The destruction of natural ecosystems is an important issue in many parts of the world. In the west of Iran, a vast area of the Zagros Mountain range is covered by typical vegetation including several rare plant speci...The destruction of natural ecosystems is an important issue in many parts of the world. In the west of Iran, a vast area of the Zagros Mountain range is covered by typical vegetation including several rare plant species, of which many are currently considered endangered by anthropogenic activities. Despite the important role of soil seed banks to help conserve these degraded plant communities, the floristic studies in the Zagros forests have only focused on aboveground vegetation. In this study, the characteristics of soil seed banks and above-ground vegetation were examined at two forest sites: an undisturbed control(Un) and a disturbed(D) site. The objectives of this study were 1) to investigate the diversity of above-ground vegetation and soil seed banks in disturbed and undisturbed forests, 2) to examine the soil properties and the germination characteristics of the soil seed bank in disturbed and undisturbed oak forests and 3) to estimate the potential of soil seed banks in the restoration of disturbed sites. The results show that soil properties between Un and D sites were significantly different with higher values of pH, NH 4-N, N tot, CEC, OC, clay and canopy percentage in the Un site than in the D site. The Simpson diversity, Margalef richness and evenness indices differed significantly between sites, either for the soil seed banks or the above-ground vegetation. After a period of 26 weeks, the germination speed and the mean daily number of germinants were significantly different between Un and D sites. Without other conservation measures, soil seed banks alone cannot result in a full recovery after severe disturbances in the oak forests of Zagros.展开更多
We investigated characteristics （scales and composition） of soil seed banks at eight study sites in the rocky mountain region of Beijing by seed identification and germination monitoring. We also surveyed the vegeta...We investigated characteristics （scales and composition） of soil seed banks at eight study sites in the rocky mountain region of Beijing by seed identification and germination monitoring. We also surveyed the vegetation communities at the eight study sites to explore the role of soil seed banks in vegetation restoration. The storage capacity of soil seed banks at the eight sites ranked from 766.26 to 2461.92 seeds·m？2. A total of 23 plant species were found in soil seed banks, of which 63–80% of seeds were herbs in various soil layers and 60% of seeds were located in the soil layer at 0–5 cm depth. Biodiversity indices indicated clear differences in species diversity of soil seed banks among different plant communities. The species composition of aboveground vegetation showed low similarity with that based on soil seed banks. In the aboveground plant community, the afforestation tree species showed high importance values. The plant species originating from soil seed banks represented natural regeneration, which also showed relatively high importance values. This study suggests that in the rocky mountain region of Beijing the soil seed banks played a key role in the transformation from pure plantation forest to near-natural forest, promoting natural ecological processes, and the role of the seed banks in vegetation restoration was important to the improvement of ecological restoration methods.展开更多
Understanding the characteristics of soil seed banks in sand dunes is crucial to stabilize the dune systems and maintain the plant populations in deserts. In this study, we conducted a survey investigation in the fiel...Understanding the characteristics of soil seed banks in sand dunes is crucial to stabilize the dune systems and maintain the plant populations in deserts. In this study, we conducted a survey investigation in the field and a seed germination experiment in the laboratory to explore the characteristics of soil seed banks at various geomorphic positions of longitudinal sand dunes in the Gurbantunggut Desert, China. Totally, 17 plant species belonging to 17 genera and 9 families were identified in soil seed banks, and 35 plant species belonging to 34 genera and 17 families were identified in aboveground vegetation. Plant species richness in soil seed banks decreased with increasing soil depth. The highest species richness was presented in the upper slope of the windward slope and the lowest species richness was presented in the base of the windward slope. There was no significant difference in seed density of soil seed banks among the examined seven geomorphic positions. The highest seed density occurred in the lower slope of the leeward slope while the lowest occurred in the crest. Moreover, seed density decreased with increasing soil depth, being the highest in the upper soil layer （0-2 cm）. For both soil seed banks and