Seed bank dynamics in tall‐tussock grasslands along an altitudinal gradient

Abstract. We studied the germinable soil seed bank of tall‐tussock grasslands along an altitudinal gradient in the mountains of central Argentina. We selected 10 sampling plots at three altitudinal levels (1200 m, 1600 m and 2200 m). We assessed the composition of the established vegetation and took ten compound soil samples (0 ‐ 5 cm depth) at each plot in autumn and spring. The soil samples were sieved, chilled, and incubated in a glasshouse to assess the composition of the seed bank. The similarity between the composition of the seed bank flora and that of the established vegetation was low throughout the gradient. Most species did not change their seed bank strategy along the gradient. Seed bank richness and density increased with altitude. Most species had a persistent seed bank at all altitudinal levels, and the proportion of such species increased with altitude. These results suggest that a cold climate directly and/or indirectly favours the formation of seed banks and seed persistence in the soil.     

Depth distribution and composition of seed‐banks in alien‐invaded and uninvaded fynbos vegetation

South African fynbos vegetation is threatened on a large scale by invasive woody plants. A major task facing nature conservation managers is to restore invaded areas. The aim of this study was to determine the restoration potential of fynbos following dense invasion by the Australian tree Acacia saligna. The impacts of dense invasion on seed‐bank composition and depth distribution were investigated to determine which fynbos guilds and species have the most persistent seed‐banks. Soil samples were excavated at three different depths for invaded and uninvaded vegetation at two sand plain and mountain fynbos sites. Seed‐banks were determined using the seedling emergence approach. Invasion caused a significant reduction in seed‐bank density and richness at all sites. There was a significant, but smaller, reduction in seed‐bank density and richness with soil depth at three sites. Seed‐bank composition and guild structure changed following invasion. Low persistence of long‐lived obligate seeders in sand plain fynbos seed‐banks indicates that this vegetation type will be difficult to restore from the seed‐bank alone following alien clearance. The dominance of short‐lived species, especially graminoids, forbs and ephemeral geophytes, suggests that regenerating vegetation will develop into a herbland rather than a shrubland. It is recommended that seed collecting and sowing form part of the restoration plan for densely invaded sand plain sites. As seed density remained higher towards the soil surface following invasion, there is no general advantage in applying a mechanical soil disturbance treatment. However, if the shallow soil seed‐bank becomes depleted, for example following a hot fire through dense alien slash, a soil disturbance treatment should be given to exhume the deeper viable seed‐bank and promote recruitment.     

Influence of Grazing on Soil Seed Banks Determines the Restoration Potential of Aboveground Vegetation in a Semi‐arid Savanna of Ethiopia

Species composition, number of emerging seedlings, species diversity and functional group of the soil seed banks, and the influence of grazing on the similarity between the soil seed banks and aboveground vegetation, were studied in 2008 and 2009 in a semi‐arid savanna of Ethiopia. We tested whether the availability of persistent seeds in the soil could drive the transition from a degraded system under heavy grazing to healthy vegetation with ample perennial grasses. A total of 77 species emerged from the soil seed bank samples: 21 annual grasses, 12 perennial grasses, 4 herbaceous legumes, 39 forbs, and 1 woody species. Perennial grass species dominated the lightly grazed sites, whereas the heavily grazed sites were dominated by annual forbs. Heavy grazing reduced the number of seeds that can germinate in the seed bank. Species richness in the seed bank was, however, not affected by grazing. With increasing soil depth, the seed density and its species richness declined. There was a higher similarity in species composition between the soil seed bank and aboveground vegetation at the lightly grazed sites compared with the heavily grazed sites. The mean similarity between the seed banks and aboveground vegetation was relatively low, indicating the effect of heavy grazing. Moreover, seeds of perennial grasses were less abundant in the soil seed banks under heavy grazing. We concluded that restoration of grass and woody species from the soil seed banks in the heavily grazed areas could not be successful in semi‐arid savannas of Ethiopia.     

