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Grant support

This research was supported by Grant CNS2022-136156, Grant PID2019-106701RR-I00 and Grant TED2021-129499A-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/https://doi.org/10.13039/501100011033 and European Union Next Generation EU/PRTR, and Gobierno de Aragon S74_23R research group. The work of Ruben Martin-Sanchez was supported by a PhD Gobierno de Aragon scholarship. The work of David Alonso-Forn. was supported by an FPI-INIA contract BES-2017-081208. The work of Ana Lopez-Ballesteros was supported by Juan de la Cierva postdoctoral contract JC2020-045630-I.

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September 24, 2024
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Article

Oak leaf morphology may be more strongly shaped by climate than by phylogeny

Publicated to:Annals Of Forest Science. 81 (1): 14- - 2024-03-18 81(1), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13595-024-01232-z

Authors: Martin-Sánchez, R; Sancho-Knapik, D; Alonso-Forn, D; López-Ballesteros, A; Ferrio, JP; Hipp, AL; Peguero-Pina, JJ; Gil-Pelegrín, E

Affiliations

Aragon Agcy Res & Dev ARAID, Zaragoza 50018, Spain - Author
Consejo Super Invest Cient EEAD CSIC, Estn Expt Aula Dei, Avda Montanana 1005, Zaragoza 50059, Spain - Author
Ctr Invest & Tecnol Agroalimentaria Aragon CITA, Dept Sistemas Agr Forestales & Medio Ambiente, Avda Montanana 930, Zaragoza 50059, Spain - Author
Field Museum, Chicago, IL 60605 USA - Author
Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL 60532 USA - Author
Sistemas Agrícolas, Forestales y Medio Ambiente. Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón - Author
Univ Balearic Isl UIB, Dept Biol, Res Grp Plant Biol Mediterranean Condit, Ctra Valldemossa Km 7-5, Palma De Mallorca 07122, Spain - Author
Univ Zaragoza, CITA, Inst Agroalimentario Aragon IA2, Zaragoza, Spain - Author
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Abstract

Key messageDespite been grown under the same climate, oak species are able to correlate with looser, but still identifiable, leaf morphological syndromes, composed by morphological traits with an ecological role in their respective macroclimates.ContextEnvironmental restrictions imposed by climate have been shown to modulate leaf morphology. A reduction of leaf area in hot and dry climates reduces overheating because of a thinner boundary layer. Lobed shapes enhance hydraulic conductivity and faster cooling. Elongated leaves drain more quickly under high precipitation. Trichomes may help to reduce the effects of excessive sun exposure in hot and dry environments. Leaf mass per area (LMA) increases in stressful environments.AimTo assess the influence of global climate and clade on oak leaf syndromes comprising morphological traits with ecological roles.MethodsWe analyzed seven morphological traits in 141 oak species grown in a botanical garden, characterized into five macroclimates, and explored the partial effects of clade and climate.ResultsWe found significant associations between macroclimate and every morphological trait measured. Temperate species tend to have large, obovate, lobed, malacophyllous leaves. Species occurring in dry habitats usually present small, rounded, pubescent, sclerophyllous leaves. Warm and wet climates induce the development of slender, lanceolate, glabrous leaves with an acuminate apex.ConclusionThe functional roles of the different morphological traits are partially confirmed in genus Quercus as a response to the different macroclimates, where different leaf syndromes can be distinguished.

Keywords

ColdConstruction costsDatos de la investigaciónEcological significanceEnfermedades foliaresEvergreen oaksEvolutioFactor analysis of mixed dataFunción fisiológicaFunctional traitsLeaf syndromLeaf syndromeMacroclimaMacroclimatePubescenceQuercusSize variationToothed leavesTrichomes

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Annals Of Forest Science due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2024 there are still no calculated indicators, but in 2023, it was in position 20/89, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Forestry.

Independientemente del impacto esperado determinado por el canal de difusión, es importante destacar el impacto real observado de la propia aportación.

Según las diferentes agencias de indexación, el número de citas acumuladas por esta publicación hasta la fecha 2025-07-04:

  • WoS: 3
  • Scopus: 3

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-07-04:

  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 23 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

    It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

    • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.
    • Assignment of a Handle/URN as an identifier within the deposit in the Institutional Repository: http://hdl.handle.net/10532/6931

    Leadership analysis of institutional authors

    This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: United States of America.

    There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (Martín Sánchez, Rubén) and Last Author (Gil Pelegrín, Eustaquio).

    the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been Martín Sánchez, Rubén.