资源环境科技发展态势分析平台

The ecological significance of serotiny in Pinus yunnanensis is poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the seed dynamics of canopy and soil seed banks in this species, as well as the resulting fate of seed in different locations. We found few seeds on the soil surface, and virtually no viable seed within the soil. In serotinous populations, the size of the seed bank was 20 times greater than that of non-serotinous populations. The number of seeds stored on the forest floor was considerably lower than the number input by seed rain. Almost all seeds on the floor lost viability within 17 months, and most died during the rainy season. Seed mortality in the canopy was considerably lower than either on or in the soil. On the basis of these findings, we conclude that serotiny enhances the size of the P. yunnanensis seed bank and that in this species, serotiny has an adaptive advantage over soil seed storage in Central Yunnan.