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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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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Mast hindcasts reveal pervasive effects of extreme drought on a foundational conifer species

New Phytologist, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Фев. 20, 2025

Summary Predicting seed production is challenging because many plants produce highly variable crops among years (i.e. masting), but doing so can inform forest management, conservation, and our understanding of ecosystem trajectories in a changing climate. We evaluated the ability an existing model to forecast masting ecologically culturally important tree species southwestern United States, Pinus edulis . Annual cone was predicted using cross‐validation techniques on two unique out‐of‐sample datasets, representing different collection methods spatial scales (cone scars counts). then hindcasted this into historical past evaluate whether has declined with onset extreme drought conditions western North America. The had fair skill, root‐mean‐squared error 6%. better skill predicting interannual variability within site than sites years). Hindcast analyses indicated recent (2000–2024) mean annual 30.6% lower century (1900–1999). Mast forecasts are reach, much room remains for improvement. Forecasts may be powerful tool anticipate effects climate change forests woodlands.

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

New Phytologist, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Март 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.

Язык: Английский

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How to measure mast seeding?

New Phytologist, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 239(3), С. 830 - 838

Опубликована: Май 23, 2023

Summary The periodic production of large seed crops, or masting, is a widespread phenomenon in perennial plants. This behavior can enhance the reproductive efficiency plants, leading to increased fitness, and produce ripple effects on food webs. While variability from year defining characteristic methods used quantify this are highly debated. commonly coefficient variation lacks ability account for serial dependence mast data be influenced by zeros, making it less suitable choice various applications based individual‐level observations, such as phenotypic selection, heritability, climate change studies, which rely individual‐plant‐level datasets that often contain numerous zeros. To address these limitations, we present three case studies introduce volatility periodicity, variance frequency domain emphasizing significance long intervals masting. By utilizing examples Sorbus aucuparia , Pinus pinea Quercus robur pubescens Fagus sylvatica demonstrate how captures at both high low frequencies, even presence improved ecological interpretations results. growing availability long‐term, individual‐plant promises significant advancements field, but requires appropriate tools analysis, new metrics provide.

Язык: Английский

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Acorn production, climate, and tree-ring growth of five oak species in southern Appalachian forests

Forest Ecology and Management, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 546, С. 121310 - 121310

Опубликована: Авг. 9, 2023

Oak (Quercus) are a dominant and important tree genus in the Central Hardwood Region (USA) due to their commercial timber value, food value of protein-rich seed – acorns wildlife. Acorn production is characteristic masting, with highly variable crop sizes that synchronized within populations, but consideration variation among individual trees. Critical acorn masting studies longitudinal datasets, which often difficult maintain host constraints. One possible approach extending mast datasets involves use dendrochronology, where tree-ring-width variability serves as proxy for annual production. In this study, we addressed future utility reconstructions by examining relationships between production, climate, tree-ring data from five common oak species southern Appalachian hardwood forests (Bent Creek Experimental Forest). We found little evidence suggest influences seasonally resolved data, even when considered early latewood growth separately, or analyzed trees substantially higher overall investment (i.e., super producers). Monthly climate (temperature, precipitation) correlated was strongest lagged, could indicate weather conditions were more phases flower fertilization than maturation. However, relatively weak, indicating limited potential forecasting crops, reconstruction methods combine observed responses masting. Overall, our findings provide some support role resource dynamics regulating oaks, radial not sufficiently strong, at least location, permit based these species.

Язык: Английский

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

Ecology Letters, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 27(7)

Опубликована: Июль 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.

Язык: Английский

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