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Dryad

Data from: Water restriction alters seed bank traits and ecology in Atlantic Forest seasonal forests under climate change

Data files

Sep 06, 2024 version files 4.82 MB

Abstract

The soil seed bank (SSB) is one of the key mechanisms ensuring the perpetuation of forests, but how will it behave under the climate scenarios projected for the future? Addressing this central question, which remains underexplored in seasonal tropical forests, this study evaluated the germination, ecological attributes, and functional traits of the SSB in a seasonal forest within the Atlantic Forest. Forty-eight composite SSB samples were collected from 12 plots, distributed across four treatments, each with 12 replicates. The samples were placed in two climate-controlled greenhouses, creating two environments with controlled climatic conditions, each with two water levels: Cur: current scenario without water restriction; Cur_WR: current scenario with water restriction; RCP8.5: future scenario without water restriction; RCP8.5_WR: future scenario with water restriction. The germinants were identified, and their ecological attributes and functional traits were recorded. Leaf area, biomass production, differences in abundance, richness, and diversity were evaluated, along with variance analysis to assess the interaction between water levels and climate scenarios. All ecological attributes and functional traits significantly decreased in the future scenario with water restriction, with water restriction being the primary factor driving this response. The increased temperature in the future scenario significantly raised water consumption compared to the current scenario. However, persistent water restriction in the future could undermine the resilience of seasonal forests, hindering seed germination in the soil. Richness and abundance were also adversely affected by water scarcity in the future scenario, revealing a low tolerance to the projected prolonged drought. These changes could alter the structure of seasonal forests in the future and lead to a loss of the SSB's regeneration potential due to decreased seed viability and increased seedling mortality.