Seedbank phytosociology of the Strandveld Succulent Karoo,South Africa: a pre‐mining benchmark survey for rehabilitation

Prior to the mining of heavy minerals, the seedbank of the Strandveld Succulent Karoo was investigated to serve as a benchmark for the future rehabilitation of the area. Seedbank composition and species' abundance were determined with the seedling emergence method. By using the Braun‐Blanquet method, five main vegetation units were identified in concordance with results obtained for the standing vegetation. A total of 108 species were recorded in the seedbank, which represents c. 50 per cent of the species recorded in the standing vegetation of the total study area. Seven annual species (3 per cent) were unique to the soil seedbank. On community level, similarity in species composition between the standing vegetation and the soil seedbank ranged between 39·2 per cent and 48·8 per cent, with a similarity of 54·3 per cent for the total study area. Annual and perennial species' similarity in species composition between the standing vegetation and the seed bank totalled 74·8 per cent and 43·1 per cent respectively. Post‐mining topsoil replacement as well as seeding and transplanting of selected local species will be essential to revegetate this area. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

陕北安塞退耕地持久土壤种子库与地上植被的对应关系

通过研究陕北安塞退耕3~31 a的阴阳坡10个样地的持久土壤种子库特征及其与地上植被的关系,分析持久土壤种子库在植被恢复中的作用。结果表明：调查样地持久土壤种子库由15个科36个物种组成,种子密度在1 908~12 617粒/m2之间,1年生物种占80%,随着退耕演替的进行,种子库中1年生物种比例呈下降趋势,多年生物种比例呈上升趋势,地带性物种在持久种子库中的比例也随退耕时间的延长而增加,物种数和种子库密度均随退耕演替先增大后降低;持久土壤种子库与地上植被的相似性较低,Serensen相似性系数为0.21~0.42;通过对适宜物种的确限度及土壤种子库大小的分析,认为该区退耕地的持久土壤种子库具有一定的植被恢复潜力。     

汶川地震灾区典型区不同植被类型土壤种子库特征——以北川县苏保河、魏家沟流域为例

为了解汶川地震灾区典型区不同植被类型土壤种子库特征及其与灾害受损程度间的关系,采用野外调查取样和室内试验相结合的方法,研究了北川县苏保河与魏家沟流域4种植被类型(未受损林地、受损林地、灾后恢复草地和灾后裸地)土壤种子库的物种组成、种子密度、多样性及其与地上植物群落的关系。结果表明:4种植被类型样地中,土壤种子库密度为212.5~1 758.3个·m-2,每样带(200 m2)平均物种数为4.3~14.7个。4种植被类型土壤种子库的组成物种多为多年生或一年生草本植物,土壤种子库与相应地上植被的物种数仅受损林地与灾后恢复草地中呈显著相关;物种组成的Sorensen相似指数除裸地低于0.250外,其余均高于0.250。基于以上分析结果,在灾区进行植被恢复,需要考虑次生灾害对植被的持续破坏可能性,采用工程措施及人为引种的方式增加成活率和延续性。     

干旱草原星毛委陵菜群落种子库与植被功能群结构的关系

以石羊河上游星毛委陵菜(Potentilla aclaulis)群落为研究对象,采取现场植物测定与土壤采样分析相结合的方法,对地上植被、种子库功能群结构组成及相互关系进行分析,探讨了植被演替过程中功能群的响应和群落稳定性的维持机理.结果表明:(1)不同植被梯度下多年生禾草和多年生杂草在植被群落中占据优势地位,优势度比例变化较小,而一、二年生杂草及豆科植物地位不突出,优势度比例较小.(2) 土壤种子库中,水平方向上,在植被梯度下多年生杂草优势度所占比例较高,变幅较小;多年生禾草、豆科植物则表现出由低到高再降低的变化过程,而一、二年生杂草的变化规律与之相反.垂直方向上,0-5 cm与0-15 cm层在植被梯度下,不同功能群优势度比例大小呈显著正相关,5-10 cm与10-15 cm层变化规律不明显.(3) 种子库具有比植被丰富的物种,系统稳定性较高,针对于扰,群落表现出明显的生存策略.     

