INVESTIGADORES
LOPEZ DE CASENAVE Javier Nestor
artículos
Título:
Soil seed bank composition over desert microhabitats: patterns and plausible mechanisms
Autor/es:
L. MARONE; V. R. CUETO; F. A. MILESI; J. LOPEZ DE CASENAVE
Revista:
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY
Editorial:
National Research Council Canada
Referencias:
Año: 2004 vol. 82 p. 1809 - 1816
ISSN:
0008-4026
Resumen:
We assessed soil seed bank composition and size over several microhabitats of two habitats of the central
Monte Desert of Argentina (open Prosopis woodland and Larrea shrubland) to analyse differences among them. Seed
densities were similar to those already reported for other deserts, but we found consistent differences in seed composition
among microhabitats. Whereas grass seeds (e.g., Aristida, Pappophorum, Neobouteloua, Trichloris, Digitaria) prevailed
in natural depressions of open areas, forb seeds (e.g., Phacelia, Lappula, Descurainia, Plantago, Chenopodium)
were more abundant under trees. The comparison of seed production during primary dispersal (i.e., seed rain) with seed
density on the ground at the end of dispersal indicated that most forb seeds entered the habitat through the microhabitats
located beneath the canopy of trees and tall shrubs, and remained there after redistribution. Most grass seeds,
by contrast, entered it through bare-soil and under-grass microhabitats, and reached more even distributions after secondary
dispersal, especially because of dramatic losses in bare soil. Patterns of plant recruitment and seed dynamics in
specific microhabitats were better understood when differences of soil seed bank composition, but not of total seed
density, were taken into account.Prosopis woodland and Larrea shrubland) to analyse differences among them. Seed
densities were similar to those already reported for other deserts, but we found consistent differences in seed composition
among microhabitats. Whereas grass seeds (e.g., Aristida, Pappophorum, Neobouteloua, Trichloris, Digitaria) prevailed
in natural depressions of open areas, forb seeds (e.g., Phacelia, Lappula, Descurainia, Plantago, Chenopodium)
were more abundant under trees. The comparison of seed production during primary dispersal (i.e., seed rain) with seed
density on the ground at the end of dispersal indicated that most forb seeds entered the habitat through the microhabitats
located beneath the canopy of trees and tall shrubs, and remained there after redistribution. Most grass seeds,
by contrast, entered it through bare-soil and under-grass microhabitats, and reached more even distributions after secondary
dispersal, especially because of dramatic losses in bare soil. Patterns of plant recruitment and seed dynamics in
specific microhabitats were better understood when differences of soil seed bank composition, but not of total seed
density, were taken into account.Aristida, Pappophorum, Neobouteloua, Trichloris, Digitaria) prevailed
in natural depressions of open areas, forb seeds (e.g., Phacelia, Lappula, Descurainia, Plantago, Chenopodium)
were more abundant under trees. The comparison of seed production during primary dispersal (i.e., seed rain) with seed
density on the ground at the end of dispersal indicated that most forb seeds entered the habitat through the microhabitats
located beneath the canopy of trees and tall shrubs, and remained there after redistribution. Most grass seeds,
by contrast, entered it through bare-soil and under-grass microhabitats, and reached more even distributions after secondary
dispersal, especially because of dramatic losses in bare soil. Patterns of plant recruitment and seed dynamics in
specific microhabitats were better understood when differences of soil seed bank composition, but not of total seed
density, were taken into account.Phacelia, Lappula, Descurainia, Plantago, Chenopodium)
were more abundant under trees. The comparison of seed production during primary dispersal (i.e., seed rain) with seed
density on the ground at the end of dispersal indicated that most forb seeds entered the habitat through the microhabitats
located beneath the canopy of trees and tall shrubs, and remained there after redistribution. Most grass seeds,
by contrast, entered it through bare-soil and under-grass microhabitats, and reached more even distributions after secondary
dispersal, especially because of dramatic losses in bare soil. Patterns of plant recruitment and seed dynamics in
specific microhabitats were better understood when differences of soil seed bank composition, but not of total seed
density, were taken into account.