Abstract
Seed predation, an omnipresent phenomenon in tropical rain forests, is an important determinant of plant recruitment and forest regeneration. Although seed predation destroys large amounts of the seed crop of numerous tropical species, in many cases individual seed damage is only partial. The extent to which partial seed predation affects the recruitment of new individuals in the population depends on the type and magnitude of alteration of the germination behavior of the damaged seeds. We analyzed the germination dynamics of 11 tropical woody species subject to increasing levels of simulated seed predation (0-10% seed mass removal). Germination response to seed damage varied considerably among species but could be grouped into four distinct types: (1) complete inability to germinate under damage ≥1%, (2) no effect on germination dynamics, (3) reduced germination with increasing damage, and (4) reduced final germination but faster germination with increasing damage. We conclude that partial seed predation is often nonlethal and argue that different responses to predation may represent different proximal mechanisms for coping with partial damage, with potential to shape, in the long run, morphological and physiological adaptations in tropical, large-seeded species.
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Claims 6
Claim · model-written summary
Germination responses to seed damage varied substantially across species and formed four types.
Verbatim
e0“Germination response to seed damage varied considerably among species but could be grouped into four distinct types:”
Claim · model-written summary
One response type could not germinate with damage of at least 1%.
Not reportedTaxonComparator
Verbatim
e0“complete inability to germinate under damage ≥1%”
Claim · model-written summary
A second response type showed no change in germination dynamics.
Not reportedTaxonTreatmentComparator
Verbatim
e0“no effect on germination dynamics”
Claim · model-written summary
A third response type had lower germination as damage increased.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“reduced germination with increasing damage”
Claim · model-written summary
A fourth response type had lower final germination as damage increased.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“reduced final germination but faster germination with increasing damage”
Claim · model-written summary
A fourth response type germinated faster as damage increased.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“reduced final germination but faster germination with increasing damage”