Abstract:Aims: Zoochory is a prominent dispersal process in a wide range of plant species.However, the extent to which the trait composition of dispersed seed assemblages differs from the regional assemblage remains untested, as does the extent to which sympatric native herbivores disperse traits non-randomly.Location: Lorris and Montargis forests, central France.
Methods:We compared the taxonomic and functional composition of seed assemblages dispersed by three wild ungulates to the characteristics of the regional flo… Show more
“…In any case, this result is aligned with findings elsewhere that forest plant species are dispersed less between forest fragments, than are species from the arable landscape matrix dispersed into forest fragments (Panter & Dolman, 2012;Picard et al, 2016).…”
Section: Discussionsupporting
confidence: 86%
“…This overweight of Juncus has not been found in other studies (e.g., Couvreur et al (2005) Graae, 2002;Picard et al, 2016). The most abundant species for these two modes of epizoochory were J. effusus, with 76% of all seeds in the fur, and 49% of all seed from the hooves.…”
Section: Discussioncontrasting
confidence: 47%
“…They may also transfer diaspores to unoccupied suitable habitat and promote local establishment by soil disturbance (Iravani et al, 2011;von Oheimb, Schmidt, Kriebitzsch, & Ellenberg, 2005;Picard & Baltzinger, 2012;Picard, Chevalier, Barrier, Boscardin, & Baltzinger, 2016). They may also transfer diaspores to unoccupied suitable habitat and promote local establishment by soil disturbance (Iravani et al, 2011;von Oheimb, Schmidt, Kriebitzsch, & Ellenberg, 2005;Picard & Baltzinger, 2012;Picard, Chevalier, Barrier, Boscardin, & Baltzinger, 2016).…”
mentioning
confidence: 99%
“…| 9769 PETERSEN aNd BRUUN species. They may also transfer diaspores to unoccupied suitable habitat and promote local establishment by soil disturbance (Iravani et al, 2011;von Oheimb, Schmidt, Kriebitzsch, & Ellenberg, 2005;Picard & Baltzinger, 2012;Picard, Chevalier, Barrier, Boscardin, & Baltzinger, 2016). This may be especially important in fragmented landscapes (Graae, 2002;Panter & Dolman, 2012).…”
Seed dispersal by mammals provides functional connectivity between isolated plant habitat patches. Across much of Europe, red deer (Cervus elaphus) populations are growing steadily, potentially leading to increasing importance of this large mammal species to plant dispersal. While deer endozoochory is relatively well studied, epizoochory via fur and hoof attachment is much less understood. Seed dispersal internally and externally on 57 red deer individuals was investigated by sampling the seed content of intestinal tracts, fur, and hooves of animals shot during annual hunts in four contrasted landscapes in Denmark. We assessed compositional differences between dispersal modes whether plant species' association to a dispersal mode could be predicted by seed traits, whole‐plant traits, and species' local abundance. We found the largest difference in seed species composition to be between epizoochory (fur and hooves) and endozoochory (gut contents). Probability of plant dispersal through guts and fur was correctly predicted from traits more often than not. Hoof‐epizoochory, however, could not be correctly predicted from plant traits. Most plant species encountered were picked up by all three dispersal modes, suggesting an overriding effect of plant abundance in the landscapes in which the deer roam, which was also indicated by the statistical analysis. Nonetheless, a significant proportion of species were associated with either gut, fur, or hoof‐borne dispersal, reflecting the effect of plant traits and, potentially, animal behavior. Plant species being dispersed more often than expected through intestines were mainly associated with ruderal habitats, whereas species transported via fur tended toward association with wooded habitats. Considering the increasing red deer populations in Europe, and the differences between seed dispersal modes, all modes of animal seed dispersal should be taken into account in future studies.
