Establecimiento de cuatro especies de Quercus en el sur de la ...
Establecimiento de cuatro especies de Quercus en el sur de la ...
Establecimiento de cuatro especies de Quercus en el sur de la ...
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Capítulo 1<br />
ABSTRACT<br />
In the Iberian P<strong>en</strong>insu<strong>la</strong> <strong>Quercus</strong> forest reg<strong>en</strong>eration is limited by differ<strong>en</strong>t factors,<br />
being post‐dispersal predation is one of the most critical stages. In this study we<br />
analysed seed removal of four <strong>Quercus</strong> species in a conserved area in southern Spain.<br />
We analysed microsite (Q. ilex sha<strong>de</strong> and op<strong>en</strong> areas), seed mass and species s<strong>el</strong>ection<br />
both insi<strong>de</strong> and outsi<strong>de</strong> a plot f<strong>en</strong>ced to exclu<strong>de</strong> <strong>la</strong>rge herbivores. At the <strong>en</strong>d of the<br />
experim<strong>en</strong>t almost 100% seeds had disappeared. Removal was faster in sites without<br />
exclusion where most seeds (80%) disappeared during the first week. In these sites, no<br />
differ<strong>en</strong>ces were found in microsite s<strong>el</strong>ection, and Q. suber and Q. pyr<strong>en</strong>aica acorns<br />
disappeared first. As these species had the biggest acorns, this was probably the main<br />
cause of being removed faster. On the other hand, insi<strong>de</strong> f<strong>en</strong>ced plot acorns were<br />
s<strong>el</strong>ected by species and microsite, but not by seed mass. Q. ilex and Q. faginea acorns<br />
were removed faster, and predation was higher un<strong>de</strong>r Q. ilex sha<strong>de</strong>.<br />
Key words: post dispersal consumption, exclusion, Mediterranean <strong>Quercus</strong>, natural<br />
reg<strong>en</strong>eration, seed mass<br />
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