Dispersal and germination ofProsopis flexuosa(Fabaceae) seeds by desert mammals in Argentina

Campos, Claudia M.; Ojeda, Ricardo A.

doi:10.1006/jare.1996.0196

Cited by 147 publications

(126 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…In a previous study in the Monte desert (Ñ acuñ án Reserve, Mendoza Province), mortality due to endozoochory by rodents such as mara was roughly 30% (Campos and Ojeda, 1997), similar to the results of the present study.…”

Section: Mortality Germination Percentage and Speedsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…Previous studies did not find any effect of hare gut passage on germination (Izhaki and Ne'eman, 1997), although the lack of effects may be due to the comparisons having been made between seeds from hare faeces and manually scarified seeds. However, in the Monte desert (Ñ acuñ án Reserve, Mendoza Province), medium-sized rodents, such as mara, disperse P. flexuosa seeds with endocarps and enhance their germination capacity (Campos and Ojeda, 1997). The effects of herbivore gut passage on Prosopis seed survival and germinability are multiple and differentiated between plant species and animal dispersers.…”

Section: Mortality Germination Percentage and Speedmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Endozoochory by native and exotic herbivores in dry areas: consequences for germination and survival ofProsopisseeds

et al. 2008

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Mammalian herbivores can play a role in the endozoochorous dispersal of Prosopis seeds in the arid zones of Argentina, and the introduction of exotic mammals can change relevant parameters of the plant's reproductive ecology. Our specific goals were to quantify the seeds of Prosopis flexuosa, P. chilensis and P. torquata contained in the faeces of native [mara (Dolichotis patagonum), guanaco (Lama guanicoe)] and exotic [donkey (Equus asinus) and hare (Lepus europaeus)] mammals, and to determine the mortality, germination percentage and germination speed of seeds borne in faeces, compared with those collected from trees. In 2006, seeds were collected directly from trees or removed from mammal faeces. Seeds were counted and classified as apparently healthy or damaged. P. torquata and P. flexuosa seeds were found in the dung of guanaco, hare and mara, whereas only P. flexuosa seeds appeared in donkey faeces. P. chilensis seeds were only found in guanaco faeces. There was a notable relative abundance of seeds contained in small herbivore faeces in comparison to the large herbivores. The passage through the digestive tract of animals modified seed germination capacity and speed, with great variability between animal species. Guanacos had greater effects than donkeys on mortality, germination percentage and germination speed. Differences between the effects of both smaller-sized herbivores on seeds were much smaller.

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Section: Mortality Germination Percentage and Speedsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Mortality Germination Percentage and Speedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Endozoochory by native and exotic herbivores in dry areas: consequences for germination and survival ofProsopisseeds

et al. 2008

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“…High seed predation has been reported in others species of the genus Prosopis. Seeds of Prosopis flexuosa, a nurse plant in the central Monte desert, Argentina, are severely consumed by Dolichotis pataganum (Caviidae) (Campos and Ojeda 1997) and, hence, this species does not tend to form a persistent seed bank (Villagra et al 2002). Low presence of conspecific individuals under the P. juliflora canopy suggests that recruitment occurs in pulses, which are likely associated with infrequent favourable conditions for seed germination and seedling establishment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial Associations, Size–Distance Relationships and Population Structure of Two Dominant Life Forms in a Semiarid Enclave of the Venezuelan Andes

Larrea-Alcázar

Soriano

2006

Plant Ecol

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The role of three thorny legume species as nurse plants and competitive relationships with columnar cacti were evaluated in a semiarid enclave of the Venezuelan Andes. Abundance and size of three columnar cacti species (Stenocereus griseus, Cereus repandus and Pilosocereus tillianus) under isolated shrubs of three thorny legumes species (Prosopis juliflora, Acacia farnesiana and A. macracantha) were recorded and compared with open areas. Using size -distance data we inferred the intensity of intra-and interspecific competition between both life forms in a ''cardonal'' (xeric zone) and ''espinar'' (mesic zone) of the enclave. Sixty-one columnar cacti were found beneath the three thorny legume species (92%), while only 5 cactus individuals were found in open areas (8%). Comparison of observed and expected number of cactus individuals shows that S. griseus and C. repandus are significantly associated with isolated shrubs of A. farnesiana and A. macracantha. Although P. juliflora contributed more than 40% of the total legume plant cover, the number of columnar cacti under its isolated shrubs was significantly lower than would be expected by chance. In all, 19 of 21 possible plant -plant combinations between and within columnar cacti and legume shrubs were recorded (espinar: 18, cardonal: 13, common combinations: 12). In both zones, intra-and interspecific combinations among columnar cacti species were relatively high (positive correlation between the sum of neighbour plant sizes and the distances separating them). Our results strongly suggest, at least for case of S. griseus and C. repandus, that these columnar cacti species require nurse plants for their establishment. The results on interference need still support from further research. We discuss the effects of plant -plant positive interactions on natural regeneration of these columnar cacti.

