Substrate heterogeneity and regeneration of a swamp tree, Nyssa aquatica

L. F. Huenneke, R. R. Sharitz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Scopus citations

Abstract

In a South Carolina riverine swamp forest, water tupelo substrates were categorized as emergent (surfaces of trees, living cypress knees, stumps, or logs), protected (submerged sediment adjacent to an emergent object), or open (sediment >50 cm from any emergent object and fully submerged during the growing season). Seeds germinated best (>25% in 16 days) on emergent substrates, but seed predation was extremely high on these same substrates. Substrate types differed significantly in permanence and in rates of sediment loss or deposition. Growth rates of transplanted seedlings did not differ among substrate types. Mortality due to erosional scour or impermanent rooting zones, superimposed on germination patterns is apparently responsible for observed non-random distribution of woody plant seedlings among substrate types. -from Authors

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)413-419
Number of pages7
JournalAmerican Journal of Botany
Volume77
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1990

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Genetics
  • Plant Science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Substrate heterogeneity and regeneration of a swamp tree, Nyssa aquatica'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this