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Garrote PJ, Bugalho MN, Fedriani JM. Seedling responses to moderate and severe herbivory: a field-clipping experiment with a keystone Mediterranean palm. PLANT BIOLOGY (STUTTGART, GERMANY) 2023; 25:1058-1070. [PMID: 37713282 DOI: 10.1111/plb.13581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
Plant-ungulate interactions are critical in shaping the structure of Mediterranean plant communities. Nevertheless, there is a dearth of knowledge on how plant intrinsic and extrinsic factors mediate the sign and strength of plant-ungulate interactions. This is most relevant when addressing natural or assisted restoration of plant communities in human-disturbed areas. We conducted field-clipping experiments simulating how different intensities of ungulate herbivory may affect the natural regeneration and establishment of the Mediterranean dwarf palm (Chamaerops humilis), a keystone species in Mediterranean ecosystems. We quantified seedling survival and size in two human-disturbed sites (SW Spain) where wild and domestic ungulates exert high herbivory pressure on vegetation. Severe clipping and seedling aging reduced rates of seedling survival. In contrast, moderate clipping did not affect seedling survival, suggesting a certain degree of C. humilis tolerance to herbivory. Severe clipping reduced seedling height strongly but not seedling diameter, and these effects seem to have decreased seedling survival. Nurse shrubs increased seedling size, which likely improved seedling survival. We also found seedling compensatory growth which varied between study sites. Field-clipping experiments can help disentangle effects of plant extrinsic and intrinsic factors on the sign and strength of plant-ungulate interactions and their ecological consequences on the dynamics of human-disturbed ecosystems. We call attention to the importance of appropriately managing scenarios of severe herbivory and summer droughts, particularly frequent in Mediterranean ecosystems, as synergic effects of such key drivers can negatively affect the structure and dynamics of plant communities and endanger their conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- P J Garrote
- Desertification Research Centre (CIDE), CSIC-UVEG-GV, Moncada (Valencia), Spain
- Centre for Applied Ecology "Prof. Baeta Neves" (CEABN-InBIO), School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - M N Bugalho
- Centre for Applied Ecology "Prof. Baeta Neves" (CEABN-InBIO), School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - J M Fedriani
- Desertification Research Centre (CIDE), CSIC-UVEG-GV, Moncada (Valencia), Spain
- Doñana Biological Station (EBD), CSIC, C/Américo Vespucio s/n, Isla de la Cartuja, Seville, Spain
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Garrote PJ, Castilla AR, Picó FX, Fedriani JM. Examining the spatiotemporal variation of genetic diversity and genetic rarity in the natural plant recolonization of human-altered areas. CONSERV GENET 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-023-01503-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
AbstractThe spatiotemporal genetic variation at early plant life stages may substantially affect the natural recolonization of human-altered areas, which is crucial to understand plant and habitat conservation. In animal-dispersed plants, dispersers’ behavior may critically drive the distribution of genetic variation. Here, we examine how genetic rarity is spatially and temporally structured in seedlings of a keystone pioneer palm (Chamaerops humilis) and how the variation of genetic rarity could ultimately affect plant recruitment. We intensively monitored the seed rain mediated by two medium-sized carnivores during two consecutive seasons in a Mediterranean human-altered area. We genotyped 143 out of 309 detected seedlings using 12 microsatellite markers. We found that seedlings emerging from carnivore-dispersed seeds showed moderate to high levels of genetic diversity and no evidence of inbreeding. We found inflated kinship among seedlings that emerged from seeds within a single carnivore fecal sample, but a dilution of such FSGS at larger spatial scales (e.g. latrine). Seedlings showed a significant genetic sub-structure and the sibling relationships varied depending on the spatial scale. Rare genotypes arrived slightly later throughout the dispersal season and tended to be spatially isolated. However, genetic rarity was not a significant predictor by itself which indicates that, at least, its influence on seedling survival was smaller than other spatiotemporal factors. Our results suggest strong C. humilis resilience to genetic bottlenecks due to human disturbances. We highlight the study of plant-animal interactions from a genetic perspective since it provides crucial information for plant conservation and the recovery of genetic plant resilience.
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Mason DS, Baruzzi C, Lashley MA. Passive directed dispersal of plants by animals. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2022; 97:1908-1929. [PMID: 35770842 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Conceptual gaps and imprecise terms and definitions may obscure the breadth of plant-animal dispersal relationships involved in directed dispersal. The term 'directed' indicates predictable delivery to favourable microsites. However, directed dispersal was initially considered uncommon in diffuse mutualisms (i.e. those involving many species), partly because plants rarely influence post-removal propagule fate without specialized adaptations. This rationale implies that donor plants play an active role in directed dispersal by manipulating vector behaviour after propagule removal. However, even in most classic examples of directed dispersal, participating plants do not influence animal behaviour after propagule removal. Instead, such plants may take advantage of vector attraction to favourable plant microsites, indicating a need to expand upon current interpretations of directed dispersal. We contend that directed dispersal can emerge whenever propagules are disproportionately delivered to favourable microsites as a result of predictably skewed vector behaviour. Thus, we propose distinguishing active and passive forms of directed dispersal. In active directed dispersal, the donor plant achieves disproportionate arrival to favourable microsites by influencing vector behaviour after propagule removal. By contrast, passive directed dispersal occurs when the donor plant takes advantage of vector behaviour to arrive at favourable microsites. Whereas predictable post-removal vector behaviour is dictated by characteristics of the donor plant in active directed dispersal, characteristics of the destination dictate predictable post-removal vector behaviour in passive directed dispersal. Importantly, this passive form of directed dispersal may emerge in more plant-animal dispersal relationships because specialized adaptations in donor plants that influence post-removal vector behaviour are not required. We explore the occurrence and consequences of passive directed dispersal using the unifying generalized gravity model of dispersal. This model successfully describes vectored dispersal by incorporating the influence of the environment (i.e. attractiveness of microsites) on vector movement. When applying gravity models to dispersal, the three components of Newton's gravity equation (i.e. gravitational force, object mass, and distance between centres of mass) become analogous to propagules moving towards a location based on characteristics of the donor plant, the destination, and relocation processes. The generalized gravity model predicts passive directed dispersal in plant-animal dispersal relationships when (i) animal vectors are predictably attracted to specific destinations, (ii) animal vectors disproportionately disperse propagules to those destinations, and (iii) those destinations are also favourable microsites for the dispersed plants. Our literature search produced evidence for these three conditions broadly, and we identified 13 distinct scenarios where passive directed dispersal likely occurs because vector behaviour is predictably skewed towards favourable microsites. We discuss the wide applicability of passive directed dispersal to plant-animal mutualisms and provide new insights into the vulnerability of those mutualisms to global change.
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Affiliation(s)
- David S Mason
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, PO Box 110430, 1745 McCarty Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32611-0410, USA
| | - Carolina Baruzzi
- School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, University of Florida, PO Box 110410, 1745 McCarty Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32611-0410, USA
| | - Marcus A Lashley
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, PO Box 110430, 1745 McCarty Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32611-0410, USA
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Draper JP, Young JK, Schupp EW, Beckman NG, Atwood TB. Frugivory and Seed Dispersal by Carnivorans. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.864864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Seed dispersal is critical to the ecological performance of sexually reproducing plant species and the communities that they form. The Mammalian order Carnivora provide valuable and effective seed dispersal services but tend to be overlooked in much of the seed dispersal literature. Here we review the literature on the role of Carnivorans in seed dispersal, with a literature search in the Scopus reference database. Overall, we found that Carnivorans are prolific seed dispersers. Carnivorans’ diverse and plastic diets allow them to consume large volumes of over a hundred families of fruit and disperse large quantities of seeds across landscapes. Gut passage by these taxa generally has a neutral effect on seed viability. While the overall effect of Carnivorans on seed dispersal quality is complex, Carnivorans likely increase long-distance dispersal services that may aid the ability of some plant species to persist in the face of climate change.
