The soil seed bank is recognized as one of the factors that can contribute to the regeneration of degraded ecosystems. However, experiences show that the soil seed bank is usually dominated by seeds of herbaceous species especially in tropical terrestrial ecosystems. What is the situation in temperate terrestrial ecosystems? Can soil seed banks effectively contribute to the regeneration of native woody species in degraded temperate ecosystems?
Quite interesting question. Infact, soil seed bank is just passive way of seed regeneration , though it's roots are quite old. Yes , we can rely but the size and composition of seed bank is very important , whether relates to tropical or temperate climates....
Quite a lot for seeds with thick hard seed coats that persist in the seed banks
Sharing this from WRI in case it is of help.
https://www.wri.org/insights/what-assisted-natural-regeneration-benefits-definition
Dear Uzoma,
Considering the soil seed bank of temperate terrestrial vegetation its main character is similar to that of tropical vegetation. The seed bank has two main types: transient seed bank and persistent seed bank. Seeds of the majority of woody species belong to the transient seed bank category. It means that you can find their seeds in the soil only those sites where mature individuals of the species are found. Therefore, these species have a very limited role in contributing the regeneration succession after removal of the original vegetation. There are some trees and shrubs (mainly in the Fabaceae family) with hard coated seeds and these seeds can be found in the persistent soil seed bank for long time after removal of the original vegetation. Nevertheless, Fabacea trees and shrubs are subordinate species in most of the temperate vegetation types, therefore, again have limited role in post-disturbance regeneration of the original vegetation. As far as I know, only one tree from Fabaceae family - the Robinia pseudoacacia - forms extended forests in the temperate region, at least in Europe. But as being an intruduced tree in Europe, nobody is happy with regeneration of Robinia pseudoacacia from the soil seed bank.
The natural storage of seeds, often dormant, within the soils of most ecosystems is named soil seed bank.
Please see the attached file.
There are two major methods for the seed bank estimation (I) germination (ii) separation or floating method.
More information read this manuscript for germination method.
https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10020292
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