Seeds and the City: The Interdependence of Zoochory and Ecosystem Dynamics in Urban Environments

Gelmi‐Candusso, Tiziana A.; Hämäläinen, Anni

doi:10.3389/fevo.2019.00041

Cited by 36 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 192 publications

(251 reference statements)

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“…Despite exotic plants show lower frequencies of seed dispersal by native parrots, plant invasions can be also facilitated by native frugivores [ 45 ]. Thus, the consumption of exotic plants by both native and exotic parrots in urban areas can trigger their spread across surrounding natural landscapes through seed dispersal [ 46 , 47 , 48 ]. Given that parrots are successful invaders worldwide [ 49 ], with nearly 16% of the extant parrot species showing non-native populations out of their natural geographical distribution [ 50 ], further research should assess whether their interactions with exotic plants can be promoting their spread.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epizoochory in Parrots as an Overlooked Yet Widespread Plant–Animal Mutualism

Hernández‐Brito

Romero-Vidal

Hiraldo

et al. 2021

Plants

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Plant–animal interactions are key to sustaining whole communities and ecosystem function. However, their complexity may limit our understanding of the underlying mechanisms and the species involved. The ecological effects of epizoochory remain little known compared to other seed dispersal mechanisms given the few vectors identified. In addition, epizoochory is mostly considered non-mutualistic since dispersers do not obtain nutritional rewards. Here, we show a widespread but unknown mutualistic interaction between parrots and plants through epizoochory. Combining our observations with photos from web-sources, we recorded nearly 2000 epizoochory events in 48 countries across five continents, involving 116 parrot species and nearly 100 plant species from 35 families, including both native and non-native species. The viscid pulp of fleshy fruits and anemochorous structures facilitate the adherence of tiny seeds (mean 3.7 × 2.56 mm) on the surface of parrots while feeding, allowing the dispersion of these seeds over long distances (mean = 118.5 m). This parrot–plant mutualism could be important in ecosystem functioning across a wide diversity of environments, also facilitating the spread of exotic plants. Future studies should include parrots for a better understanding of plant dispersal processes and for developing effective conservation actions against habitat loss and biological invasions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epizoochory in Parrots as an Overlooked Yet Widespread Plant–Animal Mutualism

Hernández‐Brito

Romero-Vidal

Hiraldo

et al. 2021

Plants

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“…The use of a camera trap overcomes such problems and also allowed us to achieve a rare ecology scale on frugivore studies, the community level. Typically, in frugivore studies, a single taxon of dispersal vectors (e.g., primates, bats, ants, birds) is considered, either in Neotropics (Andresen et al 2018 ) and in urban fragments, where the seed disperser community remains mostly unstudied (Gelmi-Candusso and Hämäläinen 2019 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The resilient frugivorous fauna of an urban forest fragment and its potential role in vegetation enrichment

et al. 2021

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Anthropocentric defaunation affects critical ecological processes, such as seed dispersal, putting ecosystems and biomes at risk, and leading to habitat impoverishment. Diverse restoration techniques could reverse the process of habitat impoverishment. However, in most of the restoration efforts, only vegetation cover is targeted. Fauna and flora are treated as isolated components, neglecting a key component of ecosystems' functioning, the ecological interactions. We tested whether the resilient frugivorous generalist fauna can improve habitat quality by dispersing native plant species through the use of fruit feeders as in a semideciduous seasonal urban forest fragment. A total of 32 sampling points was selected at a heavily degraded 251-ha urban forest fragment, with feeders installed at two heights monitored by camera-traps. Variable quantities of native fruits of 27 zoochorous species were offered alternately in the feeders. Based on more than 36,000 h of video records, Turdus leucomelas (Class Aves), Sapajus nigritus (Class Mammalia), and Salvator merianae (Class Reptilia) were recorded ingesting the highest fruit species richness. Didelphis albiventris (Class Mammalia) was the most frequent visitor but consumed only pulp in most of the visits. The frugivorous birds were recorded at a high visitation rate and consumed a wider variety of fruits. Our study opens a new avenue to combine the traditional approach of ecosystems recovery and ecological interactions restauration in an urban forest fragment.

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“…Urbanization has resulted in a fragmented landscape in which natural areas are often small and isolated. This can reduce plant dispersal (Gelmi‐Candusso & Hämäläinen, 2019; Richardson et al, 2000) and thus post‐burn recolonization for many species. In addition, this fragmented landscape reduces gene flow, which may be particularly intense for rare plants that are likely already limited in their genetic diversity (reviewed by Hamrick & Godt, 1990; but see also Gitzendanner & Soltis, 2000).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prescribed burning has limited effects on the population dynamics of rare plants

Novak

Scholl

Kiefer

et al. 2022

Conservat Sci and Prac

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Rare species serve important ecosystem functions, including community resilience to global change. Yet rare species are disappearing globally because of anthropogenic activities such as fire suppression. Prescribed burning is a widespread management approach that can reduce invasive plant presence, recycle nutrients, and restore species diversity. However, the effects of prescribed burning on rare plants are not well understood. We analyzed the population dynamics of 67 rare, native plant species in response to prescribed burning using the Chicago botanic garden's Plants of Concern dataset. This dataset includes rare plant populations concentrated in the northeast part of Illinois, and a few populations in Indiana and Wisconsin, United States. We evaluated the effects of burning by comparing the percent change in population size in the short‐term (1–2 years) and long‐term (3–4 years) after prescribed burning, to the percent change in population size not following burns. In a global model with all species, we did not detect the effects of burning on percent change in population size. In species‐level analyses, we detected burn effects for most species for which we had the statistical power to detect possible burn responses, although the direction of their responses was mixed. Five species responded consistently between short‐ and long‐term datasets, and four species had mixed responses, with most responding positively over the short‐term and negatively over the long‐term. We complemented this analysis with a literature review of fire responses for available species. Our literature review revealed more responses to burning than what we found from our analyses; however, most of this evidence does not compare burned and unburned populations directly and should be treated cautiously. Through community science monitoring efforts, we were able to compile one of the largest studies of burn effects on rare plants to date, but continued monitoring is necessary to fully evaluate how prescribed burning impacts rare plant species.

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Seeds and the City: The Interdependence of Zoochory and Ecosystem Dynamics in Urban Environments

Cited by 36 publications

References 192 publications

Epizoochory in Parrots as an Overlooked Yet Widespread Plant–Animal Mutualism

Epizoochory in Parrots as an Overlooked Yet Widespread Plant–Animal Mutualism

The resilient frugivorous fauna of an urban forest fragment and its potential role in vegetation enrichment

Prescribed burning has limited effects on the population dynamics of rare plants

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