RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article T1 Increase in size and nitrogen concentration enhances seedling survival in Mediterranean plantations. Insights from an ecophysiological conceptual model of plant survival. A1 Villar Salvador, Pedro A1 Puértolas Simón, Jaime A1 Cuesta Poveda, Bárbara A1 Peñuelas Rubira, Juan Luis A1 Uscola Fernández, María Mercedes A1 Heredia Guerrero, Norberto A1 Rey Benayas, José María K1 Carbohydrates K1 Drought stress K1 Fertilization K1 Forest plantation K1 Nitrogen K1 Nutrients K1 Photosynthesis K1 Plant quality K1 Remobilization K1 Root growth K1 Medio Ambiente K1 Environmental science AB RESUMEN INCOMPLETO. Reduction in size and tissue nutrient concentration is widely considered to increase seedling drought resistance in dry and oligotrophic plantation sites. However, much evidence indicates that increase in size and tissue nutrient concentration improves seedling survival in Mediterranean forest plantations. This suggests that the ecophysiological processes and functional attributes relevant for early seedling survival in Mediterranean climate must be reconsidered. We propose a ecophysiological conceptual model for seedling survival in Mediterranean-climate plantations to provide a physiological explanation of the frequent positive relationship between outplanting performance and seedling size and nutrient concentration. The model considers the physiological processes outlined in the plantation establishment model of Burdett (Can J For Res 20:415&#-427, 1990), but incorporates other physiological processes that drive seedling survival, such as N remobilization, carbohydrate storage and plant hydraulics. The model considers that seedling survival in Mediterranean climates is linked to high growth capacity during the wet season. The model is for container plants and is based on three main principles, (1) Mediterranean climates are not dry the entire year but usually have two seasons of contrasting water availability; (2) summer drought is the main cause of seedling mortality; in this context, deep and large roots is a key trait for avoiding lethal water stress; (3) attainment of large root systems in the dry season is promoted when seedlings have high growth during the wet season. High growth is achieved when seedlings can divert large amount of resources to support new root and shoot growth. Functional traits that confer high photosynthesis, nutrient remobilization capacity, and non-structural carbohydrate storage promote high growth. Increases in seedling size and nutrient concentration strongly affect these physiological processes. SN 0169-4286 YR 2012 FD 2012 LK http://hdl.handle.net/10017/38529 UL http://hdl.handle.net/10017/38529 LA eng NO Centro "El Serranillo" (Ministerio de Agricultura, España) DS MINDS@UW RD 29-mar-2024