Evidence of frugivory and seed dispersal in Oligocene tortoises from South Dakota

2013 ◽  
Vol 150 (6) ◽  
pp. 1143-1149 ◽  
Author(s):  
ALAN O. MARRON ◽  
JASON R. MOORE
Keyword(s):  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
South Dakota ◽  
Correct Placement ◽  
Reliable Evidence ◽  
Dispersal Agents

AbstractFossilized hackberry (Celtis) seeds were found within the shells of twoStylemysindividuals excavated from Oligocene sediments from South Dakota. The presence ofin situskeletal elements indicates that the tortoises were buried without extensive disarticulation. Abiotic transport of the seeds into the carcasses is unlikely given the anatomically correct placement of both skeletal elements and seeds and the comparative settling velocities of the encasing sediment versus modernCeltisseeds. Ecological evidence from modernCeltisandStylemysanalogues suggests that tortoises are commonly seed dispersal agents. The fossils are therefore interpreted as enterolites, providing the oldest reliable evidence of tortoise frugivory.

scholarly journals Endozoochory of Chrysobalanus icaco (Cocoplum) by Gopherus polyphemus (Gopher Tortoise) facilitates rapid germination and colonization in a suburban nature preserve

AoB Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolyn J Hanish ◽  
Sebastian Velez ◽  
Jon A Moore ◽  
Corey Devin Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Treatment Time ◽  
Spatial Density ◽  
Event Analysis ◽  
Gopher Tortoise ◽  
Gopherus Polyphemus ◽  
Nature Preserve ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Dispersal Agents

Abstract Some large-seeded plants lack effective seed dispersal agents when they are introduced as ornamental plants to new areas, but can rapidly colonize a landscape if seed dispersal functions are restored. We examined whether Gopherus polyphemus (Gopher Tortoise) facilitated the spread of Chrysobalanus icaco (Cocoplum; Chrysobalanaceae) over a 14-year period in a suburban nature preserve (in Jupiter, FL, USA) by: (i) comparing germination patterns among gut-passed, hand-depulped and whole fruit treatments, and (ii) testing hypotheses about environmental predictors of the spatial distribution of C. icaco, including information about G. polyphemus movement pathways and burrow locations. While we did not find a significant difference in the total proportion of C. icaco seeds that germinated in each treatment, time to event analysis revealed that seeds that were found in faeces germinated significantly earlier than seeds that were hand-depulped or that were planted as whole fruits, supporting a lone scarification effect. Point process modeling revealed that the density of C. icaco bushes was higher near G. polyphemus movement pathways and was lower inside Serenoa repens (Saw Palmetto) patches, supporting a positive effect of tortoise movement patterns on plant distributions. The density of C. icaco increased from west to east, consistent with westward dispersal from the four founder bushes on the east side of the study area. After removal of outliers, we also detected a negative association between C. icaco spatial density and G. polyphemus burrow density that was presumably explained by the fact that seeds defecated deep within burrows were unlikely to germinate and establish without secondary movement. The results suggest that G. polyphemus contributed to the rapid dispersal of C. icaco by scatter dispersal of seeds (via faeces) in areas where tortoises were active and that movement pathways provided suitable conditions for colonization. The spread of C. icaco by G. polyphemus over a relatively short period of time provides a valuable window into the earliest stages of the colonization process and further supports the role of Chelonians as effective seed dispersal agents for large-seeded plants.

Interspecific synchrony and asynchrony in the fruiting phenologies of congeneric bird-dispersed plants in Panama

1999 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 213-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brigitte Poulin ◽  
S. Joseph Wright ◽  
Gaëtan Lefebvre ◽  
Osvaldo Calderón
Keyword(s):  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Null Model ◽  
High Potential ◽  
Faecal Samples ◽  
Critical Resource ◽  
Resident Populations ◽  
Dispersal Agents ◽  
Central Panama ◽  
Temporal Overlap

