Soil Seed Bank of Alien and Native Cornus (Cornaceae) Taxa in Lithuania: What Determines Seed Density and Vertical Distribution in Soil?

Soil seed banks of alien plant species are sources propagules that play a crucial role in population dynamics. Studies on woody for understanding mechanisms their encroachment natural habitats. This study aimed to compare vertical distribution, density and composition formed by native Cornus sanguinea subsp. C. alba, sericea australis the Southern Hemiboreal zone Europe. Five sites each four taxa were selected study, seeds sampled using soil core method (400 samples two layers: upper, 0–5 cm, lower, 5–10 cm). Extracted tested with tetrazolium chloride stain assess viability. Differences among compared generalised linear mixed models (GLMM). The GLMM analysis revealed significant differences bank densities upper between studied (p < 0.001). We found (C. alba australis) much denser containing more viable than sanguinea. All three contained (from 40.7% 45.2% layer) (19.4% 18.2% lower layer). cover habitat type had no effect bank, according GLMM. supports hypothesis those Furthermore, Results this contribute invasiveness taxa.