Characteristics of Soil Seed Banks of Typical Plant Communities in Hilly Area of Funiu Mountain

Abstract

[Objectives] The purpose was to investigate the characteristics of soil seed bank of typical plant communities in hilly area of Funiu Mountain. [Methods] The seed density, number of species and species composition of the soil seed bank of typical plant communities such as Themeda japonica, Imperata cylindrica, Vitex negundo, Quercus acutissima, Robinia pseudoacacia, Platycladus orientalis and Populus canadensis in the surface, top 0-5 and top 5-10 cm soil were studied. [Results] The seed reserves of plant communities at different succession stages were (220.00±95.39) – (2 650.00±1 064.52) seeds/m2. A total of 48 species were counted in the seed bank, belonging to 45 genera in 22 families. Total 27 species were identified in the above-ground vegetation, belonging to 25 genera in 14 families. In the shallow soil where the seeds gathered, the seed densities of Imperata cylindrica and Themeda japonica were relatively low. The reserves of plant communities with different naturalness degrees were (403.33±64.29) – (2 110.00±356.79) seeds/m2. A total of 67 species were counted in the seed bank, belonging to 64 genera in 37 families. A total of 45 species were identified in the above-ground vegetation, belonging to 43 genera in 28 families. In the soil layers of 0-5 and 5-10 cm, the seed density of natural secondary Q. acutissima was higher than those of planted P. canadensis, P. orientalis and R. pseudoacacia. In each soil layer, the species number of natural secondary Q. acutissima forest was slightly smaller than those of planted P. canadensis, P. orientalis and R. pseudoacacia forests. [Conclusions] The seeds in the soil seed bank may not completely come from existing above-ground vegetation. Manual assistance is required for vegetation restoration or reconstruction relying on soil seed bank, to ensure the direction of community succession.