Germination of native and exotic seeds dispersed by wild black-and-gold howler monkeys (Alouatta caraya): assessing deinhibition and scarification effects

Fergnani, Darío Martín; Kowalewski, Miguel Martin; Fernandez, Vanina Alejandra

doi:10.1007/s10329-020-00791-9

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…Our results are not only consistent with tolerance hypothesis that seed can germinate after partial seed consumption by rodents, but also indicate that rodent predation caused fast germination. Seed damage by rodents lead to increased seed germination rate or speed which may contribute to the mutualism between seeds and rodents, consistent with several previous studies (e.g., Cao et al, 2011;Fergnani et al, 2020;Li et al, 2023;Wang et al, 2021).…”

Section: Effects Of Seed Damagesupporting

confidence: 91%

Physical seed damage, not rodent's saliva, accelerates seed germination of trees in a subtropical forest

Zhu,

Yang,

Teng

et al. 2024

Ecology and Evolution

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Many tree species adopt fast seed germination to escape the predation risk by rodents. Physical seed damage and the saliva of rodents on partially consumed seeds may act as cues for seeds to accelerate germination process. However, the impacts of these factors on seed germination rate and speed remain unclear. In this study, we investigated such impacts on the germination rate and speed (reversal of germination time) of four tree species (Quercus variabilis, Q. serrata, Q. acutissima, Q. glauca) after partial consumption by four rodent species (Leopoldamys edwards, Niviventer fulvescens, N. confucianus, Apodemus draco), through a series of experiments. We also examined how seed traits may affect the seed damage degree by rodents by analyzing the relationship between the germination rate and time of rodent‐damaged seed and the traits. We found that, artificially‐ and rodent‐damaged seeds exhibited a significantly higher seed germination rate and speed, compared to intact seeds. Also, the rodent saliva on seeds showed no significant effect on seed germination rate and speed. Furthermore, we observed significant positive correlations between several seed traits (including the seed mass, coat thickness, and protein content) and the seed germination rate and speed. These correlations are likely due to their beneficial traits countering seed damage by rodents. Overall, our results highlight the significant role of physical seed damage by rodents (rather than their saliva) in facilitating seed germination of tree species, and potential mutualism between rodents and trees. Additionally, our results may have some implications in forest restoration, such that intentionally sowing or dispersing slightly damaged seeds by humans or drones may increase the likelihood of successful seed regeneration.

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Section: Effects Of Seed Damagesupporting

confidence: 91%

Physical seed damage, not rodent's saliva, accelerates seed germination of trees in a subtropical forest

Zhu,

Yang,

Teng

et al. 2024

Ecology and Evolution

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“…Sin embargo, en el área de distribución del ombusillo, los animales que consumen frutos son mamíferos omnívoros de tamaño pequeño a mediano (e.g., algunas especies de Didelphidae, Dasypodidae, Chlamyphoridae y Canidae; Canevari & Vaccaro, 2007) y principalmente las aves (De la Peña & Pensiero, 2017) que son mucho más abundantes y diversas, aunque muy pequeñas (e.g., especies de Columbidae, Psittacidae, Tyrannidae, Thraupidae y Turdidae) con alguna excepción (Rheidae). Estos animales de menor tamaño podrían actuar como dispersores secundarios del ombusillo, tal como ocurre con su especie hermana el ombú, Phytolacca dioica, que en el norte de su distribución tiene a los primates como dispersores principales (Bravo & Zunino, 2000;de Moraes Aguiar et al, 2003;da Silva Doratti dos Santos et al, 2013;Fergnani et al, 2020) pero donde no hay primates, las aves adquieren un papel importante en la dispersión secundaria de las semillas (Galetti, 2000;Di Giacomo & Kaprovickas, 2005;de la Peña, 2011). En este sentido, Di Sallo et al (2012) realizaron observaciones sistemáticas a campo de los frutos de ombusillo en diferentes estadios de maduración con el objetivo de registrar los posibles consumidores; sin embargo, estos autores no registraron interacciones entre los frutos del ombusillo y aves u otros animales, coincidiendo con nuestras observaciones a campo.…”

Section: Una Amenaza Extra: ¿Existe Algún Dispersor De Las Semillas D...unclassified

Distribución y estado de conservación de Phytolacca tetramera (Phytolaccaceae), una rara planta endémica de las Pampas Argentinas

Guerrero

Pagano

Abba

et al. 2022

Bol. Soc. Argent. Bot.

