RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SOIL SEED BANK AND VEGETATION DIVERSITY ON DIFFERENT GRAZING PRESSURE

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-113
Author(s):  
Gantuya Jargalsaikhan
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Seed Bank ◽  
Soil Seed Bank ◽  
Grazing Pressure ◽  
Ground Vegetation ◽  
Agrostis Capillaris ◽  
Vegetation Diversity ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Bistorta Vivipara

In a case study, the main objective was to compare three sites with different grazing pressures in Hvitarsida, W-Iceland in relation to current vegetation, seed bank composition and the correlation between those. Our results show that there were significant difference in species composition in above and belowground, giving very little similarity in species composition between seed bank and current vegetation composition. The only exceptions were Agrostis capillaris and Bistorta vivipara that had close similarity between current aboveground vegetation and soil seed bank. Agrostis capillaris had a great abundance in all the sites and Bistorta vivipara proliferates mostly with bulbils that most likely were numerous in the soil. The results of our study agree with current theories on seed bank composition and similar studies,that the similarity between current above ground vegetation and soil seed bank depends on current dominant species (annual or perennial)and the productivity (high or low) of the site.Mongolian Journal of Agricultural Sciences Vol.13(2) 2014: 105-113

scholarly journals SOIL SEED BANK IN SEASONAL SEMIDECIDUOUS FOREST AND ABANDONED PASTURE

2016 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 991-1001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sustanis Horn Kunz ◽  
Sebastião Venâncio Martins
Keyword(s):  
Seed Bank ◽  
Soil Seed Bank ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Successional Stage ◽  
Semideciduous Forest ◽  
Regeneration Stage ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Successional Stages ◽  
Pasture Area ◽  
Seasonal Semideciduous Forest

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to characterize the seed bank in the soil of different successional stages of Seasonal Semideciduous Forest and abandoned pasture in order to understand the natural regeneration potential of these areas. At each successional stage, 30 samples of soil were collected in the rainy and dry seasons to evaluate the qualitative heterogeneity of the forest, at the regeneration stage (FEA) forest, intermediate regeneration stage forest (ISF) and pasture (PAS). The species were classified according to the life form, successional group and dispersion syndrome. The number of individuals germinated was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in the ISF and in the rainy season (15,949 individuals). Richness was higher in the pasture area (79 species), with a significant difference only between the environments. Most species are herbaceous (49.5%), pioneers (76.5%) and zoocory was the main dispersion syndrome (49% of species). The results show that seed bank in the fragment of the regeneration advanced stage forest presents the highest resilience potential, since it is formed by different life forms and, mainly, by early and late secondary species.

scholarly journals Rainfall in growing season determines the size of an annual-dominated soil seed bank in a desert ecosystem

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ya-Fei Shi ◽  
Zengru Wang ◽  
Bing-Xin Xu ◽  
Jian-Qiang Huo ◽  
Rui Hu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Seed Bank ◽  
Soil Seed Bank ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Seed Banks ◽  
Desert Ecosystem ◽  
Perennial Herb ◽  
Desert Ecosystems ◽  
Soil Seed Banks

Soil seed banks may offer great potential for restoring and maintaining desert ecosystems that have been degraded by climate change and anthropogenic disturbance. However, few studies have explored the annual dynamics in the composition and relative abundance of these soil seed banks. We conducted a long-term observational study to assess the effects of environmental factors (meteorology and microtopography) and aboveground vegetation on the soil seed bank of the Tengger Desert, China. The desert seed bank was dominated by annual herbs. We found that more rainfall in the growing season increased the number of seeds in the soil seed bank, and that quadrats at relatively higher elevations had fewer seeds. The species composition had more similarity in the seed bank than in the aboveground vegetation, though the seed bank and aboveground vegetation did change synchronously due to the rapid propagation of annuals. Together, our findings suggest that the combined effects of environmental factors and plant life forms determine the species composition and size of soil seed banks in deserts. Thus, if degraded desert ecosystems are left to regenerate naturally, the lack of shrub and perennial herb seeds could crucially limit their restoration. Human intervention and management may have to be applied to enhance the seed abundance of longer-lived lifeforms in degraded deserts.

Seasonal variation in soil seed bank size and species composition of selected habitat types in Maputaland, South Africa

Bothalia ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 249-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. S. Kellerman ◽  
M. W. Van Rooyen
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Seasonal Variation ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Seed Bank ◽  
Soil Seed Bank ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Forest Edge ◽  
Seed Banks ◽  
Habitat Types ◽  
Open Woodland

Seasonal variation in seed bank size and species composition of five selected habitat types within the Tembe Elephant Park. South Africa, was investigated. At three-month intervals, soil samples were randomly collected from five different habitat types: a, Licuati forest; b, Licuati thicket; c, a bare or sparsely vegetated zone surrounding the forest edge, referred to as the forest/grassland ecotone; d, grassland; and e, open woodland. Most species in the seed bank flora were either grasses, sedges, or forbs, with hardly any evidence of woody species. The Licuati forest and thicket soils produced the lowest seed densities in all seasons.  Licuati forest and grassland seed banks showed a two-fold seasonal variation in size, those of the Licuati thicket and woodland a three-fold variation in size, whereas the forest/grassland ecotone maintained a relatively large seed bank all year round. The woodland seed bank had the highest species richness, whereas the Licuati forest and thicket soils were poor in species. Generally, it was found that the greatest correspondence in species composition was between the Licuati forest and thicket, as well as the forest/grassland ecotone and grassland seed bank floras.

The soil seed bank of a montane meadow: consequences of conifer encroachment and implications for restoration

2007 ◽  
Vol 85 (6) ◽  
pp. 557-569 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole L. Lang ◽  
Charles B. Halpern
Keyword(s):  
Seed Bank ◽  
Soil Seed Bank ◽  
Ground Vegetation ◽  
Forest Age ◽  
Conifer Encroachment ◽  
Young Forest ◽  
Carex Pensylvanica ◽  
Montane Meadow ◽  
Forest Age Structure ◽  
Meadow Species

We examined changes in the soil seed bank associated with conifer encroachment of montane meadows in the western Cascade Range of Oregon. We asked whether, and over what period of time, meadow species maintain viable seeds in the soil, and by implication, whether the seed bank can contribute to restoration if conifers are removed. Seed bank composition, ground vegetation, and forest age structure were quantified for 209 samples representing a chronosequence of open meadow, young forest (<75 years), and old forest (95 to >200 years). The seed bank was substantial (44 taxa and 2332 germinants/m2), but dominated by native ruderals (16 species comprising 71% of germinants). Greater than 70% of meadow species were absent from the seed bank. Thirteen meadow species accounted for 21% of all germinants, but most of these were the dominant sedge, Carex pensylvanica Lam.. Seed density, richness, and composition showed weak relationships to forest age, and little resemblance to the ground vegetation, which changed markedly with forest development. Our results suggest that there is limited potential for recovery of most meadow species via the seed bank. Natural reestablishment of these species will require seed dispersal or gradual vegetative spread from existing openings, but competitive interactions with ruderal or forest species may limit recruitment or recovery.

Mound‐building ants increase the proportion of Gramineae in above‐ground vegetation and the soil seed bank in alpine meadows

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 867-876
Author(s):  
Min Zhao ◽  
Yingwen Yu ◽  
Ying Shi ◽  
Xiaoming Mou ◽  
Allan Degen
Keyword(s):  
Seed Bank ◽  
Soil Seed Bank ◽  
Ground Vegetation ◽  
Alpine Meadows
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