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

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.

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Identification and complete genome characterization of a novel picornavirus in turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

Journal of General Virology ◽

10.1099/vir.0.043224-0 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 93 (10) ◽

pp. 2171-2182 ◽

Cited By ~ 46

Author(s):

Ákos Boros ◽

Csaba Nemes ◽

Péter Pankovics ◽

Beatrix Kapusinszky ◽

Eric Delwart ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Amino Acid ◽

Complete Genome ◽

Bird Species ◽

Entry Site ◽

Pathogenic Potential ◽

Genome Characterization ◽

Genome Region ◽

Faecal Samples ◽

The Usa

Members of the family Picornaviridae are important pathogens of humans and animals, although compared with the thousands of known bird species (>10 000), only a few (n = 11) picornaviruses have been identified from avian sources. This study reports the metagenomic detection and complete genome characterization of a novel turkey picornavirus from faecal samples collected from eight turkey farms in Hungary. Using RT-PCR, both healthy (two of three) and affected (seven of eight) commercial turkeys with enteric and/or stunting syndrome were shown to be shedding viruses in seven (88 %) of the eight farms. The viral genome sequence (turkey/M176/2011/HUN; GenBank accession no. JQ691613) shows a high degree of amino acid sequence identity (96 %) to the partial P3 genome region of a picornavirus reported recently in turkey and chickens from the USA and probably belongs to the same species. In the P1 and P2 regions, turkey/M176/2011/HUN is related most closely to, but distinct from, the kobuviruses and turdivirus 1. Complete genome analysis revealed the presence of characteristic picornaviral amino acid motifs, a potential type II-like 5′ UTR internal ribosome entry site (first identified among avian-origin picornaviruses) and a conserved, 48 nt long ‘barbell-like’ structure found at the 3′ UTR of turkey/M176/2011/HUN and members of the picornavirus genera Avihepatovirus and Kobuvirus. The general presence of turkey picornavirus – a novel picornavirus species – in faecal samples from healthy and affected turkeys in Hungary and in the USA suggests the worldwide occurrence and endemic circulation of this virus in turkey farms. Further studies are needed to investigate the aetiological role and pathogenic potential of this picornavirus in food animals.

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Defaunation precipitates the extinction of evolutionarily distinct interactions in the Anthropocene

Science Advances ◽

10.1126/sciadv.aav6699 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 5 (6) ◽

pp. eaav6699 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Carine Emer ◽

Mauro Galetti ◽

Marco A. Pizo ◽

Pedro Jordano ◽

Miguel Verdú

Keyword(s):

Seed Dispersal ◽

Evolutionary History ◽

Bird Species ◽

Forest Fragments ◽

Ecological Interactions ◽

Rescue Effect ◽

History Of ◽

Local Extinctions ◽

Functional Features ◽

Avian Seed Dispersal

Species on Earth are interconnected with each other through ecological interactions. Defaunation can erode those connections, yet we lack evolutionary predictions about the consequences of losing interactions in human-modified ecosystems. We quantified the fate of the evolutionary history of avian–seed dispersal interactions across tropical forest fragments by combining the evolutionary distinctness of the pairwise-partner species, a proxy to their unique functional features. Both large-seeded plant and large-bodied bird species showed the highest evolutionary distinctness. We estimate a loss of 3.5 to 4.7 × 104 million years of cumulative evolutionary history of interactions due to defaunation. Bird-driven local extinctions mainly erode the most evolutionarily distinct interactions. However, the persistence of less evolutionarily distinct bird species in defaunated areas exerts a phylogenetic rescue effect through seed dispersal of evolutionarily distinct plant species.

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Animal movement drives variation in seed dispersal distance in a plant–animal network

Proceedings of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.2018.2007 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 286 (1894) ◽

pp. 20182007 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

E. Rehm ◽

E. Fricke ◽

J. Bender ◽

J. Savidge ◽

H. Rogers

Keyword(s):

Seed Dispersal ◽

Animal Movement ◽

Bird Species ◽

Dispersal Distance ◽

Dispersal Patterns ◽

Long Distance ◽

Gut Passage ◽

Dispersal Distances ◽

Seed Dispersal Distance ◽

Passage Times

Frugivores play differing roles in shaping dispersal patterns yet seed dispersal distance is rarely quantified across entire communities. We model seed dispersal distance using gut passage times and bird movement for the majority (39 interactions) of known bird–tree interactions on the island of Saipan to highlight differences in seed dispersal distances provided by the five avian frugivores. One bird species was found to be a seed predator rather than a disperser. The remaining four avian species dispersed seeds but differences in seed dispersal distance were largely driven by interspecific variation in bird movement rather than intraspecific variation in gut passage times. The median dispersal distance was at least 56 m for all species-specific combinations, indicating all species play a role in reducing high seed mortality under the parent tree. However, one species—the Micronesian Starling—performed 94% of dispersal events greater than 500 m, suggesting this species could be a key driver of long-distance dispersal services (e.g. linking populations, colonizing new areas). Assessing variation in dispersal patterns across this network highlights key sources of variation in seed dispersal distances and suggests which empirical approaches are sufficient for modelling how seed dispersal mutualisms affect populations and communities.

