<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><xml><records><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Zavala, MIGUEL a</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Espelta, Josep M</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Caspersen, John</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Retana, Javier</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Interspecific differences in sapling performance with respect to light and aridity gradients in Mediterranean pine–oak forests: implications for species coexistence</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Canadian Journal of Forest Research</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">growth (voyant)</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">light</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Pinus halepensis</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Quercus ilex</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">sapling mortality</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Water availability</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2011</style></year></dates><publisher><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">NRC Research Press</style></publisher><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">41</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">1432-1444</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">The relative abundance of two codominant Mediterranean tree species, shade-tolerant Quercus ilex L. and shade-intolerant Pinus halepensis Mill., is inversely correlated along aridity gradients, but this pattern is not explained by seedling responses to water or light availability, suggesting that subsequent life history stages may explain forest composition. To test this hypothesis, we calibrated statistical models of sapling growth and height–diameter allometry as functions of light availability and climatic variation as well as models of sapling mortality as a function of growth history. Contrary to the expectation of a sun–shade growth trade-off, P. halepensis grew faster than Q. ilex saplings at both low and high light levels. Low precipitation and aridity suppressed sapling growth rates, but no evidence of a shade–drought growth trade-off was found either. Pinus halepensis sapling mortality was strongly growth dependent, exhibiting high mortality rates at low growth, but the mortality of Q. ilex saplings was not. Height–diameter allometric variation was higher in low- than in high-light environments and was more pronounced with respect to changes in light than climatic water. Our results suggest that interspecific differences in sapling mortality and plasticity, rather than growth, may control species distributions at the mesic end of the aridity gradient.</style></abstract><notes><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">doi: 10.1139/x11-050</style></notes><research-notes><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">doi: 10.1139/x11-050</style></research-notes></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Espelta, Josep M</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Bonal, Raul</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Sánchez-Humanes, Belén</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Pre-dispersal acorn predation in mixed oak forests: interspecific differences are driven by the interplay among seed phenology, seed size and predator size</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Ecology</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Curculio elephas</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Curculio glandium</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Mediterranean oak forests</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">multi-host–predator system</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Quercus humilis</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Quercus ilex</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">seed ecology</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">seed satiation</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">species coexistence</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2009</style></year></dates><publisher><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Blackwell Publishing Ltd</style></publisher><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">97</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">1416-1423</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">1. Pre-dispersal seed predation (PSP) often occurs in multi-host–predator systems (e.g. several plant species exposed to a common array of granivorous insects). However, whether the interaction among seed phenology, seed size and predator size accounts for interspecific differences in PSP remains elusive. 2. We studied PSP in a mixed-oak forest with two oaks (the larger-seeded Quercus humilis and the smaller-seeded Q. ilex), both depredated by two acorn weevils (the smaller Curculio glandium and the larger C. elephas). We intensively monitored acorn production and infestation phenology and we identified the weevil species depredating acorns by means of DNA taxonomy. 3. The minimum acorn size required for infestation was lower for C. glandium than for C. elephas, in accordance with their different body sizes. This resulted in an earlier infestation phenology in C. glandium and the ability of this species to infest both smaller and larger acorns. Above a minimum acorn size threshold, no selection for larger acorns by weevils was observed. 4. Initial acorn crop size was similar in the two oaks. Nonetheless, the earlier acorn phenology and the production of larger acorns in Q. humilis favoured the earlier infestation by C. glandium and the predation by both small and large weevils. Smaller acorns of Q. ilex almost excluded infestation by the larger C. elephas. 5. Although larger acorns of Q. humilis could better survive infestation (preserve the embryo), higher PSP in this species finally resulted in a lower mature acorn crop size than in Q. ilex. 6. Synthesis. In a multi-host–predator system, smaller-seeded species may benefit from a reduced PSP because they exclude larger granivorous insects, but also by means of a ‘free-rider effect’, if larger-seeded heterospecifics earlier reach a critical size to be depredated. These results also highlight the benefits of a small body size in granivorous insects to depredate seeds earlier and to forage on a wider range of seed sizes. Whether the advantage of ‘being small’ in this antagonistic plant–animal interaction is offset by other processes, or whether it results in a pressure towards seed and insect size reduction, deserves further attention.</style></abstract></record></records></xml>