Chapter 7 - Germination Ecology of Seeds in the Persistent Seed Bank

Abstract

If a species forms a persistent seed bank, its germination ecology cannot be fully understood until the dynamics of the seeds in the seed bank are elucidated. This chapter covers aerial and buried persistent seed banks, transient vs. persistent seed banks, formation of soil seed banks including role of animals and of plowing, spatial heterogeneity of soil seed banks, methodology of studies, longevity of seeds including inferred and actual ages, causes of seed death, models of seed dynamics in the soil, effects of seed banks on populations of species and of persistence of communities and role of seed banks in restoration of plant communities.