Endangered globose cactus Melocactus lanssensianus P. J. Braun depends on lizards for effective seed dispersal in the Brazilian Caatinga

Gomes, Vanessa Gabrielle Nóbrega; Koroiva, None Ricardo; Cassimiro, Carlos Alberto Lins; Batista, Fabiane Rabelo da Costa

doi:10.1007/s11258-021-01185-7

Cited by 7 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 50 publications

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“…The fruits of Melocactus are considered to be mostly bird‐dispersed, and it seems clear that long‐distance bird dispersal likely has played a role in the evolution of the clade in the Caribbean, especially given our phylogenetic results here. However, lizards also have been shown to consume fruit (Côrtes‐Figueira & al., 1994; Gomes & al., 2021) of certain South American species (as well as pollinate flowers) and may have an effect on population‐level dynamics (Gomes & al., 2013). This could lead to greater within‐population‐level genetic cohesion and thus a greater, local, geographic phylogenetic signal for species in the Cuban clade, for example.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phylogenomics of the Caribbean melocacti: Cryptic species and multiple invasions

Majure

Barrios

Díaz³

et al. 2022

TAXON

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The widespread Neotropical genus Melocactus of approximately 42 currently recognized species, is most diverse in eastern Brazil and the Greater Antilles, especially Cuba. Species delimitation is notoriously problematic in the group, although this is due in part to a lack of detailed systematic studies, as well as a severely cluttered nomenclatural history. To date, no comprehensive phylogenetic hypotheses have been generated for the clade, although some population genetic and morphological studies exist. We generated the largest phylogenetic dataset of Melocactus to date based on plastome data derived from a genome-skimming approach for 26 taxa, which provided a framework for understanding species limits and relationships among Caribbean species. Our timecalibrated phylogeny revealed a mid-Pleistocene origin for Melocactus, and we resolved three major clades, a Cuban clade, a mostly South American clade, and a widespread Caribbean clade, which also included some South American taxa. Our topology recovered the Cuban clade as sister to the rest of the species, although this placement was poorly supported, and several other Cuban species are scattered throughout the rest of the tree. Biogeographic analyses suggested multiple dispersal events from South America leading to the current diversity on Cuba, as well as other parts of the Antilles. Based on our phylogenetic results, previous hypotheses of species numbers and relationships in the Caribbean generated solely on morphology have, in some cases, been greatly underestimated. Our study shows that plastome data are effective for resolving clades and species limits in Melocactus, although future work will need to include broader sampling and larger datasets to fully resolve relationships in this complicated group of cacti. We describe one new cryptic species for Cuba, Melocactus santiagoensis sp. nov., and provide a new combination (Melocactus lagunaensis comb. & stat. nov.), based on our phylogenetic results and morphological data and typify numerous names in the genus. The genus Melocactus is another striking example of the exceptional diversity that has been generated in the poorly studied, seasonally dry tropical forest of the Greater Antilles.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phylogenomics of the Caribbean melocacti: Cryptic species and multiple invasions

Majure

Barrios

Díaz³

et al. 2022

TAXON

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“…Small lizards likely have easier access to a variety of flower and fruit sizes, and in some cases act as the sole pollinators and dispersers of these plants, which is not common in large lizards (Correcher et al, 2023;Fuster et al, 2019). In addition to lizard characteristics, another important feature is that Melocactus species grow close to the ground, which facilitates lizard access to the flowers and fruits (Gomes et al, 2014(Gomes et al, , 2021.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Caatinga is an environment with periodic water scarcity and has low throphic resource availability (Fonseca et al., 2012; Gomes et al., 2017, 2021; Paixão et al., 2023; Souza Neto et al., 2021). Mainly in the dry season, many animals have evolved both generalist and opportunistic behaviours to take advantage of available resources (Correcher et al., 2023; Fuster et al., 2019; Fuster & Traveset, 2020; Gomes et al., 2014, 2021). Melocactus is a genus that exhibits a great diversity of species in the Caatinga region of Brazil (Taylor & Zappi, 2004), where many of its species produce flowers and fleshy fruits throughout the year, providing an important resource for a variety of pollinators and seed dispersers (Bezerra‐Silva et al., 2023; Colaço et al., 2006; Fonseca et al., 2012; Gomes et al., 2021; Locatelli & Machado, 1999; Nassar et al., 2007).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The flowering (September) and fruiting (December) peaks reached their maximum during the dry season (Bezerra‐Silva, 2022). The continuous production of flowers and fruits throughout the year makes M. violaceus and other Melocactus species important sources of carbohydrates and water in Caatinga vegetation, especially during the dry season when nectar, pollen and fruits are quite scarce for pollinators and dispersers (Bezerra‐Silva et al., 2023; Figueira et al., 1994; Fonseca et al., 2012; Gomes et al., 2014, 2021; Locatelli & Machado, 1999; Quirino & Machado, 2014). Instead, it is important to highlight that these lizards ensure the main phases of the reproduction and life cycle of M. violaceus .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Double mutualism involving Melocactus (Cactaceae) and lizards in the Brazilian Caatinga: Another isolated case or is it an established interaction?

