Effects of Japanese marten (Martes melampus) gut passage on germination of Actinidia arguta (Actinidiaceae): Implications for seed dispersal

Tsuji, Yamato; Konta, Takahiro; Akbar, Muhammad Azhari; Hayashida, Mitsuhiro

doi:10.1016/j.actao.2020.103578

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Although frugivory by the common palm civet has been widely reported in the available literature (Su and Sale 2007, Nakashima et al 2010b, Jothish 2011, Nakabayashi 2015), studies on its role in affecting the seed germination rate and germination speed have received scant attention. There has been limited study of the effect of civet gut passage on seed germination, and most studies either reported an enhancement effect or a neutral effect (Juan et al 2006, Varela and Bucher 2006, Zhou et al 2008, Rubalcava‐Castillo et al 2020, Tsuji et al 2020). This contrasting effect of manually depulped seeds and vertebrate‐ingested seeds on germination rate has largely been attributed to the fact that gut passage can alter seed germination by seed scarification, a process that results in mechanical disintegration or chemical abrasion of the seed endocarp by gastric juices in the digestive tract of the frugivorous vertebrate (Traveset 1998, Juan et al 2006, Traveset et al 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of passage through the common palm civet gut on seed germination of fleshy fruits in Pachmarhi Wildlife Sanctuary, central India

Singh,

Edgaonkar,

Ramesh

2023

Nordic Journal of Botany

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Frugivorous carnivores like civets consume fruits of many species and play an important role in their seed dispersal by virtue of depositing their scats farther away from the parent tree. This study was conducted to understand the role of the common palm civet in affecting the seed germination rate of three plant species (i.e. Syzygium cumini, Phoenix sylvestris and Ficus racemosa) in a tropical moist deciduous forest. We collected scats of common palm civets in Pachmarhi Wildlife Sanctuary, central India, and monitored the germination rate of these species for 90 days. Further, to understand the patterns of seed selection (if there are any), for seeds of a specific size, we compared the length, width, and mass of the civet‐ingested seeds with those of the control seeds. We had to discard the analyses on F. racemosa as none of its seeds in any treatment group germinated even after 50 days. Our results show a differential impact of gut passage: civet‐ingested P. sylvestris seeds experienced a higher germination percentage compared to the control seeds, while gut passage did not alter the seed germination of S. cumini. However, seed germination speed (proportion of seeds germinated per day) for both species, P. sylvestris and S. cumini, was faster for civet‐ingested seeds compared to their respective controls. Our findings also showed that civets preferred seeds that were shorter in length and width, and weighed less, in the case of P. sylvestris; however, no such statistically significant difference was found for seed selection in the case of S. cumini. Thus, our study shows that civets act as a legitimate seed disperser of plant species and exert a differential impact in altering the germination rate.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of passage through the common palm civet gut on seed germination of fleshy fruits in Pachmarhi Wildlife Sanctuary, central India

Singh,

Edgaonkar,

Ramesh

2023

Nordic Journal of Botany

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“…450 m on average; Tsuji et al, 2016] implied that martens would disperse seeds to locations far from the mother trees. Considering martens' behaviour to defecate in open habitats, such as forest ridges, and the higher germination ratio of marten-ingested seeds [Yasumoto and Takatsuki, 2015;Tsuji et al, 2020], the survival rate of the dispersed seeds for martens would be greater than that for macaques. This would increase its seed dispersal effectiveness.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interspecific Difference in Seed Dispersal Characteristics between Japanese Macaques (Macaca fuscata) and Sympatric Japanese Martens (Martes melampus)

Tsuji

Yanti

Takizawa

et al. 2020

IJFP

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We compared the characteristics of seeds within faeces between semi-terrestrial Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) and sympatric arboreal Japanese martens (Martes melampus) in Shiga Heights, central Japan. We collected faecal samples of the two mammalian species for 1 year (n = 229 for macaques and n = 22 for martens). We then compared the proportion of seed occurrence, life-form composition, number of seeds and species richness within single faecal samples, and the seed intact ratio between the two mammalian species. We detected seeds from 20 and 7 species from macaque and marten faeces, respectively. Macaque faeces contained seeds of multiple strata, while marten faeces contained no herbaceous plant seeds. Seed sizes within faeces showed no interspecific difference. For macaques, seeds were found within faecal samples collected in late spring to late fall, while for martens, seeds were found between summer and winter. The proportion of seed occurrence was greater in summer (both species) and fall (macaques), which implied that the seed dispersal roles of macaques and martens was greater in these seasons. The mean seed number (across species), intact ratio of seeds (high for both species) and seed species richness within single faecal samples of macaques and martens showed no significant differences, but for several species, martens defecated more seeds than macaques and showed higher intact ratio. Our study indicates that sympatric mammals in the temperate regions of Japan contribute differently to seed dispersal in forest ecosystems.

