The soil seed bank in abandoned tropical pastures: source of regeneration or invasion?

We assessed the availability of both pioneer and non-native species in the soil seed bank of old-growth forest and recently abandoned pasture, to evaluate whether the soil seed bank in these pastures represents a source of regeneration of species from adjacent old-growth forest or of invasion by non...

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Main Authors: Leonel López-Toledo, Miguel Martínez-Ramos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México 2011-06-01
Series:Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad
Subjects:
Online Access:https://revista.ib.unam.mx/index.php/bio/article/view/462
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author Leonel López-Toledo
Miguel Martínez-Ramos
author_facet Leonel López-Toledo
Miguel Martínez-Ramos
author_sort Leonel López-Toledo
collection DOAJ
description We assessed the availability of both pioneer and non-native species in the soil seed bank of old-growth forest and recently abandoned pasture, to evaluate whether the soil seed bank in these pastures represents a source of regeneration of species from adjacent old-growth forest or of invasion by non-native species. Our study was conducted at Selva Lacandona, Chiapas, Mexico. Soil samples were randomly collected from 6 sites in old-growth forest, and 6 sites in abandoned pastures. Seedlings from soil samples were identified and classified into pioneer, non-native (weeds/ graminoids), and other forest species. Pioneer species seeds were virtually absent in pastures, but represented ~30% of seeds in the forest. Non-native species comprised ~99% of the soil seed bank in pastures. In the forest, soil seed bank density of weeds and graminoids decreased with increasing distance (up to 4 km) from agricultural fields, and comprised up to 25% (Mean ± 1SE= 16 ± 7) of the seed bank. Our results show a near total elimination of pioneer species from the soil seed bank in pastures, and considerable invasion of the borders of the Montes Azules reserve by seeds of non-native species. Thus, in the region studied, the soil seed bank in abandoned pastures represents a source of invasion by non-native species into old-growth forest rather than a potential source of forest regeneration.
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spelling doaj-art-02a9c0f19db94f96aba4b8aae976463b2025-08-20T02:59:04ZengUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoRevista Mexicana de Biodiversidad1870-34532007-87062011-06-0182210.22201/ib.20078706e.2011.2.462The soil seed bank in abandoned tropical pastures: source of regeneration or invasion?Leonel López-ToledoMiguel Martínez-RamosWe assessed the availability of both pioneer and non-native species in the soil seed bank of old-growth forest and recently abandoned pasture, to evaluate whether the soil seed bank in these pastures represents a source of regeneration of species from adjacent old-growth forest or of invasion by non-native species. Our study was conducted at Selva Lacandona, Chiapas, Mexico. Soil samples were randomly collected from 6 sites in old-growth forest, and 6 sites in abandoned pastures. Seedlings from soil samples were identified and classified into pioneer, non-native (weeds/ graminoids), and other forest species. Pioneer species seeds were virtually absent in pastures, but represented ~30% of seeds in the forest. Non-native species comprised ~99% of the soil seed bank in pastures. In the forest, soil seed bank density of weeds and graminoids decreased with increasing distance (up to 4 km) from agricultural fields, and comprised up to 25% (Mean ± 1SE= 16 ± 7) of the seed bank. Our results show a near total elimination of pioneer species from the soil seed bank in pastures, and considerable invasion of the borders of the Montes Azules reserve by seeds of non-native species. Thus, in the region studied, the soil seed bank in abandoned pastures represents a source of invasion by non-native species into old-growth forest rather than a potential source of forest regeneration.https://revista.ib.unam.mx/index.php/bio/article/view/462Cecropiatropical rain forestSelva LacandonaChiapaspioneer regenerationweed invasion
spellingShingle Leonel López-Toledo
Miguel Martínez-Ramos
The soil seed bank in abandoned tropical pastures: source of regeneration or invasion?
Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad
Cecropia
tropical rain forest
Selva Lacandona
Chiapas
pioneer regeneration
weed invasion
title The soil seed bank in abandoned tropical pastures: source of regeneration or invasion?
title_full The soil seed bank in abandoned tropical pastures: source of regeneration or invasion?
title_fullStr The soil seed bank in abandoned tropical pastures: source of regeneration or invasion?
title_full_unstemmed The soil seed bank in abandoned tropical pastures: source of regeneration or invasion?
title_short The soil seed bank in abandoned tropical pastures: source of regeneration or invasion?
title_sort soil seed bank in abandoned tropical pastures source of regeneration or invasion
topic Cecropia
tropical rain forest
Selva Lacandona
Chiapas
pioneer regeneration
weed invasion
url https://revista.ib.unam.mx/index.php/bio/article/view/462
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