Resilience,persistence and relationship to standing vegetation in soil seed banks of semi‐arid Australian old fields

Questions: Do soil seed banks of semi‐arid grasslands reassemble after abandonment from cultivation? Do seeds of native and exotic species persist in the soil? Does time since abandonment affect compositional similarity between the vegetation and seed bank? Does the seed bank contribute to resilience in the vegetation? Location: Native grasslands in northern Victoria, Australia. Methods: Seed bank sampling was conducted in spring and autumn over 3 yrs, across a 100‐yr chronosequence. Species richness, composition and germinant density were determined using the seedling emergence method. Seed persistence was assessed by comparing seed densities in spring and autumn. Seed bank composition was compared with the vegetation. Results: The spring seed bank was dominated at all stages by sedges and rushes; hence, native species richness and seed density were largely unaffected by abandonment. In autumn, grassland species contributed more to the seed bank, but richness was reduced after abandonment and showed little recovery, although seed density partially recovered. Seed bank composition showed some recovery in both seasons. Most species had low persistence in the soil. Compositional similarity between the vegetation and seed bank was greater in old fields than uncultivated grasslands in spring, but not autumn. Conclusions: Resilience varied among seed bank parameters and seed banks had low functional importance. Patterns in the seed bank followed, rather than caused, those in the vegetation. Thus, vegetation recovery cannot rely on the seed bank and persistent seeds were not the key mechanism of resilience in the vegetation.     

Patch dynamics in grazed subtropical native pastures in south‐east Queensland

Abstract Patch formation is common in grazed grasslands but the mechanisms involved in the formation and maintenance of patches are not clear. To increase our knowledge on this subject we examined possible reasons for patch formation and the influence of management on changes between patch states in three experiments in native pasture communities in the Crows Nest district, south‐east Queensland. In these communities, small‐scale patches (tall grassland (dominated by large and medium tussock grasses), short swards (dominated by short tussock grasses and sedges), and lawns (dominated by stoloniferous and/or rhizomatous grasses)) are readily apparent. We hypothesized that the formation of short sward and lawn patches in areas of tall grassland was due to combinations of grazing and soil fertility effects. This was tested in Experiment 1 by applying a factorial combination of defoliation, nutrient application and transplants of short tussock and stoloniferous species to a uniform area of tall grassland. Total species density declined during the experiment, was lower with high nutrient applications, but was not affected by defoliation. There were significant changes in abundance of species that provided support for our hypotheses. With light defoliation and low nutrients, the tall grassland remained dominated by large tussock grasses and contained considerable amounts of forbs. With heavy defoliation, the pastures were dominated by medium tussock grasses and there were significant decreases in forbs and increases in sedges (mainly with low nutrients) and stoloniferous grasses (mainly with high nutrients). Total germinable seed densities and those of most species groups were significantly lower in the heavy defoliation than the light defoliation plots. Total soil seed numbers were not affected by nutrient application but there were fewer seeds of the erect forbs and more sedge seeds in plots with high nutrients. The use of resting from grazing and fire to manage transitions between patches was tested. In Experiment 2 , changes in species density and abundance were measured for 5 years in the three patch types with and without grazing. Experiment 3 examined the effects of fire, grazing and resting on short sward patches over 4 years. In Experiment 2 , total species density was lower in lawn than short sward or tall grassland patches, and there were more species of erect forbs than other plant groups in all patch types. The lawn patches were originally dominated by Cynodon spp. This dominance continued with grazing but in ungrazed patches the abundance of Cynodon spp. declined and that of forbs increased. In the short sward patches, dominance of short tussock grasses continued with grazing but in ungrazed plots their abundance declined while that of large tussock grasses increased. The tall grassland patches remained dominated by large and medium tussock species. In Experiment 3 , fire had no effect on species abundance. On the grazed plots the short tussock grasses remained dominant but where the plots were rested from grazing the small tussock grasses declined and the large tussock grasses increased in abundance. The slow and relatively small changes in these experiments over 4 or 5 years showed how stable the composition of these pastures is, and that rapid changes between patch types are unlikely.     

