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Soil seed bank development of smoke‐responsive plant species in a 23‐year restoration chronosequence and implications for resilience to fire
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Soil seed bank development of smoke‐responsive plant species in a 23‐year restoration chronosequence and implications for resilience to fire

Ebony L. Cowan, Ben P. Miller, Joseph B. Fontaine, Neal J. Enright and Rachel J. Standish
Applied vegetation science, Vol.26(1), e12713
2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/avsc.12713
Appears in  Open Access via Read & Publish Agreements
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Published2.91 MBDownloadView
CC BY V4.0,  Open Access

Abstract

ecological resilience fire‐prone ecosystems plant communities restoration similarity smoke soil seed bank
Aims Responses of ecological restoration projects to disturbances are rarely explored, yet their capacity to withstand and recover from disturbance (resilience) is a critical measure of restoration success. In many plant communities, the soil seed bank (SSB) provides an important source of propagules for species persistence and community resilience to disturbance. Understanding how SSBs develop with time can inform restoration of resilient ecosystems. Here, in fire‐prone Banksia woodland restoration following sand mining, we ask: (a) how does the smoke‐responsive (dormancy broken by smoke) SSB develop over time; (b) what plant‐trait and climate factors influence its development; and (c) what do the data suggest for the resilience of these restored woodlands to fire? Location Ellenbrook, Swan Coastal Plain, Western Australia (latitude −31.76, longitude 115.95). Methods We used smoke, a key germination cue associated with fire disturbance, to trigger germination of the SSB in Banksia woodland restoration. Using a chronosequence of nine ages between 3 and 26 years since initiation of restoration, we tested how the SSB develops using counts and richness of germinating native and invasive annuals, and native perennial obligate seeding and resprouting species. To understand the contribution of above‐ground restored vegetation to SSB development, we compared Sørensen's similarity of the smoke germinable SSB (smoked SSB) and untreated germinable SSB (control SSB) with above‐ground vegetation. Results Smoked SSB germinant density decreased with restoration age for both native and invasive annuals, but was stable for native perennials. Similarity between smoked SSB and above‐ground vegetation was higher for perennial obligate seeders than for resprouters and peaked for perennials at 23 years. Conclusions Post‐fire regeneration potential of the SSB was evident across the chronosequence, with restoration age influencing the density of native annuals and overall composition of the SSB. The findings for perennial species suggest an increase in resilience to fire with restoration age. Seeds are necessary for successful restoration, but few studies track the development of the soil seed bank. Using smoke, we assessed germination of smoke‐responsive plant species across a restoration chronosequence. There was germination across the chronosequence, with composition changing with age. Our data for native perennial plant species suggest resilience of restored Banksia woodlands to fire increases with restoration age.

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Citation topics
3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
3.40 Forestry
3.40.86 Plant Communities
Web Of Science research areas
Ecology
Forestry
Plant Sciences
ESI research areas
Plant & Animal Science
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