TY  - GEN
A1  - Wagner, Markus
A1  - Pywell, Richard F.
A1  - Knopp, Tatjana
A1  - Bullock, James M.
A1  - Heard, Matthew S.
T1  - The germination niches of grassland species targeted for restoration
T2  - Postprints der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe
N2  - Restoration of semi-natural grassland communities
involves a combination of (1) sward disturbance to
create a temporal window for establishment, and (2)
target species introduction, the latter usually by seed
sowing. With great regularity, particular species
establish only poorly. More reliable establishment
could improve outcome of restoration projects and
increase cost-effectiveness. We investigated the
abiotic germination niche of ten poorly establishing
calcareous grassland species by simultaneously
exploring the effects of moisture and light availability
and temperature fluctuation on percentage germina-
tion and speed of germination. We also investigated
the effects of three different pre-treatments used to
enhance seed germination – cold-stratification, osmo-
tic priming and priming in combination with gibberellic
acid (GA 3 ) – and how these affected abiotic
germination niches. Species varied markedly in width
of abiotic germination niche, ranging from Carex flacca
with very strict abiotic requirements, to several species
reliably germinating across the whole range of abiotic
conditions. Our results suggest pronounced differ-
ences between species in gap requirements for
establishment. Germination was improved in most
species by at least one pre-treatment. Evidence for
positive effects of adding GA 3 to seed priming
solutions was limited. In several species, pre-treated
seeds germinated under a wider range of abiotic
conditions than untreated seeds. Improved knowledge
of species-specific germination niches and the effects
of seed pre-treatments may help to improve species
establishment by sowing, and to identify species for
which sowing at a later stage of restoration or
introduction as small plants may represent a more
viable strategy.
T3  - Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe - 675 
KW  - abiotic germination niche
KW  - calcareous grassland species
KW  - cold-stratification
KW  - osmotic seed priming
KW  - seed sowing
KW  - temperature fluctuation
Y1  - 2019
UR  - https://publishup.uni-potsdam.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/41343
UR  - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-413438
SN  - 1866-8372
IS  - 675
SP  - 117
EP  - 131
ER  -