Do neighbours matter? The effect of single‐ and mixed‐species sowing density on seed germination of annual wetland plants. Issue 3 (19th August 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bao, Francielli; Rossatto, Davi Rodrigo; Pott, Arnildo; Elsey‐Quirk, Tracy; de Assis, Marco Antonio; Arruda, Rafael; Ramos, Desirée Marques
• Editors: Jiménez‐Alfaro, Borja
• Is Part Of: Applied vegetation science. Volume 24:Issue 3(2021)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2021-08-19
• Subjects: annual seeds -- coexistence -- colonization strategies -- germination time -- percentage of germination -- priority effect; Plant ecology -- Periodicals; Plant communities -- Periodicals; Plant populations -- Periodicals; Nature -- Effect of human beings on -- Periodicals; 581.705
• DOI: 10.1111/avsc.12602
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1402-2001

Abstract

Abstract: Question: Germination is one of the decisive processes influencing species presence and plant community structure. Here, we investigated the influence of seed density and single and mixed species on germination percentage and timing using annual wetland plants of the Pantanal in Brazil. Location: Seeds were collected from annual species occupying a seasonally flooded grassland, at Fazenda São Bento (19°29′27, 3″ S; 57°01′55, 9″ W), in the Abobral sub‐region, Pantanal, Mato Grosso do Sul (Central‐West Brazil). Methods: Experiments on the effects of seed density dependence on the germination time in intraspecific (single‐species) and interspecific (mixed‐species) treatments were conducted with ten annual species at three levels: for intraspecific — scarce (one seed), moderate (10 seeds), and high (20 seeds); and for interspecific — low (one each), medium (10) and abundant (20). Results: The germination percentage was independent of density and species mixtures. Germination time was density‐dependent for the mixed‐species treatment, but not the single‐species treatments. Six species had a shorter germination time, suggesting a group priority effect. Other species delayed or did not alter their germination time, indicating that the response to intraspecific seed densities is species‐specific. Conclusion: These findings illustrate that even though species have a history of coexistence and characteristics of rapid germination, seeds can alter germination time if they perceive neighbouring seeds of other species. Species that respond with a faster germination time may have a competitive advantage for recruitment and growth. These terrestrial species show high initial colonization power, which is essential in the regeneration of wetlands after flood disturbance. Abstract : After all, do we need to worry about our neighbours? Apparently not, when we are of the same species, we encourage ourselves to germinate together, but when different individuals appear we take more care and change our germination time. The important thing is that we all will germinate at some point. That's what Ludwigia octovalvis said (the Pantanal Iron Man).