Earthworm effects on permanent soil seed banks in Colombian grasslands

The effects of Martiodrilus carimaguensis (Oligochaeta, Glossoscolecidae) on soil seed banks was investigated in a Colombian savanna and two introduced pastures. Germination and washing-sieving methods were used to compare seed density, diversity, and germination rates in earthworm casts and the sur...

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Autores principales: Decaëns, Thibaud, Mariani, L, Betancourt, N., Jiménez Jaén, J.J.
Formato: Capítulo de libro
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: International Center for Tropical Agriculture 2001
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/55179
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author Decaëns, Thibaud
Mariani, L
Betancourt, N.
Jiménez Jaén, J.J.
author_browse Betancourt, N.
Decaëns, Thibaud
Jiménez Jaén, J.J.
Mariani, L
author_facet Decaëns, Thibaud
Mariani, L
Betancourt, N.
Jiménez Jaén, J.J.
author_sort Decaëns, Thibaud
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description The effects of Martiodrilus carimaguensis (Oligochaeta, Glossoscolecidae) on soil seed banks was investigated in a Colombian savanna and two introduced pastures. Germination and washing-sieving methods were used to compare seed density, diversity, and germination rates in earthworm casts and the surrounding soil. Large amounts of seeds were present in casts (58 to 163 seeds/100 g dry casts), which germination rates were 3 to 40 times lower than in soil, likely as a consequence of damages suffered during the gut transit. Species composition of germinable seeds was quite different in casts and soil, maybe because of selective seed ingestion by earthworms. From 1% to 13% of the total germinable soil seed bank were deposited in surface casts each year. In the savanna and one pasture, seedling species composition was closer to the vegetation in the case of casts than in the case of soil. This may indicate that ingested seeds that survive gut transit have greater chances to germinate than those of the soil seed bank. Thus, casts may be considered as a regeneration niche for plant species, and earthworm activity as a factor enhancing the expression of the soil seed bank in the standing vegetation.
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spelling CGSpace551792024-01-17T12:58:34Z Earthworm effects on permanent soil seed banks in Colombian grasslands Decaëns, Thibaud Mariani, L Betancourt, N. Jiménez Jaén, J.J. lumbricidae savannas pastures sabanas pastizales The effects of Martiodrilus carimaguensis (Oligochaeta, Glossoscolecidae) on soil seed banks was investigated in a Colombian savanna and two introduced pastures. Germination and washing-sieving methods were used to compare seed density, diversity, and germination rates in earthworm casts and the surrounding soil. Large amounts of seeds were present in casts (58 to 163 seeds/100 g dry casts), which germination rates were 3 to 40 times lower than in soil, likely as a consequence of damages suffered during the gut transit. Species composition of germinable seeds was quite different in casts and soil, maybe because of selective seed ingestion by earthworms. From 1% to 13% of the total germinable soil seed bank were deposited in surface casts each year. In the savanna and one pasture, seedling species composition was closer to the vegetation in the case of casts than in the case of soil. This may indicate that ingested seeds that survive gut transit have greater chances to germinate than those of the soil seed bank. Thus, casts may be considered as a regeneration niche for plant species, and earthworm activity as a factor enhancing the expression of the soil seed bank in the standing vegetation. 2001 2015-01-28T14:17:31Z 2015-01-28T14:17:31Z Book Chapter https://hdl.handle.net/10568/55179 en Open Access International Center for Tropical Agriculture Decaëns, Thibaud; Mariani, Lucero; Betancourt, Nixon; Jiménez Jaén, Juan José. 2001. Earthworm effects on permanent soil seed banks in Colombian grasslands. In: Jiménez Jaén, Juan José; Thomas, Richard J. (eds.). Nature`s plow: Soil macroinvertebrate communities in the neotropical savannas of Colombia. Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), Cali, CO. p. 274-293. (CIAT publication no. 324)
spellingShingle lumbricidae
savannas
pastures
sabanas
pastizales
Decaëns, Thibaud
Mariani, L
Betancourt, N.
Jiménez Jaén, J.J.
Earthworm effects on permanent soil seed banks in Colombian grasslands
title Earthworm effects on permanent soil seed banks in Colombian grasslands
title_full Earthworm effects on permanent soil seed banks in Colombian grasslands
title_fullStr Earthworm effects on permanent soil seed banks in Colombian grasslands
title_full_unstemmed Earthworm effects on permanent soil seed banks in Colombian grasslands
title_short Earthworm effects on permanent soil seed banks in Colombian grasslands
title_sort earthworm effects on permanent soil seed banks in colombian grasslands
topic lumbricidae
savannas
pastures
sabanas
pastizales
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/55179
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AT jimenezjaenjj earthwormeffectsonpermanentsoilseedbanksincolombiangrasslands