Background:

Seed banks, an important element in the natural regeneration of plant communities, are regulated mostly by granivores along an altitudinal gradient.

Question/Hypothesis:

Pinus hartwegii forms transient and probably persistent seed banks along an altitudinal gradient. Seed removal will vary according to the removing agents, the altitude and the season.

Species under study/Data description/Mathematical model:

The formation of seed banks and the removal of Pinus hartwegii (Pinaceae) seeds along an altitudinal gradient were evaluated in different seasons using a linear model with two factorial variance analyses.

Site and years of study:

The study was conducted at the Cofre de Perote National Park, Veracruz, Mexico, over an altitudinal gradient (at 3,400, 3,600, 3,800 and 4,000 m a.s.l.) in July-September 2015 (rainy season), and January-March 2016 (dry season).

Methods:

In order to understand seed bank formation and identify the removal agents along an altitudinal gradient, two experiments were conducted with seeds from 10 trees at each altitudinal tier.

Results:

The results of the first experiment, after one year, demonstrated the formation of transient and probably persistent seed banks along an altitudinal gradient (P < 0.0001). The results of the second experiment showed significant variations in seed removal according to the removal agents and the seasons (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions:

Pinus hartwegii forms transient and probably persistent seed banks along an altitudinal gradient. Seed removal varies according to altitude and season.