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The effect of water supply on tree seed germination and seedling survival in a tropical seasonal forest in Veracruz, Mexico

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

Dominique Blain  and
Martin Kellman
Dominique Blain
Affiliation:
Department of Geography, York University, North York, Ontario, Canada M3J 1P3
Martin Kellman
Affiliation:
Department of Geography, York University, North York, Ontario, Canada M3J 1P3
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Abstract

In Iropical seasonal forests, mass seedling death may incidentally occur early in the rainy season following untimely germination provoked by an isolated heavy rainfall. We hypothesized that, in a soil with little moisture retention capacity, irregular rainfall patterns would result in large fluctuations of water supply and, in the early wet season, drought episodes could cause seedling death. This hypothesis was tested in a seasonal tropical forest in Mexico where seedling density is low and the soil consists of almost pure sand with a low water retention capacity. Various patterns of simulated rainfall were applied in the forest to seeds and seedlings of three common tree species. Overall very little difference in germination and seedling survival was observed between the various rainfall treatments. The results showed that rainfall patterns and the soil texture may interact in a much more complex way than was initially hypothesized, and that water availability to seeds and seedlings is not necessarily predictable. The absence of seedlings of the three tree species might be better explained by high seed predation and low light level in the understorey.

Keywords

Brosimum alicaslrumCedrela odorataEnterolobium cyclocarpumgerminationMexicoseasonalseedlingtropical forestwater supply
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 7 , Issue 1 , February 1991 , pp. 69 - 83
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

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