Soil Moisture and Fungi Affect Seed Survival in California Grassland Annual Plants

Mordecai, Erin A.

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0039083

Cited by 54 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Remaining variation in seed bank density of all four species can still be substantial (Fig. 2, Pakeman et al, 1999), when environmental factors such as soil pH, light quality and quantity or soil moisture steer seed losses through control over germination (Jankowska-Blaszczuk & Daws, 2007) or fungal activity (Pakeman et al, 2011;Mordecai, 2012).…”

Section: Climate-controlled Seed Bank Patternsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Precisely because of this intricate control, the response to climate of seed longevity may be species-dependent (Cavieres & Arroyo, 2001;Hill & Vander Kloet, 2005;Ooi, 2012), although some general patterns emerge. Elevated temperatures may decrease seed viability (Ooi et al, 2009, but see Leishman et al, 2000), and seed mortality is enhanced via fungal attack under moist soil conditions (Pakeman et al, 2011;Mordecai, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Climatic control of forest herb seed banks along a latitudinal gradient

Plue

Frenne

Acharya

et al. 2013

Global Ecology and Biogeography

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Aim: Seed banks are central to the regeneration strategy of many plant species. Any factor altering seed bank density thus affects plant regeneration and population dynamics. Although seed banks are dynamic entities controlled by multiple environmental drivers, climatic factors are the most comprehensive, but still poorly understood. This study investigates how climatic variation structures seed production and resulting seed bank patterns. Location: Temperate forests along a 1900km latitudinal gradient in north-western (NW) Europe. Methods: Seed production and seed bank density were quantified in 153 plots along the gradient for four forest herbs with different seed longevity: Geum urbanum, Milium effusum, Poa nemoralis and Stachys sylvatica. We tested the importance of climatic and local environmental factors in shaping seed production and seed bank density. Results: Seed production was determined by population size, and not by climatic factors. G.urbanum and M.effusum seed bank density declined with decreasing temperature (growing degree days) and/or increasing temperature range (maximum-minimum temperature). P.nemoralis and S.sylvatica seed bank density were limited by population size and not by climatic variables. Seed bank density was also influenced by other, local environmental factors such as soil pH or light availability. Different seed bank patterns emerged due to differential seed longevities. Species with long-lived seeds maintained constant seed bank densities by counteracting the reduced chance of regular years with high seed production at colder northern latitudes. Main conclusions: Seed bank patterns show clear interspecific variation in response to climate across the distribution range. Not all seed banking species may be as well equipped to buffer climate change via their seed bank, notably in short-term persistent species. Since the buffering capacity of seed banks is key to species persistence, these results provide crucial information to advance climatic change predictions on range shifts, community and biodiversity responses

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Section: Climate-controlled Seed Bank Patternsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climatic control of forest herb seed banks along a latitudinal gradient

Plue

Frenne

Acharya

et al. 2013

Global Ecology and Biogeography

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“…22 Second, changes in rainfall might modify the soil microbial community, which is the primary cause of seed death for some grassland species. 23,24 For example, the combination of additional summer rainfall and winter warming had no significant direct effect on seed banks after 2 years, but the seed longevity of some grassland species tested was increased by applying fungicides. 18 These results indicate a possible effect of climate change on soil microorganisms and indirectly on seed banks.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Severe effects of long-term drought on calcareous grassland seed banks

et al. 2018

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Climate change models project shifts in precipitation patterns at regional and global scales. Increases in dry areas and the occurrence of drought predicted in future scenarios are likely to threaten grassland ecosystems. Calcareous grassland seed banks have proven to be resistant to short-term drought, but their responses to long-term drought are unknown. Here we show that 14 years of summer drought changed calcareous grassland seed bank composition, reducing its size and richness, and that these responses do not simply reflect patterns in the above-ground vegetation. Moreover, the effect of drought was larger on seed banks than on vegetation, and above-ground responses mediated by soil depth were less evident in the seed bank than in the vegetation. These results demonstrate that the severity of drought effects on calcareous grasslands is larger than previously thought, and show that this ecosystem is highly vulnerable and has low resilience to predicted decreases in soil moisture.

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“…The community of microbial organisms (fungi and bacteria) that live in the soil may also influence timing and percentages of seed germination, and clarifying their effect will help with developing successful restoration techniques (Kulmatiski et al 2006;Mordecai 2012). The role of the microbial soil community in restoration ecology has been most studied in terms of its influence on plant establishment and health.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of soil inoculants on seed germination of native and invasive species

Balshor

Garrambone

Austin

et al. 2017

Botany

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Successful re-introduction of native species through ecological restoration requires understanding the complex process of seed germination. Soil microbes play an important role in promoting native establishment, and are often added to restoration sites during seed sowing. We tested the role of soil and lab-grown bacterial inoculants on germination timing and percent germination for nineteen species of plants commonly found in coastal California. Each species exhibited a different response to inoculant treatments, but overall time-to-germination was longer and percent germination was lower with soil inoculant compared to control or other treatments.The invasive species in our study had the highest percent germination of all species and germinated faster than all native shrubs. Germination timing was negatively correlated with percent germination and with seed weight. Our results suggest that lab grown inoculant and chemical treatment are effective at increasing germination in some native species, while soil inoculant is not. Given differences in germination timing between native and invasive species, restoration practitioners could consider using herbicide to treat areas seeded with native shrubs immediately following germination of invasive species without harming most natives, although germination timing and herbicides need further study in relation to microbial effects on seed germination.

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Soil Moisture and Fungi Affect Seed Survival in California Grassland Annual Plants

Cited by 54 publications

References 21 publications

Climatic control of forest herb seed banks along a latitudinal gradient

Climatic control of forest herb seed banks along a latitudinal gradient

Severe effects of long-term drought on calcareous grassland seed banks

The effect of soil inoculants on seed germination of native and invasive species

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