Persistent soil seed bank and standing vegetation at a high alpine site in the central Chilean Andes

The persistent soil seed bank (viable seeds >1 year) and standing vegetation were investigated in the upper alpine belt (3250 m) in the Andes of central Chile, 33° S. Nine species (eight in standing vegetation) were found in a total persistent seed bank of 899 seeds m⁻². Seven additional species were represented by physically intact, non-viable seeds. Over 90% of the persistent seed bank was concentrated in Montiopsis sericea (Portulacaceae), Pozoa coriacea (Umbelliferae), Phacelia secunda (Hydrophyllaceae) and Oxalis compacta (Oxalidaceae). Examination of the seed/cover ratio revealed different propensities for persistent seed bank formation among species, and annuals formed persistent seed banks more frequently than perennial species. Abundance in the standing vegetation had predictive value for abundance in the persistent seed bank only when non-persistent seed bank species in the standing vegetation were discarded from the analysis. At the local scale, species diversity in the persistent seed bank and standing vegetation were correlated, but compositional similarity was low. Secondary down-slope dispersal promoted by frost heaving in combination with runoff, and life-form correlates are discussed as possible factors accounting for poor correspondence between the persistent seed bank and the standing vegetation at a local scale. The high Andean seed bank is similar to or larger than that reported for two Arctic tundra sites, but smaller than for a northern hemisphere subalpine site. If seed bank size is considered in relation to plant cover, the Andean seed bank greatly exceeds that of one Arctic site. Our study constitutes the first demonstration of a sizable persistent seed bank at an alpine site in the South American Andes and in southern hemisphere temperate mountains in general. Received: 26 May 1998 / Accepted: 21 November 1998     

Soil seed banks in church forests of northern Ethiopia: Implications for the conservation of woody plants

Church forests are sanctuaries for different organisms, ranging from microbes to large animals, which have almost disappeared in most parts of northern Ethiopia. Despite the actual and potential significance of these forests, studies and documented information on their bio-physical features and socio-economic setting are either scanty or totally lacking. A study was, therefore, carried out in seven of these church forests, namely Hiruy, Zahara, Gibtsawit, Gelawdiwos, Dengolt, Debresena and Ascha with the objective of assessing the composition, densities and spatial heterogeneity of soil seed banks. The number of viable seeds in the soil samples, from both germination and sieving, corresponded to a seed bank density down to 9 cm in the soil of 7594 seeds m⁻² at Ascha, 2064 seeds m⁻² at Debresena, 4208 seeds m⁻² at Dengolt, 3158 seeds m⁻² at Gelawdiwos, 2754 seeds m⁻² at Gibtsawit, 2759 seeds m⁻² at Hiruy, and 1909 seeds m⁻² at Zahra. The total number of species recorded was 50, representing at least 22 plant families, in the seven church forests, of which 13 were recorded from Ascha, 29 from Debresena, 26 from Dengolt, 19 from Gibtsawit, 22 from Gelawdiwos, 20 from Hiruy and 21 from Zahra. There was a significant difference in seed densities and number of species recovered from the soil seed banks of the seven church forests. Ascha had a significantly higher seed bank density than all other church forests. Dengolt exhibited a significantly higher number of species compared with other church forests. Of the identified species recorded from the seven church forests, 83% were herbs, 11% trees and 6% shrubs. Our results revealed that church forests accumulate large quantities of persistent seeds of herbaceous species in the soil while only five (6%) of the 91 woody species recorded in the standing vegetation of the seven church forests were represented in the soil seed banks. The fact that most of the dominant tree species do not accumulate seeds in the soil suggests that their regeneration from seeds would be prevented by removal of mature individuals in the standing vegetation. The results also provided further evidences that consolidate the conclusions of previous studies, i.e. the future existence of the woody flora characteristic of dry Afromontane areas in Ethiopia depends on the conservation and sustainable utilization of the few remnant natural forests.     

