Intrinsic biotic factors and microsite conditions drive seedling survival in a species with masting reproduction.

ABSTRACT: Seedling recruitment following a masting event, where more fruits are produced in synchrony and intermittently compared with other species, plays a crucial role in determining species diversity and community structure. Such seedling recruitment can be superabundant, but followed by high mortality shortly thereafter. Differences in biotic factors such as seedling characteristics, competition, and herbivory, and microsite-specific abiotic factors could determine seedling fate in space and time.In a subtropical forest in south China, for 2 years using censuses conducted every 1-2 months, we monitored 40 seed traps and 120, 1 m² quadrats in five 1-ha plots located from 1,400 to 1,850 m asl for the masting maple species, Acer campbellii subsp. sinense (Pax) P.C.DeJong.

SUBMITTER: Martini F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6953690 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature