Removal of mesquite seeds by small rodents in the Monte desert, Argentina

Campos, Claudia M.; Giannoni, Stella M.; Taraborelli, Paula Andrea; Borghi, Carlos E.

doi:10.1016/j.jaridenv.2006.10.002

Cited by 25 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…In a previous study carried out in the field we found that these rodent species removed, transported and hoarded pods and seeds of Prosopis flexuosa (Campos et al 2007). In a previous study carried out in the field we found that these rodent species removed, transported and hoarded pods and seeds of Prosopis flexuosa (Campos et al 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Hoarding patterns of sigmodontine rodent species in the Central Monte Desert (Argentina)

et al. 2012

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Hoarding food is an important strategy of rodents in desert environments characterized by unpredictable and poor food resource availability. In the Monte Desert, Prosopis produces abundant food, unevenly in time and space, in the form of pods and seeds. Sigmodontine rodents (Graomys griseoflavus,Akodon molinae, Eligmodontia typus and Calomys musculinus) use Prosopis propagules extensively, and they could be predators or dispersers depending on how they handle and where they leave the propagules. The objectives of this study were: (1) to know what rodent species transported propagules; (2) to evaluate what hoarding pattern was used by species that transport propagules (larder and scatterhoarding); and (3) to analyse in which condition were propagules left by the rodent species, both at the food source and in caches. Our results showed that all four species transported propagules, with G. griseoflavus and E. typus being the species that carried more seeds. Our study supported the evidence that food caching is common among species and that many species both larderhoard and scatterhoard food. Graomys griseoflavus and A. molinae, the largest species, larderhoarded more than did the smaller E. typus. These results uphold the hypothesis that larger species will show greater propensity to larderhoard than smaller species. Considering the interaction between seed-hoarding patterns and plants, E. typus was the species that could most improve germination because it scatterhoarded propagules and left seeds out of pods. In contrast, G. griseoflavus could have a negative impact on plant populations because this was the species that predated more seeds and larderhoarded a high percentage of them. The smallest C. musculinus was the species that transported propagules least, and left them as seeds inside pods or pod segments mainly at the food source, which makes seeds more vulnerable to predation.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Hoarding patterns of sigmodontine rodent species in the Central Monte Desert (Argentina)

et al. 2012

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“…Manipulation and ingestion of food (e.g. pods and seeds) are also likely to affect seed viability and germination (Campos et al, 2007). In the central Monte, ''algarrobo'' (P. flexuosa) pods suffer high pressure from ants and mammals (Claver, 2000;Milesi and Lopez de Casenave, 2004;Villagra et al, 2002).…”

Section: Plant-animal Interactionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, the seeds contained in the fecal pellets of Dolichotis seem to be less vulnerable to predation, promoting greater longevity in the soil (Villagra et al, 2002). Pod removal by small rodents showed no signs of direct harmful effects as most seeds maintained their endocarp undamaged (Campos et al, 2007). Other animal-plant interactions such as gnawing and cuttings of vegetation (e.g.…”

Section: Plant-animal Interactionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The mammals of the Monte Desert revisited

Ojeda

Tabeni

2009

Journal of Arid Environments

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“…). Defined as storage of food for later use in multiple, dispersed caches of one or a few items (Morris, ), scatter‐hoarding and its associated granivory help to regulate seedling recruitment in trees (reviewed by Vander Wall, , ; Vander Wall & Beck, ), shrubs (Boyd & Brum, ; Duval, Jackson & Whitford, ; Campos et al ., ), vines (Borchert, ), and other plants (e.g. Price & Jenkins, ; Wada & Uemura, ; Longland, ; Longland et al ., ; Kelt, ; Waitman, Vander Wall & Esque, ; Barga & Vander Wall, ) worldwide (Eurasia and the Americas: see reviews above; Africa: Kuechly et al ., ; Midgley et al ., ; Australia: Murphy, Garkaklis & Hardy, ; Theimer, ; Malaysia: Van der Meer et al ., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seed fate and decision‐making processes in scatter‐hoarding rodents

2015

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A mechanistic understanding of seed movement and survival is important both for the development of theoretical models of plant population dynamics, spatial spread, and community assembly, and for the conservation and management of plant communities under global change. While models of wind-borne seed dispersal have advanced rapidly over the past two decades, models for animal-mediated dispersal have failed to make similar progress due to their dependence on interspecific interactions and complex, context-dependent behaviours. In this review, we synthesize the literature on seed dispersal and consumption by scatter-hoarding, granivorous rodents and outline a strategy for development of a general mechanistic seed-fate model in these systems. Our review decomposes seed dispersal and survival into six distinct sub-processes (exposure, harvest, allocation, preparation, placement, and recovery), and identifies nine intermediate (latent) variables that link physical state variables (e.g. seed and animal traits, habitat structure) to decisions regarding seed allocation to hoarding or consumption, cache placement and management, and deployment of radicle-pruning or embryo excision behaviours. We also highlight specific areas where research on these intermediate relationships is needed to improve our mechanistic understanding of scatter-hoarder behaviour. Finally, we outline a strategy to combine detailed studies on individual functional relationships with seed-tracking experiments in an iterative, hierarchical Bayesian framework to construct, refine, and test mechanistic models for context-dependent, scatter-hoarder-mediated seed fate.

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Removal of mesquite seeds by small rodents in the Monte desert, Argentina

Cited by 25 publications

References 34 publications

Hoarding patterns of sigmodontine rodent species in the Central Monte Desert (Argentina)

Hoarding patterns of sigmodontine rodent species in the Central Monte Desert (Argentina)

The mammals of the Monte Desert revisited

Seed fate and decision‐making processes in scatter‐hoarding rodents

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