Effectiveness of three seed-trap designs

2002 ◽  
Vol 50 (5) ◽  
pp. 587 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Page ◽  
L. Newlands ◽  
J. Eales
Keyword(s):  
Seed Production ◽  
Reproductive Potential ◽  
Seed Rain ◽  
Individual Species ◽  
Monitoring Methods ◽  
Vegetation Community ◽  
Vegetation Monitoring ◽  
Trap Design ◽  
Funnel Trap ◽  
Seed Trap

Vegetation monitoring is essential to evaluate management and assess condition. However, methods that have been used cannot assess the viability of the community or provide indicators of future condition. Seed traps can be used to measure reproductive potential of a vegetation community via seed rain. This study evaluates three different seed-trap designs and compares their effectiveness in terms of the diversity and abundance of seed captured, the presence of seed-predating insects, cost, manufacturing ease and serviceability. Field trials were conducted in open, grassy woodlands in south-western and south-eastern Queensland. The results showed that the tall funnel-trap design was the least effective, while the wet wind trap and pitfall funnel trap proved more effective. On the basis of the results of this study, further investigations are recommended for testing trap performance in different vegetation communities, seed predation in relation to seed production and variation in seed production over time. Seed traps that monitor seed rain are potentially useful in assessing the health and viability of a vegetation community. Used in conjunction with other monitoring methods, they may offer valuable insights about the dynamics of entire communities and/or individual species, and therefore appropriate management strategies.

scholarly journals A simple standardized protocol to evaluate the reliability of seed rain estimates

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
André J. Arruda ◽  
Fernando A.O. Silveira ◽  
Elise Buisson
Keyword(s):  
Restoration Ecology ◽  
Community Dynamics ◽  
Size Dependence ◽  
Seed Rain ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Sticky Traps ◽  
Standardized Protocol ◽  
Funnel Trap ◽  
Seed Trap ◽  
Cross Site

Abstract Seed dispersal has key implications for community dynamics and restoration ecology. However, estimating seed rain (the number and diversity of seeds arriving in a given area) is challenging, and the lack of standardization in measurement prevents cross-site comparisons. Seed trap effectiveness and accuracy of seed sorting methods are key components of seed rain estimates in need of standardization. We propose and describe a standardized protocol for evaluating the effectiveness of two seed trap types (sticky and funnel traps) and the accuracy of a seed sorting method. We used widely available seeds (arugula, quinoa, sesame and sunflower) to produce a gradient of seed size, weight and colour. Proof-of-concept was tested in a tropical grassland, where traps were set for 30 days. Our results suggest that we underestimate dispersal of seeds with less than 2 mm width that can be easily mistaken for debris and soil particles or that fail to adhere to sticky traps. Seeds on sticky traps may be more vulnerable to removal by wind and rain, whereas seeds in funnel traps are more susceptible to decay. We found no evidence of observer bias on seed sorting for funnel trap samples. However, accuracy on seed sorting for funnel trap samples tended to decline for seeds with less than 2 mm width, suggesting a size-dependence in seed retrieval success. Our standardized protocol addressing trap effectiveness and seed sorting methods will increase the reliability of data obtained in seed rain studies and allow more reliable comparisons between datasets.

Seed production and seedbank dynamics in subthreshold velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti) populations

Weed Science ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Cardina ◽  
Heather M. Norquay
Keyword(s):  
Pest Management ◽  
Seed Production ◽  
Weed Management ◽  
Seedling Emergence ◽  
Seed Rain ◽  
Abutilon Theophrasti ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Single Seed ◽  
No Till ◽  
The Impact

The impact of seed production by subthreshold weed populations on future weed problems has impeded the adoption of integrated pest-management principles for weed management. Studies were conducted in fields with no velvetleaf history to determine how seedbanks and seedling populations change following seed production 1 yr or 5 consecutive yr in plow-disk and no-tillage corn. Cumulative seed production by 0.19 velvetleaf plants m−2increased in a linear fashion from 1989 to 1994, with annual additions averaging from 330 seeds m−2for velvetleaf in corn to 2,500 seeds m−2for velvetleaf without competition from corn. Five-year cumulative seed production was 1,480 seeds m−2in plow-disk and 1,810 seeds m−2in no-till corn. In no-till corn, 42 velvetleaf seedlings m−2emerged the 1st year after the 1989 seed rain, but only 35 seedlings m−2emerged over the next 4 yr. In plow-disk plots, annual emergence averaged 12 seedlings m−2. Five years after the 1989 seed rain, the proportion of seeds lost to emergence was about 20% in both tillage treatments. Where velvetleaf seeds were allowed to return to the soil every year, cumulative seedling emergence was lower in plow-disk than in no-till corn, with total emergence of 70 and 360 seedlings m−2, respectively, after 5 yr. Seedbank numbers ranged from 10 seeds m−25 yr after a single seed rain (290 seeds m−2) by velvetleaf in plow-disk corn to 1,020 seeds m−2following 5 consecutive yr of seed rain where 12,580 seeds m−2were returned without corn competition in no-till. Seedbank samples in the fall of the 5th year had 69 to 98% fewer seeds than were accounted for by cumulative seed rain and seedling emergence, with greater apparent seed losses in plow-disk corn than in no-till corn. Over 90% velvetleaf control would be required annually to maintain subthreshold populations for 5 yr following a single seed rain. By comparison, over 95% control would be required annually to maintain subthreshold populations where velvetleaf seed return is permitted each year.

