植冠与土壤种子库储存种子的萌发特性及策略

为明确黄土丘陵沟壑区植物种子库如何调控种子萌发来提高个体适合度,选择研究区7种具有种子库的主要物种为研究对象,以刚成熟和室内储存种子为对照,比较植冠宿存(5个宿存期)和土壤埋藏(5a埋藏期)对植物种子萌发特性的影响,探讨植冠种子库与土壤种子库储存下的种子萌发策略。结果表明:7种植物种子经过不同种子库储存后萌发特性表现出明显的种间差异,黄刺玫(Rosa xanthina)和水栒子(Cotoneaster multiflorus)种子萌发力表现为植冠宿存不变型、土壤储存增强型,土壤储存明显提高水栒子种子萌发速率;达乌里胡枝子(Lespedeza davurica)和狼牙刺(Sophora davidii)种子萌发力表现为植冠宿存增强型、土壤储存减弱型,种子萌发历时表现为植冠宿存延长型,土壤种子库储存还可加快达乌里胡枝子萌发速率、缩短萌发历时;茭蒿(Artemisia giralaii)和铁杆蒿(Artemisia gmelinii),种子萌发率随植冠宿存时间先升高后降低,随土壤储存时间先降低后升高,土壤储存可推迟其萌发,铁杆蒿种子萌发速率在植冠与土壤储存后均加快;紫丁香(Syringa oblata)种子萌发率随植冠宿存先升高后降低,土壤储存明显加快其种子启动萌发与速率。在黄土丘陵沟壑区,植物种子经过植冠或土壤种子库储存,或增加、加快、提早萌发充分利用有利条件提高占据性,或减少、减缓、推迟萌发分摊不利条件的风险;而且该区植物植冠与土壤储存后种子萌发特性间的关系,体现各自适应环境与应对干扰的分工与协作策略,主要表现为:单一主导型和相辅相成型。     

沙丘区植物植冠储藏种子的活力和萌发特征

研究了科尔沁沙地10种植物的植冠储藏(成熟后在植冠中保留至翌年5月)种子的活力及萌发特性.结果表明：典型沙生植物(流动沙丘及半固定沙丘植物)沙蓬、乌丹蒿和差巴嘎蒿的植冠储藏种子80%以上具有活力,而非典型沙生植物的植冠储藏种子有活力的不足80%,甚至在30%以下;典型沙生植物的植冠储藏种子表现出“速萌型”的萌发特征.植冠种子库使典型沙生植物种子的脱落延迟到风季结束、雨季来临的时候,而且此时的种子活力较高、萌发迅速.植冠种子库是典型沙生植物适应流沙和季节性干旱的主要方式之一.     

陕北黄土丘陵区6种植物冠层种子库的初步研究

对陕北黄土丘陵区猪毛蒿（Artemisia scoparia）、铁杆蒿（Artemisia gmelinii）、茭蒿（Artemisia giraldii）、杠柳（Periploca sepium）、狼牙刺（Sophora viciifolia）和黄刺玫（Rosa xanthina）6种植物不同时期的冠层种子宿存量进行了调查。结果显示,6种植物均有不同程度的植冠种子宿存量,翌年4月,黄刺玫的宿存量可达57.60%,狼牙刺的宿存量达31.56%,杠柳的宿存量为6.30%,铁杆蒿的宿存量为2.42%,猪毛蒿的宿存量为1.86%,茭蒿的宿存量为1.16%。猪毛蒿、铁杆蒿、茭蒿、黄刺玫的种子宿存时间可长达7个月之久,狼牙刺、杠柳的宿存时间为5～7个月。     

植冠种子库及其生态意义研究

植冠种子库由成熟的种子宿存在植冠上形成。种子可在植物植冠中存留1～30年或者更长时间。40属木本植物中有1200种植物具有植冠种子库,它们大多分布在火灾易发区和干旱区。植冠种子库是植物繁殖对策的一个方面,具有延缓繁殖体传播、使繁殖体免受捕食、调节萌发时间、将种子降落在适宜位置等生态功能。本文对植冠种子库的概念、分类、具有植冠种子库物种的地理分布、植冠种子库的研究现状及植冠种子库研究中存在的问题进行了论述。应加强对干旱区植冠种子库种子脱落机制和沙漠地区植冠种子库生态意义的研究。     

