Food habits and endozoochorous seed dispersal by small rodents (Cricetidae and Echimyidae) in a riparian forest in southeastern Brazil

Lessa, Leonardo Guimarães; Paula, Camilla Souza; Pessoa, Rafael Souza

doi:10.3897/neotropical.14.e47403

Cited by 12 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Although other animals act as seed dispersers, birds dominate seed dispersal in the Cerrado, since 80% of Cerrado woody species have their dispersal associated with ornithochory (Kuhlmann & Ribeiro, 2016). In addition, plant species dispersed by other mammals are likely not favoured by perches or nurse trees, since bats (chiropterochory) often defecate the seeds in flight, both marsupials and rodents (mastochory) predate most seeds, and these three groups of mammals are effective dispersers only for small‐seeded pioneer species (Lessa & Costa, 2010; Lessa et al., 2019), which accounted for <6% of recruits. Myrmecochory is relevant for secondary dispersal of herbaceous plants, occurring mainly in open grasslands (Kuhlmann & Ribeiro, 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Facilitation by isolated trees triggers woody encroachment and a biome shift at the savanna–forest transition

Abreu

Durigan

Melo

et al. 2021

Journal of Applied Ecology

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1. Woody encroachment into grassy biomes is a global phenomenon, often resulting in a nearly complete turnover of species, with savanna specialists being replaced by forest-adapted species. Understanding the mechanisms involved in this change is important for devising strategies for managing savannas.2. We examined how isolated trees favour woody encroachment and species turnover by overcoming dispersal limitation and environmental filtering. In a savanna released from fire in south-eastern Brazil (Cerrado), we sampled woody plants establishing under 40 tree canopies and in paired treeless plots. These trees comprised eight species selected for habitat preference (savanna or forest) and dispersal syndrome (bird dispersed or not). We recorded dimensions of each tree, dispersal syndrome and habitat preference of recruits, and quantified the physical environment within each plot, aiming at a mechanistic understanding of woody encroachment.3. We found clear evidence that isolated trees cause nucleation and drive changes in functional composition of savanna. Effectiveness as nucleator differed among species, but was unrelated to their functional guilds (habitat preference or dispersal syndrome). The density of saplings in nuclei was partially explained by soil moisture (+), daily temperature amplitude (−) and sum of bases (−). 4. Our results indicate that isolated trees act first as perches, strongly favouring bird-dispersed species. They then act as nurse trees, considerably changing the environment in favour of forest-adapted recruits. In the long term, as the nuclei expand and merge, savanna specialists tend to disappear and the savanna turns into a low-diversity forest. Synthesis and applications.Fire suppression has allowed the nucleation process and consequently the woody encroachment and fast replacement of savanna specialists by forest species in the Cerrado. By elucidating the mechanisms behind woody encroachment, we recommend using prescribed fires to burn forest seedlings and to reduce tree canopy size wherever the management goal is to maintain the typical savanna structure and composition.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Facilitation by isolated trees triggers woody encroachment and a biome shift at the savanna–forest transition

Abreu

Durigan

Melo

et al. 2021

Journal of Applied Ecology

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“…With this controlled feeding experiment, we provide fundamental advances in understanding the potential impacts of mobile linkers as seed dispersers. Hitherto our understanding of the efficiency of smaller mammals and their potential impacts on plant communities and recruitment was limited, as most of the literature focuses on rather large mammals with more extensive home ranges (Albert, Mårell, et al, 2015 , Karimi et al, 2020 , Mouissie, Vos, et al, 2005 , but see, e.g., Lessa et al, 2019 , Naoe et al, 2019 , Yang et al, 2019 ). Our feeding experiment demonstrates that 32 out of 42 species that germinated in the control group also survived the gut passage of hares and germinated afterward.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While current research mainly focuses on long‐range epi‐ and endozoochorous seed dispersal by large herbivores (especially ungulates, see Albert et al, 2015 ; Baltzinger et al, 2019 ), smaller mammals seem to be rather understudied despite their dispersal potential (e.g., Fischer & Türke, 2016 ; Lessa et al, 2019 ; Naoe et al, 2019 ). For example, the European brown hare ( Lepus europaeus , hereafter referred to as “hare”) is a typical medium‐sized herbivorous mammal (body mass 3.5–5 kg (Zachos, 2016 )) in agricultural landscapes feeding on various wild herbs, grasses, and field crops (Schai‐Braun et al, 2013 ; Tapper & Barnes, 1986 ; Vaughan et al, 2003 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Seed traits matter—Endozoochoric dispersal through a pervasive mobile linker

