Seedling emergence of hummock grasses in relation to the effects of fire.

1990 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Bogusiak ◽  
B Rice ◽  
M Westoby ◽  
MH Friedel
Keyword(s):  
Seed Germination ◽  
National Park ◽  
Seedling Emergence ◽  
Seed Banks ◽  
Rainfall Event ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Soil Seed Banks ◽  
Subsequent Regeneration

The ecology of hummock-grass vegetation involves recurring fires. The hypothesis was tested that soil seed banks of hummock grass species are stimulated to germinate by the heat of fire or by ash addition. Hummocks of Plectrachne schinzii Henr., Triodia basedowii E. Pritz., and Triodia pungens R. Br. were burned, removed, or removed with the ash returned, and subsequent regeneration was recorded, in Ulum National Park. Regeneration of hummock grass was by seedlings only. Seedling emergence averaged 5/m2, with no differences between treatments or hummock grass species. This indicates the heat of fires and ash addition may not be important in stimulating seed germination of these hummock grass populations. Gemination was distributed over more than one rainfall event following the treatments.

Seed germination characteristics and strategies of seeds stored in canopy and soil seed banks

2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (20) ◽  
Author(s):  
王东丽 WANG Dongli ◽  
焦菊英 JIAO Juying ◽  
王宁 WANG Ning ◽  
寇萌 KOU Meng ◽  
徐海燕 XU Haiyan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seed Germination ◽  
Seed Banks ◽  
Soil Seed Banks ◽  
Germination Characteristics

scholarly journals Seed encrusting with salicylic acid: A novel approach to improve establishment of grass species in ecological restoration

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. e0242035
Author(s):  
Simone Pedrini ◽  
Jason C. Stevens ◽  
Kingsley W. Dixon
Keyword(s):  
Salicylic Acid ◽  
Seed Germination ◽  
Ecological Restoration ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Seedling Emergence ◽  
Field Conditions ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Seed Coating ◽  
Seedling Density ◽  
Survival And Growth

To achieve global ambitions in large scale ecological restoration, there is a need for approaches that improve the efficiency of seed-based interventions, particularly in overcoming the bottleneck in the transition from germination to seedling establishment. In this study, we tested a novel seed-based application of the plant stress modulator compound salicylic acid as a means to reduce seedling losses in the seed-to-seedling phase. Seed coating technology (encrusting) was developed as a precursor for optimising field sowing for three grass species commonly used in restoration programs, Austrostipa scabra, Microlaena stipoides, and Rytidosperma geniculatum. Salicylic acid (SA, 0.1mM) was delivered to seeds via imbibition and seed encrusting. The effects of SA on seed germination were examined under controlled water-limited conditions (drought resilience) in laboratory setting and on seed germination, seedling emergence, seedling growth and plant survival in field conditions. Salicylic acid did not impact germination under water stress in controlled laboratory conditions and did not affect seedling emergence in the field. However, seedling survival and growth were improved in plants grown from SA treated seeds (imbibed and encrusted) under field conditions. When SA delivery methods of imbibing and coating were compared, there was no significant difference in survival and growth, showing that seed coating has potential to deliver SA. Effect of intraspecific competition as a result of seedling density was also considered. Seedling survival over the dry summer season was more than double at low seedling density (40 plants/m2) compared to high seedling density (380 plants/m2). Overall, adjustment of seeding rate according to expected emergence combined with the use of salicylic acid via coating could improve seed use efficiency in seed-based restoration.

Heat and smoke effects on the germination of seeds from soil seed banks across forest edges between subtropical rainforest and eucalypt forest at Lamington National Park, south-eastern Queensland, Australia

2003 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Tang ◽  
S. L. Boulter ◽  
R. L. Kitching
Keyword(s):  
Seed Bank ◽  
National Park ◽  
Soil Seed Bank ◽  
Seed Banks ◽  
Forest Edges ◽  
Abrupt Transition ◽  
Soil Seed Banks ◽  
Eucalypt Forest ◽  
Sclerophyll Forest ◽  
Physical Changes

Physical changes and flows of energy at the interface between two contrasting ecosystems affect the distribution of species across the ecotone. The maintenance and stability of the, often abrupt, transition between Australian rainforest and non-rainforests is often attributed to fire. We use pre-germination treatments of smoke and heat on soil seed bank samples to determine plant distributions across the edge between subtropical rainforest and an adjacent eucalypt-dominated wet sclerophyll forest. Soil seed bank collections at 15 m within the eucalypt forest had both significantly higher density and diversity of seedlings than those at 30 m, at the edge itself or at any site within the rainforest. This response was most apparent when a pre-germination smoke treatment was applied. We suggest that smoke is an important germination trigger for species regenerating at this interface. Our results confirm the importance of fire in determining and maintaining the nature of this ecotone.

scholarly journals Composition of native and alien invasive species in soil seed banks of five different physiognomies in Akure Forest Reserve, Ondo State, Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 437-451
Author(s):  
Ayomiposi Olayinka Akinkuolie ◽  
Rafiu Olugbenga Sanni ◽  
Augustine. O. Isichei ◽  
Samson. O. Oke
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Seed Bank ◽  
Seedling Emergence ◽  
Seed Banks ◽  
Plant Ecology ◽  
Alien Invasive Species ◽  
Forest Reserve ◽  
Soil Seed Banks ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Ondo State

