Effects of heathland management on seedling recruitment of common juniper (Juniperus communis)
Background and aims – Common juniper (Juniperus communis L.) is one of the most widespread woody species on the planet. Over recent decades, however, common juniper populations are decreasing in size and number in different regions. Lack of recruitment, caused by extremely low seed viability and the...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Meise Botanic Garden
2020-07-01
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| Series: | Plant Ecology and Evolution |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://plecevo.eu/article/24603/download/pdf/ |
| _version_ | 1827775583258411008 |
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| author | Pieter De Frenne Robert Gruwez Patrick Hommel An De Schrijver Rik Huiskes Rein de Waal Pieter Vangansbeke Kris Verheyen |
| author_facet | Pieter De Frenne Robert Gruwez Patrick Hommel An De Schrijver Rik Huiskes Rein de Waal Pieter Vangansbeke Kris Verheyen |
| author_sort | Pieter De Frenne |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background and aims – Common juniper (Juniperus communis L.) is one of the most widespread woody species on the planet. Over recent decades, however, common juniper populations are decreasing in size and number in different regions. Lack of recruitment, caused by extremely low seed viability and the absence of suitable microsites for recruitment, is the key reason for this decline. For successful germination, the seeds need gaps in the existing vegetation and a soil with a relatively high base saturation. The aim of this study was therefore to assess how management actions such as sod cutting, rotavation and liming (alone or in various combinations) influence soil characteristics, seed germination and seedling survival of common juniper.Methods – We installed a sowing experiment across 104 1-m2 plots in four different sites in Belgium and the Netherlands using treatments with different combinations of fencing, sod cutting, rotavation, litter addition and liming. We determined how these treatments affected soil characteristics and how they influenced seed germination and seedling survival.Key results and conclusions – Across the whole experiment, germination rates of juniper seeds were very low (almost always < 1%). Our results confirm that bare ground promotes the germination of juniper seeds. Secondly, higher silt and lutum (clay) proportions in the soil and higher soil organic matter content seemed to have a positive impact on recruitment, possibly due to drought reduction. Management actions that negatively affect those soil characteristics, such as deep sod cutting, should thus be avoided in heathlands on sandy soils. Our results reveal a complex relationship between seedling recruitment success, soil conditions and management of common juniper populations. Overall, combinations of fencing, (superficial) sod cutting and liming or rotavation were most successful. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T13:52:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6a33ad0553e74cc19380e9302a0a8e7e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2032-3921 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T13:52:19Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | Meise Botanic Garden |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plant Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-6a33ad0553e74cc19380e9302a0a8e7e2023-11-02T08:29:21ZengMeise Botanic GardenPlant Ecology and Evolution2032-39212020-07-01153218819810.5091/plecevo.2020.165624603Effects of heathland management on seedling recruitment of common juniper (Juniperus communis)Pieter De Frenne0Robert Gruwez1Patrick Hommel2An De Schrijver3Rik Huiskes4Rein de Waal5Pieter Vangansbeke6Kris Verheyen7Forest & Nature Lab, Ghent University, Geraardsbergsesteenweg 267Forest & Nature Lab, Ghent University, Geraardsbergsesteenweg 267, BE-9090 Melle-GontrodeAlterra Research Institute, Wageningen UR, NL-6700 AA, WageningenForest & Nature Lab, Ghent University, Geraardsbergsesteenweg 267, BE-9090 Melle-GontrodeAlterra Research Institute, Wageningen UR, NL-6700 AA, WageningenAlterra Research Institute, Wageningen UR, NL-6700 AA, WageningenForest & Nature Lab, Ghent University, Geraardsbergsesteenweg 267, BE-9090 Melle-GontrodeForest & Nature Lab, Ghent University, Geraardsbergsesteenweg 267, BE-9090 Melle-GontrodeBackground and aims – Common juniper (Juniperus communis L.) is one of the most widespread woody species on the planet. Over recent decades, however, common juniper populations are decreasing in size and number in different regions. Lack of recruitment, caused by extremely low seed viability and the absence of suitable microsites for recruitment, is the key reason for this decline. For successful germination, the seeds need gaps in the existing vegetation and a soil with a relatively high base saturation. The aim of this study was therefore to assess how management actions such as sod cutting, rotavation and liming (alone or in various combinations) influence soil characteristics, seed germination and seedling survival of common juniper.Methods – We installed a sowing experiment across 104 1-m2 plots in four different sites in Belgium and the Netherlands using treatments with different combinations of fencing, sod cutting, rotavation, litter addition and liming. We determined how these treatments affected soil characteristics and how they influenced seed germination and seedling survival.Key results and conclusions – Across the whole experiment, germination rates of juniper seeds were very low (almost always < 1%). Our results confirm that bare ground promotes the germination of juniper seeds. Secondly, higher silt and lutum (clay) proportions in the soil and higher soil organic matter content seemed to have a positive impact on recruitment, possibly due to drought reduction. Management actions that negatively affect those soil characteristics, such as deep sod cutting, should thus be avoided in heathlands on sandy soils. Our results reveal a complex relationship between seedling recruitment success, soil conditions and management of common juniper populations. Overall, combinations of fencing, (superficial) sod cutting and liming or rotavation were most successful.https://plecevo.eu/article/24603/download/pdf/Juniperus communisgerminationseedling survival |
| spellingShingle | Pieter De Frenne Robert Gruwez Patrick Hommel An De Schrijver Rik Huiskes Rein de Waal Pieter Vangansbeke Kris Verheyen Effects of heathland management on seedling recruitment of common juniper (Juniperus communis) Plant Ecology and Evolution Juniperus communis germination seedling survival |
| title | Effects of heathland management on seedling recruitment of common juniper (Juniperus communis) |
| title_full | Effects of heathland management on seedling recruitment of common juniper (Juniperus communis) |
| title_fullStr | Effects of heathland management on seedling recruitment of common juniper (Juniperus communis) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of heathland management on seedling recruitment of common juniper (Juniperus communis) |
| title_short | Effects of heathland management on seedling recruitment of common juniper (Juniperus communis) |
| title_sort | effects of heathland management on seedling recruitment of common juniper juniperus communis |
| topic | Juniperus communis germination seedling survival |
| url | https://plecevo.eu/article/24603/download/pdf/ |
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