Seed dispersal effectiveness: A comparison of four bird species feeding on seeds of invasive Acacia cyclops in South Africa

Biotic Interactions as Mediators of Biological Invasions: Insights from South Africa

“…LDD facilitates establishment far from parent plants where competition, predation and/or fungal attack might be lower (Chimera and Drake 2010;Jordaan et al 2011). Birds are important vectors for LDD of plants, as they spread ingested seeds between roosting and foraging sites (Mokotjomela et al 2013c(Mokotjomela et al , 2016. Behavioural patterns, such as local and regional migrations, may also influence the extent of LDD (Mokotjomela et al 2013c).…”

“…Generally, frugivorous birds and mammals determine the effectiveness of dispersing the seeds of alien plants, i.e. successful dispersal and germination (Mokotjomela et al 2016). Indeed, native frugivorous species are often responsible for the increased invasiveness of many alien plants in South Africa (Jordaan et al 2011;Wilson and Downs 2012;Thabethe et al 2015;Mokotjomela et al 2016).…”

“…Indeed, native frugivorous species are often responsible for the increased invasiveness of many alien plants in South Africa (Jordaan et al 2011;Wilson and Downs 2012;Thabethe et al 2015;Mokotjomela et al 2016). For example, for the highly invasive Acacia cyclops, germination is greatly enhanced following ingestion of its seed by two native frugivorous birds, the Knysna Turaco, Tauraco corythaix, and the Red-winged Starling (Mokotjomela et al 2015(Mokotjomela et al , 2016. Similarly, Thabethe et al (2015) reported enhanced seed germination for S. mauritianum, C. camphora, P. guajava, and M. alba as a result of ingestion by two native Tauraco species.…”

Interspecific competition in germination of bird-dispersed seeds in a habitat with sparse tree vegetation in South Africa

“…The effectiveness of seed dispersal is a product of the quality and quantity components of the multiple vertebrate vector species that consume fruits and seeds of different plant species in each habitat (Mokotjomela et al, 2016;Schupp et al, 2010;Schupp, 1993). The germination of ingested seeds represents the quality component, which is regarded as more in uential in plant recruitment than the quantity component (Mokotjomela et al, 2016;Schupp et al, 2010;Schupp, 1993).…”

“…The effectiveness of seed dispersal is a product of the quality and quantity components of the multiple vertebrate vector species that consume fruits and seeds of different plant species in each habitat (Mokotjomela et al, 2016;Schupp et al, 2010;Schupp, 1993). The germination of ingested seeds represents the quality component, which is regarded as more in uential in plant recruitment than the quantity component (Mokotjomela et al, 2016;Schupp et al, 2010;Schupp, 1993). Avian frugivores occasionally modify the rate of germination and enhance the chances of seeds' survival (Kleyheeg, 2018;Mokotjomela et al, 2016Mokotjomela et al, & 2015Thabethe et al, 2015;Fricke et al, 2013;Mokotjomela, 2012; Barnea et al, 1991).…”