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Seed rain and soil seed banks in Chinese fir plantations and an adjacent natural forest in southern China: implications for the regeneration of native species
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  • Bo Liu,
  • Qingqing Liu,
  • Chenxi Zhu,
  • Zhigang Liu,
  • Zhijun Huang,
  • Mulualem Tigabu,
  • Zongming He,
  • Yuhui Liu,
  • Zhengning Wang
Bo Liu
Qufu Normal University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Qingqing Liu
Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University
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Chenxi Zhu
Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University
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Zhigang Liu
Forestry bureau of Xinxiang
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Zhijun Huang
Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University
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Mulualem Tigabu
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
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Zongming He
Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University
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Yuhui Liu
Xinkou Teaching Forest Farm, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University
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Zhengning Wang
Qufu Normal University
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Abstract

The natural regeneration of native broadleaved species underneath forest monoculture plantations is important to recover ecosystem functions and to mitigate adverse environmental effects. To understand how seed rain and soil seed banks facilitate natural regeneration, we surveyed their density and composition in a monoculture Chinese fir plantation, a mixed Chinese fir–broadleaf plantation, and an adjacent natural broadleaved forest for two years in southern China. Twenty-eight species (16 families) were in seed rain, and 45 species (27 families) were in soil seed banks. Seed rain density did not differ significantly across stands; however, the number of taxa in seed rain was highest in the mixed plantation and lowest in the natural forest. Seed bank density was significantly higher in the mixed plantation than in the other stands. The Sørensen similarity indices of species composition between seed sources and aboveground vegetation were relatively low (<0.50). In addition, the seeds of native tree species common to the seed banks of the three forests indicated the adjacent natural forest was a seed source for the natural regeneration of native species in forest plantations. To augment regeneration and accelerate the rate of conversion, we recommend direct seeding or planting of desired species.
19 Jul 2021Submitted to Ecology and Evolution
24 Sep 2021Submission Checks Completed
24 Sep 2021Assigned to Editor
01 Oct 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
28 Oct 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
29 Oct 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
25 Nov 20211st Revision Received
25 Nov 2021Submission Checks Completed
25 Nov 2021Assigned to Editor
25 Nov 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
26 Nov 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
14 Dec 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
20 Dec 20212nd Revision Received
21 Dec 2021Submission Checks Completed
21 Dec 2021Assigned to Editor
21 Dec 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
21 Dec 2021Editorial Decision: Accept
Jan 2022Published in Ecology and Evolution volume 12 issue 1. 10.1002/ece3.8539