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Introducción y objetivos: El ombusillo, Phytolacca tetramera, es una planta rara, endémica del noreste de la provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina. El objetivo de este trabajo es proporcionar información detallada y actualizada del área de distribución de la especie, evaluar su estado de conservación y discutir las amenazas para su conservación. M&M: Los sitios de ocurrencia de la especie se obtuvieron a partir de material de herbario, bases de datos, bibliografía y viajes de campo. Delimitamos núcleos geográficos (potenciales subpoblaciones) para los grupos de ombusillos. Relevamos las posibles amenazas mediante observaciones a campo y evaluamos el estado de conservación usando el criterio B1 de la UICN (extensión de presencia). Resultados: Phytolacca tetramera está restringida en la actualidad al litoral del Río de la Plata entre las cotas de 4 y 15 msnm, desde el partido de La Plata hasta la Bahía Samborombón. Posee una extensión de presencia de 4313,714 km2, en los cuales se identificaron cuatro núcleos geográficos. De acuerdo con el criterio B1 de la UICN, proponemos la categoría En Peligro B1ab(i,iii) para P. tetramera. Las amenazas a la supervivencia de la especie son diversas, aunque deben ser mejor estudiadas, siendo la urbanización una de las más importantes. Conclusiones: Debido a la extensión geográfica restringida de P. tetramera y a sus posibles amenazas, resulta imprescindible llevar a cabo acciones para la conservación de esta especie. Dentro de las acciones prioritarias a futuro es fundamental conocer más sobre su capacidad de dispersión y nicho de regeneración.

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“…The fruit pulp is thick, paste-like, strongly sour and highly acidic in nature and is used as food preservatives and as a traditional medicine in India (Ebifa-Othieno et al, 2017). However, little is known about the chemical nature of fruit pulp and its role in seed germination (Fergnani et al, 2020;Han and Xu, 2010;Mohammed et al, 2019). Hence, in our study, we analyzed the potential germination inhibitors present in T. indica fruit pulp, its chemical characterization, and ecological significance, using a protocol outlined below.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of Tartaric Acid in the Ecology of a Zoochoric Fruit Species, Tamarindus indica. L

Bhattacharya

Biswas

2021

International Journal of Fruit Science

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Zoochoric plants usually produce fruits with a mechanical barrier in the exocarp, or chemical inhibitors in the fruit pulp (mesocarp) or seed coat (endocarp) to achieve required dormancy. Tamarindus indica L. is one such zoochoric tree species, but the role of possible bioactive chemicals in the ecology of its fruit and seed dispersal has not been explored before. We investigated the germination inhibitory effects of T. indica fruit pulp by comparing germination of intact T. indica fruits with depulped T. indica seeds. This experiment revealed that attached pulp (including exocarp) delayed or decreased germination via an unverified mechanism. We then analyzed the pulp (including exocarp) to find out if there was a dominant bioactive chemical, by creating extracts using both alcohol and aqueous fractionation, and then analyzed them using GLC-MS analysis. We discovered that tartaric acid was the main bioactive chemical present in the methanol fraction (but not aqueous), so decided to test its effect on T. indica seed germination. We exposed viable depulped T. indica seeds to varying concentrations of pure tartaric acid in distilled water and found germination inhibition was observed at a concentration of 0.4 mg/ml. Therefore, since tartaric acid is the major chemical component in T. indica fruit pulp, it is possible that it could play a crucial role in the zoochoric dispersal of seeds by inhibiting germination while they are still attached to the tree or have just fallen close to the parent tree so that they have an opportunity to reach distant sites favorable for germination.

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Germination of native and exotic seeds dispersed by wild black-and-gold howler monkeys (Alouatta caraya): assessing deinhibition and scarification effects

Cited by 6 publications

References 41 publications

Physical seed damage, not rodent's saliva, accelerates seed germination of trees in a subtropical forest

Physical seed damage, not rodent's saliva, accelerates seed germination of trees in a subtropical forest

Distribución y estado de conservación de Phytolacca tetramera (Phytolaccaceae), una rara planta endémica de las Pampas Argentinas

Role of Tartaric Acid in the Ecology of a Zoochoric Fruit Species, Tamarindus indica. L

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