Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Majda K. Suleiman, Arvind Bhatt, Sheena Jacob, Rini R. Thomas, Mini T. Sivadasan
Summary: The formation of soil seed banks is crucial for the survival of desert plant species. Stored seeds show higher germination percentages and changed light requirement for germination compared to fresh seeds. Additionally, stored seeds can persist in soil seed banks, offering great potential for maintaining and restoring desert ecosystems.
Article
Agronomy
Hongmei Liu, Yanling Wu, Yingxin Li, Shijie Lv, Zhijun Wei, Baorui Chen, Lijun Xu, Guixia Yang, Xiaoping Xin, Ruirui Yan
Summary: This study compares the germinable seed bank in the soil and the germination characteristics of Leymus chinensis in free-grazing and enclosed areas. The results show that free-grazing increases the number of germinable L. chinensis seeds and advances the initial germination time. Livestock grazing behaviors also improve the germination rate.
Article
Plant Sciences
Yongjie Liu, Shuang Zhang, Hans J. De Boeck, Fujiang Hou
Summary: Temperature and salinity have significant effects on seed germination, but the sensitivity to these factors varies among plant species. Festuca arundinacea is less sensitive to temperature and salinity, while Bromus inermis and Elymus breviaristatus are sensitive to high salinity levels. These findings can enhance our understanding of seed germination in saline soils under changing climate conditions.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Martin Faucher, Seraphine Grellier, Clemence Chaudron, Jean-Louis Janeau, Gabrielle Rudi, Fabrice Vinatier
Summary: The Mediterranean region is expected to experience more intense rainfall events and severe droughts due to climate change, leading to an increase in runoff and erosion rates in agrosystems. Vegetation cover can help reduce erosion and the soil seed bank can provide cost-effective vegetation. This study assessed the effect of vegetation cover on seed loss in vineyards and evaluated the differences in the soil seed bank along a transect. The results suggest that vegetation may not protect interrows from runoff-induced seed loss.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Joanna M. Garaventa, V. Thomas Parker
Summary: The research revealed a clear relationship between A. fasciculatum and resident and migratory granivores in the chaparral, as well as the significant role of seed banks in vegetation recovery following fires. The 8-month seed rain duration with over 1 million seeds per square meter, multiple seed predators including passerines and rodents, and the potential role of native ants in seed dispersal were documented. The study also showed that a 39-year-old stand had higher germination rates than stands of different ages, emphasizing the importance of seed banks in ensuring resilience.
Article
Horticulture
Meng Ge, Xiaoli Wei
Summary: This study explored the driving factors of seed germination by studying the time series changes of spermosphere bacterial communities in different germination stages of Ormosia henryi seeds. The results showed that both soil nutrients and abundance and species of spermosphere bacteria affected the seed germination rate. The functions of spermosphere bacteria, such as degradation and bioremediation, were enhanced during seed germination. This study revealed the importance of spermosphere bacteria in seed germination.
SCIENTIA HORTICULTURAE
(2024)
Review
Agronomy
Ademola Emmanuel Adetunji, Tomi Lois Adetunji, Boby Varghese, Sershen, Norman W. Pammenter
Summary: The maintenance of seed quality during long-term conservation is crucial for averting food crises linked to climate change and rising population. Various invigoration techniques have been developed to mitigate the detrimental effects of seed ageing, with an urgent need to explore these techniques effectively to enhance crop productivity and resilience.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Cheng-Huan Wang, Zhen-Lin Yu, Yuerenisha Yasenjiang, Long Tang, Yang Gao, Chun-Jing Zou
Summary: Plant community assembly is a key aspect in community ecology, as interspecific interactions can be influenced by the traits of plants at different life stages. Seeds can affect the germination performance of neighbors through allelopathy and salinity modification. Understanding seed-to-seed interactions is crucial for comprehending community dynamics, species diversity maintenance, and alien species invasion in coastal wetlands.
Article
Plant Sciences
Deived Uilian de Carvalho, Daniel A. Boakye, Tim Gast, Rui Pereira Leite Junior, Fernando Alferez
Summary: The maturity of citrus rootstock fruits affects seed quality and seedling performance, influencing seed germination and seedling growth.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Jinfeng Zhao, Yan Ma, Kaicheng Yong, Min Zhu, Yueqi Wang, Zhaowei Luo, Xin Wei, Xuehui Huang
Summary: This article develops a convolutional neural network (YOLO-r) that can detect the germination status of rice seeds and automatically evaluate the total number of germinations. YOLO-r utilizes image partition, the Transformer encoder, a small target detection layer, and CDIoU loss to improve detection accuracy. Experimental results show that YOLO-r achieves a mean average precision of 0.9539, higher than other compared models. The average detection time per image of YOLO-r is 0.011 seconds, meeting real-time requirements. YOLO-r demonstrates robustness to complex situations and achieves a mean absolute error within 0.1 for predicted germination rate.
JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
(2023)
Article
Horticulture
Naeimeh Sousaraei, Benjamin Torabi, Kambiz Mashaiekhi, Elias Soltani, Seyyed Javad Mousavizadeh
Summary: Landraces have evolved through adaptation to their natural environment, with differences in heat and cold tolerance based on the mean annual temperatures of their growing regions. The study found significant relationships between long-term annual air temperature and cumulative temperature response indices, demonstrating adaptation to environmental conditions.
SCIENTIA HORTICULTURAE
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Ruirui Yan, Tianqi Yu, Hongmei Liu, Shijie Lv, Baorui Chen, Yanling Wu, Guoping Que, Zhijun Wei, Lijun Xu, Xiaoyu Zhu, Guixia Yang, Xiaoping Xin
Summary: This study compared the effects of different grassland utilization methods on soil seed banks and found that grazing and enclosure increased seed bank content, while mowing reduced it. Grazing had the greatest impact on the density of perennial grass seed banks, while mowing mainly affected the seed bank of upper growth grasses.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Tereza Maskova, Peter Poschlod
Summary: Seed persistence in the soil is crucial for population dynamics. This study found that burial depth and species-specific seed traits affect soil seed persistence, with dormant seeds having lower viability and light and temperature requirements impacting seed persistence.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Horticulture
Faisal Zulfiqar
Summary: Seed priming is a crucial technique that enhances plant stress tolerance and growth development. Current research highlights major technological gaps that need to be addressed in future studies.
SCIENTIA HORTICULTURAE
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Hamidreza Balouchi, Vida Soltani Khankahdani, Ali Moradi, Majid Gholamhoseini, Ramin Piri, Seyedeh Zahra Heydari, Beata Dedicova
Summary: Seed fatty acid composition affects seed quality and germination, and different cultivars show different reactions to environmental conditions. Temperature and water potential also play a significant role in seed germination and growth.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Monique Nunes, Daniel A. Lemley, Janine B. Adams
Summary: This study investigated the benthic diatom community structure in two eutrophic, microtidal estuaries impacted by wastewater effluent discharges. The results showed that nutrient loading was the primary stressor, while salinity and river inflow were secondary stressors. The study highlights the importance of managing microtidal, low-inflow estuaries towards a natural dynamic state.
ESTUARIES AND COASTS
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Manuela Amone-Mabuto, Johan Hollander, Blandina Lugendo, Janine Barbara Adams, Salomao Bandeira
Summary: This study presents a field experiment from Mozambique on the disturbance-and-recovery effects of the highly impacted seagrass species Zostera capensis. The results show that once anthropogenic impacts are halted, the seagrass meadows can restore themselves within 12 months. In addition, a manual restoration method, the plug method, was found to greatly improve the survival rate of seagrass transplantation projects.
NORDIC JOURNAL OF BOTANY
(2023)
Review
Marine & Freshwater Biology
L. Claassens, J. B. Adams, N. M. de Villiers, J. Wasserman, A. K. Whitfield
Summary: Major threats to South African estuaries include alterations in freshwater flow, urbanization, habitat transformation, deteriorating water quality, biological invasions, and resource over-exploitation. Although estuary restoration is still in its early stages, valuable lessons have been learned from past efforts. Common interventions to address declining estuary health include artificial management of estuary mouths and the use of artificial structures to restore tidal action and remediate erosion damage. The implementation of a national strategy and active restoration measures are crucial for successful restoration.
AFRICAN JOURNAL OF AQUATIC SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Alan K. Whitfield, Bruce Q. Mann
Summary: This review examines the life-history styles of eight similar-looking sparid species in South Africa's nearshore coastal waters, highlighting their similarities and differences. While all eight species spawn at sea, two of them rely on estuaries as primary nursery areas. Four species have a majority of their juveniles on the coastal shelf, with only a small percentage in estuaries. Additionally, each species has different geographic distributions and growth rates. Overall, the Sparidae family is successfully colonizing South African estuaries and adjacent coastal shelf waters, making them a dominant fish family in terms of number and biomass.
ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY OF FISHES
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
J. Wasserman, L. R. D. Human, J. B. Adams
Summary: This study assessed the carbon stocks in the endangered seagrass Zostera capensis in three estuaries in South Africa. The results showed that the average biomass carbon storage was 2.39 Mg C ha-1 and 177.65 Mg C ha-1 was estimated in the top meter of sediment. The sediment organic carbon content was lower than the global seagrass average but within the range reported for other Zostera species, with significant spatial variability within and between estuaries.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Alan K. Whitfield, Ian C. Potter, Francisco J. Neira, Edward D. Houde
Summary: This article reviews published research on the ingress of larvae and early juveniles of marine fishes into different types of estuaries subjected to various tidal regimes. The abilities and responses of these early-life stages to the physico-chemical, hydrodynamic, and biological drivers that facilitate ingress are discussed. The importance of olfactory cues, vertical migratory behaviors, and selective tidal stream transport in the ingress of larvae and early juveniles into estuaries is emphasized.
