Journal
ACTA OECOLOGICA-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
Volume 35, Issue 5, Pages 758-762Publisher
GAUTHIER-VILLARS/EDITIONS ELSEVIER
DOI: 10.1016/j.actao.2009.08.005
Keywords
Biotic resistance; Grasslands; Seed bank; Seed persistence
Categories
Funding
- National Science Foundation [DEB 0444217]
- National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis
- National Science Foundation
- UC Campus
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We examined seed survival in exotic- and native-dominated grasslands by placing seeds of a once-pervasive native grass species, Nassella pulchra, and two of the most common, widespread exotic grass species, Avena fatua and Bromus hordeaceus, in mesh bags in the field for 3 months. Compared to germination of unexposed seeds not placed in the field, exotic species experienced an approximately 40% reduction in viability, whereas the mortality experienced by the native species was < 20%. Despite these differences, germination rates of exposed seeds were similar between native and exotic species because native N. pulchra seeds had lower initial viability prior to entering the seed bank. Seed mortality did not differ based on whether seeds were placed in habitats dominated by exotic or native grasses. Rather, our results suggest that re-establishment of native N. pulchra must focus on maximizing seed viability and survival, and that A. fatua and B. hordeaceus overcome relatively higher losses of viable seeds in the seed bank, potentially by producing large numbers of highly viable seeds. (C) 2009 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.
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