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Germination and seedling establishment of two annual grasses on lichen-dominated biological soil crusts

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Abstract

Biological soil crusts dominated by lichens are common components of shrub-steppe ecosystems in northwestern US. We conducted growth chamber experiments to investigate the effects of these crusts on seed germination and initial seedling establishment of two annual grasses; the highly invasive exotic Bromus tectorum L. and the native Vulpia microstachys Nutt. We recorded germination time courses on bare soil and two types of biological soil crusts; one composed predominantly of the lichen Diploschistes muscorum (Scop.) R. Sant. (lichen crust) and the other comprised of an assortment of lichens and mosses (mixed crust). Final germination on the lichen crust for both grass species was about a third of that on the bare soil surface. Mean germination time (MGT) was 3–4 days longer on the lichen crust compared with the bare soil. In contrast, there was no difference in germination percentage or MGT between the mixed crust and bare soil, and results were similar for both grass species. For both species, root penetration of germinating seeds on the lichen crust was lower than on the bare soil or mixed crust surfaces. The combined effects of the lichen crust on germination and root penetration resulted in an overall reduction in seedling establishment of 78% for V. microstachys and 85% for B. tectorum relative to the bare soil treatment. Our results clearly demonstrate that lichen-dominated biological soil crust can inhibit germination and root penetration, but the extent of these effects depends on the composition of the crust.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Tara Barkes (Boise State University) for technical assistance, Laura Bond (Boise State University) for her assistance in statistical analysis, and Dr. Marcia Wicklow-Howard (Boise State University) for her helpful suggestions throughout this study. This work was supported by a grant from the Bureau of Land Management.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Boise State University, 1910 University Drive, Boise, ID, 83725, USA

    Lynell Deines & Marcelo D. Serpe

  2. USDI Bureau of Land Management, 1387 S. Vinnell Way, Boise, ID, 83709, USA

    Roger Rosentreter

  3. School of Biological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia

    David J. Eldridge

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  1. Lynell Deines
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  2. Roger Rosentreter
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  3. David J. Eldridge
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  4. Marcelo D. Serpe
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Correspondence to Marcelo D. Serpe.

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Responsible Editor: Tibor Kalapos

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Deines, L., Rosentreter, R., Eldridge, D.J. et al. Germination and seedling establishment of two annual grasses on lichen-dominated biological soil crusts. Plant Soil 295, 23–35 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-007-9256-y

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