Intra-specific downsizing of frugivores affects seed germination of fleshy-fruited plant species

Autores
Pérez Méndez, Néstor; Rodríguez, Airam; Nogales, Manuel
Año de publicación
2018
Idioma
inglés
Tipo de recurso
artículo
Estado
versión publicada
Descripción
The loss of largest-bodied individuals within species of frugivorous animals is one of the major consequences of defaunation. The gradual disappearance of large-bodied frugivores is expected to entail a parallel deterioration in seed dispersal functionality if the remaining smaller-sized individuals are not so effective as seed dispersers. While the multiple impacts of the extinction of large bodied species have been relatively well studied, the impact of intraspecific downsizing (i.e. the extinction of large individuals within species) on seed dispersal has rarely been evaluated. Here we experimentally assessed the impact of body-size reduction in the frugivorous lizard Gallotia galloti (Lacertidae), an endemic species of the Canary Islands, on the seed germination patterns of two fleshy-fruited plant species (Rubia fruticosa and Withania aristata). Seed germination curves and the proportions of germinated seeds were compared for both plant species after being defecated by large-sized individuals and small-sized individuals. The data show that seeds of W. aristata defecated by larger-sized lizards germinated faster and in a higher percentage than those defecated by small-sized lizards, while no differences were found for R. fruticosa seeds. Our results suggest that disappearance of the largest individuals of frugivorous species may impair recruitment of some plant species by worsening seed germination. They also warn us of a potential cryptic loss of seed dispersal functionality on defaunated ecosystems, even when frugivorous species remain abundant.
Fil: Pérez Méndez, Néstor. Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Naturales, Agroecología y Desarrollo Rural; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina
Fil: Rodríguez, Airam. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Estación Biológica de Doñana; España
Fil: Nogales, Manuel. Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología; España
Materia
CANARY ISLANDS
DEFAUNATION
PLANT RECRUITMENT
SAUROCHORY
SEED DISPERSAL
Nivel de accesibilidad
acceso abierto
Condiciones de uso
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/ar/
Repositorio
CONICET Digital (CONICET)
Institución
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
OAI Identificador
oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/97130
Acceder
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oai_identifier_str oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/97130
network_acronym_str CONICETDig
repository_id_str 3498
network_name_str CONICET Digital (CONICET)
spelling Intra-specific downsizing of frugivores affects seed germination of fleshy-fruited plant speciesPérez Méndez, NéstorRodríguez, AiramNogales, ManuelCANARY ISLANDSDEFAUNATIONPLANT RECRUITMENTSAUROCHORYSEED DISPERSALhttps://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.6https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.6https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1The loss of largest-bodied individuals within species of frugivorous animals is one of the major consequences of defaunation. The gradual disappearance of large-bodied frugivores is expected to entail a parallel deterioration in seed dispersal functionality if the remaining smaller-sized individuals are not so effective as seed dispersers. While the multiple impacts of the extinction of large bodied species have been relatively well studied, the impact of intraspecific downsizing (i.e. the extinction of large individuals within species) on seed dispersal has rarely been evaluated. Here we experimentally assessed the impact of body-size reduction in the frugivorous lizard Gallotia galloti (Lacertidae), an endemic species of the Canary Islands, on the seed germination patterns of two fleshy-fruited plant species (Rubia fruticosa and Withania aristata). Seed germination curves and the proportions of germinated seeds were compared for both plant species after being defecated by large-sized individuals and small-sized individuals. The data show that seeds of W. aristata defecated by larger-sized lizards germinated faster and in a higher percentage than those defecated by small-sized lizards, while no differences were found for R. fruticosa seeds. Our results suggest that disappearance of the largest individuals of frugivorous species may impair recruitment of some plant species by worsening seed germination. They also warn us of a potential cryptic loss of seed dispersal functionality on defaunated ecosystems, even when frugivorous species remain abundant.Fil: Pérez Méndez, Néstor. Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Naturales, Agroecología y Desarrollo Rural; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Rodríguez, Airam. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Estación Biológica de Doñana; EspañaFil: Nogales, Manuel. Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología; EspañaElsevier Masson2018-01info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501info:ar-repo/semantics/articuloapplication/pdfapplication/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/11336/97130Pérez Méndez, Néstor; Rodríguez, Airam; Nogales, Manuel; Intra-specific downsizing of frugivores affects seed germination of fleshy-fruited plant species; Elsevier Masson; Acta Oecologica; 86; 1-2018; 38-411146-609XCONICET DigitalCONICETenginfo:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1016/j.actao.2017.11.017info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/url/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1146609X17303004info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesshttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/ar/reponame:CONICET Digital (CONICET)instname:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas2025-09-29T09:37:29Zoai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/97130instacron:CONICETInstitucionalhttp://ri.conicet.gov.ar/Organismo científico-tecnológicoNo correspondehttp://ri.conicet.gov.ar/oai/requestdasensio@conicet.gov.ar; lcarlino@conicet.gov.arArgentinaNo correspondeNo correspondeNo correspondeopendoar:34982025-09-29 09:37:29.939CONICET Digital (CONICET) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicasfalse
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Intra-specific downsizing of frugivores affects seed germination of fleshy-fruited plant species
title Intra-specific downsizing of frugivores affects seed germination of fleshy-fruited plant species
spellingShingle Intra-specific downsizing of frugivores affects seed germination of fleshy-fruited plant species
