Can local adaptation research in plants inform selection of native plant materials? An analysis of experimental methodologies

Local adaptation is used as a criterion to select plant materials for restoration and revegetation that will display high fitness in new environments. A large body of research has explored local adaptation in plants, however, the extent to which findings can inform management decisions has not been previously evaluated. We assessed local adaptation literature (243 articles) for methodologies used in common garden studies that have the greatest effect on the application of research to restoration. Findings highlight the difficulties of applying local adaptation research to multi-site and large scale restoration and management.