Abstract
Wetland seed banks comprise the propagules of plant species that have species-specific germination requirements for germination in either flooded or dry conditions. At the community level, wetland structure and succession during and after a seasonal flooding event depends upon the early life-history requirements of species, including germination under flooded and dry conditions. We examined the effects of simulated flood and post-flood scenarios on seedling emergence from a seed bank of seasonally flooded grassland in the Pantanal, Brazil. Field samplings were conducted in both wet and dry seasons, both of which were subject to flood and post-flood conditions. A total of 70 species emerged from the seed bank, dominated by Poaceae and Cyperaceae. Sixteen species were exclusive to the wet and one exclusive to the dry season. The richness of perennial species was higher under flood conditions, while the richness of annuals was greater post-flood. In general, the aquatic and amphibious species exhibited a significant germination response to flooding. Terrestrial species only germinated in post-flood conditions, with higher richness in the dry season. Four species had high seedling abundance in both treatments. The capacity of regeneration by seeds is high in these grasslands and can be increased by seasonal flooding and drawdown. In these seasonally flooded grasslands, we observed three main germination strategies: under flooded conditions, aquatic and amphibious species; post-flood conditions, an explosion of annual amphibious and terrestrial species; and in moist soil, perennial terrestrial species. The differential responses to flooding versus post-flood conditions help to maintain the structure and species richness in the community over time.
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10452_2017_9647_MOESM1_ESM.tif
Sample-based species accumulation curves of seedlings in flood and post-flood treatment, seasonally flooded grassland in the Pantanal wetland (Central-West Brazil) for a dry and b flood seasons. Species accumulation curves are scaled by the number of accumulated individual plants. Points are expected (mean) species richness, and transverse lines are confidence intervals
10452_2017_9647_MOESM2_ESM.tif
Aquatic plants emerged from the seed bank in the flood treatment, a seedlings of Rotala ramosior and Bacopa australis; b submerged trays with some aquatic macrophytes; c Heteranthera limosa; d Nymphaea gardneriana; e Sagittaria guayanensis ;f Pontederia subovata; g Sagittaria guayanensis and Limnocharis flava; h L. flava
10452_2017_9647_MOESM3_ESM.tif
Plants emerged from the seed bank in the post-flood treatment, a R. ramosior; b Ludwigia octovalvis; and c Helanthium tenellum, immediately after removal from the flood d several herbs germinating 30 days post-flood; e, f several seedlings highlight various grasses 40 days post-flood
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Bao, F., Elsey-Quirk, T., de Assis, M.A. et al. Seed bank of seasonally flooded grassland: experimental simulation of flood and post-flood. Aquat Ecol 52, 93–105 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10452-017-9647-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10452-017-9647-y