Hypotheses on the regeneration niche of fleshy-fruited species in natural forest gaps and edges in Central Europe

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Abstract

The flora of central Europe contains 202 fleshy-fruited species of which 83% are shrubs and lianas (based on OBERDORFER 1994). In the same area the natural vegetation before human interference was predominantly forest in which the majority of the fleshy-fruited species were probably confined to temporary openings of the canopy (gaps), and to forest edges where trees are excluded for edaphic or climatic reasons, e.g. rocky outcrops, alpine timberline, riversides. Gaps are predictable in time, but rather unpredictable in space and undergo a quick succession. Therefore, gap species have probably evolved mechanisms to compensate for isolation in time. Forest edges, on the other hand, are predictable in space, but their formation is unpredictable in time, i.e. changes in the course of a river or a landslide creating a new cliff. Since edges are stable habitats with only minor successional changes, edge species are expected to compensate for isolation in space. The central hypothesis is that adaptations for isolation in space or time are reflected by the seed size, since seed size integrates several steps during regeneration of fleshy-fruited species. Actually, the seed size of gap species is significantly smaller than that of edge species. This result is discussed with respect to the effects on dispersal, predation, seed bank, germination and establishment of seedlings.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)85-91
Number of pages7
JournalVerhandlungen der Gesellschaft fur Okologie
Volume27
StatePublished - 1997

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