Differential Predation of Welfia georgii Seeds in Treefall Gaps and the Forest Understory

Schupp, Eugene W.; Frost, Evan J.

doi:10.2307/2388643

Cited by 90 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…This study showed high predation in all microsites but no significant differences between gaps and intact terra firme forest (Wenny 2000) where other studies have shown both more (Schupp and Frost 1989) and less predation in gaps (reviewed in Notman and Gorchov 2001) compared to the forest. Seeds survived at the same levels or higher for all three test species in the wet forest compared to the dry, so flooding may have reduced predation (Wurm 1998) or perhaps predators were less abundant in the flooded forest.…”

Section: Comparison To Other Neotropic Studiescontrasting

confidence: 51%

Interactive effects of flooding and treefall gap formation onterra firmeforest andvárzeaforest seed and seedling mechanisms and tolerances in the Ecuadorean Amazon

Myster¹

2014

Community Ecology

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Abstract:The influence of white-water flooding and treefall gap formation on terra firme forest regeneration was investigated in Yasuni National Park of western Ecuador. I set up seed traps, collected seed rain and soil samples, and set out seeds and seedlings in unflooded terra firme forest (dry) and its gaps, and in nearby white-water floodplain várzea forest (wet) and its gaps. I found that (1) total number of dispersed seeds was greatest in the dry gaps with more seeds and greater richness in the gaps than the forest for both forest types, (2) the greatest number of seedlings germinated from wet gap soils with the least from the dry forest with gaps having more seedlings compared to their respective forests, (3) on average 30% of seeds remained after two weeks in the field and species seed losses were significantly different in all but one of the four sites, (4) more large seeds than small seeds were lost to pathogens and those losses were greater in the forests than the gaps, (5) as seed mass increased seedlings survival rates also increased but growth rates declined, and (6) more seedlings survived in gaps compared to closed forests where they grew faster with a larger leaf area ratio. Past sampling has shown that species composition differed between forest types, and present results show that the greatest seed and seedlings losses and the slowest growth rates were in intact terra firme forest, there were medium losses and medium growth rates in terra firme gaps and in the intact várzea forest, and the smallest losses and fastest growth rates were found in várzea gaps.

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Section: Comparison To Other Neotropic Studiescontrasting

confidence: 51%

Interactive effects of flooding and treefall gap formation onterra firmeforest andvárzeaforest seed and seedling mechanisms and tolerances in the Ecuadorean Amazon

Myster¹

2014

Community Ecology

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“…By contrast though, while raised light levels and other microclimatic changes may physiologically affect invertebrates in adverse ways, they could also be more susceptible to small mammals as their predators. Seeds in gaps are therefore more likely to be found first by small mammals-rodents in particularand those in the understory later (Schupp 1988, Schupp and Frost 1989, Beck et al 2004, Norghauer et al 2006, Carvajal and Adler 2008. Our results suggest that dispersal to canopy gaps can moderate the relative impact of vertebrate vs. invertebrate enemies in the brief seed-to-seedling transition of forest trees to increase establishment there relative to the understory.…”

Section: Effects Of Canopy Cover On Predationmentioning

confidence: 71%

“…Both woody debris and vine tangles in gaps provide good shelter for small mammals against larger vertebrate (including avian and reptile) predators (IsabiryeBasuta and Kasenene 1989, Schupp and Frost 1989, Beck et al 2004. By contrast though, while raised light levels and other microclimatic changes may physiologically affect invertebrates in adverse ways, they could also be more susceptible to small mammals as their predators.…”

Section: Effects Of Canopy Cover On Predationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seed fate and seedling dynamics after masting in two African rain forest trees

