Seed bank structure along a semi-arid gypsum gradient in Central Spain

Caballero, I.; Olano, José Miguel; Arregui, Javier José Loidi; Escudero, Adrián

doi:10.1016/s0140-1963(03)00029-6

Cited by 63 publications

(62 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…The density of seeds (*60,000 seeds m -2 ) present in the soil of the kermes oak thicket at the end of the summer was unusually high in comparison to other studies including both transient and permanent seed banks from Iberian (*16,000 seeds m -2 ; Caballero et al 2003), Chilean (*5,000 seeds m -2 ; Figueroa et al 2004), Australian (*10,000 seeds m -2 ; Fisher et al 2009) and Californian (*13,000 seeds m -2 ; Cox and Allen 2008) Mediterranean ecosystems. Consequently, plant recruitment was not limited in the field by seed availability, as the establishment limitation paradigm poses (Méndez et al 2008).…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 62%

Nitrogen fertilization and water supply affect germination and plant establishment of the soil seed bank present in a semi-arid Mediterranean scrubland

Ochoa‐Hueso

Manrique

2010

Plant Ecol

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Anthropogenic nitrogen (N) inputs in terrestrial ecosystems are higher than those that occur naturally and have been related to global biodiversity loss and altered ecosystem functioning. However, its effects on Mediterranean-type ecosystems, where production is water-limited and N regulated, remain unclear. We conducted a green-house experiment where we evaluated the effects of four simulated scenarios of N pollution (0, 10, 20 and 50 kg N ha -1 year -1 ) and two differential water supply regimes on the germination (experiment 1) and early plant establishment (experiment 2) of a seed bank from a semi-arid Mediterranean ecosystem of central Spain. Seed bank density was estimated as 62,374 ± 3,279 seeds m -2 . Approximately 99.5% of emerged seeds corresponded to only 14 species of a total of 52, the majority of which were the annual forb Sagina apetala. The responses for N treatments were speciesspecific, mainly positive or unimodal, with watering treatments having some interactive effects. N and water supply also affected total and specific productivity; the responses found for N treatments were mainly humpback-shaped and an increased water supply had additive effects on community establishment in terms of total plant biomass. This response was linked to forb responsiveness. Contrary to predictions, grass biomass did not change with N supply; however, grass to forb ratio was affected because of changes in the latter. Overall, these experiments suggest a critical load for plant biomass production and conclude that N and water availability and supply can modify germination and plant establishment. This should be taken into account when analysing the effects of global change on the dynamics of plant communities where annuals are dominant or vegetation must establish from seed following a natural or anthropogenic disturbance regime.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 62%

Nitrogen fertilization and water supply affect germination and plant establishment of the soil seed bank present in a semi-arid Mediterranean scrubland

Ochoa‐Hueso

Manrique

2010

Plant Ecol

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“…Gypsum communities almost exclusively occur under arid or semi-arid climates (Caballero et al, 2003). In fact, the most important soil parameters which determine the Teucrium species distribution in south-eastern Spain (texture, field capacity, lime, organic matter, inorganic carbonates, and gypsum) were also among the most significant soil parameters of the vegetation distribution in other arid or semi-arid climates (Abd El-Ghani and Amer, 2003;Ahmadi et al, 2002;Jafari et al, 2004).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…On the other hand, the fact that T. pumilum showed the lowest germination capacity could be due to several reasons. The first factor is its reproduction system, predominantly vegetative (Caballero et al, 2003). Secondly, some of the seeds might not be viable in this particular species, though empty and unhealthy seeds of all seed lots were removed.…”

Section: Relationship Between Germination Behaviour and Ecological Famentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological germination requirements of the aggregate species Teucrium pumilum (Labiatae) endemic to Spain

et al. 2006

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Teucrium pumilum L., T. lepicephalum Pau, T. libanitis Schreber, T. turredanum Losa & Rivas Goday, and T. carolipaui Vicioso ex Pau (Labiatae) constitute an aggregate included in the Pumilum subsection (Polium section). These species are endemic and geographically restricted to central and south-eastern Spain. They grow under different climatic conditions and have different edaphic requirements, particularly the gypsum and lime affinities. The effects of some ecological factors (i.e. edaphic and climatic factors) on the germination parameters of these Teucrium species were investigated. The species under study differed in their germination behaviour. The majority of the germination parameters appeared more correlated to edaphic than to climatic factors and particularly to the water availability in the soil. The calcicolous T. carolipaui, which grows in the driest habitat, had a more rapid germination than the gypsophilous species. This could be due to the existence of a narrower optimal germination period for T. carolipaui. The different germination requirements of these species of Teucrium are important results to be considered in conservation programs of these endemic and endangered taxa.

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“…This situation favours annual plant species and shallow-rooted species that can benefit from water fluctuation peaks (Meyer and Garcia-Moya 1989;Schwinning and Sala 2004). Although slopes are less suitable for annuals or shallow-rooted species, and germination is difficult because of seed-washing down slope, germination is feasible for some species because the mucilaginous coats to anchorage seeds (Caballero et al 2003). Moreover, perennial patches usually traps running off seeds, specially on north-oriented slopes (Guerrero-Campo et al 1999a, b), where plant cover is higher.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gypsophile vegetation patterns under a range of soil properties induced by topographical position

et al. 2006

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Iberian gypsophile plant communities are considered a priority for conservation by the European Community because of their highly specialized flora in gypsum outcrops in arid and semiarid regions. Despite the ecological importance of these ecosystems, the edaphic factors that constrain plant communities on gypsiferous soils remain unclear. It has been proposed that both the chemical and physical restrictive conditions of gypsum soils determine gypsophily in plants. Here we hypothesize that the rigors of the gypsum soil environment depends on topography, decreasing from flat areas on hilltops to south-oriented slopes and finally to slopes oriented to the north. We also hypothesized that the relaxation of the rigors of the gypsum soil environment with topography affects both to individual plant and community characteristics of gypsophile vegetation: we expect a reduction of gypsophyte abundance, an increase of diversity and the amelioration of facilitative interactions of plant species. We analysed the physical and chemical properties of gypsum soils that have been proposed that determine the rigors of the gypsum soil environment (i.e.: unbalanced ion concentrations and superficial soil crust). The predicted rigor gradient along topographical locations was confirmed and was mainly caused by superficial soil crust. The decreasing rigor gradient was accompanied by a fall in the abundance of gypsophytes. However, when gypsophytes were considered separately, several patterns were observed, indicating distinct tolerance to relaxation of rigor of the gypsum soil conditions and different competition abilities between gypsophytes. Plant species were more clumped, and gypsophile communities presented higher diversity, evenness and richness values where rigor of gypsum soil conditions were maximum (flat hilltop positions). Relaxation of rigor (north-oriented slopes) was characterized by loss of facilitative interaction between species and the dominance of the gypsovag Rosmarinus officinalis L., although richness was still very high, which can be attributed to the coexistence of gypsophytes and gypsovags. We conclude that the rigor of gypsum soil environment gradient with topography is mainly determined by superficial soil crust, and it is a crucial determinant of gypsophile plant communities.

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Seed bank structure along a semi-arid gypsum gradient in Central Spain

Cited by 63 publications

References 48 publications

Nitrogen fertilization and water supply affect germination and plant establishment of the soil seed bank present in a semi-arid Mediterranean scrubland

Nitrogen fertilization and water supply affect germination and plant establishment of the soil seed bank present in a semi-arid Mediterranean scrubland

Ecological germination requirements of the aggregate species Teucrium pumilum (Labiatae) endemic to Spain

Gypsophile vegetation patterns under a range of soil properties induced by topographical position

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