Control of Seedling Emergence by Ground Cover and Seed Predation in Relation to Seed Size for Some Old-Field Species

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to test whether control of seedling emergence by ground cover and seed predation depended on seed size. Sown seeds of 12 oldfield species with seed masses ranging from 0.06 to 12.2 mg were used for the test. Species response to experimental removal of ground cover and (or) to the addition of a cage to reduce seed predation was recorded. Results were used to determine the relationship between seed mass and effects of ground cover and (or) seed predation on seedling emergence. Adding a cage to reduce seed predation did not increase seedling emergence significantly for each of the four species with the smallest seeds (<0.14 mg). In contrast, seedling emergence increased significantly for each of the eight species with larger seeds (...)