伊犁河谷苦豆子植冠种子库特征

植物果实成熟后在植冠宿存延迟释放种子,是沙生生境植物的一种适应性性状。以分布于新疆霍城县荒漠草原内的野生苦豆子(Sophora alopecuroides L.)为研究对象,采用野外调查的方法,调查了野生苦豆子的植冠种子库的大小、种子活力、对土壤种子库的补充及其脱落动态。结果表明:在3月上旬,苦豆子植冠宿存种子的规模为271±124粒·m~(-2);其中,完整种子达144±138粒·m~(-2),构成了苦豆子的植冠种子库;对种皮进行机械破损后,植冠种子库的种子发芽率达76.98%±11.89%,种子活力指数保持在72.44±39.01;苦豆子生殖株植冠种子库种子宿存的时间长达9个月,可以在较长时间范围内有效补充土壤种子库,并与土壤种子库共同执行种群更新和群落演替的繁殖体供应库的功能。研究结果有助于了解苦豆子的繁殖生态学特性,解析其在伊犁河谷恶性蔓延的生物生态学机理,为伊犁河谷草原生态系统的科学管理提供理论支持。     

种子萌发期4种植物对干旱胁迫的响应及其抗旱性评价研究

用不同浓度PEG-6000的1/2Hoagland溶液模拟干旱胁迫条件,对沙枣、柠条、杠柳、白蜡4种植物种子的总萌发率、幼苗鲜重、活力指数进行研究.结果表明:(1)随着干旱胁迫程度的加剧4种植物种子的总萌发率、幼苗鲜重、活力指数呈下降趋势,且白蜡下降幅度最大,但柠条、沙枣、杠柳的抗旱指数显著高于白蜡;(2)4种植物种子的逐日萌发率和胚根日变化表明:低浓度PEG-6000对柠条和杠柳的种子萌发具有较好的诱发作用,白蜡和杠柳种子萌发比较集中,沙枣和柠条相对比较分散;沙枣、柠条和白蜡胚根生长呈线性增长,而杠柳呈指数式增长;(3)采用隶属函数法对干旱胁迫下4种植物的相对萌发率、相对鲜重、抗旱指数、相对活力指数进行综合评价的结果显示,4种植物种子萌发阶段的抗旱性次序为:柠条>沙枣>杠柳>白蜡.     

金沙江干热河谷滇榄仁种子扩散与种子库特征研究

采用随机取样和跟踪调查的方法对滇榄仁(Terminalia franchetii)种子扩散规律、空间分布特征以及种子库动态进行了系统研究。结果表明,滇榄仁种子扩散受到较强的风力作用影响,具有明显的方向性,扩散距离是其树高的1.6倍以上。不同群落类型中,滇榄仁的土壤种子库存在较大差异,但不同时间段的变化趋势基本一致,即在雨季(6月、8月和10月)数量相对较少,12月到翌年4月,数量逐渐增加。滇榄仁植冠种子库从当年10月开始缓慢脱落,到翌年3月达到脱落高峰(15%以上种子此时脱落),然后再次进入缓慢脱落期,翌年6、7月的种子脱落速率最低,但直到翌年10月仍有部分种子(约15%左右)存在于植株冠层。总体来说,不同类型群落中,滇榄仁幼苗更新不良的原因不应是缺乏种源,可能与种子质量以及群落环境等影响群落天然更新的其它因子存在较大关联。同时,滇榄仁土壤种子库数量与植冠种子库的脱落过程存在紧密联系,而植冠种子脱落可能与该区域气候因子存在着较大依存关系,其中,与风力可能存在着正相关,与降雨量和空气相对湿度存在着负相关,这可能是滇榄仁长期以来对干热河谷环境的一种适应特征。     

陕北黄土丘陵沟壑区14种植物的萌发特性

在实验室条件下观测了陕北黄土丘陵沟壑区14种植物的萌发特性,结果发现：萌发率在80%以上的植物有杠柳、铁杆蒿和茭蒿;在60%～80%之间的物种有白羊草、紫丁香、阿尔泰狗娃花、大针茅、沙棘和猪毛蒿;长芒草为37.3%;小于20%的植物有达乌里胡枝子、刺槐、虎榛子和狼牙刺。14种植物的萌发时滞最短的为2 d,最长的为8 d;几乎所有植物种子达到T50的时间都在其萌发开始后的7 d以内,且大部分物种在萌发开始后的15 d完成总萌发量的90%;萌发持续时间最短的为6 d,有刺槐、狼牙刺、虎榛子、沙棘4种,最长的为猪毛蒿,达32 d。这些植物种子的萌发特性及生态适宜性决定了它们在陕北黄土丘陵沟壑区植被演替中的角色与地位。     

