RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article
T1 Simulated predation of Quercus variabilis acorns impairs nutrient remobilization and seedling performance irrespective of soil fertility
A1 Shi , Wenhui
A1 Villar Salvador, Pedro
A1 Jacobs , Douglass F.
A1 Li , Guolei
K1 Acorn removal
K1 Acorn reserves
K1 Growth
K1 Soil nutrients
K1 Survival
K1 Root structure
K1 Medio Ambiente
K1 Environmental science
AB Background and aims Predators may partially orcompletely consume Quercus spp. acorns, but effectson nutrient remobilization and seedling performance arepoorly understood. We investigated interactions betweensoil fertility and the removal of Quercus variabilisacorn cotyledons at different early developmental stageson seedling nutrition and development.Methods Seedlings were grown in two soils of contrastingfertility and the kinetics of acorn nitrogen, phosphorusand potassium remobilization, and seedling survival,growth and nutrient content were analyzed.Results Acorn mass and macronutrients decreased remarkably<2 weeks after emergence, with nitrogen andphosphorus remobilizing faster than potassium. Acornremoval at or 1 week after emergence inhibited seedlingsurvival, growth and fine root formation, whereas removalfrom 2 to 10 weeks after emergence had minor effects.  Acorn macronutrient remobilization and effects of acorn removal on seedling performance were not reversed under high soil fertility. When acorns were removed &#8805; 2 weeks after emergence, fertilization increased root surface and  seedling nitrogen content. Conclusions. Acorn nutrients are more important than soil nutrients during very early seedling  development. Cotyledon damage at emergence impairs seedling performance despite no direct  damage to the remainder of the seedling. This effect cannot be reverted by high soil fertility and  has potential ecological and practical implications for oak regeneration.
SN 0032-079X
YR 2018
FD 2018
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10017/37449
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10017/37449
LA eng
NO National Natural Science Foundation of China
DS MINDS@UW
RD 19-abr-2024