The Function of Seed Banks in Northern Forest Ecosystems

📖 The Scoop

The phenomenon of seeds remaining dormant within the soil is well known and documented but detailed information on the role of such seed banks in northern Ontario is very limited. Research is required to determine the species and abundance of seeds in the soil across a range of forest types, as well as to determine the function of the seed bank in post-disturbance vegetation dynamics. This report presents comparison tables of seed density and diversity for the boreal and deciduous forest types, and discusses the research that has been conducted. The review included detailed discussions of seed bank dynamics, physiology of seeds in a seed bank, boreal and deciduous forest seed banks, seed bank dynamics and succession, and recommendations for initiating a seed bank study in northern Ontario.

Genre: Science / Life Sciences / Botany (fancy, right?)