Restoration of calcareous grasslands: the role of the soil seed bank and seed dispersal for recolonisation processes

Seed bank is a central topic for plant communities restoration. We review the methods to measure seed persistence and the different seed bank types. Floristic composition and seed bank were compared among 18 sites representing various stages of succession or afforestation in West Germany. Species richness decreased in the vegetation after abandonment while about 25% of the species survived in the seed bank. After clear cutting, species richness was restored rapidly in the vegetation and floristic composition became more similar to typical calcareous grassland within five years. Species with a permanent seed bank or with the capacity of long-distance dispersal were more successful to re-establish within short terms.