The main aim of the thesis was to describe the succession of several abandoned fields under ploughing and discuss ploughing as a possible management for establishing and maintaining species-rich communities of fallows. Actual vegetation, its development over time and soil seed bank were studied. Experimental small-area ploughing was established at five abandoned fields in the southeastern part of the Podyjí National Park. Three strips with different types of management were founded: A) strip ploughed each year, B) strip ploughed once at the beginning of the experiment, C) control meadow without intervention. Vegetation development was evaluated through a series of relèves recorded during the years 2009-2012. The species composition of the seed bank was described using the seedling-emergence method and subsequent elutriation of soil samples. Similarity indexes, Longevity index (LI) and concept of RCS strategies were used. The vegetation of each-year plowed sites (A) consisted mostly of annual weeds and ruderal species with R-strategy and high LI. Grassland vegetation (C) consisted mostly of grasses and perennial herbs with C-strategy and lower LI. The vegetation of older fallows (B) was at first most similar to one-year fallow (A), but during the 4 years of succession has moved closer to the meadow...

Fire is generally used as a management tool for different vegetation types such as savannas and grasslands in southern Africa. In the False Thornveld of the Eastern Cape, fire is commonly used to control bush encroachment and to increase grass production, as grasses are important source of forage for domestic livestock. At the University of Fort Hare farm in the Eastern Cape, a trial was set up in 1980 to investigate the effect of burning frequency on vegetation. There are six treatments replicated twice in a completely randomized design on a 100 m x 50 m plots. The treatments comprise no burn, annual, biennial, triennial, quadrennial and sexennial burns. From this trial a study was conducted to investigate long term effect of burning frequency on species and soil seed bank diversity. Two 100 m line transects located 25 m apart were laid within each plot, and the herbaceous and woody species were identified and recorded along the line transects. Relative abundances (%) for each species were calculated for each treatment. Soil samples were collected at an interval of 13.3 m along the line transects. The samples were placed in paper bags and kept for use in a germination experiment. The seedling emergence germination method was used in the glasshouse to determine emerging seedlings, pots were filled with Hygromix growth medium and the soils from the fire trials 12 X 6 = 72 were spread on top. Soil from the control plots were also pre-treated with heat, smoke and the combination of heat and smoke. The experiment started in January 2010 and was terminated in April 2010. The Shannon-Weaver Diversity Index was used to determine species diversity for standing vegetation and germinated seedlings. Data were tested for normality and species abundances were transformed. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was applied to test treatment effects on geminated seedlings, species abundance and diversity at α = 0.05 significance level. Significant differences between treatment means were determined by post v hoc tests using Fischer‟s Least Significant Difference test at α = 0.05. The Pearson Moment Correlation test was used to test the relationship between vegetation and soil seed banks. Treatments had significant effects on herbaceous, woody species abundance and diversity (P < 0.05), but there was no significant treatment effect on soil seed bank diversity and on pre-germination treatments (P > 0.05). The annual, biennial and triennial burns were dominated by Themeda triandra while the quadrennial, sexennial and the control treatments were dominated by Sporobolus fimbriatus and Melica decumbens. A. karroo dominated the woody component across all treatments, but it did not change in abundance. S. fimbriatus was the most abundant in the soil seed bank across all the treatments and also in all pre-germination treatments. Species diversity was high in standing vegetation in the quadrennial, sexennial and the control treatments. There was no significant correlation between the standing vegetation and soil seed bank diversities (P > 0.05). Based on these findings it is apparent that fire can change vegetation in an area to be dominated by fire tolerant or fire intolerant species. Fire frequency, heat and smoke affects soil seed banks to a lesser extent in the False Thornveld. For the management of the False Thornveld of the Eastern Cape, less frequent burning is recommended as it increases aboveground species diversity.

