Bird-Dispersed Seed Rain and Seedling Establishment in Patchy Mediterranean Vegetation

Debussche, Max; Isenmann, Paul

doi:10.2307/3545854

Cited by 191 publications

(150 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…The origin of the association between yew and¯eshy-fruited shrubs can be explained by two non-exclusive factors. Firstly, Mediterranean¯eshy-fruited plants attract high numbers of avian frugivores during fall and winter, acting as sinks where the seeds of many species, the yew among them, accumulate disproportionately (Izhaki et al, 1991;Debussche and Isenmann, 1994;Herrera et al, 1994;. This idea is reinforced by the lack of establishment under non¯eshy-fruited shrubs, places where the seed rain by avian frugivores rarely occurs.…”

Section: Seedling and Sapling Association To¯eshy-fruited Shrubsmentioning

confidence: 87%

Yew (Taxus baccata L.) regeneration is facilitated by fleshy-fruited shrubs in Mediterranean environments

García

Zamora

Hódar

et al. 2000

Biological Conservation

139

126

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Yew Taxus baccata is catalogued as a species endangered and prone to extinction in the Mediterranean mountains of southern Spain, due to the small size and senescent status of most populations. In this paper, we study the e ects of herbivory and the protective role of woody shrubs in the regeneration ability of the yew in the Sierra Nevada. The estimated density of the yew in the study plot was 287.9 individuals/ha, more than 90% being juveniles (seedlings and saplings), which were mostly located under¯e-shy-fruited shrubs. Saplings su ered serious herbivore damage when unprotected by shrubs. Thus,¯eshy-fruited shrubs proved to be the best habitat for seedling establishment and sapling survival and growth. The abundance of¯eshy-fruited shrubs in our study site provides a yew population characterized by an active regeneration under natural conditions. We suggest that the maintenance of healthy populations of yew in Mediterranean mountains is strongly dependent on the conservation of well-developed¯eshy-fruit understories and their community of avian dispersers. #

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Section: Seedling and Sapling Association To¯eshy-fruited Shrubsmentioning

confidence: 87%

Yew (Taxus baccata L.) regeneration is facilitated by fleshy-fruited shrubs in Mediterranean environments

García

Zamora

Hódar

et al. 2000

Biological Conservation

139

126

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“…Furthermore, the quantity of seeds coming into a burned area is not very different in magnitude from the seed rain measured in nearby unburned forests. However, the density of seeds found in burned logged forests was heterogeneous, which suggests that habitat and microhabitat do have an important effect on seed rain (Debussche & Isenmann 1994, Kollmann & Pirl 1995, Milton et al 1997.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Can salvage logging affect seed dispersal by birds into burned forests?

2009

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The recovery of vegetation in Mediterranean ecosystems after wildfire is mostly a result of direct regeneration, since the same species existing before the fire regenerate on-site by seeding or resprouting. However, the possibility of plant colonization by dispersal of seeds from unburned areas remains poorly studied. We addressed the role of the frugivorous, bird-dependent seed dispersal (seed rain) of fleshy-fruited plants in a burned and managed forest in the second winter after a fire, before on-site fruit production had begun. We also assessed the effect on seed rain of different microhabitats resulting from salvage logging (erosion barriers, standing snags, open areas), as well as the microhabitats of unlogged patches and an unburned control forest, taking account of the importance of perches as seed rain sites. We found considerable seed rain by birds in the burned area. Seeds, mostly from Olive trees Olea europaea and Evergreen pistaches Pistacia lentiscus, belonged to plants fruiting only in surrounding unburned areas. Seed rain was heterogeneous, and depended on microhabitat, with the highest seed density in the unburned control forest but closely followed by the wood piles of erosion barriers. In contrast, very low densities were found under perches of standing snags. Furthermore, frugivorous bird richness seemed to be higher in the erosion barriers than elsewhere. Our results highlight the importance of this specific post-fire management in bird-dependent seed rain and also may suggest a consequent heterogeneous distribution of fleshy-fruited plants in burned and managed areas. However, there needs to be more study of the establishment success of dispersed seeds before an accurate assessment can be made of the role of bird-mediated seed dispersal in post-fire regeneration.

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“…The extensive knowledge about the post-fire behaviour of these dominant forest species contrasts with the lack of information about the recovery of other non-dominant and less abundant tree and shrub species. Many of these less abundant species are of great importance in Mediterranean-type forest communities because: (i) they contribute to maintain the richness of Mediterranean forest communities [24] which, in general, tend to be dominated by one or two tree species [25,37] and (ii) they play an important role as a source of pollen for insects, as well as fleshy fruits consumed by insects, mammals and birds [8,13,18].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Post-fire resprouting ability of 15 non-dominant shrub and tree species in Mediterranean areas of NE Spain

2007

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-Post-fire resprouting ability of the non-dominant tree and shrub species of the Mediterranean Basin has not yet been experimentally tested, although this group contributes to maintain the richness of Mediterranean plant communities. In this study, we have analyzed the post-fire recovery ability of 15 woody species that occur in relatively low abundance in dry and sub humid Mediterranean areas in NE of Spain. The main goals have been: (i) to determine experimentally the post-fire resprouting ability of these species and (ii) to compare the abundance of these species in areas affected by wildland fires and in unburned areas. We have observed a high resprouting ability after prescribed burning of most species except for Juniperus communis and J. phoenicea which showed a null resprouting. As the species with high resprouting ability showed similar presence in burned and unburned areas, we can conclude that wildfires are not a factor that constrains the presence of these species in Mediterranean woodlands. However, we found a reduction in the abundance of J. communis and J. phoenicea at the regional level after wildland fires. distribution area / prescribed burning / resprouting / woody species / Juniperus Résumé -Capacité à rejeter de souche de 15 espèces d'arbres et d'arbustes secondaires de la région méditerranéenne après incendie. La capacité à rejeter de souche après incendie d'espèces d'arbres et d'arbustes non dominants de la région méditerranéenne est peu connue malgré l'importance de la contribution de ce groupe à la richesse des communautés végétales. Dans cette étude, nous avons analysé la capacité à rejeter de souche de 15 espèces ligneuses présentes en faible abondance dans les zones semi arides et subhumides méditerranéennes du nord-est de l'Espagne. Les principaux objectifs étaient : (i) de déterminer expérimentalement la capacité de rejeter après incendie et (ii) de comparer l'abondance de ces espèces dans des zones brûlées et non brûlées. Toutes les espèces testées présentaient une grande capacité à rejeter de souche à l'exception de Juniperus communis et J. phoenicea, qui ont montré une incapacité complète à rejeter de souche après incendie. Les espèces présentant une grande capacité de rejet présentent des abondances similaires dans des zones brûlées et non brûlées. Nous pouvons conclure que les incendies ne sont pas le facteur limitant leur présence dans les forêts méditerranéennes. Au contraire, les espèces sensibles à faible capacité de rejet comme J. communis et J. phoenicea, ont vu leur abondance baisser à l'échelle régionale après incendie. distribution des espèces / incendies de forêt / rejet de souche / brûlis / Juniperus

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Bird-Dispersed Seed Rain and Seedling Establishment in Patchy Mediterranean Vegetation

Cited by 191 publications

References 44 publications

Yew (Taxus baccata L.) regeneration is facilitated by fleshy-fruited shrubs in Mediterranean environments

Yew (Taxus baccata L.) regeneration is facilitated by fleshy-fruited shrubs in Mediterranean environments

Can salvage logging affect seed dispersal by birds into burned forests?

Post-fire resprouting ability of 15 non-dominant shrub and tree species in Mediterranean areas of NE Spain

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