The document discusses a study examining how nutrient treatments affect germination rates and seedling survival of American beech and sugar maple. The study had three hypotheses: 1) germination and survival of maple would be highest with calcium addition; 2) germination and survival of beech would reflect limitation of nitrogen or phosphorus; and 3) survival may reflect nutritional value of seedlings. Methods involved counting germinants and seedlings in nutrient treatment plots over two years. Results showed beech germination increased with nitrogen and phosphorus addition, while maple decreased. Seedling survival decreased with nitrogen and phosphorus addition but increased with calcium addition, with no difference between nitrogen and phosphorus effects.

1. Thomas Mann, Kate Bazany, and Ruth Yanai
Baby boomers: Are there any surviving
germinants from the recent mast year?

2. 2017 was a mast year
Fagus grandifolia Acer saccharum

3. How do nutrient treatments affect
germination rates and seedling survival?

4. How do nutrient treatments affect germination rates
and seedling survival?
- Sugar maple
- Decline of mature
trees
- Positive correlation
between soil Ca and
sugar maple
germinant survival
Juice et al. 2006

5. Hypotheses
1. Germination rates and survival of maple seedlings will be
highest in Ca-treated plots, presuming Ca limitation of
sugar maple.
1. Germination rates and survival of beech seedlings will
reflect nutrient limitation of beech (could be N or P).
1. Alternatively, survival may reflect the nutritional value of
the seedlings (lowest with nutrient addition).

6. Methods
- Ten 1-m2 subplots in each
treatment plot of mature
stands
- Summer 2018: 3 rounds of
American beech and sugar
maple germinant counts
- Summer 2019: 1 round so
far counting seedlings of
that cohort

7. Germination rates

8. Seedling survival

9. How do nutrient treatments affect germination rates
and seedling survival?
Germination rates
- Beech benefitted from N and P addition (more
germinants/tree)
- Maple produced fewer germinants under N and P addition
Seedling survival
- Survival was worse under N and P addition
- Ca addition was good for survival
Nutrients are important but N and P didn’t differ in effect!