Trade-off between stem growth and acorn production in holm oak
Reproduction in trees often requires significant resources, and previous studies have 28 documented trade-offs between reproduction and growth in numerous tree species. In the 29 present study, we assessed the relationships of acorn production with annual and intra-annual 30 stem growth of Quercus i...
| Autores: | , , , , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2015 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Universidad de Huelva (UHU) |
| Repositorio: | Arias Montano. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Huelva |
| Idioma: | inglés |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:ariasmontano.uhu.es:10272/11240 |
| Acceso en línea: | http://hdl.handle.net/10272/11240 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Holm oak Masting Reproduction Resource allocation |
| Sumario: | Reproduction in trees often requires significant resources, and previous studies have 28 documented trade-offs between reproduction and growth in numerous tree species. In the 29 present study, we assessed the relationships of acorn production with annual and intra-annual 30 stem growth of Quercus ilex L. (holm oak) at the level of the individual tree over six years 31 (2006-2011) at two study sites in southwestern Spain. There were negative correlations between 32 acorn production and annual and late summer-autumn stem growth during masting years. In 33 other words, the growth rates were lower in trees that had greater acorn production. These 34 results suggest the existence of trade-offs between growth and reproduction in Q. ilex. However, 35 there was no relationship between acorn production and winter-spring growth. Moreover, the 36 costs of reproduction varied between the two study sites. There were negative correlations 37 between acorn production and late summer-autumn growth in both study sites, but there were 38 only negative correlations between acorn production and annual growth in one study site. Trade-39 offs appear to be greater in smaller trees living under more stressful conditions. These results 40 show the importance of making intra-annual measurements of tree growth for appropriate 41 interpretation of potential trade-offs. |
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