Affiliation: | (1) Graduate School of Environmental Earth Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan;(2) Research and Development Section, Urban Arboretum, Musashi Park Managing Center, Parks and Recreation Foundation, Saitama, Japan |
Abstract: | We compared two standard seed-bank estimation techniques using buried seed populations that had been covered to depths of >1 m by volcanic deposits for 20 years. Some seeds were germinated in a greenhouse (germination method [GM]), and other seeds were extracted by flotation using 50% K2CO3 solution (floatation method [FM]). In total, FM could detect more species and seeds in the soils than GM. However, many species that were extracted by FM did not germinate by GM and smaller seeds were extracted to a lesser extent by FM. FM and GM have distinct advantages and disadvantages. We concluded that the application of a single method should be avoided in estimating seed banks, in particular for long-lived seed banks, because the seeds cannot be readily germinated and are structurally weak. |