FISH AND FISHERIES
(2023)
Review
Fisheries
Alan K. Whitfield, Jean-Dominique Durand
Summary: This review examines the distribution and species richness of the Mugilidae family across six continents and their phylogenetic relationships. Three regions with high mugilid species richness were identified: the Coral Triangle, southern Asia, and southern Africa. The Indo-Pacific region appears to be the center of mugilid evolution and global dispersion. Plate tectonics, sea-level changes, tropical climate, and habitat diversity within the Indo-Pacific region promoted species divergence within this family. The number of tropical mugilid species that reached Africa was greater than those reaching the Americas, likely due to direct coastal connectivity and transatlantic rafting events.
JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Alan K. Whitfield, Edward D. Houde, Francisco J. Neira, Ian C. Potter
Summary: This article reviews the dependence of two major groups of fishes, estuary-associated marine species and diadromous species, on connectivity and use of estuaries. It emphasizes the importance of freshwater-estuarine-marine connectivity to the life cycles of these species and discusses the potential consequences of global climate change on estuarine connectivity and fish assemblages. The article highlights the substantial decline in fish abundance and explores possible research directions for restoring connectivity.
ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY OF FISHES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Janine B. Adams, Susan Taljaard, Lara Van Niekerk
Summary: This review study investigated the response of low-inflow estuaries (LIEs) to dam releases and found that successful releases can improve ecological health, estuary function, and provide societal benefits. Baseflow inputs and flow pulse releases were important for maintaining estuary water quality gradients and stimulating fish spawning migrations. Holistic and adaptive restoration approaches, as well as community engagement and cooperation between agencies, were key factors for success. However, the management solution for LIEs is threatened by water abstraction, over allocation, competing water uses, and droughts.
ESTUARIES AND COASTS
(2023)
Article
Oceanography
M. Amone-Mabuto, M. Mubai, S. Bandeira, M. S. Shalli, J. B. Adams, B. R. Lugendo, J. Hollander
Summary: Seagrass meadows provide important ecosystem services to coastal communities, but they are among the least conserved marine ecosystems globally. This study used social research methods to explore the association between seagrass ecosystem services and the perceptions of coastal communities, and found a high level of awareness by local communities concerning the values and socio-ecological function of seagrass meadows.
OCEAN & COASTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Susan Taljaard, Lara van Niekerk, Janine B. Adams, Taryn Riddin
Summary: The study applies the ecosystem accounting approach at the individual estuary level for the first time. Spatially explicit information on ecosystem assets and their services is provided to support resource management. Physical accounts include extent and condition, as well as ecosystem service and pressure accounts. These accounts inform estuary management and restoration at the local governance level.
SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Marine & Freshwater Biology
A. K. Whitfield, B. Q. Mann
Summary: This review examines the changing status of 10 estuary-dependent marine fish species in 10 South African estuarine systems. The causes of the declines varied from one system to another, with recreational and small-scale/subsistence fishing being a common pressure. Two out of six primary linefish species have been categorized as overexploited, and four species have reached a collapsed level. Two of those species have been officially categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
AFRICAN JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Alan K. Whitfield
Summary: This review examines the transition process of coastal micro-outlets to micro-estuaries and further to functional estuaries of different types. The South African coastline has a wide range of microsystems, covering various sizes of micro-outlets, micro-estuaries in the process of becoming estuarine systems, and fully functional estuaries. The impact of sea-level rise and fall, as well as the construction of artificial concrete canal outlets, are also discussed.
AFRICAN JOURNAL OF AQUATIC SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Fisheries
Alan K. Whitfield
Summary: This review assesses the life cycles of estuarine resident fish species in South African estuaries, identifying a potential new category of estuarine residents and examining the reproductive characteristics employed by these species. The review highlights the small size and early reproductive maturity of estuarine residents, their vulnerability to predation in open ocean versus sheltered estuary waters, and the presence of contingent subpopulations within many species.
JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jeffrey M. Schell, Deborah S. Goodwin, Rebecca H. Volk, Amy N. S. Siuda
Summary: Understanding the environmental tolerances and growth rates of different species of macroalgae is crucial for predicting their spatial and temporal dynamics. This study found that different morphotypes of Sargassum exhibited varying responses to temperature and salinity conditions.
