Production, Dispersal and Predation of Seeds in the Biennial Cirsium Vulgare

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Abstract
(1) Seed production of flowering plants of Cirsium vulgare without damage to the flowering stem varied strongly between years in the sand-dunes at Meijendel. The percentage of plants that were noticeably damaged by herbivores also varied between years, and caused a reduction of the seed production by 80% in 1982 and 15% in 1984. (2) Mean seed loss by predation in the flowerheads was 3% in 1982 and 17% in 1984. (3) Seed dispersal was limited: 50% of the seeds were dispersed within 1 m of the parent plant and only 11% of the seeds were dispersed outside the local population. (4) On average 60% of the seeds were consumed by mice and voles after dispersal. Only 1% of the seeds produced were still viable after one year.