MASTING MEDIATED BY SUMMER DROUGHT REDUCES ACORN PREDATION IN MEDITERRANEAN OAK FORESTS

摘要: Temporally variable production of seed crops by perennial plants (masting) has been hypothesized to be a valuable mechanism in the reduction predation satiating and starving consumers. To achieve these benefits, coexisting species subjected same predator would benefit from similar pattern seeding fluctuation over time that could lead at within-species level. We tested for existence an environmental factor enforcing synchrony acorn two sympatric Mediterranean oaks (Quercus ilex Q. humilis) consequences on between-species predation, monitoring 15 mixed forests (450 trees) seven years. Acorn humilis was highly among years, with high population variability (CVp) values. The exhibited very different across years their initial crop size (sum aborted, depredated, sound acorns). Nevertheless, interannual differences summer water stress modified likelihood abortion during ripening enforced within- and, particularly, production. increase CVp mature (after summer) accounted 33% ilex, 59% humilis, 60% together. Mean yearly pre-dispersal invertebrates considerably higher than ilex. Satiation starvation predators recorded oaks, this effect increased year-to-year combined. Moreover, longer scale (over years), we observed significant mean proportion acorns depredated each oak both species' Therefore, our results demonstrate patterns mediated cue (summer drought) may contribute impact Future research should aimed addressing whether process assisting coexistence humilis.