A funnel trap for capture of small arboreal reptiles

2008 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 413-423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giles Hardy ◽  
Patricia Fleming ◽  
Michael Craig ◽  
Christine Davis ◽  
Andrew Grigg
Keyword(s):  
Acoustic Cues ◽  
Critical Factors ◽  
Transparent Material ◽  
Trap Design ◽  
Drift Fence ◽  
Funnel Trap

Abstract Small arboreal reptiles can be difficult to capture, except in traps, and the physical trap characteristics, drift-fence and bait are critical factors that can influence the efficacy of any trap. We conducted experiments on marbled geckoes (Christinus marmoratus, Gekkonidae) and wall skinks (Cryptoblepharus plagiocephalus, Scincidae) that examined bait preferences, attractiveness of different visual and acoustic cues and efficacy of different drift-fence materials to develop a trap for small arboreal reptiles. The experiments showed that both marbled geckos and wall skinks preferred crickets as bait, that wall skinks avoided darkness/cover and that both species had difficulty climbing flashing material covered in oil. This led us to develop an arboreal trap that was made from transparent material, used crickets as bait and had drift-fences constructed from flashing material. When used in the field, the final trap design was effective in capturing arboreal reptiles.

Seed production in forests of Chamaecyparislawsoniana

1979 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 327-335
Author(s):  
Donald B. Zobel
Keyword(s):  
Seed Production ◽  
Reproductive Potential ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Annual Production ◽  
Forest Community ◽  
Regional Pattern ◽  
Crop Size ◽  
Seed Collection ◽  
Open Forest ◽  
Seed Crops

In 3 years of seed collection throughout the range of Chamaecyparislawsoniana (A. Murr.) Parl., 30 seed crops varied from 20 000 to 4 600 000 seeds per hectare. The overall mean was 829 000 seeds per hectare per year. Annual production per square metre of basal area (BA) varied from 600 to 185 000. Only 6 of 30 seed crops exceeded 50 000 seeds/m2 BA per year but these were produced by the youngest (65 year old) and oldest (450 + year old) stands and throughout the environmental range of the species. Of other seed crops, 11 had 10 000–50 000 seeds/m2 BA per year and 13 had fewer than 10 000 seeds/m2 BA per year. Year-to-year variation had a local, not regional, pattern. An open-forest community produced more seed per square metre of basal area than a denser one at two mixed evergreen zone sites. Seedfall peaked from October to November, with a smaller spring peak, but some seeds fell throughout the year. Most sites differed little in the timing of peaks. Germination of trapped seed from seven sites in 1 year was 11–44% and showed no correlation with crop size. Other species in this genus produce many more seeds per hectare than C. lawsoniana but there is no evidence that seed production limits reproductive potential of this species. In mixed forests, C. lawsoniana and especially Tsugaheterophylla (Raf.) Sarg. were over represented in the seedfall (compared with their basal area), whereas Pseudotsugamenziesli (Mirb.) Franco and Abiesconcolor (Gordon and Glend.) Lindl. ex Hildebr. produced less than their share.

Pre-dispersal seed predation by the weevils Trichapion rostrum and Tychius sordidus limits reproductive output of Baptisia alba (Fabaceae)

Botany ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 95 (8) ◽  
pp. 809-817 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley M. Hembrough ◽  
Victoria A. Borowicz
Keyword(s):  
Seed Production ◽  
Seed Predation ◽  
Reproductive Output ◽  
Pollen Limitation ◽  
Reproductive Potential ◽  
Prairie Restoration ◽  
Seed Number ◽  
Nutrient Supplementation ◽  
Perennial Legume ◽  
Herbaceous Perennial