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Deshpande K, Vanak AT, Devy MS, Krishnaswamy J. Forbidden fruits? Ecosystem services from seed dispersal by fruit bats in the context of latent zoonotic risk. OIKOS 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.08359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kadambari Deshpande
- Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Royal Enclave, Srirampura Bangalore Karnataka India
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Madhav Nagar Manipal Karnataka India
| | - Abi T. Vanak
- Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Royal Enclave, Srirampura Bangalore Karnataka India
- DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance Hyderabad India
- School of Life Sciences, Univ. of KwaZulu‐Natal Westville Durban South Africa
| | - M. Soubadra Devy
- Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Royal Enclave, Srirampura Bangalore Karnataka India
| | - Jagdish Krishnaswamy
- Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Royal Enclave, Srirampura Bangalore Karnataka India
- School of Environment and Sustainability, Indian Inst. for Human Settlements, Sadashiv Nagar Bangalore Karnataka India
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Teste FP, Laliberté E. A test of the Janzen‐Connell hypothesis in a species‐rich Mediterranean woodland. Ecosphere 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- François P. Teste
- Grupo de Estudios Ambientales IMASL‐CONICET & Universidad Nacional de San Luis Av. Ejercito de los Andes 950 (5700) San Luis Argentina
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Western Australia Crawley Western Australia 6009 Australia
| | - Etienne Laliberté
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Western Australia Crawley Western Australia 6009 Australia
- Département de sciences biologiques Institut de recherche en biologie végétale Centre sur la biodiversité Université de Montréal 4101 Sherbrooke Est Montreal Qubec H1X 2B2 Canada
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Villalobos-Chaves D, Rodríguez-Herrera B. Frugivorous bats promote epizoochoric seed dispersal and seedling survival in a disturbed Neotropical forest. J Mammal 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyab114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Animal-dispersed plants usually rely upon multiple dispersers. In many ecosystems, most of these interactions have yet to be explored; thus, documenting the extent of contribution of each animal partner to the reproduction and survival of plant species is key to understanding the ecology and evolution of animal–plant mutualism, as well as the potential responses of the ecological networks to biodiversity loss through defaunation. Here, by characterizing the outcomes and differences of the epizoochoric seed dispersal carried out by two species of frugivorous bats (Artibeus phaeotis and Uroderma convexum) in a Neotropical forest, we tested the prediction that, through their feeding activity, both bat species disperse and influence the subsequent seedling survival of multiple seed species. By direct sampling on bats’ dispersing sites and surrounding areas, we found evidence of the dispersal of 2,310 seeds of eight plant species, of which 118 survived to become seedlings. The total density of seeds and the seedling survival were significantly higher in areas directly influenced by the bats (i.e., feeding roosts) than in peripheral areas. Positive density-dependent effects nevertheless were detected in both sampling areas (feeding roosts and peripheral areas). Interspecific comparisons showed that despite both bat species having similar dispersal outcomes, seedlings in peripheral areas related to A. phaeotis have better survival rates. Our results demonstrate that both bat species primarily disperse by epizoochoric means seeds of various tree species at several localities in the study site. This result, together with the positive density-dependent effects, suggests that bats are moving seeds away from maternal trees and depositing them in locations where some of the seeds can germinate, establish, and survive, thereby highlighting the positive contribution of these bat species to the reproductive success of trees inhabiting Neotropical habitats. Our results contribute to the growing knowledge of frugivorous interactions on hyperdiverse forests and the role of small vertebrates on seed dispersal mutualisms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bernal Rodríguez-Herrera
- Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, 11501 Montes de Oca, San José, Costa Rica
- Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Ecología Tropical, Universidad de Costa Rica, 11501 Montes de Oca, San José, Costa Rica
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Stevenson PR, Cardona L, Cárdenas S, Link A. Oilbirds disperse large seeds at longer distance than extinct megafauna. Sci Rep 2021; 11:420. [PMID: 33431959 PMCID: PMC7801487 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-79280-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The extinction of megafauna in the Neotropics is thought to have reduced the potential of large seeds to be dispersed over long distances by endozoochory (ingestion by animals), but some seed dispersal systems have not been considered. We describe the role of oilbirds (Steatornis caripensis) as seed dispersers, in terms of seed width and dispersal distance (using GPS tracking devices), and we compare with data reported for other animals. Oilbirds dispersed seeds up to 29 mm wide, with a mean dispersal distance of 10.1 km (range 0–47.6 km). Some components of seed dispersal by oilbirds are outliers compared to that of other frugivores, such as the relationship between maximum seed width and body weight (however, few other extant specialized frugivores are also outliers). Estimates of mean dispersal distance by oilbirds are the largest reported, and we confirm that some living frugivores currently fulfil roles of seed dispersers and ecosystem services previously assumed to be only performed by extinct species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo R Stevenson
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Bosques Tropicales Y Primatología, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Los Andes, Carrera 1 No. 18A-10, Bogotá, Colombia.
