Ecological aspects of regeneration from seeds of Nothofagus antarctica native forest in Southern Patagonia, Argentina

Abstract

The aims of the present study were to quantify the annual seed production and its viability in pure stands of Nothofagus antarctica (ñire) grown in three sites, and to evaluate the establishment and mortality of seedling after seeds fall in Southern Patagonia (Argentina). Seed production was sampled using 4 traps in each site during five consecutive years (2004-2008). From this, seed viability and germination were evaluated. In each site, permanent sampling plots were set up for seedling establishment and mortality measurements. Seed production varied from 2 to 52 millions seeds ha^-1 being higher in better site quality stands. The number of days with air temperature below 0 ºC during the period before flowering explained 42 % of the seed production variation from the sites and years evaluated. Germination varied between sites, being less than 12 % and independent from seed production. Seedlings establishment only occurred in two years with a maximum value of 185,000 seedlings ha^-1 but with high mortality at the end of the growing season. We concluded that regeneration from seeds in the years and sites evaluated was not successful. Therefore, a longer period of evaluation is needed to assess the regeneration process in these forests.