The effect of successional stage and salinity on the vertical distribution of seeds in salt marsh soils

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

“…However, after treatment and watering the samples for another 4 weeks, no new seedlings emerged. Finally, the residual soil was partly combed for possible remaining seeds using microscope (see also Erfanzadeh et al ., Li et al, ; Erfanzadeh et al, ; Erfanzadeh et al, ). Because the number of seeds that remained in the investigated soil samples was negligible, we did not correct germination data for remaining viable seeds.…”

Ten years primary succession on a newly created landfill at a lagoon of the Mediterranean Sea (Lake Burullus RAMSAR site)

“…This stage could be influenced by many factors: dryness of the soil after it became removed from the outlet, high organic matter from the debris of the aquatic biota, and presence of a seed bank from the neighbor area. Thus, pioneer annuals, in the studied case strongly halophilic ones, and few perennial species firstly appeared, as it occurs typically at the beginning of primary successions (Burga et al, 2010;Erfanzadeh et al, 2010). After two years, the study area was suitable already for a low-shrub woody stage dominated by Sarcocornia fruticosa, Suaeda pruinosa, Zygophyllum album and Halocnemum strobilaceum.…”

“…Mesembryanthemum, Sarcocornia, Suaeda, Spergularia and Cakile maritima). Such pioneer species are known to produce high amount of seeds (Davy et al, 2001;Erfanzadeh et al, 2010;Wolters and Bakker, 2002;Zaplata et al, 2011). In the last year (2010) the proportion of the perennial species seemed to be partially stable, while that of the therophytes was still increased.…”

“…In the last year (2010) the proportion of the perennial species seemed to be partially stable, while that of the therophytes was still increased. Dominance of therophytes in the first year seems to be a response to substrate condition, where the succession started on harsh, naked and moist-saline soil (El-Sheikh, 2005;Erfanzadeh et al, 2010;Shaltout and Al-Sodany, 2008;Shaltout and Galal, 2006). The concentration of annuals in the last year still exceeded that of the perennials due to exposure of some of stands to local disturbances by degradation and surface soil (and plant) removal.…”

“…The concentration of annuals in the last year still exceeded that of the perennials due to exposure of some of stands to local disturbances by degradation and surface soil (and plant) removal. Thus, these stands could be occupied again by short-lived annuals (Collins et al, 2001;El-Sheikh, 2005;Erfanzadeh et al, 2010). In addition, the lower salinity in substrate in the last year than in the first year (reduction from 55.6 to 11.5 mS/cm) gave chance to many glycophytic annual herbs, grasses and forbs for colonizing (Rubio-Casal et al, 2003).…”