Regresar

Seed and seedling ecology of Neotropical Melastomataceae

Abstract:

Investigated intra- and interspecific variability in early life history characteristics of understory Melastomataceae species of different growth forms and adult distributions from the lowland tropical rain forest at La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica, examining germination patterns in vitro (22 species), effects on germination of passage through birds (five species), seedling establishment in the field (two species), and growth in different light environments (eight species). Established seedlings were significantly more abundant in gaps than in nearby understory sites, regardless of the habitat where adults were normally most abundant. Seedlings were more common in the root pits and on the root mounds of uprooted trees, even though there was less light available to the seedlings in these microsites than elsewhere in the gaps. With one exception, seeds of shade-tolerant species germinated more slowly following passage through birds, while seeds from high-light-demanding species germinated more rapidly after passing through birds. Seeds of three common species were sown directly into different microsites within gaps and understory control sites. In contrast to the germination trials, emergence percentages in the field ranged from 4% in understory sites to 21% in gap centers. Survival after one year was low (0.1%-0.4%). -from Authors