THE SEEDBANKS OF THE BRECKLAND HEATHS AND HEATH GRASSLANDS, EASTERN ENGLAND, AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO THE VEGETATION AND THE EFFECTS OF MANAGEMENT

The vegetation and the associated germinable seedbank of a range of he ath and grass heath communities in Breckland, eastern England, were co mpared. The composition of vegetation and seedbank were similar for he ather-dominated communities due to the predominance of Calluna vulgari s. Recent rotovation of previously heather-dominated communities invad ed by Deschampsia flexuosa reduced the number of emerging C. vulgaris seedlings by more than 80%. The composition of seedbanks of calcicolou s grasslands differed considerably from the vegetation, with a signifi cant contribution from many ruderal species not present in the vegetat ion and an absence of important species such as Pilosella officinarum. Acidic grasslands were intermediate between calcicolous grasslands an d heather-dominated heathlands, with seedbanks characterized by high d ensities of Rumex acetosella and a number of ruderal species that were absent or rare in the vegetation. The composition of the seedbank of more mesotrophic grasslands suggests that the imposition of some form of disturbance may recreate more open grasslands typical of Breckland.