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The Effect of Herbaceous Understory Cover on Fruit Removal and Seedling Survival in Coastal Dune Forest Trees in South Africa
Author(s) -
Tsvuura Zivanai,
Griffiths Megan E.,
Lawes Michael J.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
biotropica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.813
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1744-7429
pISSN - 0006-3606
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7429.2007.00270.x
Subject(s) - understory , seedling , thicket , herbaceous plant , biology , canopy , tree canopy , habitat , herbivore , subtropics , agroforestry , ecology , agronomy
Regeneration of forest canopy trees can be inhibited by understory thickets. We hypothesized that Isoglossa woodii , a large‐leaved herbaceous plant, limits tree recruitment in subtropical coastal dune forests by providing habitat to fruit and seedling consumers. Using uncaged and caged treatments in I. woodii gaps and thickets, we found that frugivore and herbivore behavior is not influenced by I. woodii . We conclude that direct effects of I. woodii on postemergence processes in seedlings contribute to tree recruitment limitation.