Discovery and science

In ski areas, the slopes created during the construction of trails or infrastructure can be revegetated either with native plants from the surrounding meadows or with non-native commercial seed mixtures, sometimes selected from lowland areas or abroad. But what ecological differences does this entail?

Through an experimental approach combining pot trials in Grenoble and field trials at the Lautaret Garden, scientists studied the effect of human selection and lowland cultivation on plants’ ecological strategies and their ability to adapt to a new environment. They assessed functional variability in Alpine Anthyllis used for revegetation, based on a seed provenance gradient ranging from wild to certified commercial sources, on slopes and on flat terrain. In doing so, they tested the hypothesis that selection—whether intentional or unintentional—modifies plant phenotype and plasticity.

This research highlights the importance of rethinking the choice of species and genotypes used for ecological restoration, in order to improve the adaptability of plant species to current and future environmental changes.