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Global patterns in the predator satiation effect of masting: A meta-analysis

2022; National Academy of Sciences; Volume: 119; Issue: 11 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1073/pnas.2105655119

1091-6490

Rafał Zwolak, Paulina Celebias, Michał Bogdziewicz,

Plant and animal studies

Significance Masting, or synchronous production of large seed crops, is widespread among plants. The predator satiation hypothesis states that masting evolved to overwhelm seed predators with an excess of food. Yet, this popular explanation faced few rigorous tests. We conducted a meta-analysis of studies that related the magnitude of seed production to the intensity of seed predation. Our results validate certain theoretical notions (e.g., that predator satiation is more effective at higher latitudes) but challenge others (e.g., that specialist and generalist consumers differ in the type of functional response to masting). We also found that masting is losing its ability to satiate consumers, probably because global warming affected masting patterns. This shift might considerably impair the reproduction of masting plants.