aboveground vegetation, there was no significant difference in Simpson＇s diversity index among the seven geomorphic positions; however, Shannon-Wiener diversity index and Pielou＇s evenness index showed significant differences among the seven geomorphic positions. Those results showed that although there was no significant difference in seed density of soil seed banks among the seven geomorphic positions, the geomorphic positions significantly affected the species richness, diversity and distribution of soil seed banks. Therefore, understanding the characteristics of soil seed banks at different geomorphic positions of sand dunes is essential to vegetation restoration or reestablishment. Furthermore, the Jaccard＇s similarity coefficients of plant species between soil seed banks and aboveground vegetation at the seven geomorphic positions were low, suggesting that vegetation restoration or reestablishment processes should be promoted through adding seeds to surface layers.展开更多
We studied a soil seed bank in the Stipa breviflora desert steppe under three grassland management systems, namely continuous grazing, rotational grazing, and no grazing, from 1999 until 2007. The germinable seed bank...We studied a soil seed bank in the Stipa breviflora desert steppe under three grassland management systems, namely continuous grazing, rotational grazing, and no grazing, from 1999 until 2007. The germinable seed bank species in rotational, continuous and no gazing were 11, 9 and 8 species, respectively. Rotational grazing increased the number of seed bank plant species and perenni- al grasses. The density of germinal soil seed bank was significantly higher in the enclosed area （19,533.33 seeds/m2） than those in rotational （3,233.33 seeds/mz） and continuous grazing areas （2,553.60 seeds/m2）. The vertical distribution of the soil seed bank had a similar trend： 75.06%-83.19% of the seeds are distributed in the top 0-5 cm soil layer, 14.16%-21.68% in the 5-10 cm lay- er, and 2.65%-4.95% in the 10-15 cm layer, which varied between the grazing treatments. Density of the soil seed bank was sig- nificantly higher in the enclosed area, and there was no significant difference between rotational and continuous grazing. The Margalef and Shannon-Wiener indices for the soil seed bank were higher for rotational grazing treatment than for continuous grazing. The Sorensen＇s similarity index for the soil seed bank between the enclosed and rotational grazing areas reached 0.857.展开更多
A seed germinating method was used to study soil seed banks in dump sites of the Antaibao opencast mine for soil reclamation and ecological rehabilitation. Based on a richness index, a diversity index and an evenness ...A seed germinating method was used to study soil seed banks in dump sites of the Antaibao opencast mine for soil reclamation and ecological rehabilitation. Based on a richness index, a diversity index and an evenness index, the diversity of species of soil seed banks was studied. As well, the progress of vegetation succession in this thoroughly destroyed ecosystem is discussed and the self-renewal ability of the soil seed banks is analyzed. The results indicate that 1) there are 17 plant species belonging to five families with annuals as the dominant species; 2) the soil seed banks at the dump site show great temporal and spatial heterogeneity and 3) the model of Robinia pseudoacacia × Pinus tabulaeformis × Caragana korshinskii in the anaphase is the best among several reclamation models studied. Therefore, with the extension of reclamation time, the correct choice of a reclamation model is quite helpful for the improvement of the self-renewal ability of soil seed banks and for the stability of the ecosystem, which is very important for land reclamation and ecological rehabilitation of the dump sites of the ATB opencast coal mine.展开更多
Aims In recent years,there has been an increasing interest in the impact of invasive alien plant species on the soil seed bank.Soil seed banks play an important role in determining the composition and dynamics of the ...Aims In recent years,there has been an increasing interest in the impact of invasive alien plant species on the soil seed bank.Soil seed banks play an important role in determining the composition and dynamics of the vegetation through time.Therefore,an ability to form a persistent seed bank and/or a capacity to alter the structure of the seed bank of invaded communities could be important factors in determining the success of many alien plant species.In this study,we report on a detailed assessment of the characteristics of the seed bank community associated with the herbaceous plant invader,Gunnera tinctoria,a newly emerging and potentially globally significant invasive plant species.This species,native to South America,is invasive in a range of wet habitats in Europe,Australasia and the USA.Methods A comprehensive assessment of the seed bank of invaded and comparable uninvaded areas was made at two