Sympatric Oaks Exhibit Local Divergence and Convergence in Adaptive Strategies Along Climate Gradients.

Quercus acutissima and Quercus variabilis show similar intraspecific variability (29.0 vs 27.9) but diverge in trait-level variability and climate-linked trait integration across temperature and precipitation gradients.

• Why it matters: Understanding how coexisting oaks adapt along climate gradients is key for predicting geographic range shifts and how communities assemble under changing climates.
• What they did: The study sampled two sympatric oaks across broad-leaved forests in China and measured 15 functional traits, then compared interspecific/intraspecific variability and analyzed trait correlation network connectivity across temperature (about 15°C–20°C) and precipitation gradients.
• The result: Trait correlation networks covaried within favourable temperatures (ca. 15°C–20°C) but diverged below 15°C and above 20°C and along precipitation gradients; at distribution edges, Q. variabilis is more competitive but less stress-tolerant than Q. acutissima.

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