SOIL SEED BANK CHARACTERISTICS BENEATH AN AGE SEQUENCE OF CARAGANA MICROPHYLLA SHRUBS IN THE HORQIN SANDY LAND REGION OF NORTHEASTERN CHINA

To understand how shrub cover affects the spatiotemporal patterns of the soil seed bank and to assess the role of vegetation in the restoration of desertified land in a semi‐arid region of China, we investigated the species composition and seed density of the soil seed bank under and outside the canopies over two seasons for an age sequence of Caragana microphylla shrubs in the Horqin Sandy Land region, Inner Mongolia. The results showed that a total of 24 plant species seeds were present in the soil seed bank, of which 20 were annuals or biennials. The seed densities in the soil seed bank were in the range of 830 – 13882·5 seeds m⁻² at 10 cm depth. Species richness in the soil seed bank did not increase as the shrubs aged, whereas the seed densities increased significantly. Five annual species: Setaria viridis, Eragrostis pilosa, Chenopodium acuminatum, Chenopodium glaucum and Corispermum acuminatum, contributed above 90 per cent of the seeds to the soil seed bank. On the basis of seed characteristics and seed reduction amount during the growing season, we concluded that it represents a mixture of persistent and transient seeds in different proportions. More seeds accumulated under the canopies than outside the mature shrub cover, but no significant difference was found the younger cover. These results suggest that shrub size and age had an important role in augmenting seed abundance of the soil seed bank but not the species richness. We confirmed the important effects of shrub cover on seed accumulation and vegetation recovery, especially the value of more mature age vegetation for countering land degradation. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Restoring grassland biodiversity: Sowing low-diversity seed mixtures can lead to rapid favourable changes

We studied the effect of sowing low-diversity seed mixtures (containing 2-3 competitive grass species) on the regeneration of vegetation on croplands previously used as alfalfa fields. In four permanent plots in 10 restored fields (four with alkali and six with loess seed mixture) the cover of flowering plants was recorded and phytomass was measured between 2006 and 2008. We asked three questions: (i) How fast will weedy, short-lived species decrease in abundance during secondary succession enhanced by sowing low-diversity seed mixtures? (ii) Can weeds be suppressed by sowing competitive native grasses, followed up by management by mowing? (iii) Can succession towards the target native grasslands be accelerated by sowing only low-diversity seed mixtures compared to set-aside old field succession? Our results showed that in just two years a vegetation dominated by perennial grasses has developed, which successfully prevented the establishment of weed species. These results suggested that sowing seeds of two or three competitive grass species is an effective tool to eliminate weed domination and to lead towards the restoration of species poor grasslands with grass domination such as alkali grasslands. However, the developed dense perennial grass cover and the accumulated litter may hamper the immigration of specialist species characteristic to reference grasslands. Therefore, the restoration of species-rich grasslands requires the facilitation of the immigration of grassland specialist species by further management (grazing, mowing and/or hay-transport).     

The effect of phytoamelioration on the fertility of chernozems in the Trans-Ural part of Bashkiria

Experimental data on rehabilitation of degraded chernozems under the impact of vegetation successions on fallow lands and sown perennial grasses are summarized. Rehabilitation successions represent a promising approach for remediation of anthropogenically disturbed soils. The soil properties are restored under the impact of plants. The sowing of perennial grasses and the creation of agrosteppes are ecologically and economically feasible measures of soil rehabilitation.     

