The potential role of seedbanks in maintaining grassland vegetation in a Mediterranean oak woodland

Soil seedbank ecology, by allowing substantial flexibility for potential changes in plant communities, can provide important information about vegetation development and persistence. It partly reflects the history of the vegetation and its composition. Most plant species can produce seeds that remain dormant in the soil for several years. During 3-year, our study has investigated on the potential role of the seed bank in maintaining grassland vegetation in silvo-pastoral systems and the effect of grazing regime on seedbank dynamics. We have analysed across 11 different sites, taking soil-core samples of 8 cm in diameter and 10 cm deep, both collected in ungrazed (fenced) and grazed (unfenced) areas. Results highlight, although without interaction, the effects of grazing regime and year, both on seed dispersal bank size and germinable seed fraction of the seed bank, and pointed out the potential role of permanent seed bank on future establishment of grassland.