Publications (FIS)

Experiments and observations on seed dispersal by running water in an alpine floodplain

authored by: H. C. Bill, P. Poschlod, M. Reich, H. Plachter
Abstract: 1. In-stream dispersal and floating capacity of 18 pioneer plants (nine chamaephytes, eight hemicryptophytes and one shrub) from alluvial floodplains on the upper Isar (Bavaria, Germany) were studied using field and laboratory experiments between 1994 and 1996. 2. Drift collection of seeds with nets at the water surface proved unsuitable because of the great amount of invertebrates drifting along the river, though it allowed an estimation of the amount of drifting seeds. In August and September we found over 9,000 drifting seeds per meter stream width and day or over 120,000 seeds over the whole stream width in 24 h. Sediment-filled baskets proved to be better traps but were often destroyed during flooding periods. Although drift collection was of limited value for sampling seeds in a highly dynamic floodplain, water transport of viable seeds could be demonstrated for nine of the 18 species. 3. In laboratory experiments, in which seeds were placed into a beaker, stirred up to five days and then used for germination tests, seeds of 16 of the 18 species showed a moderate to good floating capacity. Only two species had seeds that could not float longer than a few minutes (Gypsophila repens and Silene vulgaris ssp. glareosa). 4. We hypothesised that dispersability decreases with increasing seed mass, but the assumption that heavy seeds are not dispersed over great distances is valid only for environments without the possibility of in-stream dispersal.
External Organisation(s): Philipps-Universität Marburg
Type: Article
Journal: Bulletin of the Geobotanical Institute ETH
Volume: 65
Pages: 13-28
No. of pages: 16
ISSN: 1420-6803
Publication date: 1999
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Ecology, General Environmental Science, Plant Science
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.5169/seals-377823 (Access: Closed)

BibTeX

@article{a14378865dbf4c44ad93518979ba0a98,
title = "Experiments and observations on seed dispersal by running water in an alpine floodplain",
abstract = "1. In-stream dispersal and floating capacity of 18 pioneer plants (nine chamaephytes, eight hemicryptophytes and one shrub) from alluvial floodplains on the upper Isar (Bavaria, Germany) were studied using field and laboratory experiments between 1994 and 1996. 2. Drift collection of seeds with nets at the water surface proved unsuitable because of the great amount of invertebrates drifting along the river, though it allowed an estimation of the amount of drifting seeds. In August and September we found over 9,000 drifting seeds per meter stream width and day or over 120,000 seeds over the whole stream width in 24 h. Sediment-filled baskets proved to be better traps but were often destroyed during flooding periods. Although drift collection was of limited value for sampling seeds in a highly dynamic floodplain, water transport of viable seeds could be demonstrated for nine of the 18 species. 3. In laboratory experiments, in which seeds were placed into a beaker, stirred up to five days and then used for germination tests, seeds of 16 of the 18 species showed a moderate to good floating capacity. Only two species had seeds that could not float longer than a few minutes (Gypsophila repens and Silene vulgaris ssp. glareosa). 4. We hypothesised that dispersability decreases with increasing seed mass, but the assumption that heavy seeds are not dispersed over great distances is valid only for environments without the possibility of in-stream dispersal.",
keywords = "Alluvial floodplains, Floating capacity, in-stream dispersal, Pioneer plants, River Isar",
author = "Bill, {H. C.} and P. Poschlod and M. Reich and H. Plachter",
year = "1999",
doi = "10.5169/seals-377823",
language = "English",
volume = "65",
pages = "13--28",
journal = "Bulletin of the Geobotanical Institute ETH",
issn = "1420-6803",
publisher = "Eidgenossischen Technischen Hochschule Zurich",
}