森林草原过渡带持久土壤种子库沿降水梯度的格局

为了解全球气候变化背景下森林草原过渡带持久土壤种子库对未来降水减少的响应,本研究以呼伦贝尔森林草原过渡带为研究区域,沿降水梯度采集0～10 cm土层的持久土壤种子库样本,研究种子库密度、物种组成、多样性及其与地上植被的关系,并利用结构方程模型研究年降水量对持久土壤种子库的直接影响及其通过地上植被和土壤有效氮、有效磷、土壤pH值产生的间接影响。结果表明: 随着降水量的降低,种子库密度和物种丰富度有增加趋势,森林草原过渡带草地土壤种子库物种多样性高于森林。土壤种子库与地上植被相似性整体较低。结构方程模型结果显示,年降水量对种子库的密度和物种丰富度的总效应为负效应,标准路径系数为-0.051和-0.122。年降水量对种子库的密度和物种丰富度的直接效应为正效应,降水量通过土壤全氮对种子库密度和物种丰富度产生显著的间接正效应,通过土壤pH和土壤有效磷对种子库物种丰富度产生显著的间接负效应,通过土壤pH对种子库密度产生显著的间接负效应。气候变化下降水减少会改变植物应对风险的策略,森林草原过渡带的持久土壤种子库对应对未来可能发生的降水减少具有一定的缓冲作用。     

Seed bank strategies in Patagonian semi-arid grasslands in relation to their management and conservation

We addressed the following questions: (a) May different seed bank functional types (SBFT), defined on the basis of singularities of their persistence in soil, be identified in the Festuca pallescens grasslands? (b) Do different above-ground vegetation states modify the expression of SBFT singularities? (c) Is the potential for vegetation recovery from the soil seed bank associated with the characteristics of their SBFT? To address these questions we examined the sizes of immediately and non-immediately-germinable seed banks (IGSB and NIGSB, respectively) in four different vegetation states of the steppe of F. pallescens resulting from the combined effects of topography and grazing. The results show that four lifeforms (perennial grasses, perennial graminoid non-grasses, annual dicots and annual grasses) display three characteristic SBFT. These are: (1) a transient type constituted by perennial grasses (SBFT1), (2) an intermediate type represented by annuals (SBFT2), and (3) a persistent type characteristic of one perennial graminoid non-grass (SBFT3). Other lifeforms (perennial dicots and biennials) could not be assigned to any of these types or characterized into a definite one. Seed bank functional types do not change among vegetation states in terms of the relative proportions of IGSB and NIGSB, although differences in the absolute and the relative size of each SBFT could be found. Species with persistent or mixed persistent/non-persistent seed bank types (SBFT2, SBFT3, etc.) colonize habitats disturbed by grazing with more success than those with non-persistent seed banks (SBFT1). Species with persistent seed banks are over-represented in the soil seed bank in relation to their contribution to above-ground cover. Management strategies for conservation in these grasslands could conveniently be targeted to increase the seed rain of perennial grasses as well as to the creation of suitable micro-environmental conditions to enhance their establishment.     

Influence of fire on critically endangered Swartland Shale Renosterveld in the Cape Floristic Region

Questions

The degree to which renosterveld shrublands are fire‐dependent is currently unclear. To address this issue, the following questions were asked: (1) does smoke stimulate germination of soil‐stored seeds in renosterveld; (2) does recently‐burned renosterveld display changed composition and higher diversity than unburned vegetation; and (3) how do the species compositions of renosterveld soil seed banks and standing vegetation compare?

Location

Swartland, Cape Floristic Region, South Africa.

Methods

Soil seed bank samples from a north‐ and south‐facing slope were smoke‐treated and germinated to test for smoke‐stimulated germination. Burned standing vegetation was surveyed 16 months post‐fire, as was unburned vegetation on the same slopes. Seed bank species richness and density were compared between smoke‐treated and untreated samples within and between slopes. Burned and unburned standing vegetation were compared within and between slopes in terms of species richness, abundance and aerial cover. Compositional similarity of the seed banks and standing vegetation was assessed.

Results

Seed banks were dominated by annuals and graminoids. Smoke treatment had no effect, except for driving significantly higher species richness and seedling density in south‐facing slope perennial shrubs. Species richness and seedling density were significantly higher in seed banks on the south‐facing slope compared to the north‐facing slope. Burned standing vegetation exhibited significantly higher diversity than unburned vegetation. Annuals and graminoids displayed significantly higher species richness and aerial cover in burned renosterveld. The north‐facing slope contained less than half the number of species/m² compared to the south‐facing slope. The seed banks and standing vegetation showed low to intermediate similarity (Sørensen = 31%–53%), but grouped close together on an NMDS plot, suggesting intermediate similarity overall.

