RT Journal Article
T1 Seasonal dynamics of Mediterranean pasture seed banks along environmental gradients
A1 Ortega Quero, Marta
A1 Levassor, Catherine
A1 Peco, Begoña
AB The size and dynamics of seed banks were studied in grazed and ungrazed Mediterranean pastures at different altitudes and topography positions. The soil samples were collected in autumn and spring and the seed banks composition was determined by greenhouse germination over a 9‐month period. The percentage of bare ground and the presence of new seedlings were recorded monthly from October to July in the field. A fall in seed density and species richness in the banks and a tendency for seeds to remain in the banks were linked to a rise in altitude. Germination in lower pastures mainly occurred in October in the numerous gaps left by the summer drought. At higher altitudes, the scarcity of gaps and the harsh climate led to an autumn–spring segregation of germination. On a local scale, the low slope positions and the ungrazed plots had a larger number of persistent seed bank species and a lower percentage of bare ground where seeds could germinate than their respective plots in the upper positions and grazed plots. A higher seed density in ungrazed than grazed plots was only detected in the three highest plots. No seed bank species richness trend was detected. In populations of the same species in different types of environments, the seasonal variation of seed numbers was environment‐dependent for the majority of the species. In general, perennial grassland and its related low gaps availability appear to favour persistent seed banks.</jats:p>
PB Blackwell Science
SN 0305-0270
YR 1997
FD 1997
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/97735
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/97735
LA eng
NO Ortega, M., et al. «Seasonal Dynamics of Mediterranean Pasture Seed Banks along Environmental Gradients». Journal of Biogeography, vol. 24, n.o 2, enero de 1997, pp. 177-95.  https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2699.1997.00080.x.
NO Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (España)
DS Docta Complutense
RD 20 abr 2025