Characteristics of the soil seed bank in Mediterranean temporary ponds and its role in ecosystem dynamics |
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Authors: | Cristina Aponte George Kazakis Dany Ghosn Vasilios P Papanastasis |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Environmental Management, Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania, Alsyllio Agrokepiou, P.O. Box 85, Chania, 73100, Crete, Greece;(2) Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology of Seville (IRNASE-CSIC), P.O. Box 1052, 41012 Seville, Spain;(3) Faculty of Forestry and Natural Environment, Laboratory of Rangeland Ecology, Aristotle University of Thesalonikki, GR 54124 Thesalonikki, Greece |
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Abstract: | Species in temporary ponds overcome periods of unfavorable weather conditions by building up a large seed bank. With this
strategy, the species diversity of ponds is preserved and information on their dynamics and structure is retained. Little
is known about the characteristics, spatial patterns and role in the vegetation dynamics of the soil seed banks of Mediterranean
temporary ponds, which are regarded as priority habitats under protection. We studied two sites of western Crete: Omalos,
a mountain plateau at 1,060 m a.s.l. and Elafonisos, located near the coast at 60 m a.s.l. The seed bank was surveyed along
transects using the germination method. Aboveground vegetation was measured on quadrats along the same transects. Canonical
Correspondence Analysis (CCA) was run to define the zonation patterns. High density and species richness were recorded in
both sites, with an average of 75,662 seeds/m2 found in Omalos and 22,941 seeds/m2 in Elafonisos. The community composition of both sites was remarkably different but in both locations perennial species were
inconspicuous while annuals, prevailed in the seed banks. An important array of protected or rare species as well as several
others which were absent from the vegetation were hosted in the soil seed banks, thereby rendering a low similarity between
their composition. Soil seed banks in these ecosystems indicated a spatial heterogeneity that mirrored the aboveground vegetation
distribution, sorted along the moisture gradient by their tolerance to flooding. Soil seed banks play a key role in the vegetation
recovery after summer drought. The acts of preserving the soil seed bank and ensuring a transient flooding regime are essential
to protect the unique vegetation communities of Mediterranean temporary ponds. |
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