scholarly journals Hardseededness and the accuracy of seed bank estimates obtained through germination

Web Ecology ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. Malo
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Seed Bank ◽  
Soil Seed Bank ◽  
Taxonomic Composition ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
First Year ◽  
Germination Test ◽  
Cautious Approach ◽  
Seed Content ◽  
Different Origin

Abstract. The seed content of soils is often estimated through germination tests, though these methods are always somewhat inaccurate due to the presence of dormant seeds in the samples. The researcher thus faces the question of whether to continue the germination test or to stop it in the search for an accuracy-to-effort balance. In this paper I analyze the accuracy of seed content estimates obtained after a first-year germination test, by comparison to the germination recorded after three-year cultivation, in 48 soil seed bank samples and 389 from herbivore dung. After the first 9-month cultivation, I recorded 85 ± 1% seedlings and 90 ± 1% species in soil samples, while the accuracy in those of dung was significantly lower, 48 ± 1% seedlings and 65 ± 1% species. The accuracy of estimations varied among samples within experiments, with significant differences in the estimation of species richness in both cases. I did not find consistent differences in the accuracy of estimations linked to seedling densities in growing pots, but the taxonomic composition of samples was a major source of bias. Thus, 22% and 36% of the most frequent species showed germinabilities in the first year significantly different from the rest, and some generalities arose, like the high germinability of grasses and the hardseededness of legumes. I would thus recommend the use of at least two germination cycles for seed bank estimations and a cautious approach when comparing samples with very different origin and/or taxonomic composition.

Soil seed bank and growth rates of an invasive species, Piper aduncum, in the lowlands of Papua New Guinea

2000 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 243-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Howard M. Rogers ◽  
Alfred E. Hartemink
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Papua New Guinea ◽  
Seed Bank ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Soil Seed Bank ◽  
Biomass Accumulation ◽  
New Guinea ◽  
First Year ◽  
Second Year ◽  
Piper Aduncum

Secondary fallow vegetation in parts of the Papua New Guinea lowlands is dominated by the shrub Piper aduncum L. that originates from South America. Here we report on its seed bank, growth rate and biomass accumulation. P. aduncum accounted for 69 % (408 m−2) of the seed bank in the forest and 53 % (1559 m−2) of the seed bank under fallow. About 90 % of the tree seed bank at the fallow site was dominated by P. aduncum whereas this was 78 % in the forest soil. Two-year-old P. aduncum had grown to 4.5 m height and had accumulated 48 Mg dry matter (DM) per ha of above ground biomass. The rate of biomass accumulation increased from 10 Mg DM ha−1 y−1 in the first year to 40 Mg DM ha−1 y−1 in the second year when 76 % of the biomass consisted of mainstems. The highest growth rate of 134 kg DM ha−1 d−1 occurred when P. aduncum was 17-mo-old. Aggressive invasion and monospecific stands of P. aduncum are explained by its dominance in the seed bank, fast growth, and high rates of biomass accumulation. P. aduncum is a major competitor to indigenous tree species and presents a threat to Papua New Guinea's rich biodiversity.

scholarly journals Prosopis juliflora invasion and environmental factors on density of soil seed bank in Afar Region, Northeast Ethiopia

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wakshum Shiferaw ◽  
Tamrat Bekele ◽  
Sebsebe Demissew ◽  
Ermias Aynekulu
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Seed Bank ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Soil Seed Bank ◽  
Prosopis Juliflora ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Litter Layer ◽  
Fecal Matter ◽  
Grazing Lands

