Temporal consistency in the spatial pattern of seed predation across a forest - old field edge

摘要: Seed predation is an important factor in determining the rate of tree establishment abandoned agricultural land. Edges, through altered habitat use by small mammals, may influence spatial pattern forest regeneration these successional sites. To determine seed across a forest-old field edge, we used grid that began 30 m inside and extended 60 into old field. stations were placed at regular 10-m intervals monitored for removal Acer rubrum 50 d. This design was repeated over four years (1995–1998). Small mammal trapping conducted final year study to predators within site. Removal rates varied among with high low rates. However, similar all years. Final survival ranged from 0.7–15.5% seeds, lower faster (1996 1998). discovery greatest edge decreased distance The number seeds surviving end experiment also gradient, highest greater distances covaried Peromyscus leucopus captures higher under exotic shrub Rosa multiflora, which have provided cover foraging predators. These indirect effects edges on plant communities can potentially alter invasion disturbed lands illustrate importance understanding plant-animal interactions context fragmentation.