Edge Effect on Acorn Removal and Oak Seedling Survival in Mexican Lower Montane Forest Fragments |
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Authors: | Jair Guzmán-Guzmán Guadalupe Williams-Linera |
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Institution: | (1) Instituto de Ecología, A.C. Km. 2.5 carretera antigua a Coatepec No. 351, Xalapa, Veracruz, 91070, Mexico |
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Abstract: | Vegetation structure of forest edges and type of adjacent field can affect seed and seedling survival patterns of tree species.
We investigated acorn removal and seedling survival of Quercus germana and Q. xalapensis in relation to woody plant density across old field-forest gradients with soft and abrupt edges. Experiments were established
along four parallel bands located at 40–50 m in the forest, forest and field edges (0–10 m to each side of the border), and
20–30 m in the old field. Within each band, woody plant and acorn density was measured, and four points for acorn and seedling
removal experiments were randomly positioned. In each position, 20 acorns or four seedlings were placed. Survival was monitored
during one month. In abrupt edges, acorn density was higher along edges than in forest interior. Also, higher acorn removal
and seedling mortality were observed in the adjacent old-field whereas acorn and seedling survival was the highest at the
edges. Acorn and seedling survival was positively correlated to woody vegetation density. As the vegetation density of field
and forest edges grows, abrupt edges develop into soft edges, and they become more hospitable to oak recruitment and then
to forest cover expansion. |
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Keywords: | Cloud forest Ecological succession Edge effect Montane forest Quercus Seed dispersal Seed predation |
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