Mechanisms of plant regeneration during succession after shifting cultivation in eastern Amazonia

The role of seed bank, seed rain, and regeneration from seedlings and sprouts after swidden agriculture was compared in 5-, 10- and 20-year-old secondary forest and in a primary forest in Bragantina, Pará, Brazil. The seed bank (0–5 cm soil depth) was largest in the 5-year-old forest (1190 ± 284 seeds m⁻²) and decreased nearly ten-fold with age to 137 ± 19 seeds m⁻² in the primary forest. The highest seed rain was in the 5-year-old forest (883 ± 230 seeds m⁻² year⁻¹) and the least in the primary forest (220 ± 80 seeds m⁻² year⁻¹). Large plants (≥5 cm dbh) had more individuals and species that regenerated from sprouts than from seeds and the most abundant tree species in the secondary forest stands of all ages appear to be maintained by sprouting. The smaller individuals (≥1 m tall, <5 cm dbh) in the 5-year-old forest were mainly from sprouts, but those in the older secondary forests originated mainly from seeds. These results show that at the beginning of succession, although many species can be introduced to swidden fallow from seed bank and seed rain, it is the sprout that is the main source of recruits of primary forest species in secondary forests in Bragantina.     

Effect of seed predation on seed bank size and seedling recruitment of bush lupine (Lupinus arboreus)

Whether seed consumers affect plant establishment is an important unresolved question in plant population biology. Seed consumption is ubiquitous; at issue is whether seedling recruitment is limited by safe-sites or seeds. If most seeds inhabit sites unsuitable for germination, post-dispersal seed consumption primarily removes seeds that would otherwise never contribute to the population and granivory has minimal impacts on plant abundance. Alternatively, if most seeds ultimately germinate before they lose viability, there is greater potential for seed consumption to affect plant recruitment. Of the many studies on seed consumption, few ask how seed loss affects seedling recruitment for species with long-lived seed banks. We examined post-dispersal seed predation and seedling emergence in bush lupine (Lupinus arboreus), a woody leguminous shrub of coastal grasslands and dunes in California. We followed the fate of seeds in paired experimental seed plots that were either protected or exposed to rodent granivores in grassland and dune habitats. Significantly more seeds were removed by rodents in dunes than grasslands. In dunes, where rodent granivory was greatest (65% and 86% of seeds removed from plots by rodents in two successive years), there is a sparse seed bank (6.6 seeds m⁻²), and granivory significantly reduced seedling emergence (in the same two years, 18% and 19.4% fewer seedlings emerged from exposed versus protected plots), suggesting seed rather than safe-site limited seedling recruitment. In contrast, rodents removed an average of 6% and 56% of seeds from grassland plots during the same two years, and the grassland seed bank is 43-fold that of the dunes (288 seeds m⁻²). Even high seed consumption in the second year of the study only marginally influenced recruitment because seeds that escaped predation remained dormant. Burial of seeds in both habitats significantly reduced the percentage of seeds removed by rodents. Results suggest that granivores exert strong but habitat-dependent effects on lupine seed survival and seedling emergence. Received: 24 October 1996 / Accepted: 4 February 1997     

Persistent soil seed banks in old-growth Hyrcanian Box tree (Buxus hyrcana) stands in northern Iran

Little is known about the soil seed bank and the influence of plant communities on the interaction between the seed bank and aboveground vegetation in the Hyrcanian temperate deciduous forest. We surveyed species composition and diversity of the persistent soil seed bank and the aboveground vegetation in six community types in old-growth Hyrcanian Box tree (Buxus hyrcana) stands in northern Iran. Fifty-two species with an average of 3,808 seeds/spores m⁻² germinated; forbs accounted for 64% of the seed bank flora. Thirty-four species in the aboveground vegetation were not presented in the seed bank, 32 species in the seed bank were not found in the vegetation, and 20 species were in both. The dominant tree species were Diospyros lotus and Alnus subcordata with an average of 17 and 4.6 seeds m⁻², respectively. Our results suggest that (1) vernal geophytes and shade-tolerant perennials are not incorporated in the seed bank, (2) early successional species are well represented in the seed bank, (3) plant community type has significant impacts on seed bank densities, and seed bank richness and diversity were significantly related to presence/absence of Box tree in the aboveground vegetation. The persistent seed bank contained species that potentially have a negative impact on the regeneration of forests, thus forest managers should retain old-growth Hyrcanian Box tree stands to conserve disturbance-sensitive indicator forest species.     

