Adaptive evolution of freezing tolerance in oaks is key to their
dominance in North America
- Clarissa G. Fontes,
- Jose Eduardo Meireles,
- Andrew Hipp,
- Jeannine Cavender-Bares
Jeannine Cavender-Bares
Harvard University Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Corresponding Author:jcavender@fas.harvard.edu
Author ProfileAbstract
Freezing tolerance plays a pivotal role in shaping the distribution and
diversification of organisms. We investigated the dynamics of adaptation
to climate and potential trade-offs between stem freezing tolerance and
growth rate in 48 Quercus species. Species from colder regions exhibited
higher freezing tolerance, lower growth rates and higher
winter-acclimation potential than species from warmer climates. Despite
an evolutionary lag, freezing tolerance in oaks is closely aligned with
its optimal state. Deciduous species showed marked variability in
freezing tolerance across their broad climatic range while evergreen
species, confined to warm climates, displayed low freezing tolerance.
Annual growth rates were constrained in all deciduous species but those
that evolved in warm latitudes lost freezing tolerance precluding a
trade-off between freezing tolerance and growth. We provide evidence
that capacity to adapt to a wide range of thermal environments was
critical to adaptive radiation and current dominance of the North
American oaks.29 Jul 2024Submitted to Ecology Letters 03 Oct 2024Submission Checks Completed
03 Oct 2024Assigned to Editor
03 Oct 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
07 Oct 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
04 Nov 2024Editorial Decision: Revise Major
15 Dec 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
15 Dec 20241st Revision Received
16 Dec 2024Submission Checks Completed
16 Dec 2024Assigned to Editor
16 Dec 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned