1. SEED DISPERSAL AND GERMINATION OF THE EPIPHYTE TILLANDSIA BRACHYCAULOS (BROMELIACEAE) IN A TROPICAL DRY FOREST, MEXICO
- Author
-
Demetria Mondragon and L. Maria Calvo-Irabien
- Subjects
education.field_of_study ,Diaspore (botany) ,Tillandsia ,biology ,Seed dispersal ,Population ,food and beverages ,Myrmecochory ,biology.organism_classification ,Seed dispersal syndrome ,Agronomy ,Germination ,Botany ,Biological dispersal ,education ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics - Abstract
A crucial need for population maintenance of epiphytic species is the location of suitable microsites on a host tree. Quantitative evaluation of epiphyte seed dispersal and germination is needed to more fully understand successful host colonization; this process is especially important in dry forests, where drought and oligotrophy diminish population growth rates. In a 3-year field experiment, we evaluated seed dispersal and germination of Tillandsia brachycaulos and explored some environmental factors affecting these life-cycle phases. There was significant variation in dispersal curves depending on year and height of seed release. Forty-one percent of seeds experimentally released were not dispersed and only ca. 0.5% of dispersed seeds were captured in seed traps. The number of trapped seeds decreased with distance; most seeds were captured within 1.5 m of the seed source. Seeds dispersed farther (15 m) when released from greater heights. Seed germination under controlled conditions (98%) was h...
- Published
- 2006