Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-7cvxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-30T15:59:32.741Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Small-scale seed-bank patterns in a forest soil

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 November 2009

Jan Plue ,
Geertrui Goyens ,
Marc Van Meirvenne ,
Kris Verheyen  and
Martin Hermy
Jan Plue*
Affiliation:
Division for Forest, Nature and Landscape Research, Catholic University Leuven (KULeuven), Celestijnenlaan 200E, B-3001Belgium
Geertrui Goyens
Affiliation:
Division for Forest, Nature and Landscape Research, Catholic University Leuven (KULeuven), Celestijnenlaan 200E, B-3001Belgium
Marc Van Meirvenne
Affiliation:
Research Group Soil Spatial Inventory Techniques, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9090Belgium
Kris Verheyen
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Forestry, Ghent University, Geraardsbergsesteenweg 267, B-9090Belgium
Martin Hermy
Affiliation:
Division for Forest, Nature and Landscape Research, Catholic University Leuven (KULeuven), Celestijnenlaan 200E, B-3001Belgium
*
*Correspondence Fax: +3216329760 Email: Jan.plue@ees.kuleuven.be
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The forest seed bank has been demonstrated to vary spatially at scales from 2 to 10 m. To our knowledge, the fine-scale spatial structure, i.e. < 2 m, has not been studied before. This study aims to make a thorough investigation of fine-scale spatial structure. Soil samples (128) were collected from each of five 2.1 m × 2.1 m plots, using a combined systematic (64) and random design (64). This allowed investigation of the fine-scale spatial structure of individual species–plot combinations using indicator-variograms. Our results indicated that over half of all species recorded in a particular plot were spatially structured. Remarkably, the presence of spatial structure seemed independent of species frequency. Visualization of the spatial structure showed an irregular spatial pattern, i.e. seed clusters that were randomly distributed in space. Spatial dependence occurred over small distances, possibly suggesting that a significant proportion of seeds was deposited near the mother plant. We conclude by presenting the relevance and implications of small-scale spatial seed-bank patterning for seed-bank sampling.

Keywords

deciduous forestfine-scale spatial structuregeostatisticsindicator-variogramsampling implications
Type
Research Article
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 20 , Issue 1 , March 2010 , pp. 13 - 22
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ambrosio, L., Iglesias, L., Marin, C. and Del Monte, J.P. (2004) Evaluation of sampling methods and assessment of the sample size to estimate the weed seedbank in soil, taking into account spatial variability. Weed Research 44, 224–236.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Beatty, S.-W. (1984) Influence of microtopography and canopy species on spatial patterns of forest understory plants. Ecology 62, 1406–1419.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bengtson, P., Falkengren-Grerup, U. and Bengtsson, G. (2005) Spatial distribution of plants and gross N transformation rates in a forest soil. Journal of Ecology 94, 754–764.Google Scholar
Bigwood, D.W. and Inouye, D.W. (1988) Spatial pattern analysis of seed banks: an improved method and optimized sampling. Ecology 69, 497–507.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bossuyt, B. and Hermy, M. (2001) Influence of land use history on seed banks in European temperate forest ecosystems: a review. Ecography 24, 225–238.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Caballero, I., Olano, J.M., Loidi, J. and Escudero, A. (2008) A model for small-scale seed bank and standing vegetation connection along time. Oikos 117, 1788–1795.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cambardella, C.A., Moorman, T.B., Novak, J.M., Parkin, T.B., Karlen, D.L., Turco, R.F. and Konopka, A.E. (1994) Field-scale variability of soil properties in central Iowa soils. Soil Science Society of America Journal 58, 1501–1511.