七种蒿属植物种子重量形状及萌发特性的比较研究

在实验室条件下 ,对 7种蒿属植物种子 (差巴嘎蒿、乌丹蒿、万年蒿、大籽蒿、黄蒿、野艾蒿和冷蒿 )进行重量、形状及萌发特性的比较研究。沙生先锋植物乌丹蒿和差巴嘎蒿的种子重量较大、形状扁平 ,这些特征是植物对流沙环境进化的适应机制之一。黄蒿种子小且呈圆形 ,具有持久土壤种子库 ,因此黄蒿抗干扰能力较强。 7种蒿属植物有 3种萌发格局 :大籽蒿、万年蒿、差巴嘎蒿和冷蒿的萌发前期快 ,后期平缓 ;野艾蒿和黄蒿整个萌发过程平缓 ;乌丹蒿早期和后期萌发平缓 ,中间快。乌丹蒿推迟萌发高峰是它比差巴嘎蒿更适应流沙环境的机制之一。从种子萌发格局分析 ,黄蒿种子具有生理后熟或休眠机制 ,大籽蒿种子萌发是典型的机会主义。黄蒿、野艾蒿和冷蒿种子具有风险分摊的萌发机制。种子重量和形状与发芽率之间无相关性 ,重量和形状则显著相关。     

埋藏对65种半干旱草地植物种子萌发特性的影响

比较了半干旱草原科尔沁沙地65种植物新采种子和埋藏1年种子的萌发特性.结果表明：埋藏1年后,有38种植物的种子仍具有活力.新采种子萌发率>80%的植物种子埋藏后萌发率下降；而萌发率<80%的植物种子埋藏后萌发率均有较大幅度的提高.埋藏对种子萌发特性的影响因植物生态类群(杂草、草原植物、草甸植物、沙生植物)而异.种子埋藏1年后,多年生植物萌发率没有明显提高,而1年生植物萌发率显著提高(P<0.05).对于新采种子和埋藏1年种子萌发率间相差10%以下的物种,可根据萌发格局将植物种分为3类：埋藏促进型(如差巴嘎蒿)、埋藏抑制型(如大籽蒿)和埋藏不变型(如鹤虱).     

Aerial seed bank in a cold desert annual-ephemeral species: Role of anatomical structure of stem and delayed fruit dehiscence in timing of seed dispersal

Why the fruits are retained on dead upright herbaceous plants and how this relates to seed dispersal and timing of germination remain unclear. Stems of the annual Euclidium syriacum (Brassicaceae) with infructescences bearing indehiscent silicles remain upright after plants die in the spring. We investigated the effect of anatomical structures of stem and pedicle and delayed silicle dehiscence on seed dispersal phenology of this species. For comparison, sections were made of the stem of the annual Goldbachia laevigata (Brassicaceae), which has stems that fall over when plants die. Compared to G. laevigata, the stem of E. syriacum has vascular bundles that are closer together, a thicker xylem and phloem, more fibers, a thicker perimedullary zone and a smaller pith diameter:stem diameter ratio. The thickened pedicle did not form an abcission layer. By late October, 5–20% of seeds were dispersed, depending on the position of infructescences on the plant. Snow covered the plants in late autumn and when it melted in mid-April many of the plants had fallen over, with a high number of seeds germinating in attached silicles; seedlings became rooted in soil. After snowmelt, 14–15% of the silicles on the remaining upright plants contained seeds; all seeds were dispersed by early July. The anatomical structures of the stem and pedicle plus the delayed dehiscence of silicles explain the presence of an aerial seed bank in E. syriacum and delay of germination of many of seeds until spring. Further, pieces of upright plants are broken off and dispersed by wind, which helps to explain the wide distribution of E. syriacum in the cold desert.     

