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Flower phenology as a disruptor of the fruiting dynamics in temperate oak species
Author(s) -
Schermer Éliane,
BelVenner MarieClaude,
Gaillard JeanMichel,
Dray Stéphane,
Boulanger Vincent,
Le Roncé Iris,
Oliver Gilles,
Chuine Isabelle,
Delzon Sylvain,
Venner Samuel
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/nph.16224
Subject(s) - phenology , temperate climate , biology , pollen , mediterranean climate , ecology , temperate forest , pollination , population , reproductive success , demography , sociology
Summary Many perennial plants display masting, that is, fruiting with strong interannual variations, irregular and synchronized between trees within the population. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the early flower phenology in temperate oak species promotes stochasticity into their fruiting dynamics, which could play a major role in tree reproductive success. From a large field monitoring network, we compared the pollen phenology between temperate and Mediterranean oak species. Then, focusing on temperate oak species, we explored the influence of the weather around the time of budburst and flowering on seed production, and simulated with a mechanistic model the consequences that an evolutionary shifting of flower phenology would have on fruiting dynamics. Temperate oak species release pollen earlier in the season than do Mediterranean oak species. Such early flowering in temperate oak species results in pollen often being released during unfavorable weather conditions and frequently results in reproductive failure. If pollen release were delayed as a result of natural selection, fruiting dynamics would exhibit much reduced stochastic variation. We propose that early flower phenology might be adaptive by making mast‐seeding years rare and unpredictable, which would greatly help in controlling the dynamics of seed consumers.