Soil seed bank development of smoke‐responsive plant species in a 23‐year restoration chronosequence and implications for resilience to fire

Aims Responses of ecological restoration projects to disturbances are rarely explored, yet their capacity withstand and recover from disturbance (resilience) is a critical measure success. In many plant communities, the soil seed bank (SSB) provides an important source propagules for species persistence community resilience disturbance. Understanding how SSBs develop with time can inform resilient ecosystems. Here, in fire-prone Banksia woodland following sand mining, we ask: (a) does smoke-responsive (dormancy broken by smoke) SSB over time; (b) what plant-trait climate factors influence its development; (c) do data suggest these restored woodlands fire? Location Ellenbrook, Swan Coastal Plain, Western Australia (latitude −31.76, longitude 115.95). Methods We used smoke, key germination cue associated fire disturbance, trigger restoration. Using chronosequence nine ages between 3 26 years since initiation restoration, tested develops using counts richness germinating native invasive annuals, perennial obligate seeding resprouting species. To understand contribution above-ground vegetation development, compared Sørensen's similarity smoke germinable (smoked SSB) untreated (control vegetation. Results Smoked germinant density decreased age both but was stable perennials. Similarity smoked higher seeders than resprouters peaked perennials at 23 years. Conclusions Post-fire regeneration potential evident across chronosequence, influencing annuals overall composition SSB. The findings increase age.