Conclusions

Elevated germination of perennial shrubs in smoke‐treated seed bank samples and increased diversity of post‐fire standing vegetation suggest the renosterveld in this study shows elements of a fire‐driven system. Certain species only recruited in burned sites, suggesting fire‐stimulated germination. Aspect had a major influence on plant community composition, with the mesic south‐facing slope being more diverse than the xeric north‐facing slope. The similarity between the seed banks and standing vegetation was higher than previously shown for renosterveld, and appears to be higher than for fynbos.     

Small seed bank in grasslands and tree plantations in former grassland sites in the South Brazilian highlands

The soil seed bank can be an important source for vegetation regeneration, and data on the similarity between aboveground vegetation and the seed bank can provide information about successional pathways after disturbances or land-use change. We conducted this study in natural grasslands in the subtropical highland region in southern Brazil. We evaluated the effect of silviculture on richness, density, and composition of the seed bank at former grassland sites converted to pine plantations 25 years ago. We worked at six grassland sites and three pine plantation sites and used the seedling emergence method. Seed bank density and richness in grasslands were lower than those reported in similar environments in other regions. Species richness and density varied considerably within each vegetation type; therefore, richness and density were not statistically significant, while composition varied among vegetation types. In terms of species, the pine plantation seed bank was a small subset of the grassland seed bank. Seeds of typical grassland species were missing in the pine plantation, but also had only low abundances in the grassland, and similarity of seed bank and vegetation were low (less than 20%). The low seed density found in this study, including in grasslands areas, indicates that regeneration of species from the soil seed bank likely is of a limited role for the maintenance of plant populations after disturbances in this system. Our data further suggest that natural regeneration after tree planting in grasslands is reduced due to seed limitation.     

滇东南岩溶山地退化植被土壤种子库的储量与组成

 在云南省东南部3个典型岩溶地点的土壤种子库储量与组成的研究表明,不同地点代表不同退化与恢复阶段的次生林、灌丛与退化草地的土壤内均储藏有丰富的植物种子,其密度值变动于4 090～14 930粒·m－2之间;物种数23～45种,其中草本物种及其种子储量最丰, 灌木次之,乔木和藤本及其种子稀少。在0～10 cm土层内,随着深度的加深,种子密度由0～2 cm,2～5 cm,5～10 cm逐渐减少,次生林的降低幅度相对较小。相对而言,种子密度值、物种数都以次生林为高,灌丛与退化草地之间的差异较小。同时次生林种子库中的乔、灌木的种子数量相对较多,而草本相对较少。从物种组成来看,少数物种的种子在库中的储量十分丰富,且各种子库间在物种组成上有很大的相似性,同一地点的3种植被类型间的两两相似性系数在0.6～0.7之间,不同地点的任一两类型间的相似性系数在0.4～0.6之间。9.3%的物种在所有样地内都出现。每一种子库中储量最丰的前3位都来自菊科的胜红蓟（Ageratum conyzoides）、劲直白酒草(Conyza stricta)、紫茎泽兰(Eupatorium adenophorum)、一点红（Emilia sonchifolia）,唇形科的鸡骨柴（Elsholtzia fruticosa）,蔷薇科的长毛绣线菊(Spiraea martinii var. pubescens)。     

湿地土壤种子库与地上植被相似性关系研究评述

土壤种子库与地上植被的关系是土壤种子库研究的重要组成部分。当前,湿地生态系统面临严重威胁,研究湿地土壤种子库和地上植被关系既可以加强对土壤种子库和植物群落特征的认识,又可以为湿地保护与管理提供理论指导。检索了科学引文索引扩展版(SCIE)数据库中收录的1900—2012年间研究湿地土壤种子库与地上植被关系的文献,通过分析土壤种子库与地上植被的Srensen相似性系数,结果发现:不同湿地类型的土壤种子库和地上植被的相似性存在显著差异,河流湿地中两者的相似性最小;不同植被类型中土壤种子库与地上植被的相似性差异显著:草本群落的相似性大于乔木群落;不同气候带的湿地中两者的相似性也存在显著差异,其中亚热带地区相似性最小。总结了湿地种子库与地上植被相似性关系的时空变化特征。二者的相似性通常随着植物群落的演替而减小,在空间上也随着环境梯度而变化。分析了两者关系的影响因素,如种子传播、环境条件和繁殖策略等。对研究中存在的问题及发展方向提出建议。     

Earthworms promote greater richness and abundance in the emergence of plant species across a grassland-forest ecotone

