Ungulates, rodents, shrubs: interactions in a diverse Mediterranean ecosystem

Muñoz, Alberto; Bonal, Raúl; Dı́az, Mario

doi:10.1016/j.baae.2008.01.003

Cited by 99 publications

(97 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Esta ausencia de reclutamiento podemos atribuirla principalmente al intenso aprovechamiento ganadero de ovino y caprino en semi-extensivo al que ha estado sometido durante ese período. Este mismo síndrome de colapso de la regeneración por excesiva presión de ungulados afecta sin duda a otras especies leñosas que producen frutos carnosos (Muñoz et al 2009). La distribución de frecuencias de edades de los árboles, con unas bien representadas clases de edad entre 35 y 50 años, sugieren que el cambio de manejo que se produjo en la parcela tras el abandono de las labores del olivar y, previsiblemente, antes de que comenzase el intenso aprovechamiento ganadero, supuso una ventana de tiempo durante la cual la regeneración natural del piruétano se vio muy favorecida, estableciéndose muchos individuos que con el paso del tiempo han contribuido a consolidar las actuales clases de edad.…”

Section: Discussionunclassified

Structure of ages, sizes and growth in a local population of the Iberian wild pear (Cordoba, Spain)

Arenas‐Castro

Fernández-Haeger

Jordano-Barbudo

2015

ECOS

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Section: Discussionunclassified

Structure of ages, sizes and growth in a local population of the Iberian wild pear (Cordoba, Spain)

Arenas‐Castro

Fernández-Haeger

Jordano-Barbudo

2015

ECOS

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“…So, to reduce the risk of predation, we could expect that small mammals should prefer safer, denser, and higher vegetation microhabitats, which offer shelter and escape possibilities. Thus, studies performed in scrubland habitats in the study area and other areas (MORENO & KUFNER 1988;CAMACHO & MORENO 1989) showed a high abundance of small mammals in this habitat because it offer more refuges for these prey species (MUÑOZ et al 2009). Additionally, the differences in the wildcats faecal marking index among habitats seems to be related to the habitat selection and abundance of their principal prey.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating the function of wildcat faecal marks in relation to the defence of favourable hunting areas

Piñeiro

Barja

2014

Ethology Ecology & Evolution

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Esta es la versión de autor del artículo publicado en: This is an author produced version of a paper published in: To date, there have been no studies of carnivores that have been specifically designed to examine the function of scent marks in trophic resource defence, although several chemical communication studies have discussed other functions of these marks. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that faecal marks deposited by wildcats (Felis silvestris) serve to defend their primary trophic resource, small mammals. Field data were collected over a 2-year period in a protected area in northwestern Spain. To determine the small mammal abundance in different habitat types, a seasonal live trapping campaign was undertaken in deciduous forests, mature pine forests, and scrublands. In each habitat, we trapped in three widely separated UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator) cells. At the same time that the trapping was being performed, transects were conducted on foot along forest roads in each trapping cell and in one adjacent cell to detect fresh wildcat scats that did or did not have a scent-marking function. A scat was considered to have a pressumed marking function when it is located on a conspicuous substrate, above ground level, at a crossroad or in a latrine. The number of faecal marks and the small mammal abundance varied by habitat type but not by seasons. The results of the ANCOVA analysis indicated that small mammal abundance and the habitat type were the factors that explained the largest degrees of variation in the faecal marking index (number of faecal marks in each cell/number of kilometres surveyed in each cell). This result suggests that wildcats defended favourable hunting areas. They mark most often where their main prey lives and so where they spend most time hunting (in areas where their main prey is more abundant). This practice would allow wildcats to protect their main trophic resource and would reduce intraspecific trophic competition.

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“…Jays and wood mice are known as scatter-hoarders and cache most of the acorns individually under the ground surface (Pons and Pausas, 2007a;Perea et al, 2011), which decreases seed predation by ungulates and seed desiccation (Perea et al, 2011). Favoring arboreal seed removal in oaks, which is mainly performed by potential dispersers (jays and rodents), will reduce seed removal on the ground, which is commonly performed by seed predators such as ungulates, limiting natural regeneration (Pulido and Diaz, 2005;Muñoz et al, 2009). Furthermore, shrub cover will increase wood mice activity and will ensure rodent presence (Ouden et al, 2005) and, thus, will increase the occurrence of arboreal seed removal by rodents.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Flying vs. climbing: Factors controlling arboreal seed removal in oak–beech forests

Perea

Miguel

Gil

2011

Forest Ecology and Management

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Keywords:Seed size Seed infestation Foragers density Removal speed Fagus sylvatica QuercusNuts are heavy and nutritious seeds that need animals to be successfully dispersed. Most studies address nut removal by a single animal species once seeds fall onto the ground. However, nuts are also accessible before the seed drop and usually to a wide guild of seed foragers. This study examines the factors controlling arboreal seed removal in oak-beech forests within the whole guild of nut foragers. We found that seed-dispersing rodents (Apodemus sylvaticus) were the main acorn removers in the oaks (up to 3.75 m height), with a rapid seed encounter and a high removal rate. However, rodents did not climb the beech trees, probably due to their smoother bark in comparison to oak bark and/or the lower nutritional value of beechnuts with regard to acorns. Jays (Garrulus glandarius) were more abundant in oak stands (both dense and scattered) and clearly preferred acorns to beechnuts whereas nuthatches (Sitta europaea) were more abundant in beech stands and preferred beechnuts to acorns. Non-storing birds such as great tits (Pants major) also removed acorns and beechnuts, especially in the stands where oaks are dominant. Jays and rodents preferred sound seeds over insect-infested seeds but such a preference was not found for nuthatches. This study highlights that pure beech stands showed a reduced guild of arboreal nut foragers in comparison to oak stands. This different guild could probably affect the spatial patterns of seed dispersal, with a proportionally higher number of long dispersal events for acorns (mostly jay-dispersed) than for beechnuts (mostly nuthatch-dispersed). Long-distance dispersal of beechnuts (by jays) is determined by the presence of other preferred species (oaks) and their frequency of non-mast years. Seed location in different habitats strongly determines the contribution of different arboreal removers (including climbing rodents) and their removal speed, leading to a differential seed fate that will eventually affect tree regeneration. As nuthatches are sedentary birds, it is important to maintain old and dead trees where they can breed (crevices), forage (arthropods) and store seeds in order to favor beechnut dispersal and gene flow. By maintaining or favoring oak trees within beech stands we will ensure a wider guild of arboreal nut dispersers.

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Ungulates, rodents, shrubs: interactions in a diverse Mediterranean ecosystem

Cited by 99 publications

References 29 publications

Structure of ages, sizes and growth in a local population of the Iberian wild pear (Cordoba, Spain)

Structure of ages, sizes and growth in a local population of the Iberian wild pear (Cordoba, Spain)

Evaluating the function of wildcat faecal marks in relation to the defence of favourable hunting areas

Flying vs. climbing: Factors controlling arboreal seed removal in oak–beech forests

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