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- Title
The soil seed bank and its relationship to the aboveground vegetation in deciduous forests in New York City
- Authors
Young, Truman P.; McDonnell, Mark J.; Kostel-Hughes, Faith
- Abstract
The soil seed bank was studied in two deciduous forests in Bronx (New York City), NY. The purpose of this study was to determine how the biotic and abiotic differences between urban and rural forests are reflected in urban forest seed banks. Soil samples were collected in two consecutive years and monitored for emergence in the greenhouse over two years. In 1993, the mean number of emergents ranged from 4636 to 5373 m-2 (excluding ferns), or from 6972 to 9651 m-2 (including ferns). In 1994, the mean number of emergents ranged from 1656 to 2013 m-2 (excluding ferns), or from 5019 to 5992 m-2 (including ferns). Graminoids and ferns combined accounted for approximately 79% of all emergents each year. Three taxa, Rubus spp., Betula lenta, and Liriodendron tulipifera, comprised60-80% of the woody emergents and were the only woody taxa to exhibit delayed germination. A substantial number of forbs, graminoids and ferns (15-50%) exhibited delayed germination. The nonnative woody species Ailanthus altissima, Mortis alba, and Celastrus orbiculatus wereabsent from the aboveground vegetation of some forest plots yet werepresent at low densities in the seed bank. A greater mean density ofemergents and the presence of nonnative species are the main differences between the seed banks of these urban forests and those reportedfor similar nonurban forests in this region.
- Subjects
NEW York (State); NEW York (N.Y.); UNITED States; SOILS; CITIES &; towns
- Publication
Urban Ecosystems, 1998, Vol 2, Issue 1, p43
- ISSN
1083-8155
- Publication type
Article