LTREB RENEWAL: Phenology and masting in California oaks

该项目研究了导致种子生产高度可变和空间同步的因素，这种现象被称为密集。研究人员正在测试一种新颖的想法，即气候的微小局部差异会同步树木之间的繁殖时间，从而影响每年可用的花粉量。当一个地区的树木同步繁殖时，花粉产量会很高，并且会发生密集。加州橡子产量的长期数据将与个体繁殖时间、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。一旦确定了生殖同步和小气候的作用，研究人员将调查加州橡树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橡子产量的数据，橡子是一种高度可变的食物资源，对狩猎和非狩猎野生动物都很重要，对依赖野生动物的社区也很重要，包括蜱虫和蜱传疾病载体。它的目标是一个树种，山谷橡树，由于开发，栖息地转换，明显缺乏再生，以及对未来气候变化的敏感性，具有相当大的保护意义。公民科学家参与到项目中来，并通过年度通讯广泛宣传项目成果。

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.