Abstract

Many features of plant communities are strongly influenced by events surrounding reproduction by seeds. Characteristics such as the relative abundance of the species, their annual fluctuation in number, and their spatial pattern are all influenced by the ability of each species to reproduce. The diversity and dynamics of plant communities hinge on the ability of species to regenerate successfully, resist local extinction, as well as disperse from neighboring communities. Grubb (1977) suggests that the coexistence of so many plant species that appear to have indistinguishable niches as adults can be explained by their distinct requirements in early stages of their life histories.