Abstract
Background: Retreating glaciers expose mineral substratum for colonisation and, as such, offer unique opportunities to study primary succession processes and life history traits of the colonisers. Aims: Results of published and unpublished case studies in a central Alpine glacier foreland were used to clarify if the species groups involved in primary succession could be discriminated by their life history traits. Methods: The case studies were carried out in the glacier foreland of the Rotmoosferner, Obergurgl site (Ötztal, Tyrol, Austria) using standard methods for life history trait determination and population analyses. Results: Pioneer species could be discriminated by their low seed masses and their high seed numbers from all other successional stage species. On the moraine exposed in 1971, seed rain and seed bank composition was consistent with that of the standing vegetation. Divergent dynamics were detected on the moraines of 1923 and of 1858. The highest seedling mortality rates were recorded for the pioneer Saxifraga aizoides (86–94%); the other species studied showed survival rates of 40–76%. Conclusions: Life history traits such as seed mass, number, dispersal, persistence, and seedling recruitment govern the colonisation process and the progress of plant succession. However, seed availability appears to be the bottleneck. Succession success therefore highly depends on input of diaspores in the form of plant fragment from adjacent slopes.
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Claims 7
Claim · model-written summary
Pioneer species had lower seed masses and higher seed numbers than other successional stage species.
Verbatim
e0“Pioneer species could be discriminated by their low seed masses and their high seed numbers from all other successional stage species.”
Claim · model-written summary
On the 1971 moraine, seed rain and seed bank composition matched standing vegetation.
- Taxon
- standing vegetatione0
- Outcome
- seed rain and seed bank compositione0
- Comparator
- standing vegetatione0
- Setting
- moraine exposed in 1971e0
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“On the moraine exposed in 1971, seed rain and seed bank composition was consistent with that of the standing vegetation.”
Claim · model-written summary
The 1923 and 1858 moraines had divergent dynamics.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“Divergent dynamics were detected on the moraines of 1923 and of 1858.”
Claim · model-written summary
Pioneer Saxifraga aizoides had the highest seedling mortality, at 86–94%.
- Taxon
- Saxifraga aizoides
Saxifraga aizoidese0 - Outcome
- seedling mortality ratese0
- Direction
- higheste0
- Value
- 86–94%e0
- Comparator
- the other species studiede0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The highest seedling mortality rates were recorded for the pioneer Saxifraga aizoides (86–94%); the other species studied showed survival rates of 40–76%.”
Claim · model-written summary
Other studied species had seedling survival rates of 40–76%.
Verbatim
e0“the other species studied showed survival rates of 40–76%.”
Claim · model-written summary
Seed availability appears to limit succession.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“However, seed availability appears to be the bottleneck.”
Claim · model-written summary
Succession success depends strongly on plant fragments entering from adjacent slopes.
Verbatim
e0“Succession success therefore highly depends on input of diaspores in the form of plant fragment from adjacent slopes.”