Shifting flowering phenology with climate change: a key issue for the future of oak forest ecosystems ?

Abstract

The reproduction of many tree species is characterized by masting, i.e. very large fluctuations in seed production from one year to the next, synchronized between individuals within populations. Although masting plays a key role in the dynamics of forest ecosystems, its future in the context of climate change remains largely unknown. Based on a large network survey of pollen and fruiting dynamics of oak populations in mainland France, combined with modeling work, we provide evidence that (i) pollen phenology partly controls pollen limitation and then masting in oak and (ii) pollen phenology and pollen limitation have evolved differently over the last 30 years depending on the regions considered. Our work highlights the urgent need to account for floral phenology in setting up accurate scenarios on oak masting and the associated ecosystem dynamics.

Emilie Fleurot

Post-Doc in Ecology

My research interests include population dynamic, forest ecology, masting and climate change