Resource allocation to vegetative and reproductive growth in relation to mast seeding in Fagus crenata

Abstract

Year-to-year variation in vegetative and reproductive growth was studied in Fagus crenata dominating a forest in Northeast Japan. Trees synchronously produced abundant nuts in 2 mast years during 6 years of study. Nut production was absent or very sparse in the other 4 non-mast years. Annual leaf production estimated from the amount of leaf litter did not differ between mast and non-mast years. Similarly, radial stem growth evaluated from tree ring width was not necessarily reduced in mast years compared with non-mast years. Radial growth decreased only in 1 of the 2 mast years. Trees also invested a substantial amount of nitrogen into reproductive growth in mast years, but mast seeding did not reduce nitrogen investment into the foliage or enhance nitrogen resorption from senescing leaves. We conclude that mast seeding does not place a strong impact on the canopy of F. crenata trees, probably owing to resources stored in perennial tissues.