| | - Laura Cardona
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Bosques Tropicales Y Primatología, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Los Andes, Carrera 1 No. 18A-10, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Sasha Cárdenas
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Bosques Tropicales Y Primatología, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Los Andes, Carrera 1 No. 18A-10, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Andrés Link
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Bosques Tropicales Y Primatología, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Los Andes, Carrera 1 No. 18A-10, Bogotá, Colombia
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafał Zwolak
- Department of Systematic Zoology Faculty of Biology Adam Mickiewicz University Poznań Poland
| | - Andrew Sih
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy University of California at Davis Davis CA USA
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Harman RR, Goddard J, Shivaji R, Cronin JT. Frequency of Occurrence and Population-Dynamic Consequences of Different Forms of Density-Dependent Emigration. Am Nat 2020; 195:851-867. [DOI: 10.1086/708156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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11
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Dispersal patterns of large-seeded plants and the foraging behaviour of a frugivorous bat. JOURNAL OF TROPICAL ECOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1017/s0266467420000036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
AbstractMutualistic interactions are biologically important, diverse and poorly understood. Comprehending these interactions and the effectiveness of the mutualistic partners has been the central focus of ecological and evolutionary studies, as this task requires disentangling the pieces of mutualism under study. Here, we tested the hypothesis that feeding activity of Artibeus phaeotis influences density, diversity and distance effects of the seed rain of large-seeded plant species in a Neotropical dry forest of Costa Rica. We predicted that bats’ activity increases density and diversity metrics on dispersing sites and that bats behave as short-distance dispersers. Our data revealed that, by dispersing hundreds of seeds within their small foraging areas and mostly close to fruiting trees, the feeding activity of A. phaeotis increases the density and richness of seeds underneath night feeding roosts. The functional role of A. phaeotis as disperser may vary among plant species, as we also detected that some seeds are more dispersed than others. Further inquiries to elucidate mutualistic interactions between frugivorous bats and large-seeded plant species should focus on understanding demographic and fitness outcomes, as strong selective pressures may be shaping morphological and behavioural traits of both plants and animals, ultimately influencing the survival of each partner.
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Masaki T, Nakashizuka T, Niiyama K, Tanaka H, Iida S, Bullock JM, Naoe S. Impact of the spatial uncertainty of seed dispersal on tree colonization dynamics in a temperate forest. OIKOS 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.06236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Masaki
- Forestry and Forest Products Research Inst., Matsunosato 1, Tsukuba JP‐305‐8687 Ibaraki Japan
| | | | - Kaoru Niiyama
- Forestry and Forest Products Research Inst., Matsunosato 1, Tsukuba JP‐305‐8687 Ibaraki Japan
| | - Hiroshi Tanaka
- Forestry and Forest Products Research Inst., Matsunosato 1, Tsukuba JP‐305‐8687 Ibaraki Japan
| | - Shigeo Iida
- Kyushu Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Inst Kumamoto Japan
| | | | - Shoji Naoe
- Tohoku Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Inst Iwate Japan
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Nield AP, Enright NJ, Ladd PG, Perry GLW. Detecting plant spatial pattern change after disperser loss: A simulation and a case study. POPUL ECOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/1438-390x.12006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew P. Nield
- Terrestrial Ecology Research Group Environment and Conservation Science, Murdoch University, Murdoch Western Australia Australia
| | - Neal J. Enright
- Terrestrial Ecology Research Group Environment and Conservation Science, Murdoch University, Murdoch Western Australia Australia
| | - Philip G. Ladd
- Terrestrial Ecology Research Group Environment and Conservation Science, Murdoch University, Murdoch Western Australia Australia
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