Germination and size-dependent mortality in Viola blanda.

Early and late germinating classes of seedlings of a population of Viola blanda were censused for three years. Seedlings germinating later had a significantly higher probability of death, especially during a period of relatively high mortality three years after germination. Later germinating seedlings were consistently smaller than earlier germinating seedlings. Mortality was size-dependent and concentrated among smaller individuals. It is hypothesized that the effect of germination time on mortality three years later is mediated through differential growth.