Factors controlling seed predation by rodents and non-native Sus scrofa in Araucaria araucana forests: potential effects on seedling establishment

2009 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 689-706 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier Sanguinetti ◽  
Thomas Kitzberger
Keyword(s):  
Seed Predation ◽  
Seedling Establishment ◽  
Sus Scrofa ◽  
Araucaria Araucana

Post-dispersal seed predation in Pinus halepensis and consequences on seedling establishment after fire

2008 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 407 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria José Broncano ◽  
Anselm Rodrigo ◽  
Javier Retana
Keyword(s):  
Seed Predation ◽  
Seedling Establishment ◽  
Pinus Halepensis ◽  
Spatiotemporal Patterns ◽  
Seedling Density ◽  
Burned Areas ◽  
One Year ◽  
Rodent Populations ◽  
Very High

In the present study, we analyse the spatiotemporal patterns of seed predation and the consequences of this predation in the establishment of new Pinus halepensis individuals. Rodents were the main predators of P. halepensis seeds in burned areas, while predation by ants was considerably lower. Concerning spatiotemporal patterns of seed predation, the results obtained indicate that, although there were some small differences among distances or among seasons, removal of P. halepensis seeds was consistently very high in all situations, whether close to or far from the unburned margins, in pine or mixed forests, in different sites and in all sampling periods throughout the year. We analysed the role of seed predation on the modulation of post-fire regeneration of P. halepensis. Just after fire, no differences in seedling density were found between plots with or without rodent exclusion, probably owing to the high density of seeds on the ground and the low density of rodents affected by fire. One year after fire, when rodent populations had recovered in burned areas and seeds were much less abundant, the combination of addition of seeds and rodent exclusion led to an increase in pine seedling establishment.

Effects of native pigs (Sus scrofa) on woody understorey vegetation in a Malaysian lowland rain forest

2001 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
KALAN ICKES ◽  
SAARA J. DEWALT ◽  
S. APPANAH
Keyword(s):  
Seed Predation ◽  
Rain Forest ◽  
Sus Scrofa ◽  
Stem Density ◽  
Tree Seedlings ◽  
Lowland Rain Forest ◽  
Understorey Vegetation ◽  
Wild Pigs ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
The Impact

Large mammals often play important roles in determining the structure and composition of plant communities. This study focused on the extent to which wild pigs (Sus scrofa) influence the dynamics of tree seedlings and saplings in a lowland rain forest at Pasoh Forest Reserve in West Malaysia. Native wild pigs are common in the study area and may significantly influence growth and survivorship of woody plants in the understorey through several activities namely, nest building, soil rooting and seed predation. To test experimentally the impact of pigs on the plant community, eight 49-m2 exclosures were constructed. After 2 y, the number of recruits inside exclosures was three times greater than in unfenced control plots. Stem density was highly correlated with species richness, which also increased significantly inside exclosures. Height growth of plants was greater in the exclosures by 52.5% for trees between 1 and 7 m tall. Trees less than 1 m tall, however, exhibited no differences in growth. Mortality of plants also did not differ between treatments. The observed differences between exclosure and control plots can be attributed to soil-rooting and seed predation, suggesting that these two behaviours of wild pigs are important to plant dynamics in the understorey.

NEIGHBORHOOD ANALYSES OF SMALL-MAMMAL DYNAMICS: IMPACTS ON SEED PREDATION AND SEEDLING ESTABLISHMENT

Ecology ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 85 (3) ◽  
pp. 741-755 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaclyn L. Schnurr ◽  
Charles D. Canham ◽  
Richard S. Ostfeld ◽  
Richard S. Inouye
Keyword(s):  
Small Mammal ◽  
Seed Predation ◽  
Seedling Establishment

scholarly journals Seed Production and Seedling Establishment of Parah Trees in Khao Nan National Park, Thailand

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 213-223
Author(s):  
Anun CHAROENSUK ◽  
Mullica JAROENSUTASINEE ◽  
Krisanadej JAROENSUTASINEE
Keyword(s):  
Seed Production ◽  
Seed Size ◽  
Seed Predation ◽  
Seedling Establishment ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Seed Weight ◽  
National Park ◽  
Seedling Height ◽  
Main Road ◽  
Number Of Seeds

Parah (Elateriospermum tapos Blume) is a native species of southern Thailand, and is a dominant tree in Khao Nan National Park. There have been few studies of Parah seeds or of seedling establishment. Biotic and abiotic environmental factors interact with seeds and may affect the future of tree populations. This is the first study to determine the factors affecting seeds and seedlings of Parah trees in Khao Nan National Park, Thailand, during 2014 - 2016. We tested 3 factors: (1) parental tree diameter at breast height (DBH), (2) altitude, and (3) distance from the main road. We studied seeds collected from trees, seeds harvested by humans, seed predation, seeds left on the forest floor, and rotten seeds. We measured seed weight, seed size, seedling height, and seedling root collar diameter (RCD). Our results showed that the number of seeds and seedlings per tree, seed weight, seed size, seed harvesting, seed predation, seeds left on the forest floor, rotten seeds, and seedling height varied between the years of study. There was no difference in seeds harvested by humans from 2014 - 2016. The number of seeds per tree and seeds harvested by humans were positively associated with parental tree DBH in 2015 and 2016. The number of seeds left on the forest floor was positively associated with parental tree DBH, and distance from the main road, but was negatively associated with altitude, in 2015, and there was no association in 2016. The number of seeds predated by frugivores was positively associated with altitude in 2016. The number of seedlings per tree was positively associated with distance from the main road. Seedling height was positively associated with distance from the main road, and negatively associated with tree DBH in 2015 and altitude in both years. We found significant results which led to the conclusion that seed production and seeds harvested by humans were positively associated with parental tree size.

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