Biogenic ethylene promotes seedling emergence from the sediment seed bank in an ephemeral tropical rock pool habitat

Cross, Adam T.; Cawthray, Gregory R.; Merritt, David J.; Turner, Shane R.; Renton, Michael; Dixon, Kingsley W.

doi:10.1007/s11104-014-2083-z

Cited by 14 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 88 publications

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“…Physical variables are unlikely to limit the distributions of invertebrates inhabiting Kimberley FRPs. Conductivities were low (<400 μS cm −1 ), and they had a narrow, slightly acidic pH range, which did not differ across the study area (Cross et al, ). Several studies describe similar water quality (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…They are geologically weathered depressions of varying size and depth in the sandstone bedrock, distributed almost exclusively on flat or gently sloping sandstone pavement (Figure ). FRPs are mostly shallow (27.9 ± 1.9 mm), small (surface area < 1 m 2 ), of small volume (100–500 L), and may contain a shallow deposit of nutrient‐poor, acidic (pH 4.2–4.9) loam or loamy sand sediment (Cross, ; Cross et al, ; Table S1). Approximately 10% of FRPs harbour submerged macrophyte communities, usually species‐poor assemblages (generally with one or two species) dominated by the annual FRP endemics Eriocaulon sp.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Freshwater rock pools (FRPs) are precipitation‐filled eroded depressions formed on exposed rock, and are both biologically and hydrologically isolated from the surrounding landscape matrix (Brendonck, Lanfranco, Timms, & Vanschoenwinkel, ; Cross et al, ; McLachlan & Ladle, ). Hydroperiod, inundation regime (hydroregime), and water volume are the major environmental drivers in FRPs (Bayly, Halse, & Timms, ; Cross et al, ; Cross, Turner, Merritt, et al, ; Timms, ), and are determined by seasonal rainfall patterns, basin morphology, and catchment size (Cross, Turner, Merritt, et al, ; Hulsmans, Vanschoenwinkel, Pyke, Riddoch, & Brendonck, ; Jocqué, Vanschoenwinkel, & Brendonck, ). The hydroperiod of FRPs ranges from several days to months, and in rare cases some pools hold permanent water (Cross, Turner, Merritt, et al, ; Timms, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Under suitable hydrological conditions, FRPs can harbour aquatic macrophyte communities that often comprise FRP‐endemic, highly specialized, and range‐restricted species (Cross et al, ; Cross et al, ; Cross, Turner, Merritt, et al, ; Tuckett et al, ). Macrophytes usually influence invertebrate assemblages directly through the provision of habitat and refuges from predation, mediated by the structural complexity of the vegetation (McAbendroth et al, ; Warfe & Barmuta, ) and interactions with algal epiphytes, an important food source for invertebrate grazers (Ferreiro, Giorgi, & Feijoó, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…macrophytes, riffles, and pools). Recent research showed that north Kimberley FRPs are among the most dynamic and ephemeral freshwater habitats on Earth, harbouring highly specialized freshwater plant communities characterized by high levels of local endemism (Cross et al, ; Cross, Turner, Merritt, et al, ; Cross, Turner, Renton, et al, ). Potentially, they could also contain endemic (and undescribed) invertebrate species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Do active‐dispersing insects dominate the invertebrate fauna of rock pools in the wet–dry tropics, Kimberley, Australia?

Carey

Cross

Barrett

et al. 2019

Aquatic Conservation

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Invertebrate assemblages of tropical freshwater rock pools (FRPs) are poorly known compared with temperate regions, where FRPs contain specialized, endemic taxa of high conservation value. Invertebrates were sampled from pristine FRPs in the Morgan River catchment in the Australian wet–dry tropics in the 2015 and 2016 wet seasons. Taxa were classified as either active or passive dispersers and by functional feeding groups. A range of physical variables were examined to identify associations with invertebrate assemblages. Forty‐seven taxa were identified from FRPs; most were actively dispersing predatory insects, primarily Coleoptera and Hemiptera. Five adult insect species were found in most pools; other taxa were rare and scattered across FRPs. Two previously undescribed species of Spinicaudata were collected, but few crustacean taxa were recorded, and passively dispersing taxa were rare. Species accumulation curves indicated that had more pools been sampled, more taxa would have been collected in 2015, but in 2016 most species were collected. There was no pattern in FRP assemblages related to any physical variable, but the assemblages in pools were correlated between sampling times. An opportunistic and mobile assemblage composed mostly of actively dispersing predatory insects may explain the absence of relationships with measured variables. Low hydrological stability in the wet–dry tropics may be associated with low taxon richness. The dominance of actively dispersing insects is in contrast with FRP assemblages in temperate and arid regions. Studies of a wider range of FRPs from tropical regions are required to determine whether the fauna of these Kimberley FRPs are typical, and to fully describe short‐range endemic species across the Kimberley and elsewhere. The FRPs have conservation value as habitat for endemic, specialist rock‐pool taxa, contributing to regional species pools. At present, a lack of knowledge of endemic FRP specialist species in tropical regions, including the Kimberley, impedes our ability to protect and conserve these species from disturbance.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Do active‐dispersing insects dominate the invertebrate fauna of rock pools in the wet–dry tropics, Kimberley, Australia?

