GRANIVORY ON CRYPTOCARYA-ALBA (MOL) LOOSE R - THE EFFECTS OF HABITAT TYPE AND SEED DENSITY (CORRECTED VERSION OF QZ582)

We evaluated seed removal rates of Cryptocarya alba (Mol.) Looser rela tive to habitat type and seed density. During 1989 and 1990, we perfor med seed removal experiments in dense and sparse habitats, at three se ed densities in the Chilean matorral: 5, 10 and 50 seed/900 cm(2). Res ults indicate that seed removal was more intense in sparse than dense habitats. Moreover, this removal was independent of the seed density. Under some conditions, this removal may be inversely density-dependent . Our results allow the prediction that seedling establishment is more probable in dense habitats and in zones with high seed density. The s eedling establishment patterns observed for this species in the matorr al, is concordant with this prediction.