Bezerra‐Silva,

Gomes,

Albuquerque‐Lima

et al. 2024

Austral Ecology

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This work discusses a fascinating ecological relationship, in which the lizard Tropidurus cocorobensis and the cactus Melocactus violaceus engage in a double mutualism. In this interaction, observed in a Caatinga, a dry tropical forest in Northeastern Brazil, T. cocorobensis feed on the nectar and pollen of M. violaceus, transferring the grains to the stigmas of another flower, acting as a potential pollinator. Additionally, the lizards consume fruits of M. violaceus, helping to disperse the seeds. The concentrated nectar of M. violaceus attracts lizards, and the morphological compatibility between the small pink flowers and the size of T. cocorobensis is important to this double mutualism. The findings mentioned here highlight the importance of Tropidurus lizards in the reproductive success of Melocactus species and provide insights into the coevolution of these species in a seasonal and resource‐scarce environment, like the Caatinga.

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“…Evidence shows that members of the genus Melocactus engage in frugivory and seed dispersal interactions with lizards (saurochory), particularly in the Neotropical arid and semiarid region (Gomes et al, 2013(Gomes et al, , 2016(Gomes et al, , 2021Guerrero et al, 2012). Conversely, the main frugivores and seed dispersers of columnar cacti are birds (Gomes et al, 2014(Gomes et al, , 2017 and bats (Godínez-Alvarez et al, 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cactus height increases the modularity of a plant–frugivore network in the Caatinga dry forest

et al. 2023

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Cacti fruits are key resources to many frugivorous animals in Neotropical arid and semiarid regions. However, most studies have focused on a particular animal group or cacti species, but few have explored the overall interactions of such species at the community level. Here we monitored frugivory on five cacti species using camera traps that sampled diurnal and nocturnal interactions. We investigated the structure of interactions with bird, mammal, and reptile frugivores in the Brazilian Caatinga dry forest. We hypothesized that the height of cacti limit interactions with different types of frugivores, which would result in highly structured and modular interaction networks. In 2929 camera‐days, we recorded 23 vertebrate species feeding on cacti fruits, including seven new records, all determined to be primary seed dispersers. As predicted, the cacti‐frugivore network was modular and non‐nested, with the two shortest cacti species grouped in a module dominated by interactions with reptiles and non‐flying mammals. The tallest cacti species were dominated by frugivory interactions with birds and had comparatively less interaction diversity than shorter cacti species. Our results support the contention that cacti are keystone species in semiarid ecosystems where they produce small‐seeded fleshy fruits year‐round.

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Endangered globose cactus Melocactus lanssensianus P. J. Braun depends on lizards for effective seed dispersal in the Brazilian Caatinga

Cited by 7 publications

References 50 publications

Phylogenomics of the Caribbean melocacti: Cryptic species and multiple invasions

Phylogenomics of the Caribbean melocacti: Cryptic species and multiple invasions

Double mutualism involving Melocactus (Cactaceae) and lizards in the Brazilian Caatinga: Another isolated case or is it an established interaction?

Cactus height increases the modularity of a plant–frugivore network in the Caatinga dry forest

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