A review on the role of endozoochory in seed germination.

Traveset, Anna; Robertson, Alastair W.; Rodríguez‐Pérez, Javier; Dennis, Andrew; Schupp, Eugene W.; Green, R. J.; Westcott, David A.

doi:10.1079/9781845931650.0078

Cited by 195 publications

(273 citation statements)

References 68 publications

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“…Nevertheless, mist-netting is likely the best method to construct quantitative seed dispersal networks as it is largely free of observer bias and allows great taxonomic resolution (species level with few exceptions), allows the detection of inconspicuous dispersers and interactions, makes the study of individual food choice possible through individual marking (e.g. rings), and allows the evaluation of the effect of seed ingestion on its viability (Costa et al 2014;Traveset, Robertson, & Rodríguez-Pérez 2007;Heleno, Ross, Everard, Memmott, & Ramos 2011).…”

Section: Network Propertiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sampling completeness in seed dispersal networks: When enough is enough

Costa

Silva

Ramos

et al. 2016

Basic and Applied Ecology

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Ecological networks are an increasingly popular tool to explore community assembly rules and frame practical conservation issues. However, most described networks vary largely in sampling effort, hampering the distinction of true biological patterns from artefacts caused by poor sampling. Identifying entire seeds in the droppings of mist-netted birds is generally considered a preferred sampling method for building unbiased, quantitative seed dispersal networks. We retrieved seeds from the droppings of 936 mist-netted birds captured during five days in seven sites in Portugal and estimated sampling completeness as the diversity of seed species, disperser species, and links detected with respect to those predicted by Chao 2 estimator. In one of those sites, sampling effort was extended to 25 days to evaluate the sensitivity of ten network structure descriptors to increasing sampling effort. After five sampling days we detected 93% of the seed species, 97% of the disperser species, and 79% of the links predicted by Chao 2, however sampling for 25 days resulted in the detection of more seeds, dispersers, and links than those estimated at day 5. Most network descriptors only began to stabilize around day 8, except for Connectance and Weighted Connectance that stabilized earlier. Similarly, only after 8 days most networks descriptors significantly departed from the confidence interval estimated by null models exclusively constrained by species abundances, thus reflecting independent ecological patterns. Nestedness was the only exception, as it never departed from the null models. We suggest that Chao 2 may slightly underestimate the real diversity and that in our case at least eight sampling days were needed to build a sound seed dispersal network as 67% of the seeds, 88% of the dispersers, and 71% of the links were detected. Our results have important implications for the interpretation of seed dispersal networks because under-sampled networks may produce biased descriptors that do not suitably characterize the focal communities. ZusammenfassungÖkologische Netzwerke werden immer beliebter als eine Methode, um die 'assembly rules' für Gemeinschaften zu untersuchen und praktische Naturschutzregeln zu entwerfen.

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Section: Network Propertiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sampling completeness in seed dispersal networks: When enough is enough

Costa

Silva

Ramos

et al. 2016

Basic and Applied Ecology

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“…Both in nature and in nurseries, poor, unreliable seed germination is common (Catalán, 1991;Traveset et al, 2007). The genus Phillyrea produces blue-black drupes, usually containing a single seed, which are dispersed by animals, such as goats and birds (Herrera et al, 1998;Traveset et al, 2007;Andrés, 2011). Due to their lignified endocarp, it has been suggested that Phillyrea seeds might have physical dormancy (García-Fayos et al, 2001;Takos & Efthimiou, 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seed germination of Phillyrea angustifolia L., a species of difficult propagation

2017

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Aim of study: The purpose was to determine the type of dormancy and the optimal germination conditions of Phillyrea angustifolia (Oleaceae) seeds.Area of study: Germination requirements of P. angustifolia seeds collected from wild plants growing in the province of Ávila (Central Spain) were studied.Materials and methods: Seed water uptake was measured. Seeds with and without an endocarp were germinated at different temperatures, and several treatments were tested.Main results: The lignified endocarp interferes mechanically with the emergence of the radicle, and the treatments that achieved the highest germination percentages were the total removal of the endocarp with pliers (84%) or the immersion in liquid nitrogen for 1 min (97%). Scarification with concentrated sulphuric acid did not significantly increase germination compared to the control seeds, and treatments with dry heat or wet heat were detrimental to seed germination. The optimum temperature for germination was 15 ºC. A pre-sowing treatment of soaking in distilled water for 24 h slightly increased germination speed. Neither cold stratification at 5 ºC nor soaking in a gibberellic acid solution improved seed germination.Research highlights: Phillyrea angustifolia seeds have physiological dormancy -that is, the embryo does not have enough growth potential to overcome the mechanical restriction of the lignified endocarp. The seeds do not exhibit physical dormancy, given their water-permeable lignified endocarp. Our results suggest that the optimum germination protocol for P. angustifolia would be the total removal of the endocarp or immersion in liquid nitrogen for 1 min, followed by immersion in distilled water for 24 h and then seed incubation at 15 ºC in light or darkness.

