The endemic Mediterranean dwarf palm boosts the recolonization of old-fields: Implications for restoration

Garrote, Pedro J.; Castilla, Antonio R.; Fedriani, José M.

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109478

Cited by 11 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 75 publications

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“…However, most of these studies have focused on a single type of interaction at a time, usually studying either mutualistic or antagonistic interactions among species of particular taxonomic groups [ 9 ]. Examples of such interspecific interactions that have been most often investigated separately are competitive interactions among vertebrates [e.g., 10 , 11 ] facilitative interactions among plants [e.g., 12 , 13 ] and mutualistic/antagonistic plant-animal interactions [e.g., 8 , 14 ]. Many of these interaction types take place within the same habitats [ 15 – 17 ] and thus, species involved in one interaction type (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interspecific interactions among functionally diverse frugivores and their outcomes for plant reproduction: A new approach based on camera-trap data and tailored null models

et al. 2020

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The study of plant-frugivore interactions is essential to understand the ecology and evolution of many plant communities. However, very little is known about how interactions among frugivores indirectly affect plant reproductive success. In this study, we examined direct interactions among vertebrate frugivores sharing the same fruit resources. Then, we inferred how the revealed direct interspecific interactions could lead to indirect (positive or negative) effects on reproductive success of fleshy fruited plants. To do so, we developed a new analytical approach that combines camera trap data (spatial location, visitor species, date and time, activity) and tailored null models that allowed us to infer spatial-temporal interactions (attraction, avoidance or indifference) between pairs of frugivore species. To illustrate our approach, we chose to study the system composed by the Mediterranean dwarf palm, Chamaerops humilis, the Iberian pear tree, Pyrus bourgaeana, and their shared functionally diverse assemblages of vertebrate frugivores in a Mediterranean area of SW Spain. We first assessed the extent to which different pairs of frugivore species tend to visit the same or different fruiting individual plants. Then, for pairs of species that used the same individual plants, we evaluated their spatial-temporal relationship. Our first step showed, for instance, that some prey frugivore species (e.g. lagomorphs) tend to avoid those C. humilis individuals that were most visited by their predators (e.g. red foxes). Also, the second step revealed temporal attraction between large wild and domestic frugivore ungulates (e.g. red deer, cows) and medium-sized frugivores (e.g. red foxes) suggesting that large mammals could facilitate the C. humilis and P. bourgaeana exploitation to other smaller frugivores by making fruits more easily accessible. Finally, our results allowed us to identify direct interaction pathways, that revealed how the mutualistic and antagonistic relations between animal associates derived into indirect effects on both plants seed dispersal success. For instance, we found that large-sized seed predators (e.g. ungulates) had a direct positive effect on the likelihood of visits by legitimate seed dispersers (e.g. red foxes) to both fleshy fruited plants. Then, seed predators showed an indirect positive effect on the plants' reproductive success.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interspecific interactions among functionally diverse frugivores and their outcomes for plant reproduction: A new approach based on camera-trap data and tailored null models

et al. 2020

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“…when the abundance of beneficiary species is low). Indeed, we have encouraged restorers to plant late-successional species beneath C. humilis for triggering nucleation processes (Garrote et al 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These study areas are dominated by pastureland and scattered patches of Mediterranean scrubland. Their original state (Dehesas with Mediterranean scrubland understory) was strongly disturbed, having a well-known intense human-management history (Garrote et al 2019). Briefly, Matasgordas was used for cow grazing and is being (re)colonized by woody native plants since 1996, Reserva was used for grazing and is being (re)colonized since 1964, and Santa Rita is being (re)colonized from the 1990s when intensive cultivations were abandoned.…”

Section: Study Sites and Nurse Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To this end, we examined whether the numbers of spatial associations between 4 nurse species and 10 woody beneficiary species were proportional to the relative abundance of each nurse species in three Mediterranean human‐disturbed areas. Specifically, we expected species‐ and site‐specific differences in the level of functional importance of nurse species as well as a greater functional importance of some species in sites at early stages of the (re)colonization process (Garrote et al 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessing the relative importance of nurse species on Mediterranean human‐altered areas

Garrote

Castilla

Fedriani

2021

Restoration Ecology

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One advantageous strategy for the restoration of human-disturbed landscapes is the use of ecologically "important" species such as nurse plants. We propose a field-based approach to measure the functional importance of nurse species (i.e. their relative facilitative effects on other plant species) and to identify which species will yield more efficient revegetation programs regarding their abundance. We identified 30 nurse-beneficiary spatial associations, with the functional importance varying largely among four nurse species and three human-disturbed areas. A Mediterranean endemic palm was the most important nurse species, thus showing its potential key role in revegetation programs by promoting spatial associations with latesuccessional plant species. We encourage restorers to use nurse species with a disproportionate (regarding their relative abundance) impact on ecosystems to save additional resources.

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“… d Data from Garrote et al (2019a). These spatial associations were detected using Spatial Point Pattern Analysis techniques. …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coping with changing plant–plant interactions in restoration ecology: Effect of species, site, and individual variation

Garrote

Castilla

Fedriani

2022

Applied Vegetation Science

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Question Nurse–beneficiary plant interactions are often used to restore degraded habitats. However, whether and how shifts in plant–plant interactions along the facilitation–competition continuum alter revegetation success has been seldom considered. To test whether and how shifts in plant–plant interactions (due to woody species identity, study site, early life stage, and individual nurse) might alter plant recruitment and thus the success of revegetation projects, we chose a system comprising the Mediterranean dwarf palm (Chamaerops humilis) and seven common woody plant species. Location Two human‐degraded sites within Doñana National Park (southwestern Spain). Methods We carried out several well‐replicated field experiments to compare plant performance (seed survival, seedling emergence, seedling survival, seedling recruitment) in the presence and absence of Chamaerops humilis. Results Chamaerops humilis had marked effects on the performance of woody species that, however, changed among life stages. Depending on woody species identity, seed survival was up to 193 times greater in adjacent open spaces than beneath Chamaerops humilis. Conversely, seedling survival and recruitment were up to 19 times greater beneath Chamaerops humilis than in open spaces. Importantly, none of the studied woody species showed greater accumulated recruitment in open spaces than beneath Chamaerops humilis. Interestingly, we found strong inter‐individual palm variation in the sign and strength of their effect on woody plant performance. Conclusions We found strong seed–seedling conflicts the strength of which was species‐specific. The strong inter‐individual palm variation depicts a facilitation–competition continuum with important implications for restoration. We propose several management recommendations across different hierarchical levels (i.e., from individuals to communities) that may increase plant recruitment and therefore the success of revegetation projects. Our results are particularly relevant for restoring arid, semi‐arid and alpine landscapes worldwide where the nurse–beneficiary plant interactions are critical to ameliorating stressful conditions.

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The endemic Mediterranean dwarf palm boosts the recolonization of old-fields: Implications for restoration

Cited by 11 publications

References 75 publications

Interspecific interactions among functionally diverse frugivores and their outcomes for plant reproduction: A new approach based on camera-trap data and tailored null models

Interspecific interactions among functionally diverse frugivores and their outcomes for plant reproduction: A new approach based on camera-trap data and tailored null models

Assessing the relative importance of nurse species on Mediterranean human‐altered areas

Coping with changing plant–plant interactions in restoration ecology: Effect of species, site, and individual variation

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