Norghauer

Newbery

2011

Ecological Monographs

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Abstract. How the effects of biotic factors are moderated by abiotic factors, and their consequences for species interactions, is generally understudied in ecology. A key abiotic feature of forests is regular canopy disturbances that create temporary patches, or ''gaps,'' of above-average light availability. Co-occurring in lowland primary forest of Korup National Park (Cameroon), Microberlinia bisulcata and Tetraberlinia bifoliolata are locally dominant, ectomycorrhizal trees whose seeds share predator guilds in masting years. Here, we experimentally tested the impact of small mammal predators upon seedling abundance, growth, and survivorship. In 2007, we added a fixed density of seeds of each species to exclosures at 48 gap-understory locations across 82.5 ha within a large Microberlinia grove, and at 15 locations outside it.For both species, small mammals removed more seeds in gaps than in understory, whereas this was reversed for seeds killed by invertebrates. Nonetheless, Microberlinia lost twice as many seeds to small mammals, and more to invertebrates in exclosures, than Tetraberlinia, which was more prone to a pathogenic white fungus. After six weeks, both species had greater seedling establishment in gaps than understory, and in exclosures outside compared to exclosures inside the grove. In the subsequent two-year period, seedling growth and survivorship peaked in exclosures in gaps, but Microberlinia had more seedlings' stems clipped by animals than Tetraberlinia, and more than twice the percentage of leaf area damaged. Whereas Microberlinia seedling performance in gaps was inferior to Tetraberlinia inside the grove, outside it Microberlinia had reduced leaf damage, grew taller, and had many more leaves than Tetraberlinia.No evidence was found for ''apparent mutualism'' in the understory as seedling establishment of both species increased away from (.25 m) large stems of either species, pointing to ''apparent competition'' instead. In gaps, Microberlinia seedling establishment was lower near Tetraberlinia than conspecific adults because of context-dependent small mammal satiation. Stage-matrix analysis suggested that protecting Microberlinia from small mammals could increase its population growth rate by 0.06. In the light of prior research we conclude that small mammals and canopy gaps play an important role in promoting species coexistence in this forest, and that their strong interaction contributes to Microberlinia's currently very poor regeneration.

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“…Schupp & Frost (1989) argued that even if some removed seeds survive, the removal tends to correlate strongly with predation. These and other authors also found signs of seeds consumed inside experimental plots (Schupp & Frost 1989), plastic trays (Díaz et al 1999) or tied to nylon threads (Burkey 1994, Blate et al 1998). On the other hand, few studies observed dispersion of seeds after their removal (Forget 1992a, Asquith et al 1997.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seed predation of Virola bicuhyba (Schott) Warb. (Myristicaceae) in the Atlantic forest of south-eastern Brazil

Zipparro¹,

Morellato²

2005

Rev. bras. Bot.

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-(Seed predation of Virola bicuhyba (Schott) Warb. (Myristicaceae) in the Atlantic Forest of Southeastern Brazil). Seed predation of Virola bicuhyba (Myristicaceae) was studied in an area of Atlantic forest in south-eastern Brazil, with the objective of testing the Janzen-Connell model. The predation of seeds was evaluated at three different distances from the parent tree for two classes of predators: invertebrates and vertebrates. The method of exclosure plots (closed plots) and open control plots was used, distributed at 5, 15 and 25 m from the trunk of each adult fruiting tree of V. bicuhyba. In Experiment 1, 1,200 seeds were used and, in Experiment 2, 1,440 seeds. Both experiments did not agree with Janzen-Connell model, as seed predation by invertebrates and vertebrates was independent of the distance from the parent tree. Seed predation rate was high, however the impact of predation by vertebrates was higher than by invertebrates, indicating that it is the main cause of seed mortality.Key words -Atlantic forest, exclusion experiment, Janzen-Connell model, seed predation, Virola bicuhyba RESUMO -(Predação de sementes de Virola bicuhyba (Schott) Warb. (Myristicaceae) em floresta atlântica no sudeste do Brasil). Foi estudada a predação de sementes em Virola bicuhyba (Myristicaceae) em área de floresta atlântica no sudeste do Brasil, com objetivo de testar o modelo de Janzen-Connell de que a mortalidade de sementes aumenta próximo a árvore parental. Foi avaliada a predação de sementes em três diferentes distâncias da árvore mãe e para duas classes de predadores: invertebrados e vertebrados. Foram utilizadas parcelas de exclusão para vertebrados e parcelas controle abertas, distribuídas a 5, 15 e 25 m de distância do tronco de indivíduos de V. bicuhyba em frutificação. No Experimento 1 foram utilizadas 1.200 sementes e no Experimento 2, 1.440 sementes. Os dois experimentos não corroboraram o modelo de Janzen-Connell, pois a predação de sementes por invertebrados e vertebrados foi independente da distância da árvore parental. Foram verificadas altas taxas de predação de sementes, porém a predação por vertebrados foi maior do que por invertebrados nos dois experimentos, sendo esta a principal causa da mortalidade das sementes.Palavras-chave -floresta atlântica, modelo de Janzen-Connell, parcelas de exclusão, predação de sementes, Virola bicuhyba 1.

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Differential Predation of Welfia georgii Seeds in Treefall Gaps and the Forest Understory

Cited by 90 publications

References 16 publications

Interactive effects of flooding and treefall gap formation onterra firmeforest andvárzeaforest seed and seedling mechanisms and tolerances in the Ecuadorean Amazon

Interactive effects of flooding and treefall gap formation onterra firmeforest andvárzeaforest seed and seedling mechanisms and tolerances in the Ecuadorean Amazon

Seed fate and seedling dynamics after masting in two African rain forest trees

Seed predation of Virola bicuhyba (Schott) Warb. (Myristicaceae) in the Atlantic forest of south-eastern Brazil

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