Seed size and provenance mediate the joint effects of disturbance and seed predation on community assembly

John L. Maron; Dean E. Pearson; Teal Potter; Yvette K. Ortega

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2745.2012.02027.x

Treesearch

Seed size and provenance mediate the joint effects of disturbance and seed predation on community assembly

Formally Refereed

Authors:

John L. Maron, Dean E. Pearson, Teal Potter, Yvette K. Ortega

Year:

2012

Type:

Scientific Journal

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2745.2012.02027.x

Source:

Journal of Ecology. 100: 1492-1500.

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Abstract

Local plant community assembly is influenced by a series of filters that affect the recruitment and establishment of species. These filters include regional factors that limit seeds of any given species from reaching a local site as well as local interactions such as post-dispersal seed predation and disturbance, which dictate what species actually establish. How these filters interact to influence recruitment into local assemblages, and whether they act differentially on individual species based on traits such as seed size or their provenance (i.e. native vs. exotic), has not been well examined. Such studies, however, are crucial for understanding community assembly and for making predictions about what species might be favoured under specific ecological circumstances.

Keywords

community assembly, competition, disturbance, exotic species, invasion, plant population and community dynamics, post-dispersal seed predation, recruitment, seed limitation, seed size

Citation

Maron, John L.; Pearson, Dean E.; Potter, Teal; Ortega, Yvette K. 2012. Seed size and provenance mediate the joint effects of disturbance and seed predation on community assembly. Journal of Ecology. 100: 1492-1500.