Survival of Juvenile Acer grandidentatum Nutt. (Bigtooth Maple, Aceraceae) in Central Texas Woodlands

Populations of Acer grandidentatum Nutt. (Bigtooth maple, Aceraceae = Sapindaceae) in central Texas are mostly found in isolated, deep, relatively remote, limestone canyons. Acer grandidentatum is found with a few other mostly deciduous species. Recruitment of juveniles has been reported to be lacking. One population of A. grandidentatum juveniles was found in a limestone canyon in a State Natural Area in Central Texas. Fifty juveniles were located. Wire enclosures were placed around half of the seedlings with half left in the open. In an adjacent canyon, 50 juvenile seedlings were planted in a similar habitat with adult A. grandidentatum trees nearby. Half were in enclosures and half in the open. Plant survival was followed for four growing seasons until November 2019. At the end of that time when survivals were compared between plants in enclosures and those in the open in both canyon communities, there was a significant difference in survival in both communities (χ2, P Odocoleus virginianus).