LTREB RENEWAL: Phenology and masting in California oaks

这个项目调查了导致高度可变和空间同步的种子生产的因素，这种现象被称为母猪。研究人员正在测试这一新想法，即微小的局部气候差异会使树木的繁殖时间同步，进而影响每年可获得的花粉数量。当一个地区的树木同步繁殖时，花粉产量就会很高，就会出现授粉。加州橡子产量的长期数据将与有关个体繁殖时间、小气候、花粉丰度和雌花命运的详细信息相结合，以检验这一假设。一旦确定了繁殖同步性和小气候的作用，研究人员将调查加州橡树上丰胸的生态后果，以及气候变化对这一重要行为的影响。该项目将收集全州范围内关于橡子生产的数据，橡子是一种高度可变的食物资源，对猎物和非猎物野生动物以及依赖野生动物的社区都很重要，包括壁虱和壁虱传播的疾病媒介。它的目标是一种树种，山谷橡树，由于开发、栖息地转换、明显缺乏更新以及对未来气候变化的敏感性，具有相当大的保护价值。公民科学家参与了这一项目，并通过年度通讯广泛宣传该项目的成果。

This project investigates the factors leading to highly variable and spatially synchronized seed production, a phenomenon known as masting. Researchers are testing the novel idea that small, local differences in climate synchronize the timing of reproduction among trees, which in turn influences in the amount of pollen available each year. When trees in an area reproduce in synchrony, pollen production will be high and masting occurs. Long-term data on acorn production across California will be combined with detailed information on the timing of individual reproduction, microclimate, pollen abundance, and the fate of female flowers to test this hypothesis. Once the roles of reproductive synchrony and microclimate have been identified, the researcher will investigate the ecological consequences of masting in California oaks and the effects of climate change on this important behavior. The project will collect statewide data on acorn production, a highly variable food resource important to both game and non-game wildlife, as well as to the communities dependent on wildlife, including ticks and tick-borne disease vectors. It targets a tree species, the valley oak, of considerable conservation interest because of development, habitat conversion, apparent lack of regeneration, and susceptibility to future climate change. Citizen scientists are engaged in the project, and an annual newsletter is used to publicize results the project broadly.