Heat shock increases the reliability of a temperate calcareous grassland seed bank study |
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Authors: | Beatrijs Bossuyt Olivier Honnay |
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Institution: | (1) Terrestrial Ecology Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Gent, Belgium;(2) Plant Ecology, Biology Department, University of Leuven, Arenbergpark 31, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium |
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Abstract: | Reliable assessment of the density and species richness of the viable seeds in the soil is essential to estimate the probability
of successful restoration of a particular plant community. Since temperate calcareous grasslands contain several thermophilous
species typical of fire prone habitats, heat shock can be expected to break dormancy of target species for calcareous grassland
restoration. We tested the effect of heat shock on the estimated density and species richness of seeds in soil samples. Heat
shock treatments between 70 and 110°C resulted in both a higher estimated seed density and estimated species richness, in
particular of specialist calcareous grassland species. Moreover, 25 species germinated exclusively from the heat-treated samples.
This indicates that several species would have been missed by handling soil seed bank samples following the standard germination
protocol, resulting in an underestimation of the restoration potential. |
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Keywords: | Dormancy Fire prone habitat Germination requirements Restoration Soil sampling Target species |
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