Animals as seed dispersers.

Stiles, Edmund W.; Fenner, M.

doi:10.1079/9780851994321.0111

Cited by 86 publications

(65 citation statements)

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“…They reported a higher removal of arillated seeds inside the forest whereas no difference was observed among intact and cleaned seeds placed on the edge of the forest. Beattie and Culver (STILES, 1992) reported that ants vary greatly in their response to different elaiosomes, and that variation is among species, populations and even within a population. According to Horvitz (1981) arils are similar to elaiosomes attracting ants since both are rich in lipids.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seed germination and removal of Michelia champaca L. (Magnoliaceae) in eucalypt stands: the influence of the aril

2004

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We tested the influence of the aril on seed germination in controlled conditions and on the removal of M. champaca seeds in natural environment. Germination assays were kept at 25 ± 2 °C under continuous white light. Removal experiments were carried out in three "old" (39 to 62-years old) and three "new" (15-years old) eucalypt stands in Horto Florestal Navarro de Andrade, Rio Claro, SP. The results show that the aril inhibits the germination and the seeds exhibit a positively photoblastic reaction. We found higher seed removal in old eucalypt stands than the new ones, probably due to the higher density of rodents in the old stands. In the new stands, we found higher seed removal of arillated seeds by ants. Ants are important to remove the aril of seeds dropped by birds, not only enhancing seed germination but also preventing seed predation by rodents.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seed germination and removal of Michelia champaca L. (Magnoliaceae) in eucalypt stands: the influence of the aril

2004

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“…Bats.-In the New World, members of the Phyllonycterinae are known dispersing agents of the seeds of many plants (Pijl 1957;Janzen 1983a;Stiles 2000). There are however, no frugivorous bats at present native to the Joshua tree area (Hall 1981; Katherine Hinman pers.…”

Section: Mammaliochorymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…When available, all carnivores consume at least some juicy or fleshy fruits (Janzen and Wilson 1983) and Stiles (2000) considers them one of the major groups of fruit and seed-eating species of mammals (after primates and bats). There seems, however, to be no account of these animals eating the fruits of the Joshua tree, one reason being that at the time the fruits are ripe they are for the most part out of reach of the animals.…”

Section: Mammaliochorymentioning

confidence: 99%

Seed Dispersal in Yucca Brevifolia (Agavaceae)-Present and Past, With Consideration of the Future of the Species

Lenz¹

2001

aliso

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Earlier descriptions of the fruit of Yucca brevifolia are reviewed. It is here shown that the fruit is a fleshy, sugar-rich berry that later becomes a hard, dry, spongy body. At no time are seeds rele ased from the fruit s without the ex enion of an out side force. Variou s animals that might release seeds from the dr y fruit s are considered, as is wind that may disperse ent ire fruit s. The question is introduced as to why Y. brevifolia Engelm. would expend large amounts of energy and resources 10 create a product for which there is no market. The appeal that the fruits may have had for now e xtinct megaherbivores is addressed. Finally, the possible future of the species is con sidered.

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“…Frugivorous birds are important components of ecosystems, as they influence plant regeneration through seed dispersal (Stiles 1992, Gorchov et al 1993, Pizo 1997, Howe & Miriti 2000, Bleher & Bohning-Gaese 2001. However, foraging behavior of birds may influence their effectiveness as dispersers (Sorensen 1984, Schupp 1993, Witmer & Van Soest 1998.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Birds foraging for fruits and insects in shrubby restinga vegetation, southeastern Brazil

2008

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Understanding how birds use vegetation to obtain food resources has implications for habitat conservation and management. Restinga is a poorly known and threatened tropical habitat, associated to the Atlantic forest, that could benefit from this kind of information to know which plants can be used and dispersed by birds that can help on the maintenance of this habitat. Frugivorous and insectivorous birds are important components of tropical ecosystems, such as restinga. To provide more information regarding the ecology of restinga, we studied the feeding behavior and spatial use of this vegetation by birds at Restinga de Jurubatiba National Park, southeastern Brazil. We found that feeding behavior was similar to that recorded for the same species in other vegetation types. In addition, spatial use of the restinga vegetation by the most abundant species did not overlap greatly, except for two insectivorous species that used different foraging maneuvers and two frugivorous birds that foraged in flocks. The two most abundant species were generalists in their diet and were capable of feeding at the ground level on sand substrate. Resumo: O conhecimento das estratégias de uso da vegetação pela fauna para forrageio tem implicações para conservação e manejo de habitats. Restinga é um ambiente tropical, associado à Mata Atlântica, ameaçado e ainda pouco conhecido que poderia se beneficiar desse tipo de informação para conhecer quais espécies de plantas podem ser utilizadas e dispersas por aves que atuem na manutenção deste habitat. Aves frugívoras e insetívoras são importantes componentes de ecossistemas tropicais, como a restinga. Para fornecer mais informações sobre a ecologia da restinga, nós estudamos o comportamento de forrageio e o uso do espaço das aves no Parque Nacional da Restinga de Jurubatiba, sudeste do Brasil. Nós encontramos que os comportamentos de forrageio foram similares àqueles registrados para as mesmas espécies em outros ambientes. Além disso, o uso do espaço da vegetação de restinga pelas espécies mais abundantes não apresentou grande sobreposição, exceto por duas espécies insetívoras que usaram manobras de forrageio diferentes e duas aves frugívoras que forragearam em bando. As duas espécies mais abundantes foram generalistas em suas dietas e foram capazes de forragear no chão sobre areia nua. Palavras-chave: Mata Atlântica, comportamento, dieta, Mimus gilvus, Zonotrichia capensis.

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Animals as seed dispersers.

Abstract: This chapter considers the process of seed acquisition by animals (or animal acquisition by seeds), the nature of seed treatment by the animals, animal mobility and seed deposition patterns, and finally the diversity of animals that disperse seeds.

Cited by 86 publications

References 0 publications

Seed germination and removal of Michelia champaca L. (Magnoliaceae) in eucalypt stands: the influence of the aril

Seed germination and removal of Michelia champaca L. (Magnoliaceae) in eucalypt stands: the influence of the aril

Seed Dispersal in Yucca Brevifolia (Agavaceae)-Present and Past, With Consideration of the Future of the Species

Birds foraging for fruits and insects in shrubby restinga vegetation, southeastern Brazil

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