Article
Plant Sciences
Erika Valzauez-Delfin, Carmen Galindo-De Santiago, Arely Paredes-Chi, Ameyalli Rios-Vazquez, Ana Benavides-Lahnstein, Kaysara Khatun, Juliet Brodie
Summary: Massive strandings of seaweed on the eastern coasts of the Yucat ' an peninsula, Mexico have become a major socioecological problem. A citizen science initiative, Big Seaweed Search Mexico (BSS-Mx), was developed to monitor temporal changes in the biomass stranded. The results represent baseline information that should be considered to develop management strategies and marine conservation actions according to each region.
Review
Plant Sciences
Lee H. Dietterich, Suhey Ortiz Rosa, Bianca R. Charbonneau, S. Kyle McKay
Summary: Riverine macrophytes play crucial ecological roles in river ecosystems, but their growth models have received relatively limited attention compared to other aquatic or terrestrial plants. This systematic review reveals that current models often overlook important factors such as shading and the role of macrophytes in nutrient cycles. Future research should focus on exploring these factors and developing a conceptual framework to guide macrophyte growth modeling. Emphasizing modularity and accessibility is also important for improving efforts to model and manage riverine ecosystems.
Review
Plant Sciences
Alba Martin, Jordi Corbera, Oriol Cano, Catherine Preece, Josep Penuelas, Francesc Sabater, Marcos Fernandez-Martinez
Summary: Bryophytes can play a significant role in ecosystem processes and hold potential as bio-indicators for monitoring environmental pollution. This study examined the effects of NO3- pollution on the elemental composition of aquatic and semi-aquatic bryophytes and identified suitable species as bio-indicators. Higher NO3- concentrations were found in spring water from intense farming and urban areas, positively correlated with N content and delta N-15 isotope ratio in bryophytes. Apopellia endiviifolia and Oxyrrhynchium speciosum were highlighted as promising candidates for bio-indication of aquatic NO3- pollution.
Article
Plant Sciences
Christine B. Rohal, Carrie Reinhardt Adams, Charles W. Martin, Sarah Tevlin, Laura K. Reynolds
Summary: This study investigated the seed production, seed banking, and germination cues of sub-tropical Vallisneria americana. It was found that the seeds of sub-tropical populations were dormant and could only germinate in the presence of organic material, light, or following scarification. Germination rate was enhanced by the presence of low-oxygen organic sediments and ethanol. These findings suggest a germination strategy focused on exploiting openings in existing vegetation following disturbance.
Article
Plant Sciences
Fabiano Faga, Carlos Frederico Deluqui Gurgel
Summary: Climate change is altering the distribution of marine biota, including Sargassum species. Future changes in abiotic variables are predicted to cause shifts in the latitudinal range and suitability area of Sargassum species. These changes may have significant impacts on marine ecosystems.
Article
Plant Sciences
Ulo Mander, Martin Maddison, Alex C. Valach, Kaido Soosaar, Keit Kill, Kuno Kasak
Summary: Constructed wetlands treating runoff from agricultural catchments can reduce nutrient load of water, but they can also be significant sources of greenhouse gases, especially methane. This study assessed methane emission potentials and phosphorus removal efficiency in a 0.45 ha in-stream surface flow constructed wetland, and analyzed the temporal dynamics of methane emissions and phosphorus removal over a nearly 4-year period. The results showed a clear seasonal dynamic in phosphorus removal efficiency and an increasing trend in methane emissions over the years, with the majority of methane fluxes occurring during the warm period. Maintenance of the wetland and regular removal of aboveground vegetation can reduce methane emissions, and regular sediment removal is also necessary due to phosphorus saturation.
Article
Plant Sciences
Monsif El Madany, Mustapha Hassoun, Fatima El Aamri, Noureddine El Mtili
Summary: The non-indigenous brown alga Rugulopteryx okamurae is invading and proliferating massively in the northwest of Morocco, including the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean.
Article
Plant Sciences
Jessa May Malanguis, Tim Sierens, Ludwig Triest
Summary: This study demonstrates the importance of movement ecology and dispersal mechanism in the dynamics and resilience of seagrass populations and ecosystems. The comparison of genetic diversity and fine-scaled structure of two co-occurring seagrass species reveals the significance of different survival strategies and reproductive modes. These findings have important implications for conservation efforts, suggesting the preservation of natural expansion and local seed recruitment for successful conservation.
Article
Plant Sciences
Zhi-Huan Chen, Rui Zhang, Jun-Cai Xin, Zi-Han Qian, Shu-Jie Wang, Shang-Yan Qiu, Xue-Ge He, Chao Si
Summary: Nutrient availability and light intensity play important roles in the expansion of amphibious clonal plants from terrestrial to aquatic habitats. High nutrient levels and light conditions promote the growth of the apical portions and overall performance of the clones. Maintaining clonal integration can benefit the expansion of the plants by optimizing resource utilization. These findings have implications for predicting community dynamics and vegetation restoration in ecotones like wetlands.