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“…Thus, seed‐feeding experiments are essential to determine the adaptive characteristics, such as resistance to stomach acid and its effect on the surface of the testa (Venier et al, 2012 ), and the time that seeds remain in the digestive tracts of dispersers. These variables critically influence seed survival during and after passage through the intestine (Tsuji et al, 2020 ). Evaluation of such seed survival enables determination of the dispersal capacities of the different plant species involved (Costea et al, 2016 ; Tsuji et al, 2020 ; Venier et al, 2012 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These variables critically influence seed survival during and after passage through the intestine (Tsuji et al, 2020 ). Evaluation of such seed survival enables determination of the dispersal capacities of the different plant species involved (Costea et al, 2016 ; Tsuji et al, 2020 ; Venier et al, 2012 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since most of this research has focused on medium‐sized mammals, such as the fox and the marten (Graae et al, 2004 ; Tsuji et al, 2020 ), we studied three mammals that perform endozoochory: gray fox, coati, and rabbit. In addition, felines were incorporated into the evaluation to demonstrate the participation of these large mammals in seed dispersal through the process of diploendozoochory (Rubalcava‐Castillo et al, 2020 ; Sarasola et al, 2016 ; Tsuji et al, 2011 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of endozoochory and diploendozoochory by captive wild mammals on Juniperus deppeana seeds

Rubalcava-Castillo

Flores

Luna‐Ruíz

et al. 2023

Ecology and Evolution

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Carnivorous mammals disperse seeds through endozoochory and diploendozoochory. The former consists of ingestion of the fruit, passage through the digestive tract, and expulsion of the seeds, a process that allows scarification and dispersal of the seeds over long or short distances. The latter is typical of predators that expel seeds that were contained in the prey and the effects of which may differ from those of endozoochory with respect to the retention time of the seeds in the tracts, as well as their scarification and viability. The objective of this study was to conduct an experimental evaluation comparing the capacity of each mammal species in terms of the dispersal of Juniperus deppeana seeds and, at the same time, to compare this capacity through the two dispersal systems: endozoochory and diploendozoochory.We measured dispersal capacity using indices of recovery, viability, changes in testas, and retention time of seeds in the digestive tract. Juniperus deppeana fruits were collected in the Sierra Fría Protected Natural Area in Aguascalientes, Mexico, and were administered in the diet of captive mammals: gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), coati (Nasua narica) and domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). These three mammals represented the endozoochoric dispersers. For the diploendozoochoric treatment, seeds excreted by rabbits were incorporated into the diets of captive mammals: bobcat (Lynx rufus) and cougar (Puma concolor), in a local zoo. Seeds present in the scats were then collected, and recovery rates and retention times were estimated. Viability was estimated by X-ray optical densitometry and testa thicknesses were measured and surfaces checked using scanning electron microscopy. The results showed a recovery of seeds greater than 70% in all the animals. The retention time was <24 h in the endozoochory but longer at 24-96 h in the diploendozoochory (p < .05). Seed viability (x ± SD) was decreased in rabbits (74.0 ± 11.5%), compared to fruits obtained directly from the canopy (89.7 ± 2.0%), while gray fox, coati, bobcat, and cougar did not affect seed viability (p < .05). An increase in the thickness of the testas was also observed in seeds excreted from all mammals (p < .05). Through evaluation, our results suggest

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Effects of Japanese marten (Martes melampus) gut passage on germination of Actinidia arguta (Actinidiaceae): Implications for seed dispersal

Cited by 5 publications

References 28 publications

Effect of passage through the common palm civet gut on seed germination of fleshy fruits in Pachmarhi Wildlife Sanctuary, central India

Effect of passage through the common palm civet gut on seed germination of fleshy fruits in Pachmarhi Wildlife Sanctuary, central India

Interspecific Difference in Seed Dispersal Characteristics between Japanese Macaques (Macaca fuscata) and Sympatric Japanese Martens (Martes melampus)

Effects of endozoochory and diploendozoochory by captive wild mammals on Juniperus deppeana seeds

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