Helophyte germination in a Mediterranean salt marsh: Gut-passage by ducks changes seed response to salinity

Espinar, José L.; García, Luis V.; Figuerola, Jordi; Green, A.J.; Clemente, L.

doi:10.1658/1100-9233(2004)015[0315:hgiams]2.0.co;2

Cited by 12 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 27 publications

(35 reference statements)

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“…Effect of salinity on germination-In numerous works, an increase in salinity during germination causes a decrease in germination (Ungar, 1996(Ungar, , 1998Noe and Zedler, 2000;Rubio et al, 2002;Espinar et al, 2004). The results obtained in the present work support this finding.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Seed storage conditions change the germination pattern of clonal growth plants in Mediterranean salt marshes

Espinar

García

Clemente

2005

American J of Botany

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The effect of salinity level and extended exposure to different salinity and flooding conditions on germination patterns of three salt-marsh clonal growth plants (Juncus subulatus, Scirpus litoralis, and S. maritimus) was studied. Seed exposure to extended flooding and saline conditions significantly affected the outcome of the germination process in a different, though predictable, way for each species, after favorable conditions for germination were restored. Tolerance of the germination process was related to the average salinity level measured during the growth/germination season at sites where established individuals of each species dominated the species cover. No relationship was found between salinity tolerance of the germination process and seed response to extended exposure to flooding and salinity conditions. The salinity response was significantly related to the conditions prevailing in the habitats of the respective species during the unfavorable (nongrowth/nongermination) season. Our results indicate that changes in salinity and hydrology while seeds are dormant affect the outcome of the seed-bank response, even when conditions at germination are identical. Because these environmental-history-dependent responses differentially affect seed germination, seedling density, and probably sexual recruitment in the studied and related species, these influences should be considered for wetland restoration and management.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Seed storage conditions change the germination pattern of clonal growth plants in Mediterranean salt marshes

Espinar

García

Clemente

2005

American J of Botany

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“…Bolboschoenus maritimus and P. pectinatus were the angiosperms recorded in the highest number of samples. Seeds of both these subcosmopolitan species have often been recorded in the diet of ducks (Soons et al., ) and have been used as models for experimental studies of endozoochory (Brochet, Guillemain, Gauthier‐Clerc, Fritz, & Green, ; Espinar, Garcia, Figuerola, Green, & Clemente, ; Santamaría et al., ). Modelling based on banding recoveries and feeding experiments suggests that, during migrations, mallards can disperse seeds of these taxa and of Schoenoplectus lacustris (which we also recorded) over extraordinary distances with maxima exceeding 400 km (Viana et al., ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Endozoochory of aquatic ferns and angiosperms by mallards in Central Europe

et al. 2018

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Modern literature on plant dispersal by birds focuses mainly on the importance of frugivory and scatter‐hoarding, yet recent studies show that endozoochory by migratory waterbirds is an important mechanism of long‐distance dispersal for a broad range of plants. Nevertheless, there is a lack of empirical field studies that identify the plants dispersed by waterbirds in a comprehensive manner. In particular, so far there are no detailed studies of the level of spatial variation in the plant taxa dispersed by a waterbird vector, and no clear demonstration that aquatic ferns can be dispersed by endozoochory. Consequently, we remain ignorant of the networks of dispersal interactions between granivorous waterbirds and plants. Five sets of faecal samples (total n = 215) were collected from mallards Anas platyrhynchos on autumn migration in the Hevesi‐holm and Balaton regions in Hungary, central Europe. Intact diaspores were extracted, identified and their germinability assessed under standard conditions. The plant communities recorded at different sites were compared with PERMANOVA and other multivariate methods. Macrospores of the floating watermoss Salvinia natans were recorded in 32 samples, and a total of 16 macrospores germinated, providing the first field demonstration of endozoochory of ferns by birds. Of 21 angiosperm taxa recorded (of which eight germinated), 13 were terrestrial species, although the most abundant taxa were aquatic species such as the alkali bulrush Bolboschoenus maritimus and the sago pondweed Potamogeton pectinatus. Two naturalized alien species, the common fig Ficus carica and the hackberry Celtis occidentalis were also recorded. Only four of the taxa had an endozoochory syndrome. The plant taxa dispersed varied at two different spatial scales, with minor but significant differences between samples from sites separated by less than 1 km, and major differences between the two regions separated by c. 220 km. Synthesis. This is a unique study of the spatial variation in plants dispersed by endozoochory by a migratory waterfowl species, with a high taxonomic resolution and the first demonstration of avian endozoochory of ferns. We recorded eight taxa not previously reported as dispersed by mallards, showing how more empirical studies are essential, so we can understand which plants are dispersed by migratory birds. We found evidence that networks of interactions between granivorous waterbird vectors and dispersed plants vary spatially.

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“…To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to compare the retention time, survival and viability of the propagules of two invertebrates at the same time. Various studies have carried this out with seeds (Espinar et al. , 2004; Brochet et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparing the potential for dispersal via waterbirds of a native and an invasive brine shrimp

et al. 2012

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SUMMARY1. Migratory waterbirds are likely to have a major role in the spread of many exotic aquatic invertebrates by passive dispersal. However, in the field, this has so far only been confirmed in the case of the American brine shrimp Artemia franciscana, which is spreading quickly around the Mediterranean region. 2. We compared experimentally the capacity of A. franciscana and the native brine shrimp Artemia parthenogenetica to disperse via migratory shorebirds. After Artemia resting eggs (cysts) were fed to Redshank Tringa totanus and Dunlin Calidris alpina, we compared the proportion that survived gut passage, their hatchability and their retention time within the gut. We also tested the ability of cysts to stick to the feathers of Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa. 3. The proportion of ingested cysts retrieved from faeces was the same for each Artemia species (8%), and there were no significant differences in retention time (mean 1.2 h and maximum 10 h for A. parthenogenetica, 1.4 and 12 h for A. franciscana) or hatchability (11% versus 14%). The two shorebird species showed similar retention times and retrieval rates, but cysts recovered from Dunlin had a significantly higher hatchability. Only one of the 1000 A. parthenogenetica cysts and three of the 1000 A. franciscana cysts stuck to feathers. 4. These results indicate that both non-native and native brine shrimps have a similar high capacity for endozoochory via birds, and that the invasiveness of A. franciscana is probably explained by its competitive superiority owing to high fecundity and release from cestode parasitism. Owing to their different migratory behaviour, Redshank and Dunlin are likely to have different roles as brine shrimp vectors. Brine shrimps provide a suitable model for understanding the role of birds in the dispersal of exotic aquatic invertebrates.

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Helophyte germination in a Mediterranean salt marsh: Gut-passage by ducks changes seed response to salinity

Cited by 12 publications

References 27 publications

Seed storage conditions change the germination pattern of clonal growth plants in Mediterranean salt marshes

Seed storage conditions change the germination pattern of clonal growth plants in Mediterranean salt marshes

Endozoochory of aquatic ferns and angiosperms by mallards in Central Europe

Comparing the potential for dispersal via waterbirds of a native and an invasive brine shrimp

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