Why do trees produre so many seeds each year?

Question

Why do trees produre so many seeds each year?

Answer 1

Survival of the fittest.

Answer 2

In an effort to ensure at least a couple of the seeds might make it and grow into a mature tree some day.  

Many will not make sufficient ground contact to sprout, and certainly a great majority will be eaten by critters.  Still others may sprout, but not make it to maturity.

Answer 3

To increase their chances of survival.

Answer 4

Some land in bad soil, some sprout and die, Squirrels and other rodents eat a lot, birds eat a lot. Insects eat a lot.  Out of 10,000 seeds 1 might make it to more than 1 ft tall. out of 100 that make it to 1 ft tall, maybe three will grow to produce more seeds.

By the way, just for entertainment purposes...

What do you call plants that have a large germination and reproduction rate?

Weeds.