Explanatory ecological factors for the persistence of desiccation-sensitive seeds in transient soil seed banks:<i>Quercus ilex</i>as a case study

Joët, Thierry; Ourcival, Jean‐Marc; Capelli, Mathilde; Dussert, Stéphane; Morin, Xavier

doi:10.1093/aob/mcv139

Cited by 30 publications

(25 citation statements)

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“…Hill, Edwards & Franks ; Joët et al . ). Here, we included both woody and herbaceous species in our calculations and, in an analogous habitat (tropical and sub‐tropical moist broadleaf forest), found that the proportion of all seed plants with desiccation‐sensitive seeds was just 18·5%.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…For Q. ilex (Fagaceae), a dominant canopy tree in temperate European forests, a clear relationship has been found between winter cumulative rainfall and seed water content (Joët et al . ). The authors then demonstrated that a winter with exceptional periods of drought led to high seed mortality within the species’ range in France, providing clear evidence that increases in droughts are likely to have a significant impact on the regeneration of this species which, like other members of its genus, produces desiccation‐sensitive seeds.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Owing to the ‘extreme sensitivity’ (Joët et al . ) that desiccation‐sensitive seeds possess towards environmental stress, and the high representation among desiccation‐sensitive species of mature‐phase forest trees with comparatively slow life histories, it is likely that these species may be among those most sensitive to changing climate, particularly to reductions in precipitation. Climate change forecasts suggest that areas including south‐western Europe, southern United Kingdom, northern New Zealand and tropical regions of central and south America are likely to experience significant reductions in precipitation (IPCC ): all areas where desiccation‐sensitive species are often dominant components of the forest canopy.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Predicting the global incidence of seed desiccation sensitivity

2017

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Summary The ability of seeds to tolerate desiccation plays an important role in plant regeneration ecology. Globally, the majority of species produce desiccation‐tolerant (orthodox) seeds, while comparatively few produce desiccation‐sensitive (recalcitrant) seeds that are unable to survive dehydration. The trait has important implications for species conservation, as desiccation‐sensitive species cannot be conserved using traditional seed banking techniques. In addition, these species may be less resilient to the increases in droughts predicted for some regions under climate change scenarios. The best available resource on seed desiccation tolerance is the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew's Seed Information Database. This database contains seed desiccation‐sensitivity data for over 18 000 taxa, approximately 3% of which have desiccation‐sensitive seeds. However, this database is likely biased towards desiccation‐tolerant species. Previous attempts to estimate the proportion of seed plants with desiccation‐sensitive seeds have ranged from 7% to 50%. Here, we aimed to overcome sampling bias to derive a best estimate for the proportion of seed plants with desiccation‐sensitive seeds, based on current data. We used a recently developed method, based on taxonomic relatedness, to account for sampling bias and estimate the proportion of seed plants with desiccation‐sensitive seeds. As a comparison, given that seed desiccation sensitivity is strongly related to habitat, we repeated our analyses using habitat as a basis. The predictions from our taxonomy‐based models ranged between estimates of 7·5% and 19·6% of the world's seed‐plant species with desiccation‐sensitive seeds, depending on model type, while the habitat‐based models suggested a value of approximately 8%. Our evidence suggests that, based on current data, the best estimate of the proportion of species with desiccation‐sensitive seeds is likely to be approximately 8%. Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests had the highest incidence of seed desiccation sensitivity, where an estimated 18·5% of the seed‐plant flora possessed the trait. Synthesis. Alongside our estimation of the numbers of species with desiccation‐sensitive seeds, we provide data on taxa and habitats where this trait may be most prevalent. These findings can be used to support conservation planning, particularly with respect to providing decision support for in and ex situ conservation techniques.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Predicting the global incidence of seed desiccation sensitivity

2017

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“…Edaphic drought due to precipitation reduction is known to prevent or limit the success of Q. ilex seedling recruitment at two important stages. First, acorns being desiccation-sensitive seeds, they may lose their ability to germinate if they dehydrate during winter dry spells [33]. Second, summer drought episodes that are characteristic of the Mediterranean climate, impose severe plant water stress that can be readily lethal to young seedlings [12].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microhabitat and ectomycorrhizal effects on the establishment, growth and survival ofQuercus ilexL. seedlings under drought

