Abstract
Juniperus L. is a very diverse genus of dioecious or monoecious conifers distributed throughout the Mediterranean region. In addition to the complex taxonomic characteristics of the genus, sexual dimorphism leads to sex-specific differences in the morphology of juniper species, which further complicates the delimitation of species. Two of these species, Juniperus oxycedrus L., which occurs in the western part of the Mediterranean, and J. deltoides R.P.Adams, which occurs in the eastern part, have only recently been delimited as separate species. To further support the delimitation of the species, we examined the phenotypic traits of the cones and needles of both species for both sexes. Three populations from the western and three from the eastern part of the Mediterranean region were sampled and a total of 2400 needles, 1200 cones and 1200 seeds were measured and analyzed. Both needles and cones of J. oxycedrus were slightly larger, longer and wider than those of J. deltoides and also less variable. Sexual dimorphism was observed in most of the needle traits measured, with the majority of traits in J. oxycedrus being larger in females than in males. Although sexual dimorphism was confirmed based on needle morphology, no consistent pattern of diversity was observed between the two species. In addition, variability among populations of J. oxycedrus was higher than that of J. deltoides . Our results confirm the previous species delimitation and open the possibility for further exploration of sex-specific differences in adaptability, as well as the potential implications for differential management and conservation of individuals of both sexes.
Abstract from the paper’s OpenAlex record; open copy licensed cc-by. Read at the source ↗
The text the model read, with the source record’s inline markup (italics, sub- and superscripts) rendered and its character entities decoded; quote offsets refer to the raw text.
Claims 6
Claim · model-written summary
J. oxycedrus needles and cones were slightly larger, longer and wider than those of J. deltoides and less variable.
- Taxon
- J. oxycedrus
Juniperus oxycedruse0 - Outcome
- needles and conese0
- Direction
- slightly larger, longer and widere0
- Qualifier
- less variablee0
- Comparator
- J. deltoidese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Both needles and cones of J. oxycedrus were slightly larger, longer and wider than those of J. deltoides and also less variable.”
Claim · model-written summary
Most measured needle traits showed sexual dimorphism.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“Sexual dimorphism was observed in most of the needle traits measured”
Claim · model-written summary
Most J. oxycedrus needle traits were larger in females than males.
- Taxon
- J. oxycedrusJuniperus oxycedruse0
- Outcome
- traitse0
- Direction
- largere0
- Qualifier
- majoritye0
- Comparator
- malese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the majority of traits in J. oxycedrus being larger in females than in males.”
Claim · model-written summary
No consistent between-species diversity pattern was observed.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“no consistent pattern of diversity was observed between the two species.”
Claim · model-written summary
Population variability was higher in J. oxycedrus than J. deltoides.
- Taxon
- J. oxycedrusJuniperus oxycedruse0
- Outcome
- variability among populationse0
- Direction
- highere0
- Comparator
- J. deltoidese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“variability among populations of J. oxycedrus was higher than that of J. deltoides”
Claim · model-written summary
Morphological results support the previous delimitation of the two species.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“Our results confirm the previous species delimitation”