points in time(May and October),at three sites in western Ireland.The seedling emergence approach was used to assess the structure(diversity,dominance and abundance)of the soil seed bank.Differences between invaded and uninvaded seed bank communities were investigated at the spatial scales of site,plot and depth.Important Findings Gunnera tinctoria formed a large persistent seed bank at the study sites.Approximately 30000 seedlings per square metre emerged from soils collected from invaded areas,of which 30%were found in deep soil layers.Seedlings of this invader represented 53–86%of the total number of seedlings associated with invaded areas.Both the transient and the more persistent component of the seed bank of invaded communities were significantly less diverse and abundant than those of uninvaded areas,and were characterized by higher dominance,even when seedlings of the invader were not included in the analysis.The seed bank of invaded areas was largely composed of seeds of agricultural weeds in addition to those of the invader.These results suggest that G.tinctoria has the capacity to profoundly alter the seed bank of invaded communities.These results have direct relevance for the development of control and management strategies,for this and other comparable invasive species,which should account for both quantitative and qualitative alterations in the seed bank community.Our study also suggests that control measures that result in disturbance of areas colonized by G.tinctoria could promote the germination of undesirable weeds.展开更多
为了探明多年免耕下农田恶性杂草发生的机理,提高保护性耕作下作物对农田恶性杂草持久稳定的抑制效果,依据陕西安塞田间4a的定位试验,采用小区调查取样和室内实验相结合的方法,从物种组成、密度特征、多样性以及相似性特征等方面,研究...为了探明多年免耕下农田恶性杂草发生的机理,提高保护性耕作下作物对农田恶性杂草持久稳定的抑制效果,依据陕西安塞田间4a的定位试验,采用小区调查取样和室内实验相结合的方法,从物种组成、密度特征、多样性以及相似性特征等方面,研究了黄土丘陵旱作农区大豆(Glycine max)、玉米(Zea mays)、红小豆(Semen Phaseoli)、马铃薯(Solanum tuberosum)在翻耕化肥(CF)、翻耕有机肥(CM)、翻耕无肥(CN)、免耕化肥(NF)、免耕有机肥(NM)、免耕无肥(NN)等水平下的农田土壤种子库。结果表明:(1)4种作物24种土样中共萌发出12个物种1965株幼苗,隶属于7科12属。1年生杂草占94%,棒头草(fugax nees ex steud)、苋菜(Acalypha australis)、马唐(Digitaria sanguinalis)、早熟禾(Poasphondylodes)为优势种,占87%。(2)在0～20cm土层不同处理间,土壤种子库的密度变动于(282.9±63.4)～(7482.5±1078.3)粒.m-2,其中,红小豆小区>马铃薯小区>大豆小区>玉米小区;翻耕小区>免耕小区;有机肥小区>化肥小区>无肥小区,差异极显著。(3)土壤种子库密度NM红小豆最高,NN玉米最低;丰富度指数CF大豆为2.30;NN红小豆为0.29;多样性指数NN大豆为5.56,CF红小豆为0.45;生态优势度NF玉米为1.35,CF大豆为0.17。玉米、大豆是黄土丘陵沟壑旱作农区免耕下农田抑制杂草最为适宜的作物,NM玉米、NF大豆和NM大豆是黄土丘陵沟壑旱作农区较优的耕作管理方式,其农田的生态效应是能够竞争性抑制恶性杂草的蔓延,优化土壤环境,杂草的多样性高且比较均衡,杂草的土壤种子库密度低。展开更多
文摘The destruction of natural ecosystems is an important issue in many parts of the world. In the west of Iran, a vast area of the Zagros Mountain range is covered by typical vegetation including several rare plant species, of which many are currently considered endangered by anthropogenic activities. Despite the important role of soil seed banks to help conserve these degraded plant communities, the floristic studies in the Zagros forests have only focused on aboveground vegetation. In this study, the characteristics of soil seed banks and above-ground vegetation were examined at two forest sites: an undisturbed control(Un) and a disturbed(D) site. The objectives of this study were 1) to investigate the diversity of above-ground vegetation and soil seed banks in disturbed and undisturbed forests, 2) to examine the soil properties and the germination characteristics of the soil seed bank in disturbed and undisturbed oak forests and 3) to estimate the potential of soil seed banks in the restoration of disturbed sites. The results show that soil properties between Un and D sites were significantly different with higher values of pH, NH 4-N, N tot, CEC, OC, clay and canopy percentage in the Un site than in the D site. The Simpson diversity, Margalef richness and evenness indices differed significantly between sites, either for the soil seed banks or the above-ground vegetation. After a period of 26 weeks, the germination speed and the mean daily number of germinants were significantly different between Un and D sites. Without other conservation measures, soil seed banks alone cannot result in a full recovery after severe disturbances in the oak forests of Zagros.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (31071817)the Funding Project for Academic Human Resources Development in Institutions of Higher Learning under the Jurisdiction of Beijing Municipality(PXM20090142076309)