This study evaluated the phitosociology of the Mixed Rain Forest and its mechanisms of regeneration (seeding banks, seed rain and soil seed bank). The data were collected in six conglomerates, being every one subdivided in 16 parcels of 20m x 20m. In the Chapter I it was studied the adult vegetation, where the tree and shrub species with circumference at the height of the chest equal or bigger than 30 cm were identified and measured. The species were classified in ecological groups and, on the basis of the density data, it was made an analysis of the grouping using the TWINSPAR method (Two-Way Indicattor Species Analysis). The groupings were characterized in relation to their horizontal structure. On the area, they 86 species were identified, being 18 pioneers, 25 secondary initials, 16 secondary delayed, 14 climax, and 13 were classified in more than one group. Three groupings were characterized (G1, G2 nd G3), in which gained special prominence the species Siphoneugena reitzii, Araucaria angustifolia and Sebastiania commersoniana, respectively in environments of hillside, of emergent trees and humid environments. In the chapter II based in the groupings formed in the adult vegetation, it was evaluated the mechanisms of regeneration. The seed rain was evaluated during the months of January to December of 2007, by means of the disposition of 96 collectors of 1 m2, in which it was observed the significant difference among the three groups in the quantity of seeds dispersed. In the study of the soil seed bank which was held through the collect of 5 cm of ground (taking out the burlap), it was observed that the group G1 showed significant difference in the quantity of storaged seeds in relation to groups G2 and G3. Seeding banks was showed in 72 showing unities of 2 m x 2 m, in which all the individuals with a size equal or bigger than 20 cm and DAP equal or lesser than 1 cm were identified and counted. The statistic analysis showed that, quantitatively, there was a significant difference among the three groups in relation to numbers of individuals in the seeding bank. For the joint analyses of the adult vegetation and mechanisms of regeneration, it is concluded, initially that the seeding bank, for having presented a bigger similarity with the vegetation, it can be the principal strategy of the maintenance of this forest. The seed rain is a basic strategy to the maintenance of the seeding bank. The seed bank didn´t present a flower potential for substituting the species present in the tree vegetation after alteration of the forest, being an essential strategy to the initial reestablishment of the area., due to the high density of the herbaceous plants. It was considered as tree basic species Araucaria angustifolia, Siphoneugena reitzii, llex brevicuspis, Podocarpus lambertii e Vernonia discolor, in hillside environments; Araucaria angustifolia, Casearia decandra, Blepharocalyx salicifolius, llex paraguariensis and Sebastiania brasiliensis in emergent tree environments; Araucaria angustifolia, Blepharocalyx salicifolius, Cryptocarya aschersoniana, llex brevicuspis, Sebastiania commersoinana e Siphoneugena reitzii in lands of bigger moistness. Through these informations one gives credit that such species will have greater possibility of stablishment in places with similar environment characteristics. / Este estudo avaliou a fitossociologia de Floresta Ombrófila Mista e os seus mecanismos de regeneração (banco de plântulas, chuva de sementes e banco de sementes do solo). Os dados foram coletados em seis conglomerados, sendo cada um subdividido em 16 parcelas de 20 m x 20 m. No Capítulo I, estudou-se a vegetação adulta onde as espécies arbóreas e arbustivas com circunferência à altura do peito (CAP) igual ou maior de 30 cm foram identificadas e medidas. As espécies foram classificadas em grupos ecológicos e, com base nos dados de densidade, foi realizada uma análise de agrupamento utilizando o método TWINSPAN (Two-way Indicator Species Analysis). Os agrupamentos foram caracterizados em relação à sua estrutura horizontal. Na área, foram identificadas 86 espécies, sendo 18 pioneiras, 25 secundárias iniciais, 16 secundárias tardias, 14 clímax, e 13 foram classificadas em mais de um grupo. Foram caracterizados três agrupamentos (G1, G2 e G3), em que se destacaram as espécies Siphoneugena reitzii, Araucaria angustifolia e Sebastiania commersoniana, respectivamente, em ambientes de encosta, de árvores emergentes e úmido. No capítulo II, partindo dos agrupamentos formados na vegetação adulta, foram avaliados os mecanismos de regeneração. A chuva de sementes foi avaliada durante os meses de janeiro a