Parameterisation and validation of a resource budget model for masting using spatiotemporal flowering data of individual trees

Abstract

Synchronised and fluctuating reproduction by plant populations, called masting, is widespread in diverse taxonomic groups. Here, we propose a new method to explore the proximate mechanism of masting by combining spatiotemporal flowering data, biochemical analysis of resource allocation and mathematical modelling. Flowering data of 170 trees over 13 years showed the emergence of clustering with trees in a given cluster mutually synchronised in reproduction, which was successfully explained by resource budget models. Analysis of resources invested in the development of reproductive organs showed that parametric values used in the model are significantly different between nitrogen and carbon. Using a fully parameterised model, we showed that the observed flowering pattern is explained only when the interplay between nitrogen dynamics and climatic cues was considered. This result indicates that our approach successfully identified resource type-specific roles on masting and that the method is suitable for a wide range of plant species.

Masting in wind‐pollinated trees: system‐specific roles of weather and pollination dynamics in driving seed production

“…Our analysis does not provide a definitive test of either model, but our finding of stronger support for the resource‐limited floral induction model for seed production, rather than pollen production, hints at higher resource costs of fruits (Satake and Iwasa , Abe et al. ). Nevertheless, in such species selection likely favored the level of a “full” (mast) seed crop to be greater than the annual resource increment, ultimately providing pollination efficiency benefits associated with the economies of scale (Nilsson and Wastljung , Smith et al.…”

“…In contrast, in mast flowering species, weather cuing and resource dynamics likely drive an intensity of flowering (Abe et al. , Monks et al. , Pearse et al.…”

Spatial patterns and broad‐scale weather cues of beech mast seeding in Europe

“…negative response to temperature and positive to precipitation 2 yr before masting; Table ). The negative correlation with MAX JUL‐2 could be related to resource accumulation in cooler years (‘priming’ the trees to respond to increased temperature 1 yr later, sensu Richardson et al ., ), an interpretation that is consistent with a model of masting that includes an element of carbon and/or nitrogen limitation (Sala et al ., ; Müller‐Haubold et al ., ; Monks et al ., ; Abe et al ., ; Pearse et al ., ; Fernandez‐Mart?nez et al ., ). Indeed, a higher soil moisture due to more precipitation and lower summer temperatures has been shown to increase litter mass loss and N mineralisation and uptake (Gessler et al ., ; Smaill et al ., ), which favours masting in beech (Han et al ., ; Miyazaki et al ., ).…”

The effects for the number of beech pollinosis patients by low temperature and a good beech harvest

“…Pollen dispersion of Fagaceae from March to June at Ito during 2004 to 2017 (Table 1): year dates of initial pollen observed, of pollen release began, of final pollen observation, of maximum pollen dispersion and maximum pollen counts. Each average value and standard deviations: 7±21-Mar, 25±8-Mar, 14±11-Jul, 1±9-May and 135±95 grain/cm 2 . AWe found that the airborne pollen count of the date of maximum pollen dispersion tends to be large in the year with much total airborne pollen although there are not correlations between total airborne pollen and the date of initial pollen observed, between the date of pollen release began and the date of final pollen observation as a result of the regression analysis.…”