Improvements on reliable oak seed trap

Abstract

The need for seed trap longevity, capture of heavy seed, and protection from predation in several forest types for long-term studies of seed production prompted seed trap design improvements. Critical improvements were achieved by painting the trap with a latex exterior gloss house paint, raising traps above water lines in areas tbat flooded, and enclosing the seed container in a protective cage made of hardware cloth. Forty improved seed traps were installed in four forest communities across a flooding gradient and monitored for structural integrity and seed capture over an 8-month period. Ten traps were placed in each of the following locations in the South Carolina Lower Coastal Plain: a tupelo swamp, a transition to bottomland hardwood forest, a bottomland hardwood forest, end a pine hardwood forest. All traps provided protection fromp redators and effectively captured several seed types. The use of water-based latex paint as a sealant in the high humidity locale enhanced the durability of the improved seed trap design.