Pérez Méndez, Néstor
CANARY ISLANDS
DEFAUNATION
PLANT RECRUITMENT
SAUROCHORY
SEED DISPERSAL
title_short Intra-specific downsizing of frugivores affects seed germination of fleshy-fruited plant species
title_full Intra-specific downsizing of frugivores affects seed germination of fleshy-fruited plant species
title_fullStr Intra-specific downsizing of frugivores affects seed germination of fleshy-fruited plant species
title_full_unstemmed Intra-specific downsizing of frugivores affects seed germination of fleshy-fruited plant species
title_sort Intra-specific downsizing of frugivores affects seed germination of fleshy-fruited plant species
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Pérez Méndez, Néstor
Rodríguez, Airam
Nogales, Manuel
author Pérez Méndez, Néstor
author_facet Pérez Méndez, Néstor
Rodríguez, Airam
Nogales, Manuel
author_role author
author2 Rodríguez, Airam
Nogales, Manuel
author2_role author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv CANARY ISLANDS
DEFAUNATION
PLANT RECRUITMENT
SAUROCHORY
SEED DISPERSAL
topic CANARY ISLANDS
DEFAUNATION
PLANT RECRUITMENT
SAUROCHORY
SEED DISPERSAL
purl_subject.fl_str_mv https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.6
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.6
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1
dc.description.none.fl_txt_mv The loss of largest-bodied individuals within species of frugivorous animals is one of the major consequences of defaunation. The gradual disappearance of large-bodied frugivores is expected to entail a parallel deterioration in seed dispersal functionality if the remaining smaller-sized individuals are not so effective as seed dispersers. While the multiple impacts of the extinction of large bodied species have been relatively well studied, the impact of intraspecific downsizing (i.e. the extinction of large individuals within species) on seed dispersal has rarely been evaluated. Here we experimentally assessed the impact of body-size reduction in the frugivorous lizard Gallotia galloti (Lacertidae), an endemic species of the Canary Islands, on the seed germination patterns of two fleshy-fruited plant species (Rubia fruticosa and Withania aristata). Seed germination curves and the proportions of germinated seeds were compared for both plant species after being defecated by large-sized individuals and small-sized individuals. The data show that seeds of W. aristata defecated by larger-sized lizards germinated faster and in a higher percentage than those defecated by small-sized lizards, while no differences were found for R. fruticosa seeds. Our results suggest that disappearance of the largest individuals of frugivorous species may impair recruitment of some plant species by worsening seed germination. They also warn us of a potential cryptic loss of seed dispersal functionality on defaunated ecosystems, even when frugivorous species remain abundant.
Fil: Pérez Méndez, Néstor. Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Naturales, Agroecología y Desarrollo Rural; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina
Fil: Rodríguez, Airam. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Estación Biológica de Doñana; España
Fil: Nogales, Manuel. Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología; España
description The loss of largest-bodied individuals within species of frugivorous animals is one of the major consequences of defaunation. The gradual disappearance of large-bodied frugivores is expected to entail a parallel deterioration in seed dispersal functionality if the remaining smaller-sized individuals are not so effective as seed dispersers. While the multiple impacts of the extinction of large bodied species have been relatively well studied, the impact of intraspecific downsizing (i.e. the extinction of large individuals within species) on seed dispersal has rarely been evaluated. Here we experimentally assessed the impact of body-size reduction in the frugivorous lizard Gallotia galloti (Lacertidae), an endemic species of the Canary Islands, on the seed germination patterns of two fleshy-fruited plant species (Rubia fruticosa and Withania aristata). Seed germination curves and the proportions of germinated seeds were compared for both plant species after being defecated by large-sized individuals and small-sized individuals. The data show that seeds of W. aristata defecated by larger-sized lizards germinated faster and in a higher percentage than those defecated by small-sized lizards, while no differences were found for R. fruticosa seeds. Our results suggest that disappearance of the largest individuals of frugivorous species may impair recruitment of some plant species by worsening seed germination. They also warn us of a potential cryptic loss of seed dispersal functionality on defaunated ecosystems, even when frugivorous species remain abundant.
publishDate 2018
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2018-01
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
info:ar-repo/semantics/articulo
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/11336/97130
Pérez Méndez, Néstor; Rodríguez, Airam; Nogales, Manuel; Intra-specific downsizing of frugivores affects seed germination of fleshy-fruited plant species; Elsevier Masson; Acta Oecologica; 86; 1-2018; 38-41
1146-609X
CONICET Digital
CONICET
url http://hdl.handle.net/11336/97130
identifier_str_mv Pérez Méndez, Néstor; Rodríguez, Airam; Nogales, Manuel; Intra-specific downsizing of frugivores affects seed germination of fleshy-fruited plant species; Elsevier Masson; Acta Oecologica; 86; 1-2018; 38-41
1146-609X
CONICET Digital
CONICET
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv eng
language eng
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1016/j.actao.2017.11.017
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/url/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1146609X17303004
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/ar/
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/ar/
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier Masson
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier Masson
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:CONICET Digital (CONICET)
instname:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
reponame_str CONICET Digital (CONICET)
collection CONICET Digital (CONICET)
instname_str Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
repository.name.fl_str_mv CONICET Digital (CONICET) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
repository.mail.fl_str_mv dasensio@conicet.gov.ar; lcarlino@conicet.gov.ar
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score 13.069144

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