Uncoupled flowering and fruiting phenology as the strategy of non-native invasive woody species in seasonally dry ecosystems

Seed dispersal of a fleshy‐fruited invasive shrub is affected by changes in the frugivorous bird assemblage along an elevational gradient

“…It is important to note that our results were obtained during the early stages of the invasion (Giorgis et al, 2016, 2021; Giorgis, Tecco, et al, 2011). In the study region, invasive fleshy‐fruited plants exhibit limited variation in interannual fruit production (Ferreras et al, 2023), suggesting that the frugivory pattern may remain relatively stable as long as the invasive plant population sizes remain similar. However, as the population of the invasive plant is expected to grow and spread, changes in fruit availability and/or the assemblage of seed dispersers may affect seed dispersal interactions (between seed dispersers and C. franchetii as well as with other native plants with synchronous fructification; e.g., Vergara‐Tabares et al, 2022).…”

“…Fruits are produced in large numbers per individual, are slightly elongated (6–9 mm in diameter), bright red when ripe, and each contains 2–3 internal seeds (Díaz Vélez et al, 2018; Sérsic et al, 2015). In central Argentina, mature fruits are available from March (late summer) to September (late winter) (Tecco et al, 2013), which contrasts with the fruiting periods of most native species (Ferreras et al, 2023; Gurvich et al, 2005).…”

“…The lack of spatial replication limits the degree of generalization of the study, but our design included the unique population at the highest elevational range of any fleshy-fruited invasive plant in the region, providing a valuable comparative scenario. In addition, most of the invasive fleshy-fruited plants in the region exhibit low interannual variation in fruit production (Ferreras et al, 2023), which may mean similarly low interannual variation in the effect of these fruits on the frugivory patterns of birds.…”