Evolutionary ecology of masting: mechanisms, models, and climate change

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 39(9), P. 851 - 862

Published: June 10, 2024

Many perennial plants show mast seeding, characterized by synchronous and highly variable reproduction across years. We propose a general model of masting, integrating proximate factors (environmental variation, weather cues, resource budgets) with ultimate drivers (predator satiation pollination efficiency). This shows how the relationships between masting shape diverse responses species to climate warming, ranging from no change lower interannual variation or reproductive failure. The role environmental prediction as driver is being reassessed; future studies need estimate accuracy benefits acquired. Since central plant adaptation change, understanding adapts shifting conditions now question.

Language: Английский

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Growth decline in European beech associated with temperature-driven increase in reproductive allocation

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 122(5)

Published: Jan. 28, 2025

Climate change is impacting forests in complex ways, with indirect effects arising from interactions between tree growth and reproduction often overlooked. Our 43-y study of European beech ( Fagus sylvatica ) showed that rising summer temperatures since 2005 have led to more frequent seed production events. This shift increases reproductive effort but depletes the trees’ stored resources due insufficient recovery periods crops. Consequently, annual ring increments declined by 28%, dropping a stable average 1.60 mm y −1 1980 1.16 thereafter. Importantly, this decline occurred without an accompanying trend drought, indicating altered patterns—not moisture stress—are driving reduction. creates “perfect storm”: Increased drains resources, viable output falls loss mast-seeding benefits via pollination lower predation, ongoing reduces current carbon uptake future potential. These compounding factors threaten sustainability Europe’s most widespread forest tree. findings unveil critical yet underrecognized mechanism which climate endangers ecosystems, emphasizing need consider demographic processes when assessing species vulnerability change.

Language: Английский

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Comparing two ground-based seed count methods and their effect on masting metrics

Forest Ecology and Management, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 581, P. 122551 - 122551

Published: Feb. 13, 2025

Language: Английский

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The Potential of European Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in the Hemiboreal Baltic Region: A Review

Forests, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 16(1), P. 109 - 109

Published: Jan. 9, 2025

As European forests face increasing threats from climate change and disturbances, diversifying tree species can be a crucial strategy to safeguard their ecological functions mitigation potential. beech is valuable with wide distribution across Central Western Europe. While the current natural of does not extend Baltic states, models indicate potential northward range expansion. This suggests possibility introducing as proactive measure enhance future resilience local variability. Beech’s ability adapt changing conditions, coupled its biodiversity provide high-quality timber, makes it an attractive option for forest managers. However, successful establishment growth in region will depend on various factors, including competition native species, soil microclimate. Beech stands southwestern Lithuania Latvia, originating diverse populations, demonstrate good adaptation. Despite fragmentation, they serve sources assisted migration may support regeneration ensure species’ long-term viability region. To fully assess benefits risks introduction, further research needed understand interactions response specific site conditions. By carefully considering these managers develop effective strategies promote beech’s growth, ultimately contributing sustainability change.

Language: Английский

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Structural characteristics and interspecific relationship changes during the succession process of the Fagaceae community in a subtropical forest

Frontiers in Plant Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 16

Published: March 27, 2025

Interspecific relationships can reflect the relevance of species in particular spatial distribution, and degree community adaptation under successional stages. In past, numerous studies on subtropical forest communities primarily focused relationship between a specific dominant tree or single succession stage, lacking an understanding interspecific across different Given this gap, study used method space instead time to structure composition trees with DBH > 1 cm 30-70 Fagaceae community. The results showed that there was no significant difference important values each during 30 40 succession. As advanced, importance neutral shade-tolerant progressively escalated. stand density reached its nadir mid-successional stage (50 years), concurrently achieving peak volume. Throughout succession, diameter at breast height (DBH) distribution sun-tolerant conformed inverted J-shape, while shifted from J-shaped bell-shaped distribution. Positive correlations gradually intensified after 50 years, which point both biodiversity index their lowest levels, subsequently increasing as progressed. At 70-year mark, overwhelming majority (93.3%) pairs demonstrated correlation, indicative more relaxed relationship. These show early development, has not yet been finalized. With advancement competition among changes strong weak. later is relatively loose, phenomenon seedling renewal filling occurs forest, certain dynamic balance maintained various species. deepen interactions spatial-temporal stages regions, provide theoretical basis for managers vegetation ecological restoration regions.

Language: Английский

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Fine‐tuning mast seeding: as resources accumulate, plants become more sensitive to weather cues

New Phytologist, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 28, 2025

Summary Interannual variability of seed production, masting, has far‐reaching ecological impacts, including effects on forest regeneration and the population dynamics consumers. It is important to understand mechanisms driving masting predict how plant populations ecosystem may change into future, for short‐term forecasting production aid management. We used long‐term observations individual flowering effort in snow tussocks ( Chionochloa pallens ) European beech Fagus sylvatica test endogenous resource levels weather variation interact masting. In both species, there was an interaction between cue resources. If reserves were high, even weak temperature cues triggered relatively high reproductive effort, depleted resources suppressed reproduction presence strong cues. Resource played dual roles suppressant prompter reproduction, allowing plants fine‐tune length intervals large seeding years regardless variable frequency. The immediate application mast models increasingly global afforestation efforts. Moreover, role response will dictate responses climate change.

Language: Английский

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Intraspecific variation in masting across climate gradients is inconsistent with the environmental stress hypothesis

Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 106(4)

Published: April 1, 2025

Abstract Year‐to‐year variation in seed crop size (i.e., masting) varies strongly among populations of the same species. Understanding what causes this is vital, as masting affects ability tree species to regenerate and determines population dynamics a wide variety animals. It commonly thought that environmental stress key driver variability. The hypothesis posits more marginal conditions increase strength masting. Using 437 time series from 19 species, we find fails fully explain how across marginality gradients. We expected higher interannual less frequent events at margins but instead found while mast years are indeed frequent, was lower toward margins. observed patterns suggest growing may invest resources low production compared with their conspecifics, hedging bets these challenging environments.

Language: Английский

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Climate-warming alters resource allocation in unpredictable ways

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Tail‐dependence of masting synchrony results in continent‐wide seed scarcity

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 27(7)

Published: July 1, 2024

Spatial synchrony may be tail-dependent, meaning it is stronger for peaks rather than troughs, or vice versa. High interannual variation in seed production perennial plants, called masting, can synchronized at subcontinental scales, triggering extensive resource pulses famines. We used data from 99 populations of European beech (Fagus sylvatica) to examine whether masting differs between mast and years scarcity. Our results revealed that scarcity occurs simultaneously across the majority species range, extending separated by distances up 1800 km. Mast were spatially 1000 km was geographically concentrated northeastern Europe. Extensive lower tail means famines caused are amplified their spatial synchrony, with diverse consequences food web functioning climate change biology.

Language: Английский

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Tail-dependence of masting synchrony results in continent-wide seed scarcity

Published: June 6, 2024

Spatial synchrony may be tail-dependent, meaning it is stronger for peaks rather than troughs, or vice versa. High interannual variation in seed production perennial plants, called masting, can synchronized at subcontinental scales, triggering extensive resource pulses famines. We used data from 99 populations of European beech (\emph{Fagus sylvatica}) to examine whether masting differs between mast and years scarcity. Our results revealed that scarcity occurs simultaneously across the majority species range, extending separated by distances up 1800 km. Mast were spatially 1000 km was geographically concentrated northeastern Europe. Extensive lower tail means famines caused are amplified their spatial synchrony, with diverse consequences food web functioning climate change biology.

Language: Английский

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