The Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation of Stone Oaks (Lithocarpus)

This thesis investigates how plant traits, evolutionary history, and environmental conditions shape the ecology of Stone Oaks (Lithocarpus), a diverse but geographically restricted tropical clade. Chapter 1 introduces Lithocarpus as a model clade for investigating diverse ecological and evolutionary questions. Chapter 2 addresses a growing taxonomic knowledge gap in herbarium collections, which is particularly accentuated in highly biodiverse regions. It uses Lithocarpus as a case study to develop automated plant identification from vegetative characters using reflectance spectra and evaluates its performance alongside an existing widely used image-based identification tool. Chapter 3 examines latitudinal trends in herbivory estimated from herbarium specimens and identifies patterns of covariation with fruit and foliar morphology, proposing hypotheses for further testing. Chapter 4 explores the role of physiological adaptation to frost and drought in shaping the current distribution of Lithocarpus. Through a comparative framework using close relatives grown in common conditions, it reveals that Quercus exhibits trait synergies that have enabled expansion into more seasonal environments, but these synergies are absent in the more-range-limited Lithocarpus. Chapter 5 leverages a natural drought experiment within the native range of Lithocarpus, to test whether these species can physiologically acclimate to drought events. It links individual-level responses to forest-level demographic shifts, offering insight into the long-term resilience of these populations. Chapter 6 steps back from Lithocarpus, to assess what research is conducted across all vascular plant species, after they are assessed as threatened. Drawing on data from scientific publications, botanic gardens, and herbaria, it identifies persistent knowledge gaps and highlights opportunities to better align research priorities with conservation needs. Chapter 7 briefly summarises the main findings and outlines key directions for future research. Together, these chapters advance our understanding of how Lithocarpus species function and persist in their environments, and how scientific research can more effectively support plant conservation.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

Doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Cambridge

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Neto-Bradley, Barbara

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Coomes, David
• Cavender-Bares, Jeannine

• Lithocarpus
• Ecology
• Evolution
• Conservation

Licence

• https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/bitstreams/faeafd2d-38f8-40ad-a74f-32c4f290cf20/download
• http://purl.org/NET/rdflicense/allrightsreserved

Language dc:language

eng

DOI dc:identifier.doi

https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.123731

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.repository.cam.ac.uk:1810/393383