Understanding the response of variability in tree reproduction (masting) to climatic and environmental change

了解树木繁殖（桅杆）变异对气候和环境变化的反应

• 批准号: 2441844
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of Liverpool
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Studentship
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2020 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2441844
• 关键词: Understanding; response; variability; tree; reproduction

Background: Many tree species show a reproductive strategy known as masting, which is characterised by switching between years of bumper investment in reproduction ("mast years"), and years of low investment. Remarkably, this variation is synchronised within and across tree populations. Various mechanisms may explain how trees are able to a) vary their seed production year-to-year, and b) synchronise this variation between individuals. Most of these mechanisms rely either directly or indirectly on climate as the key regulator of masting, implying that masting may respond to changes in climate. However the response of masting to climate change remains highly uncertain. This is important because forest regeneration it strongly regulated by seed production, dispersal and predation, influencing species composition, recovery from disturbance and migration in response to climate change. These processes are all influenced by masting. For example, we have recently shown that when warming-driven increase in seed production is associated with a "breakdown" in masting, the benefits of increased investment in reproduction accrue largely in seed predators, rather than the plants. This example demonstrates how changes to masting patterns are of fundamental importance to the functioning and dynamics of forest ecosystems, including in a changing environment.Objectives: This project will establish the response of masting to recent changes in climate, and predict future changes in masting resulting from ongoing environmental change. A key objective will be establish whether the different physiological mechanisms that underpin masting in different species result in contrasting responses to environmental change.

背景：许多树种都表现出一种称为肥大的繁殖策略，其特点是在繁殖投资丰富的年份（“肥大年份”）和投资低的年份之间切换。值得注意的是，这种变化在树群内部和树群之间是同步的。各种机制可以解释树木如何能够a）每年改变其种子产量，以及b）同步个体之间的这种变化。大多数这些机制直接或间接依赖于气候作为桅杆的关键调节因素，这意味着桅杆可能对气候变化做出反应。然而，桅杆对气候变化的反应仍然高度不确定。这一点很重要，因为森林再生受到种子生产、传播和捕食的强烈调节，影响物种组成、干扰恢复和应对气候变化的迁移。这些过程都受到桅杆的影响。例如，我们最近表明，当变暖导致的种子产量增加与肥大的“崩溃”相关时，增加繁殖投资的好处主要来自于种子捕食者，而不是植物。这个例子展示了桅杆模式的变化对于森林生态系统的功能和动态至关重要，包括在不断变化的环境中。 目标：该项目将建立桅杆对近期气候变化的响应，并预测持续环境变化导致的桅杆未来变化。一个关键目标是确定不同物种的肥大作用的不同生理机制是否会导致对环境变化的不同反应。