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A comparative study of the seed bank dynamics of two congeneric alien invasive species

Includes bibliographies.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Holmes, P M
Other Authors: Moll, Eugene J
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: Department of Biological Sciences 2016
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access_status_str Open Access
author Holmes, P M
author2 Moll, Eugene J
author_browse Holmes, P M
Moll, Eugene J
author_facet Moll, Eugene J
Holmes, P M
author_sort Holmes, P M
collection Thesis
description Includes bibliographies.
format Thesis
id oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/17724
institution University of Cape Town (South Africa)
language eng
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:44:01.675Z
license_str Not specified — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
publishDate 2016
publishDateRange 2016
publishDateSort 2016
publisher Department of Biological Sciences
publisherStr Department of Biological Sciences
record_format dspace
source_str UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
spelling oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/17724 A comparative study of the seed bank dynamics of two congeneric alien invasive species Holmes, P M Moll, Eugene J Botany Acacia - South Africa - Seeds Plant introduction - South Africa Soil seed banks - South Africa Includes bibliographies. The unique vegetation in the lowlands of the fynbos biome is threatened by alien Acacia encroachment. The seed bank dynamics of the two most widespread invaders in the region, Acacia saligma and A. cyclops, was studied to elucidate those factors contributing most to their invasive success. This information was then used to assist in developing optimal control methods. On the basis of information available prior to this study, it was predicted that both species would have large, persistent seed banks in the so.il, and that seed bank processes would provide the - key to invasive success: namely, high seed longevity and heat-stimulated germination. Seed banks were monitored for several years following clearing of the parent stand, using either sites sampled in an earlier study, or sites providing chronosequences of clearing dates. Concurrently, a demographic study of the species' seed banks, including processes from seed rain through to seedling emergence and survival, was done in dense Acacia stands and in fynbos vegetation. Acacia saligma seed banks conformed to predictions, being large and persistent owing to high percentage viability and water-impermeable dormancy. Seed banks accumulate rapidly under dense stands and are "disturbance-coupled" as they have potentially high longevity unless stimulated to germinate by fire. Although A. cyclops seed banks also may be large and long-lived, they display variable percentage viability and dormancy, with the majority of a seed cohort surviving less than a year. Acacia cyclops seed banks do not respond to heat treatment and appear to be "disturbance-uncoupled". 2016-03-14T07:22:13Z 2016-03-14T07:22:13Z 1989 Doctoral Thesis Doctoral PhD http://hdl.handle.net/11427/17724 eng application/pdf Department of Biological Sciences Faculty of Science University of Cape Town
spellingShingle Botany
Acacia - South Africa - Seeds
Plant introduction - South Africa
Soil seed banks - South Africa
Holmes, P M
A comparative study of the seed bank dynamics of two congeneric alien invasive species
thesis_degree_str Doctoral
title A comparative study of the seed bank dynamics of two congeneric alien invasive species
title_full A comparative study of the seed bank dynamics of two congeneric alien invasive species
title_fullStr A comparative study of the seed bank dynamics of two congeneric alien invasive species
title_full_unstemmed A comparative study of the seed bank dynamics of two congeneric alien invasive species
title_short A comparative study of the seed bank dynamics of two congeneric alien invasive species
title_sort comparative study of the seed bank dynamics of two congeneric alien invasive species
topic Botany
Acacia - South Africa - Seeds
Plant introduction - South Africa
Soil seed banks - South Africa
url http://hdl.handle.net/11427/17724
work_keys_str_mv AT holmespm acomparativestudyoftheseedbankdynamicsoftwocongenericalieninvasivespecies
AT holmespm comparativestudyoftheseedbankdynamicsoftwocongenericalieninvasivespecies