Effects of long-term aerial pollution on soil seed banks in drained pine mires in southern Finland

The effects of pollution on the composition of soil seed banks in four drai ned pine mires located along a pollution gradient in southern Finland were studied using the emergence method. The species composition of the seed ban k was compared with the above ground vegetation. Dominant species in the se ed banks were Calluna vulgaris, Betula spp. and Ledum palustre. Seeds seeme d to be viable despite a heavy pollution load. Especially in the vicinity o f the pollution source, seed bank and above ground vegetation were weakly c orrelated.