Effects of plant competition,seed predation,and nutrient limitation on seedling survivorship of spotted knapweed (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Centaurea stoebe</Emphasis>)

We measured seed germination and seedling survivorship of spotted knapweed, Centaurea stoebe, in a series of laboratory and field experiments to evaluate the efficacy of seed limitation as a management focus. This work was initiated 6 years after introduction of several biological control agents. The soil seed bank of the site used in this study contained a mean density of 5,848 seeds/m² (ranging from 0 to 16,364 seeds/m²), and 92% of the seeds isolated from soils were shriveled, discolored, and/or partially decayed. Additionally, none of the intact seeds germinated, suggesting that the viable seed bank at our field study site has been exhausted. Centaurea stoebe seeds were planted into pots under a range of soil nitrogen (N) availability, with half of the pots containing a single density of previously established seedlings of a native cool-season grass, slender wheatgrass (Elymus trachycaulus). A watering regime mimicking local precipitation was applied. Spotted knapweed exhibited large biomass responses to N addition, but the presence of grasses suppressed the ability to exploit this N. Surprisingly, low soil N conditions improved knapweed survivorship in the presence of grasses. Nevertheless, recruitment and biomass were still far below the levels reached in the absence of competition. To evaluate the effect of density on successful recruitment, Centaurea stoebe seed was introduced into a meadow at three densities matching reduced levels of seed production under the constraints of seed predators. These densities were sown with or without a seed mixture of native species, into an existing plant community lacking C. stoebe, and seedling recruitment was recorded over 2.5 years. Across all plots and densities sown (568–2,272 seeds m⁻² year⁻¹), seedling recruitment was less than 1%. The invasion potential of spotted knapweed was greatly diminished when realistic levels of plant competition and biological control limit seed production. We therefore conclude that a combination of seed limitation and shortage of ‘safe sites’ within undisturbed vegetation can limit densities of C. stoebe.     

Nitrogen fertilization and water supply affect germination and plant establishment of the soil seed bank present in a semi-arid Mediterranean scrubland

Anthropogenic nitrogen (N) inputs in terrestrial ecosystems are higher than those that occur naturally and have been related to global biodiversity loss and altered ecosystem functioning. However, its effects on Mediterranean-type ecosystems, where production is water-limited and N regulated, remain unclear. We conducted a green-house experiment where we evaluated the effects of four simulated scenarios of N pollution (0, 10, 20 and 50 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) and two differential water supply regimes on the germination (experiment 1) and early plant establishment (experiment 2) of a seed bank from a semi-arid Mediterranean ecosystem of central Spain. Seed bank density was estimated as 62,374 ± 3,279 seeds m⁻². Approximately 99.5% of emerged seeds corresponded to only 14 species of a total of 52, the majority of which were the annual forb Sagina apetala. The responses for N treatments were species-specific, mainly positive or unimodal, with watering treatments having some interactive effects. N and water supply also affected total and specific productivity; the responses found for N treatments were mainly humpback-shaped and an increased water supply had additive effects on community establishment in terms of total plant biomass. This response was linked to forb responsiveness. Contrary to predictions, grass biomass did not change with N supply; however, grass to forb ratio was affected because of changes in the latter. Overall, these experiments suggest a critical load for plant biomass production and conclude that N and water availability and supply can modify germination and plant establishment. This should be taken into account when analysing the effects of global change on the dynamics of plant communities where annuals are dominant or vegetation must establish from seed following a natural or anthropogenic disturbance regime.     

Seed dynamics during forest succession in Costa Rica

Soil seed banks and current seed inputs each play a role in tropical succession. We compared the abundance and floristic composition of seeds from these two sources at a Costa Rican site by germinating seeds from the soil, measuring seed inputs for 3 yr, and monitoring the earliest colonists in a forest clearing.There were an estimated 6800 viable seeds/m² in the soil of 3.3-yr-old vegetation, 9500 seeds/m² in 11-yr-old vegetation, and 7000 seeds/m² in a 75-yr-old forest. An estimated 10100 seeds/m² fell on the soil surface of the young successional vegetation during 3 yr and 3700 seeds/m² fell during that same time in the forest.Locally produced seeds accounted for about 75% of the seed input to the soil surface early in succession. Seeds dispersed out of young successional vegetation increased the quantity and species richness of the seed input and storage in an adjacent forest. Much of the species richness of the young successional vegetation resulted from seeds dispersed there from other communities by animals.Deforestation stimulated germination of most seeds in the surface soil of the old forest, including seeds of the dominant canopy tree. The recruitment of seedlings from the soil seed bank numerically overwhelmed that from post-disturbance seed rain and sprouts.We evaluated patterns of soil seed storage during succession and predicted the ability of vegetation of differing ages to respond to disturbance. Immediately after disturbance the number of seeds in the soil plummeted due to mortality, low inputs, and germination. As the vegetation regrew, the soil seed bank increased to a peak after 4 to 7 yr, then gradually decreased to its pre-disturbance size. High-frequency pulses of disturbance should result in reduced species richness, dominance by species with long-lived seeds, and fast recovery by seedling recruitment from the soil seed bank.Journal series number 6459 from the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA.Reprint requests to J. J. E. at Florida.     

