PhD Candidate: Paola Pisetta Raupp

PhD Supervisors: Dr Yolima Carillo (WSU), Associate Professor Paul Rymer (WSU), Associate Professor Uffe Nielsen (WSU), Dr Ian Oliver (DCCEEW)

Project Summary: Soil layer composition and planting diversity are key factors influencing the success of ecological restoration, particularly in degraded ecosystems where natural recovery processes are disrupted. Understanding the interactions between these factors can provide valuable insights into the mechanisms that promote plant establishment and biodiversity. This study aimed to explore how soil layers and planting diversity influence initial restoration success. For that, I conducted an experiment in a rainout shelter at the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University. Soil was collected from a Biodiversity Offset area classified as Cumberland Plain Woodland (CPW) in Sydney, Australia. The experiment compared two soil layers, topsoil (0-10 cm) and subsoil (15-25 cm), and tested three planting diversity treatments (low, medium, and high diversity) using native grass, forb, and shrub species from the CPW. Species assemblages were randomised to reflect natural patterns, and germination rates were assessed in petri dishes to compare with field conditions. The design enables direct comparisons of plant responses between soil layers and across diversity treatments. This study highlights the importance of soil and biodiversity in early restoration success, providing actionable insights for ecological restoration efforts.

Collaborators: Local Land Services (NSW Government)