The ecophysiology of seed persistence: a mechanistic view of the journey to germination or demise

Seed persistence is the survival of seeds in the environment once they have reached maturity. Seed persistence allows a species, population or genotype to survive long after the death of parent plants, thus distributing genetic diversity through time. The ability to predict seed persistence accurately is critical to inform long‐term weed management and flora rehabilitation programs, as well as to allow a greater understanding of plant community dynamics. Indeed, each of the 420000 seed‐bearing plant species has a unique set of seed characteristics that determine its propensity to develop a persistent soil seed bank. The duration of seed persistence varies among species and populations, and depends on the physical and physiological characteristics of seeds and how they are affected by the biotic and abiotic environment. An integrated understanding of the ecophysiological mechanisms of seed persistence is essential if we are to improve our ability to predict how long seeds can survive in soils, both now and under future climatic conditions. In this review we present an holistic overview of the seed, species, climate, soil, and other site factors that contribute mechanistically to seed persistence, incorporating physiological, biochemical and ecological perspectives. We focus on current knowledge of the seed and species traits that influence seed longevity under ex situ controlled storage conditions, and explore how this inherent longevity is moderated by changeable biotic and abiotic conditions in situ, both before and after seeds are dispersed. We argue that the persistence of a given seed population in any environment depends on its resistance to exiting the seed bank via germination or death, and on its exposure to environmental conditions that are conducive to those fates. By synthesising knowledge of how the environment affects seeds to determine when and how they leave the soil seed bank into a resistance–exposure model, we provide a new framework for developing experimental and modelling approaches to predict how long seeds will persist in a range of environments.     

Seed bank persistence of clonal weeds in contrasting habitats: implications for control

The ability of weeds to form a seed bank is important for their population dynamics and management because it provides a refuge enabling reinvasion after established target plants have died. However, knowledge of the differential seed behaviour of individual species over multiple years and varying environmental conditions is surprisingly rare but necessary for effective control of diverse weed populations. We established a seed burial experiment in alpine habitats differing in management regime (i.e., forest, hay meadow and pasture) to determine whether seeds of the unpalatable perennial weeds, Veratrum album (white hellebore) and Gentiana lutea (yellow gentian) were able to delay germination and remain viable over 3 years. Our study shows that both species formed a short-term persistent seed bank; in the third-year, the soil seed banks of both species were nearly depleted, having declined to <5% of their original size. Both species had strikingly different germination strategies: G. lutea seeds mainly germinated in their first-year, whilst the majority of V. album seeds germinated in their second-year. The fraction of dormant G. lutea seeds increased with seed age, indicating that seeds remained viable after forgoing germination in the previous year. Habitat-specific differences in seed germination increased with seed age, with germination fractions being lowest in moist hay meadows. This suggests that the negative effects of anoxic conditions became more pronounced as seeds aged in hay meadows. Conversely, seed dormancy was equal among habitats. The absence of a long-term persistent seed bank has important implications for the management of both nuisance and endangered-plant populations. In the case of V. album and G. lutea, re-colonization of habitats from the seed bank is unlikely after established plants have been removed.     

Seed dynamics of resprouting shrubs in grassy woodlands: Seed rain,predators and seed loss constrain recruitment potential

Abstract Measuring the fate of seeds between seed production and seedling establishment is critical in understanding mechanisms of recruitment limitation of plants. We examined seed fates to better understand the recruitment dynamics of four resprouting shrubs from two families (Fabaceae and Epacridaceae) in temperate grassy woodlands. We tested whether: (i) pre‐dispersal seed predation affected seed rain; (ii) post‐dispersal seed predation limited seed bank accumulation; (iii) the size of the seed bank was related to seed size; and (iv) viable seeds accumulated in the soil after seed rain. There was a distinct difference in seed production per plant between plant families with the legumes producing significantly more seeds per individual than the epacrids. Seed viability ranged from 43% to 81% and all viable had seed or fruit coat dormancy broken by heat or scarification. Pre‐dispersal predation by Lepidopteran larvae removed a large proportion of seed from the legume seed rain but not the epacrids. Four species of ants (Notoncus ectatomoides, Pheidole sp., Rhytidoponera tasmaniensis and Iridomyrmex purpureus) were major post‐dispersal seed removers. Overall, a greater percentage of Hardenbergia (38%) and Pultenaea (59%) seeds were removed than the fleshy fruits of Lissanthe (14%) or Melichrus (0%). Seed bank sizes were small (<15 seeds m^?2) relative to the seed rain and no significant accumulation of seed in the soil was detected. Lack of accumulation was attributed to seed predation as seed decay was considered unlikely and no seed germination was observed in our study sites. Our study suggests that seed predation is a key factor contributing to seed‐limited recruitment in grassy woodland shrubs by reducing the number of seeds stored in the soil.     