dezembro de 2007 por meio da disposição de 96 coletores de 1 m², na qual foi observada diferença significativa entre os três grupos na quantidade de sementes dispersadas. No estudo do banco de sementes do solo, realizado mediante a coleta de 5 cm de solo (retirando a serapilheira), observou-se que o grupo G1 demonstrou diferença significativa na quantidade de sementes estocadas em relação aos grupos G2 e G3. O banco de plântulas foi amostrado em 72 unidades amostrais de 2 m x 2 m, em que todos os indivíduos com altura igual ou maior que 20 cm e DAP igual ou menor 1 cm foram identificados e contados. A análise estatística mostrou que, quantitativamente, houve diferença significativa entre os três grupos quanto ao número de indivíduos no banco de plântulas. Pela análise conjunta da vegetação adulta e mecanismos de regeneração, conclui-se, inicialmente, que o banco de plântulas, por ter apresentado maior similaridade com a vegetação, pode ser a estratégia principal de manutenção dessa floresta. A chuva de sementes é uma estratégia fundamental à manutenção do banco de plântulas. O banco de sementes não apresentou potencial florístico para substituir as espécies presentes na vegetação arbórea após alteração da floresta, sendo uma estratégia essencial ao restabelecimento inicial da área, dada a elevada densidade de plantas herbáceas. Foram consideradas como espécies arbóreas fundamentais Araucaria angustifolia, Siphoneugena reitzii, Ilex brevicuspis, Podocarpus lambertii e Vernonia discolor, em ambientes de encosta; Araucaria angustifolia, Casearia decandra, Blepharocalyx salicifolius, Ilex paraguariensis e Sebastiania brasiliensis, em ambiente de arvores emergentes; Araucaria angustifolia, Blepharocalyx salicifolius, Cryptocarya aschersoniana, Ilex brevicuspis, Sebastiania commersoniana e Siphoneugena reitzii em terrenos de maior umidade. Por meio dessas informações, acredita-se que tais espécies terão maior chance de estabelecimento em locais com características ambientais semelhantes.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Many researches have been focused on reforestation projects, taking advantages on the self recuperation mechanism of the frorest such as seed rain, soil seed bank and seedling banks. Seed rain is an initial process which develops the dynamic, organization and structuration of the forest. However, the seed bank is one of the most important factors for natural recolonization of affected areas which start the succession process. Through this natural regeneration, a set of individuals are able to be recruited to the upper stages. In this way, the present study was performed aiming to evaluate the plant species establishment strategies through natural regeneration, in an area in the city of Laranjeiras-SE. Thirty plots were installed, and in center of these plots, collectors were installed (1m x 1m) to estimate the seed rain. To characterize the seed bank, was collected from August 2014 (corresponding to the rainy season in the region) to February 2015 (dry season), a soil sample from the center of each subplot (1m x 1m) through a metal jig which was introduced into the soil to remove a 5 cm layer. In the seedling bank evaluation, height and diameter of seedlings were analyzed between August 2014 (rainy season) and Februare 2015 (dry season) in subplots (1m x 1m). In seed rain were found 7,788 seeds, in which Shinus terebinthifollius Raddi (aroeira) presented a higher number of seeds collected with 6,799 samples and its frequency was 87.84% in relation with others species. The autochoric syndrome of dispersion was observed to Centrosema brasilianum (L.) Benth., Fabaceae 2 and Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell.) Brenan, for Asteraceae 1 and Bignoniaceae 1 the dispersion syndrome observed was anemocoric and to Schinus terebinthifollius and Passiflora mansoi (Mart.) Mast, the dispersion syndrome was zoochoric. In the study of seed bank, it was found a total of 171 seeds. The seed bank analyzes by the rainy season and dry season, Schinus terebinthifollius prevailed with more individuals in the rainy season. However, Fabaceae sp prevailed in the dry season. The distribution of species per plot was heterogeneous in both seasons, but presented a better distribution in the rainy season. In the study of seedlings bank, samples were found belonging to seven families and thirteen species. Shinus terebinthifollius represented 28% of total specimen, followed by Genipa Americana L. with 20%. The rainy season showed better seedling distribution along the plots. The processes of natural regeneration at studied area have presented a diversity of species into three