AbstractThe aims of the study were to analyze (1) the effects of Prosopis juliflora (Prosopis) on the spatial distribution and soil seed banks (SSB) diversity and density, (2) the effects of environmental factors on SSB diversity and density (number of seeds in the soil per unit area), and (3) the effects of animal fecal droppings on SSB diversity, density, and dispersal. Aboveground vegetation data were collected from different Prosopis-infested habitats from quadrats (20 × 20 m) in Prosopis thickets, Prosopis + native species stand, non-invaded woodlands, and open grazing lands. In each Prosopis-infested habitats, soil samples were collected from the litter layer and three successive soil layer, i.e., 0–3 cm, 3–6 cm, and 6–9 cm. Seeds from soil samples and animal fecal matter were separated in the green house using the seedling emergence technique. Invasion of Prosopis had significant effects on the soil seed bank diversity. Results revealed that the mean value of the Shannon diversity of non-invaded woodlands was being higher by 19.2%, 18.5%, and 11.0% than Prosopis thickets; Prosopis + native species stand and open grazing lands, respectively. The seed diversity and richness, recovered from 6–9-cm-deep layer were the highest. On the other hand, the density of Prosopis seeds was the highest in the litter layer. About 156 of seeds/kg (92.9%) of seeds were germinated from cattle fecal matter. However, in a small proportion of seedlings, 12 of seeds/kg (7.1%) were germinated from shot fecal matter. Thus, as the seeds in the soil were low in the study areas, in situ and ex situ conservation of original plants and reseeding of persistent grass species such as Cynodon dactylon, Cenchrus ciliaris, Chrysopogon plumulosus, and Brachiaria ramosa are recommended.

Impact of sheep grazing on the soil seed bank of a managed ephemeral wetland: implications for management

2007 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Nicol ◽  
Sally Muston ◽  
Paula D'Santos ◽  
Bernard McCarthy ◽  
Sylvia Zukowski
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Seed Bank ◽  
Soil Seed Bank ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Seed Banks ◽  
Water Level Fluctuations ◽  
Typha Domingensis ◽  
Ephemeral Wetland ◽  
Cuscuta Campestris

The seed bank is an important mechanism for the persistence of species in ephemeral wetlands, but grazing by domestic stock may change the seed bank and in turn the capacity of the system to recover from disturbance. The sediments of two areas in Thegoa Lagoon (Murray–Darling Basin), one area grazed by sheep when dry and the other ungrazed, were examined. The objective of the study was to determine whether and how the (1) germinable seed bank and (2) final plant communities differ between the grazed and ungrazed areas. The seed banks were subjected to one of the following three water depths: 5 cm above the surface of the water, 5 cm below the surface and 50 cm below the surface. The composition of the seed bank was determined by using the seedling-emergence technique for 12 weeks, with seedlings removed every 2 weeks. The final plant communities were determined at 12 weeks without removing seedlings. The seed bank from the grazed area had a significantly lower seed density (5600 ± 593 seeds m–2) and species richness (7 species) than the ungrazed area (37 683 ± 4492 seeds m–2, 16 species) (ANOVA: F1, 10 = 50.16, P < 0.0001). The floristic composition of the seed bank was also significantly different between the areas (NPMANOVA: F1, 10 = 15.44, P = 0.0032). Glinus lotoides was in higher abundance in the grazed area and Alternanthera denticulata, Persicaria lapathifolium, Polygonum plebium, Typha domingensis and Centipeda cunninghamii in the ungrazed area. Similarly, the final communities derived from the grazed and ungrazed areas were significantly different from each other (NPMANOVA: F1, 10 = 15.53, P = 0.0032). Greater numbers of Centipeda cunninghamii were present in the community from the grazed area and Alternanthera denticulata and Cuscuta campestris were present in larger numbers in the community from the ungrazed area. Water depth also had an impact on germination; no germination occurred in seed banks flooded to 50 cm and one Typha domingensis seedling was observed in a sample flooded to 5 cm. These results showed that grazing reduces the density and species richness of the seed bank and in turn changes the plant communities derived from the seed bank; however, if grazing is removed pest plants such as Cuscuta campestris may require control. In addition, managed drawdown or water-level fluctuations are important in exposing wetland sediments and allowing for species to recruit from the seed bank.

