The relationships that control seed production in trees are key to understand evolutionary pressures that have shaped forests. A global synthesis of fecundity data reveals that while seed production is not constrained by a strict size-number trade-off, it is influenced by taxonomy and nutrient allocation.The relationships that control seed production in trees are fundamental to understanding the evolution of forest species and their capacity to recover from increasing losses to drought, fire, and harvest. A synthesis of fecundity data from 714 species worldwide allowed us to examine hypotheses that are central to quantifying reproduction, a foundation for assessing fitness in forest trees. Four major findings emerged. First, seed production is not constrained by a strict trade-off between seed size and numbers. Instead, seed numbers vary over ten orders of magnitude, with species that invest in large seeds producing more seeds than expected from the 1:1 trade-off. Second, gymnosperms have lower seed production than angiosperms, potentially due to their extra investments in protective woody cones. Third, nutrient-demanding species, indicated by high foliar phosphorus concentrations, have low seed production. Finally, sensitivity of individual species to soil fertility varies widely, limiting the response of community seed production to fertility gradients. In combination, these findings can inform models of forest response that need to incorporate reproductive potential.

Limits to reproduction and seed size-number trade-offs that shape forest dominance and future recovery

Ascoli, Davide;Berretti, Roberta;Motta, Renzo;Vacchiano, Giorgio;
2022-01-01

Abstract

The relationships that control seed production in trees are key to understand evolutionary pressures that have shaped forests. A global synthesis of fecundity data reveals that while seed production is not constrained by a strict size-number trade-off, it is influenced by taxonomy and nutrient allocation.The relationships that control seed production in trees are fundamental to understanding the evolution of forest species and their capacity to recover from increasing losses to drought, fire, and harvest. A synthesis of fecundity data from 714 species worldwide allowed us to examine hypotheses that are central to quantifying reproduction, a foundation for assessing fitness in forest trees. Four major findings emerged. First, seed production is not constrained by a strict trade-off between seed size and numbers. Instead, seed numbers vary over ten orders of magnitude, with species that invest in large seeds producing more seeds than expected from the 1:1 trade-off. Second, gymnosperms have lower seed production than angiosperms, potentially due to their extra investments in protective woody cones. Third, nutrient-demanding species, indicated by high foliar phosphorus concentrations, have low seed production. Finally, sensitivity of individual species to soil fertility varies widely, limiting the response of community seed production to fertility gradients. In combination, these findings can inform models of forest response that need to incorporate reproductive potential.
2022
Inglese
Esperti anonimi
13
1-2381
1
9
9
FRANCIA
REGNO UNITO DI GRAN BRETAGNA
SPAGNA
STATI UNITI D'AMERICA
CANADA
POLONIA
1 – prodotto con file in versione Open Access (allegherò il file al passo 6 - Carica)
262
103
Qiu, Tong; Andrus, Robert; Aravena, Marie-Claire; Ascoli, Davide; Bergeron, Yves; Berretti, Roberta; Berveiller, Daniel; Bogdziewicz, Michal; Boivin, ...espandi
info:eu-repo/semantics/article
open
03-CONTRIBUTO IN RIVISTA::03A-Articolo su Rivista
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
s41467-022-30037-9.pdf

Accesso aperto

Tipo di file: PDF EDITORIALE
Dimensione 5.05 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
5.05 MB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2318/1887522
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 4
  • Scopus 24
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 25
social impact