Life Sciences Commons^™

Edge Influence On Reproductive Success Of Symphoricarpos Orbiculatus, Breanne M. Nott

Student Honors Theses

With continued forest fragmentation, edge effects play an important role in shaping the structure and composition of plant communities. Some forest plant species exhibit increased abundance at forest edges, while other species have a negative edge response. Despite welldocumented edge effects, there are few studies that document the underlying effects on population dynamics of individual species that result in edge responses. Two mechanisms may generate differential distribution of a species across an edge. Edges may 1) alter population demographics by influencing the plant’s uptake and allocation of resources, or may 2) influence the spatial pattern of seed dispersal. Coral berry …