Relationship between soil seed bank and standing vegetation: An effective approach to conclude plant invasion pattern in Indian dry tropical peri-urban region

Abstract

Abstract The natural and semi-natural ecosystems of dry tropical regions are characterized by a high biodiversity with the new introduction of alien invasive species, especially at disturbed sites. The tropical regions due to favorable environmental conditions are considered rich reservoirs of much of the biodiversity of the earth. The Indian dry tropical urban region has also been reported to be highly diverse but fragile with abundant alien flora, of which American, Asian, and European and Asian species form the major contributions. By the allelopathic activity, these weeds alter the soil environment, cause low productive systems with weak soil microflora and accelerate their fast spread by fast colonization, fast reproduction, or highly competitive ability. These weedy species have a great potential to make persistent soil seed banks. The soil seed bank is a reservoir of viable but ungerminated seeds and acts as a genetic reservoir that could play an important role in determining the future vegetation of the community. The present study carried out four different land use patterns and focused on the seed bank dynamics of these sites. In this study, the abundance of alien invasive species in the floristic composition and density of the subterranean vegetation reflects the impact of disturbance and other anthropogenic factors.