文摘We investigated characteristics （scales and composition） of soil seed banks at eight study sites in the rocky mountain region of Beijing by seed identification and germination monitoring. We also surveyed the vegetation communities at the eight study sites to explore the role of soil seed banks in vegetation restoration. The storage capacity of soil seed banks at the eight sites ranked from 766.26 to 2461.92 seeds·m？2. A total of 23 plant species were found in soil seed banks, of which 63–80% of seeds were herbs in various soil layers and 60% of seeds were located in the soil layer at 0–5 cm depth. Biodiversity indices indicated clear differences in species diversity of soil seed banks among different plant communities. The species composition of aboveground vegetation showed low similarity with that based on soil seed banks. In the aboveground plant community, the afforestation tree species showed high importance values. The plant species originating from soil seed banks represented natural regeneration, which also showed relatively high importance values. This study suggests that in the rocky mountain region of Beijing the soil seed banks played a key role in the transformation from pure plantation forest to near-natural forest, promoting natural ecological processes, and the role of the seed banks in vegetation restoration was important to the improvement of ecological restoration methods.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41571256)the National Natural Science Foundation of China–Xinjiang Mutual Funds(U1503101)the Natural Science Foundation of Xinjiang,China(2015211C292)
文摘Understanding the characteristics of soil seed banks in sand dunes is crucial to stabilize the dune systems and maintain the plant populations in deserts. In this study, we conducted a survey investigation in the field and a seed germination experiment in the laboratory to explore the characteristics of soil seed banks at various geomorphic positions of longitudinal sand dunes in the Gurbantunggut Desert, China. Totally, 17 plant species belonging to 17 genera and 9 families were identified in soil seed banks, and 35 plant species belonging to 34 genera and 17 families were identified in aboveground vegetation. Plant species richness in soil seed banks decreased with increasing soil depth. The highest species richness was presented in the upper slope of the windward slope and the lowest species richness was presented in the base of the windward slope. There was no significant difference in seed density of soil seed banks among the examined seven geomorphic positions. The highest seed density occurred in the lower slope of the leeward slope while the lowest occurred in the crest. Moreover, seed density decreased with increasing soil depth, being the highest in the upper soil layer （0-2 cm）. For both soil seed banks and aboveground vegetation, there was no significant difference in Simpson＇s diversity index among the seven geomorphic positions; however, Shannon-Wiener diversity index and Pielou＇s evenness index showed significant differences among the seven geomorphic positions. Those results showed that although there was no significant difference in seed density of soil seed banks among the seven geomorphic positions, the geomorphic positions significantly affected the species richness, diversity and distribution of soil seed banks. Therefore, understanding the characteristics of soil seed banks at different geomorphic positions of sand dunes is essential to vegetation restoration or reestablishment. Furthermore, the Jaccard＇s similarity coefficients of plant species between soil seed banks and aboveground vegetation at the seven geomorphic positions were low, suggesting that vegetation restoration or reestablishment processes should be promoted through adding seeds to surface layers.
基金Demonstration of Grass Digital Monitoring,Control and Decision-making Techniques (2008GB23260400)Recovery of Degraded Vegetation in Inner Mongolia and Directed Economic Plants Industrial Growing Base,the Research of Forage Yield Remote Sensing Estimation and Carrying Capacity in Hulunbeir Grassland,the National high Technology Research and Development Program of China(2006AA10Z241)+1 种基金National Science and Technology Support Program (2006BAC01A12,2006BAD16B05-2)Modern Agricultural Technology System of Special Funding
文摘We studied a soil seed bank in the Stipa breviflora desert steppe under three grassland management systems, namely continuous grazing, rotational grazing, and no grazing, from 1999 until 2007. The germinable seed bank species in rotational, continuous and no gazing were 11, 9 and 8 species, respectively. Rotational grazing increased the number of seed bank plant species and perenni- al grasses. The density of germinal soil seed bank was significantly higher in the enclosed area （19,533.33 seeds/m2） than those in rotational （3,233.33 seeds/mz） and continuous grazing areas （2,553.60 seeds/m2）. The vertical distribution of the soil seed bank had a similar trend： 75.06%-83.19% of the seeds are distributed in the top 0-5 cm soil layer, 14.16%-21.68% in the 5-10 cm lay- er, and 2.65%-4.95% in the 10-15 cm layer, which varied between the grazing treatments. Density of the soil seed bank was sig- nificantly higher in the enclosed area, and there was no significant difference between rotational and continuous grazing. The Margalef and Shannon-Wiener indices for the soil seed bank were higher for rotational grazing treatment than for continuous grazing. The Sorensen＇s similarity index for the soil seed bank between the enclosed and rotational grazing areas reached 0.857.
