56 
IAN D. LUNT 
seed bank, particularly in relation to the life- 
form and origin of component species, the 
limited number of samples has undoubtedly 
under-estimated the total number of species. 
The abundant germination of two species with 
contrasting optimal germination temperatures 
(Romulea rosea at 9.5-13°C and T. triandra at 
20-30°C; Eddy & Smith 1975, Groves et al. 
1982) suggests that the variable temperature 
regime encompasses the requirements of most 
species. However, species requiring extremely 
low or high soil temperatures (e.g. hard-seeded 
Fabaceae) or those with obligate after-ripening 
requirements were probably undetected or 
under-represented. Despite these qualifications, 
the results presented here are supported by a 
study of post-fire regeneration in the reserve 
(Lunt 1990b). Following a 21 ha fire in autumn 
1987, only 16 of 58 native species in the burnt 
area regenerated from seed. All but four ,Acaena 
echinata, Agrostis avenacea , Spergularia rubra 
and a Stipa species, were recorded from the soil 
seed bank. 
Despite limited sampling, the soil seed bank 
appeared to contain few native species that were 
not known from the standing vegetation. The 
seed banks of many natives were probably 
grossly depicted by stock grazing or associated 
management (e.g. an absence of burning). Given 
the paucity of additional natives and the pre¬ 
ponderance of exotics, Donelan & Thompson’s 
(1980) conclusion that tk no help can be expected 
from the seed bank in any attempt to restore 
species-rich [English] grassland” may prove to 
be equally relevant to the management of long- 
grazed, T. triandra grassland. 
T. triandra grasslands need to be disturbed 
frequently, by burning or macropod grazing, to 
maintain the diversity of native species (Stuwe 
& Parsons 1977, Robertson 1985, Kirkpatrick 
1986, Stuwe 1986). However, the composition 
of the soil seed bank suggests that disturbances 
in long-grazed grasslands may promote exotics 
as much as, if not more than, natives. Grassland 
ecologists face the formidable task of devising 
disturbance regimes to promote natives at the 
expense of exotics. Unfortunately, as in 
Californian grasslands (Heady 1977, Foin & 
Hektner 1986), many exotics now appear to be 
permanent residents of T. triandra grasslands. 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 
Thanks are due to Bob Parsons for advice and 
encouragement throughout the study; to Bob 
Parsons, Malcolm Calder and an anonymous 
referee for comments on the manuscript; and to 
Max Bartley, Jan Larkin and Mike Pender for 
watering the seedling trays. 
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