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Habitat and Predation Effects on Seedling Survival and Growth in Shade‐Tolerant Tropical Trees
Author(s) -
Molofsky Jane,
Fisher Brian L.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.2307/1939522
Subject(s) - seedling , citation , habitat , predation , ecology , biology , geography , library science , computer science , horticulture
The diversity of trees in the forest canopy depends on the successful recruitment of seedlings into the canopy. Tree species that become established as seedlings beneath an undisturbed canopy have been termed "shade-tolerant" (Canham 1989) or "climax" species (Swaine and Whitmore 1988). This is in contrast to "pioneer" species, which can germinate or establish only in the high light conditions of large canopy openings (Swaine and Whitmore 1988). In shade-tolerant species, survival may depend more on biotic factors than on abiotic factors. Therefore, susceptibility to predation can be more important than differences in habitat for determining the survival of these species. In the present study we compare the survival of seedlings in tree-fall gaps and in closed forest understory sites for three shade-tolerant tropical tree species. We also assess the importance of mammalian predation and determine how it varies among species and among habitats. Finally, we analyze the relationship between seedling growth rates and their susceptibility to predation.