Soil seed bank and driftline composition along a successional gradient on a temperate salt marsh

This study focuses on the relationship between vegetation succession and soil seed bank composition on the Schiermonnikoog (The Netherlands) salt marsh over 100 yr. The importance of driftline material in seed dispersal and the relationship with succession is also investigated. The results indicate that the majority of species have a transient or short-term seed persistent bank. Seeds of most species are able to float over the salt marsh and become concentrated in the driftline higher up the marsh. After plants have established a seed bank, forms, which disappears when vegetation is replaced by later-successional species. Exceptions are Spergularia maritima,which is still present in the seed bank of late successional stages. and Juncus gerardi and Glaax maritima, which appear in the seed bank of early successional stages, but are absent in the vegetation. Based on the results of this study constraints and possibilities for salt-marsh restoration by de-embankment are discussed

Astroturf seed traps for studying hydrochory

1. Astroturf mats can effectively trap diaspores dispersed by tidal water. 2. Within four tidal inundations, up to 745 propagules per m(2) and between three and eight different species per astroturf mat were trapped. Overall, 15 different species were collected on the astroturf mats, 10 of which were also present in the local vegetation. The other five species must have come from further away, making the method also suitable for studying long-distance dispersal. 3. The seed-retaining ability of the astroturf did not differ significantly for species with different seed characteristics. 4. The method will be useful for assessing actual seed dispersal at specific sites and over specific periods of time, and has particular relevance in predicting and evaluating the success of ecological restoration projects