Is forest fecundity resistant to drought? Results from an 18-yr rainfall-reduction experiment
Bogdziewicz, Michał (Centre de Recerca Ecològica i d'Aplicacions Forestals)
Fernández-Martínez, Marcos (Universiteit Antwerpen. Departement Biologie)
Espelta Morral, Josep Maria (Centre de Recerca Ecològica i d'Aplicacions Forestals)
Ogaya Inurrigarro, Romà (Centre de Recerca Ecològica i d'Aplicacions Forestals)
Peñuelas, Josep (Centre de Recerca Ecològica i d'Aplicacions Forestals)

Date:	2020
Abstract:	Recruitment is a primary determinant of the long-term dynamics of plant populations in changing environments. However, little information is known about the effects of anthropogenic environmental changes on reproductive ecology of trees. We evaluated the impact of experimentally induced 18 yr of drought on reproduction of three contrasting forest trees: Quercus ilex , Phillyrea latifolia and Arbutus unedo. Rainfall reduction did not decrease tree fecundity. Drought, however, affected the allocation of resources in Q. ilex and A. unedo but not the more drought tolerant P. latifolia. Larger crop production by Q. ilex and A. unedo was associated with a stronger decrease in growth in the rainfall-reduction plots compared with the control plots, suggesting that these species were able to maintain their fecundity by shifting their allocation of resources away from growth.
Grants:	European Commission 610028 Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad CGL2016-79835-P Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca 2014/SGR-274
Rights:	Tots els drets reservats.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió acceptada per publicar
Subject:	Drought ; Fruit production ; Global change ; Mast seeding ; Rainfall reduction ; Reproduction ; Tree fecundity
Published in:	The new phytologist, Vol. 227, Issue 4 (August 2020) , p. 1073-1080, ISSN 1469-8137

DOI: 10.1111/nph.16597
PMID: 32329082

Postprint 22 p, 524.9 KB

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