The soil seedbank of a lowland conifer forest: The impacts of clear-fell management and implications for heathland restoration

Eycott, Amy E.; Watkinson, Andrew R.; Dolman, Paul M.

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2006.09.051

Cited by 24 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Devlaeminck et al (2005) and Lewis (1973) suggested that, in addition to other soil properties, pH could influence seed banks through effects on seed preservation. Eycott et al (2006b) found seed bank species richness showed a positive correlation with pH in Thetford forest (a UK pine-dominated lowland plantation) and Augusto et al (2001), despite noting that stand type was the main influence on determining species richness, found that under similar stands (oak, pine and spruce), their Haye sampling site (pH 4.8) had greater seed bank species richness than the more acidic woodland of La Petite-Pierre (pH 3.7). These results suggest that in areas where little or no ground vegetation is present, pH could act as a proxy variable to identify areas where seed bank species richness may be relatively higher.…”

Section: Variables Explaining Observed Species Richnessmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…The three significant factors are pH, depth in the soil and time since the most recent planting/disturbance event (when two dates are known for a site). An increase in pH is known to positively affect the species richness of above-ground vegetation (Kirby 1988;Bruelheide and Udelhoven 2005;De Keersmaeker et al 2004;Eycott et al 2006b). The current model finds this trend extends to seed banks as well as above-ground vegetation (increasing species richness is observed with increasing pH, P = 0.0001).…”

Section: Variables Explaining Observed Species Richnessmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The current model finds this trend extends to seed banks as well as above-ground vegetation (increasing species richness is observed with increasing pH, P = 0.0001). Although the influence of pH on seed banks has been mooted as an important factor by several authors (Brown and Oosterhuis 1981;Devlaeminck et al 2005;Eycott et al 2006b), to date it has not been combined with other factors in a model. Brown and Oosterhuis (1981) found a significant positive correlation (r = 0.58) between pH and seed bank species numbers in abandoned coppice woods in the UK.…”

Section: Variables Explaining Observed Species Richnessmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Factors determining species richness of soil seed banks in lowland ancient woodlands

et al. 2010

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The demise of coppicing in UK ancient woodlands, combined with the planting of non-native, fast-growing conifers in the twentieth century, heightens the potential recharge value of ground flora seed banks. Soil cores from adjoining semi-natural and conifer-containing stands in four lowland ancient woods in central England were removed to establish seed bank species richness. During a fourteen-month germination trial soil from two depths yielded 6554 seedlings from 81 species, ten of which showed a strong affinity for ancient woodland conditions. Juncus effusus accounted for 80 of emergent seeds whilst 23 other species, including Lysimachia nummularia and Potentilla sterilis, were represented by only one individual. Species richness is described by a model that explains 40 of observed variance (P < 0.00001). The model has three significant variables: species richness increases as soil pH rises, and decreases with both depth and increasing time since the most recent planting/disturbance event. No difference was found in the density of seeds from species common to paired semi-natural and conifer-containing stands that were separated only by a woodland ride, suggesting prior management and environmental conditions have a greater influence on seed banks than current stand type. SÃ¸rensen similarity index values revealed poor congruence between above-ground vegetation and species in the seed bank. Taking pH measurements in conifer stands identified as younger in terms of planting/disturbance may help locate areas where greater numbers of species (including woodland specialists) are located. Caution is required, however, as these seed banks may also contain non-target, competitive species that may swamp the regeneration of woodland specialists. Â© 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V

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Section: Variables Explaining Observed Species Richnessmentioning

confidence: 91%

Section: Variables Explaining Observed Species Richnessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Variables Explaining Observed Species Richnessmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Factors determining species richness of soil seed banks in lowland ancient woodlands

et al. 2010

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“…The short rotations, pruning, and thinning of plantation stands may favor grassland species, which are present especially early in the rotation (YF) and after thinning (OF). Grassland plants may persist through the rotation cycle if they can survive beneath a forest canopy, or may recolonize a site following thinning or harvest from stored seed or through seed dispersal (Eycott et al 2006).…”

Section: Recoverymentioning

confidence: 99%

Vegetation dynamics in a novel ecosystem: agroforestry effects on grassland vegetation in Uruguay

