Seed dispersal between aquatic and agricultural habitats by greylag geese

Navarro-Ramos, María J.; van Leeuwen, Casper H.A.; Olsson, Camilla; Elmberg, Johan; Månsson, Johan; Martín-Vélez, Víctor; Lovas-Kiss, Ádám; Green, Andy J.

doi:10.1016/j.agee.2023.108741

Cited by 7 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…The frequencies of barochory/autochory and hydrochory were higher in mallards, whereas epizoochory and anemochory were dominant in geese. The high endozoochory rates we observed for seeds assigned to epizoochory syndromes is similar to previous findings for dabbling ducks (Green et al., 2022) and geese (Navarro‐Ramos et al., 2024). How and why waterfowl ingest seeds with hooks or other traits used to assign the epizoochory syndrome deserves further investigation.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…As opportunistic habitat generalists, they ingest and disperse an abundance of seeds from a wide range of plant species (Kleyheeg et al., 2017; Soons et al., 2016; Urgyán et al., 2023). Recent studies demonstrate that geese are also important seed vectors in Europe (Almeida et al., 2022; Hattermann et al., 2019; Lovas‐Kiss et al., 2023; Navarro‐Ramos et al., 2024), but there are no studies comparing plants dispersed by ducks and geese in the same habitats, or their trait composition.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Waterfowl provide an important ecosystem service through seed dispersal of native plants (Green et al., 2016; Green & Elmberg, 2014), although they may also spread alien species (Green, 2016) and agricultural weeds (Navarro‐Ramos et al., 2024). Some waterfowl are themselves alien species, and introductions of alien birds can have major impacts on ecosystems (Evans et al., 2021; Mooney & Cleland, 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Plant traits associated with seed dispersal by ducks and geese in urban and natural habitats

Tóth,

Green,

Wilkinson

et al. 2023

Ecology and Evolution

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Ducks and geese are little studied dispersal vectors for plants lacking a fleshy fruit, and our understanding of the traits associated with these plants is limited. We analyzed 507 faecal samples of mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) and Canada goose (Branta canadensis) from 18 natural and urban wetlands in England, where they are the dominant resident waterfowl. We recovered 930 plant diaspores from 39 taxa representing 18 families, including 28 terrestrial and five aquatic species and four aliens. Mallards had more seeds and seed species per sample than geese, more seeds from barochory and hydrochory syndromes, and seeds that on average were larger and from plants with greater moisture requirements (i.e., more aquatic). Mallards dispersed more plant species than geese in natural habitats. Plant communities and traits dispersed were different between urban (e.g., more achenes) and natural (e.g., more capsules) habitats. Waterfowl can readily spread alien species from urban into natural environments but also allow native terrestrial and aquatic plants to disperse in response to climate heating or other global change. Throughout the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, the mallard is accompanied by a goose (either the Canada goose or the greylag goose) as the most abundant waterfowl in urbanized areas. This combination provides a previously overlooked seed dispersal service for plants with diverse traits.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Plant traits associated with seed dispersal by ducks and geese in urban and natural habitats

Tóth,

Green,

Wilkinson

et al. 2023

Ecology and Evolution

Self Cite

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“…Dispersal syndromes defined from diaspore morphology have often been used to predict dispersal distances [8], but these syndromes often underestimate the potential for long-distance dispersal [9]. For example, migratory waterbirds disperse many plants by endozoochory (gut passage) which have been assigned to gravity or unassisted syndromes [10,11]. Field studies indicate that waterbird endozoochory is particularly likely for halotolerant plants, which have more avian vectors [12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Invasive Buttonweed Cotula coronopifolia (Asteraceae) Is Halotolerant and Has High Potential for Dispersal by Endozoochory

Sánchez-García,

Green,

Tomasson

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Buttonweed (Cotula coronopifolia) is native to South Africa but invasive in wetlands in Europe, North America, and Australasia, where it excludes native plants. Despite being dry-fruited, field studies suggest migratory waterbirds can disperse its seeds via gut passage (endozoochory), aiding its expansion. To explore the potential for endozoochory in different regions and habitats, we collected seeds from six populations in Spain, Sweden, and the UK. Germination was tested under different salinity levels (0, 5, 10, 15 g/L) and simulated gut passage treatments: scarification, acidification, or both. No germination occurred at 15 g/L. Higher salinity reduced and delayed germination, but full gut passage treatment increased germinability and accelerated germination. Scarification or acid treatment alone resulted in intermediate germination patterns. There were significant salinity x population and gut passage x population interactions on germinability. The acceleration effect of gut passage on germination was stronger at 5-10 g/L than at 0 g/L. This study highlights how migratory birds can facilitate the spread of alien plants introduced by humans. Non-classical endozoochory by waterbirds is an understudied mechanism for the long-distance dispersal of dry-fruited alien plants. Further research on C. coronopifolia, including population genetics, is necessary to understand dispersal mechanisms and facilitate management strategies.

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Float, fly, then sink: wetland plant seed buoyancy is lost after internal dispersal by waterbirds

Navarro-Ramos,

Green,

de Vries

et al. 2024

Hydrobiologia

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Seed dispersal distance is an important indicator of how well a plant species can cope with environmental changes. Seeds of wetland plants are primarily dispersed by hydrochory (floating on the water surface) or endozoochory (ingestion and egestion by animals). However, both mechanisms can also be combined (diplochory), which increases dispersal distances. In wetlands, seeds often float on the water surface before ingestion and transport by animals, such as waterbirds. Here, we consider what happens next after endozoochory and test whether seeds dispersed inside waterbirds can then continue to disperse by hydrochory. We experimentally assessed the buoyancy capacity of 41 wetland plant species for 14 weeks before and after simulated passage through avian digestive systems. This revealed that (1) seeds of plants previously assigned a hydrochory dispersal syndrome floated longer than those from other syndromes, but with considerable overlap; (2) fully aquatic and shoreline plant species had seeds with stronger buoyancy than terrestrial plants; and (3) digestive processes negatively affected seed buoyancy capacity for all plant species, which included wetland species with a typical hydrochory syndrome. The capacity for hydrochory is more limited after endozoochory than beforehand, with strong implications for the effectiveness of seed dispersal.

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Seed dispersal between aquatic and agricultural habitats by greylag geese

Cited by 7 publications

References 54 publications

Plant traits associated with seed dispersal by ducks and geese in urban and natural habitats

Plant traits associated with seed dispersal by ducks and geese in urban and natural habitats

Invasive Buttonweed Cotula coronopifolia (Asteraceae) Is Halotolerant and Has High Potential for Dispersal by Endozoochory

Float, fly, then sink: wetland plant seed buoyancy is lost after internal dispersal by waterbirds

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