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“…The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) also favours germination and seedling survival of the Mediterranean Hackberry (Traba et al 2006). In the Monte Desert in Argentina, Campos & Ojeda (1997) found that foxes (Pseudalopex griseus) were also legitimate dispersers, although they did not increase the proportion of seeds that germinated.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

The Crab-eating Fox (Cerdocyon thous) as a secondary seed disperser of Eugenia umbelliflora (Myrtaceae) in a Restinga forest of southeastern Brazil

Cazetta

Galetti

2009

Biota Neotrop.

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CAZETTA, E. & GALETTI, M. The Crab-eating Fox (Cerdocyon thous) as a secondary seed disperser of Eugenia umbelliflora (Myrtaceae) in a Restinga forest of southeastern Brazil. Biota Neotrop., 9(2): http:// www.biotaneotropica.org.br/v9n2/en/abstract?short-communication+bn02509022009. Abstract:The crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous) exhibits a very generalist habit and fruits compose a large proportion of its diet. However, few studies evaluated the importance of this animal as seed disperser. In the Restinga forest, in the Atlantic forest of Brazil, C. thous consumes fruits of Eugenia umbelliflora, a Myrtaceae species, which is dispersed chiefly by birds. This study evaluated the effects of gut transit on seed germination, and size selection of E. umbelliflora fruits by the crab-eating fox. We did not find differences on germination rates between seeds dispersed by foxes and control ones, but seeds dispersed by foxes germinated faster, which may be important for plant recruitment. Seeds consumed by C. thous were smaller than those available on the ground, indicating selection for small fruits. Regardless of the selection of small fruits, C. thous appears to be an important secondary disperser of E. umbelliflora, distributing large quantities of viable seeds of this Myrtaceae in the Restinga forest. Keywords: Atlantic Forest, carnivores, frugivory, fruit choice, seed dispersal. CAZETTA, E. & GALETTI, M. O chachorro do mato (Cerdocyon thous) como dispersor secundário deEugenia umbelliflora (Myrtaceae) em uma floresta de Restinga no sudeste do Brasil. Biota Neotrop., 9(2): http://www.biotaneotropica.org.br/v9n2/pt/abstract?short-communication+bn02509022009.Resumo: O cachorro do mato (Cerdocyon thous) tem um hábito bastante generalista e frutos compõem uma grande proporção de sua dieta. No entanto, poucos estudos avaliaram a importância deste animal como dispersor de sementes. Na floresta de restinga da Mata Atlântica brasileira C. thous consome frutos de Eugenia umbelliflora, uma espécie de Myrtaceae, que é dispersa principalmente por aves. Este estudo avaliou o efeito da passagem das sementes pelo tubo digestivo na germinação das sementes e a seleção de tamanho de frutos de E. umbelliflora pelo cachorro do mato. Não houve diferença nas taxas de germinação entre as sementes dispersas pelo cachorro do mato e as sementes controle, mas as sementes dispersas pelo cachorro germinaram mais rápido, o que pode ser importante para o recrutamento das plantas. As sementes consumidas pelo cachorro do mato foram menores do que as sementes disponíveis no solo, indicando seleção por frutos menores. Apesar de selecionarem frutos menores, o cachorro do mato parece ser um importante dispersor secundário de E. umbelliflora, distribuindo grandes quantidades de sementes viáveis desta espécie de Myrtaceae na restinga. Palavras-chave: carnívoros, dispersão de sementes, escolha de frutos, frugivoria, Mata Atlântica. Biota Neotrop., vol. 9, no. 2 occurs from March to May, and fruiting begins in June and extends to October (Staggemeier et a...

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Dispersal and germination ofProsopis flexuosa(Fabaceae) seeds by desert mammals in Argentina

Cited by 147 publications

References 22 publications

Endozoochory by native and exotic herbivores in dry areas: consequences for germination and survival ofProsopisseeds

Endozoochory by native and exotic herbivores in dry areas: consequences for germination and survival ofProsopisseeds

Spatial Associations, Size–Distance Relationships and Population Structure of Two Dominant Life Forms in a Semiarid Enclave of the Venezuelan Andes

The Crab-eating Fox (Cerdocyon thous) as a secondary seed disperser of Eugenia umbelliflora (Myrtaceae) in a Restinga forest of southeastern Brazil

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