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Natural regeneration of Spanish black pine [ Pinus nigra Arn. ssp. salzmannii (Dunal) Franco] at contrasting altitudes in a Mediterranean mountain area
Author(s) -
LucasBorja Manuel E.,
Fonseca Teresa Fidalgo,
Lousada José Luís,
SilvaSantos Pedro,
Garcia Eduardo Martínez,
Abellán Manuela Andrés
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
ecological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.628
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1440-1703
pISSN - 0912-3814
DOI - 10.1007/s11284-012-0969-x
Subject(s) - germination , biology , seedling , seed predation , population , predation , biological dispersal , seed dispersal , mast (botany) , basal area , habitat , ecology , botany , agronomy , demography , mast cell , sociology , immunology
Information on plant seed dispersal, natural loss dynamics of seeds and germination are critical for understanding natural regeneration mechanisms. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of different forest stand densities on seedfall, seed predation, and seedling germination of two populations of the endangered Spanish black Pine forests located at lower (Central population) and higher elevation near the limit of the species’ range (peripheral population) in the Cuenca Mountains of Central Spain. The seed predation and germination experiment also included a nested site preparation treatment. Seed fall varied significantly between 2006 and 2005 or 2007 in both populations. During the only mast year of 2006, higher seedfall was observed at lower elevation and in higher density stands. Predation rates were influenced by the seed crop since predators consumed more than 75 % of seeds in years with lower production and less than 15 % in a mast year. Seed germination is influenced by forest habitat, stand density and soil scalping. For common habitat types, and in a high seed production year, better seed germination rates were observed in medium and dense stands (25–30 and 35–40 m 2 ha −1 , respectively, in terms of basal area). No statistical difference in seed germination rate was found for Spanish black pine forest at its ecological distribution limit between lower and higher densities (15–20 and 35–40 m 2 ha −1 , in terms of basal area). In both sites, closed stands with soil scalping exhibited higher germination rates.