The Seedling Habitat of Pinus echinata and Melampyrum lineare in Oak-Pine Forest of the New Jersey Pinelands

Abstract

The seedling habitat, a portion of the regeneration niche, of shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata Mill.) and an annual herb (Melampyrum lineare Dres.) are described from oak-pine forest in the New Jersery Pinelands, USA. Seedlings of both plants were restricted to mossy patches, with low litter cover, free from shrub stems and under high light. These microsites are unburned during prescribed burns and thus provide safesites for seedling establishment. Physical attributes of the seedling habitat provided a poor predictor of pine seedling growth. However, growth of the annual was related to characteristics of its microsite; light was the best predictor of performance and was included in a model for plant fitness. The population size of the annual herb was reduced by herbivory, probably grasshopper grazing. This study indicates that seedlings have characteristic regeneration niches and that niche attributes may affect plant performance.