XVI International Botanical Congess

The study area is situated along Baltic Sea, in SW Finland: four grazed and five ungrazed shore meadows, two in the delta of River Kokemäenjoki and the rest by the sea. Seed bank of these shores was very dense, in individual samples even over 300 000 seeds/m2. Altogether 27 423 seedlings and 107 species germinated from 636 samples. Species richness of seed bank was significantly higher in delta than in seashore. Most of the germinating seedlings were monocots and perennials. The highest density of the s n seed bank. The number of seeds recruiting and seedlings surviving to adult age in shore communities with dense perennial vegetation is minimal compared to the density of seed bank. The brackish water has both detrimental and stimulating effects on the seed bank of seashores depending on the time applied.