Archives of Biological Sciences 2017 Volume 69, Issue 3, Pages: 513-522
https://doi.org/10.2298/ABS160722127K
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The effect of succession stage on seed rain and seedling recruitment in overgrown Molinia caeruleae meadows
Kostrakiewicz-Gierałt Kinga (Jagiellonian University, Institute of Botany, Department of Plant Ecology, Lubicz, Kraków, Poland)
Investigations into the effect of succession stage on seed rain and seedling
recruitment were conducted in Kraków-Kostrze (southern Poland) in 2014 and
2015. Observations were carried out in Molinia caeruleae meadows representing
early (Patch I), temporary (Patch II) and advanced (Patch III) stage of
secondary succession. Patch I was dominated by meadow species creating
delicate stems, Patch II abounded in large tussock grasses and tall-growing
rhizomatous grasses and Patch III was overgrown by willow shrubs and bordered
by trees. The number of seeds and taxa in the seed rain decreased gradually
in the successive study sites. Species resident in the standing vegetation
were the most abundantly represented in the seed rain and their share
augmented remarkably in Patch III, most likely due to its spatial isolation
by the surrounding shrubs and trees. The share of seedlings and taxa in
artificially made gaps in the plant cover and litter decreases along the
successional gradient. The majority of taxa appearing in the seedling pool of
all the patches occurred in the seed rain, while the taxa in the soil
seed-bank reserves were modestly represented only in Patches I and II.
Combining the obtained results and published data, it can be stated that,
being abundant in the seed rain, the best colonizers show the greatest
germination capability. Although the best colonizers are meadow taxa,
fast-growing weeds, trees as well as alien, invasive species also appeared in
the seedling pool.
Keywords: secondary succession, seed dispersal, seedling pool, species composition