Carey

Cross

Barrett

et al. 2019

Aquatic Conservation

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Seed regeneration in Mediterranean temporary ponds: germination ecophysiology and vegetation processes

Carta

2016

Hydrobiologia

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Mediterranean temporary ponds (MTPs) are very specialised and threatened habitats found in Mediterranean-like bioclimates worldwide. MTPs have received considerable attention over the past years because of the multiple ecological roles they play in the landscape. Nevertheless, seed germination, dormancy, and desiccation tolerance of species living in MTPs are poorly investigated. Here, we reviewed these topics and found that seed germination data exist for only 48 species. While dormancy differs among the species, germination mostly depends on cool temperatures (<15°C) which are associated with the main rainfall season and on the light triggering germination in seeds located close to the soil surface and resulting in the persistence of buried seeds until disturbances occur. Most species seem amenable to seed banking as a means of ex situ conservation but a worldwide comparative study is required to better understand seed lifespan in MTPs. In general, these species exhibit a Mediterranean germination syndrome and plastic germination response that is typical of neither truly aquatic nor wetland plants. The importance of conducting ecologically meaningful germination studies, including germination experiments conducted in the field has been highlighted to gain further insights into the dynamic processes in the vegetation and to test for convergent evolution

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Compromised root development constrains the establishment potential of native plants in unamended alkaline post-mining substrates

et al. 2018

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Seed biology in the annual herbaceous flora of ecologically stressful, seasonally wet habitats remains largely unexplored. Temporal and spatial species turnover between these habitats is often high, yet little is known about how fine-scale habitat variation drives intraspecific variability in seed dormancy depth and seed germination requirements.This study characterised seed dormancy and investigated the germination biology of six closely-related herbaceous annual species of Byblis from northern Australia. We assessed variation in the response of seeds of all species to temperature cues, as well as light and the naturally occurring germination stimulants KAR1 and ethylene. We also examined intraspecific variation in germination response and seed dormancy depth for three widely-distributed species with overlapping distribution occurring in habitats with differing soil thermal and hydrological conditions. Seed germination in all six species was significantly increased by exposure to either KAR1 or ethylene with this effect amplified in two species (B. filifolia and B. rorida) following a period of warm, dry afterripening. Seed dormancy depth and the germination response of seeds to both KAR1 and ethylene was partitioned more strongly between habitats than between species. Populations on shallow (<20 cm soil depth) sandy soils produced less dormant seeds than populations of the same species on deeper sandy soils (40+ cm) or on heavy cracking clays. The upper soil profile of shallow soil habitats was exposed to higher average temperatures, greater diurnal temperature fluctuation and greatly reduced moisture persistence compared to deeper soils. Fine-scale differences in the thermal and hydrological conditions of seasonally wet habitats appear to be strong drivers of dormancy depth in seeds of tropical Byblis.Widely-distributed species exhibit high levels of plasticity in seed dormancy depth and germination response between different habitats, with similar responses observed for sympatric species. In order to fully understand species turnover in tropical ephemerals, future studies should examine phenotypic plasticity and the rate of local adaptation of seed traits in greater detail.

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Biogenic ethylene promotes seedling emergence from the sediment seed bank in an ephemeral tropical rock pool habitat

Cited by 14 publications

References 88 publications

Do active‐dispersing insects dominate the invertebrate fauna of rock pools in the wet–dry tropics, Kimberley, Australia?

Do active‐dispersing insects dominate the invertebrate fauna of rock pools in the wet–dry tropics, Kimberley, Australia?

Seed regeneration in Mediterranean temporary ponds: germination ecophysiology and vegetation processes

Compromised root development constrains the establishment potential of native plants in unamended alkaline post-mining substrates

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