Seed dispersal and seedling emergence in an old field community in central New York (USA)

• Published in: Oecologia Vol. 70; no. 1; pp. 92 - 99
• Main Authors: Morris, W.F, Marks, P.L, Mohler, C.L, Rappaport, N.R, Wesley, F.R, Moran, M.A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer-Verlag 01-08-1986; Springer
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Biological taxonomies; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Germination; natural regeneration; Old fields; Plants; seasonal variation; Seed dispersal; Seedling emergence; Seedlings; Seeds; Solidago; Spring; Synecology; Taxa; Terrestrial ecosystems; New York; New York; Seeds; United States; Dissemination; America; Old field; Spermatophyta; Vegetation dynamics; North America; Solidago spp; Seed dispersal; Old field communities; Asteraceae; Emergence
• ISSN: 0029-8549; 1432-1939
• DOI: 10.1007/BF00377115

Seed dispersal and seedling emergence of common taxa growing in a Solidago-dominated old field in central New York (USA) were monitored from May 1982 to June 1984. Over 3.5× 104seeds per m2were captured on seed traps in each of the two years, with peaks occuring in July (due to Hieracium) and in November (due to Solidago). About$4.0\times 10^{3}\ \text{seedling}/\text{m}^{2}$emerged beneath the intact community in each of the two years. Although seedlings emerged predominantly in the early spring, a secondary peak occurred in September and October when many seedlings of introduced grasses appeared. Two additional aspects of the reproductive biology of the major taxa were related to the seasonal timing of seed dispersal: As the date of peak seed dispersal (among taxa) became progressively later in the season, (1) the duration of dispersal increased from about one week to about one-half year, and (2) the delay between the peak of seed dispersal and the peak of seedling emergence increased from a few days to about one-half year.