Experimental determination of seed emergence and carry‐over in the soil seed bank of the herbaceous perennial,Trachymene incisa (Apiaceae)

Abstract Many populations of herbaceous perennial plants contain seeds stored in a soil seed bank. The contribution of seeds to population persistence is an important parameter in population models but germination rates of known‐age seeds are difficult to obtain because individual seeds cannot easily be followed. Although Trachymene incisa Rudge plants produce copious seeds that are dispersed into the soil, the existence of a seed bank has not been confirmed. To quantify the potential for a seed bank fresh seeds of T. incisa were sown into experimental seed banks in the eucalypt‐dominated Agnes Banks Woodland in western Sydney, NSW. A recent fire provided the opportunity to compare germination in the burnt and unburnt vegetation. Density of seed sowing and time of maturation/dispersal of seeds were manipulated in 75 seed cages. Emergence of seeds after 5 months was significantly higher for the earliest planting date but after 1 year, germination of seeds planted in the later weeks increased, and the final germination for all weeks was 28%. Density of sowing and the recent fire did not affect emergence. A second experiment planted over a broader time span (9 weeks instead of 3 weeks) confirmed the effect of planting date but also found significant spatial variation on a scale of tens of metres. Laboratory germination rates of over 70% confirmed that the seeds were viable and non‐dormant when sown in the field cages. The carry‐over of non‐germinated seed in the soil seed bank is estimated to be about 70% after 2 years, implying that a cohort of seeds would not be depleted through germination alone for up to 40 years. The potential for a long‐lived seed bank in this species is interesting because the plants are also capable of resprouting from their rootstock after fire, giving them characteristics of both resprouters and seeders.     

Fire and flood: Soil‐stored seed bank and germination ecology in the endangered Carrington Falls Grevillea (Grevillea rivularis,Proteaceae)

Abstract Seed germination is dependent on the interaction between the dormancy state of a seed and the presence of favourable environmental conditions. Thus, the spectacular pulse of seedling recruitment in many Australian vegetation communities following disturbances such as fire can be attributed to changes in microsite conditions and/or the dormancy‐breaking effect of the disturbance on accumulated seed banks. Grevillea rivularis is a threatened species endemic to the area immediately above Carrington Falls in the NSW Southern Highlands. Most of the population is confined to the riparian vegetation zone in woodland and heath, and is therefore subject to periodic disturbance from fire and flood. For this species, a pulse of seedling recruitment has been recorded after fire, flood and mechanical soil disturbance. The aims of this study were to examine the density and vertical distribution of the soil‐stored seed bank and to investigate the role of heat and scarification as cues for germination of fresh and soil‐stored seed. There was a large seed bank under the canopies of established individuals (194 ± 73 seeds m^?2) and most seeds were found in the 0–2 cm and leaf‐litter layers of the soil profile. The germination response of soil‐stored and fresh seed was examined using a hierarchical series of laboratory experiments. Seeds of G. rivularis showed marked dormancy polymorphism. Thirty‐six percent of soil‐stored seed germinated without treatment, whereas no untreated fresh seeds germinated. Scarification or heating caused significant germination of dormant soil‐stored seed, but only scarification resulted in germination of dormant fresh seeds. These results highlight important differences in the dormancy state of soil‐stored and fresh seed. Thus, being a riparian species in a fire‐prone environment, the dormancy mechanisms in seeds of G. rivularis suit this species to disturbance by both fire and flood.     

Germinable soil seed banks in a tropical savanna: seasonal dynamics and effects of fire.

Abstract The germinable soil seed bank of a tropical eucalypt savanna of north‐eastern Australia was found to be dominated by grasses and forbs, with seed bank density ranging from 58 to 792 seeds per square metre, from a total of 53 species. Late dry season fires and the fire‐related cues, heat shock and smoke, broke the seed dormancy of a range of tropical savanna species. Heat shock promoted the germination of the species groups natives, exotics, subshrubs, ephemeral and twining perennial forbs, and the common species Indigofera hirsuta, Pycnospora lutescens and Triumfetta rhomboidea. Exposure to smoke at ambient temperature promoted germination from the soil seed bank of the species groups combined natives, upright perennial forbs and grasses, as well as the common grasses Digitaria breviglumis and Heteropogon triticeus. The germinable soil seed bank varied seasonally, increasing from the mid wet season (February) and early dry season (May) to a maximum in the late dry season (October). The effect of recent fire history on soil seed bank dynamics was limited to the immediate release of some seed from dormancy; a reduction in seed densities of subshrubs and monocots, other than grasses, in recently burnt savanna; and enhanced seed density of the ephemeral I. hirsuta in the year following fire. The seed banks of most savanna species were replenished in the year following burning.