Seed removal patterns of fire-sensitive tree species on floodplain and upland sites in the absence of fire.
Saved in:
| Title: | Seed removal patterns of fire-sensitive tree species on floodplain and upland sites in the absence of fire. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Willis, John L.1 (AUTHOR) John.Willis@usda.gov, Schalk, Christopher M.2 (AUTHOR), Pierce, Josh2 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 5/15/2026, Vol. 56, p1-12. 12p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Floodplains, *Temperate forests, *Uplands, Seed harvesting, Granivores, Vegetation patterns |
| Abstract: | Surface fire is the primary ecological filter maintaining eastern North American woodlands. However, fire is not the only filter affecting species demographics, and in the absence of fire, the influence of secondary filters, such as seed predators, increases. To explore how different seed predator guilds affect individual species, we established seed offerings examining the effects of predator type (invertebrates only and invertebrates + small mammals), forest type (upland and floodplain), season (fall and summer), and offering location (beneath conspecific and heterospecific focal trees) on seed removal of four fire-sensitive tree species at two sites in the southeastern United States. Additionally, we explored the effects of forest structure on seed removal. Excluding small mammals had no impact on seed removal for any species, indicating that invertebrates were the primary seed predator. Winged elm (32%) and sweetgum (31%) seed removal in the floodplains significantly exceeded red maple (15%) and loblolly pine (6%). In the uplands, sweetgum (68%), winged elm (64%), and red maple (55%) seed removal significantly exceeded that of loblolly pine (4%). Sweetgum seeds were removed more frequently than loblolly pine regardless of focal tree identity. However, seed removal of both species beneath conspecific focal trees did not significantly exceed that recorded beneath heterospecific trees. Competing vegetation height was highest in the uplands in the summer and was positively associated with sweetgum seed removal intensity. Collectively, these results suggest that loblolly pine seeds have the highest probability of avoiding seed predator removal, potentially increasing its odds of establishing on upland sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Canadian Journal of Forest Research is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | GreenFILE |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
|---|---|
| Header | DbId: 8gh DbLabel: GreenFILE An: 193720425 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
| IllustrationInfo | |
| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Seed removal patterns of fire-sensitive tree species on floodplain and upland sites in the absence of fire. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Willis%2C+John+L%2E%22">Willis, John L.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> John.Willis@usda.gov</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Schalk%2C+Christopher+M%2E%22">Schalk, Christopher M.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Pierce%2C+Josh%22">Pierce, Josh</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Canadian+Journal+of+Forest+Research%22">Canadian Journal of Forest Research</searchLink>. 5/15/2026, Vol. 56, p1-12. 12p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Floodplains%22">Floodplains</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Temperate+forests%22">Temperate forests</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Uplands%22">Uplands</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Seed+harvesting%22">Seed harvesting</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Granivores%22">Granivores</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Vegetation+patterns%22">Vegetation patterns</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Surface fire is the primary ecological filter maintaining eastern North American woodlands. However, fire is not the only filter affecting species demographics, and in the absence of fire, the influence of secondary filters, such as seed predators, increases. To explore how different seed predator guilds affect individual species, we established seed offerings examining the effects of predator type (invertebrates only and invertebrates + small mammals), forest type (upland and floodplain), season (fall and summer), and offering location (beneath conspecific and heterospecific focal trees) on seed removal of four fire-sensitive tree species at two sites in the southeastern United States. Additionally, we explored the effects of forest structure on seed removal. Excluding small mammals had no impact on seed removal for any species, indicating that invertebrates were the primary seed predator. Winged elm (32%) and sweetgum (31%) seed removal in the floodplains significantly exceeded red maple (15%) and loblolly pine (6%). In the uplands, sweetgum (68%), winged elm (64%), and red maple (55%) seed removal significantly exceeded that of loblolly pine (4%). Sweetgum seeds were removed more frequently than loblolly pine regardless of focal tree identity. However, seed removal of both species beneath conspecific focal trees did not significantly exceed that recorded beneath heterospecific trees. Competing vegetation height was highest in the uplands in the summer and was positively associated with sweetgum seed removal intensity. Collectively, these results suggest that loblolly pine seeds have the highest probability of avoiding seed predator removal, potentially increasing its odds of establishing on upland sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Canadian Journal of Forest Research is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=8gh&AN=193720425 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1139/cjfr-2026-0009 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 12 StartPage: 1 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Floodplains Type: general – SubjectFull: Temperate forests Type: general – SubjectFull: Uplands Type: general – SubjectFull: Seed harvesting Type: general – SubjectFull: Granivores Type: general – SubjectFull: Vegetation patterns Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Seed removal patterns of fire-sensitive tree species on floodplain and upland sites in the absence of fire. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Willis, John L. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Schalk, Christopher M. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Pierce, Josh IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 15 M: 05 Text: 5/15/2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 00455067 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 56 Titles: – TitleFull: Canadian Journal of Forest Research Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
