While much is known about the impact of tree encroachment on flammability in degraded pine woodlands, little is known about how encroachment is impacting other important ecosystem functions. We investigated how the availability of seed from four encroaching tree species and the presence of a midstorey and litter layer affect seed predator selection. Additionally, we investigated how seed predators, the midstorey, overstorey basal area, substrate availability, and vegetation cover affect germination for a foundational species (Pinus palustris) compared to an encroaching species (Pinus taeda).

中文翻译：

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树木侵占对退化松树林林中种子捕食者选择和幼苗建立的影响

尽管对树木侵蚀对退化的松树林中可燃性的影响知之甚少，但对树木侵害如何影响其他重要的生态系统功能知之甚少。我们调查了四种入侵树种的种子可用性以及中层和枯枝落叶层的存在如何影响种子捕食者的选择。此外，我们调查了种子掠食者，中层，基层的基础面积，基质的可利用性和植被覆盖度如何对基础物种（松树）的发芽率与入侵物种（taeda松树）进行比较。