Evaluation of Pseudoraphis spinescens (Poaceae) seed bank from Barmah Forest floodplain

2016 ◽  
Vol 64 (8) ◽  
pp. 669 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca A. Durant ◽  
Daryl L. Nielsen ◽  
Keith A. Ward
Keyword(s):  
Seed Bank ◽  
Seed Viability ◽  
Environmental Water ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Conservation Value ◽  
Millennium Drought ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Germination Trial ◽  
High Conservation ◽  
Expected Increase

Use of environmental water allocations to conserve floodplain and wetland plants is becoming an increasingly common management tool. In south-eastern Australia, Pseudoraphis spinescens (R.Br.) Vickery has historically covered extensive areas within Barmah Forest where it is deemed to be ecologically significant and of high conservation value. The areal extent of P. spinescens significantly declined throughout the forest during the Millennium drought (1996–2010). Natural flooding (2010–2012) failed to elicit an expected increase in the extent of P. spinescens, suggesting that this species may not have a viable long-lived seed bank. We investigated the presence and viability of the seed bank of P. spinescens by (1) germination trials, (2) identification of seeds within the sediment and (3) estimates of seed viability. No plants were identified as P. spinescens during the germination trial. Seeds of P. spinescens were identified as present in the sediment, but the majority (98%) were not viable. In contrast, 16% of seeds collected from mature seed heads were found to be viable. The present study demonstrated the absence of a persistent long-lived seed bank of P. spinescens in Barmah Forest.

The dispersal of traditionally managed hay meadow plants via farmyard manure application

2006 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.R. Edwards ◽  
A. Younger
Keyword(s):  
Farmyard Manure ◽  
Seed Viability ◽  
Conservation Value ◽  
Poa Trivialis ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
High Conservation ◽  
Perennial Herbs ◽  
Sanguisorba Officinalis ◽  
And Storage

The dispersal of plants within botanically rich grassland is an important area of study if such swards are to be maintained. The application of farmyard manure provides a possible mechanism by which seeds contained within hay can be returned/introduced to grasslands. In this study, hay, dung and manure samples taken from farms with botanically rich meadows contained very limited quantities of seeds of desirable species. Digestion by cattle, and storage within a manure heap for 6 months or longer, further reduced seed germination. Samples were characterized by an abundance of the grass,Poa trivialis, with few forbs present. Confirmation of the negative effect of the digestive processes of cattle on seed viability was achieved using anin vitrolaboratory experiment. However, this experiment did show that the perennial herbs,Filipendula ulmariaandSanguisorba officinalis, were able to survive digestion at least as well asP. trivialis. The burial of known quantities of seeds in a manure heap also showed these perennial herbs to be at least as resistant to damage asP. trivialis. The results demonstrate that, given appropriate timing of the hay cut, seeds of species with high conservation value could become incorporated into manure for subsequent dispersal. However, manure dispersal would appear to be of limited value for many species desirable from a conservation viewpoint.

scholarly journals Seed germination requirements of Hypericum scruglii, an endangered medicinal plant species of Sardinia (Italy)

Botany ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (10) ◽  
pp. 615-621 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Porceddu ◽  
Martina Sanna ◽  
Sara Serra ◽  
Maria Manconi ◽  
Gianluigi Bacchetta
Keyword(s):  
Medicinal Plant ◽  
Seed Bank ◽  
Seed Viability ◽  
Base Temperature ◽  
Endemic Plant ◽  
Endangered Medicinal Plant ◽  
High Viability ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Baseline Information ◽  
Germination Requirements

Hypericum scruglii Bacch., Brullo & Salmeri is an endangered endemic plant of Sardinia, and the phloroglucinol compounds identified in this species have been reported to inhibit the activity of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Seed banks are a genetic repository that effectively preserve taxa of conservation interest, and they hold knowledge about the biology and germination ecophysiology of the taxa they preserve. The main goals of this study were to investigate the germination requirements for H. scruglii, to evaluate the seed viability after eight years of long-term conservation and to suggest an efficient protocol for germination. Seeds stored at –25 °C in the seed bank were tested at temperatures from 5 to 30 °C and 25/10 °C. Base temperature (Tb) and thermal time (θ50) for germination were estimated. Seeds of H. scruglii germinated over a wide range of temperatures, responding positively to high temperatures and 25/10 °C. Tb was estimated at 4.92 °C, and θ50 was estimated at 198.27 degree days. The high viability detected in seeds of H. scruglii allows us to suggest the use of seeds stored in a seed bank when fresh material for plant propagation is scarce. Our results provide new and useful baseline information for implementing conservation and multiplication strategies for this endangered medicinal plant.

