Responses of oak seedlings to increased herbivory and drought: a possible trade-off?

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Anthropogenic disturbances are causing a co-occurring increase in biotic (ungulate herbivory) and abiotic (drought) stressors, threatening plant reproduction in oak-dominated ecosystems. However, could herbivory compensate for the adverse impact of drought by reducing evapotranspiration? Thus, we investigated the isolated and joint effects of herbivory and drought on oak seedlings of two contrasting Mediterranean species that differ in leaf habit and drought resistance.

Methods

California oak seedlings from the evergreen, and more drought-resistant, Quercus agrifolia and the deciduous Q. lobata (n = 387) were assigned to a fully crossed factorial design with herbivory and drought as stress factors. Seedlings were assigned in a glasshouse to three to four

SUBMITTER: Pelaez M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11805927 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature