Increased resource availability prevents the disruption of key ecological interactions in disturbed habitats

Fontúrbel, Francisco E.; Salazar, Daniela A.; Medel, Rodrigo

doi:10.1002/ecs2.1768

Cited by 38 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 50 publications

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“…Thus, flower and fruit availability of Aristotelia chilensis , Rhaphithamnus spinosus, and Ugni molinae , the most common species in our study area, decreased in one order of magnitude during the dry summer compared to the average summer (Fontúrbel et al. ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

“…Also, the number of flowers and ripe fruits of the accompanying flora (mainly composed of A. chilensis , R. spinosus , Ugni molinae , Lapageria rosea , Mitraria coccinea, and Fuchsia magellanica ) was quantified along with the mistletoe, as they represent the flowering/fruiting neighborhood, which has a significant effect in attracting nectar and pulp consumers (Fontúrbel et al. ), as these species respond to discrete resource clumps (Morales et al. ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…, freely available at https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.11385), in addition to data from 48 mistletoes and their accompanying flora for the 2015 summer (data from Fontúrbel et al. , freely available at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.4654240). In each case, we counted the number of open flowers and ripe fruits of T. corymbosus and the nearby flowering/fruiting plants.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this study, we aimed to assess the cascade effects of climate change on pollination and seed dispersal interactions. Using a specialized mistletoe-pollinator-seed disperser system (Font urbel et al 2017b) as a study model, we compared: (1) flower and fruit production, and (2) pollination and seed dispersal interaction rates during an average and an exceptionally dry austral summer. This dry summer was the consequence of the most prolonged and intense megadrought of the XXI century in central-southern Chile (Boisier et al 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The cascade impacts of climate change could threaten key ecological interactions

et al. 2018

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Climate change is triggering ecological responses all over the world as a result of frequent, prolonged droughts. It could also affect ecological interactions, particularly pollination and seed dispersal, which play a key role in plant reproduction. We used a tripartite interaction with a mistletoe, its pollinator and its disperser animals to gain insight into this issue. We studied flower and fruit production, and visitation rates during average (2012) and dry (2015) austral summers. Drought in our study area affected precipitation and soil water availability. Although pollinator visits did not significantly differ in these summers, during the dry summer flower and fruit production experienced an important decline, as did seed disperser visits. Also, mistletoe mortality increased from 12% in 2012 to 23% in 2015. This empirical evidence suggests that the cascade effects of climate change may indirectly be hindering ecological interactions in the Valdivian temperate rainforest ecosystem we studied. Long‐term research is essential to provide the knowledge necessary to understand how key ecological processes may be affected in a changing world.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The cascade impacts of climate change could threaten key ecological interactions

et al. 2018

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“…Indeed, an increase in resource availability can prevent the loss of mutualistic interactions in fragmented landscapes (Fontúrbel et al. ).…”

Section: Conclusion and Future Perspectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Uncovering mechanisms of bird seed dispersal in semiarid environments to help to restore them

et al. 2019

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Mediterranean semiarid areas are suffering a growing process of agricultural abandonment that represents a challenge for restoration. Limited seed arrival, drought, and scarce suitable microhabitats in oldfields make plant colonization difficult. Restoration through ecological succession can take advantage of increased seed dispersal through animal vectors, but precise knowledge of the factors involved (e.g., seed disperser behavior, rate of effective recruitment of dispersed seeds, and effectiveness of the applied restoration structures) is critical. Otherwise, efforts to foster the processes of interest may be misdirected. We propose and test a methodological approach based on the combination of ecological (bird censuses and camera trapping) and genetic tools (DNA barcoding), to assess seed dispersal of fleshy‐fruited shrub species by birds toward oldfields in one of the driest areas of southeastern Spain. We assisted natural restoration with artificial bird attractors (perches and water troughs) in two abandoned areas with different ages. Furthermore, we provided microenvironments (rocks) and prevented herbivory (by fencing) to enhance plant recruitment. Results revealed strong differences among assessment techniques in the characterization of dispersal interactions. While bird censuses only informed about frugivores occurrence, camera trapping and barcoding enabled the quantification of species responses. Attractors proved to be effective in triggering a quantifiable seed arrival, but no subsequent plant establishment occurred. We highlight the importance of implementing different techniques to characterize and assess avian seed disperser performance. Water provision increased seed arrival, but our design failed to enhance plant recruitment. The next logical step in the restoration of Mediterranean oldfields is the optimization of conditions for seed germination and successful plant establishment.

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Effects of selective logging on genetic diversity and population structure of a keystone mistletoe

Fontúrbel,

González‐Ancin,

Rojas‐Hernández

et al. 2023

Population Ecology

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The effects of habitat degradation remain not fully understood. A recent study reported low effects of habitat degradation on plant genetic diversity but indicates that reduction in habitat quality could impact it as well as gene flow indirectly via ecological interactions. Selective logging is a way of habitat degradation, but studies examining its effects on plant genetic diversity on non‐logged forest plant species are relatively scarce. Using 3470 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms, we assess the effects of different selective logging intensities on the genetic diversity of 66 individuals of a keystone mistletoe (Tristerix corymbosus). We also examined the possible relationship with its seed disperser (Dromiciops gliroides) abundance in three sites of the temperate rainforests of southern Chile, with different levels of selective logging intensity. Our results show that selective logging increases allelic richness and inbreeding in this mistletoe; inbreeding increased with selective logging intensity, and heterozygosity decreased with D. gliroides abundance. While wood extraction seems to positively affect T. corymbosus genetic diversity, its long‐term consequences—such as increased inbreeding—are yet to be assessed in future studies.

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Increased resource availability prevents the disruption of key ecological interactions in disturbed habitats

Cited by 38 publications

References 50 publications

The cascade impacts of climate change could threaten key ecological interactions

The cascade impacts of climate change could threaten key ecological interactions

Uncovering mechanisms of bird seed dispersal in semiarid environments to help to restore them

Effects of selective logging on genetic diversity and population structure of a keystone mistletoe

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