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Clark, C.J., Poulsen, J.R., Bolker, B.M., Connor, E.F. and Parker, V.T. (2005) Comparative seed shadows of bird-, monkey- and wind-dispersed trees. Ecology 86, 2684–2694.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cousens, R.D., Wiegand, T. and Taghizadeh, M.S. (2008) Small-scale spatial structure within patterns of seed dispersal. Oecologia 158, 437–448.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dassonville, N., Herremans, J.P. and Tanghe, M. (2006) Conservation value of Norway spruce clearcuts in the Wallon region: semi-natural habitat restoration from the soil seed bank. Acta Botanica Gallica 153, 201–218.Google Scholar
Dessaint, F., Chadoeuf, R. and Barralis, G. (1991) Spatial pattern analysis of weed seeds in the cultivated soil seed bank. Journal of Applied Ecology 28, 721–730.Google Scholar
Dutilleul, P. (1993) Spatial heterogeneity and the design of ecological field experiments. Ecology 74, 1646–1658.Google Scholar
Ehrlén, J. (1996) Spatiotemporal variation in predispersal seed predation intensity. Oecologia 108, 708–713.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fraterrigo, J.M., Turner, M.G. and Pearson, S.M. (2006) Interactions between past land use, life-history traits and understory spatial heterogeneity. Landscape Ecology 21, 777–790.Google Scholar
Goovaerts, P. (1997) Geostatistics for natural resources evaluation. New York, Oxford University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gross, K.L. (1980) Colonization by Verbascum thapsus (mullein) of an old-field in Michigan; experiments on the effects of vegetation. Journal of Ecology 68, 919–927.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hautala, H., Tolvanen, A. and Nuortila, C. (2008) Recovery of pristine boreal forest floor community after selective removal of understorey, ground and humus layers. Plant Ecology 194, 273–282.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hulme, P.E. (1998) Post-dispersal seed predation: consequences for plant demography and evolution. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 1, 32–46.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jankowska-Blaszczuk, M. and Grubb, P.J. (2006) Changing perspectives on the role of the soil seed bank in northern temperate deciduous forests and in tropical lowland rain forests: parallels and contrasts. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 8, 3–21.Google Scholar
Kalamees, R. and Zobel, M. (2002) The role of the seed bank in gap regeneration in a calcareous grassland community. Ecology 83, 1017–1025.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lambinon, J., De Langhe, J.-E., Delvosalle, L. and Duvigneaud, J. (1998) Flora van België, het Groothertogdom Luxemburg, Noord-Frankrijk en de aangrenzende gebieden (Pteridofyten en Spermatofyten) [in Dutch]. Belgium, Nationale plantentuin van België.Google Scholar
Lark, R.M. and Ferguson, R.B. (2004) Mapping risk of soil nutrient deficiency or excess by disjunctive and indicator kriging. Geoderma 118, 39–53.Google Scholar
Lavorel, S., Lepart, J., Debussche, M., Lebreton, J.D. and Beffy, J.L. (1994) Small-scale disturbances and the maintenance of species-diversity in Mediterranean old fields. Oikos 70, 455–473.Google Scholar
Lechowicz, M.J. and Bell, G. (1991) The ecology and genetics of fitness in forest plants. 2. Microspatial heterogeneity of the edaphic environment. Journal of Ecology 79, 687–696.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Legendre, P. (1993) Spatial autocorrelation: trouble or new paradigm? Ecology 74, 1659–1673.Google Scholar
Legendre, P. and Fortin, M.-J. (1989) Spatial pattern and ecological analysis. Vegetatio 80, 107–138.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Makarian, H., Rashed Mohassel, M.H., Bannayan, M. and Nassiri, M. (2007) Soil seed bank and seedling populations of Hordeum murinum and Cardaria draba in saffron fields. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 120, 307–312.Google Scholar
Matlack, G.R. and Good, R.E. (1990) Spatial heterogeneity in the soil seed bank of a mature Coastal Plain forest. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 117, 143–152.Google Scholar
