The effect of competition and litter on red maple seedling emergence along a gradient of soil moisture and resource availability.

Abstract

In northern lower Michigan, red maple is recruited from the understory in greatest number in the intermediate range of the soil moisture - resource availability gradient. Causes of poor recruitment at low and high levels may differ. For instance, poor recruitment of red maple despite high resource levels suggests operation of one or more mechanisms that prevent optimum utilization of soil water and nutrients. Differences in site characteristics along the gradient suggest several possible mechanisms causing variation in distribution.