Regeneration of Cyperaceae, with particular reference to seed ecology and seed banks

Cyperaceae (sedges) are an important component of many ecosystems. To understand better their regeneration, we examined seed ecology, including dispersal, seed characteristics, and germination behavior that relate to seed bank development and persistence. We also evaluated sedge seed banks from 104 studies, representing a wide array of habitats. Sedge seed bank development and persistence were associated with germination and dormancy traits, namely: dormancy level, seasonal dormancy patterns, and requirement for light, alternating temperatures, and aerobic conditions. Interplay of traits appears to have resulted in low-risk germination strategies adapted to exploit infrequent occurrence of gaps and facilitate formation of persistent seed banks. A variety of dispersal modes and morphological adaptations occurred, but many species had no apparent specialized structures. The main dispersal vectors were water and then animals. About 216 species, in 21 genera, were recorded in the seed bank survey. High densities (>50,000 m⁻²) occurred occasionally in wet habitats, but generally values were low (<500 m⁻² in 70% of entries). Species richness was also generally low (mean 4.8 species study⁻¹), but ranged from 10 to 33 species in certain wetlands. Our studies showed varied reproductive strategies within habitats, persistence, and ability of many species to colonize disturbed habitats. Overall, seed banks tended to be persistent (>1 year). Maximum longevity ranged between 10 and 295 years, but for certain species viability was lost in <3 years. Seeds of many sedges occurred in deeper soil layers to depths >1 m. Seed production, low in rhizomatous species, ranged between 0 and 345,000 seeds m⁻² year⁻¹. Amphicarpy or pseudo-viviparous plantlets occurred in limited numbers of species. The relation between seed production, seed rain, and seed bank is largely obscure and awaits further investigation. For successful restoration and species conservation projects, seed banks (or a source of seeds) are necessary, combined with suitable germination and establishment conditions. Future seed bank studies are considered.     

A comparison of seed banks across a sand dune successional gradient at Lake Michigan dunes (Indiana,USA)

In habitats where disturbance is frequent, seed banks are important for the regeneration of vegetation. Sand dune systems are dynamic habitats in which sand movement provides intermittent disturbance. As succession proceeds from bare sand to forest, the disturbance decreases. At Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, we examined the seed banks of three habitat types across a successional gradient: foredunes, secondary dunes, and oak savanna. There were differences among the types of species that germinated from each of the habitats. The mean seed bank density increased across the successional gradient by habitat, from 376 to 433 to 968 seeds m⁻², but with foredune and secondary dune seed bank densities being significantly lower than the savanna seed bank density. The number of seeds germinated was significantly correlated with soil organic carbon, demonstrating for this primary successional sequence that seed density increases with stage and age. The seed bank had much lower species richness than that of the aboveground vegetation across all habitats. Among sites within a habitat type, the similarity of species germinated from the seed banks was very low, illustrating the variability of the seed bank even in similar habitat types. These results suggest that restoration of these habitats cannot rely on seed banks alone.     

Photosynthetic property and primary production of phytoplankton in sublittoral sand bank area in the Seto Inland Sea,Japan

We investigated the photosynthesis–light intensity (P–I) relationships of phytoplankton collected from a sublittoral sand bank in the Seto Inland Sea, Japan, under different temperature conditions. In spite of low chlorophyll a concentration (<3 mg m⁻³), phytoplankton had considerably high photosynthetic potential (>10 mg C (mg chl a)⁻¹ h⁻¹) in the study area. Based on the P–I relationships, we conducted numerical simulation of areal primary production using published data on water temperature, chlorophyll a concentration, and irradiance. The areal primary production ranged between 159 and 187 g C m⁻² year⁻¹. This production was within the range of typical values reported previously in deeper areas of the Seto Inland Sea. The productivity in the sand bank area was discussed in relation to water current, allochthonous resource input, and fisheries.     