Milcu, A., Schumacher, J. and Scheu, S. (2006) Earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris) affect plant seedling recruitment and microhabitat heterogeneity. Functional Ecology 20, 261–268.Google Scholar
Nathan, R. and Muller-Landau, H.C. (2000) Spatial patterns of seed dispersal, their determinants and consequences for recruitment. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 15, 278–285.Google Scholar
Olano, J.M., Caballero, I., Laskurain, N.A., Loidi, J. and Escudero, A. (2002) Seed bank spatial pattern in a temperate secondary forest. Journal of Vegetation Science 13, 775–784.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Olea, R.A. (2006) A six-step practical approach to semivariogram modelling. Stochastic Environmental Research and Risk Assessment 20, 307–318.Google Scholar
Pakeman, R.J. and Small, J.L. (2005) The role of the seed bank, seed rain and the timing of disturbance in gap regeneration. Journal of Vegetation Science 16, 121–130.Google Scholar
Pakeman, R.J., Attwood, J.P. and Engelen, J. (1998) Sources of plants colonizing experimentally disturbed patches in an acidic grassland, in eastern England. Journal of Ecology 86, 1032–1041.Google Scholar
Pannatier, Y. (1996) VARIOWIN: Software for spatial data analysis in 2D. New York, Springer-Verlag.Google Scholar
Plue, J., Dupouey, J.-L., Verheyen, K. and Hermy, M. (2009) Forest seed banks along an intensity gradient of ancient agriculture. Seed Science Research 19, 103–114.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reiné, R., Chocarro, C. and Fillat, F. (2006) Spatial patterns in seed bank and vegetation of semi-natural mountain meadows. Plant Ecology 186, 151–160.Google Scholar
Runkle, J.R. (1985) The disturbance regime in temperate forests. pp. 17–33in Pickett, S.T.A.; White, P.S. (Eds) The ecology of natural disturbance and patch dynamics. London, Academic Press.Google Scholar
Rydgren, K., Hestmark, G. and Økland, R.H. (1998) Revegetation following experimental disturbance in a boreal old-growth Picea abies forest. Journal of Vegetation Science 9, 763–776.Google Scholar
Sakai, A., Sato, S., Sakai, T., Kuramoto, S. and Tabushi, R. (2005) A soil seed bank in a mature conifer plantation and establishment of seedlings after clear-cutting in southwest Japan. Journal of Forest Research 10, 295–304.Google Scholar
Schelling, L.R. and McCarthy, B.C. (2007) Effects of prescribed fire and thinning on the spatial heterogeneity of the seed bank in a mixed oak forest. Natural Areas Journal 27, 320–331.Google Scholar
Simpson, R.L., Leck, M.A. and Parker, T. (1989) Seed banks: general concepts and methodological issues. pp. 3–8in Leck, M.A.; Parker, V.T.; Simpson, R.L. (Eds) Ecology of soil seed banks. London, Academic Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stein, M.L. (1988) Asymptotically efficient prediction of a random field with a misspecified covariance function. Annals of Statistics 16, 55–63.Google Scholar
Stortelder, A.H.F., Schaminee, J.H.J. and Hermy, M. (1999) Querco-Fagetea. pp. 287–331in Stortelder, A.H.F.; Schaminee, J.H.J.; Hommel, P.W.F.L.M. (Eds) Plantengemeenschappen van ruigten, struwelen en bossen [in Dutch]. Grangärde, Sweden, Opulus Press.Google Scholar
Thompson, K. (1986) Small-scale heterogeneity in the seed bank of an acidic grassland. Journal of Ecology 74, 733–738.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vander Wall, S.B., Kuhn, K.M. and Beck, M.J. (2005) Seed removal, seed predation and secondary dispersal. Ecology 86, 801–806.Google Scholar
Van Oijen, D., Feijen, M., Hommel, P., den Ouden, J. and de Waal, R. (2005) Effect of tree species composition on within-forest distribution of understorey species. Applied Vegetation Science 8, 155–166.Google Scholar
Webster, C.R. and Jenkins, M.A. (2008) Age structure and spatial patterning of Trillium populations in old-growth forests. Plant Ecology 199, 43–54.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Webster, R. and Oliver, M.A. (2007) Geostatistics for environmental scientists (2nd edition). Chichester, UK, John Wiley and Sons.Google Scholar