Baptisia alba (L.) Vent., an herbaceous, perennial legume, produces more flowers than will mature into pods. Single-year experiments on two reconstructed prairies tested the hypothesis that reproductive potential of B. alba depends on nutrients, but pollen limitation and pre-dispersal seed predation by weevils reduce final production. Ramets were assigned one of four treatments that were combinations of fertilizer (none/70 g fertilizer twice) and insect barrier (none/application of Tanglefoot). Within inflorescences, flowers were naturally pollinated or supplemented with pollen. Fertilizer produced no effects, suggesting that B. alba are unresponsive within a season to nutrient supplementation. Pollen supplementation increased pod initiation at the two sites by 6.7% and 2.3%, respectively, but did not affect the proportion of initiated pods that matured or seed number within pods. Where Tychius sordidus occurred, only 67 pods matured on 19 ramets and only four seeds survived. Where only Trichapion rostrum was present, insect barrier increased pod maturation almost three-fold, but did not affect seed number within pods. Barrier treatment increased the reproductive output of entire ramets by increasing seed production, from 3.6 seeds·ramet−1 to 60.5 seeds·ramet−1. Prairie restoration frequently uses fruit collected from other populations. Managers should be careful to avoid the unintended introduction of voracious seed predators.

Seed production and dispersal patterns in populations of Liriodendrontulipifera at the northern edge of its range in southern Ontario, Canada

1990 ◽  
Vol 20 (9) ◽  
pp. 1461-1470 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Kavanagh ◽  
T. J. Carleton
Keyword(s):  
Seed Production ◽  
Seed Viability ◽  
Stand Density ◽  
High Density ◽  
Dispersal Patterns ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
Large Trees ◽  
Seed Trap ◽  
Northern Edge ◽  
Stand Conditions

Seed production, viability, and dispersal patterns were examined for populations of Liriodendrontulipifera L. (tuliptree) at the northern edge of its range in Ontario, Canada, to determine whether these factors could account for its locally limited distribution. Seed production was measured by estimating the number of samara cones present in the canopy, and samaras collected in traps were dissected to determine potential seed viability under different stand conditions. Seed-trap collections were used to delineate seedfall patterns around individual tree stems and within high-density stands. Results indicate that seed production in Ontario begins when trees reach approximately 25 cm diameter at breast height and increases with maturity. Large trees often produce more than 2000 cones in good years, a level similar to more southern populations. The proportion of samaras containing filled seed increases with stand density, ranging from approximately 8–10% for isolated trees to over 20% for old-growth, high-density stands. Although low, these values are comparable to those reported elsewhere in the species' range. Seedfall patterns followed a leptokurtic distribution about individual stems. Life-history attributes other than seed viability may therefore be the cause of the restricted distribution and low population levels of L. tulipifera in Ontario.

scholarly journals Four Cultivars of Japanese Barberry Demonstrate Differential Reproductive Potential under Landscape Conditions

HortScience ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 762-767 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan M. Lehrer ◽  
Mark H. Brand ◽  
Jessica D. Lubell
Keyword(s):  
Seed Production ◽  
Invasive Plant ◽  
Germination Rate ◽  
Reproductive Potential ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Seedling Vigor ◽  
Berberis Thunbergii ◽  
Invasive Potential ◽  
Japanese Barberry ◽  
Landscape Plants

While japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii DC.) is an acknowledged invasive plant naturalized throughout the eastern and northern U.S., the danger posed by its popular horticultural forms is unknown and controversial. This work analyzed the reproductive potential and seedling growth of four ornamental genotypes important to the nursery industry. Fruit and seed production was quantified in 2001, 2002, and 2003 for multiple landscape plants of B.t. var. atropurpurea, `Aurea', `Crimson Pygmy', and `Rose Glow'. The average number of seeds produced per landscape specimen ranged from lows of 75 and 90 for `Aurea' and `Crimson Pygmy' to 2968 for var. atropurpurea and 762 for `Rose Glow'. Seed production relative to canopy surface area for `Rose Glow' was similar to `Aurea' and `Crimson Pygmy' and all three cultivars were less prolific than var. atropurpurea in this regard. Cleaned and stratified seeds from var. atropurpurea, `Crimson Pygmy' and `Rose Glow' showed an average greenhouse germination rate of 70% to 75%, while `Aurea' yielded 46% germination. A subpopulation of seedlings from each genotype accession was grown further outdoors in containers for a full season to ascertain seedling vigor and development. The vigor of 1-year-old seedlings, as measured by dry weight of canopy growth, for progeny derived from `Aurea' (0.70 g) and `Crimson Pygmy' (0.93 g) was significantly less than var. atropurpurea (1.20 g) and `Rose Glow' (1.33 g). These results demonstrate that popular japanese barberry cultivars express disparate reproductive potential that, after further study, may be correlated with invasive potential. Some popular commercial cultivars may pose significantly less ecological risk than others.

