Seed availability and recruitment of the perennial herb Sanicula europaea1

Abstract

Dispersal ability is an important determinant of plant distribution and a key factor in predicting effects of habitat fragmentation. In recent years, dispersal limitation has been demonstrated empirically by seed-sowing experiments for a number of plant species. However, these studies have been criticized for dealing with only the first stages of colonization and for not being replicated over several years. In this study we present data from transplantation experiments with seeds and established plants of the perennial herb Sanicula europaea L. Experiments were carried out in several years and at sites with and without natural occurrence of the species. We also examined the effect of vegetation removal on seedling recruitment. Sanicula europaea germinated at several previously unoccupied sites, but our results provide no evidence that the distribution of S. europaea is dispersal limited. Moreover, unlike studies on several other species, there was no evidence that existing vegetation limits recruitment.