Fruiting phenology affects the direction of vertical seed dispersal by mammals and birds across mountain ranges

Oecologia, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 207(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Secondary Dispersal of Wetland Plants by Neotropical Otters

Freshwater Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 70(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Carnivorous mammals can disperse seeds and other plant propagules through gut passage (endozoochory). Otters are semiaquatic mustelids opportunistic carnivores that prey on various vertebrates, their feeding habits lead to secondary dispersal of propagules. However, this by otters has not previously been investigated. Here, we investigated the internal plants neotropical otters, Lontra longicaudis , in southern Brazil. We collected 31 faecal samples (spraints) from at a Brazilian Ramsar site Pampa biome during wet season 2022. Intact were separated each spraint, identified, germinability tested where possible. The classes vertebrate preyed upon spraint identified. effects these mass taxonomic richness abundance associated with aquatic and/or terrestrial substrates. recorded 1206 belonging 33 taxa (one charophyte, four pteridophytes, 28 angiosperms), representing 18 families including 20 strictly macrophytes. Seeds six angiosperm germinated, low overall germination rate 2%. All spraints contained fish, while 10 also remains reptiles, amphibians, mammals. was positively correlated weight. Propagule depended both weight diversity spraint. Spraints three or larger had most Most likely dispersed “diploendozoochory” involving ingestion first then otters. Neotropical have wide home range, often travelling several kilometres daily, which promote carrying between different habitats. Synthesis: Our results suggest might play an important role wetland plants, notably ferns, potentially contributing maintenance ecosystems. rate, although low, represents opportunities for successful establishment some over longer distances than those provided otter prey, emphasising ecological importance even low‐probability events. This study underlines potential carnivorous maintaining ecosystem connectivity.

Language: Английский

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Big rodents disperse small seeds and spores in Neotropical wetlands

Journal of Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 112(8), P. 1743 - 1757

Published: June 12, 2024

Abstract The role of large frugivores in the dispersal tropical trees has been well‐studied, whereas importance world's largest rodents for plant previously ignored. We studied by gut passage (endozoochory) Neotropical wetlands extant rodent, capybara Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris . compared it with another 10 rodents, nutria or coypu Myocastor coypus collected 96 faecal samples (50 capybara, 46 nutria) from sites within Taim Ramsar site southern Brazil, and extracted intact propagules g subsamples. Propagules 27 taxa (24 angiosperms, three aquatic ferns) were recovered, representing 13 families. Whole Spirodela (duckweed) plants dispersed. Seeds 14 angiosperm germinated laboratory. Taxonomic composition was significantly different two mammals, but propagule size not. Capybara dispersed more terrestrial per sample, nutrias propagules. When total production taken into account, an estimated 1025 (including 133 fern spores) each day, 691 566 spores). Capybaras have larger home ranges likely over a greater distance. Synthesis : This is first demonstration that disperse pteridophytes as well flowering plants. Our results suggest capybaras play important, complementary roles dispersing variety species wetlands. study indicates herbivorous mammals vectors small seeds non‐fleshy fruits overlooked neotropics defaunation herbivores can negative consequences, manner similar to highlighted frugivores.

Language: Английский

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Directionality of long-distance seed dispersal: the role of elevational, latitudinal, and longitudinal seed dispersal under climate change

Journal of Forest Research, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 1 - 18

Published: April 15, 2025

Language: Английский

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Integrating key species distribution and ecosystem service flows to build directed ecological network: Evidence from the Shiyang River Basin, China

Journal of Environmental Management, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 381, P. 125183 - 125183

Published: April 9, 2025

Language: Английский

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Potentially suitable geographical area for Pulsatilla chinensis Regel under current and future climatic scenarios based on the MaxEnt model

Frontiers in Plant Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 16

Published: May 14, 2025

Climate change has significantly impacted the distribution patterns of medicinal plants, highlighting need for accurate models to predict future habitat shifts. In this study, Maximum Entropy model analyze Pulsatilla chinensis (Bunge) Regel under current conditions and two climate scenarios (SSP245 SSP585). Based on 105 occurrence records 12 environmental variables, precipitation wettest quarter, isothermality, average November temperature, standard deviation temperature seasonality were identified as key factors influencing suitability P. . The reliability was supported by a mean area curve (AUC) value 0.916 True Skill Statistic (TSS) 0.608. results indicated that although total suitable expanded both scenarios, highly contracted SSP585 compared SSP245. This suggests importance incorporating considerations into management strategies address potential challenges arising from ecosystem dynamics.

