Salinity stress reduces tree reproductive allocation in coastal forests

Plants adjust reproductive allocation in response to environmental changes to maximize fitness. As sea level rise increases salinity in coastal forests, we examined its effects on seed rain in two tree species. Pinus taeda showed a median 52% reduction relative investment in pine cone production in high-salinity areas relative to low salinity areas. Juniperus virginiana decreased relative investment in seed production by 64%, though with higher uncertainty. These results reveal that salinity stress reduces tree allocation to reproduction in coastal forests, and suggests species-specific reproductive responses to environmental change, with implications for coastal forest dynamics under rising salinity.