Seed bank dynamics in tall-tussock grasslands along an altitudinal gradient

FUNES, G.; BASCONCELO, S; DÍAZ, S.; CABIDO, M.

JOURNAL OF VEGETATION SCIENCE

Opulus Press

Lugar: Grangärde, Suecia; Año: 2003 vol. 14 p. 253 - 258

1100-9233

Abstract. We studied the germinable soil seed bank of tall-tussock grasslands along an altitudinal gradient in the mountains of central Argentina. We selected 10 sampling plots at three altitudinal levels (1200 m, 1600 m and 2200 m). We assessed the composition of the established vegetation and took ten compound soil samples (0-5 cm depth) at each plot in autumn and spring. The soil samples were sieved, chilled, and incubated in a greenhouse to assess the composition of the seed bank. The similarity between the composition of the seed bank flora and that of the established vegetation was low throughout the gradient. Most species did not change their seed bank strategy along the altitudinal gradient. Seed bank richness and density increased with altitude. Persistent seed bank was the most frequent strategy at all altitudinal levels, and the proportion of species with persistent seed banks showed a tendency to increase with altitude. These results suggest that cold climatic condition directly and/or indirectly favour the formation of seed banks and seed persistence in the soil.   Keywords: Argentina; seed persistence; soil seed bank.