Frugivores, seeds and genes: analysing the key elements of seed shadows.

Abstract

This chapter analyses the main components of seed shadows (spatial distributions of all seeds dispersed from an individual plant) and discusses how hypervariable molecular markers can be used to assess them and the advantages and disadvantages involved in doing so. It presents a brief discussion of seed shadow analysis, some illustrative data with Prunus mahaleb, and an analysis of perspectives to link frugivore foraging and seed shadow patterns.

Integrating frugivory and animal movement: a review of the evidence and implications for scaling seed dispersal

“…Moreover, disperser's life-history traits interact with environmental factors to generate large variation in fruit removal across plant populations and communities (Table 1). Another type of dissemination limitation during this phase is source-biased limitation (Jordano, 2007) (Fig. Extensive lists and description of the myriad intrinsic and extrinsic factors that can influence these patterns are provided elsewhere (Howe & Smallwood, 1982;Schupp, 1993;Jordano, 2000;Corlett, 2011).…”

“…Together, these two processes generate the seed shadow, that is, the location where seeds from single plants are deposited (Nathan & Muller-Landau, 2000). By using diverse methods, however, we can now begin to characterize some of the components that determine seed shadows, such as the distance and density from source tree, the density of dispersed seeds arriving at the target site, and less commonly, the number and extent of overlapping seed shadows (Jordano, 2007;García & Grivet, 2011). By using diverse methods, however, we can now begin to characterize some of the components that determine seed shadows, such as the distance and density from source tree, the density of dispersed seeds arriving at the target site, and less commonly, the number and extent of overlapping seed shadows (Jordano, 2007;García & Grivet, 2011).…”

“…Backward tracking, or source-based approaches (Jordano, 2007), examine the spatial patterns of seed distribution with respect to distance from source plants (Muller-Landau et al, 2008) and then trace the movement of the seed back to its putative source. Backward tracking, or source-based approaches (Jordano, 2007), examine the spatial patterns of seed distribution with respect to distance from source plants (Muller-Landau et al, 2008) and then trace the movement of the seed back to its putative source.…”

Functional diversity among seed dispersal kernels generated by carnivorous mammals

“…Using molecular markers and maternal assignments, Jordano et al . () estimated that carnivores dispersed most seeds between 650 and 700 m and suggested longer dispersal events (>1500 m) because they were unable to identify the maternal origin for a subset of genotyped seeds (see Jordano for a likelihood‐based analysis of this sample). In fact, molecular studies have several limitations in their application to long‐distance seed dispersers owing to the exponential decrease of maternal assignments when increasing the distance from genotyped plants (Ashley ).…”

Frugivore carnivores: preferences and contribution to seed dispersal of red fox Vulpes vulpes (Linnaeus, 1758) and stone marten Martes foina (Erxleben, 1777) in Carrascal de la Font Roja Natural Park (Alicante, Spain)

“…Nevertheless, these seed dispersers are among the first landscape architects, as their activity determines the diversity, abundance, and spatial distribution of seed banks (Herrera 1985). Indeed they have a strong influence on the dispersal patterns (Westcott & Graham 2000, Westcott et al 2005, Karubian & Durães 2009, and can even determine the spatial distribution of dispersed plant species , Jordano 2007, Santamaría et al 2008) and their population structure (Jordano et al 2004).…”