Soil seed bank in Ostrava post-mining landscape

Abstract

The paper deals with analysis of soil seed bank of Odra and Oderka heaps in Ostrava region. On selected sites, samples of soil were taken, slope and exposure was assessed and phytosociological relevés were conducted. 3436 seeds were extracted from 17 soil samples of Odra heap and 5701 seeds from 15 soil samples of Oderka heap. Almost 90 % of extracted seeds belong to Betula pendula species. Woody plants and grasses dominated in examined samples. Composition of soil seed bank was compared with vegetation of selected heaps using Sorensen index. Influence of slope and exposure on distribution of seeds in soil seed bank was assessed by multivariate analysis (RDA, DCA).