RT Journal Article
T1 Seed Viability, Spikelet Dispersal, Seed Banks and Seed Storage Requirements for Native and Invasive Cordgrasses (Genus Spartina) in Southwest Iberian Peninsula
A1 Infante Izquierdo, María Dolores
A1 Romero Martín, Ruth
A1 Castillo Segura, Jesus Manuel
A1 Grewell, Brenda J.
A1 Soriano Bermúdez, Jesús José
A1 Jiménez Nieva, Francisco Javier
A1 Muñoz Rodríguez, Adolfo Francisco
AB Seed banks play an important role in determining the spatial and temporal distribution of halophytes in salt marshes. Wetested the ability of native Spartina maritima and invasive S. densiflora spikelets to disperse by flotation on water with differentsalinity concentrations, and the longevity of spikelet viability relative to environmental conditions including dry orwet storage at low or moderate temperatures, and aqueous salinity concentrations from fresh to sea water. We quantifiedpre-dispersal seed production and pre- and post-dispersal focal Spartina spp. presence in seed banks along intertidal gradientswithin salt marshes at the Gulf of Cádiz (Southwest Iberian Peninsula). Spartina densiflora spikelets, especially frommiddle and high elevation marshes, showed greater ability than S. maritima to remain afloat, which suggests this speciescould be dispersed over longer distances. Wet-stored Spartina seeds were able to maintain viability for months, while seedsunder dry storage rapidly lost viability. This decline was most significant for S. maritima, and for seeds stored at moderatetemperatures. Storage of spikelets under wet and cold conditions optimized spikelet viability. Native S. maritima did notestablish transient or persistent seed banks, while invasive S. densiflora established transient seed banks mainly at highermarsh elevations. Our results on the dynamics of seed dispersal and seed banks and seedling recruitment provide fundamentalknowledge that can be applied for conservation of native S. maritima, management of invasive S. densiflora, and ecologicalrestoration of tidal salt marshes.
PB Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
SN 0277-5212
SN 1943-6246 (electrónico)
YR 2023
FD 2023
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10272/22290
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10272/22290
LA eng
NO Infante-Izquierdo, M. D., Romero-Martín, R., Castillo, J. M., Grewell, B. J., Soriano, J. J., Nieva, F. J. J., & Muñoz-Rodríguez, A. F. (2023). Seed Viability, Spikelet Dispersal, Seed Banks and Seed Storage Requirements for Native and Invasive Cordgrasses (Genus Spartina) in Southwest Iberian Peninsula. In Wetlands (Vol. 43, Issue 1). Springer Science and Business Media LLC. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-022-01655-2
NO Funding for open access publishing: Universidad de Sevilla / CBUA Open Access funding enabled and organized by Universidad de Sevilla. M.D. Infante-Izquierdo acknowledges to Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte of Spanish Government for the FPU Grant (FPU14/06556).
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Huelva
RD 1 jun 2026