The study investigated the composition of native and alien invasive species in soil seed banks of five different vegetation physiognomies in Akure Forest Reserve Ondo State, Nigeria. This was done with a view to determining and providing an insight into the population dynamics of alien, invasive species for subsequent prediction of potential plant population of the extant population. Five distinct sites (Natural forest, Teak plantation, Taungya system, Taungya + Teak + Gmelina and Teak + Gmelina + Pinus Plantation) designated as A, B, C, D and E were selected in the Forest Reserve. Two plots 25 m x 25 m each were selected for sampling in each of the five distinct physiognomies. Five replicates soil samples were randomly collected at 0-15 cm soil depth in dry and rainy seasons in each site and they were subjected to seedlings emergence for six months to determine the density and species composition (natives or aliens and percentage contribution) of the seed bank. The results of the seedling emergence revealed that the seed bank was dominated by herbaceous stems and also the proportion of aliens to natives was low. Analysis of variance revealed that there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the density of both the aliens and native species in sites A, B and C indicating similarities in the seed bank density of the aliens and natives in the three sites while in sites D and E, there was a significant difference (P<0.05) indicating dissimilarity in the seed bank density of the aliens and natives in the two sites.Keywords: Plant Ecology, Forest, Seedling Emergence, Seed Bank, Alien Species, Conservation.

scholarly journals Comparison of seedling emergence and seed extraction techniques for estimating the composition of soil seed banks

2010 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jodi N. Price ◽  
Boyd R. Wright ◽  
Caroline L. Gross ◽  
Wal R. D. B. Whalley
Keyword(s):  
Seedling Emergence ◽  
Seed Banks ◽  
Extraction Techniques ◽  
Soil Seed Banks ◽  
Seed Extraction

Persistence of bellyache bush (Jatropha gossypifolia L.) soil seed banks

2012 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 429 ◽  
Author(s):  
Faiz F. Bebawi ◽  
Shane D. Campbell ◽  
Robert J. Mayer
Keyword(s):  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Seedling Emergence ◽  
Seed Banks ◽  
Burial Depth ◽  
Seed Type ◽  
Natural Rate ◽  
Soil Seed Banks ◽  
Natural Rainfall ◽  
Jatropha Gossypifolia ◽  
Heavy Clay

Bellyache bush (Jatropha gossypifolia L.) is an invasive shrub that adversely impacts agricultural and natural systems of northern Australia. While several techniques are available to control bellyache bush, depletion of soil seed banks is central to its management. A 10-year study determined the persistence of intact and ant-discarded bellyache bush seeds buried in shade cloth packets at six depths (ranging from 0 to 40 cm) under both natural rainfall and rainfall-excluded conditions. A second study monitored changes in seedling emergence over time, to provide an indication of the natural rate of seed bank depletion at two sites (rocky and heavy clay) following the physical removal of all bellyache bush plants. Persistence of seed in the burial trial varied depending on seed type, rainfall conditions and burial depth. No viable seeds of bellyache bush remained after 72 months irrespective of seed type under natural rainfall conditions. When rainfall was excluded seeds persisted for much longer, with a small portion (0.4%) of ant-discarded seeds still viable after 120 months. Seed persistence was prolonged (>96 months to decline to <1% viability) at all burial depths under rainfall-excluded conditions. In contrast, under natural rainfall, surface located seeds took twice as long (70 months) to decline to 1% viability compared with buried seeds (35 months). No seedling emergence was observed after 58 months and 36 months at the rocky and heavy clay soil sites, respectively. These results suggest that the required duration of control programs on bellyache bush may vary due to the effect of biotic and abiotic factors on persistence of soil seed banks.

scholarly journals Seedling Emergence from Seed Banks in Ludwigia hexapetala-Invaded Wetlands: Implications for Restoration

Plants ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brenda J. Grewell ◽  
Morgane B. Gillard ◽  
Caryn J. Futrell ◽  
Jesús M. Castillo
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Seed Bank ◽  
Seedling Emergence ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Seed Banks ◽  
Plant Management ◽  
Invasive Plant Management ◽  
Soil Seed Banks ◽  
Restoration Planning ◽  
Standing Vegetation

Soil seed banks play a critical role in the maintenance of wetland plant communities and contribute to revegetation following disturbances. Analysis of the seed bank can therefore inform restoration planning and management. Emergence from seed banks may vary in response to hydrologic conditions and sediment disturbances. To assess the community-level impact of exotic Ludwigia hexapetala on soil seed banks, we compared differences in species composition of standing vegetation among invaded and non-invaded wetlands and the degree of similarity between vegetation and soil seed banks in northern California. To determine potential seed bank recruitment of L. hexapetala and associated plant species, we conducted a seedling emergence assay in response to inundation regime (drawdown vs. flooded) and sediment depth (surface vs. buried). Plant species richness, evenness, and Shannon’s H’ diversity were substantially lower in standing vegetation at L. hexapetala invaded sites as compared to non-invaded sites. Over 12 months, 69 plant taxa germinated from the seed banks, including L. hexapetala and several other exotic taxa. Seedling density varied among sites, being the highest (10,500 seedlings m−2) in surface sediments from non-invaded sites subjected to drawdown treatments. These results signal the need for invasive plant management strategies to deplete undesirable seed banks for restoration success.

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