Using basic plant traits to predict ungulate seed dispersal potential

Abstract

Habitat fragmentation contributes to the decline of plant species by decreasing gene flow among populations. Restoring connectivity among habitat patches is therefore a major issue for plant conservation. However, deciding where to focus restoration efforts requires identifying suitable dispersers for each target plant species. We collected data from the literature on wild and domesticated ungulates, known to be effective seed dispersers, and on the plants they dispersed in Europe via epi‐ and/or endozoochory. We performed a systematic literature review to identify plant and animal traits relevant for seed dispersal. We first modeled the relationships between epi‐ or endozoochory and a priori selected plant traits (diaspore releasing height, length, shape and morphology, and habitat openness). The differences we underlined between the two dispersal mechanisms justified splitting our analyses accordingly. Then, for each dispersal mechanism, we asked whether basic plant traits could be used to predict specific traits of ungulates as endozoochorous or epizoochorous seed dispersers. We modeled the relationships between a priori selected ungulate traits for epizoochory (habitat openness, shoulder height, hair curliness, and hair length) and for endozoochory (habitat openness, body mass, feeding type and digestive system) and plant traits. Plant habitat openness and diaspore morphology were the predictors that most often explained differences among ungulates for epizoochory, whereas plant habitat openness and diaspore releasing height most often explained differences for endozoochory. Our trait‐based predictive models can help improve our ability to propose more precise management decisions for the conservation of plant populations worldwide by taking into account ungulate dispersers.

How does gut passage impact endozoochorous seed dispersal success? Evidence from a gut environment simulation experiment

“…Survival after endozoochory 312 has been especially correlated with persistent, small, rounded diaspores with a hard seed coat 313 (Albert et al 2015). Hardseededness, a specific type of physical seed dormancy, is a widespread trait 314 in flowering plants.…”

“…We simulated the effects of the acid 392 environment in the stomach and duodenum and the effect of a proteolytic enzyme (pepsin) in 393 combination with an acid, whereas the amylolytic and lipolytic enzymes produced in the digestive 394 system and the proteolytic and cellulolytic enzymes secreted by bacteria were left out in this 395 experiment. Although the endozoochorous dispersal of plant seeds is correlated with diaspore size, 396 shape, seed coat morphology, seed longevity and seed production, ungulate traits (e.g., habitat use, 397 diet and digestive system) are at least as important in determining whether a plant species is an 398 endozoochorous disperser (Albert et al 2015). M a n u s c r i p t 17 M a n u s c r i p t 23 Table 2.…”

Can plant traits predict seed dispersal probability via red deer guts, fur, and hooves?

“…Overall, however, single-seed adaptations, such as hooks and bristles, have a lot less predictive power than held traditionally (Albert, Auffret, et al, 2015;Albert, Mårell, et al, 2015). Overall, however, single-seed adaptations, such as hooks and bristles, have a lot less predictive power than held traditionally (Albert, Auffret, et al, 2015;Albert, Mårell, et al, 2015).…”

“…The probability for plant species to have diaspores transported through red deer intestines, fur, and/or hooves is probably dependent on (a) plant species abundance in the landscape (Bruun & Poschlod, 2006;Karimi, Hemami, Tarkesh Esfahani, Akhani, & Baltzinger, 2018;Picard et al, 2016), (b) whole-plant traits, such as diaspore number per ramet and diaspore release height (Albert, Auffret, et al, 2015;Albert, Mårell, Picard, & Baltzinger, 2015), and (c) diaspore traits, such as presence of specific appendages promoting attachment (Lepková, Horčičková, & Vojta, 2018). Behavior, including feeding preferences, is also likely to affect deer-plant interactions (Liehrmann et al, 2018).…”

“…Albert, Mårell, et al (2015) showed seed shape (deviation from sphericity) to be related to dispersal route as well. Albert, Mårell, et al (2015) showed seed shape (deviation from sphericity) to be related to dispersal route as well.…”