Seed development and germination ecophysiology of the invasive tree <Emphasis Type="Italic">Prunus serotina</Emphasis> (Rosaceae) in a temperate forest in Western Europe

Seed development, dormancy and germination of the American invasive tree species, Prunus serotina, are described for plants growing in a large forest in Belgium. Seeds of P. serotina were collected following anthesis in the first week of July and thereafter at fortnightly intervals. Seed dormancy, temperature requirements for germination and the soil seed bank were investigated. At maturation (about 105 days after anthesis), seed moisture content had decreased to around 13.7%, and 44% of the seeds had attained the capacity to germinate. Mature seeds of P. serotina exhibited physiological dormancy, germinating only after a long cold, moist stratification period. Highest germination percentage occurred in seeds treated with gibberellic acid (GA₃), at 10°C. We found no evidence that P. serotina forms a persistent seed bank but noticed a persistent seedling bank in the field.     

Aerial seed storage in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Melaleuca ericifolia</Emphasis> Sm. (Swamp Paperbark): environmental triggers for seed release

Aerial seed banks are potentially the main source of sexual recruitment for woody wetland plants. Whilst the importance of soil seed banks for the persistence and recruitment of wetland plants has been examined in many studies, the role of aerial seed banks has been largely neglected. We used seed traps and the seedling emergence technique to quantify the seed rain from aerial seed banks of the Swamp Paperbark Melaleuca ericifolia Sm. (Myrtaceae) in Dowd Morass, a Ramsar-listed, brackish-water wetland in south-eastern Australia. Nine plant species germinated from material collected in seed traps over 2004–2005, but emergents were dominated (80–97%) by M. ericifolia. The mean number of M. ericifolia emergents ranged from <1 to <100 seedlings m⁻² day⁻¹, and showed a peak in the summer–autumn period. Regression analysis showed a significant negative correlation (r ² = 0.738) between the number of M. ericifolia emergents and water depth. Water depth and salinity were negatively correlated (r ² = 0.819), and increases in the number of M. ericifolia emergents as water levels fell were also associated with high salinities. Increasing air temperature and vapour pressure deficit also stimulated seed release during periods of drying. This study is one of the first to demonstrate the importance of aerial seed banks for sexual recruitment in woody wetland plants and the release of seed in relation to environmental factors. Aerial seed banks warrant consideration alongside soil seed banks for the establishment and long-term survival of woody plants in wetlands. Handling editor: Luis Mauricio Bini     

Potential for red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) establishment from natural seed dispersal in old fields adjacent to forest stands

Red spruce can establish on abandoned agricultural land only from seed, unlike in logged environments where red spruce forests can establish from seedlings that survived the harvest. In this study we collected seeds from the seed rain and from soil cores to examine the abundance and distribution of the red spruce seed rain and the seed bank along a gradient from the forest interior to adjacent old fields in Greenwich, Prince Edward Island National Park (PEINP), Canada. In addition, we examined the temporal abundance and distribution of the seed rain through the seed-fall season. We subsequently tested the germination potential of red spruce seeds from the forest portion of our sites. Because red spruce seeds are usually viable for only one year, we expected the seed bank to be either very small or non-existent. We found 39 red spruce seeds in the seed bank, distributed over 13.1% of the sampled area; 37 of these seeds were definitely nonviable. From the seed rain, we collected 224 red spruce seeds, distributed over 29.4% of the sampled area; 213 of these seeds were definitely nonviable. Nearly all of the red spruce seed rain fell within the forest; differences in abundance among collection dates were not statistically significant. Our seeds had a low germination rate of 0.004%, in part because red and black spruce commonly hybridise in our study area. Despite the low rates of red spruce seed dispersal and viability, the presence of red spruce saplings in our two longest-abandoned fields shows that the species is able to slowly colonise some old fields in PEINP.     