regeneration kinds evaluated in different fructification seasons, establishing int this way, a steady supply of seeds, enabling the development of new individuals for future process. / Inúmeras pesquisas têm sido voltadas a projetos de reflorestamentos, aproveitando o próprio mecanismo de recuperação da floresta como chuvas de sementes, bancos de sementes do solo e bancos de plântulas. A chuva de sementes é um processo inicial que desenvolve a dinâmica, organização e estruturação da floresta. No entanto, o banco de sementes é um dos fatores mais importantes para a recolonização natural das áreas afetadas dando início ao processo sucessional. Por meio dessa regeneração natural, um conjunto de indivíduos são capazes de ser recrutados para os estádios superiores. Dessa forma, o presente trabalho foi realizado objetivando avaliar as estratégias de estabelecimentos das espécies vegetais por meio da regeneração natural, numa área em reflorestamento, no município de Laranjeiras-SE. Foram instaladas 30 parcelas, e no centro dessas parcelas foram instalados coletores (1m x 1m) para estimar a chuva de sementes. Para a caracterização do banco de sementes, foi coletada, no mês de agosto de 2014 (correspondente a estação chuvosa na região) e fevereiro de 2015 (estação seca), uma amostra de solo no centro de cada subparcela (1m x 1m), através de um gabarito metálico que foi introduzido no solo para remover uma camada de 5 cm. Na avaliação do banco de plântulas, foram realizadas análises de altura e diâmetro das plântulas, entre agosto de 2014 (estação chuvosa) a fevereiro de 2015 (estação seca), em subparcelas (1m x 1m). Na chuva de sementes foram encontradas 7.788 sementes, dentre as quais a espécie Schinus terebinthifollius Raddi (aroeira) apresentou maior número de sementes coletadas, com 6.799 amostras possuindo frequência de 87,84% em relação as outras espécies. A síndrome de dispersão autocórica foi observada para as espécies Centrosema brasilianum (L.) Benth., Fabaceae 2 e Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell.) Brenan, para Asteraceae 1 e Bignoniaceae 1 a síndrome de dispersão observada foi anemocorórica e para as espécies Schinus terebinthifollius e Passiflora mansoi (Mart.) Mast, a síndrome de dispersão presente foi a zoocórica. No estudo do banco de sementes, foi encontrado um total de 171 sementes. Nas análises por estação chuvosa e seca do banco de sementes, a espécie Schinus terebinthifollius prevaleceu com maior número de indivíduos na estação chuvosa. Contudo, prevaleceu a espécie Fabaceae 1 na estação seca. A distribuição das espécies por parcela foi heterogênea em ambas as estações, porém apresentou uma melhor distribuição no período chuvoso. No estudo do banco de plântulas, foram encontradas amostras pertencentes a sete famílias e treze espécies. A espécie Schinus terebinthifollius representou 28% dos espécimes amostrados, seguida por Genipa americana L. com 20%. Na estação chuvosa houve uma melhor distribuição de plântulas ao longo das parcelas. O processo de regeneração natural da área de estudo apresentou uma diversidade de espécies nas três formas de regeneração avaliadas com diferentes épocas de frutificação, estabelecendo assim, uma constante oferta de sementes, viabilizando o desenvolvimento de novos indivíduos para processos futuros.

No description available.

Despite its long tradition in our country, livestock grazing almost disappeared from Czech landscape. This form of land use has winded down in the middle of 20th century, when compulsory co-operative farming was introduced. Decrease of pasturage is especially visible on fragmented areas of steep slopes and in dry places. These areas are often highly valuable and protected for its nature richness. When a grazing management is introduced, its effects on plant species communities are not clear. Also the exact mechanisms of vegetation changes caused by grazing are often unknown. In 2005, administration of PLA Český kras reinstated grazing management as a mean of preservation of dry grassland ecosystems. As part of this project I studied, how generative regeneration contributes to vegetation changes. The aim of the present study is to ascertain: a) how is seedling recruitment and survival affected by grazing, b) what are limitations of generative reproduction, and c) what is the contribution of soil seed bank to vegetation changes. In 2005, monitoring of seedling recruitment and survival had started, repetitive sowing experiment was performed and species composition of persistent seed bank was analyzed. Grazing had a positive effect on seedling - both numbers of seedling and their species composition....

