The Effect of Seed Reserves on Species Composition in Zonal Halophyte Communities

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Abstract
The importance of the seed bank in determining the floristic composition and dynamics of salt-marsh communities was investigated. Seeds of the dominants in each zonal community, Hordeum jubatum, Atriplex triangularis and Salicornia europaea, were present in the seed bank of all zones. Juncus tenuis, which did not occur as part of the flora in any saline zone, was present in the seed bank and was the most abundant species during the spring. Seeds for the 3 dominants and J. tenuis germinated in the laboratory when soil samples from all saline zones were tested, indicating that germination in the field was limited by salt stress.