Florivory by lizards on Tacinga inamoena (K.Schum.) N.P.Taylor & Stuppy (Cactaceae) in the Brazilian Caatinga

Abstract

Florivory can alter plant reproductive success by damaging sexual reproductive structures and disrupting plant-pollinator interactions through decreased flower attractiveness. Here, we report new records of the cactus Tacinga inamoena flower consumption by the Tropidurus hispidus lizard in the Brazilian Caatinga. We monitored 53 flowers from 11 T. inamoena individuals with camera traps over a 1-year period, totalling 450 camera-days of sample effort. We detected four florivory events. In three of these events, flowers were entirely consumed or had their reproductive structures severely damaged, leading to no fruit formation. Florivory events occurred in the morning, right after anthesis, in flowers near the ground, and lizards did not climb the cactus. Our results suggest that T. hispidus florivory on T. inamoena could have a negative impact on fruit set, since the consumed flowers were entirely destroyed. However, the long-term effects of florivory by lizards on T. inamoena reproductive success in the Caatinga still needs to be elucidated.

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

“…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).…”

“…Several studies have documented the phenomenon of saurochory, which involves seed dispersal by lizards, especially concerning Melocactus species within the Cactaceae family (Figueira et al., 1994; Fonseca et al., 2012; Gomes et al., 2014, 2021; Paixão et al., 2023; Xavier & Dias, 2015). This interaction highlights several characteristics of these cacti, such as their small size and the exposure to colourful fruits during the hottest hours of the day, closely related to the fact that lizards feed during this time and include succulent fruits in their diet (Fonseca et al., 2012; Gomes et al., 2021; Paixão et al., 2023).…”

“…Several studies have documented the phenomenon of saurochory, which involves seed dispersal by lizards, especially concerning Melocactus species within the Cactaceae family (Figueira et al., 1994; Fonseca et al., 2012; Gomes et al., 2014, 2021; Paixão et al., 2023; Xavier & Dias, 2015). This interaction highlights several characteristics of these cacti, such as their small size and the exposure to colourful fruits during the hottest hours of the day, closely related to the fact that lizards feed during this time and include succulent fruits in their diet (Fonseca et al., 2012; Gomes et al., 2021; Paixão et al., 2023). Although the literature extensively documents the interactions between lizards and Melocactus fruits (Fonseca et al., 2012; Gomes et al., 2021; Paixão et al., 2023), there is only a single record of double mutualism with a lizard acting as pollinator and seed disperser of Melocactus ernestii (Gomes et al., 2014).…”

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

“…In species of the subfamily Opuntioidae, such as T. inamoena , vegetative reproduction is common, which could explain the high abundance of this species. Despite that frugivory records on Tacinga are rare, Opuntioideae species are reported to be widely consumed by different animals (e.g., florivory by reptiles, Paixão et al, 2021). Furthermore, some frugivory interactions in species like T. inamoena are sporadic and require longer sampling periods.…”

“…The data that support the findings of this study are openly available in the Dryad Digital Repository: https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad. k98sf 7mc7 (Paixão et al, 2023).…”