Studies On Seed Ecology Of Broad-leaved Evergreen Forests In Guniujiang Preserve, Anhui

In this study, we investigated the range of diversity of seed mass, and examined the relationship of seed mass and fruit type, plant form, plant height, families, habitat and altitude from broad-leaved evergreen forests in Guniujiang Preserve, Anhui. The main conclusions are as follows:(1)The shape of most species was far awaye from sphericity, Based on mean variance of shape, climbers was smaller and seeds were flat and elongated. The seed mass were very different. Within a plant community seed mass often varied over 5 orders of magnitude. No species had a diasporeweight less than 3mg, and meanwhile, close to sphericity.(2)The fruits of 203 species of plants were classified according to types. Species producing fleshy (drupes and berries) and dry (pods, capsules and nuts) fruits accounted for 48.76% and 51.24% respectively. The fruits had all kinds of dispersers because of their colour, type and mass. We also found that there were correlations between seed mass and fruit type.(3)Seed mass might be related to life form of plants. From herbs, shrubs to the trees, seed mass increased. Compared to the shrubs and herbs, there were larger orders of magnitude among the trees (here is 5), it was possible that the trees could produce large and small seed. Seed mass had significantly positive correlation with mature plant height.(4)Seed mass had no significant difference among altitudes(P>0.05). From forset, river edge, shrubbery, forest edge to roadside, there was a significant negative correlation between seed mass and habitat(P=0.003), with fruit type also. The rangs of variation in seed mass were smaller with increased altitude (less 600m).