A seed trap for monitoring the seed rain in terrestrial communities

1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (5) ◽  
pp. 794-796 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary W. Schott
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Seed Bank ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Seed Rain ◽  
Andropogon Gerardii ◽  
Sampling Methodology ◽  
Grassland Community ◽  
Species Population ◽  
Seed Trap ◽  
Pvc Pipe

Monitoring the seed rain of a species, population, or community is important to quantify that component of life history that follows anthesis yet precedes establishment in the seed bank or as a seedling. I have developed a unique seed trap that is ideal for monitoring the seed rain of a grassland community. The trap consists of a 10-cm diameter funnel attached by Velcro to one end of a 15-cm long PVC pipe. The trap is sunk into the ground with 1.5–2 cm protruding above the soil surface to prevent soil and ground-dwelling insects from entering the trap. A small cotton bag is attached to the stem of the funnel and acts as the reservoir for trapped seeds. I was able to trap propagules ranging in size from 0.5-mm seeds (Juncus interior) to > 2 cm long awned spikelets (Andropogon gerardii). Because this trap minimizes prédation, is easy to construct and monitor, and is inexpensive, it is superior to traps used by previous researchers. Key words: seed trap, seed rain, sampling methodology.

Studies on Seed Rain Dynamics of Castanopsis carlesii and Castanopsis fargesii in the Three Gorges Reservoir

2012 ◽  
Vol 610-613 ◽  
pp. 3466-3471
Author(s):  
Xiao Long Zhu ◽  
Li Nian Zhang ◽  
Bin Li ◽  
Dao Jing Chen ◽  
Ji Hong Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wind Speed ◽  
Seed Production ◽  
Three Gorges Reservoir ◽  
Seed Rain ◽  
Three Gorges ◽  
Rain Intensity ◽  
The Three Gorges Reservoir ◽  
The Three Gorges ◽  
Castanopsis Fargesii ◽  
Two Populations

This paper carried research on seed rain intensity, seed rain time, the effects of sound seed input density of Castanopsis fargesii population and Castanopsis carlesii population in the Three Gorges Reservoir. The result showed that: (1) the seed production of Castanopsis carlesii and Castanopsis fargesii was low in the studied population, the seed rain was 36.5 seeds • m-2, 22.6 seeds • m-2, and the sound seed input density were 20.5 seeds • m-2, 9.6 seeds • m-2 respectively. (2) infesting and decay were the main causes of seed losing, 43.8% lost in Castanopsis carlesii population and 67.5% lost in Castanopsis fargesii population. (3) the duration of Castanopsis carlesii and Castanopsis fargesii population’s seed rain were 47days and 37 days, but there was a different top time between two populations, the seed rain peak of Castanopsis carlesii population was from middle to late November, with a distinguishable dropping peak, and the seed rain peak of Castanopsis fargesii population was from early to middle November.(4) temperature has significant effect on sound seed input density of Castanopsis carlesii population, temperature and wind speed have significant effect on sound seed input density of Castanopsis fargesii population.

Local seed rain and seed bank in a species-rich grassland: effects of plant abundance and seed size

2006 ◽  
Vol 84 (12) ◽  
pp. 1870-1881 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Jakobsson ◽  
Ove Eriksson ◽  
Hans Henrik Bruun
Keyword(s):  
Seed Size ◽  
Seed Bank ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Seed Rain ◽  
Positive Relationships ◽  
Plant Abundance ◽  
M 10 ◽  
Seed Trap ◽  
Perennial Grassland ◽  
The Relationship

In this study, we examined the relationship between seed size, seed rain, and seed bank in a species-rich perennial grassland in Sweden. The seed rain was monitored by 100 seed traps placed in a 10 m × 10 m area for 1 year. The seed bank was sampled by taking 100 soil samples, each in close vicinity to a seed trap. Abundance of reproductive ramets in the area was estimated, since this is likely to affect the proportion of hit seed traps and seed bank samples. When abundance of reproductive ramets was accounted for, we found a negative relationship between seed size and proportion of hit seed bank samples, but we found no relationship between seed size and proportion of hit seed traps. We found strong positive relationships between the abundance of reproductive ramets and proportion of hit seed traps and seed bank samples. We also found strong positive relationships between abundance of reproductive ramets and abundance of seeds in the seed rain and the seed bank, but no relationship between seed size and abundance of seeds in the seed rain or the seed bank. We discuss these results in the context of theory suggesting that large-seeded and small-seeded species may coexist because of a trade-off between colonization and competitive abilities, where smaller-seeded species are able to reach more sites than seeds of larger-seeded species, because they are more numerous and (or) better dispersed.

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