Reproduction and Succession

Abstract

The effect of habitat supplies on the survivorship and reproductive success of plants has been fully understood (Harper and Ogden 1970, Harper 1977, Silvertown 1983). It has also been found many times that the proportions of species with different reproduction strategies vary with the succession phases (Horn 1974, Newell and Tramer 1978, Noble and Slatyer 1980). It has been demonstrated, for instance, that species with a high production rate of small seeds (r — selection) dominate in early succession phases, and those with a low production of large seeds (K — selection), in later phases (Platt 1975, Grubb 1977, Grime 1979, Gross and Werner 1982).