Descripción
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may affect the early establishment of seedlings through different physiological processes. Here, we examined the effects of seed size and light availability on seedling growth and survival, and whether such effects were mediated by water use efficiency. Acorns of Quercus petraea and the more drought-tolerant Quercus pyrenaica were sowed within and around a tree canopy gap in a sub- Mediterranean forest stand. We monitored seedling emergence and measured predawn leaf water potential (Wpd), leaf nitrogen per unit area (Na), leaf mass per area, leaf carbon isotope composition (d13C) and plant growth at the end of the first summer. Survival was measured on the next year. Path analysis revealed a consistent pattern in both species of higher d13C as Wpd decreased and higher d13C as seedlings emerged later in the season, indicating an increase in 13C as the growing season is shorter and drier. There was a direct positive effect of seed size on d13C in Q. petraea that was absent in Q. pyrenaica. Leaf d13C had no effect on growth but the probability of surviving until the second year was higher for those seedlings of Q. pyrenaica that had lower d13C on the first year. In conclusion, leaf d13C is affected by seed size, seedling emergence time and the availability of light and water, however, leaf d13C is irrelevant for first year growth, which is directly dependent on the amount of seed reserves. | |
Internacional
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Si |
JCR del ISI
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Si |
Título de la revista
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Trees-Structure And Function |
ISSN
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0931-1890 |
Factor de impacto JCR
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1,444 |
Información de impacto
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Volumen
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25 |
DOI
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Número de revista
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Desde la página
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873 |
Hasta la página
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884 |
Mes
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SIN MES |
Ranking
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13/59 Forestry |