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Successional trends in soil seed banks of abandoned pastures of a Neotropical dry region

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 December 2010

Susana Maza-Villalobos ,
Celina Lemus-Herrera  and
Miguel Martínez-Ramos
Susana Maza-Villalobos
Affiliation:
Centro de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro # 8701, Col. Ex-Hacienda de San José de la Huerta, CP 58190, Morelia, Michoacán, México
Celina Lemus-Herrera
Affiliation:
Facultad de Biología, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Ciudad Universitaria Av. Fco. J. Múgica S/N., CP 58030, Morelia, Michoacán, México
Miguel Martínez-Ramos*
Affiliation:
Centro de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro # 8701, Col. Ex-Hacienda de San José de la Huerta, CP 58190, Morelia, Michoacán, México
*
1Corresponding author. Email: mmartine@oikos.unam.mx
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Abstract:

A chronosequence was used to study seed-bank communities during the first 12 y of tropical-dry-forest regeneration in abandoned pastures in Chamela, Mexico. Prediction that seeds of woody species replace those of herbaceous species during succession was tested and mechanisms of species replacement (facilitation, tolerance, inhibition) were assessed. Four successional categories (three sites each) were considered: pasture (0–1 y since abandonment), early (3–5 y), intermediate (10–12 y), and old-growth forest. At the end of the dry season, 20 cylindrical soil samples (10 cm diameter, 15 cm depth) were randomly obtained within a 20 × 50-m plot in each site. Seeds ≥1 mm were counted and identified. Overall, 2941 seeds and 102 morphospecies (52 taxonomically identified) were recorded. Seed bank density reduced, species diversity remained fairly constant and seeds of herbaceous species were replaced by those of woody species over the chronosequence. A clear species-by-species replacement pattern was detected, as expected under a mechanism of succession by facilitation. Twelve years after abandonment, a diverse seed bank of woody species did exist, indicating a fast recovery of the tropical-dry-forest regenerative potential; nonetheless, the structure and composition of the seed bank was still different from that in the old-growth forest.

Keywords

Chamela–CuixmalachronosequenceMexiconatural regenerationregenerative communitiessecondary successiontropical dry forest
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 27 , Issue 1 , January 2011 , pp. 35 - 49
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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