Effects of heat and smoke on germination of soil-stored seed in a south-eastern Australian sand heathland

2002 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy J. Wills ◽  
Jennifer Read
Keyword(s):  
Seed Germination ◽  
Seed Bank ◽  
Soil Seed Bank ◽  
Seedling Emergence ◽  
Type Systems ◽  
Treated Soil ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Heat Treated ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
And Control

Various fire-related agents, including heat, smoke, ash and charred wood, have been shown to break dormancy and promote germination of soil-stored seed in a broad range of species in mediterranean-type systems. However, relatively little work has been conducted in south-eastern Australian heathlands. This study examined the effects of heat and smoked water on germination of the soil seed bank in a mature sand heathland within the Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park, in south-eastern Australia. Heat was clearly the most successful treatment for promoting seed germination, followed by smoked water, then controls, with 55% of species present in the germinable soil seed bank requiring a heat or smoke stimulus to promote seed germination. Mean species richness of the germinable soil seed bank was found to be significantly higher in heat-treated soil than in smoke and control treatments. Seedling density of heat-treated soil was almost 10 times that of controls, while smoke-treated soil was almost five times that of controls. Seedling emergence was fastest in heat-treated soil, followed by smoke and control soils. Of the species found in the soil seed bank, 25% were absent from the extant vegetation, suggesting the existence of post-fire colonisers in the soil seed bank. The results have implications for the design of soil seed bank experiments and the use of fire as a tool in vegetation management.

PROCESS IN THE HIGH CONSERVATION VALUE (HCV) CONCEPT WITHIN COMMUNITY-MANAGED FORESTS: CASE STUDY OF COPAL AND BB COMMUNITY FORESTS IN CAMEROON

2010 ◽  
Vol 12 (02) ◽  
pp. 215-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
ADJÉ OLIVIER AHIMIN ◽  
MARIE MBOLO
Keyword(s):  
Decision Makers ◽  
Conservation Value ◽  
Empirical Knowledge ◽  
Managed Forests ◽  
Forest Stewardship Council ◽  
Community Forests ◽  
High Conservation ◽  
Conservation Values ◽  
Forest Stewardship

The concept of "High Conservation Value" which was initially used by the Forest Stewardship Council, now plays an increasingly important role in several areas, and most significantly in the design and implementation of development projects. Within the framework of certification of community forests in Cameroon, this concept has been implemented in close collaboration with interested communities. Based on the activities conducted, it is worth noting that the consideration of informal management methods appear to result in better protection of biodiversity. Several categories of High Conservation Values were identified in 2 community-managed forests (Coopérative des Paysans de la Lékié & Bimbia Bonadikombo Community Forests) in Cameroon. Rare or endangered ecosystems, more than 300 plant species and more than 20 wildlife species, including endemic, rare, threatened or endangered species were found. Traditional conservation methods based on culture, as well as some ancestral practices and beliefs help to achieve this protection. Decision-makers and academics should learn from this empirical knowledge for protection programmes and projects of biodiversity.

Effect of reintroduced manual mowing on biodiversity in abandoned fen meadows

Biologia ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jakub Horak ◽  
Lenka Safarova
Keyword(s):  
Restoration Ecology ◽  
Conservation Value ◽  
High Conservation ◽  
New Type ◽  
Surrounding Landscape ◽  
Flower Visiting ◽  
Short Time ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Insect Group

AbstractWetlands have recently become of high environmental interest. The restoration effects on habitats like fens are one of the main topics of recent restoration ecology, especially due to their interconnection with other ecosystems. We studied the manual mowing effect on abandoned fen using the response of three study taxa: diurnal butterflies, flower-visiting beetles and vascular plants. Our results showed that butterflies seems to be quickly-responding indicator taxon for evaluation and that restored management had a positive effect on both species richness and composition of this insect group. The results indicated that the manual mowing effect could be rapid. In comparison with the surrounding landscape, we found that: (i) the manually mowed site was most similar to strictly protected area, (ii) some species of high conservation value could reach higher abundance in restored than protected site, and (iii) manual mowing could bring a new type of habitat (i.e., spatial heterogeneity) compared to the other management types (abandonment, conservation and agri-environmental mowing). The main implication seems to be optimistic for practice: The manual mowing of long-term abandoned fen is leading to the creation of habitat with high conservation value in a relatively short time.

High seed viability recorded in an endangered endemic species, 'Isoplexis isabelliana' (Scrophulariaceae), after more than 30 years of storage in a conservation seed bank

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
pp. e69341
Author(s):  
Miguel Ángel González Pérez ◽  
Nereida Cabrera-García ◽  
Isabel Cayon-Fernández
Keyword(s):  
Seed Bank ◽  
Germination Rate ◽  
Genetic Material ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Seed Viability ◽  
Seed Storage ◽  
Botanical Garden ◽  
Storage Conditions ◽  
Seed Banks ◽  
Ex Situ

Conservation seed banks are essential for ex-situ conservation of genetic biodiversity. These institutions are especially relevant for threatened species and play a vital role in their conservation by preserving genetic material. However, samples deposited in the seed banks must germinate when necessary to use them (i.e., recovery plans, etc.). This study uses four accessions of the endemic endangered species from Gran Canaria Island (Canary Islands), Isoplexis isabelliana (Webb & Berthel.) Masf. (Scrophulariaceae). Germination tests were carried out to measure seed viability through time and the possible impact of seed storage on their viability. These accessions have been kept in the seed bank for four months to thirty years under different storage conditions. Germination results differed for seeds after 45 days of exposition using 16 hours light and 8 hours darkness at 17 °C. Accessions kept in the seed bank, independently of storage, showed a high germination percentage (89%). Whereas the accessions with rough storage conditions showed a 0% germination rate. The results highlighted the good state of conservation of the material deposited in the Seed Bank of the Botanical Garden "Viera y Clavijo" and the reliability of the temperature and humidity conditions in which the seeds of I. isabelliana have been stored. We consider these results as momentous since several natural populations of I. isabelliana has been affected by the last forest fire on the island.

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