The Shape of Bird- and Bat-Generated Seed Shadows Around a Tropical Fruiting Tree

Thomas, Donald W.; Cloutier, Danielle; Provencher, Marc; Houle, Christian

doi:10.2307/2388330

Cited by 55 publications

(35 citation statements)

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“…The effect of distance on the number of regenerating individuals in our study concurs with results from studies documenting seed rain from the primary forest declining relatively rapidly with distance from the edge (Thomas et al . 1988; Willson & Crome 1989; Gorchov et al .…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Alternative successional pathways in the Amazon Basin

et al. 2001

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Summary1 Successional pathways were evaluated in two Amazonian secondary forest communities with different land-use histories. Sites which had been clearcut without subsequent use were dominated after 6-10 years by the pioneer genus Cecropia (Moraceae), whereas those used for pasture before abandonment were dominated by the pioneer genus Vismia (Clusiaceae). 2 There were 58 plant families and 300 species identified in Cecropia stands but only 43 families and 147 species were identified in Vismia stands. There were 77 species in common (Sorensen similarity = 0.34). 3 Differences in species number and composition of recruiting individuals between stand types were significant and were a function of the dominant pioneer genus, stem density, distance from primary forest, and land-use history. Regeneration under Vismia canopy was dominated by small Vismia individuals (25% of plants < 2 cm basal diameter), whereas regeneration under Cecropia canopy was more diverse and did not include a single young Cecropia . 4 The number of regenerating plants in both secondary stand types dropped off sharply with distance (5, 25, 50, and 100 m) from primary forest, suggesting that seed dispersal was limiting plant recruitment. Species richness also declined with distance and could be explained by the decline in plant density. Species richness in Cecropia stands increased linearly with plant density, but in Vismia stands the richness increase with density was a decelerating function. 5 For the central Amazon, secondary succession involves a more rapid return of primary forest species if deforestation is not followed by use as pasture before abandonment.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Alternative successional pathways in the Amazon Basin

et al. 2001

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“…Intriguingly, this biased dispersal may simultaneously increase the likelihood that propagules arrive in the forest interiors, where some perform better (Jules and Rathcke 1999, but see Marino et al 1997), while decreasing the likelihood that propagules emigrate from and between forests. This is the first demonstration of edge-sensitive dispersal in ant-dispersed plants, although this phenomenon been noted in bird-and bat-dispersed plants (Thomas et al 1988;Gorchov et al 1993;Ingle 2003).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 69%

Forest edges and fire ants alter the seed shadow of an ant-dispersed plant

Ness

2004

Oecologia

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Exotic species invade fragmented, edge-rich habitats readily, yet the distinct impacts of habitat edges and invaders on native biota are rarely distinguished. Both appear detrimental to ant-dispersed plants such as bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis. Working in northeastern Georgia (USA), an area characterized by a rich ant-dispersed flora, fragmented forests, and invasions by the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, I monitored the interactions between ants and S. canadensis seeds in uninvaded forest interiors, uninvaded forest edges, invaded forest interiors, and invaded forest edges. I observed 95% of the seed dispersal events that occurred within the 60-min observation intervals. Seed collection rates were similar among all four (habitat x invasion) groups. The presence of invasive ants had a strong effect on seed dispersal distance: S. invicta collected most seeds in invaded sites, but was a poorer disperser than four of five native ant taxa. Habitat type (interior versus edge) had no effect on seed dispersal distance, but it had a strong effect on seed dispersal direction. Dispersal towards the edge was disproportionately rare in uninvaded forest edges, and ants in those habitats moved the average dispersed seed approximately 70 cm away from that edge. Dispersal direction was also skewed away from the edge in uninvaded forest interiors and invaded forest edges, albeit non-significantly. This biased dispersal may help explain the rarity of myrmecochorous plants in younger forests and edges, and their poor ability to disperse between fragments. This is the first demonstration that forest edges and S. invicta invasion influence seed dispersal destination and distance, respectively. These forces act independently.

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“…0.5 to several km) when they change feeding areas or return to their day roosts (Heithaus & Fleming 1978, McCracken & Bradbury 1981. Birds and bats sometimes differ in their seed deposition patterns in that birds are more likely to defecate seeds under fruiting trees or perches than are bats (Charles-Dominique 1986, de Foresta et al 1984, Thomas 1982, Thomas et al 1988). …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phenology, seed dispersal, and recruitment inCecropia peltata(Moraceae) in Costa Rican tropical dry forest

Fleming

Williams

1990

J. Trop. Ecol.

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We studied the seed dispersal ecology of the Neotropical pioneer tree Cecropia peltata L. (Moraceae) in tropical dry forest by documenting its (1) fruiting phenology, (2) rates of visitation by vertebrate frugivores, and (3) rate of recruitment of juveniles in different habitats at Santa Rosa National Park in northwestern Costa Rica.At Santa Rosa, C. peltata is a common but patchily-distributed plant. Fruiting in females is seasonal, and fruit availability peaks in June through August (the early wet season). Females bear a few ripe fruit per day over a 4-5 month, fruiting period. At least 28 vertebrate species (15 diurnal and 13 nocturnal species) eat Cecropia fruit; equal numbers of ripe fruit are removed during the night and day. Owing to their more gentle treatment of seeds in the gut, birds and bats probably are more effective dispersal agents than monkeys. The recruitment rate of juveniles into already established populations was about 0.8 ha" 1 y" 1 compared with a rate of 176 ha' 1 y" 1 during the colonization of a cleared roadside.

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The Shape of Bird- and Bat-Generated Seed Shadows Around a Tropical Fruiting Tree

Cited by 55 publications

References 0 publications

Alternative successional pathways in the Amazon Basin

Alternative successional pathways in the Amazon Basin

Forest edges and fire ants alter the seed shadow of an ant-dispersed plant

Phenology, seed dispersal, and recruitment inCecropia peltata(Moraceae) in Costa Rican tropical dry forest

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