Germination and establishment of forest sedges (Carex, Cyperaceae): Tests for home-site advantage and effects of leaf litter

We investigated aspects of germination and seedling establishment that migh t influence the distribution and diversity of Carex species growing in the forest understory. We tested the ability of Carer communis and C. platyphyl la to germinate and establish at plots where adult individuals of one of th ese two species, or one of two other Carer species (C. backii and C. planta ginea), occurred in an old-growth forest in southern Quebec, Canada. We als o tested for effects of leaf litter on germination and establishment of the se sedges. From a series of experiments in the field and in a lath house, w e found no evidence of home-site advantage with respect to germination or s eedling establishment. Leaf litter had a negative effect on germination and establishment. The results emphasize the importance of dispersal and colon ization events in determining local diversity and distribution of Carer spe cies in upland forests. High frequency of occurrence of C. communis at our study site may result from relatively wide dispersal provided by ants, and a suite of traits associated with ant dispersal in some understory Carer sp ecies.