Impact of extreme heatwaves and life-history traits on seed germination responses in Cumberland Plain Woodland native plant species

Alvarez, PR; Krix, DW; Offord, CA; Murray, BR

Impact of extreme heatwaves and life-history traits on seed germination responses in Cumberland Plain Woodland native plant species

Alvarez, PR Krix, DW Offord, CA Murray, BR

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Publisher:: CSIRO PUBLISHING
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Australian Journal of Botany, 2023, 71, (7), pp. 395-405
Issue Date:: 2023-07-11

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Alvarez, PR
dc.contributor.author	Krix, DW
dc.contributor.author	Offord, CA
dc.contributor.author	Murray, BR
dc.contributor.editor	Guja, L
dc.date.accessioned	2024-02-12T06:17:36Z
dc.date.available	2023-06-14
dc.date.available	2024-02-12T06:17:36Z
dc.date.issued	2023-07-11
dc.identifier.citation	Australian Journal of Botany, 2023, 71, (7), pp. 395-405
dc.identifier.issn	0067-1924
dc.identifier.issn	1444-9862
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/175587
dc.description.abstract	Context: The Cumberland Plain Woodland (CPW) is a threatened ecological community that is expected to experience heatwaves of increasing intensity and frequency into the future. Given the central role that temperature plays in regulating seed germination, understanding the impacts of such heatwaves on key germination attributes is vital to identify potential impacts on plant community structure. Aims: To determine the impacts of increased heatwave intensity and frequency treatments on seed germination within and across 15 native species of the CPW. We also examined the influence of interspecific variation in life-history traits on germination responses. Methods: Seeds were exposed to seven heatwave treatments of increasing intensity and frequency. Life-history trait data were also collected for each species' dormancy type, fire response traits, life form and seed mass. Key results: There was evidence within the study species of a significant effect of heatwave treatment. Germination duration was prolonged for the two most extreme simulated heatwave events. Life-history traits could not explain germination responses after heatwave treatments, however, larger seeded species had quicker germination onset and shorter periods of germination over small-seeded species; and trees had lower proportions of germination than any other life form. Conclusions: Increases in heatwave intensity and frequency have an impact on seed germination responses in native species of the CPW. Life-history traits could not explain germination responses across species along the heatwave gradient. Implications: Projected increases in heatwave intensity and frequency are likely to impact seed germination, and thus community composition, in species from the CPW.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	CSIRO PUBLISHING
dc.relation.ispartof	Australian Journal of Botany
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1071/BT22117
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	0602 Ecology, 0605 Microbiology, 0607 Plant Biology
dc.subject.classification	Plant Biology & Botany
dc.subject.classification	3103 Ecology
dc.subject.classification	3104 Evolutionary biology
dc.subject.classification	3108 Plant biology
dc.title	Impact of extreme heatwaves and life-history traits on seed germination responses in Cumberland Plain Woodland native plant species
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	71
utslib.for	0602 Ecology
utslib.for	0605 Microbiology
utslib.for	0607 Plant Biology
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science/School of Life Sciences
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.date.updated	2024-02-12T06:17:35Z
pubs.issue	7
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	71
utslib.citation.issue	7

Abstract:

Context: The Cumberland Plain Woodland (CPW) is a threatened ecological community that is expected to experience heatwaves of increasing intensity and frequency into the future. Given the central role that temperature plays in regulating seed germination, understanding the impacts of such heatwaves on key germination attributes is vital to identify potential impacts on plant community structure. Aims: To determine the impacts of increased heatwave intensity and frequency treatments on seed germination within and across 15 native species of the CPW. We also examined the influence of interspecific variation in life-history traits on germination responses. Methods: Seeds were exposed to seven heatwave treatments of increasing intensity and frequency. Life-history trait data were also collected for each species' dormancy type, fire response traits, life form and seed mass. Key results: There was evidence within the study species of a significant effect of heatwave treatment. Germination duration was prolonged for the two most extreme simulated heatwave events. Life-history traits could not explain germination responses after heatwave treatments, however, larger seeded species had quicker germination onset and shorter periods of germination over small-seeded species; and trees had lower proportions of germination than any other life form. Conclusions: Increases in heatwave intensity and frequency have an impact on seed germination responses in native species of the CPW. Life-history traits could not explain germination responses across species along the heatwave gradient. Implications: Projected increases in heatwave intensity and frequency are likely to impact seed germination, and thus community composition, in species from the CPW.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/175587