Environmental factors can influence spatial aggregation and acorn production in the endemic and endangered oak <em>Quercus brandegeei</em> in Mexico
Background and study species: The endangered oak Quercus brandegeei Goldman, endemic to Baja California Sur, Mexico, is threatened because of its relictual distribution restricted to ephemeral riverbeds, declining populations, and a lack of seedling regeneration. Although there is evidence of viabl...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Sociedad Botánica de México, A. C.
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Botanical Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://botanicalsciences.com.mx/index.php/botanicalSciences/article/view/3309 |
| _version_ | 1797809175182442496 |
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| author | Carolyn Brinckwirth Christie A. Klimas Camila Cortez Janet Nuῆez Daniel W. Pérez-Morales Aurora Breceda Antonio González-Rodríguez Silvia Álvarez-Clare |
| author_facet | Carolyn Brinckwirth Christie A. Klimas Camila Cortez Janet Nuῆez Daniel W. Pérez-Morales Aurora Breceda Antonio González-Rodríguez Silvia Álvarez-Clare |
| author_sort | Carolyn Brinckwirth |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Background and study species: The endangered oak Quercus brandegeei Goldman, endemic to Baja California Sur, Mexico, is threatened because of its relictual distribution restricted to ephemeral riverbeds, declining populations, and a lack of seedling regeneration. Although there is evidence of viable acorn production, no seedlings or saplings have been found across the range of occurrence for this species.
Hypothesis: We tested for spatial aggregation and factors determining acorn production, hypothesizing that Q. brandegeei trees would be less distant from one another in regions with higher precipitation and that tree attributes and climatic variables would co-determine acorn presence.
Study site and dates: Baja California Sur, Mexico, 2016-2017
Methods: We conducted a Ripley’s K analysis to determine each population’s spatial pattern (random, uniform, clumped) across 12 populations and a total of 194 individuals. To find the impact of environmental factors on acorn production we conducted a series of generalized linear models on eight climatic variables.
Results: Ripley’s K analysis revealed that Q. brandegeei is a highly clumped species, with the highest rate of aggregation occurring within 0-25 meters. Region but not climatic cues were found to be important determinants of presence of acorns.
Conclusions: High aggregation in clumps and low evidence of acorn production in some populations suggests that there is a niche attrition for this species, which is confined to very specific microsites along ephemeral riverbeds. Suitable recruitment areas could be reduced even further under the hotter and drier climate predicted for the region.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T06:48:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-950a031407c3415daa958a1f06c17458 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2007-4298 2007-4476 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T06:48:34Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | Sociedad Botánica de México, A. C. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Botanical Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-950a031407c3415daa958a1f06c174582023-06-08T02:48:33ZengSociedad Botánica de México, A. C.Botanical Sciences2007-42982007-44762023-06-01101310.17129/botsci.3309Environmental factors can influence spatial aggregation and acorn production in the endemic and endangered oak <em>Quercus brandegeei</em> in MexicoCarolyn Brinckwirth0Christie A. Klimas1Camila Cortez2Janet Nuῆez3Daniel W. Pérez-Morales4Aurora Breceda5Antonio González-Rodríguez6Silvia Álvarez-Clare7Environmental Science and Studies, DePaul University, Chicago, ILEnvironmental Science and Studies, DePaul University, Chicago, ILEnvironmental Science and Studies, DePaul University, Chicago, ILEnvironmental Science and Studies, DePaul University, Chicago, ILCentro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste S.C., La Paz, BCSCentro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, S.C. La Paz, BCSInstituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, campus Morelia, Morelia, MochoacánGlobal Tree Conservation, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL Background and study species: The endangered oak Quercus brandegeei Goldman, endemic to Baja California Sur, Mexico, is threatened because of its relictual distribution restricted to ephemeral riverbeds, declining populations, and a lack of seedling regeneration. Although there is evidence of viable acorn production, no seedlings or saplings have been found across the range of occurrence for this species. Hypothesis: We tested for spatial aggregation and factors determining acorn production, hypothesizing that Q. brandegeei trees would be less distant from one another in regions with higher precipitation and that tree attributes and climatic variables would co-determine acorn presence. Study site and dates: Baja California Sur, Mexico, 2016-2017 Methods: We conducted a Ripley’s K analysis to determine each population’s spatial pattern (random, uniform, clumped) across 12 populations and a total of 194 individuals. To find the impact of environmental factors on acorn production we conducted a series of generalized linear models on eight climatic variables. Results: Ripley’s K analysis revealed that Q. brandegeei is a highly clumped species, with the highest rate of aggregation occurring within 0-25 meters. Region but not climatic cues were found to be important determinants of presence of acorns. Conclusions: High aggregation in clumps and low evidence of acorn production in some populations suggests that there is a niche attrition for this species, which is confined to very specific microsites along ephemeral riverbeds. Suitable recruitment areas could be reduced even further under the hotter and drier climate predicted for the region. https://botanicalsciences.com.mx/index.php/botanicalSciences/article/view/3309Arid environmentsclimate changeQuercus brandegeeispatial distributionreproductive cues |
| spellingShingle | Carolyn Brinckwirth Christie A. Klimas Camila Cortez Janet Nuῆez Daniel W. Pérez-Morales Aurora Breceda Antonio González-Rodríguez Silvia Álvarez-Clare Environmental factors can influence spatial aggregation and acorn production in the endemic and endangered oak <em>Quercus brandegeei</em> in Mexico Botanical Sciences Arid environments climate change Quercus brandegeei spatial distribution reproductive cues |
| title | Environmental factors can influence spatial aggregation and acorn production in the endemic and endangered oak <em>Quercus brandegeei</em> in Mexico |
| title_full | Environmental factors can influence spatial aggregation and acorn production in the endemic and endangered oak <em>Quercus brandegeei</em> in Mexico |
| title_fullStr | Environmental factors can influence spatial aggregation and acorn production in the endemic and endangered oak <em>Quercus brandegeei</em> in Mexico |
| title_full_unstemmed | Environmental factors can influence spatial aggregation and acorn production in the endemic and endangered oak <em>Quercus brandegeei</em> in Mexico |
| title_short | Environmental factors can influence spatial aggregation and acorn production in the endemic and endangered oak <em>Quercus brandegeei</em> in Mexico |
| title_sort | environmental factors can influence spatial aggregation and acorn production in the endemic and endangered oak em quercus brandegeei em in mexico |
| topic | Arid environments climate change Quercus brandegeei spatial distribution reproductive cues |
| url | https://botanicalsciences.com.mx/index.php/botanicalSciences/article/view/3309 |
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