Effects of seed dispersal and microhabitat on seed availability in bare patches In the desertifled grassland of Inner Mongolia, northeastern China

摘要

Seed availability is important for vegetation restoration in bare patches of desertified grassland (Zimmermann et al 2008). Seeds from the surrounding patches with dense vegetation can be dispersed to bare patches, but only retained seeds in the barepatches are critical in vegetation restoration (Liu et al 2012). Our study aims to determine the relationship between seed arrival and seed capture and explain seed availability, which is important in planning approaches to vegetation restoration in sandy bare patches of the degraded grassland.