The seed banks of two temporarily open/closed estuaries in South Africa

The seed banks of two temporarily open/closed estuaries in South Africa were quantified in this study. Charophyte öospores represented almost 72% of the sexual propagules in the sediment with a mean öospore density of 31,306 öospores m⁻². This was followed by the seeds of the intertidal salt marsh plant Sarcocornia perennis (18%) (7929 seed m⁻²) and the submerged angiosperm Ruppia cirrhosa (7%) (2852 seeds m⁻²). The remaining 3% was made up of a mixture of species such as Salicornia meyeriana, Sporobolus virginicus, Stukenia pectinata, Bolboschoenus maritimus and terrestrial species. Although seed density did not differ significantly with depth, seeds still occurred at 20 cm depth providing a regeneration source in the event of sediment disturbance. Three salinity (0, 17 and 35 PSU) and moisture treatments (exposed, waterlogged and submerged) were applied to collected sediment to determine how fast species would germinate. S. perennis germinated after 3 d to a maximum of 82%. Submerged species began to germinate only after 18 d (Chara vulgaris and R. cirrhosa) and had low germination percentages of between 11 and 15% after 91 d. Results from this study indicate that in the event of unpredictable disturbance events such as water level fluctuations, large sediment seed reserves would ensure habitat persistence.     

Buried seed population in the herbaceous lomas on Loma Ancon in the coastal desert of central Peru

Herbaceous lomas in the Peruvian coastal desert, of South America establish in spring, and its habitat is limited to the southern or southwestern slopes along the coast that are affected by thick fog. The time of appearance, the duration and the thickness of the fog vary greatly from year to year, so the lomas can grow only in habitats with enough water to, sustain seed germination and plant growth. This paper studies the species composition and density of the buried seed population, of the herbaceous lomas of Loma Ancon in order to clarify the mechanisms of the lomas' establishment. The mean number of species with viable seeds was about, 12 spp. m⁻² and that of dead seeds was about 22 spp. m⁻². The dominant species wereSolanum tuberiferum, S. pinnatifidum andNolana humifusa, both in viable and dead seeds. Viable seed density was about 5000–8000 seeds m⁻², which is comparable with the seed densities of other herbaceous communities. Dead seed density was about 15000–27000 seeds m⁻², or nearly three times the viable seed density, because the rate of decomposition was slow in the extremely dry conditions. The net increase of viable seeds by seed production was estimated at about 5000 seeds m⁻² in 1980, and the increase in the number of dead seeds was 2200 seeds m⁻².     

Seed banks of Phragmites australis-dominated brackish wetlands: Relationships to seed viability, inundation, and land cover

In tidal wetlands of the eastern United States, buried seeds of the non-native haplotype of Phragmites australis may be a source of propagules for re-establishment after eradication efforts but factors controlling the development and expression of seed banks in non-native Phragmites stands have not been examined. We sampled surface soil at four Chesapeake Bay brackish tidal wetlands dominated by the non-native (European) haplotype M of Phragmites and used the seedling emergence method to quantity species of seedlings emerging under flooded and non-flooded soil conditions. Within each subestuary, one site was dominated by Phragmites that produced viable seeds (high viability) and the other by Phragmites that did not (low viability). We also described standing vegetation in plots, measured soil salinity, analyzed soil characteristics, and described surrounding land cover. Based on number of emerging seedlings, we found that 284 and 698 Phragmites seeds m⁻² occurred at the two high-viability sites, which was significantly higher than seed densities at the low-viability sites (10 seeds m⁻²), and greater than densities reported elsewhere. We also found that emergence of Phragmites seedlings from soil samples was prevented by continuous flooding of 3.5 cm of standing water, suggesting that colonization of deep water areas is due to vegetative clonal expansion from Phragmites in adjacent higher elevations. The density of Phragmites seeds was not related to soil salinity or abundance of other species in the seed bank or vegetation, but instead was positively related to greater wave energy disturbance (much longer fetch and more open water) and lower area of wetlands nearby. The seed bank was more species-rich (15-22 species observed) than standing vegetation (3-15 species) at all sites, meaning that the dominance of Phragmites in vegetation does not prevent the development of a diverse seed bank and implying that a species-rich community may establish rapidly following control efforts. Based on these results and our findings in related studies, we postulate that wave energy disturbance generates repeated opportunities for seedling recruitment by Phragmites, which creates stands of Phragmites with higher genotypic diversity. In turn, genetically diverse stands favor greater cross-pollination and production of viable seed. These findings suggest that, in North America, targeting control efforts on non-native Phragmites patches in areas of higher exposure to wave energy may be more effective in reducing source populations than efforts in more protected locations.     

