This study examined the effects of nutrient abundance on red maple seed mass and viability by collecting seeds from stands treated with different levels of nitrogen and phosphorus. The results showed that while seed count and viability were dependent on basal area and not nutrient treatments, average seed mass and average viable seed mass were significantly affected by the interaction between nitrogen and phosphorus treatments when accounting for basal area. This suggests that red maple seed mass and viability may be dependent on nutrient abundance, particularly the interaction between nitrogen and phosphorus availability.

1. Quantifying red maple seed
production and viability in
nutrient manipulated stands
Donna Riner 2018
Mentors: Adam Wild, Alex Young, Alex Rice, Ruth Yanai

2. Question:
Is red maple seed mass and viability dependent
on nutrient abundance?
Source: WikiMedia

3. Significance
•Seeds contain the
genetic material of the
next generation.
•Seedlings emerging
from heavier seeds
show better growth
(Upadhaya et al, 2006).

4. Methods
• Placed seed traps
beneath red maples in
three mid-aged stands
(40-43 years old)
• Collected seeds
• Tested viability
• Squeezed the seed: is
there a seed in there?
• Counted and weighed
the unviable and viable
seeds.
“A better seed and litter trap”
Hughes, Fahey, and Browne 1987

5. Results: Seed Count
Avg Seed
Count
DF F
Value
P value
BA_m2 7 98.48 <0.0001
N trt 7 1.27 0.30
P trt 7 0.62 0.46
N trt * P trt 7 1.61 0.24
ANCOVA of seed count
with basal area as a
covariate revealed no
significant effects

6. Results: Seed Viability
Avg Viable
Seed Count
DF F Value P value
BA_m2 7 112.01 <0.0001
N trt 7 0.44 0.53
P trt 7 0.13 0.73
N trt * P trt 7 0.94 0.36
ANCOVA of viable seed
count with basal area
as a covariate revealed
no significant effects

7. Results: Average Seed Mass
ANCOVA of average seed
mass with basal area as a
covariate revealed a
significant N*P treatment
Avg Seed
Mass (mg)
DF F Value P value
BA_m2 7 105.75 <0.0001
N trt 7 1.85 0.22
P trt 7 0.37 0.56
N trt * P trt 7 3.49 0.10

8. Avg Viable
Mass
DF F Value P value
BA_m2 7 109.62 <0.0001
N trt 7 1.75 0.23
P trt 7 0.36 0.57
N trt * P trt 7 3.21 0.12
Results: Average Viable Mass
ANCOVA of average viable
mass with basal area as a
covariate revealed a
significant N*P treatment
effect on average viable mass

9. Discussion
• Significant N*P treatment effect on average
seed mass and average seed viability
• When using basal area of red maples in each stand
as a covariate (thank you MELNHE tree inventory!)
Questions?