Endozoochory by the guild of ungulates in Europe’s primeval forest

Jaroszewicz, Bogdan; Pirożnikow, Ewa; Sondej, Izabela

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2013.05.004

Cited by 40 publications

(60 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Nevertheless, the risk to large-seeded species and small-seeded species from the extinction of large animals might be more nuanced than at first it appears, as small seeds tend to be ingested by multiple large animals (e.g. Bruun & Poschlod, 2006;Jaroszewicz et al, 2013). That is, a greater redundancy in the potential disperser community for small seeds may make small-seeded plants less vulnerable to the extinction of individual large animal species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A mammoth mouthful? A test of the idea that larger animals ingest larger seeds

Chen

Moles

2015

Global Ecology and Biogeography

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Aim It has been widely assumed that large seeds generally require large animals to ingest and disperse them. However, this relationship has only been quantified in single animal groups (e.g. birds) and in a few communities. Our goal was to provide the first broad-scale study of the relationship between animal body mass and ingested seed size.Location Global. MethodsWe compiled a dataset of 13,135 unique animal × seed interactions, animal body masses and seed sizes in these interactions, across all vertebrate groups (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals). ResultsContrary to expectations, ingested seed size was negatively related to animal body mass. This negative relationship was largely driven by large ungulates ingesting small and dry seeds, and analyses excluding either ungulates or seeds with non-fleshy fruit types showed a positive relationship between animal body mass and ingested seed size. Large animals ingested both seeds with a larger maximum size (the 95th quantile had a positive slope) and a smaller minimum size (the 5th quantile had a negative slope). Larger animals ingest larger seeds from fleshy fruits but smaller seeds from non-fleshy fruits. A significant positive relationship was found between animal size and the number of seed species ingested. Main conclusionsOur data show that one of the assumptions that has underpinned the study of animal-seed interactions does not hold true across the full range of animal taxa and fruit types. These findings shed new light on theories about which types of plant species might be at risk if large animals go extinct, and cast doubt on the generality of a few theories (e.g. optimal diet theory, fruit-size hypothesis) about the relationship between frugivores and seeds.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A mammoth mouthful? A test of the idea that larger animals ingest larger seeds

Chen

Moles

2015

Global Ecology and Biogeography

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“…2007; Jaroszewicz et al. 2013). Among these, species with large home range and large intake capacities, including ungulates, are potentially effective vectors for long-distance dispersal in herbaceous plants (Will and Tackenberg 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Endozoochory has been studied for a diversity of vectors including birds (Murray 1988), bats (Muscarella and Fleming 2007), rodents (Forget and Milleron 1991), and large mammals (Malo and Su arez 1995a,b;Couvreur et al 2005;Eycott et al 2007;Jaroszewicz et al 2013). Among these, species with large home range and large intake capacities, including ungulates, are potentially effective vectors for long-distance dispersal in herbaceous plants (Will and Tackenberg 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temporal dynamics of seed excretion by wild ungulates: implications for plant dispersal

Picard¹,

Papaïx

Gosselin³

et al. 2015

Ecology and Evolution

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Dispersal is a key process in metapopulation dynamics as it conditions species’ spatial responses to gradients of abiotic and biotic conditions and triggers individual and gene flows. In the numerous plants that are dispersed through seed consumption by herbivores (endozoochory), the distance and effectiveness of dispersal is determined by the combined effects of seed retention time in the vector’s digestive system, the spatial extent of its movements, and the ability of the seeds to germinate once released. Estimating these three parameters from experimental data is therefore crucial to calibrate mechanistic metacommunity models of plant–herbivore interactions. In this study, we jointly estimated the retention time and germination probability of six herbaceous plants transported by roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), red deer (Cervus elaphus), and wild boar (Sus scrofa) through feeding experiments and a Bayesian dynamic model. Retention time was longer in the nonruminant wild boar (>36 h) than in the two ruminant species (roe deer: 18–36 h, red deer: 3–36 h). In the two ruminants, but not in wild boar, small and round seeds were excreted faster than large ones. Low germination probabilities of the excreted seeds reflected the high cost imposed by endozoochory on plant survival. Trait-mediated variations in retention time and germination probability among animal and plant species may impact plant dispersal distances and interact with biotic and abiotic conditions at the release site to shape the spatial patterns of dispersed plant species.

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“…While Fløjgaard et al. () consider that the landscape context may bias our results, recent independent (Jaroszewicz, Pirożnikow, & Sondej, ; Picard, Chevalier, Barrier, Boscardin, & Baltzinger, ), but also older studies (von Oheimb, Schmidt, Kriebitzsch, & Ellenberg, ; Schmidt, Sommer, Kriebitzsch, Ellenberg, & von Oheimb, ) on seed dispersal by wild ungulates suggest that there is no overall effect of the landscape matrix on the traits of the plants dispersed by our three model ungulates; these animals disperse preferentially plants typical of open habitats even in forest‐dominated landscape matrices.

Characteristics of forest stands of the 82 plots used in Boulanger et al., . (<1600: before 1600) Dominant tree species Stand origin Stand structure Forest continuity (earliest known existing forest; years) Land‐use change since 1900 Plantation Natural regeneration Even‐aged Uneven‐aged Coppice with standards Range Median Yes No Uncertain Oak1262403[<1600; 1874]16190270Douglas fir50500[<1600; 1969]1790500Norway spruce82910[<1600; 1969]1914622Beech1141500[<1600; 1852]17660150Pine1041400[1700; 1954]1874527

…”

Section: Characteristics Of Forest Stands Of the 82 Plots Used In Boumentioning

confidence: 68%

The role of ungulates in nowadays temperate forests. A response to Fløjgaard et al. (DOI:10.1111/gcb.14029)

Boulanger

Dupouey

Archaux

et al. 2018

Global Change Biology

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In Boulanger et al. (2018), we investigated the effects of ungulates on forest plant diversity. By suggesting a revisit of our conclusions regarding ecosystem dynamics since the late Pleistocene, Fløjgaard et al. (2018) came to the conclusion that moderate grazing in forest should be a conservation target. Since major points of our paper were mis- or over- interpreted, we put the record straight on our study system and on the scope of our conclusions. Finally, we advocate for an assessment of the conservation issues of ungulates in forests not only regarding hypothetical and still debated states of past ecosystems but also considering timely challenges for forest ecosystems.

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Endozoochory by the guild of ungulates in Europe’s primeval forest

Cited by 40 publications

References 30 publications

A mammoth mouthful? A test of the idea that larger animals ingest larger seeds

A mammoth mouthful? A test of the idea that larger animals ingest larger seeds

Temporal dynamics of seed excretion by wild ungulates: implications for plant dispersal

The role of ungulates in nowadays temperate forests. A response to Fløjgaard et al. (DOI:10.1111/gcb.14029)

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