Factors Affecting Seed Reserves in the Soil of a Mojave Desert Ecosystem, Rock Valley, Nye County, Nevada

Nelson, James F.; Chew, Robert M.

doi:10.2307/2425096

Cited by 152 publications

(144 citation statements)

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“…The top 2 cm of desert soils have been shown to contain 89% of the total seed bank density (Childs and Goodall 1973). Organic material m each sample was separated by flotation (Reichman 1976, Nelson and Chew 1977, then seeds were sorted from other organic material under a dissecting microscope and weighed.…”

Section: Sampling Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Benefits of protective fencing to plant and rodent communities of the western Mojave Desert, California

Brooks

1995

Environmental Management

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Section: Sampling Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Benefits of protective fencing to plant and rodent communities of the western Mojave Desert, California

Brooks

1995

Environmental Management

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“…Highly clumped distributions of seeds in soii are common for desert seed banks (Nelson & Chew 1977;Reichman 1979Reichman , 1984Price & Reichman 1987). Dispersed seeds tend to accumulate in depressions where water collects or in the wind shadows of obstructions (Reichman 1984).…”

Section: Dynamics Of Viable Seeds In the Seed Bank Of Hlmentioning

confidence: 99%

Buried seed population in the herbaceous lomas on Loma Ancon in the coastal desert of central Peru

Ohga¹

1992

Ecological Research

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Herbaceous lomas in the Peruvian coastal desert of South America establish in spring, and its habitat is limited to the southern or southwestern slopes along the coast that are affected by thick fog. The time of appearance, the duration and the thickness of the fog vary greatly from year to year, so the lomas can grow only in habitats with enough water to sustain seed germination and plant growth. This paper studies the species composition and density of the buried seed population of the herbaceous lomas of Loma Ancon in order to clarify the mechanisms of the lomas' establishment. The mean number of species with viable seeds was about 12 spp. m-2 and that of dead seeds was about 22 spp. m-2. The dominant species were Solanum tuberiferum, S. pinnatifidum and Nolana humifusa, both in viable and dead seeds. Viable seed density was about 5000-8000 seeds m -2, which is comparable with the seed densities of other herbaceous communities. Dead seed density was about 15 000-27 000 seeds m -2, or nearly three times the viable seed density, because the rate of decomposition was slow in the extremely dry conditions. The net increase of viable seeds by seed production was estimated at about 5000 seeds m -2 in 1980, and the increase in the number of dead seeds was 2200 seeds m -2.

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“…Our focus will be placed on drylands, because secondary dispersal has been recognized as a significant part of dispersal in environments with sparse vegetation (Nelson and Chew, 1977;Reichman, 1984;Chambers et al, 1991).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The fate of seeds in the soil: a review of the influence of overland flow on seed removal and its consequences for the vegetation of arid and semiarid patchy ecosystems

Bochet

2015

SOIL

100

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Abstract. Since seeds are the principle means by which plants move across the landscape, the final fate of seeds plays a fundamental role in the assemblage, functioning and dynamics of plant communities. Once seeds land on the soil surface after being dispersed from the parent plant, they can be moved horizontally by surface runoff. In arid and semiarid patchy ecosystems, where seeds are scattered into a very heterogeneous environment and intense rainfalls occur, the transport of seeds by runoff to new sites may be an opportunity for seeds to reach more favourable sites for seed germination and seedling survival. Although seed transport by runoff may be of vital importance for the recruitment of plants in these ecosystems, it has received little attention in the scientific literature, especially among soil scientists. The main goals of this review paper are (1) to offer an updated conceptual model of seed fate with a focus on seed destiny in and on the soil; (2) to review studies on seed fate in overland flow and the ecological implications seed transport by runoff has for the origin, spatial patterning and maintenance of patches in arid and semiarid patchy ecosystems; and finally (3) to point out directions for future research.This review shows that seed fate in overland flow may result either in the export of seeds from the system (seed loss) or in the spatial redistribution of seeds within the system through short-distance seed movements (seed displacement). Seed transport by runoff depends on rainfall, slope and soil characteristics. Susceptibility of seed removal varies highly between species and is mainly related to seed traits, including seed size, seed shape, presence of appendages, and ability of a seed to secrete mucilage. Although initially considered as a risk of seed loss, seed removal by runoff has recently been described as an ecological driver that shapes plant composition from the first phases of the plant life by favouring species with seeds able to resist erosion and by selecting for plant traits that prevent seed loss. Moreover, the interaction of seed transport by overland flow with the high seed trapping capacity of vegetated patches results in a "patch-to-patch" transport of seeds that plays a relevant role in vegetation establishment and patterning in arid and semiarid patchy ecosystems.Overall, this review shows how the knowledge about seed fate in overland flow can be used to explain a number of important characteristics of whole plant communities. It also underlines important gaps in knowledge that should be filled in. Future lines of research are proposed in order to broaden our understanding of the origin, maintenance and dynamics of patchiness in arid and semiarid ecosystems and to improve restoration success of intensively eroded ecosystems. Among the most exciting challenges, empirical studies are needed to understand the relevance of short-distance seed displacements in the origin and maintenance of patchiness, addressing the feedbacks between structure and function and abiotic a...

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Factors Affecting Seed Reserves in the Soil of a Mojave Desert Ecosystem, Rock Valley, Nye County, Nevada

Cited by 152 publications

References 0 publications

Benefits of protective fencing to plant and rodent communities of the western Mojave Desert, California

Benefits of protective fencing to plant and rodent communities of the western Mojave Desert, California

Buried seed population in the herbaceous lomas on Loma Ancon in the coastal desert of central Peru

The fate of seeds in the soil: a review of the influence of overland flow on seed removal and its consequences for the vegetation of arid and semiarid patchy ecosystems

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