RT info:eu-repo/semantics/contributionToPeriodical T1 Post-dispersal predation of Pinus pinaster Aiton seeds: key factors and effects on below-ground seed bank. A1 Ruano Benito, Irene A1 Peso Taranco, Carlos Emilio del A1 Bravo Oviedo, Felipe K1 Pinos-Semillas K1 Pinos-Crecimiento AB Seed bank dynamics constitute a pool of natural regeneration, a complex and keyprocess for stand persistence. The present work analyses post-dispersal predation on aPinus pinaster Ait. (Maritime Pine) below-ground seed bank. The study was carried outat the experimental site of Mata de Cuellar (Segovia-Central Spain), where an integratedanalysis of Maritime Pine regeneration has been underway since 2004. Seed predationwas monitored every month from 2010 to 2013. A generalized linear model was fittedusing ‘next spring seed density’ as the response variable and seed rain, micro-siteconditions and annual climate variability as explanatory variables. Seed rain, distance tothe nearest stump, basal area and Walter’s drought index, along with percentage coverof herbaceous species, pine needle litter and shrub species had significant positiveeffects. The number of neighbouring trees had a significant negative effect on seeddensity. These results demonstrate how seed rain, summer drought and micro-siteconditions are crucial to understanding the effects of predation on the below-groundseed bank. Though greater than null, the final seed bank might be insufficient forsuccessful natural regeneration due to high mortality caused by difficult germinationand establishment conditions. PB Springer SN 1612-4677 YR 2014 FD 2014 LK http://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/7664 UL http://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/7664 LA eng NO European Journal of Forest Research; November 2014, Volume 129, Issue 6, pp 1119-1128 NO Instituto Universitario de Gestión Forestal Sostenible DS UVaDOC RD 24-nov-2024