Acadia University
The Annapolis Valley Sand Barrens are a unique and highly threatened ecosystem located primarily in Southwestern Nova Scotia. These sandy ecosystems, illustrated by a lack of trees and dominated by low-lying shrubs, are home to many important plant species, some of which are listed as Species at Risk. It is estimated that roughly three percent of the original sand barrens remain in the region, making them a focal point for conservation.
The Michelin – Waterville site is located in the Annapolis Valley Sand Barrens zone. In support of their sustainability and biodiversity goals, Michelin – Waterville has chosen to work towards restoring the sand barrens adjacent to their site. To achieve their restoration objectives, Michelin has partnered with Acadia University and the K. C. Irving Environmental Science Centre.
Many sand barrens species are unique, they are not available commercially and very little is known about how to grow them. This research project aims to develop germination protocols for important sand barrens plant species. Over 20 native sand barrens species were selected to undergo germination trials. First, seeds or branch cuttings were gathered for the propagation trials. The decision to collect seeds or cuttings was based on available research and expert advice as to which option would have better growth potential for the specific species. Seeds were harvested directly from plants within the Annapolis Valley Sand Barrens area, while branch cuttings were carefully pruned from new growth for propagation trials. Trial conditions were determined based on a literature review, some involving pretreatments and stratification periods to break a critical barrier to germination called dormancy. Seed dormancy is a natural occurrence, normally broken by factors such as an animal’s digestive system or cold outdoor temperatures. Meeting these requirements indicates to a seed that it is time to germinate and grow.
This research used two methods to overcome seed dormancy. The first was a 24-hour pretreatment where seeds were soaked in gibberellic acid, and the second was stratification.
There are two types of stratification: warm and cold stratification. Warm stratification involves storing seeds in a dark, warm and humid setting, while cold stratification utilizes a cold environment, such as a fridge, where seeds will rest for a period of time. The duration of a stratification period could last anywhere from 30 days to 90 days for this project. Both methods of using gibberellic acid and stratification in the trials have the goal of breaking seed dormancy, increasing the likelihood of germination.
Each seed trial has a different combination of these variables (pretreatments, stratification type and duration), and the objective of the research is to identify which combination of protocols yields the highest rate of germination for each sand barren species of interest. Thus far, over 80 trials have commenced across over 20 native species. While the results are yet to come, validating the germination protocols is the first step to future proposed plant propagation research and restoration efforts at Michelin and beyond.
We are pleased to be working with the team at Michelin-Waterville on this important conservation initiative.