Aims Chalk grasslands are subject to vegetation dynamics that range from species-rich open grasslands to tall and encroached grasslands, and woods and forests. In grasslands, earthworms impact plant communities and ecosystem functioning through the modification of soil physical, chemical and microbiological properties, but also through their selective ingestion and vertical transportation of seeds from the soil seed bank. Laboratory experiments showed that seed–earthworm interactions are species specific, but little is known on the impact of seed–earthworm interactions in the field. The overall aim of this study was to better understand seed–earthworm interactions and their impact on the plant community. First we analyzed the composition of seedlings emerging from casts after earthworm ingestion. Then we compared seedling composition in casts to the plant composition of emerging seedlings from the soil and of the aboveground vegetation along four stages of the secondary succession of chalk grasslands.Methods Four stages of the secondary succession of a chalk grassland—from open sward to woods—were sampled in Upper Normandy, France, in February 2010. Within each successional stage (×3 replicates), we sampled the standing vegetation, soil seed bank at three soil depths (0–2, 2–5 and 5–10cm) and earthworm surface casts along transects. Soil and cast samples were water sieved before samples were spread onto trays and placed into a greenhouse. Emerging seedlings were counted and identified. Effect of successional stage and origin of samples on mean and variability of abundance and species richness of seedlings emerging from casts and soil seed banks were analyzed. Plant compositions were compared between all sample types. We used generalized mixed-effect models and a distance-based redundancy multivariate analysis.Important findings Seedling abundance was always higher in earthworm casts than in the soil seed bank and increased up to 5-fold, 4-fold and 3.5-fold, respectively, in the tall grassland, woods and encroached grassland compared to the soil surface layer. Species richness was also higher in earthworm casts than in the soil seed bank in all successional stages, with a 4-fold increase in the encroached grassland. The plant composition of the standing vegetation was more similar to that of seedlings from casts than to that of seedlings from the soil seed bank. Seedlings diversity emerging from casts in the tall and encroached grasslands tended toward the diversity found in woods. Our results indicate that earthworms may promote the emergence of seedlings. We also suggest that the loss of some plant species in the seed bank and the tall grass vegetation in intermediary successional stages modify the local conditions and prevent the further establishment of early-successional plant species.     

Persistent soil seed banks and floristic diversity in Fagus orientalis forest communities in the Hyrcanian vegetation region of Iran

We assessed the size of seed bank, species diversity and similarity between seed bank and standing vegetation in four oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) community types of the central Hyrcanian forests of northern Iran. For this purpose a total of 52 relevés was established in two associations and two subassociations of the beech forests, and six soil samples (20 × 20 cm square and to a depth of 10 cm) were collected in each relevé in mid-spring, after the germination season had ended. Soil seed bank was investigated using the seedling emergence method. A total of 63 species, 57 genera and 36 families was represented in the persistent soil seed bank of the forest communities. The seed bank contained 28 species not found as adult plants in the vegetation, but these were mostly early successional species. Size of the seed bank ranged from 3740 to 4676 individuals m⁻² in the Rusco hyrcani-Fagetum orientalis and Danae racemosae-Fagetum orientalis associations, respectively. Species composition of seed banks and aboveground vegetation had low similarity with an average of 24.3% in the four plant communities, because only 38% of the species were the same in the vegetation and the seed banks. Most seeds in the seed bank were from early successional species, and the only tree with a large persistent seed bank was the fast-growing pioneer Alnus subcordata. DCA ordination also demonstrated low similarity between soil seed bank and vegetation. The soil seed banks of the four beech communities did not differ significantly in size, composition, diversity and uniformity. Although above ground vegetation in the four community types is floristically distinct, there is considerable overlap among the soil seed banks because they contain in a similar way early successional species. Further, the absence of typical forest species in the soil seed bank indicates that restoration of forest tree species cannot rely on the soil seed bank.     

