Main Article Content

Published:
May 19, 2017
Keywords:
invasiveness
diversity
glossy privet
Celtis tala

Abstract

Seed banks are key components of terrestrial ecosystems as they determine the future development of its vascular plants. In disturbed environments, seed banks can either favor regeneration of native species, or enhance colonization and expansion of exotic species. In Buenos Aires Province (Argentina), Celtis tala forests are the main wooded community. They have experienced strong anthropogenic disturbances that made them vulnerable to invasion from the exotic tree Ligustrum lucidum. The objective of this work was to study the seed bank composition in Celtis tala forests in "El Destino" Reserve (Magdalena, Buenos Aires) and its relation with the standing vegetation in areas with distinct degrees of invasion. Five plots were stablished in two wooded cordons, covering four types of environments. In each plot, a soil sample was taken and standing vegetation was studied. Seed bank composition was analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively during four months in a Ciudad Universitaria's greenhouse. Invaded environments were characterized by having less diversity, richness and evenness than those presented by non-invaded environments. Non-invaded environment's seed banks exhibited a larger proportion of herbaceous species while in invaded seed banks, Ligusrtrum lucidum dominated. This result shows that invasion has exceeded the threshold of reversibility, consolidating as neo-ecosystems dominated by L. lucidum.

María Virginia Eva Diaz Villa
Nora Madanes
Piedad M Cristiano
Guillermo Goldstein
Author Biographies

Nora Madanes, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires, Laboratorio de Ecología Funcional, Ciudad Universitaria Pab. II, C.A.B.A, Argentina.

Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Laboratorio de Ecología Funcional, C.A.B.A, Argentina.

Piedad M Cristiano, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires, Laboratorio de Ecología Funcional, Ciudad Universitaria Pab. II, C.A.B.A, Argentina.

Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Laboratorio de Ecología Funcional, C.A.B.A, Argentina.

How to Cite
Diaz Villa, M. V. E., Madanes, N., Cristiano, P. M., & Goldstein, G. (2017). Seed bank composition and Ligustrum lucidum invasion in coastal forests in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Revista Bosque, 37(3), 581–590. Retrieved from https://revistabosque.org/index.php/bosque/article/view/457

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Article Details

Similar Articles

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.