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

Abstract

This chapter illustrates aerial and buried persistent seed banks, longevity of seeds in the soil, the fate of seeds while they are in the soil, and effects of seed banks on populations of species and persistence of communities. A transient seed bank consists of seeds that do not live until the second germination season following maturation. Seeds of some species remain in a transient seed bank for several months, during which the dormancy loss occurs. However, the environmental conditions in these habitats are unfavorable for germination. Seeds of other species may be nondormant at maturity. However, a persistent seed bank consists of seeds that live until the second germination season. In general, seeds with a high probability of forming persistent seed banks are small and have smooth seed coats. But those with a low probability of forming persistent seed banks are relatively large and have hooks, awns, spines, or other kinds of projections on the seed coat. Therefore, biologists are more interested in persistent than in transient seed banks