Relating sampling effort to the detection of spatial patterns of species richness in the soil seed bank of a mediterranean shrubland.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iván Torres ◽  
José M. Moreno
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Spatial Pattern ◽  
Spatial Patterns ◽  
Seed Bank ◽  
Soil Seed Bank ◽  
Spherical Model ◽  
Sampling Effort ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Mediterranean Shrubland ◽  
Heated Soil

&lt;p&gt;Studying the soil seed bank is a time and space-consuming task, and therefore only a small fraction of the soil is sampled. It is then critical to optimize sampling effort to reliably estimate soil seed bank properties. Here, we test whether the spatial patterns of species richness in the soil seed bank differ under increasing sampling effort. For this, we used data of germination from soils in a mediterranean shrubland in Central Spain. Two data sets were used, one of the seedlings emerging after heating the soil to break dormancy, and one with the combined germinations of heated and non-heated soil subsamples. We simulated increased sampling effort with sample-based rarefaction curves, extrapolating the species richness corresponding to a 2x and 3x increase in the number of individuals (seedlings) per sample. We then analyzed the spatial pattern of the original and extrapolated species richness using linear regression and semivariograms. Species richness increased by 34% and 52% in the 2x and 3x estimations, however the spatial pattern of species richness remained largely unchanged. For the long-distance spatial pattern, the slope of the plot-scale trend (i.e., the regression coefficient) increased only slightly with increasing sampling effort, while the adjusted R-squared of the regression decreased with increasing sampling effort. For the short-distance spatial pattern we could only fit spherical model semivariograms to the data from soils exposed to a heat shock, and the intensity of the spatial pattern (spatial dependence) increased very slightly with increased sampling effort. These results suggest that even with a doubled or tripled sampling effort, as provided by the simulations, the spatial pattern of species richness would have remained unchanged. We argue that increased effort in detecting species in the seed bank needs not necessarily improve the detection of spatial pattern.&lt;/p&gt;

Can spatial variation and inter-annual variation in precipitation explain the seed density and species richness of the germinable soil seed bank in a tropical dry forest in north-eastern Brazil?

Flora ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 208 (7) ◽  
pp. 445-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle Melo dos Santos ◽  
Kleber Andrade da Silva ◽  
Ulysses Paulino de Albuquerque ◽  
Josiene Maria Falcão Fraga dos Santos ◽  
Clarissa Gomes Reis Lopes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Spatial Variation ◽  
Seed Bank ◽  
Annual Variation ◽  
Soil Seed Bank ◽  
Tropical Dry Forest ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Seed Density ◽  
Eastern Brazil ◽  
North Eastern

The Study on Soil Seed Bank between Different Land-Use Types of Wetlands in Tianjin Binhai New Area

2013 ◽  
Vol 864-867 ◽  
pp. 2518-2521
Author(s):  
Meng Xuan He ◽  
Hong Yuan Li ◽  
Xun Qiang Mo
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Seed Bank ◽  
Soil Seed Bank ◽  
P Value ◽  
Wetland Ecosystem ◽  
Germination Test ◽  
Artificial Wetlands ◽  
Saline Wetlands ◽  
Land Use Types ◽  
Tianjin Binhai New Area

In order to study the characteristic of soil seed bank in saline wetlands,samples from different land-use types of wetlands were selected.After the germination test,the results showed that the reserves of SSB in the four plots are huge,but the species composition is uncomplicated,the germinated seedlings are all coastal indicating halophytes.The differences between the four plots are obvious, P-value is almost less than 0.05.Artificial landscape wetlands have the largest variance coefficient.Compared with artificial wetlands,natural conservation wetlands show unique characteristic,it has the highest species richness,it has the stablest vegetation community structure,but the density of SSB is lowest for the low interference.Natural conservation wetlands have played important role in maintaining biodiversity.Therefore, the wetland ecosystem services should be fully taken into consideration when using wetlands.Appropriate protection of wetlands are needed,for it can helps to improve the ability of SSB in vegetation recovery.

scholarly journals Estimating the abundance and composition of soil seed bank at Bekol Savanna in Baluran National Park, West Java

