Seedling growth strategies and seed size effects in fourteen oak species native to different soil moisture habitats

Long, T.; Jones, Robert H.

doi:10.1007/s004680050051

Cited by 85 publications

(58 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…However, many field surveys contradict these expectations when they report a similar performance among seedlings of different oak species along environmental gradients (e.g. Ashton and Larson 1996;Long and Jones 1996;George and Bazzaz 1999, and for Mediterranean oaks (Bacilieri et al 1993;Lookingbill and Zavala 2000). Our experimental study and modelling approach show that pre-dispersal predation may be a key process to explain inter-specific differences in the recruitment of co-occurring oaks.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

Acorn crop size and pre-dispersal predation determine inter-specific differences in the recruitment of co-occurring oaks

et al. 2009

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The contribution of pre-dispersal seed predation to inter-specific differences in recruitment remains elusive. In species with no resistance mechanisms, differences in pre-dispersal predation may arise from differences in seed abundance (plant satiation) or in the ability of seeds to survive insect infestation (seed satiation). This study aimed to analyse the impact of pre-dispersal acorn predation by weevils in two co-occurring Mediterranean oaks (Quercus ilex and Quercus humilis) and to compare its relevance with other processes involved in recruitment. We monitored the patterns of acorn production and acorn infestation by weevils and we conducted experimental tests of acorn germination after weevil infestation, post-dispersal predation and seedling establishment in mixed forests. Monitoring and experimental data were integrated in a simulation model to test for the effects of pre-dispersal predation in recruitment. In both oaks pre-dispersal acorn infestation decreased with increasing acorn crop size (plant satiation). This benefited Q. ilex which exhibited stronger masting behaviour than Q. humilis, with almost a single and outstanding reproductive event in 6 years. Acorn infestation was more than twice as high in Q. humilis (47.0%) as in Q. ilex (20.0%) irrespective of the number of seeds produced by each species. Although germination of infested acorns (seed satiation) was higher in Q. humilis (60%) than in Q. ilex (21%), this could barely mitigate the higher infestation rate in the former species, to reduce seed loss. Conversely to pre-dispersal predation, no inter-specific differences were observed either in post-dispersal predation or seedling establishment. Our results indicate that pre-dispersal predation may contribute to differences in seed supply, and ultimately in recruitment, between co-existing oaks. Moreover, they suggest that seed satiation can barely offset differences in seed infestation rates. This serves as a warning against overemphasising seed satiation as a mechanism to overcome seed predation by insects.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

Acorn crop size and pre-dispersal predation determine inter-specific differences in the recruitment of co-occurring oaks

et al. 2009

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“…The larger acorn in Q. macrocarpa likely provides greater carbohydrate reserves and may allow Q. macrocarpa to develop a deeper taproot and greater absolute root and total seedling biomass (Long and Jones 1996). However, if taproot extension rate is considered relative to acorn mass, Q. muhlenbergii, typically found in more xeric sites (Abrams 1986), had a taproot extension rate twice that of Q. macrocarpa.…”

Section: Interspecific Patternsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Growth dynamics of oak seedlings ( Quercus macrocarpa Michx. and Quercus muhlenbergii Engelm.) from gallery forests: implications for forest expansion into grasslands

Danner

Knapp

2001

Trees

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Seedling growth dynamics of Quercus macrocarpa Michx. and Quercus muhlenbergii Engelm. were compared over a 3-month period under optimal growth conditions. These two species are the dominant trees at the western limit of the eastern deciduous forest, and are typically confined to gallery forests along stream beds in tallgrass prairie. Since tallgrass prairie is characterized by a highly variable climate and is prone to periodic drought, we hypothesized that these oaks would have rapid root growth and produce deep taproots as seedlings, enabling them to avoid drought stress and persist in this region. These traits may also facilitate forest expansion into the more xeric tallgrass prairie if fires are suppressed. Taproots of Q. macrocarpa and Q. muhlenbergii grew to approximately 140 cm and 100 cm in length, respectively, after 104 days. In both species, 65% or more of seedling biomass was allocated below ground, and root/total biomass was significantly greater in Q. muhlenbergii at 0-20 and 21-40 days after germination. The seedling taproot elongation rates reported here are much greater than rates reported in other eastern deciduous forest trees. Long-term precipitation data and soil moisture patterns from tallgrass prairie, when combined with rapid taproot elongation rates, suggest that soil moisture may not limit oak establishment or growth in tallgrass prairie in most years, although water uptake by roots was not measured in this study. Other factors, such as fire, herbivory, and seed predation and dispersal may be equally important in constraining the distribution of these species to gallery forests.

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“…Photosynthetic capacity (Wang et al 1995;Kundu and Tigerstedt 1998), efficiency of nutrient uptake (Huante et al 1995;Cornelissen et al 1997), allocation-related factors (Long and Jones 1996;Almeida-Cortez et al 1999) and water status (Berman and DeJong 1997;Major and Johnsen 1999;Hsiao and Xu 2000) are major physiological factors known to influence plant growth. However, the relationships existing between plant growth rate and the efficiency of water transport within the plant has been the subject of only a few studies (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relations between efficiency of water transport and duration of leaf growth in some deciduous and evergreen trees

Nardini

2002

Trees

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Shoot and leaf growth rate as well as shoot hydraulic conductance per unit leaf area (K SL ) were measured on three evergreen (Viburnum tinus L., Prunus laurocerasus L., Laurus nobilis L.) and three deciduous (Corylus avellana L., Juglans regia L., Castanea sativa L.) trees growing under the same environmental conditions. The times required to complete shoot growth (27 days for P. laurocerasus to 51 days for V. tinus) and leaf expansion (24 days for C. sativa to 42 days for C. avellana) were very different among the studied species. These species also differed in K SL that ranged between 1.5 and 3.5 e-4 kg s -1 m -2 MPa -1 in C. avellana and C. sativa, respectively, with intermediate values recorded in the other species. A strong, negative and statistically significant correlation was found to exist between K SL and the time required for complete leaf expansion. This suggests that duration of leaf growth is shortened by the high hydraulic efficiency of the shoot. In contrast, no statistically significant relationship was found to exist between K SL and shoot growth rate. Whether a high leaf growth rate can be interpreted as advantageous to plants or it is only an epiphenomenon of the high efficiency in the vertical water transport is discussed.

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Seedling growth strategies and seed size effects in fourteen oak species native to different soil moisture habitats

Cited by 85 publications

References 40 publications

Acorn crop size and pre-dispersal predation determine inter-specific differences in the recruitment of co-occurring oaks

Acorn crop size and pre-dispersal predation determine inter-specific differences in the recruitment of co-occurring oaks

Growth dynamics of oak seedlings ( Quercus macrocarpa Michx. and Quercus muhlenbergii Engelm.) from gallery forests: implications for forest expansion into grasslands

Relations between efficiency of water transport and duration of leaf growth in some deciduous and evergreen trees

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