, while mortality by cattle (Bos taurus Bojanus [Bovidae]) grazing was significant at only one habitat. The lowest elevation habitat had a sandy loam soil with few rocks and strong evidence of gopher activity, whereas the highest elevation habitat had a rocky sandy loam soil with weak evidence of gophers. The highest elevation habitat had burned, which likely reduced competition. Survival of plants that were buried (69%) or with the top of the plug surface flush with the soil surface (53%) was significantly greater than for plants with some of the plug root mass above the soil surface (about 14%). Improved survival of L. cinereus plugs will likely be realized with control of gophers and cattle; additionally survival can be improved by ensuring plug surfaces are flush with the soil surface or buried by a few centimeters of soil. ER -