Soil seed bank in different vegetation types in the Loess Plateau region and its role in vegetation restoration

In the Loess Plateau region, soil erosion is a serious problem. Vegetation restoration is an effective approach to control soil erosion and improve ecosystems. The soil seed bank generally plays an important role in vegetation restoration after disturbance. Thus, we reviewed soil seed bank studies to reveal the soil seed bank characteristics and its role in vegetation restoration in three vegetation types (forest, forest‐steppe, and steppe). We selected 38 seed bank studies and analyzed several seed bank characteristics, such as seed density, species composition, and the relationship between seed size and seed bank. We also assessed the role of the soil seed bank in vegetation restoration. The soil seed bank density ranged from 2,331 ± 1,993 to 6,985 ± 4,047 seeds/m² among the different vegetation types. In the soil seed bank, perennial herbs and grasses accounted for 51.5% of the total species. Native species that were dominant or common in the standing vegetation usually had relatively high seed bank densities. Moreover, species with smaller seeds generally had higher soil seed bank densities. The present study indicates that the soil seed bank plays a significant role in spontaneous vegetation restoration, especially during the early successional stages in abandoned slope farmlands and grazing‐excluded grasslands. However, species with large seeds or transient soil seed banks should be reintroduced through seeding to accelerate target species restoration. More studies on soil seed banks need to be conducted to comprehensively reveal their characteristics.     

黄河三角洲滨海湿地地下水位变化对土壤种子库特征的影响

地下水位是影响湿地生态系统结构和功能的重要环境因子之一，然而其如何影响滨海湿地土壤种子库特征尚不清楚。通过地下水位控制试验，研究黄河三角洲滨海非潮汐湿地地下水位梯度（-20、-60、-100 cm）下，土壤种子库密度、物种多样性等特征，并通过土壤化学指标与对应的土壤种子库特征之间的通径分析，探讨地下水位深度变化对土壤种子库特征的影响机理。研究发现，在该区域秋季采样的土壤种子库中，碱蓬和盐地碱蓬的种子数量最多；地下水位变化对土壤种子库密度无显著影响，但对土壤种子库的物种组成影响较大，随着地下水位深度增加，多年生草本植物种类呈增加趋势。整体上，随着地下水位深度增加，土壤种子库的Margalef丰富度指数和Shannon-Wiener多样性指数随之增大。主成分分析表明，土壤盐是影响黄河三角洲滨海湿地土壤种子库组成特征的主导因素，贡献率为69.482%，土壤养分为次要影响因素，贡献率为23.710%，进一步通径分析表明，土壤水溶性盐总量对种子库物种多样性起到限制作用，同时，有效磷浓度通过水溶性盐总量对Margalef指数和Shannon-Wiener指数表现为间接负作用，总磷浓度对种子库与地上植被相似性起到促进作用。研究表明，黄河三角洲滨海湿地地下水位深度变化，主要通过影响土壤水溶性盐总量，进而影响土壤种子库物种多样性。     

An attempt to restore a central European species‐rich mountain grassland through grazing

Abstract. This paper describes the effects of re‐establishing seasonal cattle grazing by 0.7 animal.ha^‐1 on vegetation in a long‐term abandoned, and partly degraded, semi‐natural mountain pasture in the ?umava National Park, Czech Republic. There was very uneven grazing intensity inside the locality, and grazing preference changed during the season: cattle grazed most of the time in productive but species‐poor Deschampsia cespitosa swards, but changed to a species‐rich Violion caninae stand in the middle of the summer. A species‐rich Carex rostrata community was only grazed at the end of the season. Species‐poor swards dominated by Nardus stricta and Carex brizoides were mainly used as resting areas. Both grazing and excluding from grazing had a negative effect on species diversity of the Deschampsia cespitosa swards. The soil seed bank contained only few species that are characteristic of mountain grassland communities, and seed dispersal of the target species by cattle dung was also found to be very limited. Thus both grazing and exclusion from grazing are probably of limited value for the restoration of species‐rich grasslands from species‐poor Deschampsia cespitosa swards in this case.     

The relationship between soil seed bank,above‐ground vegetation and disturbance intensity on old‐field successional permanent plots

