Long-term demographic consequences of a seed dispersal disruption

Traveset, Anna; González‐Varo, Juan P.; Valido, Alfredo

doi:10.1098/rspb.2012.0535

Cited by 86 publications

(72 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Disruptions of mutualistic systems (pollination and seed dispersal) have often been documented, but their ecological implications have remained less extensively studied (Traveset and Richardson 2006;Rodríguez-Cabal et al 2011;Markl et al 2012;Traveset et al 2012). For example, mutualistic disruptions can induce cascading effects on biodiversity, but they remain quite unknown in an ecological context (Aslan et al 2013), especially on islands.…”

mentioning

confidence: 98%

The unnoticed effect of a top predator on complex mutualistic ecological interactions

et al. 2014

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confidence: 98%

The unnoticed effect of a top predator on complex mutualistic ecological interactions

et al. 2014

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“…Defaunation‐mediated downsizing of frugivorous vertebrates may trigger cascading effects with a myriad of consequences for demography (Cordeiro & Howe, ; Pérez‐Méndez et al., ; Traveset & Riera, ; Traveset et al., ) and genetics of plant populations (Calviño‐Cancela et al., ; Giombini et al, ; Pacheco & Simonetti, ; Pérez‐Méndez et al., ; Voigt et al., ). Here, we demonstrate that when seed dispersal interactions are disrupted (La Gomera) or functionally impaired (Tenerife), the genetic consequences may spread well beyond the local population scale.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Persisting in defaunated landscapes: Reduced plant population connectivity after seed dispersal collapse

2017

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Defaunation of large‐bodied frugivores could be causing severe losses of crucial ecosystem functions such as seed dispersal. The immediate ecological consequences may include alteration or even collapse of seed‐mediated gene flow affecting plant population connectivity, with impacts on the regional scale distribution of genetic variation. Yet, these far‐reaching consequences of defaunation remain understudied. Here, we tested whether human‐induced defaunation of the Canarian frugivorous lizards (Gallotia, Lacertidae) altered within‐island population connectivity and the amount and large‐scale distribution of genetic variation of Neochamaelea pulverulenta (Rutaceae), which relies exclusively on these lizards for seed dispersal. Our study system defines a lizard downsizing gradient with three contrasted ecological scenarios (islands) with relatively optimal (Gran Canaria; large‐sized lizards), suboptimal (Tenerife; medium) and collapsed seed dispersal processes (La Gomera; small). We extensively sampled individual plant genotypes from 80 populations spanning the full geographical range of the plant to examine their genetic diversity, population‐genetic network topologies, and the patterns of isolation both by distance (IBD) and resistance (IBR) across these three ecological scenarios. Plant genetic diversity appeared unaffected by defaunation‐mediated downsizing of frugivorous lizards. However, we found a reduced overall plant population connectivity together with an increased isolation by distance within the most defaunated islands (La Gomera and, to a lesser extent, Tenerife) when compared with the scenario preserving the functionality of lizard‐mediated seed dispersal (Gran Canaria). The results, with a significant effect of lizard downsizing, were robust when controlling for biotic/abiotic differences among the three islands by means of isolation by resistance models (IBR). Synthesis. Our results provide valuable insights into the far‐reaching consequences of the deterioration of mutualisms on plant population dynamics over very large spatial scales. Conservation of large‐bodied frugivores is, thus, essential because their irreplaceable mutualistic dispersal services maintain an extensive movement of seeds across the landscape, crucial for maintaining the genetic cohesiveness of metapopulations and the adaptive potential of plant species across their entire geographical range.

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“…[15], [17], [37], [38]). Even though seed dispersal disruptions are increasingly being reported from different ecosystems, few studies yet provide empirical evidence of the long-term costs of disruptions [39]. Traveset et al [39], however, showed that it can lead to species regression and in the long term, even to local extinctions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gastropod Seed Dispersal: An Invasive Slug Destroys Far More Seeds in Its Gut than Native Gastropods

et al. 2013

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Seed dispersal is one of the most important mechanisms shaping biodiversity, and animals are one of the key dispersal vectors. Animal seed dispersal can directly or indirectly be altered by invasive organisms through the establishment of new or the disruption of existing seed dispersal interactions. So far it is known for a few gastropod species that they ingest and defecate viable plant seeds and consequently act as seed dispersers, referred to as gastropodochory. In a multi-species experiment, consisting of five different plant species and four different gastropod species, we tested with a fully crossed design whether gastropodochory is a general mechanism across native gastropod species, and whether it is altered by the invasive alien slug species Arion lusitanicus. Specifically, we hypothesized that a) native gastropod species consume the seeds from all tested plant species in equal numbers (have no preference), b) the voracious invasive alien slug A. lusitanicus – similarly to its herbivore behaviour – consumes a higher amount of seeds than native gastropods, and that c) seed viability is equal among different gastropod species after gut passage. As expected all tested gastropod species consumed all tested plant species. Against our expectation there was a difference in the amount of consumed seeds, with the largest and native mollusk Helix pomatia consuming most seeds, followed by the invasive slug and the other gastropods. Seed damage and germination rates did not differ after gut passage through different native species, but seed damage was significantly higher after gut passage through the invasive slug A. lusitanicus, and their germination rates were significantly reduced.

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Long-term demographic consequences of a seed dispersal disruption

Cited by 86 publications

References 29 publications

The unnoticed effect of a top predator on complex mutualistic ecological interactions

The unnoticed effect of a top predator on complex mutualistic ecological interactions

Persisting in defaunated landscapes: Reduced plant population connectivity after seed dispersal collapse

Gastropod Seed Dispersal: An Invasive Slug Destroys Far More Seeds in Its Gut than Native Gastropods

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