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

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 39(9), С. 851 - 862

Опубликована: Июнь 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.

Язык: Английский

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Widespread breakdown in masting in European beech due to rising summer temperatures

Global Change Biology, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 30(5)

Опубликована: Май 1, 2024

Abstract Climate change effects on tree reproduction are poorly understood, even though the resilience of populations relies sufficient regeneration to balance increasing rates mortality. Forest‐forming species often mast, i.e. reproduce through synchronised year‐to‐year variation in seed production, which improves pollination and reduces predation. Recent observations European beech show, however, that current climate can dampen interannual synchrony production this masting breakdown drastically viability crops. Importantly, it is unclear under conditions occurs how widespread pan‐European species. Here, we analysed 50 long‐term datasets population‐level sampled across distribution beech, identified summer temperatures as general driver breakdown. Specifically, increases site‐specific mean maximum during June July were observed most range, while variability (CVp) decreased. The declines CVp greatest, where increased rapidly. Additionally, occurrence crop failures low years has decreased last four decades, signalling altered starvation predators. Notably, did not vary among sites according site temperature. Instead, response warming local (i.e. relative temperatures), such risk restricted growing warm average conditions. As lowered reduce viable despite overall increase count, our results warn a covert mechanism underway may hinder potential change, with great alter forest functioning community dynamics.

Язык: Английский

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Summer solstice orchestrates the subcontinental-scale synchrony of mast seeding

Nature Plants, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 10(3), С. 367 - 373

Опубликована: Март 8, 2024

Язык: Английский

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Mechanisms driving interspecific variation in regional synchrony of trees reproduction

Ecology Letters, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 26(5), С. 754 - 764

Опубликована: Март 8, 2023

Seed production in many plants is characterized by large interannual variation, which synchronized at subcontinental scales some species but local others. The reproductive synchrony affects animal migrations, trophic responses to resource pulses and the planning of management conservation. Spatial reproduction typically attributed Moran effect, this alone unable explain interspecific differences synchrony. We show that conservation seed production-weather relationships combine with effect variation Conservative timing weather cues trigger masting allows populations be distances >1000 km. Conversely, if respond variable signals, cannot achieved. Our study shows vary extent their cueing spatiotemporally conserved, important consequences, including an vulnerability climate change.

Язык: Английский

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

Forest Ecology and Management, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 581, С. 122551 - 122551

Опубликована: Фев. 13, 2025

Язык: Английский

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Forecasting seed production in perennial plants: identifying challenges and charting a path forward

New Phytologist, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 239(2), С. 466 - 476

Опубликована: Май 18, 2023

Summary Interannual variability of seed production, known as masting, has far‐reaching ecological impacts including effects on forest regeneration and the population dynamics consumers. Because relative timing management conservation efforts in ecosystems dominated by masting species often determines their success, there is a need to study mechanisms develop forecasting tools for production. Here, we aim establish production new branch discipline. We evaluate predictive capabilities three models – foreMast, Δ T , sequential model designed predict trees using pan‐European dataset Fagus sylvatica The are moderately successful recreating dynamics. availability high‐quality data prior improved model's power, suggesting that effective monitoring methods crucial creating tools. In terms extreme events, better at predicting crop failures than bumper crops, likely because factors preventing understood processes leading large reproductive events. summarize current challenges provide roadmap help advance discipline encourage further development mast forecasting.

Язык: Английский

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Positive spatial and temporal density‐dependence drive early reproductive economy‐of‐scale effects of masting in a European old‐growth forest community

Journal of Ecology, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 112(8), С. 1872 - 1884

Опубликована: Июль 8, 2024

Abstract Masting, the spatial synchronization of interannual variation in seed production, can enhance reproductive efficiency through positive density‐dependent processes (DD) that result economies scale (EOS), such as decreased pollen limitation and predator satiation years high reproduction. While general occurrence EOS effects has been documented for masting species, few studies simultaneously investigated how temporal reproduction affects pollination predation. Furthermore, it is unclear whether same mechanisms apply to co‐occurring species with different levels conspecific density, limitation, defences. Here, we use a long‐term dataset resolution production European beech ( Fagus sylvatica ), Norway spruce Picea abies silver fir Abies alba ) primeval montane forest investigate relationship between effort, predispersal predation by insects. We found that, along axis, proportion sound (fertilized unpredated) seeds correlated positively annual over 14‐year study period all three most strongly only weakly fir. Moreover, results show beech, density interacts plot‐wide rain DD on predation, suggesting additive synchronous fitness benefits. Synthesis : For both spruce, strongest occur at low quickly reach asymptotes higher levels, presence thresholds mechanisms. As variability synchrony mast‐seeding are expected decline climate change, driven may remain stable until threshold reached, which sudden declines would devastating availability viable germination recruitment.

Язык: Английский

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Relatives reproduce in synchrony: kinship and individual condition shape intraspecific variation in masting phenotype

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 291(2017)

Опубликована: Фев. 28, 2024

Masting (synchronous and interannually variable seed production) is frequently called a reproductive strategy; yet it unclear whether the behaviour of individuals has heritable component. To address this, we used 22 years annual fruit production data from 110 Sorbus aucuparia L. trees to examine contributions genetic factors phenotype individuals, while controlling for environmental variation. Trees sharing close relationships experiencing similar habitat conditions exhibited levels synchrony. comparable sizes displayed year-to-year variation in fruiting, with relatedness contributing this External factors, such as shading, influenced time intervals between abundant production. The effects on synchrony reproduction among interannual provide long-awaited evidence that masting heritable, can respond natural selection.

Язык: Английский

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Re-Evaluating the Dietary Significance of Gambel Oak Acorns (Quercus gambelii) in the Great Basin, Colorado Plateau, and Southwest: Evidence From Experimental Foraging and Direct Bomb Calorimetry

Journal of Ethnobiology, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Янв. 8, 2025

Ethnographic evidence documents the exploitation of Gambel oak ( Quercus gambelii) acorns as a food resource in Great Basin, Southwest, and Colorado Plateau. However, paucity identified macro- micro-botanical acorn remains archaeological record has resulted critical underestimation significance for Indigenous groups these regions. This paper reports data from 18 hours experimental foraging direct bomb calorimetry to evaluate whether would have been profitable Holocene foragers incipient maize agriculturalists. Results show that return substantial amount calories at 5,711.12 kcal per hour were likely significant early- middle hunter-gatherers an important fallback late-Holocene agriculturalists region.

Язык: Английский

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Metabarcoding reveals seasonal shifts in the Allegheny woodrat's generalist diet

Journal of Wildlife Management, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Апрель 17, 2025

Abstract The Allegheny woodrat ( Neotoma magister ) population has been declining for over a century, with reduced food availability being leading hypothesis. woodrats consume nuts, fungi, and vegetation, but no study used molecular tool, such as metabarcoding, to describe diet more accurately. Furthermore, few studies address seasonal changes in woodrats. To this gap, we performed year‐long DNA metabarcoding from 2022 2023 by collecting fresh fecal n = 180) latrine 240) samples 2 populations located Pennsylvania New Jersey, USA. We chloroplast trnL internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) markers identify plants fungi the diet. amplified sequenced samples, then identified them species using OBItools software databases. 123 families, 173 genera, 156 of ITS dataset containing 19,208,635 reads. summer season had higher diversity richness than winter hard mast items were not detected year‐round. Fungi invasive plant consumed frequently anticipated each season. Fresh dietary including rare items. Findings will inform conservation plans natural habitat enhancement actions, what provide cultivated plots diets captive‐bred individuals.

Язык: Английский

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