Seed mass and shape predicts species' seed bank persistence at a global
scale
- Xuejing Wang,
- Wenjing Ge,
- Mingting Zhang,
- Angela Moles,
- Eduardo Fernández‐Pascual,
- Arne Saatkamp,
- Haiyan Bu,
- Miaojun Ma
Arne Saatkamp
Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d’Ecologie (IMBE) Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, IRD, Avignon Université
Author ProfileAbstract
Predicting how seeds persist in the soil seed bank based on
easy-to-measure traits is of prime importance to improve management
strategies in grazing, farming, and species invasion. We found that
seeds that are smaller and rounder are more likely to form persistent
seed banks at a global scale, using the 1303 species. The relationship
between seed bank persistence and seed mass and shape was not affected
by phylogeny or mean annual precipitation. However, the relationships is
not significant in woody perennials. Species with smaller seeds are more
likely to form persistent seed banks at sites with low soil sand
content, in grassland systems or at low mean annual temperatures.
Species with rounder seeds are more likely to form a persistent seed
bank at higher latitudes. Our results suggest that seed burial mechanics
exert environmental filtering on seed traits, and help improve to assess
vegetation restoration capacity.