Abstract
The qualitative and quantitative parameters of persistent soil seed bank, including species composition, seed density, vertical distribution and the relationship of soil seed bank and vegetation, were assessed along an altitudinal gradient in seven communities in shady slope, sunny slope and summit plain of Qilian Mountains. The highest density of soil seed bank of 3946 seeds m(-2) was found in grassland in summit plain, and lowest of 225 seeds m(-2) in the dwarf scrub grassland in shady slope, while the highest numbers of species of 21 species in per sampled area of 962 cm(2) was found in grassland in sunny slope and lowest of 5 species in per sampled area of 962 cm(2) in scrub land in shady slope. Of the species 18% were annuals and 73% perennial herbs, only 1 shrub of Salix gilashanica was recorded. Considerably more seeds were concentrated in the upper layer (0 to 5 cm), and seed density declined by 71.10% in the lower layer (5 to 10 cm). There was a tendency for the soil seed bank to decrease in density with increasing elevation in both shady slope and sunny slope, although this pattern is complicated by the occurrence of different plant communities and species at different altitudes. Sorensen similarity index between soil seed bank and vegetation of the seven habitats was very low, and Picea crassifolia was absent in the soil seed bank despite being a prominent component of the surface vegetation at woodlands; thus, P. crassifolia has no persistent seed bank. It will be important to maintain the existing vegetation in the future management.
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Claims 13
Claim · model-written summary
Seed density was highest in summit plain grassland at 3946 seeds m(-2).
- Outcome
- density of soil seed banke0
- Direction
- higheste0
- Value
- 3946 seeds m(-2)e0
- Setting
- grassland in summit plaine0
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“The highest density of soil seed bank of 3946 seeds m(-2) was found in grassland in summit plain”
Claim · model-written summary
Seed density was lowest in shady slope dwarf scrub grassland at 225 seeds m(-2).
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“lowest of 225 seeds m(-2) in the dwarf scrub grassland in shady slope”
Claim · model-written summary
Species number was highest in sunny slope grassland, with 21 species per 962 cm(2).
- Outcome
- numbers of speciese0
- Direction
- higheste0
- Value
- 21 species in per sampled area of 962 cm(2)e0
- Setting
- grassland in sunny slopee0
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“highest numbers of species of 21 species in per sampled area of 962 cm(2) was found in grassland in sunny slope”
Claim · model-written summary
Species number was lowest in shady slope scrub land, with 5 species per 962 cm(2).
- Outcome
- speciese0
- Direction
- loweste0
- Value
- 5 species in per sampled area of 962 cm(2)e0
- Setting
- scrub land in shady slopee0
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“lowest of 5 species in per sampled area of 962 cm(2) in scrub land in shady slope”
Claim · model-written summary
Annuals comprised 18% of species.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“Of the species 18% were annuals”
Claim · model-written summary
Perennial herbs comprised 73% of species.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“73% perennial herbs”
Claim · model-written summary
Only one Salix gilashanica shrub was recorded.
- Taxon
- Salix gilashanicaSalix gilashanicae0
- Outcome
- shrube0
- Value
- 1 shrube0
Verbatim
e0“only 1 shrub of Salix gilashanica was recorded”
Claim · model-written summary
Seeds were concentrated in the upper 0 to 5 cm layer.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“Considerably more seeds were concentrated in the upper layer (0 to 5 cm)”
Claim · model-written summary
Seed density declined by 71.10% in the lower 5 to 10 cm layer.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“seed density declined by 71.10% in the lower layer (5 to 10 cm)”
Claim · model-written summary
Seed bank density tended to decrease with elevation on both shady and sunny slopes.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“soil seed bank to decrease in density with increasing elevation in both shady slope and sunny slope”
Claim · model-written summary
Similarity between the soil seed bank and vegetation was very low across seven habitats.
- Outcome
- Sorensen similarity index between soil seed bank and vegetatione0
- Direction
- very lowe0
- Setting
- seven habitatse0
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“Sorensen similarity index between soil seed bank and vegetation of the seven habitats was very low”
Claim · model-written summary
Picea crassifolia was absent from the persistent seed bank despite prominence in woodland surface vegetation.
- Taxon
- Picea crassifolia
Picea crassifoliae0 - Outcome
- absent in the soil seed banke0
- Setting
- woodlandse0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Picea crassifolia was absent in the soil seed bank despite being a prominent component of the surface vegetation at woodlands; thus, P. crassifolia has no persistent seed bank”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors recommend maintaining existing vegetation.
- Outcome
- maintain the existing vegetatione0
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“It will be important to maintain the existing vegetation in the future management.”