Spatial Variation of Soil Seed Bank under Cushion Plants in a Subalpine Degraded Grassland

Niknam, Parisa; Ghelichnia, Hassan; Cerdà, Artemi

doi:10.1002/ldr.2811

Cited by 29 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 82 publications

(105 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…However, following previous studies on SSB in the semiarid rangeland (e.g., Lipoma, Funes, & Diaz, 2018; Mndela et al, 2020; Solomon et al, 2006), we used the soil samples without washing before growing on in the greenhouse. The germination trays were labelled and distributed randomly on benches in the greenhouse with natural light and temperature conditions (varied between 15 and 26°C) andwere irrigated every second day (Niknam et al, 2018). In addition, six control trays containing only sterile material were randomly placed between the sample trays to test for seed contamination.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It has been frequently been noted that shrubs act as 'fertile islands', since they have significant influences on habitat conditions. Shrubs have been shown to increase soil microbial functions (Chandregowda, Murthy, & Bagchi, 2018), enhance mycorrhizal colonization (Armenta Calderón, Moreno‐Salazar, Furrazola Gómez, & Ochoa‐Meza, 2019), alter runoff and sediment yields (García‐Ruiz, Nadal‐Romero, Lana‐Renault, & Beguería, 2013; Keesstra et al, 2016; Lu et al, 2019) and affect the soil seed bank (SSB; Funk, Loydi, Peter, & Distel, 2019; Niknam, Erfanzadeh, Ghelichnia, & Cerdà, 2018). They increase SSB under their canopies by trapping seeds or increasing seed production by sub‐canopy plants through ameliorating the environment (García‐Sánchez et al, 2012; Mussa, Ebro, & Nigatu, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Soil seed bank characteristics in relation to different shrub species in semiarid regions

2021

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Little information is available about the effects of different species of shrubs on the composition of the soil seed bank (SSB) in the semiarid regions. We determined the role of three dominant shrub species on SSB characteristics and evaluated their potential for their possible use in rangeland restoration projects. Fifteen sites, each containing three shrub species (Amygdalus scoparia, Daphne mezereum and Ebenus stellata) and a herbaceous patch (control) in close proximity, were sampled and their SSB density, species richness and diversity at 0–10 cm depth were determined. The results showed that the density of the SSB was highest under A. scoparia and lowest in the control. The highest SSB density of grasses was found under A. scoparia, while the highest SSB density of forbs was found under E. stellata. Species diversity of the SSB was significantly greater under E. stellata than under the other shrubs and control. This study revealed that the extent to which shrubs affected SSB characteristics did not only depend on the presence of shrubs, but also on the species of shrubs. These different roles of different species of shrubs on SSB are advised to be considered in the restoration of degraded areas through the SSB in the semiarid areas. In the case of changing management type from intensive grazing to extensive grazing or non‐grazing, the role of different shrub species in the conservation herbaceous species through their SSB can be different.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil seed bank characteristics in relation to different shrub species in semiarid regions

2021

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The GFM land use type had the largest number of native species and should therefore be the priority for restoration and conservation. The importance of using nurse plants in the restoration of degraded land has been emphasized previously (e.g., Niknam, Erfanzadeh, Ghelichnia, & Cerdà, ; Padilla & Pugnaire, ). Two cushion‐form nurse plants, Acanthophyllum korshinsky and A canthophyllum glandulosum , already grow in the area, and encouraging these two species should be a critical component of any vegetation restoration plan.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Section: Restoration Of the Natural Plant Communities In The Areamentioning

confidence: 95%

Plant community responses to multiple disturbances in an arid region of northeast Iran

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Various disturbances affect the vegetation in rural areas. However, the responses of plant communities to multiple disturbances have rarely been studied. We investigated the vegetation of a rural landscape in northeast Iran. We established 42 study sites in three land use types using a stratified‐random design: ungrazed abandoned croplands (UACs), grazed abandoned croplands (GACs), and grazed field margins (GFMs). The species richness and canopy cover for all vascular plants and influential disturbances (i.e., grazing, degraded/nondegraded status, distance to the main road, and distance to active cropland) were recorded at each site. We compared multiple facets of the plant communities among land use types. The results showed that there were significant differences among the species compositions of the land use types, with therophytes dominating in all three. Alien species were found in the three land use types, particularly in UACs. GFMs had the highest number of native species. There were no significant differences in the species or phylogenetic diversities among the land use types. Grazing and distance to active cropland were identified as significant factors determining the native species structure in the area, whereas grazing was the only significant factor determining the alien species structure. There was a significant correlation between the native and alien species structure. Our results imply that grazing disperses native and alien plant propagules simultaneously. Neither grazing nor non‐grazing improved biodiversity in the abandoned croplands. The restoration of this landscape requires a community‐specific plan. GFMs are native plant islands that should be prioritized in restoration.

show abstract

“…It has been frequently called shrubs as fertile islands, since, they have significant influences on habitat conditions. Shrubs have been shown to increase soil microbial functions (Chandregowda et al, 2018), enhance mycorrhizal colonization (Armenta Calderón et al, 2019), alter runoff and sediment yields (García Ruiz et al, 2013;Keesstra et al, 2016;Lu et al, 2019) and affect the soil seed bank (SSB) (Niknam et al, 2018;Funk et al, 2019). They increase SSB under their canopies by trapping seeds or increasing seed production by sub-canopy plants through ameliorating the environment (García-Sánchez et al, 2012;Mussa et al, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil seed bank characteristics in relation to different shrub species in semiarid regions

Erfanzadeh¹,

Hadinezhad²,

Ghelichnia³

2020

Preprint

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Little information is available about the effects of different species of shrubs on the composition of the soil seed bank (SSB) in semiarid regions. We determined the role of three dominant shrub species on SSB characteristics and evaluated their potential for their possible use in rangeland restoration projects. Fifteen sites, each containing three shrub species (Amygdalus scoparia, Daphne mezereum and Ebenus stellata) and a herbaceous patch (control) in close proximity, were sampled and their SSB density, species richness and diversity at 0-10 cm depth were determined. The results showed that the density of the SSB was highest under A. scoparia (1133 seeds per m2) and lowest in herbaceous vegetation (110 seeds per m2). Species richness and diversity of the SSB was significantly greater under E. stellata than under the other shrubs and control. This study revealed that the extent to which vegetation affected SSB characteristics did not only depend on the presence of shrubs, but also on the species of shrub. These different roles of different species of shrubs on SSB are advised to be considered in the restoration of degraded areas through planting of shrubs in semiarid regions. Planting and the extension of E. stellata cover in degraded sites could be of priority due to its prominent role in herbaceous SSB reservoir and species diversity and richness.

show abstract

Spatial Variation of Soil Seed Bank under Cushion Plants in a Subalpine Degraded Grassland

Cited by 29 publications

References 82 publications

Soil seed bank characteristics in relation to different shrub species in semiarid regions

Soil seed bank characteristics in relation to different shrub species in semiarid regions

Plant community responses to multiple disturbances in an arid region of northeast Iran

Soil seed bank characteristics in relation to different shrub species in semiarid regions

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About