Plants potentially compete for seed dispersal. Selection may favour temporally segregated fruiting phenologies to minimize this competition and also to maintain resident populations of dispersal agents. Alternatively, selection may favour temporally aggregated fruiting phenologies when the effectiveness of seed dispersal agents varies seasonally or when large, synchronous fruit displays enhance dispersal. These evolutionary scenarios assume that plants share seed dispersal agents. This assumption and temporal overlap in fruiting phenologies were evaluated for the Miconia and Psychotria of central Panama. These two genera accounted for 18 and 27%, respectively, of 1096 fleshy fruits found in regurgitation or faecal samples taken from 2054 birds of 103 species netted in the forest understorey. Two species of manakins accounted for 62% (123/200) of all Miconia fruit taken. Three species of manakins and three species of migratory thrushes accounted for 97% (282/292) of all Psychotria fruits taken. There is a high potential for intrageneric competition for seed dispersal for both plant genera. Null model analyses showed that the fruiting phenologies of Miconia (14 species) are segregated in time, while fruiting of Psychotria (21 species) is highly aggregated. The Miconia were found in up to 24% of the diet samples for the two manakin species, suggesting that Miconia may be a critical resource for both species. The Psychotria fruited when the diversity of understorey fruits was greatest, suggesting a high potential for both intra- and extrageneric competition. The abundance and nomadism of the six bird species that consumed most Psychotria fruit peaked when the Psychotria fruited, supporting the enhancement hypothesis.

scholarly journals Seed dispersal agents of two Ficus species in a disturbed tropical forest

2003 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelvin S.-H. Peh ◽  
Fong Lin Chong
Keyword(s):  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Tropical Forest ◽  
Dispersal Agents

scholarly journals Ecological Succession and Viability of Human-Associated Microbiota on Restroom Surfaces

2014 ◽  
Vol 81 (2) ◽  
pp. 765-773 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean M. Gibbons ◽  
Tara Schwartz ◽  
Jennifer Fouquier ◽  
Michelle Mitchell ◽  
Naseer Sangwan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Human Papilloma Virus ◽  
Bacterial Communities ◽  
Virulence Genes ◽  
Papilloma Virus ◽  
Associated Bacteria ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cultivable Bacteria ◽  
Dispersal Agents

ABSTRACTHuman-associated bacteria dominate the built environment (BE). Following decontamination of floors, toilet seats, and soap dispensers in four public restrooms,in situbacterial communities were characterized hourly, daily, and weekly to determine their successional ecology. The viability of cultivable bacteria, following the removal of dispersal agents (humans), was also assessed hourly. A late-successional community developed within 5 to 8 h on restroom floors and showed remarkable stability over weeks to months. Despite late-successional dominance by skin- and outdoor-associated bacteria, the most ubiquitous organisms were predominantly gut-associated taxa, which persisted following exclusion of humans.Staphylococcusrepresented the majority of the cultivable community, even after several hours of human exclusion. Methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA)-associated virulence genes were found on floors but were not present in assembledStaphylococcuspan-genomes. Viral abundances, which were predominantly enterophages, human papilloma virus, and herpesviruses, were significantly correlated with bacterial abundances and showed an unexpectedly low virus-to-bacterium ratio in surface-associated samples, suggesting that bacterial hosts are mostly dormant on BE surfaces.

Macaques as Seed Dispersal Agents in Asian Forests: A Review

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 356-376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yamato Tsuji ◽  
Hsiu-Hui Su
Keyword(s):  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Dispersal Agents

scholarly journals Dispersal of seeds of Hymenaea courbaril (Fabaceae) in a logged rain forest in the Peruvian Amazonian

2004 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 251-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
David L. Gorchov ◽  
Jorge M. Palmeirim ◽  
Cesar F. Ascorra
Keyword(s):  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Rain Forest ◽  
Forest Edge ◽  
Dispersal Distance ◽  
Similar Species ◽  
Removal Rates ◽  
Hymenaea Courbaril ◽  
Dispersal Agents

Seed dispersal of Hymenaea courbaril was studied by following the fate of 585 seeds embedded with small magnets and set in displays in and near a logged strip in rain forest in the Peruvian Amazonian. Mammals took fruits from all displays, which were located in the forest, edge, and cleared strip. Overall removal rates were low - a median of 8.1 fruits / month from displays maintained with 8-10 fruits - but were higher in August than in earlier months. Most fruits were dropped near the display or had their seeds eaten, but > 13% were successfully dispersed. Most of the dispersed seeds were buried, which increases probability of germination. Maximum dispersal distance of live seeds was 12.1 m (median 3.1 m), but other magnets were transported up to 34 m, indicating seeds were dispersed further, but then eaten. Acouchies (most likely Myoprocta pratti) and agoutis (Dasyprocta fuliginosa) were apparently the main dispersal agents. Dispersal of seeds from the forest into the logged strip was rare, suggesting that although rodents disperse H. courbaril, they cannot be relied on for the reseeding this and similar species in recent clearings.

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