Effect of canopy position on germination and seedling survival of epiphytic bromeliads in a Mexican humid montane forest.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Seeds of epiphytes must land on branches with suitable substrates and microclimates to germinate and for the resulting seedlings to survive. It is important to understand the fate of seeds and seedlings in order to model populations, but this is often neglected when only established plants are included in analyses.

Methods

The seeds of five bromeliad species were exposed to different canopy positions in a Mexican montane forest, and germination and early seedling survival were recorded. Additionally, the survival of naturally dispersed seedlings was monitored in a census over 2.5 years. Survival analysis, a procedure rarely used in plant ecology, was used to study the influence of branch characteristics and light on germination and seedling survival in na

SUBMITTER: Winkler M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4246762 | biostudies-literature | 2005 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature