Effects of Logging, Liana Tangles and Pasture on Seed Fate of Dry Forest Tree Species in Central Brazil

Background

This article examines seed germination, predation, removal, and death for six different species in undistured forest, logged forest and an active pature. Because gaps created from logging are often overrun by liana tangles, it also compares seeds planted under patches of lianas (low forest) and seeds under patches of mature forest (high forest).

Research Goals & Methods

The authors tested seeds from 6 different tree species that would all be at peak disperal at the same time but that represent a spectrum of seed size and dispersal mechanisms. Monitoring occured for 8 months.

Conclusions & Takeaways

The authors find that small seeded species had higher germination than larger seeds but were more susepticble to predation in pastureland. Large seeded species had highest seed removal in pastureland and high forest but had much lower removal rates in low forest. This suggests that lianas, while often thought to inhibit succeession, may protect large seeds from predation. The authors recommend waiting until the end of the rainy season to cut back lianas so that seeds below are protected and have a greater chance of germinating.