A META-ANALYSIS ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SEED SIZE, SEED SHAPE AND PERSISTENCE IN SOIL SEED BANK

The recent literature on seed size, shape and persistence in soil seed bank and the data from the seed plant traits database in Western Europe was collected. A total of 1656 information on seed size, shape and seed bank properties, 1518 species were obtained. Effect size of each grade seeds forming a persistent seed bank was calculated by Non-Comparative Binary Data and random effect models. Furthermore, the relationship between the grade of seed size and seed shape, a continuity data, and effect size was responsed by the regression analysis. The results show that seed size can predict the persistence of soil seed bank, but it reflects the obvious stage on the grades. At Grades 1 to 7, seed size is positively correlated with the probability of forming a persistence soil seed bank, and negatively correlated at Grades 7 to 15. Seed shape can also be a good predictor of seed bank persistence. With the increase of seed shape variance, the probability of persistent in soil seed bank will reduce as the seed becomes flattened or elongated from near spherical shape.