Sorting through the seed bank: Ecology and applications to restoration

Soil seed banks; that is, natural storage of seeds from plants in soil for long periods of time, are extremely common across a variety of ecosystems. Because their composition is rarely known at a particular site, seed banks can result in the establishment of aggressive invasive plants or desired native plants once restoration activities begin. How can land managers understand and utilize something as seemingly intangible as the seed bank more effectively in the context of restoration? Presentation by Dr. Lars Brudvig of Michigan State University and Mitch Lettow of the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy.