Summary Trait‐based approaches have improved our understanding of plant evolution, community assembly and ecosystem functioning. A major challenge for the upcoming decades is to understand the functions and evolution of early life‐history traits, across levels of organization and ecological strategies. Although a variety of seed traits are critical for dispersal, persistence, germination timing and seedling establishment, only seed mass has been considered systematically. Here we suggest broadening the range of morphological, physiological and biochemical seed traits to add new understanding on plant niches, population dynamics and community assembly. The diversity of seed traits and functions provides an important challenge that will require international collaboration in three areas of research. First, we present a conceptual framework for a seed ecological spectrum that builds upon current understanding of plant niches. We then lay the foundation for a seed‐trait functional network, the establishment of which will underpin and facilitate trait‐based inferences. Finally, we anticipate novel insights and challenges associated with incorporating diverse seed traits into predictive evolutionary ecology, community ecology and applied ecology. If the community invests in standardized seed‐trait collection and the implementation of rigorous databases, major strides can be made at this exciting frontier of functional ecology.

Understanding seed germination biology and the dynamics of seed dormancy is essential to developing reliable germination techniques. This paper presents some new data and reviews recent findings from germination studies on Australian species, with respect to the role of temperature and moisture in the control of dormancy and germination. A seed-burial experiment was conducted over a 1-year period (January–December) with seeds of Acanthocarpus preissii Lehm., Astroloma xerophyllum (DC.) Sond., Gahnia grandis (Labill.) S.T.Blake, Goodenia scaevolina F.Muell. and Tersonia cyathiflora (Fenzl) J.W.Green to determine the fluctuations in temperature and moisture seeds naturally experience in the buried environment. All seeds became hydrated during autumn (March) while soil temperatures were >15°C, suggestive of a period of warm stratification before the onset of cooler winter temperatures appropriate for germination. Evidence of rapid wetting and drying of seeds in the soil environment was also present. Laboratory experiments testing stratification as a means for dormancy loss showed that several weeks of warm stratification at 26/13°C or 33/18°C promoted germination of Lomandra preissii (Endl.) Ewart, Marianthus bicolor (Putt.) F.Muell. and Xyris lanata R.Br. seeds. X. lanata seeds also responded to several weeks of cold stratification at 5°C. By integrating this new data with other published data on germination of Australian species, diagrammatic models of germination timing, dormancy syndromes and propagation strategies for temperate Australian species are presented as working hypotheses to help direct future research.

No abstract

The use of native plant seeds is fundamental to large-scale rehabilitation and the re-establishment of self-sustaining ecosystems after high-impact mining activity has ceased. However, many of the biological attributes of seeds are often overlooked in large-scale rehabilitation programs. Multi-disciplinary, long-term research collaborations are required to improve seed-based mine rehabilitation. In this paper, we review the steps that BHP Western Australia Iron Ore (WAIO), a large iron ore mining company that operates in the Pilbara bioregion of north-west Western Australia, has taken over the past 9 years to ensure continuous improvement in rehabilitation procedures. We introduce the mining activities that WAIO undertake in the Pilbara, and emphasise specific examples of how research findings have led to incremental improvements in the seed management cycle, growth media management and mine rehabilitation practices. Specifically, we outline how the implementation of structured seed collection and storage programs has created the capacity to maintain high-quality seed stocks sufficient for 3–5 years of future rehabilitation. Research has documented the prevalence of seed dormancy in the flora (>70% of 105 species examined produce dormant seeds), with physical and physiological classes of dormancy most commonly encountered. We discuss the development of seed-treatments such as optimised wet-heat and dry after-ripening that have increased the germination capacity of many previously dormant seed batches. In addition, we highlight how seed enhancement technologies, such as hydro-priming with smoke-derived germination stimulants and polymer seed coating, and a greater understanding of the biological and physical limitations present in the growing environment, have vastly improved seedling emergence performance under field conditions for key framework Triodia species. Ongoing industry support (e.g. construction of a purpose-built rain manipulation shelter) has ensured research in the Pilbara will continue to unpack and resolve the complex challenges associated with seed regeneration of biodiverse native plant communities after mining.