000106617 001__ 106617 000106617 005__ 20210902121824.0 000106617 0247_ $$2doi$$a10.1016/j.jaridenv.2020.104258 000106617 0248_ $$2sideral$$a118788 000106617 037__ $$aART-2020-118788 000106617 041__ $$aeng 000106617 100__ $$0(orcid)0000-0001-7037-4970$$aTormo Blanes, Jaume$$uUniversidad de Zaragoza 000106617 245__ $$aLitter as a filter for germination in semi-arid Stipa tenacissima steppes 000106617 260__ $$c2020 000106617 5060_ $$aAccess copy available to the general public$$fUnrestricted 000106617 5203_ $$aWoody species play a key role in Stipa tenacissima steppes, they affect ecosystem functioning, facilitate establishment of other plants and increase plant richness. Among the mechanisms involved in facilitation, effect of litter on seed germination and seedling establishment is largely underexplored. We studied the properties of the litter layer under five woody species common in Stipa tenacissima steppes, and assessed its effect on the germination of seeds of two key species with contrasting ecological strategy and seed morphology (the perennial grass Brachypodium retusum and the resprouting shrub Pistacia lentiscus). Litter accumulation was highest under Quercus coccifera and Pinus halepensis, and lowest under Rhamnus lycioides. Pistacia lentiscus and Rosmarinus officinalis showed intermediate levels. Litter accumulation hampered germination, particularly when seeds were sown over the litter. Litter of all species but Rhamnus lycioides reduced germination when seeds were under the litter. Litter extracts had no effect on germination. The effect of litter was largely independent of seed type. Our results show that litter has an overall negative effect acting as a physical barrier for. Litter may influence the balance between facilitation and interference. Its relation with species traits and its impact on habitat heterogeneity and community assemblage deserves further attention. 000106617 536__ $$9info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MINECO/CGL2011-30581-C02-01$$9info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MINECO/RTI2018-095954-B-I00 000106617 540__ $$9info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess$$aby-nc-nd$$uhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/es/ 000106617 590__ $$a2.211$$b2020 000106617 591__ $$aENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES$$b190 / 273 = 0.696$$c2020$$dQ3$$eT3 000106617 591__ $$aECOLOGY$$b97 / 166 = 0.584$$c2020$$dQ3$$eT2 000106617 592__ $$a0.663$$b2020 000106617 593__ $$aEarth-Surface Processes$$c2020$$dQ2 000106617 593__ $$aEcology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics$$c2020$$dQ2 000106617 593__ $$aEcology$$c2020$$dQ2 000106617 655_4 $$ainfo:eu-repo/semantics/article$$vinfo:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersion 000106617 700__ $$aAmat, Beatriz 000106617 700__ $$aCortina, Jordi 000106617 7102_ $$15011$$2220$$aUniversidad de Zaragoza$$bDpto. CC.Agrar.y Medio Natural$$cÁrea Ecología 000106617 773__ $$g183 (2020), [9 pp.]$$pJ. arid environ.$$tJournal of Arid Environments$$x0140-1963 000106617 8564_ $$s779198$$uhttps://zaguan.unizar.es/record/106617/files/texto_completo.pdf$$yPostprint 000106617 8564_ $$s2571258$$uhttps://zaguan.unizar.es/record/106617/files/texto_completo.jpg?subformat=icon$$xicon$$yPostprint 000106617 909CO $$ooai:zaguan.unizar.es:106617$$particulos$$pdriver 000106617 951__ $$a2021-09-02-10:10:40 000106617 980__ $$aARTICLE