Jackfruit trees as seed attractors and nurses of early recruitment of native plant species in a secondary forest in Brazil

Abstract

The Atlantic Forest is one of the most threatened tropical forests in the world, being drastically reduced, fragmented and disturbed. The drastic process of anthropic occupation and exploitation of this biome has, in many cases, led to the introduction of exotic species, such as the jackfruits (Artocarpus heterophyllus). However, studies on the in uence of jackfruits on the native biota are still scarce. Here we investigated the in uence of fruit trees on the seed rain and early recruitment of seedlings in native remnants, comparing these patterns with those observed for a native species tapirira (Tapirira guianensis), which similarly to jackfruits, produces many fruits thruought the year, attracting a variety of frugivore species. Seed rain and seedlings observed under the jackfruits were both more abundant and equally rich to the assemblages reported under the native tapirira trees. In both species, co-speci cs comprise a large part of the number of seeds (> 70%) and seedlings (> 45%) individuals and, although they attract similar seed assemblages, seedling composition diverge, particularly when co-speci cs are excluded. We reported that jackfruits can attract a diverse seed and seedling assemblages, and we nd no evidence that the presence of jackfruits negatively affects the arrival and initial recruitment of native plant species in the study area. These results should be analysed with caution but considered when evaluating costs and bene ts of management options to control exotic species.

The EICAT+ framework enables classification of positive impacts of alien taxa on native biodiversity

“…The necessity of conducting such a cost-benefit analysis has been recently stressed by Rees and colleagues [95], who suggested that the choice of removing dingoes (Canis lupus dingo) in some parts of Australia should be assessed case by case, as these apex predators increase the abundance of native small mammal species and a native owl species by suppressing 2 alien mesopredators (Vulpes vulpes and F. catus). Similar considerations have been made by Gomes and colleagues [96], who noted the need for careful evaluation of management decisions regarding alien jackfruit trees (Artocarpus heterophyllus) in a secondary forest of Brazil, where these plants contribute to the maintenance of frugivore populations and promote seed rain and seedlings of native plants. Second, the identification of alien taxa that mitigate the harmful impacts of other alien taxa can be used to design adaptive management strategies with a specific removal order.…”

“…catus ). Similar considerations have been made by Gomes and colleagues [ 96 ], who noted the need for careful evaluation of management decisions regarding alien jackfruit trees ( Artocarpus heterophyllus ) in a secondary forest of Brazil, where these plants contribute to the maintenance of frugivore populations and promote seed rain and seedlings of native plants. Second, the identification of alien taxa that mitigate the harmful impacts of other alien taxa can be used to design adaptive management strategies with a specific removal order.…”

Ecological Impacts of Exotic Species on Native Seed Dispersal Systems: A Systematic Review

“…The potentials of exotic species for forest regeneration and restoration of degraded habitats are explained by different mechanisms ( Table 2 ). For example, exotic fruit trees have been shown to facilitate seed rain and seedling recruitment of early and late successional native plant species, showing great potential for forest restoration management [ 23 , 46 ]. Furthermore, fruit trees in abandoned farmlands serve as seed disperser attractants, and facilitate seedling recruitment of forest native species [ 21 ].…”