Seed rain and soil seed bank in Chinese fir plantations and an adjacent natural forest in southern China: Implications for the regeneration of native species

Ecology and Evolution

Mulualem Tigabu¹  Chenxi Zhu¹  Qingqing Liu¹  Zhijun Huang¹  Zongming He¹  Zhengning Wang²  Bo Liu²  Zhigang Liu³  Yuhui Liu⁴ 

[1] College of Forestry Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University Fuzhou China;College of Life Sciences Qufu Normal University Qufu China;Forestry Bureau of Xinxiang Xinxiang China;Xinkou Teaching Forest Farm Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University Sanming China;

关键词: afforestation;    conifers;    ecological restoration;    mixed plantation;    Sørensen similarity index;    subtropical forests;   

DOI  :  10.1002/ece3.8539

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract The natural regeneration of native broadleaved species underneath forest monoculture plantations is important to recover ecosystem functions and to mitigate adverse environmental effects. To understand how seed rain and soil seed bank facilitate natural regeneration, we surveyed their density and composition in a monoculture Chinese fir plantation, a mixed Chinese fir–broadleaf plantation, and an adjacent natural broadleaved forest for two years in southern China. Twenty‐eight species (16 families) were in seed rain, and 45 species (27 families) were in soil seed bank. Seed rain density did not differ significantly across stands; however, the number of taxa in seed rain was highest in the mixed plantation and lowest in the natural forest. Seed bank density was significantly higher in the mixed plantation than in the other stands (p < .05). The Sørensen similarity index of species composition between seed sources and aboveground vegetation were relatively low (<.50). The seeds of various native tree species were common in the seed bank of the plantations, indicating that seed rain and seed bank played an important role in native forest regeneration. We recommend that managers interested in sustainable forestry should take into consideration the presence of existing soil seed bank when developing their management strategies. In addition, with regard to forest regeneration process, we also recommend supplementation of the species composition by direct seeding or planting of desired species.

【 授权许可】

Unknown