In restoration ecology, the transition from desired to degraded state is based solely on the composition of the aboveground plant community, whereas belowground propagules are often neglected. We developed a conceptual framework integrating seed bank dynamics into alternative stable state theory, highlighting the important relationship between aboveground and belowground composition. This integration emphasizes the role of resilience in systems that appear to have shifted to an “undesirable” state. Belowground propagules, especially soil seed and bud banks, provide buffering capacity and may serve as valuable indicators of potential resistance to state transition based on the degree of similarity between belowground and aboveground vegetation composition. Ecosystem states may have multiple components that differ in their rate of change, as well as in their capacity to promote resilience. We recommend that the application of alternative stable state theory from a management perspective should incorporate components of both above- and belowground vegetation.

Very few studies have examined whether the impacts of grazing disturbance on soil seed banks occur directly or indirectly through aboveground vegetation and soil properties. The potential role of the seed bank in alpine wetland restoration is also unknown. We used SEM (structural equation modeling) to explore the direct effect of grazing disturbance on the seed bank and the indirect effect through aboveground vegetation and soil properties. We also studied the role of the seed bank on the restoration potential in wetlands with various grazing intensities: low (fenced, winter grazed only), medium (seasonally grazed), and high (whole‐year grazed). For the seed bank, species richness and density per plot showed no difference among grazing intensities for each depth (0–5, 5–10, 10–15 cm) and for the whole depth (0–15 cm) in spring and summer. There was no direct effect of grazing disturbance on seed bank richness and density both in spring and summer, and also no indirect effect on the seed bank through its direct effect on vegetation richness and abundance. Grazing disturbance indirectly increased spring seed bank density but decreased summer seed bank density through its direct effect (negative correlation) on soil moisture and total nitrogen and its indirect effect on vegetation abundance. Species composition of the vegetation changed with grazing regime, but that of the seed bank did not. An increased trend of similarity between the seed bank and aboveground vegetation with increased grazing disturbance was found in the shallow depth and in the whole depth only in spring. Although there was almost no change in seed bank size with grazing intensities, grazing disturbance increased the quantity of transient seeds but decreased persistent seeds. Persistent seeds stored in the soil could play a crucial role in vegetation regeneration and in restoration of degraded wetland ecosystems. The seed bank should be an integral part of alpine wetland restoration programs.

Although long‐term agricultural activity frequently decreases biodiversity, it remains unclear whether such biodiversity losses are readily reversible. There is no doubt that the important ecological function of seed bank is ecological memory, but few researchers have explored the role of seed banks in grassland ecosystem resilience and threshold theory. We used a space‐for‐time subrogation method, i.e., a natural meadow (never farmed but used for moderate gazing) and meadows farmed for 30 yr and then abandoned for 1, 10, and 20 yr, to determine if the biodiversity/ecosystem of subalpine meadows could be reversed to the natural vegetation state and to investigate the role of soil seed banks in grassland ecosystem restoration and resilience. After 20 yr of natural regeneration, aboveground vegetation composition and properties had recovered to the natural meadow state, suggesting that critical thresholds were not crossed. Seed bank composition and structure exhibited almost no change after agricultural disturbance for decades. The persistent seed bank had the highest contribution to vegetation regeneration in the 1‐yr abandoned field, which had the highest seed density. Similarity between the seed bank and aboveground vegetation and seed density decreased with years since abandonment. Since the seed bank still reflected the desired state, the system had inherent resilience and had not have crossed the transition threshold. Thus, high‐diversity persistent seed banks are an important indicator of high resilience of this ecosystem. High similarity between the seed bank and vegetation in early‐abandoned fields may indicate that ecological resilience is triggered and be a warning signal that interventions are needed to avoid a state transition. In applying alternative stable state theory to ecological restoration, much attention should be given to the soil seed bank.