Seed ecology of European mesic meadows

Fernández-Pascual, E. ; Vaz, M. ; Morais, B. ; Reiné, R. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Ascaso, J. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Afif Khouri, E. ; Carta, A.

Resumen: Background and Aims: European mesic meadows are semi-natural open habitats of high biodiversity and an essential part of European landscapes. These species-rich communities can be a source of seed mixes for ecological restoration, urban greening and rewilding. However, limited knowledge of species germination traits is a bottleneck to the development of a competitive native seed industry. Here, we synthesize the seed ecology of mesic meadows. Methods: We combined our own experimental data with data obtained from databases to create a combined dataset containing 2005 germination records of 90 plant species from 31 European countries. We performed a Bayesian meta-analysis of this dataset to test the seed germination response to environmental cues including scarification, stratification, temperature, alternating temperature and light. We also used multivariate ordination to check the relationship between seed traits (germination and morphology) and species ecological preferences, and to compare the seed ecology of mesic meadows with that of other herbaceous plant communities from the same geographic area. Key Results: The seed ecology of mesic meadows is characterized by (1) high seed germinability when compared with other herbaceous plant communities; (2) low correspondence between seed traits and species ecological preferences; and (3) a deep phylogenetic separation between the two major families, Poaceae and Fabaceae. Poaceae produce many light seeds that respond to gap-detecting germination cues (alternating temperatures and light); Fabaceae produce fewer heavy seeds, which need scarification to break their physical dormancy. Conclusions: High germinability of meadow seeds will reduce their capacity to form persistent seed banks, resulting in dispersal limitations to passive regeneration. For centuries, human activities have shaped the regeneration of meadows, leading to a loss of seed dormancy and decoupling seeds from seasonal cycles, as has been found in many domesticated species. The same anthropic processes that have shaped semi-natural mesic meadows have left them dependent on continued human intervention for their regeneration, highlighting the importance of active restoration via seed supply.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcab135

Año: 2022

Publicado en: Annals of botany 129, 2 (2022), 121–134
ISSN: 0305-7364

Factor impacto JCR: 4.2 (2022)

Categ. JCR: PLANT SCIENCES rank: 48 / 239 = 0.201 (2022) - Q1 - T1

Factor impacto CITESCORE: 9.1 - Agricultural and Biological Sciences (Q1)

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 1.213 - Plant Science (Q1)

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EUR/SUDOE/INTERREG/Praderas-SOE1-P5-E0376

Tipo y forma: Artículo (PostPrint)

Área (Departamento): Área Producción Vegetal (Dpto. CC.Agrar.y Medio Natural)
Área (Departamento): Área Botánica (Dpto. CC.Agrar.y Medio Natural)