宁夏荒漠草原种子雨研究

近年来,有关土壤种子库研究的报道较多,但种子雨的研究较少,因此以宁夏荒漠草原为研究对象,采用样线法,以培养皿为种子雨收集器,对种子雨的散布特点及种子雨与地上植被的关系进行了研究。结果表明:种子雨的植物种类为8种,多年生草本植物所占比例较大为62.5%;种子雨的散布8—10月份为逐渐递增的趋势,10月份为种子雨散布的高峰期,8—10月份种子雨的密度分别为（73.60±12.24）个/m²,（77.85±11.81）个/m²,（240.62±41.08）个/m²;种子雨植物密度和地上植物密度没有显著的相关性;种子雨植物种和地上植物种的相似性为0.457,相似性较低。研究结果可以为种子雨、种子库、地上植被间相互关系的研究提供参考。     

汶川地震不同次生地质灾害类型区土壤种子库特征

为了解地震后次生地质灾害土壤种子库特征及其植被恢复特点,在四川省北川县采用野外取样和在当地自然环境下萌发相结合的办法,研究了5种不同灾害类型(包括滑坡、崩塌、泥石流、落石及堰塞湖)土壤种子库大小、物种组成及其与地上植被之间的关系。研究结果表明,不同灾害类型土壤种子库密度介于30133.33±6776.03~93383.33±26499.81粒/m2方差分析显示,只有落石损毁类型种子库密度与其它几种灾害类型差异显著,各灾害类型土壤种子库种子密度在0-5cm和5-10cm土层之间无明显分层区别。土壤种子库中一年生和多年生草本所占比例为90.48%,灌木所占比例为9.52%,没有观察到乔木种。各土壤种子库之间Sorensen相似性指数较高,为0.529~0.714土壤种子库与相应样地地上植物之间相似性不高,相关性也不密切,其相似性指数介于0.167~0.292。建议灾害损毁地植被恢复以自然恢复为主,若采取简易的水土保持措施和适量客土措施,将会促进种子的萌发和植被的更新种子库中缺乏乔木种,快速乔木化需要人工输入种子雨。     

Soil seed banks in the Arasbaran Protected Area of Iran and their significance for conservation management

The Arasbaran Protected Area is an important but little studied nature reserve in NW Iran. In the past habitat heterogeneity and biodiversity have been threatened by over-exploitation; in the future depopulation may lead to partial abandonment. The soil seed bank was examined to see whether there are sufficient species represented as persistent seeds to reconstitute the vegetation in the event of habitat deterioration. There were differences between seed banks from different soils and vegetation types but essentially all soil seed banks contained few species and low densities of seed. Moreover, the species in the seed bank were unrepresentative of the vegetation. During future periods of changing land use it will be important to maintain the existing vegetation. There are however indications of successful recent conservation management. Annuals are abundant in the woodland seed bank but absent from the vegetation. The forest is recovering from the disturbance of collecting fire-wood.     

Soil seed bank compositional change constrains biodiversity in an invaded species-rich woodland

Relationships between plant invasion and the soil seed bank in highly diverse fire adapted mediterranean woodlands are poorly understood, yet critical for that ecosystem’s conservation. Within the biodiversity hotspot of southwest Australia we investigated the composition and diversity of the Banksia woodland soil seed bank in good condition (GC), medium condition (MC) and poor condition invaded by the South African perennial species Ehrharta calycina (PCe) and Pelargonium capitatum (PCp). The investigation assessed three questions: (1) Do soil seed banks of invaded sites have fewer germinants of native species and more germinants of introduced (non-native) species than sites with minimal invasion? (2) Do soil seed banks show shifts in ecological functional types with invasion? (3) Is the soil seed bank of introduced species persistent? Native species germinants, mainly shrubs and perennial herbs, were highest in GC sites and least in poorer condition sites suggesting a reduction in their numbers had occurred over time. Introduced germinants were dominated by perennial and annual grasses, and annual herbs. E. calycina had the greatest seed density (8328 germinants m⁻²). More introduced than native germinants occurred in the litter. Rapid germination of introduced species (30% in week 1) compared to native species (4% in week 1) provides the capacity for their early dominance. A limited native soil seed bank and dominant persistent introduced soil seed bank represent great challenges for the structural and functional conservation and restoration of woodland ecosystems. This study provides key new knowledge, applicable to a wide range of ecosystems, to help formulate conservation protocols to control dominant introduced species and conserve and restore biodiverse-rich woodlands.     

Effects of experimental restoration on the diaspore bank of an upland moor degraded by Pteridium aquilinum invasion

We assessed the effects of a range of experimental restoration treatments on the diaspore bank (seed and spores) on an upland moor infested by dense Pteridium aquilinum, 9 years after implementation. Experimental treatment included both Pteridium control (cutting, spraying and combinations) and restoration treatments (grazing, seeding); both univariate and multivariate analyses of variance were used to assess significant effects. The seed bank was made up largely of Calluna vulgaris, Juncus effusus and Agrostis capillaris with the majority germinating from the litter (38 per cent) and upper soil layer (53 per cent). Soil depth influenced species composition and density, with greatest numbers near the surface, in keeping with a negative exponential response. In the lowest soil depth only ferns were abundant. A. capillaris seed density was greater in the most disturbed treatment (cut twice yearly with grazing), whereas C. vulgaris was greater in the low‐disturbance treatment (herbicide application only). The diaspore bank composition response identified that certain treatment combinations had a grass‐heath composition in the upper soil layer, which may assist future restoration. There was a significant effect of C. vulgaris seed addition detected in the Pteridium litter layer suggesting that this litter acted as a barrier to seed transfer to the soil. There was little evidence of coupling developing between the diaspore bank and vegetation. The most successful treatment combination was cutting twice per yr with low grazing plus C. vulgaris addition as brash. Where seed is added the Pteridium litter should be disturbed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

风沙黄土区排土场不同恢复类型植物群落与土壤种子库特征

风沙黄土区排土场作为一种人造生态系统,自然条件恶劣,土壤贫瘠,植被恢复困难。为了探明有效的人工促进植被恢复措施,采用植被调查与种子库萌发试验相结合的方法,通过研究不同植被类型地上植物群落与土壤种子库特征及二者的关系,探讨了其植被恢复效益及潜力。结果表明:研究区人工植被恢复下地上植物群落中共47种植物,分属16科40属,土壤种子库共14种植物,分属5科13属,其中均以禾本科、菊科、藜科、豆科占主导地位; 灌木植被的地上植被和土壤种子库的物种多样性均表现为最优; 地上植被与土壤种子库密度的变化范围为88.48～495.47株/m²,74.74～1422.91粒/m²,且均在草地类型下最大。土壤种子库和地上植被的相似性普遍较低,相似性系数仅为0.16～0.23。因此,风沙黄土区排土场的植被恢复与重建需要加强保护与管理,可以考虑构建以草灌配置为主的人工植被恢复模式,保障群落的恢复潜力,并提高群落多样性与稳定性,亦可考虑引入外源种子库提升群落恢复的潜力。     

Seed bank development after the restoration of alluvial grassland via transfer of seed-containing plant material

In the attempt to ensure long-term-conservation of flood meadows along the northern Upper Rhine transfer of seed-containing plant material was successfully applied since 2000. In this highly dynamic habitat, many typical plant species rely on a persistent seed bank for re-establishment after disturbance. But in contrast to the re-established above ground vegetation, seed bank composition remains unknown. Thus the main aims of the study were to elucidate the current seed bank composition and to assess patterns of seed and species traits. To this end we sampled above ground vegetation and seed bank on plant material plots and on control plots left to natural recruitment.Although the seed bank was still dominated by agrestal and ruderal plant species, it already contained seeds of transferred species. Analyses revealed that on the plant material plots seed density of plant material species declined significantly with soil depth, just as similarity between above ground vegetation and seed bank declined. In contrast, the seed bank on control plots comprised significantly lower numbers of transferred species. We found a vertical pattern of seed bank composition: in general, the upper seed bank layer comprised more elongated and large seeds of long-lived, competitive species able to build up transient seed bank. The lower soil layer was dominated by seeds of short-lived, agrestal and ruderal species, producing small, round and long-term persistent seeds.The present study shows that the build up of a seed bank typical of flood meadows is a time-consuming process. Thus restorative management in the early phase of vegetation development should focus on fostering high seed production of transferred species.     