The soil seed bank plays a dynamic role in the regeneration of plant communities after natural and anthropogenic disturbance. In this thesis, I addressed how disturbances influence the vegetation and seed bank of Florida rosemary scrub. In Chapter One I evaluated changes in species composition and spatiotemporal pattern of the vegetation and seed bank along a gradient of disturbance. During the summers and winters of 2007-2009 percent ground cover and seed bank species composition were assessed among replicates of three vegetation types subjected to minimal, moderate, and extreme anthropogenic disturbance (native rosemary scrub, degraded scrub, and agriculturally improved pasture, respectively). These vegetation types shared the same soil and topographic characteristics but differed in disturbance history. I found that species composition and spatial pattern varied with disturbance. In pastures the compositional and structural characteristics of rosemary scrub were lost and only native scrub species able to evade herbivory persisted in this community. Native and degraded scrub differed most from each other in species abundances and spatial pattern. Degraded scrub showed highest abundance of subshrubs and a spike moss species, while rosemary scrub was dominated by shrubs. The seed banks of scrub herbs in degraded scrub had a tendency towards a random spatial distribution that lacked association with aboveground cover. Conversely, rosemary scrub seed banks tended to have an aggregated distribution and were associated with occurrence of conspecific species aboveground, litter, and shrub cover. These results indicated a change in the spatial heterogeneity of the seed banks of scrub herbs in degraded scrub. In Chapter Two I evaluated changes in seed bank density with time-since-fire in native rosemary scrub. Due to large pulses of recruitment immediately after fire and population decline iii with time-since-fire, I predicted seed density with time-since-fire would follow a unimodal function with low density in early and late years post-fire, and highest density at intermediate time-since-fire. I compared seed density data among sites with different time-since-fire: two sites each of three, six, ten and 24 years time-since-fire and three long-unburned sites ( > 24 years). Variability in seed bank composition and density increased with time-since-fire and only recently burned stands were distinctly different from the other time-since-fire age classes. Some species and functional groups did exhibit a quadratic or cubic association to time-since-fire (ruderal herbs, subshrubs, Ceratiola ericoides, Lechea cernua, Paronychia chartacea, Phyllanthus tenellus); however, timing of the peak in seed density varied depending on life span and age of reproductive maturity. Scrub herbs were the most abundant functional group in the seed bank and showed highest density in the first ten years post-fire. This pattern corresponds to the pattern of aboveground species abundance and suggests abundances above- and belowground are closely linked. Understanding the dynamics of the seed bank in both naturally and anthropogenically disturbed communities in Florida rosemary scrub is important for the restoration of scrub habitat and management of existing populations of endangered and threatened scrub species endemic to the Lake Wales Ridge in central Florida.

Thesis (MSc) -- University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The fires, which occurred during January 2000 on the Southern Cape Peninsula, Cape Province, South Africa, focused attention on the importance of sound, informed management of exotic plant invaders in fynbos, especially at the urban interface. The fires also highlighted the relative lack of knowledge about the combined impacts of fire, exotic plants and the exotic-clearing programme on soil seed banks and regeneration. This study examines soil borne seed banks, regeneration, soil chemistry and micro biota in different postfire environments, focusing on three components of exotic plant management: The post-fire effects of standing invasive exotic plants; stacks of slashed exotic plant material which were deliberately burnt and stacks reduced to heat scars by a wildfire. The primary hypothesis addressed is that post-fire vegetation regeneration patterns, seed bank diversity and seed bank abundance are linked to pre-fire vegetation characteristics and, in particular, to the treatment of exotic plant species. It is also hypothesised that soil microbe population sizes are linked to pre-fire vegetation and soil chemical composition. Differences in soil seed banks, soil micro biota and vegetation regeneration patterns occur in different post-fire environments. High volumes of (live or dead) woody exotic biomass negatively impact upon postfire indigenous species diversity and abundance, both above and below-ground. Soil seed banks and above-ground regeneration decline with increasing fire intensity, wildfire burnt stack treatments showing the largest declines followed by wildfire burnt standing exotics, control burnt stacks, wildfire burnt cleared areas and wildfire burnt Mountain Fynbos treatments. Persistent indigenous seed banks are found under some exotic dominated stands. Heat damage, associated with high woody exotic biomass, affects seeds of all species into deep soil layers. Depth of burial is a more important determinant of seed survival during fires than seed size. Soil microbial populations are variably affected by exotic plants, their management and increases in fire intensity. The most drastic microbial population changes are in post-fire treatments of high exotic plant biomass. Soil chemistry affects microbial population sizes as does seasonal climatic changes. In this thesis vegetation, seed bank and microbial responses to various exotic plant management practices are shown and management recommendations are made. Keywords: exotic plants, fire, Fynbos Siome, microbes, post-fire succession, soil seed banks. