Seasonal Variation in Buried Germinable Seed Banks of Grass Species in an Urban Eucalypt Forest Reserve

Abstract

Grass species in the buried germinable seed banks of selected forest, mown and road-bank sites in the Mt Coot-tha Reserve, south-eastern Queensland were quantified for five consecutive seasons to determine seasonal patterns in the seed banks, and differences in seasonal patterns between native and exotic grass species, and between grasses in natural and disturbed forest areas. Ten types of seed banks were identified. While native and exotic species had similar seed banks most native grass species had transient seed banks whereas most exotic grass species had persistent seed banks.