Use of habitats by donkeys and cattle within a protected area of the Caatinga dry forest biome in northeastern Brazil

Dias, Douglas de Matos; Massara, Rodrigo Lima; Bocchiglieri, Adriana

doi:10.1016/j.pecon.2019.04.005

Cited by 15 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Caatinga supports nearly 30 million cattle, goats and mules ( Sampaio & Costa, 2011 ; Santos et al, 2017 ) as a large number of active seed dispersers which spread through diverse habitat types, from old-growth forest stands to degraded areas ( Sampaio & Costa, 2011 ). Livestock frequently access humid habitats such as river banks on their daily search for fresh water and native forage ( Dias, Massara & Bocchiglieri, 2019 ; Lopes, Montenegro & Lima, 2019 ). Moreover, fodder availability is seasonal and scarce ( Costa et al, 2016 ), while P. juliflora fruits and foliage represent a permanent and appreciable food source for livestock, likely stimulating its fruit consumption.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seed germination and early seedling survival of the invasive speciesProsopis juliflora(Fabaceae) depend on habitat and seed dispersal mode in the Caatinga dry forest

Nascimento

Leal

Tavares³

et al. 2020

PeerJ

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Background Biological invasion is one of the main threats to tropical biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Prosopis juliflora (Sw) DC. (Fabales: Fabaceae: Caesalpinioideae) was introduced in the Caatinga dry forest of Northeast Brazil at early 1940s and successfully spread across the region. As other invasive species, it may benefit from the soils and seed dispersal by livestock. Here we examine how seed dispersal ecology and soil conditions collectively affect seed germination, early seedling performance and consequently the P. juliflora invasive potential. Methods Seed germination, early seedling survival, life expectancy and soil attributes were examined in 10 plots located across three habitats (flooding plain, alluvial terrace and plateau) into a human-modified landscape of the Caatinga dry forest (a total of 12,000 seeds). Seeds were exposed to four seed dispersal methods: deposition on the soil surface, burial in the soil, passed through cattle (Boss taurus) digestive tracts and mixed with cattle manure and passed through mule (Equus africanus asinus × Equus ferus caballus) digestive tracts and mixed with mule manure. Seeds and seedlings were monitored through a year and their performance examined with expectancy tables. Results Soils differed among habitats, particularly its nutrient availability, texture and water with finely-textured and more fertile soils in the flooding plain. Total seed germination was relatively low (14.5%), with the highest score among seeds buried in the flooding plain (47.4 ± 25.3%). Seed dispersal by cattle and mule also positively impacted seed germination. Early seedling survival rate of P. juliflora was dramatically reduced with few seedlings still alive elapsed a year. Survival rate was highest in the first 30 days and declined between 30 and 60 days with stabilization at 70 days after germination in all seed treatments and habitats. However, survival and life expectancy were higher in the flooding plain at 75 days and lower in the plateau. Prosopis juliflora seedling survival and life expectancy were higher in the case seeds were mixed with cattle manure. Synthesis Prosopis juliflora seeds and seedlings are sensitive to water stress and habitat desiccation. Therefore, they benefit from the humid soils often present across human-disturbed flooding plains. This plant also benefits from seed deposition/dispersal by livestock in these landscapes, since cattle manure represents a nutrient-rich and humid substrate for both seeds and seedlings. The quality of the seed dispersal service varies among livestock species, but this key mutualism between exotic species is due to the arillate, hard-coated and palatable seeds. Prosopis juliflora traits allow this species to take multiple benefits from human presence and thus operating as a human commensal.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seed germination and early seedling survival of the invasive speciesProsopis juliflora(Fabaceae) depend on habitat and seed dispersal mode in the Caatinga dry forest

Nascimento

Leal

Tavares³

et al. 2020

PeerJ

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“…Manuscript to be reviewed growth forest stands to degraded areas (Sampaio and Costa, 2011). Livestock frequently access humid habitats such as river banks on their daily search for fresh water and native forage (Dias et al, 2019;Lopes et al, 2019). Moreover, fodder availability is seasonal and scarce (Costa et al, 2016), while P. juliflora fruits and foliage represent a permanent and appreciable food source for livestock, likely stimulating its fruit consumption.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Peer Review #1 of "Seed germination and early seedling survival of the invasive species Prosopis juliflora (Fabaceae) depend on habitat and seed dispersal mode in the Caatinga dry forest (v0.2)"

2020

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Background. Biological invasion is one of the main threats to tropical biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Prosopis juliflora (Sw) DC. (Fabales: Fabaceae: Caesalpinioideae) was introduced in the Caatinga dry forest of Northeast Brazil at early 1940s and successfully spread across the region. As other invasive species, it may benefit from the soils and seed dispersal by livestock. Here we examine how seed dispersal ecology and soil conditions collectively affect seed germination, early seedling performance and consequently the P. juliflora invasive potential. Methods. Seed germination, early seedling survival, life expectancy and soil attributes were examined in 10 plots located across three habitats (flooding plain, alluvial terrace and plateau) into a humanmodified landscape of the Caatinga dry forest (a total of 12,000 seeds). Seeds were exposed to four seed dispersal methods: deposition on the soil surface, burial in the soil, passed through cattle (Boss taurus) digestive tracts and mixed with cattle manure and passed through mule (Equus africanus asinus × Equus ferus caballus) digestive tracts and mixed with mule manure. Seeds and seedlings were monitored through a year and their performance examined with expectancy tables. Results. Soils differed among habitats, particularly its nutrient availability, texture and water with finelytextured and more fertile soils in the flooding plain. Total seed germination was relatively low (14.5%), with the highest score among seeds buried in the flooding plain (47.4 ± 25.3%). Seed dispersal by cattle and mule also positively impacted seed germination. Early seedling survival rate of P. juliflora was dramatically reduced with few seedlings still alive elapsed a year. Survival rate was highest in the first 30 days and declined between 30 to 60 days with stabilization at 70 days after germination in all seed treatments and habitats. However, survival and life expectancy were higher in the flooding plain at 75 days and lower in the plateau. Prosopis juliflora seedling survival and life expectancy were higher in the case seeds were mixed with cattle manure. Synthesis. Prosopis juliflora seeds and seedlings are sensitive to water stress and habitat desiccation. Therefore, they benefit from the humid soils often present across human-disturbed flooding plains.

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“…However, it is again necessary to understand the ecological role in the ecosystem, which will vary by region and biome. Few studies are being conducted to elucidate this issue (Dias et al, 2019;Hamrick et al, 2005;Lamoot et al, 2005;Malo et al, 2016).…”

Section: Ecological Rolementioning

confidence: 99%

“…One of the biomes is the Caatinga, the only biome exclusively Brazilian. In this biome, the use of habitat by donkeys is unclear (Dias et al, 2019). One study investigated the use of habitats by donkeys in a protected area of the Caatinga dry forest (Dias et al, 2019).…”

Section: Ecological Rolementioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this biome, the use of habitat by donkeys is unclear (Dias et al, 2019). One study investigated the use of habitats by donkeys in a protected area of the Caatinga dry forest (Dias et al, 2019). However, one of the variables interfering in the conclusion about the ecological role of donkeys is the combination with other species, including cattle (Dias et al, 2019).…”

Section: Ecological Rolementioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Donkey skin trade: is it sustainable to slaughter donkeys for their skin?

Tatemoto

Lima²,

Santurtun³

et al. 2021

Braz. J. Vet. Res. Anim. Sci.

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Donkeys (Equus asinus) face a global crisis. The health, welfare, and even survival of donkeys are being compromised as the demand for their skins increases. It is driven by the production of ejiao, a traditional Chinese remedy believed by some to have medicinal properties. It is estimated that the ejiao industry currently requires approximately 4.8 million donkey skins per year. Since there is no productive chain for donkey skin production outside of China, the activity is extractive and has resulted in the decimation of donkeys. Gestation is 12 months in donkeys, increasing the risk of extinction if such practices are not controlled. In this scenario, the donkeys are collected (purchased for low prices, stolen, and collected from the side of the roads) and are then often transported for long distances, usually without water, food, or rest. The trade, in Brazil, poses significant biosecurity risks, particularly because examinations are rarely conducted and therefore infectious diseases, such as glanders and infectious anemia, remain undetected. Furthermore, in chronic stress situations, the immune system is suppressed, increasing the biosecurity risk, especially because donkeys are a silent carrier of diseases. Rarely there is traceability with animals from different origins being put together in “fake farms”, before being delivered to slaughterhouses. The opportunistic strategy of collecting animals, or buying for low prices, keeping them without access to food and veterinary assistance, is what makes this trade profitable. Our experience in donkey welfare and the global skin trade suggest that it will be enormously challenging and cost-prohibitive to run a trade at the standards required to be considered humane, sustainable, and safe. Although donkeys are being blamed for the involvement in road accidents, it is not an ethical solution to maintain this trade as an alternative. Moreover, the ecological role of donkeys in native ecosystems has not been elucidated, and some studies indicate they could even have a positive effect. Regardless of the future the donkeys will have; we must guarantee a life with the least dignity to the animals under our responsibility.

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Use of habitats by donkeys and cattle within a protected area of the Caatinga dry forest biome in northeastern Brazil

Cited by 15 publications

References 42 publications

Seed germination and early seedling survival of the invasive speciesProsopis juliflora(Fabaceae) depend on habitat and seed dispersal mode in the Caatinga dry forest

Seed germination and early seedling survival of the invasive speciesProsopis juliflora(Fabaceae) depend on habitat and seed dispersal mode in the Caatinga dry forest

Peer Review #1 of "Seed germination and early seedling survival of the invasive species Prosopis juliflora (Fabaceae) depend on habitat and seed dispersal mode in the Caatinga dry forest (v0.2)"

Donkey skin trade: is it sustainable to slaughter donkeys for their skin?

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