Introduction

Seed ecophysiology is the subdiscipline of ecology which deals with the way in which environmental factors influence genetically variable populations of seed to produce successful patterns of germination and seedling establishment over time. Much of the forester's knowledge of seed behavior stems from research in seed technology. In the context of technology, seed are produced, harvested, processed, and planted with the objective of obtaining a population of seedlings for artificial regeneration. The various mechanisms through which a single species regenerates itself by seed are sometimes collectively considered as part of its reproductive or recruitment strategy. A review of just major tree species reveals what can be a confusing array of relationships between germination and genetic and environmental influences. There are, however, patterns of seed behavior that cross species lines. These patterns allow investigators to model, at least conceptually, "the way the world works" in seed ecophysiology.