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“…Many of these studies described vertebrates (reptiles, birds and mammals) as dispersers of plant seeds. Other interactions, like secondary dispersal and predation, have scarcely been included in ecological seed studies in southern Chile, and few studies have included the effect of seed consumption by vertebrates in seed germination , Soto-Gamboa & Bozinovic 2002, Traveset et al 2006, Reid & Armesto 2011.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Frugivory of Persea lingue (Lauraceae) and its effect on seed germination in southern Chile

et al. 2015

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Consumidores de frutos de ABSTRACTFrugivory is a common interaction mechanism between plants and animals in the temperate rainforest of southern South America. In this study, we examined primary dispersal and predation stages of Persea lingue (Ruiz et Pav.) Nees (Lauraceae), an endemic large-seeded tree of these forests. The main goal was to determine the identity of vertebrate seed dispersers of P. lingue, to distinguish legitimate seed dispersers, pulp consumers and seed predators, and their influence on seed germination. In order to know which birds and small mammals were feeding P. lingue seeds, we observed 20 P. lingue canopies, and live traps baited with P. lingue seeds were installed in fragment forests in south-central Chile.To determine whether birds could be legitimate dispersers of P. lingue, we collected regurgitated and fecal samples. We examined whether rodents removed the fruit pulp, the seeds, or the whole fruit. Additionally, we studied if seeds placed on the forest floor were removed by rodents. In a final experiment we conducted germination trials to establish whether pulp removal (by birds, rodents, or artificially-removed) influenced germination rates. We found six bird species feeding on P. lingue seeds. None of them defecated intact seeds, but, Turdus falcklandii Quoy & Gaimard (Turdinae) and Xolmis pyrope (Kittlitz) (Tyrannidae) regurgitated intact seeds. We captured five species of rodents in Sherman traps. Four of them left intact seeds. We did not find any effect of the seed handling types (pulp consumption vs. seed regurgitation) in seed germination rates. However, pulp removal was an important factor for germination success. We conclude that T. falcklandii and X. pyrope are legitimate seed dispersers of P. lingue, since they swallow the whole fruit and regurgitate the intact seed. Abrothrix olivaceus (Waterhouse) (Cricetidae) and probably Oligoryzomys longicaudatus (Bennett) (Cricetidae) are potential secondary dispersers of P. lingue seeds, as they prefer to eat the fruit pulp rather than the seeds. KEYWORDS:Frugivory, Austral thrush, seed germination, southern temperate rainforest. RESUMENLa dispersión de semillas por endozoocoría es uno de los principales mecanismos de interacción mutualista entre plantas y animales en el bosque templado de Sudamérica. En este estudio indagamos acerca de los mecanismos de dispersión primaria y estadios de depredación de semillas de Persea lingue (Ruiz et Pav.) Nees (Lauraceae), árbol endémico de estos bosques. El objetivo principal fue determinar la identidad de los vertebrados dispersores de semillas de P. lingue, distinguiendo dispersores legítimos, de consumidores de pulpa y predadores de semillas, y determinar su efecto en la germinación. Se realizaron observaciones focales de la copa de adultos de P. lingue; además, se instalaron trampas Sherman cebadas con frutos de P. lingue en fragmentos de bosque en el valle central del centro-sur de Chile. Se colectaron muestras de fecas y semillas regurgitadas, se determinó cuáles especies de roedores c...

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A review on the role of endozoochory in seed germination.

Cited by 195 publications

References 68 publications

Sampling completeness in seed dispersal networks: When enough is enough

Sampling completeness in seed dispersal networks: When enough is enough

Seed germination of Phillyrea angustifolia L., a species of difficult propagation

Frugivory of Persea lingue (Lauraceae) and its effect on seed germination in southern Chile

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