A Perspective on Quercus Life History Characteristics and Forest Diturbance

Abstract

Plant strategy theory suggests that life history characteristics reflect growth and reproductive adaptations to environmental disturbance. Species characteristics and abundance should correspond to predictions based on competitive ability and maximizing fitness in a given disturbance environment. A significant canonical correlation between oak growth attributes (height growth, xylem permeability, shade tolerance) and reproductive attributes (longevity, acorn weight, and the age to reproduction) based on published values indicates that the distribution of oak attributes among species is consistent with r and K selection theory. Growth and reproductive attributes were used to calculate an index reflecting the relative values of the r and K strategies of oak species. This index was used to examine changes in the dominance of oak species at nine sites in the Ozarks. Changes in oak species dominance and differences in their landscape distributions were consistent with predictions based on their r and K index values and estimates of forest disturbance.

Parent Publication

• Upland oak ecology symposium: history, current conditions, and sustainability

Citation

Guyette, Richard P.; Muzika, Rose-Marie; Kabrick, John; Stambaugh, Michael C. 2004. A Perspective on Quercus Life History Characteristics and Forest Diturbance. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-73. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. pp. 138-142