Jalon

Limousin

Richard

et al. 2020

Preprint

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18 The success of tree recruitment in Mediterranean Quercus ilex forests is threatened by the 19 increasing intensity, duration and frequency of drought periods. Seedling germination and 20 growth are modulated by complex interactions between abiotic (microhabitat conditions) and 21 biotic factors (mycorrhiza association) that may mitigate the impacts of climate change on tree 22 recruitment. To better understand and anticipate these effects, we conducted a germination 23 experiment in a long-term precipitation reduction (PR) field experiment where we monitored 24 seedling establishment and survival, micro-environmental conditions and ectomycorrhizal 25 (ECM) colonization by different mycelia exploration types during the first year of seedling 2 26 growth. We hypothesized that (i) the PR treatment decreases seedling survival relative to the 27 control with ambient conditions, (ii) the underlying mechanisms for seedling survival are better 28 understood with detailed information of microhabitat water and light availability irrespective 29 of the PR treatment, (iii) the PR treatment will favour the development of ECM exploration 30 types with drought-resistance traits such as differentiated rhizomorphs. Contrary to our first 31 hypothesis, seedling survival was lower in control plots with overall higher soil moisture.32 Micro-site light and soil moisture conditions were better predictors of seedling survival and 33 growth than the plot-level PR treatment, confirming our second hypothesis. Furthermore, in 34 line with our third hypothesis, we found that ECM with longer extramatrical mycelia were more 35 abundant in the PR treatment plots and were positively correlated to survival, which suggests a 36 potential role of this ECM exploration type in seedling survival and recruitment. Although 37 summer drought was the main cause of seedling mortality, our study indicates that drier 38 conditions in spring can increase seedling survival, presumably through a synergistic effect of 39 drought adapted ECM species and less favourable conditions for root pathogens. 40 41 Introduction 42The success of seedling establishment is one of the most critical processes determining 43 forest regeneration dynamics and long-term persistence of tree species. In Mediterranean 44 forests, where summer drought is already a major cause of mortality of woody species during 45 early life stages [1,2], the success of tree establishment is expected to deteriorate as a 46 consequence of the ongoing climate change. Climate models for the Mediterranean region 47 predict longer and more severe drought episodes in the near future [3] and the first signs of 48 climate change impacts on forests are already documented as tree dieback and crown defoliation 49 [4,5]. As Mediterranean forests are, for the most part, naturally regenerated, a better 3 50 understanding and quantification of drought effects on tree recruitment processes is needed to 51 better mitigate the impacts of climate change on forest ecosystems. 52 The success of tree recruitment under ...

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“…DS seeds can maintain their high water content due to their commonly large size which results in a large water reservoir, the loss of this being minimized by canopy shading (Joët et al 2016). The increased seed size also results in an increased accumulation of storage reserves.…”

Section: Ecological Aspects Of Desiccation-sensitive Seedsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Desiccation sensitive seeds: understanding their evolution, genetics and physiology

Marques

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Adaptations of higher plant cell walls to water loss: drought vs desiccation. Physiol Plant, 134, 237-245.. The lack of available water suspends virtually every metabolic activity in the cells, such as respiration and transcription. Thus, it is also different from dormancy or lethargy that reduces in a wet environment the progress of development or of metabolic activity. Beardmore, T. and Whittle, C.-A. (2005) Induction of tolerance to desiccation and cryopreservation in silver maple (Acer saccharinum) embryonic axes. Tree physiology, 25(8), 965-972.

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Explanatory ecological factors for the persistence of desiccation-sensitive seeds in transient soil seed banks:Quercus ilexas a case study

Cited by 30 publications

References 51 publications

Predicting the global incidence of seed desiccation sensitivity

Predicting the global incidence of seed desiccation sensitivity

Microhabitat and ectomycorrhizal effects on the establishment, growth and survival ofQuercus ilexL. seedlings under drought

Desiccation sensitive seeds: understanding their evolution, genetics and physiology

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