Endocarp thickness affects seed removal speed by small rodents in a warm-temperate broad-leafed deciduous forest, China

Zhang, Hongmao; Zhang, Zhibin

doi:10.1016/j.actao.2008.06.001

Cited by 77 publications

(68 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…For survival and regeneration, seeds have evolved one of two strategies: resistance or tolerance. Seed predation by animals leads to strong selection pressure on seed traits which in turn results in a variety of resistance-related traits in seeds (e.g., thick, spiny fruits, hard seed coats, or toxic chemical compounds) (Grubb et al 1998;Janzen 1969;Rosenthal and Bell 1979;Vander Wall 2010;Zhang and Zhang 2008). However, high-level resistance (e.g., hard seed coat) often reduces the speed of seed removal by rodents and seed dispersal (Zhang and Zhang 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Seed predation by animals leads to strong selection pressure on seed traits which in turn results in a variety of resistance-related traits in seeds (e.g., thick, spiny fruits, hard seed coats, or toxic chemical compounds) (Grubb et al 1998;Janzen 1969;Rosenthal and Bell 1979;Vander Wall 2010;Zhang and Zhang 2008). However, high-level resistance (e.g., hard seed coat) often reduces the speed of seed removal by rodents and seed dispersal (Zhang and Zhang 2008). Tolerance traits in plant seeds can be an alternative mechanism for seed survival (Dalling and Harms 1999;Mack 1998;Vallejo-Marin et al 2006;Xiao et al 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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High regeneration capacity helps tropical seeds to counter rodent predation

et al. 2011

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Rapid germination of non-dormant seeds is one adaptation plants have evolved to counter seed predation by rodents. Some rodent species have evolved behaviors that prevent or slow the seed germination process through seed embryo removal or seed pruning; however, no plant species is known to have successfully escaped embryo removal or seed pruning by rodents. Here, we report that the non-dormant seeds of Pittosporopsis kerrii Craib in tropical rain forests in China have a high regeneration capacity to counter seed pruning by rodents. We found seed pruning, instead of embryo removal, was commonly used by rodents to increase food storage time by slowing down the seed germination process, but that P. kerrii seeds have a high regeneration capacity to escape seed predation by rodents: all pruned seeds, pruned roots and embryo-removed seeds by rodents or people retain the ability to develop into seedlings. Seeds of P. kerrii also have other capacities (i.e. rapid seed decomposition and indigestible dormant taproots) to escape predation by reducing the plant's attractiveness to rodents. The association between seed pruning behavior in rodents and high regeneration capacity of pruned seeds or roots in P. kerrii seeds are likely novel adaptation strategies adopted by seeds and rodents, respectively.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

High regeneration capacity helps tropical seeds to counter rodent predation

et al. 2011

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“…That is, we could attribute the high level of nut disappearance to seed predation per se, highlighting its importance as the main mechanism aVecting seed fate. In temperate deciduous forests in the Northern Hemisphere, several species of Juglans are consumed by scatter-hoarding species of squirrels and mice (Vander Wall 2001;Tamura and Hayashi 2008;Zhang and Zhang 2008). In tropical and subtropical forests in the Neotropics, agoutis are the main seed dispersal vectors for some largeseeded plants (Jansen et al 2004).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental field test of spatial variation in rodent predation of nuts relative to distance and seed density

Blendinger

Díaz-Vélez

2010

Oecologia

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The spatial context in which seed predation occurs may modify the spatial structure of recruitment generated by seed dispersal. The Janzen-Connell (J-C) model predicts that granivores will exert greater pressure on the parent plant or at those sites where the density of dispersed seeds is higher. We have investigated how the probability of post-dispersal survival of Juglans australis varies with nut density across a hierarchy of spatial scales. We experimentally evaluated the survival of 3,120 nuts at three spatial scales: meso-scale (

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“…One of the principal adaptive mechanisms proposed is that species whose seeds are regularly deposited in clumps are likely to have evolved defences against density-dependent mortality in contrast to species that are regularly scatterdispersed (Howe 1989). Species that are not strongly affected by density-dependent mortality factors at the seed stage (including predation-through proximate factors such as hard endocarps, secondary metabolites, and faster germination ;Stiles 1989;Zhang and Zhang 2008) are expected to be able to recruit even at high seed densities below parent crowns, be more common, and have a highly clumped dispersion pattern. Species that have not evolved resistance to density-dependent mortality factors at the seed stage would recruit poorly under parent crowns, would be rare, and would have a well-spaced adult tree dispersion pattern (Howe 1989).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rodent seed predation: effects on seed survival, recruitment, abundance, and dispersion of bird-dispersed tropical trees

2012

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Tropical tree species vary widely in their pattern of spatial dispersion. We focus on how seed predation may modify seed deposition patterns and affect the abundance and dispersion of adult trees in a tropical forest in India. Using plots across a range of seed densities, we examined whether seed predation levels by terrestrial rodents varied across six large-seeded, bird-dispersed tree species. Since inter-specific variation in density-dependent seed mortality may have downstream effects on recruitment and adult tree stages, we determined recruitment patterns close to and away from parent trees, along with adult tree abundance and dispersion patterns. Four species (Canarium resiniferum, Dysoxylum binectariferum, Horsfieldia kingii, and Prunus ceylanica) showed high predation levels (78.5-98.7%) and increased mortality with increasing seed density, while two species, Chisocheton cumingianus and Polyalthia simiarum, showed significantly lower seed predation levels and weak density-dependent mortality. The latter two species also had the highest recruitment near parent trees, with most abundant and aggregated adults. The four species that had high seed mortality had low recruitment under parent trees, were rare, and had more spaced adult tree dispersion. Biotic dispersal may be vital for species that suffer density-dependent mortality factors under parent trees. In tropical forests where large vertebrate seed dispersers but not seed predators are hunted, differences in seed vulnerability to rodent seed predation and density-dependent mortality can affect forest structure and composition.

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Endocarp thickness affects seed removal speed by small rodents in a warm-temperate broad-leafed deciduous forest, China

Cited by 77 publications

References 47 publications

High regeneration capacity helps tropical seeds to counter rodent predation

High regeneration capacity helps tropical seeds to counter rodent predation

Experimental field test of spatial variation in rodent predation of nuts relative to distance and seed density

Rodent seed predation: effects on seed survival, recruitment, abundance, and dispersion of bird-dispersed tropical trees

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