Germination Success of Acorns (Quercus) : Insect Predation and Tannins

1989

S. 811-815

2 Tab., 43 Lit. Ang.

Unselbständiges Werk

200088291

Canadian Journal of Forest Research 1989 ; 19(6), S. 811-815

Predation by curculionid larvae, tannic acid content, and germination were measured in acorns from individual trees of Quercus alba and Quercus rubra from two sites at the Meeman Biological Field Station, Shelby County, Tennessee, U.S.A. A crossed and nested analysis of variance design was used, and no significant differences were found among trees or between sites in percentages of acorns that were attacked nor in tannic acid contents. Quercus rubra acorns had significantly less predation and higher amounts of tannic acid than Q. alba acorns. Acorns of both species that were no attacked had significantly higher germination success (82% for Q. alba and 98% for Q. rubra) than acorns that were attacked. There was no significant relationship between amount of predation and tannic acid content for acorns from trees of either species. Tannic acid content appears to have an impact by reducing seed predation and may interact with seed crop size to increase annual germination success of trees.