Large-scale grazing history effects on Arctic-alpine germinable seed banks |
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Authors: | Victoria T González Kari Anne Bråthen Virve T Ravolainen Marianne Iversen Snorre B Hagen |
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Institution: | 1.Department of Biology,University of Troms?,Troms?,Norway;2.Sami College,Guovdageaidnu/Kautokeino,Norway |
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Abstract: | Grazing constitutes a selective pressure on vegetation recruitment through modification of the seed banks. Here we address
changes in seed bank density and its life history trait composition in century-old pastures, where contrasting reindeer densities
have developed during the last decades. We cover the actual scales used by these wide-roaming herbivores by sampling 70 productive
tundra habitats over 7,421 km2 in the reindeer summer pastures of Northern Norway. Results showed that the seed bank density was significantly lowered where
reindeer densities had increased in recent decades, whereas the century-long history of grazing probably explains the main
seed bank traits typical of grazing tolerant plants. The dominant trait characteristics were small seeds (<0.5 mg), seeds
lacking dispersal mechanism and individuals with a graminoid growth form. Finally, differences between regions introduced
trait variation independent of grazing history, reinforcing the importance of using scales covering several contexts when
designing ecological studies. |
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