Publication Type | J |
Authors | Riddin, T; Adams, JB |
Author Full Name | Riddin, T.; Adams, J. B. |
Title | The seed banks of two temporarily open/closed estuaries in South Africa |
Source | AQUATIC BOTANY |
Language | English |
Document Type | Article |
Author Keywords | Seed bank; Estuary; Germination rate; Charophytes; Ruppia; Sarcocornia |
Keywords Plus | CIRRHOSA PETAGNA GRANDE; AQUATIC PLANTS; SALT-MARSH; GERMINATION; MACROPHYTES; VEGETATION; EMERGENCE; SALINITY; WATER; DESICCATION |
Abstract | The seed banks of two temporarily open/closed estuaries in South Africa were quantified ill this study. Charophyte oospores represented almost 72% of the sexual propagules ill the sediment with a mean oospore density of 31,306 oospores m(-2). This was followed by the seeds of the intertidal salt marsh plant Sarcocornia perennis (18%) (7929 seed m(-2)) and the submerged angiosperm Ruppia cirrhosa (7%) (2852 seeds m(-2)). The remaining 3% was made Up of a mixture of species Such as Salicornia meyeriana, Sporobolus virginicus, Stukenia pectinata, Bolboschoenus maritimus and terrestrial species. Although seed density did not differ significantly with depth, seeds Still occurred at 20 cm depth providing a regeneration Source in tile event of sediment disturbance. Three salinity (0, 17 and 35 PSU) and moisture treatments (exposed, waterlogged and submerged) were applied to collected sediment to determine how fast species Would germinate. S. perennis germinated after 3 d to a maximum of 82%. Submerged species began to germinate only after 18 d (Chara vulgaris and R. cirrhosa) and had low germination percentages of between 11 and 15% after 91 d. Results from this Study indicate that in tile event of unpredictable disturbance events such as water level fluctuations, large sediment seed reserves would ensure habitat persistence. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. |
Author Address | [Riddin, T.; Adams, J. B.] Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Univ, Dept Bot, ZA-6070 Port Elizabeth, South Africa |
Reprint Address | Riddin, T (reprint author), Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Univ, Dept Bot, POB 77000, ZA-6070 Port Elizabeth, South Africa. |
E-mail Address | triddin@isat.co.za |
ORCID Number | Adams, Janine/0000-0001-7204-123X |
Funding Agency and Grant Number | The Water Research Commission; National Research Foundation; Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University |
Funding Text | The Water Research Commission, National Research Foundation and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University provided funding for the research. Ms Nolusindiso Jafta is thanked for assistance with sample preparations. The two anonymous reviewers are thanked for their constructive comments. |
Cited Reference Count | 32 |
Times Cited | 23 |
Total Times Cited Count (WoS, BCI, and CSCD) | 27 |
Publisher | ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV |
Publisher City | AMSTERDAM |
Publisher Address | PO BOX 211, 1000 AE AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS |
ISSN | 0304-3770 |
29-Character Source Abbreviation | AQUAT BOT |
ISO Source Abbreviation | Aquat. Bot. |
Publication Date | MAY |
Year Published | 2009 |
Volume | 90 |
Issue | 4 |
Beginning Page | 328 |
Ending Page | 332 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | 10.1016/j.aquabot.2008.12.003 |
Page Count | 5 |
Web of Science Category | Plant Sciences; Marine & Freshwater Biology |
Subject Category | Plant Sciences; Marine & Freshwater Biology |
Document Delivery Number | 432BO |
Unique Article Identifier | WOS:000265108700009 |
Plants associated with this reference |