Stiegler

Kiemel

Eccard

et al. 2021

Ecology and Evolution

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Although many plants are dispersed by wind and seeds can travel long distances across unsuitable matrix areas, a large proportion relies on co‐evolved zoochorous seed dispersal to connect populations in isolated habitat islands. Particularly in agricultural landscapes, where remaining habitat patches are often very small and highly isolated, mobile linkers as zoochorous seed dispersers are critical for the population dynamics of numerous plant species. However, knowledge about the quali‐ or quantification of such mobile link processes, especially in agricultural landscapes, is still limited. In a controlled feeding experiment, we recorded the seed intake and germination success after complete digestion by the European brown hare (Lepus europaeus) and explored its mobile link potential as an endozoochoric seed disperser. Utilizing a suite of common, rare, and potentially invasive plant species, we disentangled the effects of seed morphological traits on germination success while controlling for phylogenetic relatedness. Further, we measured the landscape connectivity via hares in two contrasting agricultural landscapes (simple: few natural and semi‐natural structures, large fields; complex: high amount of natural and semi‐natural structures, small fields) using GPS‐based movement data. With 34,710 seeds of 44 plant species fed, one of 200 seeds (0.51%) with seedlings of 33 species germinated from feces. Germination after complete digestion was positively related to denser seeds with comparatively small surface area and a relatively slender and elongated shape, suggesting that, for hares, the most critical seed characteristics for successful endozoochorous seed dispersal minimize exposure of the seed to the stomach and the associated digestive system. Furthermore, we could show that a hare's retention time is long enough to interconnect different habitats, especially grasslands and fields. Thus, besides other seed dispersal mechanisms, this most likely allows hares to act as effective mobile linkers contributing to ecosystem stability in times of agricultural intensification, not only in complex but also in simple landscapes.

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“…whether they are effective dispersers of seeds following passage through the gut. Although this type of dispersal is uncommon for granivorous animals, there is evidence that other rodent species disperse seeds endozoochorically (Campos et al, 2008;Lessa, Paula & Pessoa, 2019;Yang et al, 2019).…”

Section: Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sowing forests: a synthesis of seed dispersal and predation by agoutis and their influence on plant communities

et al. 2021

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Granivorous rodents have been traditionally regarded as antagonistic seed predators. Agoutis (Dasyprocta spp.), however, have also been recognized as mutualistic dispersers of plants because of their role as scatter-hoarders of seeds, especially for large-seeded species. A closer look shows that such definitions are too simplistic for these Neotropical animals because agoutis can influence plant communities not only through seed dispersal of large seeds but also through predation of small seeds and seedlings, evidencing their dual role. Herein, we summarize the literature on plant-agouti interactions, decompose agouti seed dispersal into its quantitative and qualitative components, and discuss how environmental factors and plant traits determine whether these interactions result in mutualisms or antagonisms. We also look at the role of agoutis in a community context, assessing their effectiveness as substitutes for extinct megafaunal frugivores and comparing their ecological functions to those of other extant dispersers of large seeds. We also discuss how our conclusions can be extended to the single other genus in the Dasyproctidae family (Myoprocta). Finally, we examine agoutis' contribution to carbon stocks and summarize current conservation threats and efforts. We recorded 164 interactions between agoutis and plants, which were widespread across the plant phylogeny, confirming that agoutis are generalist frugivores. Seed mass was a main factor determining seed hoarding probability of plant species and agoutis were found to disperse larger seeds than other large-bodied frugivores. Agoutis positively contributed to carbon storage by preying upon seeds of plants with lower carbon biomass and by dispersing species with higher biomass. This synthesis of plant-agouti interactions shows that ecological services provided by agoutis to plant populations and communities go beyond seed dispersal and predation, and we identify still unanswered questions. We hope to emphasise the importance of agoutis in Neotropical forests.

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Food habits and endozoochorous seed dispersal by small rodents (Cricetidae and Echimyidae) in a riparian forest in southeastern Brazil

Cited by 12 publications

References 35 publications

Facilitation by isolated trees triggers woody encroachment and a biome shift at the savanna–forest transition

Facilitation by isolated trees triggers woody encroachment and a biome shift at the savanna–forest transition

Seed traits matter—Endozoochoric dispersal through a pervasive mobile linker

Sowing forests: a synthesis of seed dispersal and predation by agoutis and their influence on plant communities

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