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 131
Author(s):  
Nurmuliayanti Muis ◽  
Titiek Setyawati ◽  
Soekisman Tjitrosoedirjo ◽  
Yuliana Diah Ratnadewi
Keyword(s):  
Seed Bank ◽  
National Park ◽  
Soil Seed Bank ◽  
Extraction Process ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Acacia Nilotica ◽  
Combination Method ◽  
The Past ◽  
Stereo Microscope ◽  
Wet Sieving

The composition of soil-seed bank reflects the condition of vegetation in the past and could be used for predicting the composition of plants that will grow in the future. This study aims to determine the amount and composition of soil-seed bank in Bekol savanna, Baluran National Park. Soil samples were taken using a combination method of quadrat-transect on the invaded and not invaded areas by Acacia nilotica. Soil samples were extracted using wet-sieving method. After the extraction process, the seeds were identified and calculated using a stereo microscope. The result showed that soil-seed bank density was lower at the invaded location (7,566.88 seeds/m3) as compared to the uninvaded location (16,798.3 seeds/m3). The soil-seed bank was found in the invaded site comprising 12 species of broadleaved weeds and 5 species of grasses from 7 families, whereas those in the uninvaded area consisted of 10 species of broadleaved weeds and 7 species of grass from 8 families. This study showed that the invasion of A. nilotica significantly affected the amount and composition of soil-seed bank in various soil depths of Bekol savanna.

Soil Seed Bank Changes after Forest Clearing and Agricultural Use in Alaska

Weed Science ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 343-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffery S. Conn ◽  
Catherine L. Cochrane ◽  
John A. Delapp
Keyword(s):  
Seed Bank ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Soil Seed Bank ◽  
Chenopodium Album ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Forest Species ◽  
Common Lambsquarters ◽  
Forest Clearing ◽  
Agricultural Use ◽  
Introduced Weeds

Soil samples representing a time series from forest before clearing to land in cultivation for 20 yr were taken near Delta Junction, AK, to determine the changes that occur in the soil seed bank following clearing and agricultural use. The total number of seed was initially low in the forested sites but increased after 3 to 5 yr in cultivation due to seed production by native colonizers and by introduced weeds such as common lambsquarters (Chenopodium albumL. ♯3CHEAL). Viability of seed of several mature forest species was low. There was a shift from a seed bank dominated by native species in the forest and newly cleared sites to a seed bank dominated by introduced colonizers in the older fields. Although seed of introduced species increased in importance over time, native species, especially native colonizers, continued to be an important component of the seed bank throughout the 20-yr period represented.

scholarly journals Long-Term Effect of Cover Crops on Species Abundance and Diversity of Weed Flora

Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 1506 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessia Restuccia ◽  
Aurelio Scavo ◽  
Sara Lombardo ◽  
Gaetano Pandino ◽  
Stefania Fontanazza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Seed Bank ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Soil Seed Bank ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Weed Biomass ◽  
Conventional Management ◽  
Crop Biomass

Cover crops are gaining in popularity as an eco-friendly tool for weed control in organic and low-input agricultural systems. A 5-year study was carried out in a Mediterranean environment (Sicily, south Italy) to (1) quantify cover crop biomass production and (2) evaluate the effects on weed soil seed bank, aboveground biomass, species richness, species composition and associations between communities. Cover crop treatments included subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) and spontaneous flora, both with and without burying dead mulch into the soil, compared to a conventional management treatment. Weed biomass was significantly reduced by subterranean clover, contrariwise to spontaneous flora, with season-dependent results. Cover crop biomass, which ranged from 44 to more than 290 g DW m−2, was negatively correlated to weed biomass. Moreover, subterranean clover decreased the size of the soil seed bank and species richness. Based on relative frequency, a low similarity was found between the conventional management and cover crop treatments. In addition, no significant differences in species composition across treatments were observed, whereas principal component analysis highlighted some associations. The results suggest that subterranean clover cover cropping is a good option for weed management in Mediterranean agroecosystems.

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