Establishment of Ptelea trifoliata on Lake Michigan Sand Dunes

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Abstract
The microclimate to which a seed or small seedling on the sand dunes of Lake Michigan is subjected is characterized by high surface soil temperatures and low soil moisture during the summer. The survival of 1st-year seedlings of P. trifoliata was very low (10.5%). Second-year seedlings had a 50% survival rate. The mortality was attributed to 2 environmental factors: insufficient soil moisture and illegal vehicular traffic. The slow elongation of the root makes the soil moisture a very critical factor. Shaded habitats within a Ptelea stand provide physical protection for the seedlings from vehicular traffic and have higher soil moisture: consequently, seedling survival is greater in shaded habitats than in open habitats. Because of the high mortality rate of young seedlings, seed production must be large to maintain the present population size.