Fruit Removal in Viburnum opulus: Copious Seed Predation and Sporadic Massive Seed Dispersal in a Temperate Shrub

Oikos ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
pp. 503 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger Englund
Keyword(s):  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Seed Predation ◽  
Viburnum Opulus ◽  
Fruit Removal

A Comparison of Seed Predation, Seed Dispersal, and Seedling Herbivory in Oak and Hickory: Species with Contrasting Regenerating Abilities in a Bluegrass Savanna—Woodland Habitat

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 466-481 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara E. Cilles ◽  
Garnett Coy ◽  
Christopher R. Stieha ◽  
John J. Cox ◽  
Philip H. Crowley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Seed Predation ◽  
Savanna Woodland ◽  
Seedling Herbivory

THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN FRUIT RIPENESS, WASP SEED PREDATION, AND AVIAN FRUIT REMOVAL IN PISTACIA PALAESTINA

1998 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 273-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ido Izhaki
Keyword(s):  
Seed Predation ◽  
Individual Variation ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Reproductive Parameters ◽  
Substantial Variation ◽  
Fruit Removal ◽  
Crop Size ◽  
Fruit Abortion ◽  
Pistacia Terebinthus ◽  
Unripe Fruits

Substantial variation in fruit removal between individual Pistacia palaestina plants was observed in northern Israel. To elucidate the causes of this variation, I examined several proximal sources of between-individual variation in fruit removal and dispersal efficiency. Crop size, tree height, and diameter explained some between- individual variation in fruit removal. Dispersal efficiency was mainly influenced by the proportion of the unripe fruits (including aborted and parthenocarpic fruits). Comparison of several reproductive parameters of P. palaestina with another Pistacia species (P. terebinthus) in Spain, revealed that P. palaestina produces larger fruit crop, faces higher seed prédation by infesting wasps, and has lower proportions of parthenocarpy and fruit abortion than Pistacia terebinthus. Fruit removal and dispersal efficiency of the former is much higher than the latter.

Seed dispersal of Asplundia peruviana (Cyclanthaceae) by the primate Saguinus fuscicollis

1998 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHRISTOPH KNOGGE ◽  
ECKHARD W. HEYMANN ◽  
EMÉRITA R. TIRADO HERRERA
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Intestinal Tract ◽  
Large Degree ◽  
Passage Time ◽  
Nutritional Content ◽  
Fruit Removal ◽  
Saguinus Fuscicollis ◽  
Gastro Intestinal Tract

The reproductive success of plants depends to a very large degree on the quantity and quality of seed dispersal. If dispersal is by animals (zoochory), characteristics of fruits such as colour, size, shape and nutritional content have been shown to influence the likelihood of visitation by frugivores or the rate of fruit removal (e.g. Fuentes 1994, Howe 1983, Murray et al. 1993). While these characteristics function in the attraction of dispersers, plants may also evolve characters that manipulate the behaviour or the physiology of dispersers after the consumption of fruits and the ingestion of seeds. An example of such post-consumption manipulation of dispersers' behaviour by plants is provided by mistletoes. The viscous mistletoe seeds stimulate the disperser (usually birds) to either rub the cloaca (when seeds are passed through the gastro-intestinal tract) or the bill (when seeds are regurgitated) on a branch (e.g. Reid 1991). It has also been proposed that fruits might manipulate the disperser's physiology by including laxatives that determine the optimal passage time through the disperser's gut (Murray et al. 1994), although this view has recently been challenged (Witmer 1996).

Two-stage dispersal of Guarea glabra and G. kunthiana (Meliaceae) in Monteverde, Costa Rica

1999 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 481-496 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel G. Wenny
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Seed Predation ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Vegetation Density ◽  
Seed Shadow ◽  
Secondary Dispersal ◽  
Germination Success ◽  
Tayassu Tajacu ◽  
Para Determinar

Seed dispersal of Guarea glabra and G. kunthiana (Meliaceae) in Monteverde, Costa Rica was studied to determine how seed predation and secondary dispersal affect the distribution of seeds available for recruitment. The arillate seeds are consumed mainly by birds that regurgitate or defecate the seeds intact. After dispersal, 45.6% of G. glabra and 26.6% of G. kunthiana seeds were buried 1–3 cm in the soil, presumably by scatterhoarding rodents such as agoutis (Dasyprocta punctata). G. glabra seeds that were not cached were eaten mostly by beetles, and 33.7% of the seeds remained cached after 12 wk. The cached G. glabra seeds did not germinate, however, perhaps as a result of experimental procedures used to mark the seeds. In greenhouse experiments, G. glabra seeds buried to mimic scatterhoarding had higher germination success than seeds on the soil surface. G. kunthiana seeds not cached were eaten by peccaries (Tayassu tajacu) and other seed predators (60%) or were inviable (10%). Only nine (7.5%) viable G. kunthiana seeds remained in caches after 12 wk. Secondary dispersal resulted in a rearrangement of the seed shadow. G. glabra seeds were moved to sites with less leaf litter and lower vegetation density, while G. kunthiana seeds were moved farther from conspecific trees and closer to fallen logs during secondary dispersal. Considering the high rates of seed predation in the field for both species, the germination advantages for G. glabra in the greenhouse, and the shifts in microhabitat during scatterhoarding, it is likely that secondary dispersal by scatterhoarding rodents is an important stage in Guarea recruitment.RESUMEN. Dispersión de semillas de Guarea glabra y G. kunthiana (Meliaceae) en Monteverde, Costa Rica fureon examinadas para determinar como la predación de semillas y dispersión secundaria afectan la distribución de semillas disponibles para recrutamiento. Las semillas ariladas son consumidas principalmente por aves que regurgitan o defecan la semilla intacta. Luego de dispersión, 30–45% de las semillas fueron enterradas 1–3 cm en el suelo, posiblemente por roedores que disperan y acumulan como al agouti (Dasyprocta puncaata). Semillas de G. kunthiana que no fueron escondidas fueron comidas por pécaris (Tayassu tajacu) y otros predadores de semillas (60%) o no fueron viables (10%). Solo neuve (7.5%) semillas viables de G. kunthiana permanecieron en los escondites luego de 12 semanas. En contraste, semillas de G. glabra que no fueron escondidas fueron comidas mayormente por escarabajos que por pécaris, y 33.7% de las semillas permanecieron escondidas luego de 12 semanas. Las semillas esconditas de G. glabra enterradas para imitar dispersión y acumulión tuvieron una germinación mayor que semillas en la superficie del suelo. Dispersión secundaria resulto en un rearreglo de la sombra de semillas. Las dos especies experimentaron un leve aumento neto en la distancia promedio de conspecificos en frutos luego de dispersión y acumulación. Semillas de G. kunthiana fueron movidas cerca de troncos caidos durante dispersión secundaria, mientras semillas de G. glabra fueron movidas a lugares con menos lecho de hojas y baja densidad de vegetación. Considerando la alta proporción de predación de semillas en el campo para ambas especies, la ventaja de germinación de G. glabra en el invernáculo, y el cambio en micrambiente durante dispersión y acumulación, es posible que dispersión secundaria por roedores que dispersan y acumulan es importante in etapas de recrutamiento en Guarea.

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