Seasonal Patterns in the Seed Bank of Mediterranean Old-Fields

The seasonal dynamics of the readily-germinable content of the seed hank of three Mediterranean old-fields (1, 7, and 15 years after last ploughing) in Southern France was investigated using a nested sampling design with 3 scales (1 ha fields, 0.01 ha plots, and 500 cm 2 samples) and 3 dates (October, December. March). Species richness of the seed bank remained high throughout the annual vegetation cycle, with 61 species in October, 65 species in December, and 54 species in March. The seasonal dynamic's of seed bank composition was homogeneous within fields. Parallel seasonal patterns were observed in fields of different successional ages. Seven temporal patterns and four spatial patterns of germination were identified (...)