OPEN RESEARCH BADGES
This article has been awarded Open Data and Open Materials Badges. All materials and data are publicly accessible via the Open Science Framework at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.7982483 and https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.7982483
“…In any case, this result is aligned with findings elsewhere that forest plant species are dispersed less between forest fragments, than are species from the arable landscape matrix dispersed into forest fragments (Panter & Dolman, 2012;Picard et al, 2016).…”
Section: Discussionsupporting
confidence: 86%
“…This overweight of Juncus has not been found in other studies (e.g., Couvreur et al (2005) Graae, 2002;Picard et al, 2016). The most abundant species for these two modes of epizoochory were J. effusus, with 76% of all seeds in the fur, and 49% of all seed from the hooves.…”
Section: Discussioncontrasting
confidence: 47%
“…They may also transfer diaspores to unoccupied suitable habitat and promote local establishment by soil disturbance (Iravani et al, 2011;von Oheimb, Schmidt, Kriebitzsch, & Ellenberg, 2005;Picard & Baltzinger, 2012;Picard, Chevalier, Barrier, Boscardin, & Baltzinger, 2016). They may also transfer diaspores to unoccupied suitable habitat and promote local establishment by soil disturbance (Iravani et al, 2011;von Oheimb, Schmidt, Kriebitzsch, & Ellenberg, 2005;Picard & Baltzinger, 2012;Picard, Chevalier, Barrier, Boscardin, & Baltzinger, 2016).…”
mentioning
confidence: 99%
“…| 9769 PETERSEN aNd BRUUN species. They may also transfer diaspores to unoccupied suitable habitat and promote local establishment by soil disturbance (Iravani et al, 2011;von Oheimb, Schmidt, Kriebitzsch, & Ellenberg, 2005;Picard & Baltzinger, 2012;Picard, Chevalier, Barrier, Boscardin, & Baltzinger, 2016). This may be especially important in fragmented landscapes (Graae, 2002;Panter & Dolman, 2012).…”
Seed dispersal by mammals provides functional connectivity between isolated plant habitat patches. Across much of Europe, red deer (Cervus elaphus) populations are growing steadily, potentially leading to increasing importance of this large mammal species to plant dispersal. While deer endozoochory is relatively well studied, epizoochory via fur and hoof attachment is much less understood. Seed dispersal internally and externally on 57 red deer individuals was investigated by sampling the seed content of intestinal tracts, fur, and hooves of animals shot during annual hunts in four contrasted landscapes in Denmark. We assessed compositional differences between dispersal modes whether plant species' association to a dispersal mode could be predicted by seed traits, whole‐plant traits, and species' local abundance. We found the largest difference in seed species composition to be between epizoochory (fur and hooves) and endozoochory (gut contents). Probability of plant dispersal through guts and fur was correctly predicted from traits more often than not. Hoof‐epizoochory, however, could not be correctly predicted from plant traits. Most plant species encountered were picked up by all three dispersal modes, suggesting an overriding effect of plant abundance in the landscapes in which the deer roam, which was also indicated by the statistical analysis. Nonetheless, a significant proportion of species were associated with either gut, fur, or hoof‐borne dispersal, reflecting the effect of plant traits and, potentially, animal behavior. Plant species being dispersed more often than expected through intestines were mainly associated with ruderal habitats, whereas species transported via fur tended toward association with wooded habitats. Considering the increasing red deer populations in Europe, and the differences between seed dispersal modes, all modes of animal seed dispersal should be taken into account in future studies.
OPEN RESEARCH BADGES
This article has been awarded Open Data and Open Materials Badges. All materials and data are publicly accessible via the Open Science Framework at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.7982483 and https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.7982483
“…While Fløjgaard et al. () consider that the landscape context may bias our results, recent independent (Jaroszewicz, Pirożnikow, & Sondej, ; Picard, Chevalier, Barrier, Boscardin, & Baltzinger, ), but also older studies (von Oheimb, Schmidt, Kriebitzsch, & Ellenberg, ; Schmidt, Sommer, Kriebitzsch, Ellenberg, & von Oheimb, ) on seed dispersal by wild ungulates suggest that there is no overall effect of the landscape matrix on the traits of the plants dispersed by our three model ungulates; these animals disperse preferentially plants typical of open habitats even in forest‐dominated landscape matrices.
Characteristics of forest stands of the 82 plots used in Boulanger et al., . (<1600: before 1600)
Dominant tree species Stand origin Stand structure Forest continuity (earliest known existing forest; years) Land‐use change since 1900 Plantation Natural regeneration Even‐aged Uneven‐aged Coppice with standards Range Median Yes No Uncertain Oak1262403[<1600; 1874]16190270Douglas fir50500[<1600; 1969]1790500Norway spruce82910[<1600; 1969]1914622Beech1141500[<1600; 1852]17660150Pine1041400[1700; 1954]1874527
…”
Section: Characteristics Of Forest Stands Of the 82 Plots Used In Boumentioning
In Boulanger et al. (2018), we investigated the effects of ungulates on forest plant diversity. By suggesting a revisit of our conclusions regarding ecosystem dynamics since the late Pleistocene, Fløjgaard et al. (2018) came to the conclusion that moderate grazing in forest should be a conservation target. Since major points of our paper were mis- or over- interpreted, we put the record straight on our study system and on the scope of our conclusions. Finally, we advocate for an assessment of the conservation issues of ungulates in forests not only regarding hypothetical and still debated states of past ecosystems but also considering timely challenges for forest ecosystems.
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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