title: Genders in Juniperus thurifera have different functional responses to variations in nutrient availability.
abstract: • Differences in reproductive investment can trigger asymmetric, context-dependent, functional strategies between genders in dioecious species. However, little is known about the gender responses of dioecious species to nutrient availability. • We experimentally fertirrigated a set of male and female Juniperus thurifera trees monthly for 2 yr. Water potential, photosynthesis rate and stomatal conductance were measured monthly for 2 yr, while shoot nitrogen (N) concentration, carbon isotopic composition (δ(13) C), branch growth, trunk radial growth and reproductive investment per branch were measured yearly. • Control males had lower gas exchange rates and radial growth but greater reproductive investment and higher water use efficiency (WUE; as inferred from more positive δ(13) C values) than females. Fertirrigation did not affect water potential or WUE but genders responded differently to increased nutrient availability. The two genders similarly increased shoot N concentration when fertilized. The increase in shoot N was associated with increased photosynthesis in males but not in females, which presented consistently high photosynthetic rates across treatments. • Our results suggest that genders invest N surplus in different functions, with females presenting a long-term strategy by increasing N storage to compensate for massive reproductive masting events, while males seem to be more reactive to current nutrient availability, promoting gas-exchange capacity.
authors: CIDE (CSIC-UV-GV), Carretera Moncada - Náquera, Km 4.5, 46113 València, Spain.|Center for Functional Ecology, Universidade de Coimbra, Apartado 3046, 3001-401 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Montesinos
authors: Departamento de Ecología, Universidad de Alcalá, Edificio de Ciencias, 28871 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Villar-Salvador
authors: CIDE (CSIC-UV-GV), Carretera Moncada - Náquera, Km 4.5, 46113 València, Spain.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: García-Fayos
authors: CIDE (CSIC-UV-GV), Carretera Moncada - Náquera, Km 4.5, 46113 València, Spain.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Verdú
mesh_terms: D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D018653:Juniperus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D016014:Linear Models; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000502:physiology; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology; D012621:Seasons
chemical_list: D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D009584:Nitrogen