EFFECTS OF SEED WEIGHT AND MICROSITE CHARACTERISTICS ON GERMINATION AND SEEDLING FITNESS IN 2 SPECIES OF QUERCUS IN A SUBTROPICAL WET HILL FOREST

There is large variation in seed weight within Quercus dealbata and Q. griffithii. Heavy seeds germinated earlier and showed better germination than light seeds and seedlings produced from the former survived and grew better. Differences in growth of the seedlings emerged from the seeds having different weights persisted in the 2nd year. Emergence, survival and growth of the seedlings were highest in plots devoid of litter and herbaceous cover and lowest in the control plots which were not cleared. Seedling emergence, survival and growth were more adversely affected by herbaceous cover than litter. -from Authors