%A ZHANG Ling, FANG Jing-Yun %T Composition and dominant species of soil seed bank along an altitudinal gradient in Mt. Taibai, Qinling Mountains %0 Journal Article %D 2004 %J Biodiv Sci %R 10.17520/biods.2004015 %P 123-130 %V 12 %N 1 %U {https://www.biodiversity-science.net/CN/abstract/article_8316.shtml} %8 2004-01-20 %X We analyzed patterns of species composition and dominance in the soil seed bank along the southern slope of Mt. Taibai, Qinling Mountains. The results are summarized as follows: (1) in terms of seed number, dominant families varied along the altitudinal gradient. According to species number, there were 4 dominant families in the seed banks between 1600 m and 2600 m a.s.l., which was higher than those of other altitudes. Rosaceae was the family with the richest species in the seed bank; (2) Betula utilis occurred in 16 out of 21 plots. The dominance of Betula utilis and Abies fargesii showed a unimodal pattern along the altitudinal gradient, and (3)  combining analysis of life form composition and dominant species, trees played a dominant role in the composition of seed banks, while shrub species did not significantly influence species and individual composition of seed banks in Mt. Taibai.