Relationship between community structure and seed bank to describe successional dynamics of an Atlantic Coast maritime forest1

Abstract

Abstract Naumann, J. C. and D. R. Young (Department of Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284). Relationship between community structure and seed bank to describe successional dynamics of an Atlantic Coast maritime forest. J. Torrey Bot. Soc. 134: 89–98. 2007.—Relationships between current community composition and the soil seed bank were investigated within a maritime forest on Virginia's Eastern Shore. Forty families, 48 genera, and 52 species were documented in the current community. Three overstory species (Liquidambar styraciflua, Acer rubrum, and Pinus taeda) were dominants and comprised 72% of all overstory trees sampled. Analysis of stem size classes indicated that P. taeda was not recruiting and would eventually be replaced by hardwoods. Ilex opaca, Toxicodendron radicans, and Lonicera japonica comprised the majority of cover in the understory. The forest was in a mid-successional seral stage. In comparison, 31 families, 43 genera, and 45 species were identified from the se...