Meadow
and forest soils supported well-developed and diverse communities
of viable seeds.
-
Ruderal taxa dominated the seed bank in density (71% of germinants)
and richness.
- Meadow
taxa comprised 21% of germinants; however, most of these were
of a single species, Carex pensylvanica, the dominant
sedge.
-
Nearly 75% of meadow species present in the vegetation were absent
from the seed bank.
- Density
and richness of meadow species did not change predictably with
stage of encroachment.
 |
| Mean
density and richness of ruderal, meadow, and forest
species germinating from soil samples collected in open
meadow, young forest, and old forest. P values
are from one-way ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis (non-parametric)
tests; letters denote significant differences among
stages of encroachment. |
|
|
A seedling of the exotic herb
Lactuca muralis |
%20400%20x%20300.jpg) |
|
| Conclusions
Our
results suggest that, following tree removal, reestablishment of
most meadow species will not occur through germination from a viable
seed bank.
Some meadow species, such as Carex pensylvanica, may germinate
in profusion. However, without further intervention, reestablishment
of most species must occur through dispersal from adjacent sources.
Dominance of the seed bank by ruderal species may also pose a challenge
to restoration, particularly where soil disturbance stimulates germination
of these species.
Surprisingly,
however, ruderals have contributed minimally to the first-year vegetation
in our experimental
treatments.
| Lang,
N. L., and C. B. Halpern. 2007.
The soil seed bank of a montane meadow: consequences of conifer
encroachment and implications for restoration. Canadian Journal
of Botany 85:557-569. PDF |
|
Introduction
& methods