塔里木河下游土壤种子库的空间分布特征分析

以因不合理的水土资源开发而出现严重生态退化的典型区——塔里木河下游为研究区,通过在塔里木河下游开展的两年土壤种子库实验,分析了塔里木河下游土壤种子库密度的空间分布特点。结果显示:(1)塔里木河下游土壤种子库一般在150~2 300粒/m2之间,属一个较低的水平;从种子库密度的空间分布特点看,地表植被群落退化程度的加重,使土壤种子库在顺河道方向和垂直河道方向表现出不同的变化特点;(2)塔里木河下游土壤种子库在分布上具有较高的密集性,表现出类似沙漠地区种子库的分布特征;(3)微生境条件对土壤种子库的分布影响较大。其中河水漫溢区的种子库密度远高于其它区域,而低洼地、柽柳包和有较多枯枝的退化草地均比光板地和胡杨林地有更多的有活力种子;(4)塔里木河下游严重的生态退化导致了本区土壤种子库垂直分布的差异,主要表现是随着地表植被群落生态退化程度的加重,土壤种子库的垂直分布表现为表层种子库占土壤种子库的比重不断升高的趋势。     

黄土丘陵沟壑区红砂灌丛土壤种子库及其自然更新潜力评估

[目的]对黄土丘陵沟壑区红砂灌丛植被土壤种子库的特征及红砂灌丛植被自然更新潜力进行分析和评估,以说明红砂灌丛土壤种子库在植被恢复与重建中的重要作用。[方法]采用土壤种子库"萌发法"(每个地段10个2m×2m样方内分表土层0—2cm和2—5cm土层采集土样)及野外植被调查方法,对黄土丘陵沟壑不同坡位红砂灌丛土壤种子库进行研究。[结果]黄土丘陵沟壑区红砂灌丛植被土壤种子库发芽试验共观察到的4 251株幼苗,分属于9个物种。土壤种子库密度在100~1 000粒/m2,物种数在0.8~1.2种/0.01m2,下坡段的土壤种子库平均种子密度和平均物种数均比上坡段高。3个坡段的2个层次的平均种子密度和平均物种数均随土层加深而减小。3个坡段土壤种子库和地上植被的组成物种多为草本植物和红砂灌丛,地上植被与其土壤种子库的密度及物种数均呈不显著相关;物种组成的Sorensen相似性指数较高,均达到0.60以上,且土壤种子库比地上植被具有更高的物种丰富度。[结论]黄土丘陵沟壑区红砂灌丛具有依靠土壤种子库实现自然更新的潜力,但由于物种组成种类较少,现存灌丛植被一旦遭到破坏,仅靠土壤种子库恢复现存植被是困难的,需要在对自然恢复潜力评估的基础上,积极采取人工保护促进自然恢复的策略。     

坝上草原退耕地植被不同恢复处理土壤种子库研究

采用野外调查取样和室内实验相结合的方法,研究坝上草原退耕地土壤种子库的物种组成、密度和物种多样性等特征.结果表明:自然恢复、浅耕处理和深耕处理3种不同恢复措施下,土壤种子库物种丰富度(种)大小为浅耕处理(18)>自然恢复(15)>深耕处理(14);自然恢复处理、浅耕处理和深耕处理土壤种子库密度分别为23 949粒·m-2、15746粒·m-2和10600粒·m-2,浅耕处理和深耕处理分别比自然恢复处理减少34.3%和55.7%;不同恢复方式下土壤种子库与地上植被的物种密度的对应关系可用三次曲线来表示.土壤种子库间有较高的相似系数,但随着干扰程度的增加而减少.     

