Aggregated recruitment patterns under adult crowns in Photinia glabra, a bird‐dispersed tree species. Issue 4 (22nd February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kuge, Ayami; Hirayama, Kimiko
• Is Part Of: Plant species biology. Volume 32:Issue 4(2017)
• Page Start: 348
• Page End: 358
• Publication Date: 2017-02-22
• Subjects: bird‐dispersed species -- evergreen broad‐leaved tree species -- Photinia glabra -- seedling demography -- spatial distribution; Plants -- Evolution -- Periodicals; Plants -- Classification -- Periodicals; 581
• DOI: 10.1111/1442-1984.12166
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0913-557X

Abstract

Abstract : To clarify recruitment patterns of Photinia glabra, which is an evergreen, broad‐leaved, bird‐dispersed tree species, we analyzed spatial distribution in P. glabra recruits at each growth stage and demography of current‐year seedlings with respect to distributions of adults in a warm‐temperate secondary forest, western Japan. Although individuals ≥ 5 cm diameter at breast height (DBH) that had nearly produced fruits showed a random distribution, seedlings (≥ 1 year old, < 10‐cm stem length [SL]), small saplings (10 ≤ SL < 30 cm) and large saplings (≥ 30‐cm SL, < 5‐cm DBH) were clumped and associated with reproductive adults at approximately 2–3‐m scales, nearly equal to their average crown radius. Based on monitoring the demography of current‐year seedlings, emerged seedling density profoundly decreased, and no seedlings survived at longer than an adult's crown scales, with distance‐dependent mortality as a result of disease and herbivory not greatly affecting the current‐year seedling mortality. Thus, aggregated seed dispersal under the crown of adult P. glabra would directly influence the distribution of recruits for P. glabra in this forest. Of the bird‐dispersed tree species in this forest, P. glabra produced the highest amount of fruits during large crop years, and their fruits ripened during the late seasonal period (early January), suggesting that birds might be strongly attracted to these species, in turn leading to seeds being deposited mostly under the tree crowns. We propose that dispersal limitation would occur, even in a bird‐dispersed tree species such as P. glabra, owing to plant–bird interactions in the forest. Abstract : For Photinia glabra, a bird‐dispersed tree species, their seedlings and saplings were significantly associated with reproductive adults at the same scale as their crown size (approximately 2‐3 m scale). Aggregated seed dispersal under the conspecific adults' crowns would occur in P. glabra owing to plant–bird interactions in the forest.