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Endozoochory by native and exotic herbivores in dry areas: consequences for germination and survival of Prosopis seeds

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 June 2008

Claudia M. Campos ,
Begoña Peco ,
Valeria E. Campos ,
Juan E. Malo ,
Stella M. Giannoni  and
Francisco Suárez
Claudia M. Campos*
Affiliation:
Grupo de Investigaciones de la Biodiversidad, IADIZA-CONICET, Argentina
Begoña Peco
Affiliation:
Departamento de Ecología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain
Valeria E. Campos
Affiliation:
Museo de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de San Juan, Argentina
Juan E. Malo
Affiliation:
Departamento de Ecología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain
Stella M. Giannoni
Affiliation:
Museo de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de San Juan, Argentina
Francisco Suárez
Affiliation:
Departamento de Ecología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain
*
*Correspondence [email protected]
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Abstract

Mammalian herbivores can play a role in the endozoochorous dispersal of Prosopis seeds in the arid zones of Argentina, and the introduction of exotic mammals can change relevant parameters of the plant's reproductive ecology. Our specific goals were to quantify the seeds of Prosopis flexuosa, P. chilensis and P. torquata contained in the faeces of native [mara (Dolichotis patagonum), guanaco (Lama guanicoe)] and exotic [donkey (Equus asinus) and hare (Lepus europaeus)] mammals, and to determine the mortality, germination percentage and germination speed of seeds borne in faeces, compared with those collected from trees. In 2006, seeds were collected directly from trees or removed from mammal faeces. Seeds were counted and classified as apparently healthy or damaged. P. torquata and P. flexuosa seeds were found in the dung of guanaco, hare and mara, whereas only P. flexuosa seeds appeared in donkey faeces. P. chilensis seeds were only found in guanaco faeces. There was a notable relative abundance of seeds contained in small herbivore faeces in comparison to the large herbivores. The passage through the digestive tract of animals modified seed germination capacity and speed, with great variability between animal species. Guanacos had greater effects than donkeys on mortality, germination percentage and germination speed. Differences between the effects of both smaller-sized herbivores on seeds were much smaller.

Keywords

ArgentinadesertdonkeyguanacohareIschigualastomaramesquiteProsopis
Type
Research Article
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 18 , Issue 2 , June 2008 , pp. 91 - 100
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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