三江平原沟渠土壤种子库特征及其与地上植被的关系

为了探究三江平原沟渠土壤种子库在湿地植物保护中的作用及其在湿地恢复中的潜力,该文采用幼苗萌发法与样方调查相结合的方法,对三江平原不同开挖年限沟渠的土壤种子库特征及其与地上植被的关系进行了研究。结果表明:沟渠具有较大规模的土壤种子库,边坡种子库显著大于底泥种子库,边坡种子库密度为8 973–25 000 seeds·m–2,底泥种子库密度为506–1 488 seeds·m–2。开挖10年、20年和30年的沟渠土壤种子库共有50种植物萌发,隶属于20科41属。开挖10年、20年和30年的沟渠土壤种子库萌发物种数分别为37种、34种和33种,地上植被物种数分别为25种、33种和22种。土壤种子库和相应地上植被的相似性系数分别为38.7%、35.8%和32.7%。随着植物群落演替的进行,地上植被的Simpson指数、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数和Pielou均匀度指数均逐渐增大。三江平原沟渠土壤种子库和地上植被中保存了大量湿地植物,表明沟渠具有保护植物物种多样性的作用,沟渠土壤种子库具有湿地恢复的潜力。随着沟渠开挖年限增加,沟渠植物群落呈现退化特征,建议对沟渠系统加强管理。     

Role of soil seed bank along a disturbance gradient in an alpine meadow on the Tibet plateau

We examined the role of the soil seed bank along a grazing disturbance gradient and its relationship with the vegetation of alpine meadows on the Tibet plateau, and discussed the implications for restoration. The seed bank had a high potential for restoration of species-rich vegetation; 62 species were identified in the vegetation and 87 in the seed bank, 39 species being common to both. Mean seed density was 3069–6105 viable seeds m⁻². The density of buried seeds increased significantly with increasing disturbance, indicating that restoration of disturbed areas is not seed limited. Seed density and species richness decreased with depth. The proportion of perennial species decreased with decrease in disturbance both in seed bank and in vegetation. A large portion of species with persistent seeds in the disturbed areas indicate that this seed type can be regarded a strategy of adaptation to current disturbances. Detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) showed significant differences of species composition between seed bank and vegetation, except for the seriously disturbed site. Our results suggest that the establishment of new species in severely disturbed areas is more dependent on the seed bank. By contrast, the restoration in less-disturbed and mature meadows does not rely on seed banks, and the establishment of the vegetation in these communities is more likely to rely on seed dispersal from the standing vegetation and on species with vegetative reproduction.     

Low seed availability may limit recruitment in grazed Atriplex vesicaria and contribute to its local extinction

Poor recruitment in Atriplex vesicaria Hewd exBenth (bladder saltbush) under sheep grazing in the chenopodshrublands of southern Australia contributes to a decline in the shrub'spopulation growth rate. This may lead to local extinction of the species overlarge areas around watering points. This study investigated whether low seedavailability may contribute to poor recruitment. It examined the incidence offlowering and seed bank size at sites distributed across a large grazedpaddock,and examined the longevity of seed in the soil. Grazing by sheep reduced theincidence of flowering and input to the seed bank. The proportion of shrubswithflowers increased with distance from water, showing the characteristicpiosphereresponse. Shrubs on grazed sites closer to water experienced extended periodswhen they failed to flower or flowered poorly. The seed bank was negligible atthree of the sites within 1650 m of water for all three years ofsampling. In contrast, the seed bank at the most distant site sampled (2800m from water) was small in 1990 (37 ± 5.1seeds/m²) but in 1991 and 1992 seed numberswere substantial (626 ± 315.2 seeds/m²and 318 ± 169.0, respectively). Soil seed was short-lived inthis study, with only 34% and 17% of the original seed remainingas viable ungerminated seed after 12 months for the under-canopy andexposed treatments respectively. Whilst recruitment may also be limited byaltered soil conditions due to grazing and trampling and the availability ofsafe sites, the results of this study suggest that low seed availability may bean important factor contributing to poor recruitment and may limit the abilityof the population to recover from the loss of established plants. Management ofgrazing must take into account the need for A. vesicariapopulations to flower and set seed on a regular basis.