基金Projects 40071077 and 40471132 supported by National Natural Science foundation of China
文摘A seed germinating method was used to study soil seed banks in dump sites of the Antaibao opencast mine for soil reclamation and ecological rehabilitation. Based on a richness index, a diversity index and an evenness index, the diversity of species of soil seed banks was studied. As well, the progress of vegetation succession in this thoroughly destroyed ecosystem is discussed and the self-renewal ability of the soil seed banks is analyzed. The results indicate that 1) there are 17 plant species belonging to five families with annuals as the dominant species; 2) the soil seed banks at the dump site show great temporal and spatial heterogeneity and 3) the model of Robinia pseudoacacia × Pinus tabulaeformis × Caragana korshinskii in the anaphase is the best among several reclamation models studied. Therefore, with the extension of reclamation time, the correct choice of a reclamation model is quite helpful for the improvement of the self-renewal ability of soil seed banks and for the stability of the ecosystem, which is very important for land reclamation and ecological rehabilitation of the dump sites of the ATB opencast coal mine.
基金Environmental Protection Agency Ireland,under the National Development Plan 2000–2006.
文摘Aims In recent years,there has been an increasing interest in the impact of invasive alien plant species on the soil seed bank.Soil seed banks play an important role in determining the composition and dynamics of the vegetation through time.Therefore,an ability to form a persistent seed bank and/or a capacity to alter the structure of the seed bank of invaded communities could be important factors in determining the success of many alien plant species.In this study,we report on a detailed assessment of the characteristics of the seed bank community associated with the herbaceous plant invader,Gunnera tinctoria,a newly emerging and potentially globally significant invasive plant species.This species,native to South America,is invasive in a range of wet habitats in Europe,Australasia and the USA.Methods A comprehensive assessment of the seed bank of invaded and comparable uninvaded areas was made at two points in time(May and October),at three sites in western Ireland.The seedling emergence approach was used to assess the structure(diversity,dominance and abundance)of the soil seed bank.Differences between invaded and uninvaded seed bank communities were investigated at the spatial scales of site,plot and depth.Important Findings Gunnera tinctoria formed a large persistent seed bank at the study sites.Approximately 30000 seedlings per square metre emerged from soils collected from invaded areas,of which 30%were found in deep soil layers.Seedlings of this invader represented 53–86%of the total number of seedlings associated with invaded areas.Both the transient and the more persistent component of the seed bank of invaded communities were significantly less diverse and abundant than those of uninvaded areas,and were characterized by higher dominance,even when seedlings of the invader were not included in the analysis.The seed bank of invaded areas was largely composed of seeds of agricultural weeds in addition to those of the invader.These results suggest that G.tinctoria has the capacity to profoundly alter the seed bank of invaded communities.These results have direct relevance for the development of control and management strategies,for this and other comparable invasive species,which should account for both quantitative and qualitative alterations in the seed bank community.Our study also suggests that control measures that result in disturbance of areas colonized by G.tinctoria could promote the germination of undesirable weeds.
文摘为了探明多年免耕下农田恶性杂草发生的机理,提高保护性耕作下作物对农田恶性杂草持久稳定的抑制效果,依据陕西安塞田间4a的定位试验,采用小区调查取样和室内实验相结合的方法,从物种组成、密度特征、多样性以及相似性特征等方面,研究了黄土丘陵旱作农区大豆(Glycine max)、玉米(Zea mays)、红小豆(Semen Phaseoli)、马铃薯(Solanum tuberosum)在翻耕化肥(CF)、翻耕有机肥(CM)、翻耕无肥(CN)、免耕化肥(NF)、免耕有机肥(NM)、免耕无肥(NN)等水平下的农田土壤种子库。结果表明:(1)4种作物24种土样中共萌发出12个物种1965株幼苗,隶属于7科12属。1年生杂草占94%,棒头草(fugax nees ex steud)、苋菜(Acalypha australis)、马唐(Digitaria sanguinalis)、早熟禾(Poasphondylodes)为优势种,占87%。(2)在0～20cm土层不同处理间,土壤种子库的密度变动于(282.9±63.4)～(7482.5±1078.3)粒.m-2,其中,红小豆小区>马铃薯小区>大豆小区>玉米小区;翻耕小区>免耕小区;有机肥小区>化肥小区>无肥小区,差异极显著。(3)土壤种子库密度NM红小豆最高,NN玉米最低;丰富度指数CF大豆为2.30;NN红小豆为0.29;多样性指数NN大豆为5.56,CF红小豆为0.45;生态优势度NF玉米为1.35,CF大豆为0.17。玉米、大豆是黄土丘陵沟壑旱作农区免耕下农田抑制杂草最为适宜的作物,NM玉米、NF大豆和NM大豆是黄土丘陵沟壑旱作农区较优的耕作管理方式,其农田的生态效应是能够竞争性抑制恶性杂草的蔓延,优化土壤环境,杂草的多样性高且比较均衡,杂草的土壤种子库密度低。
