The seedling survivorship and growth of three Shorea species in a Malaysian tropical rain forest

Abstract

ABSTRACTThere was fruiting of the dipterocarps of Pantai Aceh Forest Reserve, Penang, Peninsular Malaysia in September 1986. The opportunity was taken to investigate the establishment and seedling survival of Shorea curtisii, Shorea multiflora and Shorea pauciflora over the subsequent year. The germination and seedling survival of Shorea curtisii was compared between canopy gaps and forest understorey sites.Under the shaded conditions none of the species grew beyond the two leaf stage over their first year. Shorea multiflora seedlings suffered a 72% mortality, significantly lower than that of Shorea pauciflora (89%) and Shorea curtisii (93%). The major cause of mortality appeared to be drought, though Shorea curtisii was also prone to predation by small mammals.In a gap, Shorea curtisii seeds probably germinated less well but seedling survival (28% versus 7%) and growth was better than canopy-shaded conspecifics. Seedlings in gaps escaped small mammal predation.