Characteristics of the Psidium cattleianum (Myrtaceae) Seed Bank in Hawaiian Lowland Wet Forests.
Date
2008-01
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Honolulu, University of Hawaii Press
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Abstract
Psidium cattleianum Sabine (strawberry guava) is one of Hawai‘i’s most disruptive alien plants. Dense stands can suppress growth and establishment of native species, support high populations of crop-damaging fruit flies, and preclude restoration or management of native forests. Our research investigated factors affecting persistence of P. cattleianum seeds in lowland wet forest soils. We collected soil cores from four forested sites immediately after fruit fall and 6.5 months later. We found abundant germination of P. cattleianum seeds immediately after fruit drop. Soil collected under mature P. cattleianum clumps yielded 761 viable seeds/m2. We found no viable seeds 6.5 months after fruit drop. We evaluated seed longevity using seed bags buried below the litter layer that we retrieved after 28, 56, 196, and 365 days. Seeds either germinated or deteriorated rapidly after fruit drop; after 28 days, 22.3% of the buried seeds were viable and there were no viable seeds at 196 days. Predator effects were assessed using trays with a known number of seeds with and without predator exclosures. After 28 days, 37% of the seeds in the open trays were damaged by predators. The lack of a persistent seed bank likely is due to a combination of rapid, high germination rates, postdispersal seed predation, and seed mortality. We suggest that chemical or mechanical control efforts would be most efficient and effective if conducted at least 3 months after the fruiting season, when the vast majority of seeds have either germinated or died.
Description
v. ill. 23 cm.
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Quarterly
Keywords
Natural history--Periodicals., Science--Periodicals, Natural history--Pacific Area--Periodicals.
Citation
Uowolo AL, Denslow JS. Characteristics of the Psidium cattleianum (Myrtaceae) Seed Bank in Hawaiian Lowland Wet Forests. Pac Sci 62(1): 129-136.
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8 p.
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