金安桥水电站弃渣场土壤种子库与地面植被的关系

通过研究金安桥水电站废弃渣场种子库和周边群落种子库以及渣场地面和周边群落地面植被的变化特征,结果表明：①周边群落土壤种子库和地面植物的物种丰富度大于渣场,从地面与种子库的物种组成分析得出,渣场植被恢复正处于由一年生草本植物向多年生草本植物过渡的阶段;②周边群落地面植物与土壤种子库的物种丰富度（30,33）及数量（186,1962）,渣场地面植物与土壤种子库的物种丰富度（10,12）及数量（35,1784）;③由于植物种子寿命短,加之土壤环境差,导致周边群落地面植物与种子库相似度（0．09）和渣场地面植物与种子库的相似度（0）差异性大。     

元谋干热河谷山地植被修复区土壤种子库研究

 为了解干热河谷不同植被修复方法的土壤种子库的变化模式,采用对不同处理地段(包括水平阶间坡面、自然坡面、沟底)和对照(放牧地)的土壤种子库组成、大小进行比较研究的方法,研究元谋干热河谷山地植被修复区的土壤种子库。结果表明:1)植被修复区土壤种子库密度、丰富度均大于对照区;2)修复区内第2年土壤种子库密度、丰富度均大于第1年;3)水平阶间坡面和各类型间的土壤种子库密度差异显著;4)种子库中草本植物占很大比例;5)孔颖草和扭黄茅是种子库2大优势种。研究项目所采取植被修复措施在很大程度上改善土壤种子库的数量结构和物种组成。     

Soil erosion and changes in the physical properties of Lithuanian Eutric Albeluvisols under different land use systems

Abstract

The investigations aimed to: 1) evaluate water erosion rates on undulating slopes in Lithuania under different land use systems; 2) study changes in soil physical properties on the differently eroded slopes; and 3) better understand relationships between soil physical properties and soil erodibility. Research data were obtained on loamy sand and clay loam Eutric Albeluvisols located on the undulating hilly relief of the ?emai?iai Uplands of Western Lithuania. The results of 18 years of water erosion investigations under different land use systems on slopes of varying steepness are presented. Attention is focused on changes in soil physical properties in relation to soil erosion severity. Measured water erosion rates in the field experiments were: 3.2–8.6 m³ ha^?1 yr^?1 under winter rye, 9.0–27.1 m³ ha^?1 yr^?1 under spring barley and 24.2–87.1 m³ ha^?1 yr^?1 under potatoes. Perennial grasses completely prevented water erosion, while erosion-preventive grass-grain crop rotations (67% grasses, 33% cereal grains) decreased soil losses by 75–80% compared to the field crop rotation, containing 17% tillage crops (potatoes), 33% grasses and 50% cereal grains. The grain-grass crop rotation (33% grasses and 67% cereal grains) decreased soil erosion rates by 23–24%. The percentage of clay-silt and clay fractions of arable soil horizons increased, while the total soil porosity and moisture retention capacity decreased with increased soil erosion. Phytocenoses, including sod-forming perennial grasses and grass-grain crop rotations, led to changes in the physical properties of eroded soils; soil bulk density decreased and percentage total porosity and moisture retention capacity increased. The grass-grain crop rotations increased the water-stable soil structure (measured as water-stable soil aggregates) by 11.03 per cent units and sod-forming perennial grasses increased aggregate stability by 9.86 per cent units compared with the grain-grass crop rotation on the 10–14° slope. Therefore, grass-grain crop rotations and sod-forming perennial grasses decreased soil erodibility and thus could assist both erosion control and the ecological stability of the vulnerable hilly-undulating landscape.