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Januarie 2000 vure op die Suid Kaapse Skiereiland het fokus gerig op die belangrikheid van goeie, ingeligte bestuur van uitheemse indringerplante in fynbos, veral naby stedelike gebiede. Die vure het ook 'n relatiewe .gebrek aan kennis aangaande die gekombineerde impakte van vuur, uitheemse plantegroei en indringer plant beheer programme op grond saadbanke en die hergroei van plante na 'n vuur aan die lig gebring. Hierdie projek bestudeer die invloed van vuur op grond saadbanke, hergroei van plante, grond chemie en mikro-organismes. Die klem lê op drie komponente van uitheemse plant bestuur: waar staande uitheemse plante voorkom; waar skoongekapte uitheemse plante in hope gestapel is en gekontraleerd gebrand is en waar soortgelyke hope in 'n onbeplande weghol vuur gebrand is. Die primêre hipotese is dat plant herstelpatrone, saadbank diversiteit en grootte gekoppel is aan veldtoestande voordat daar gebrand is, en veral aan die bestuur van uitheemse plantspesies. Nog 'n sentrale hipotese is dat die grootte van grond mikrobiale populasies gekoppel is aan veld toestande voor die brand en aan grond chemiese samestelling. Hierdie studie dui verskille aan in grond saadbanke, mikro-organismes en plant hergroeipatrone onder verskeie toestande na vuur. Die brand van hoë volumes (lewende of dooie) houtagtige uitheemse plant biomassa benadeel inheemse plant spesie diversiteit en getalle (bo en onder die grond oppervlak). Grond saadbanke neem af met vehogings in vuur intensiteit. Die grootste afnames is in wegholvuur gebrande gestapelde uitheemse plantmateriaal gevolg deur wegholvuur gebrande staande uitheemse plante, opsetlik gebrande hope uitheemse plante, gebrande skoongekapte areas en wegholvuur gebrande Berg Fynbos. Ou inheemse saadbanke is gevind onder sommige areas wat voor die vuur oorheers was deur uitheemse plantegroei. Hitteskade, geassosieer met hoë volumes houtagtige uitheemse biomassa, affekteer sade van alle spesies tot diep in die grond. Saad oorlewing tydens brande is meer geaffekteer deur diepte van begrawing in die grond as deur saad grootte. Grond mikro-organisme populasies is geaffekteer deur uitheemse indringer plante, die bestuur van uitheemse plante en vuur intensiteit. Die grootste veranderinge is waar die biomassa van uitheemse plantegroei baie hoog is. Grond chemiese samestelling en seisoenale veranderinge in weerspatrone affekteer die grootte van mikrobiale bevolkings. In hierdie tesis word verskille in plantegroei, saad store en grond mikrobes, soos geaffekteer deur uitheemse plant beheer programme uitgewys en voorstelle vir toekomstige bestuur gemaak. Sleutelwoorde: Fynbos Bioom, grond saad stoor, mikrobes, plant hergroei, uitheemse plante, vuur.

Thesis (MScConsEcol(Conservation Ecology and Entomology)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / Riparian areas are highly complex systems with varying levels of disturbance that are highly susceptible to invasion by alien plants. Once invaded, riparian areas play a major role in the dispersal and spread of invasive alien plants (IAPs) through the river system and, in some cases, to neighbouring landscapes. Riparian areas have therefore been prioritized by many alien clearing initiatives in South Africa. Current practice for the restoration of cleared areas is minimal and relies mainly on the un-aided recovery of native species from residual individuals and soil stored seed banks. Little research, however, has been done on the effectiveness of this approach or the extent to which riparian seed banks contribute towards community restoration. This study is part of a national research initiative (Targets for Ecosystem Repair in Riparian Ecosystems in Fynbos, Grassland and Savanna Biomes) funded by Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, in collaboration with Working for Water, The Centre for Invasion Biology and the Universities of Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Rhodes and Witwatersrand. The initiative undertook to investigate different restoration techniques on various invaded sites for their cost-effectiveness, efficiency, practicality and conservation integrity. This study has three aims. The first is to determine the composition of seed banks in un-invaded riparian areas within the fynbos biome to be used as a benchmark for future research, restoration grading and other management requirements. The second aim is to determine the composition of seed banks in heavily invaded riparian areas, and thus to assess the impact of invasion on the integrity of the seed banks. The third aim is to evaluate the restoration potential of riparian seed banks following the clearing of invasive alien plants (IAPs). Study sites were selected within four river systems in the south-western part of the Western Cape Province in South Africa: the Berg, Eerste, Molenaars and Wit Rivers. Plots were selected in both invaded (>75% IAP canopy cover; considered “closed” alien stands) and un-invaded (also termed reference, with <25% IAP canopy cover) sections of the river. Replicate plots were established along varying gradients of elevation (mountain stream and foothill) and moisture regimes (dry, wet and transitional bank zones). Soil samples were collected together with above-ground vegetation surveys and comparisons were made. Results from this study confirm those of previous studies that seed banks offer little reference to current aboveground vegetation, but rather offer insight into past vegetation history as well as future vegetation assemblages. Worldwide, many of the species that characteristically form seed banks are early successional species. A community study was done for the seed bank based on the species that germinated and were identifiable at termination of the project (6 months after initiation). Three clusters of species could be identified. One group comprised 32 generalist species that occurred in both reference and invaded sections of the rivers. A second group comprised 39 species