Too Many Is Too Bad: Long-Term Net Negative Effects of High Density Ungulate Populations on a Dominant Mediterranean Shrub

Lecomte, Xavier; Fedriani, José M.; Caldeira, María C.; Clemente, Adelaide; Olmi, A.; Bugalho, Miguel N.

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0158139

Cited by 21 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…The antagonistic role of ungulates as plant consumers and seed predators has been frequently highlighted. As a result, the environmental risk of overgrazing derived from the recent increase in numbers of some wild ungulate species is receiving increasing research attention (e.g., Côté et al, 2004;Perea et al, 2014a;Lecomte et al, 2016). In the same way, global livestock production is an important cause of environmental concern, either for climate change, reactive nitrogen mobilization, or appropriation of plant biomass at planetary scales (Pelletier and Tyedmers, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spitting Seeds From the Cud: A Review of an Endozoochory Exclusive to Ruminants

2019

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Given their strong masticatory system and the powerful microbial digestion inside their complex guts, mammalian ruminants have been frequently considered seed predators rather than seed dispersers. A number of studies, however, have observed that ruminants are able to transport many viable seeds long distances, either attached to the hair or hooves (i.e., epizoochory) or inside their body after ingesting them (i.e., endozoochory). However, very few studies have investigated a modality of endozoochory exclusive to ruminants: the spitting of usually large-sized seeds while chewing the cud. A systematic review of the published information about this type of endozoochory shows a marked scarcity of studies. Nonetheless, at least 48 plant species belonging to 21 families are dispersed by ruminants in this manner. Most of these plants are shrubs and trees, have fleshy or dry fruits with large-sized seeds, and are seldom dispersed via defecation. Many cases have been observed in tropical areas, where more frugivorous ruminant species occur, but other records are from temperate and dry areas, covering thus all continents except Antarctica. Twenty-one species of ruminants from 18 genera have been reported as endozoochore spitters. They involve domestic and wild species belonging to the families Tragulidae, Cervidae, and Bovidae. This suggests that almost any ruminant species could potentially eat fruits and regurgitate large hard seeds during rumination. Likely, this seed dispersal mechanism has been neglected due to the difficulty of observing rumination behavior and locating spat seeds. Further research on the potential of wild and domestic ruminant species as long-distance seed dispersers through spitting seeds from the cud appears particularly important given their increasing pervasiveness and abundance worldwide.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spitting Seeds From the Cud: A Review of an Endozoochory Exclusive to Ruminants

2019

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“…Previously the interaction between ungulates and tree regeneration has been studied mostly in the context of browsing, which can strongly reduce the growth and survival of seedlings and saplings, and in consequence can affect ecosystems by altering the species composition (Long et al 2007, Bugalho et al 2013, Gerhardt et al 2013, Lecomte et al 2016. Marking behaviours of deer, such as antler rubbing, are much less studied and focus mainly on tree size and species selection (Ramos et al 2006, Charco et al 2016.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Non‐trophic plant–animal interactions mediate positive density dependence among conspecific saplings

Żywiec

Fedriani

Kurek

et al. 2019

Oikos

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Trophic plant-animal interactions (e.g. browsing by ungulates, insect attack) are an important and well-studied source of mortality in many tree populations. Non-trophic tree-animal interactions (e.g. deer antler rubbing) also frequently lead to tree death, and thus have significant effects on forest ecosystem functioning, but they are much less well studied than trophic interactions are. As deer populations have increased in recent decades in the Northern Hemisphere, their impact on tree populations via browsing and antler rubbing will increase. The aim of the study was to illustrate the potential ability of non-trophic plant-animal interactions to regulate the dynamics of a natural forest. Specifically, we wanted to determine whether and how density and distance-dependent processes affect sapling mortality caused by an antler rubbing by red deer Cervus elaphus. We used a spatially explicit approach to examine density and distance-dependent mortality effects in almost two thousand Picea abies saplings over 20 years, based on a fully mapped permanent 14.4 ha plot in a natural subalpine oldgrowth spruce forest. Antler rubbing by deer was the main identified cause of sapling mortality, and it showed a strong spatial pattern: positive density dependence of survival among spruce saplings. Deer selectively killed spruce saplings that were isolated from conspecifics. In consequence, non-trophic plant-deer interactions were a major driver of the spatial pattern of P. abies sapling survival. The other mortality causes (e.g. breaking, overturning) did not show density-dependent patterns or their effects were much weaker. In the medium and long term, the density-dependent pattern of sapling mortality due to antler rubbing can alter the tree stand structure. Our results highlight the ecological relevance of non-trophic plant-animal interactions for forest ecosystem functioning.

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“…Sowing programmes for the revegetation of anthropogenic edges must also consider other key ecological filters with the potential to limit plant establishment, such as summer drought and herbivory (Gómez‐Aparicio, ; Gulias, Traveset, Riera, & Mus, ; Lecomte et al., ; Rey & Alcántara, ). Facilitation by nurse plants may be an effective management tactic to reduce both water stress and herbivory pressure (Gómez‐Aparicio et al., ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dangerous life at the edge: Implications of seed predation for roadside revegetation

Suárez‐Esteban

Delibes

Fedriani

2017

Applied Vegetation Science

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Question: Anthropogenic edges caused by transport infrastructure such as dirt roads and trails (also known as Soft Linear Developments; SLD) are pervasive in almost every terrestrial ecosystem. Revegetating these edges may reduce some of their negative effects, such as their permeability to biological invasions and detrimental effects on wildlife, potentially becoming suitable habitat for a broad range of species. Selecting species with low post-dispersal seed predation rates may improve the effectiveness of revegetation programmes. Location: Mediterranean scrublands in SW Spain. Methods:We made offerings of a total of 16,000 seeds of eight species of fleshy-fruit shrubs both along SLD edges and scrubland interiors in two independent blocks in each of three distant locations. Using four types of selective enclosure, we assessed the relative contribution of three seed predator guilds (ants, rodents and birds) to seed predation rates both along SLD edges and scrubland interiors. Results:The effects of anthropogenic edges on seed predation rates were speciesspecific. The large and hard-seeded species Chamaerops humilis was not predated at all. Juniperus phoenicea and Corema album seeds had higher predation rates in scrubland interiors than in edges. The small-seeded Rubus ulmifolius experienced relatively low seed predation rates compared to the other species. Predation rates for this species were higher along SLD edges than in scrubland interiors. Ants were the main seed predators in the area, and showed marked preferences for J. macrocarpa and C. album seeds at both SLD edges and scrubland interiors. Conclusions:Our results show the strong context-dependency of seed predation rates in both SLD edges and scrubland interiors, and thus the importance of well spatially and temporally replicated studies. Species with large and hard seeds may be good candidates for roadside revegetation programmes. However, the relative suitability of plant species would depend on the seed predator community. Our findings confirm that studies on seed predation may help planning cost-effective species selection for edge revegetation efforts worldwide.

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Too Many Is Too Bad: Long-Term Net Negative Effects of High Density Ungulate Populations on a Dominant Mediterranean Shrub

Cited by 21 publications

References 62 publications

Spitting Seeds From the Cud: A Review of an Endozoochory Exclusive to Ruminants

Spitting Seeds From the Cud: A Review of an Endozoochory Exclusive to Ruminants

Non‐trophic plant–animal interactions mediate positive density dependence among conspecific saplings

Dangerous life at the edge: Implications of seed predation for roadside revegetation

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