2014

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Abstract. Human activities have resulted in novel ecosystems around the globe, but many of these ecosystems are poorly understood, particularly when multiple disturbances interact to create novel combinations of species. The Campos ecoregion of South America is one of the most extensive grasslands globally, yet is unique in the fact that there has been little historical evidence of herbivory or fire that traditionally maintain grassland ecosystems. Livestock were introduced several centuries ago, and afforestation began several decades ago. Introducing afforestation to an already grazed system can further alter light conditions, soil characteristics, and moisture regimes, which may result in decreased species richness, increased plant species introductions, and altered abundances of grasses, herbs, and woody species. We examined agroforestry management cycle effects on vegetation species richness, frequency, and composition in Eucalyptus grandis plantations, studying five phases of the management cycle (grassland, young forest, mid-stage forest, old forest, and post-harvest). At each of 25 sites, we recorded species presence in 40 quadrats (1 m 2 ) and categorized species by origin (native or introduced) and life form (annual graminoid, annual herb, perennial graminoid, perennial herb, woody, or fern). Impacts on species richness and composition were greatest in mid-stage forests. The proportion of introduced species did not differ by management phase. Life form categories responded strongly but differently to management phases. Our research suggests that afforestation initially reduces vegetation richness and alters composition from that in grasslands, although there is considerable recovery following thinning and tree harvest. Factors that enhance recovery in this system include the presence of disturbance-adapted vegetation, proximity to remnant grassland patches, and the short rotation cycles of plantation forests. Further research is needed to understand the effects of multiple rotations, effects of afforestation on taxa other than plants, and consequences of landscape fragmentation across the Campos. While our research suggests that afforestation has created a novel ecosystem that is a variant of the system that evolved under long-term grazing, the extent to which this new condition will evolve over time with the continued presence of grazing and repeated forest management cycles remains unknown.

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“…Although this density is low compared to direct seed input from plants with high fecundity, or to the buried seed pool (Eycott et al 2006b), endozoochory nevertheless represents an important potential source of species enrichment in individual stands and functions as an agent of local and regional population dispersal. This may facilitate the persistence of a number of plant species in rotational clearfell forestry.…”

Section: Seed Inputmentioning

confidence: 99%

The dispersal of vascular plants in a forest mosaic by a guild of mammalian herbivores

et al. 2007

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Endozochorous seed dispersal by herbivores can affect plant spatial dynamics and macroecological patterns. We have investigated the number and species composition of viable seeds deposited in faeces of a full guild of macroherbivores (four deer and two lagomorph species) in a forest in eastern Britain. One hundred and one plant species germinated from faecal pellet material, 85 of which were among the 247 vascular plant species recorded in the forest. However, three species - Chenopodium album, Urtica dioica and Agrostis stolonifera - comprised 56% of the seedlings recorded. Of the species recorded in faecal samples, 36% had no recognised dispersal mechanism, while very few (7%) were adapted to endozoochorous dispersal (fleshy fruit or nut). The number of species dispersed by the herbivores was ranked Cervus elaphus and Dama dama (96) > Capreolus capreolus (40) > Muntiacus reevesi (31) > Oryctolagus cuniculus (21) > Lepus europaeus (19), with the other taxa dispersing subsets of those dispersed by C. elpahus and D. dama. The invasive M. reevesi deposited the fewest seeds per gram of faecal pellet material (0.4 g(-1)) and hence fewer seeds per unit area than other deer species despite their numerical dominance, while C. elaphus/D. dama deposited the most (0.43 seeds m(-2) year(-1)). Due to differences in faecal seed density among habitats combined with the ranging behaviour of animals, more seeds were deposited in younger stands, enhancing the potential contribution of macroherbivores to population persistence by dispersal and colonisation in a successional mosaic.

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The soil seedbank of a lowland conifer forest: The impacts of clear-fell management and implications for heathland restoration

Cited by 24 publications

References 31 publications

Factors determining species richness of soil seed banks in lowland ancient woodlands

Factors determining species richness of soil seed banks in lowland ancient woodlands

Vegetation dynamics in a novel ecosystem: agroforestry effects on grassland vegetation in Uruguay

The dispersal of vascular plants in a forest mosaic by a guild of mammalian herbivores

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