Authors: Zavala, Miguel A.¹; Espelta, Josep M.²; Caspersen, John³; Retana, Javier²

Source: Canadian Journal of Forest Research, Volume 41, Number 7, July 2011 , pp. 1432-1444(13)

Publisher: NRC Research Press

Abstract:

The relative abundance of two codominant Mediterranean tree species, shade-tolerant Quercus ilex L. and shade-intolerant Pinus halepensis Mill., is inversely correlated along aridity gradients, but this pattern is not explained by seedling responses to water or light availability, suggesting that subsequent life history stages may explain forest composition. To test this hypothesis, we calibrated statistical models of sapling growth and height-diameter allometry as functions of light availability and climatic variation as well as models of sapling mortality as a function of growth history. Contrary to the expectation of a sun-shade growth trade-off, P. halepensis grew faster than Q. ilex saplings at both low and high light levels. Low precipitation and aridity suppressed sapling growth rates, but no evidence of a shade-drought growth trade-off was found either. Pinus halepensis sapling mortality was strongly growth dependent, exhibiting high mortality rates at low growth, but the mortality of Q. ilex saplings was not. Height-diameter allometric variation was higher in low- than in high-light environments and was more pronounced with respect to changes in light than climatic water. Our results suggest that interspecific differences in sapling mortality and plasticity, rather than growth, may control species distributions at the mesic end of the aridity gradient.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/x11-050

Affiliations: 1: CIFOR-INIA, Crta. De la Coruña, km 7, 5 28040 Madrid, Spain. 2: CREAF, Edificio C, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain. 3: Faculty of Forestry, University of Toronto, 33 Willcocks Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3B3, Canada.

Publication date: 2011-07-05

More about this publication?

• Published since 1971, this monthly journal features articles, reviews, notes and commentaries on all aspects of forest science, including biometrics and mensuration, conservation, disturbance, ecology, economics, entomology, fire, genetics, management, operations, pathology, physiology, policy, remote sensing, social science, soil, silviculture, wildlife and wood science, contributed by internationally respected scientists. It also publishes special issues dedicated to a topic of current interest.
• Information for Authors
• Submit a Paper
• Subscribe to this Title
• Terms & Conditions
• Sample Issue
• Reprints & Permissions
• ingentaconnect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites

Related content

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Agriculture (General) ,  Forestry
• By this author: Zavala, Miguel A. ;  Espelta, Josep M. ;  Caspersen, John ;  Retana, Javier

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers