Abstract:

Seasonal dynamics in the soil seed bank under 4 different vegetation cover types (A: Rumex acetosa lakeshore, B: Shrub and grass lakeshore, C: Crop lakeshore, D: Natural reed lakeshore) were investigated with a germination method. The results showed that the seeds of 30 plant species were germinated from the soil seed bank. The species number of the germinated seeds was 21, 16 and 18, respectively in April, August and November 2010, and most of them belonged to therophyte and perennial plants. There were no significant differences in seed density in the soil seed bank among April, August and November, with an average 2 093±948.55 seed·m^-2, 1 173±897.01 seed·m^-2, 1 100±623.50 seed·m^-2, respectively. The largest density of type A, B and C was found in April, and was 1 040±526.91 seed·m^-2, 4 853±1 681.91 seed·m^-2, 1 360±586.55 seed·m^-2, respectively. Seasonal dynamics of lakeshore wetland seed bank density were ranked in an order: Spring (April)>Summer (August)>Autumn (November) in Lake Tai. This study indicates that wetland seed banks play an extremely important role in maintaining standing vegetation plant diversity, and provides a technical support for the protection and management of lakeshore wetland, Lake Tai.

Key words: Lake Tai, lakeshore wetland, soil seed bank heterogeneity, seasonal dynamics