This study was carried out in an annual grassland on serpentine soils in northern California. The serpentine soil here has a very low nutrient status and elevated heavy metal concentrations which has prevented non-native grasses from invading the serpentine outcrops which instead support a high diversity of native forbs and some perennial bunchgrasses. Fewer seeds of the dominant species were dispersed onto gopher mounds due to the limited movement of seeds from within the closed vegetation. Species with taller flowering stalks were more likely to colonize gopher (Thomomys bottae) mounds. Lower numbers of seeds falling onto gopher mounds resulted in lower seedling densities of several species compared with undisturbed areas. Survivorship of the commonest species differed between undisturbed areas and gopher mounds formed at different times of the year. Plants growing on gopher mounds were generally larger and produced more seed than plants in undisturbed vegetation. It is suggested that continued gopher disturbance is a factor allowing several species, including perennial grasses, to persist in this community.
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