Language: Английский

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Long term impacts of endozoochory and salinity on germination of wetland plants after entering simulated seed banks

Frontiers in Plant Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14

Published: Oct. 31, 2023

Migratory waterbirds disperse a broad range of angiosperms by endozoochory (seed dispersal via gut passage), especially plants in coastal wetlands. However, there is no previous information about the capacity seeds to remain seed bank after waterbird endozoochory, and very little how wetland salinity can influence effect passage on germination. We collected Juncus subulatus (Juncaceae), Bolboschoenus maritimus, Schoenoplectus litoralis (Cyperaceae) from Doñana marshes Spain. All three species are considered have physiological dormancy. After following ingestion ducks, were stored darkness solutions with six different conductivities (1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 dSm-1), for periods 1, 6, or 12 months simulate presence bank. storage, 1800 each plant assigned these treatments subjected germination tests demineralized water, together control that had not been ingested before storage. germinated readily without beforehand. Storage time both important effects germinability germination, which differed between seeds, species. ≥6 months, Cyperaceae was enhanced (≤25% higher than seeds) at some salinities. Only J. showed consistently lower (≤30%). B. maritimus slower (≤33%). Salinity more complex passage, but increasing did generally negative impact seeds. When compared additional tests, storage reduced (≤39% reduction), increased it (≤17%) S. (≤46%). Seeds dispersed may be easily incorporated into banks, where they halotolerant delay until conditions become suitable. This benefit rates long-distance dispersal, gene flow, establishment new populations. Avian positive species-specific persistent banks and/or

Language: Английский

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Plant traits associated with seed dispersal by ducks and geese in urban and natural habitats

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 13(11)

Published: Nov. 1, 2023

Ducks and geese are little studied dispersal vectors for plants lacking a fleshy fruit, our understanding of the traits associated with these is limited. We analyzed 507 faecal samples mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) Canada goose (Branta canadensis) from 18 natural urban wetlands in England, where they dominant resident waterfowl. recovered 930 plant diaspores 39 taxa representing families, including 28 terrestrial five aquatic species four aliens. Mallards had more seeds seed per sample than geese, barochory hydrochory syndromes, that on average were larger greater moisture requirements (i.e., aquatic). dispersed habitats. Plant communities different between (e.g., achenes) capsules) Waterfowl can readily spread alien into environments but also allow native to disperse response climate heating or other global change. Throughout temperate regions Northern Hemisphere, accompanied by (either greylag goose) as most abundant waterfowl urbanized areas. This combination provides previously overlooked service diverse traits.

Language: Английский

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Effect of climate change on Clinopodium polycephalum (Vaniot) C. Y. Wu & S. J. Hsuan distribution adopting temporal data, ArcGIS, and the MaxEnt model

Frontiers in Plant Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15

Published: Sept. 9, 2024

(Vaniot) C. Y. Wu & S. J. Hsuan, a vital plant in traditional Chinese medicine, has been used for its hemostatic properties since 1220 AD. Despite recognized medicinal benefits including anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular applications increasing market demands, research on this remains limited, particularly from the perspective of ecology. Due to global warming resultant climate change, studies distribution conservation

Language: Английский

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Evaluating and elevating the role of wildlife road crossings in climate adaptation

Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Nov. 19, 2024

Beyond the well‐established benefits of wildlife road crossings and associated infrastructure—improving driver safety, reducing animal mortality, reconnecting habitats—there is another important but often underappreciated benefit: supporting ecosystems in adapting to climate change. We explore this potential by (1) synthesizing literature surrounding adaptation crossings, (2) presenting a case study on how support shifting migrations, (3) describing key considerations for incorporating information into crossing prioritizations. Among other climate‐adaptive benefits, research suggests can species range shifts protect access resources even as drought human development compromise that access. Our outlines an approach prioritizing locations most likely migration both today future. By accounting such dynamics, be cost‐effective tool protects well motorists enhances resilience infrastructure changing world.

Language: Английский

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