Questions: How does disturbance and successional age influence richness, size and composition of the soil seed bank? What is the potential contribution of the soil seed bank to the plant community composition on sites differing in their successional age or disturbance intensity? Location: Experimental Botanical Garden of Göttingen University, central Germany. Methods: Above‐ground vegetation and soil seed bank were studied on formerly arable fields in a 36‐year‐old permanent plot study with five disturbance intensities, ranging from yearly ploughing via mowing to long‐term uninterrupted succession. We compared species compositions, seed densities and functional features of the seed bank and above‐ground vegetation by using several methods in parallel. Results: The seed bank was mainly composed of early successional species typical of strongly disturbed habitats. The difference between seed bank composition and above‐ground vegetation decreased with increasing disturbance intensity. The species of greatest quantitative importance in the seed bank was the non‐native forb Solidago canadensis. Conclusions: The ability of a plant community to regenerate from the soil seed bank dramatically decreases with increasing time since abandonment (successional age) and with decreasing disturbance intensity. The present study underlines that plant species typical of grasslands and woodlands are limited by dispersal capacity, owing to low capacity for accumulation of seeds in the soil and the fact that most species do not build up persistent seed banks. Rare and target species were almost absent from the seed bank and will, after local elimination, depend on reintroduction for continuation of their presence.     

Hidden biodiversity in the Arctic – a study of soil seed banks at Disko Island,Qeqertarsuaq, West Greenland

Seed dispersal is a key process in plant community dynamics, and soil seed banks represent seed dispersal in time rather than in space. Despite their potential importance, seed bank dynamics in the Arctic are poorly understood. We investigated soil seed banks and corresponding plant community composition in three contrasting vegetation types in West Greenland, viz. dwarf shrub heaths, herb slopes and fell‐fields. Through germination testing, 31 species were documented in soil seed banks. All of these were herbaceous, while no dwarf‐shrub species, which represents the dominating growth form in the above‐ground vegetation, were emerging from the seed bank. Consequently, across vegetation types, the lowest similarity between seed bank and above‐ground vegetation was found in dwarf shrub heath. Nine plant species were exclusively found in seed bank, all of which were non‐clonal forbs. Seed bank size (total number of seeds) and species richness seemed to increase with the level of natural disturbance. Additionally, we examined the effect of different experimental light and temperature conditions on the quantity and diversity of germinating seeds. The difference in diversity in vegetation and seed bank at the species level will impact population dynamics, regeneration of vegetation after disturbances and its potential to respond to climate change.     

Soil seed banks of fringing salt lake vegetation in arid Western Australia – density,composition and implications for postmine restoration using topsoil

Although studies of seed banks in arid ecosystems are commonplace, they are lacking for the large arid zone of Western Australia. Across the six major plant communities fringing a large salt lake within this zone, topsoil (0–5 cm depth) was collected from 12 to 36 sites per community. Samples were dried, spread out on a bed of vermiculite in seedling trays and placed in a well‐watered glasshouse to determine the readily germinable component of the soil seed bank. Subsamples of topsoil were treated with smoke water, hot water or flooding to help determine seed bank of species with dormancy mechanisms. As with other studies of arid seed banks, large numbers of grasses and forbs emerged from the topsoil, with relatively small numbers of woody perennial species and hummock grasses (Triodia spp.) present, even in communities where such species were dominant. There were, however, a few exceptions where a reasonable density of dominant trees/shrub seed was present in topsoil. Soil treatment generally had limited effect on composition and density of emergent seedlings. Although floristic similarity between soil seed banks and corresponding above‐ground vegetation was modest, there were clear differences in soil seed bank composition between communities. The implications of the results for using topsoils to restore landforms of the study area after mining or other disturbance are discussed.     

内蒙古锡林郭勒克氏针茅退化草原土壤种子库特征

以内蒙古锡林郭勒地区克氏针茅(Stipa krylovii)草原不同退化等级群落为对象,研究克氏针茅退化草原可萌发土壤种子库特征.结果表明,随着草原退化程度的增加,不论是土壤总种子库还是持久土壤种子库,组成和密度均明显下降, 重度和极度退化草原土壤总种子库密度下降至仅为轻度退化草原的46.8%和11.1%.代表土壤总种子库的4月份取样, 轻度、中度、重度和极度退化草原各样地0～9 cm土壤种子库密度分别为2800、1278、1311和311粒·m-2;代表持久土壤种子库的6月底取样,4个样地土壤种子库密度分别为1667、967、334和167粒·m-2.多数植物土壤种子库主要分布在0～6 cm土层,各样地种子库密度随土壤深度的增加而减少,轻度、中度、重度和极度退化草原4月份0～6 cm土层种子库分别占总种子库(0～9 cm)的98.4、96.5、95.8 和85.7%.不同退化等级草原地上植被与土壤种子库的Sorensen相似性指数介于0.24～0.48.