Publication: Is there tree senescence? The fecundity evidence
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Publication Date
2021-08-16
Authors
Qiu, Tong
Aravena, Marie-Claire
Andrus, Robert
Ascoli, Davide
Bergeron, Yves
Berretti, Roberta
Bogdziewicz, Michal
Boivin, Thomas
Caignard, Thomas
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Publisher
National Academy of Sciences
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Abstract
Despite its importance for forest regeneration, food webs, and human economies, changes in tree fecundity with tree size and age remain largely unknown. The allometric increase with tree diameter assumed in ecological models would substantially overestimate seed contributions from large trees if fecundity eventually declines with size. Current estimates are dominated by overrepresentation of small trees in regression models. We combined global fecundity data, including a substantial representation of large trees. We compared size–fecundity relationships against traditional allometric scaling with diameter and two models based on crown architecture. All allometric models fail to describe the declining rate of increase in fecundity with diameter found for 80% of 597 species in our analysis. The strong evidence of declining fecundity, beyond what can be explained by crown architectural change, is consistent with physiological decline. A downward revision of projected fecundity of large trees can improve the next generation of forest dynamic models.
Description
UCM subjects
Botánica (Biología), Ecología (Biología)
Unesco subjects
2417.03 Botánica General, 2401.06 Ecología animal