associated with invaded sites, and a third group of 40 species that was associated with reference sites. A few sub-community groups were found within both the “reference” and “invaded” community groups which were assumed to be habitat specific. Most species were “pioneer” or relatively-short lived, early-successional species which play a vital role in the initial post-disturbance vegetation cover, and facilitate establishment of later successional species. Seed banks are notoriously variable over space and time, and floristic representation is often biased as a result of differences among species in seed production, dispersal and longevity in the soil. The general consensus is that seeds have an irregular, clustered spatial distribution that is dictated by both biological and environmental factors. Within river systems, the irregular clustering can be exceptionally skewed with the influence of pockets of high sediment deposition along the bank. Environmental factors that were found to significantly skew germination results were the presence of fire, as well as the extent and intensity of invasion (duration and cover). The high level of diversity and abundance in reference Berg River mountain stream seed banks was perceived to be a direct result of a moderate fire frequency (between 8-15 years) and the relatively natural state of the vegetation (i.e. very little invasion). Also, diversity and richness of indigenous species from the Wit and Molenaars Rivers were substantially higher in the invaded samples than the reference samples, probably because both river systems have a long history of invasion and other anthropogenic disturbances which would have an effect on the samples from “reference” sections (i.e. even a 25% presence of IAPs seems adequate enough to alter the composition of the seed bank). Correspondence analyses showed that species had clear affinities towards different levels of “key” riparian environmental variables (fire, invasion and anthropogenic disturbance). Most species were associated with moderate levels of fire frequency, invasion history, and anthropogenic disturbance. Comparisons of seed bank species assemblages between the lateral and longitudinal variables of the rivers offered insights into the habitat requirements of certain fynbos and riparian species. Most significant were the results from bank zone comparisons which showed distinct species groupings along the different moisture bands. As could be expected, riparian species were best represented within the wet bank zones and fynbos species within the dry bank zone, while species characteristic of both zones occurred in the transitional zone, making this seed bank zone the richest in species. Mountain stream sections were richer and more diverse than foothill sections over both invaded and reference samples. This is hypothesised to be linked to lower levels of anthropogenic disturbance experienced in the mountain stream sections. The impact of invasion on the riparian seed bank was most clearly shown through the correspondence analyses for the 20 most frequently occurring species. The seed bank assembly patterns were clearly defined by the state of the river (reference or invaded). Interestingly, this pattern was evident at all three spatial scales; landscape (rivers), reach (mountain stream and foothill sections) and habitat (dry, wet and transitional zones). The reference seed bank assemblage was more tightly grouped, implying that the species were more closely associated with each other and less variable than those of the invaded seed bank assemblages. The species groupings within the invaded seed banks were influenced by variables such as reach and zone, whereas the reference seed bank assemblages seem relatively unaffected by these variables. This implies that the presence of invasive alien plants creates additional variation within the seed bank which alters the natural groupings. At a broad scale, the invaded seed banks were less species rich. This means that not only will the resulting seedling community be harder to predict, but it will also have fewer species. However although generally lower in species richness, the seed banks from almost all invaded rivers interestingly showed a higher diversity of indigenous species than their reference counterparts. This is very promising in terms of rehabilitation of post-cleared riparian sites, but more information is needed to understand the seed bank composition and determine how sustainable the seed banks are for rehabilitation in the long-term. All invaded sections had fewer herbaceous perennial species but more herbaceous annual species. Graminoids made up 50% or more of the seed bank regardless of state (reference or invaded), while woody species (shrubs/shrublets) were generally more prevalent in the reference samples. These results imply that following the removal of invasive alien plants, the vegetation to regenerate from the seed bank is likely to comprise of short-lived, herbaceous species that are not necessarily an accurate reflection of the indigenous riparian community. It is however important to note that this study investigated only the species that were able to germinate over the study period (6 month germination period). Many riparian species may not have been represented because they are either late germinators or may not be present in the soil seed bank at all. In order to gain a holistic understanding of riparian community recruitment, it is recommended that seed bank studies such as this one be included in a more broad scale, long term investigation which takes into account various reproductive strategies used by riparian species. Research of this nature is in its infancy worldwide and there are many challenges involved in measuring diversity and change in these systems. However, within the scope of this study, I suggest that these results shed light on previously unanswered and important questions regarding the ecology of seed banks in the riparian ecosystems of the Western Cape.

