The Moran effect and environmental vetoes: phenological synchrony and drought drive seed production in a Mediterranean oak.

ABSTRACT: Masting is the highly variable production of synchronized seed crops, and is a common reproductive strategy in plants. Weather has long been recognized as centrally involved in driving seed production in masting plants. However, the theory behind mechanisms connecting weather and seeding variation has only recently been developed, and still lacks empirical evaluation. We used 12-year long seed production data for 255 holm oaks (Quercus ilex), as well as airborne pollen and meteorological data, and tested whether masting is driven by environmental constraints: phenological synchrony and associated pollination efficiency, and drought-related acorn abscission. We found that warm springs resulted in short pollen seasons, and length of the pollen seasons was negatively related to acorn producti

SUBMITTER: Bogdziewicz M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5698649 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature