The Ecology of Seeds [Paperback]

A succinct review of the ecological aspects of seed biology.What determines the number and size of the seeds produced by a plant? How often should it reproduce them? Why and how are seeds dispersed, and what are the implications for the diversity and composition of vegetation? These are just some of the questions tackled in this wide-ranging review of the role of seeds in the ecology of plants. The text encompasses a wide range of concepts of general relevance to plant ecology, reflecting the central role that the study of seed ecology has played in elucidating many fundamental aspects of plant community function.What determines the number and size of the seeds produced by a plant? How often should it reproduce them? Why and how are seeds dispersed, and what are the implications for the diversity and composition of vegetation? These are just some of the questions tackled in this wide-ranging review of the role of seeds in the ecology of plants. The text encompasses a wide range of concepts of general relevance to plant ecology, reflecting the central role that the study of seed ecology has played in elucidating many fundamental aspects of plant community function.How many seeds should a plant produce, and how often? Why and how are seeds dispersed, and what are the implications for the diversity and composition of vegetation? These are some of the questions tackled in this extensive review of the role of seeds in plant ecology. The text encompasses a wide range of concepts of relevance to plant ecology, reflecting the central role of seed ecology in clarifying many fundamental aspects of plant community function.Preface; 1. Life histories, reproductive strategies and allocation; 2. Pre-dispersal hazards; 3. Seed dispersal; 4. Soil seed banks; 5. Seed dormancy; 6. Germination; 7. Post-dispersal hazards; 8. Seedling establishment; 9. Gaps, regeneration and diversity; References; Index. Reading this book will provide a person with the background to proceed further inls*