How to translate text using browser tools
1 June 2005 Effects of microsite conditions on seedling establishment on the foreland of Coleman Glacier, Washington
Chad C. Jones, Roger del Moral
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Questions: How do physical microsite conditions of microsites affect germination and seedling survival in different successional stages? Do different species germinate in similar microsites in a given successional stage?

Location: Coleman Glacier foreland, Mount Baker, Washington State, USA.

Methods: Two methods were used to characterize safe sites. 1. Grids of 300 10 cm × 10 cm plots were located in four different age classes on the foreland. 2. 105 pairs of plots, with and without seedlings of Abies amabilis, were located in each age class. For each plot we identified all seedlings and all individuals < 1 m tall. Microsite characteristics such as topography and presence of rocks or woody debris were noted for each plot. Microsite characteristics were compared between plots with and without each species. In addition we examined the effect of distance from seed sources on the presence of Alnus viridis seeds and seedlings in a newly disturbed area.

Results: In early successional sites, seedlings of several species were positively associated with depressions and presence of rocks, and negatively associated with ridges. Patterns were generally consistent among species. In later succession, seedlings were not significantly associated with any microsite characteristics. For Alnus viridis, seed density decreased with distance from seed sources but seedling density did not.

Conclusions: Because of harsh conditions in early succession, physical microsites are important, and most species have similar microsite requirements. In later succession, physical microsites characteristics are not as important and are more variable. Microsites appear to be more important than seed rain in controlling the distribution of Alnus viridis in early succession.

Nomenclature: Kartesz (1999).

Chad C. Jones and Roger del Moral "Effects of microsite conditions on seedling establishment on the foreland of Coleman Glacier, Washington," Journal of Vegetation Science 16(3), 293-300, (1 June 2005). https://doi.org/10.1658/1100-9233(2005)016[0293:EOMCOS]2.0.CO;2
Received: 22 October 2004; Accepted: 26 April 2005; Published: 1 June 2005
JOURNAL ARTICLE
8 PAGES

This article is only available to subscribers.
It is not available for individual sale.
+ SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

KEYWORDS
Abies amabilis
Alnus viridis
Primary succession
Safe site
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top