Within‐population spatial synchrony in mast seeding of North American oaks

Abstract

Mast seeding, the synchronous production of large crops of seeds, has been frequently documented in oak species. In this study we used several North American oak data-sets to quantify within-stand ( B10 km) synchrony in mast dynamics. Results indicated that intraspecific synchrony in seed production always exceeded interspecific synchrony and was essentially constant over distances ranging from 100 m to 10 km. Asynchrony between species was at least partially attributable to differences in the endogenous dynamics in seed production caused by the varying numbers of years (1 or 2) required to mature seeds. Similarly, the magnitude of intraspecific seed production synchrony was related to intraspecific variation in endogenous dynamics; this intraspecific variation could be caused by spatial variation in habitat conditions. These results indicate that both interspecific and intraspecific variation in the endogenous processes generating variability in seed production may influence the magnitude of spatial synchrony in total (all species) mast production. Such findings may be of significance to understanding interactions between synchrony in mast seeding and animal consumer populations.A.

Acorn production in Spanish holm oak woodlands

“…Synchrony within a species and section (1-year vs. 2-year) and asynchrony among species is common in American mixed oak formations Abrahamson and Layne, 2003;Liebhold et al, 2004). This same pattern has been observed in Southern Spain in mixed oak forests and dehesas in seven year data sets.…”

“…Therefore, it might be thought that South and South West aspects would be more productive. This effect has been observed in some North American oaks sites, whereas other stands did not show differences among orientations (Liebhold et al, 2004).…”

“…Some oak species' fruiting patterns can be approached to species specific cycles, meaning either positive or negative annual autocorrelations (synchrony) in annual acorn production. The cycles are partly explained by the acorn maturation pattern, either 1-year or 2-year (Koenig and Knops, 2000;Kelly and Sork, 2002;Liebhold et al, 2004), and are influenced by resource limitations, either light, nutrients or rainfall. So, like mast seeding patterns in other genera, oak acorn production is likely to result from resources interacting with plant endogenous reproductive patterns Koenig and Knops, 2000;Kelly and Sork, 2002;Abrahamson and Layne 2003).…”

Spatiotemporal variation in acorn production and damage in a Spanish holm oak (Quercus ilex) dehesa

“…At a spatial scale similar to that used in our study, Martín-Vicente et al (1998) found differences of acorn production between mixed stands of Q. ilex, Q. suber and Q. canariensis, but in this case acorn production Acorn production and damage in holm oak 109 Liebhold et al (2004) reported synchrony between trees over distances less than 10 km in different Quercus species. In other oak species a trend of acorn production to synchronize over large geographic areas has been established (Sork et al, 1993;Healy et al, 1999;Koening and Knops, 2000).…”

Dispersal timing, palatability and caching of acorns of Aesculus turbinata Bl

“…The success of trees that undergo mast seeding is commonly explained by the predator satiation hypothesis, which includes the prediction of seedling establishment, animal pollination, animal dispersal and accessory costs (Liebhold et al 2004;Fenner & Thompson 2005). Rodents often cache the acorns below the ground surface (Vander Wall 1994).…”