The Effect of Leaf Litter on Early Seedling Establishment in a Tropical Forest

TLDR: Investigating how different litter depths affected the establishment of several tropical tree species in both growth house and field experiments in the semideciduous tropical forest of Barro Colorado Island, Panama found the presence of litter can potentially increase seedling diversity within the forest by creating heterogeneity in the establishment envi- ronment and by causing reversals in species' rankings.

Abstract: The presence of leaf litter of different depths within a tropical forest creates many different microsites for plant establishment. The amount and distribution of leaf litter within a forest can influence patterns of plant establishment. In this study, we de- termined the spatial variability in leaf litter in the forest understory, and investigated how different litter depths (bare, 1, 6, and 12 cm) affected the establishment of several tropical tree species in both growth house (sun and shade) and field (gap and understory) experiments in the semideciduous tropical forest of Barro Colorado Island, Panama. The tree species used in this study (Aspidospermum cruenta, Ceiba pentandra, Cordia alliodora, Gustavia superba, Luehea seemannii, Ochroma pyrimidale) were chosen to represent a range of seed masses and a gradient in the light requirement for establishment of the species. The spatial distribution of leaf litter was not correlated between adjacent sampling points within the forest understory, suggesting that the establishment environment for seedlings, with respect to litter, is highly variable at scales of 1-20 m. The presence of litter affected five of the six species, but the nature and the magnitude of the effect were species specific. The smaller seeded shade-intolerant species had fewer seedlings establishing under leaf litter than on bare ground. The species ranged from strongly negatively affected (Luehea) to moderately negatively affected (Cordia, Ochroma) to affected only by extreme amounts of litter (Ceiba). The presence of litter influenced Gustavia, one of the larger seeded shade-tolerant species, but did not affect Aspidospermum, the other larger seeded species. The effect of litter on Gustavia depended on the light environment. Gustavia had more seedlings establishing under litter in the sun, but the presence of litter had no effect in the shade. Differences among the smaller seeded shade-intolerant species in the amount they were negatively influenced by litter were not correlated with seed mass. Data from our field study were consistent with our growth house results for the shade- intolerant species. Additional data from the field study indicated that these species with similar habitat requirements differed in the developmental stage at which they were affected by the presence of litter. Luehea had fewer seeds germinating under litter while the other two species, Ochroma and Cordia, were affected only after germination. Interspecific comparisons done for each light level and litter depth indicated that the presence of litter caused reversals in the relative ranking of species success. For example, Gustavia preferentially established under relatively deep litter depths in the sun where Luehea could not establish. In conclusion, the presence of litter can potentially increase seedling diversity within the forest by creating heterogeneity in the establishment envi- ronment and by causing reversals in species' rankings.