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Question: What is the relative importance of seed mass and abiotic factors in species‐specific seedling growth and morphology during the first and the second growing season? How do oak species respond along gradients of these factors?

Location: Mediterranean oak forest in southern Spain.

Methods: We analysed seedling growth components and morphology of three co‐occurring Quercus species (two deciduous and one evergreen). Oak seeds with a wide variety of sizes were sown along broad gradients of abiotic conditions. Intra‐ and inter‐specific differences were evaluated by calibrating maximum likelihood estimators of seedling growth during the first two years of life.

Results: We found multiple resources and conditions affecting seedling morphology and biomass allocation. However, the integrative variables of seedling growth – total aboveground biomass and relative growth rate (RGR) – were …