Os ecossistemas de ilhas, continentais ou oceânicas, são considerados os mais sensíveis à perturbação humana. A maioria das ilhas costeiras do Brasil sofreu fortes alterações na fauna e flora silvestre. A Ilha Anchieta (Ubatuba, SP) é uma Área Protegida com um longo histórico de perturbação, tendo sido amplamente desmatada no passado e sofrido a introdução de animais. Sabe-se que a fauna possui um papel chave na composição e estrutura da comunidade vegetal, favorecendo algumas espécies e prejudicando outras. Sendo assim, a perda ou alteração dos processos de interações entre animais e plantas afetam na estrutura e composição de espécies. Este estudo analisa as interações antagônicas entre planta e animais como possíveis fatores limitantes no processo de regeneração natural em três ambientes com distintos estágios sucessionais presentes na Ilha Anchieta: campo aberto (CA) e florestas ombrófilas rala (FOR) e densa (FOD). Para isso foram testados nos três ambientes os processos pós-dispersão de sementes: a predação de sementes pós-dispersas, a germinação do banco de sementes e a herbivoria. A predação de sementes apresentou forte efeito espacial (FOD>FOR>CA) e sazonal, com maiores proporções de predação de sementes no período de escassez de alimento (estação seca). Quantitativamente o banco de sementes não representa um fator limitante, porém foi composto por uma baixa diversidade de espécies lenhosas. A capacidade de germinação do banco de sementes do solo foi similar entre os ambientes florestais apresentando menor emersão de plântulas no campo aberto, provavelmente associado ao intenso escoamento superficial no local. Adicionalmente, a mortalidade de juvenis transplantados foi de 72,27%, sendo superior nas parcelas abertas aos vertebrados para todas as espécies em todos os ambientes, demonstrando um forte efeito negativo dos herbívoros vertebrados na comunidade vegetal. Sendo assim, foram detectados distintos gargalos atuando simultaneamente na regeneração natural nos três ambientes da Ilha Anchieta, sendo necessário o estabelecimento de práticas de manejo visando minimizar os efeitos abióticos no campo aberto e floresta ombrófila rala, favorecendo as interações mutualísticas e inibindo a atividade de animais antagônicos nas florestas ombrófilas rala e densa, acelerando assim o processo de regeneração natural na Ilha Anchieta. Considerar simultaneamente os obstáculos no processo de regeneração nos auxiliará a traçar práticas de restauração e recuperação de áreas degradadas mais efetivas e viáveis economicamente. / Island ecosystems, either continental or oceanic, are considered the most sensible to anthropogenic influences. Most Brazilian coastal islands have their original fauna and flora composition altered. The Anchieta Island (southeast Brazil) is a Protected Area that suffered deforestation and introduction of alien species. It is known that the fauna plays a key role in composing and structuring the vegetal community, favoring some species and harming others. Thus, the loss or change of animal-plant interactions affects the framework and composition of species. We simultaneously analyzed the antagonistic animal-plant interactions as possible limiting factors in the natural regeneration on tree successional stages of the Anchieta Island: the old fields (OF), the early secondary forest (ESF) and old growth forest (OGF). Therefore, in each habitat we are evaluating post-dispersal seed predation processes: post-dispersal seed predation, soil seed bank, and the herbivory. We found spatial (OGF>ESF>OF) and temporal effects on seed predation, with highest rates on dry season. Quantitatively, soil seed bank did not represent a limiting factor; but qualitatively, it was composed by few woody species. Our data pointed to the absence of a viable soil seed bank in the OF, probably due to an intense runoff. The forested habitats presented similar soil bank. Moreover, the total mortality of saplings was 72.27%, being higher on the unfenced treatment for all species and in all habitats, showing a very strong negative effect of vertebrate herbivores on the vegetal community. Therefore, we are detecting distinct bottlenecks acting simultaneously in the natural regeneration process in all of the successional stages of the Anchieta Island. Our results showed that management actions are required, aiming to both minimize the abiotic effects on the old fields and in the early secondary forest and to favor the mutual interactions and inhibit the activity of antagonic animals in the old growth and early secondary forests, accelerating, this way, the natural regeneration process of the Anchieta Island. Considering simultaneously the obstacles in the regeneration process will help to define restoration and recuperation procedures of degraded areas more effective and affordable.