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Persoonia (family Proteaceae) is a diverse genus of 99 species, mainly of woody shrubs and small trees, that are endemic to Australia. The fleshy fruits that characterise these plants are an important resource in otherwise resource-depauperate ecological communities. However, this genus is highly under-represented in restoration and conservation programs, as its species are notoriously difficult to propagate and transplant in the wild. Understanding the mechanisms that control seed production, viability, dormancy and germination will hasten progress on Persoonia propagation. Here we review Persoonia studies to reveal the nature of, and variability within, the genus. We identify key factors that need to be addressed; specifically, those affecting fruit set, endocarp degradation and subsequent propagation of Persoonia. This synthesis of current knowledge provides important material to inform management of this taxon in the landscape, and outlines several important priorities for future seed biology research on the genus. We outline several important priorities for future seed biology research on the genus.
The annual grass Bromus tectorum has invaded millions of hectares in western North America and has transformed former perennial grass and shrub-dominated communities into annual grasslands. Fire plays a key role in the maintenance of B. tectorum on the landscape but the type of disturbance responsible for initial invasion is less well understood. We conducted an experiment in a perennial shrub/grass/forb community in eastern Idaho, USA to examine the roles of plant community and soil disturbance on B. tectorum emergence and establishment prior to state-changing fires. Our experiment consisted of a plant community disturbance treatment where we (1) removed the shrub component, (2) removed the grass/forb component, or (3) removed all shrubs, grasses, and forbs. We followed this treatment with seeding of B. tectorum onto the soil surface that was (1) intact, or (2) disturbed. Each experimental plot had an associated control with no plant community disturbance but was seeded in the same manner. The experiment was replicated 20 times in two sites (high and low aboveground biomass). We measured emergence by counting seedlings in late spring and establishment by counting, removing, and weighing B. tectorum individuals in mid-summer. We also examined the influence of plant community disturbance on the soil environment by measuring extractable NH4 + and NO3 – four times each summer. Soil disturbance greatly influenced the number of B. tectorum individuals that emerged each spring. Plant community disturbance, specifically disturbance of the grass/forb component, increased N availability in the late growing season and biomass of B. tectorum the following summer. We conclude that soil disturbance and plant community disturbance interact to promote the initial invasion of B. tectorum in Intermountain West valley ecosystems.
In Deutschland zählt das Moorveilchen (Viola uliginosa) zu den stark vom Aussterben bedrohten Pflanzenarten. Letzte Vorkommen befinden sich in Bruchwäldern Ostsachsens, im Verwaltungsbereich des Biosphärenreservates "Oberlausitzer Heide- und Teichlandschaft". Mittels vegetationskundlicher, ökophysiologischer, hydro- und bodenchemischer sowie keimungsbiologischer Untersuchungen wurden Informationen zu Habitatansprüchen und Gefährdungspotentialen sowie zur Fortpflanzenungsbiologie dieser seltenen Art gewonnen. Die vorliegenden Ergebnisse zeigen, dass Viola uliginosa gegenüber den Umweltfaktoren Licht, Wasser und Boden einen ausreichenden physiologischen Toleranzbereich besitzt, um unter den gegebenen Habitatbedingungen zu überleben. Stattgefundene sowie sich abzeichnende Veränderungen der Lebensräume (insbesondere Austrocknung des Bodens, Toxizität durch Schwermetalle) stellen jedoch eine ernst zu nehmende Gefahr dar. Obwohl Viola uliginosa sich in der Natur nicht generativ fortzupflanzen scheint, konnte unter Laborbedingungen durch die Anwendung einer Kaltnassstratifikation ein relativ hohes Keimprozent realisiert werden. Dieser Tatsache kommt vor allem im Hinblick auf eine künstliche (Wieder-)Ansiedlung besondere Bedeutung zu.