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Seed dispersal effectiveness by frugivorous birds: Identifying functional equivalent species in bird assemblages

Avian Biology Research ◽

10.1177/1758155919832189 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 103-108

Author(s):

Facundo Xavier Palacio

Keyword(s):

Seed Dispersal ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Bird Species ◽

Kernel Functions ◽

Bird Conservation ◽

Frugivorous Birds ◽

Seed Dispersal Effectiveness ◽

Bird Assemblages ◽

Functional Equivalent ◽

Dispersal Effectiveness

Seed dispersal by birds is a pivotal ecosystem function worldwide; yet, the rapid and ongoing global biodiversity loss poses a major threat to this essential ecosystem service. Seed dispersal effectiveness (SDE) is a key outcome of the interaction, represented by the product of seed dispersal quantity (number of seed dispersed) and quality (probability of recruitment of dispersed seeds). Therefore, identifying functional equivalent species in terms of SDE should become a key issue for bird conservation, since the effects of local extinctions on seed dispersal services may be weakened by remaining equivalent species. However, a method to quantitatively identify functional equivalent species in frugivorous bird assemblages is still lacking. To estimate SDE overlap between seed dispersers and assess whether two species may be functionally equivalent, I apply a novel nonparametric niche overlap index based on kernel functions and null models to test its statistical significance. For each bird species, I account for intraspecific variation in seed dispersal effectiveness to obtain a distribution of seed dispersal effectiveness values, an often neglected source of variation in seed dispersal assemblages. Non-significant differences in seed dispersal effectiveness overlap support the hypothesis that two species are functional equivalent, thus playing similar functional roles. The model proposed is applicable to any other quantity or quality component and is independent from the method or sampling design used to quantify SDE. The identification of functional equivalent species in seed dispersal assemblages adds to the theoretical framework of seed dispersal effectiveness and offers new insights into the ecology of the seed dispersal service provided by birds.

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Seed dispersal syndromes in the Madagascan flora: the unusual importance of primates

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605317001600 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 52 (3) ◽

pp. 418-426 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Aurélie Albert-Daviaud ◽

Sarah Perillo ◽

Wolfgang Stuppy

Keyword(s):

Seed Dispersal ◽

Data Science ◽

Plant Traits ◽

Bird Species ◽

Lower Percentage ◽

Endemic Plant ◽

Ecological Processes ◽

Dispersal Syndromes ◽

Plant Animal Interactions ◽

Lemur Species

AbstractMadagascar is one of the most threatened biodiversity hotspots, and protection of its biodiversity is becoming increasingly urgent as deforestation of the island continues. For the long-term success of conservation efforts it is essential that key ecological processes, such as seed dispersal, are protected and restored. Therefore, the identification of ecological gaps is a vital task. For Madagascar, only little is known about plant–animal interactions, and traditional methods of ecological research are too time-consuming to provide crucial information about breakdowns in these interactions. To identify likely dispersal gaps we therefore used a theoretical approach to analyse plant–disperser interactions in Madagascar. We used data science tools to impute missing data on relevant plant traits to subsequently predict the most likely dispersal agents for each of Madagascar's endemic plant species. We found that 38% of the endemic species (N = 8,784) are endozoochorous, and among these 26–41% display a primate syndrome and 17–19% a bird syndrome (depending on the definition of syndromes). This lower percentage of endozoochorous species and higher percentage of species with a primate syndrome in Madagascar compared to other tropical areas reflects the unusual disperser guild on the island. Only five bird species but 20 lemur species are frugivorous, and 16 of those lemur species are currently threatened with extinction. The disappearance of frugivorous lemurs would significantly change the vegetation dynamics of Madagascar's ecosystems, and a high proportion of Madagascar's endemic plants would enter an extinction vortex.

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Interspecific Difference in Seed Dispersal Characteristics between Japanese Macaques (Macaca fuscata) and Sympatric Japanese Martens (Martes melampus)

Folia Primatologica ◽

10.1159/000509385 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 91 (6) ◽

pp. 711-720

Author(s):

Yamato Tsuji ◽

Risma Yanti ◽

Atsushi Takizawa ◽

Toshio Hagiwara

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Seed Dispersal ◽

Macaca Fuscata ◽

Mammalian Species ◽

Japanese Macaques ◽

Interspecific Difference ◽

Herbaceous Plant ◽

Plant Seeds ◽

Faecal Samples ◽

Martes Melampus

We compared the characteristics of seeds within faeces between semi-terrestrial Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) and sympatric arboreal Japanese martens (Martes melampus) in Shiga Heights, central Japan. We collected faecal samples of the two mammalian species for 1 year (n = 229 for macaques and n = 22 for martens). We then compared the proportion of seed occurrence, life-form composition, number of seeds and species richness within single faecal samples, and the seed intact ratio between the two mammalian species. We detected seeds from 20 and 7 species from macaque and marten faeces, respectively. Macaque faeces contained seeds of multiple strata, while marten faeces contained no herbaceous plant seeds. Seed sizes within faeces showed no interspecific difference. For macaques, seeds were found within faecal samples collected in late spring to late fall, while for martens, seeds were found between summer and winter. The proportion of seed occurrence was greater in summer (both species) and fall (macaques), which implied that the seed dispersal roles of macaques and martens was greater in these seasons. The mean seed number (across species), intact ratio of seeds (high for both species) and seed species richness within single faecal samples of macaques and martens showed no significant differences, but for several species, martens defecated more seeds than macaques and showed higher intact ratio. Our study indicates that sympatric mammals in the temperate regions of Japan contribute differently to seed dispersal in forest ecosystems.

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

AoB Plants ◽

10.1093/aobpla/plaa024 ◽

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.

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Genetic characterization of a novel picornavirus distantly related to the marine mammal-infecting aquamaviruses in a long-distance migrant bird species, European roller (Coracias garrulus)

Journal of General Virology ◽

10.1099/vir.0.054676-0 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 94 (9) ◽

pp. 2029-2035 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Ákos Boros ◽

Tamás Kiss ◽

Orsolya Kiss ◽

Péter Pankovics ◽

Beatrix Kapusinszky ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Marine Mammal ◽

Genetic Characterization ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Bird Species ◽

Long Distance ◽

Coracias Garrulus ◽

Faecal Samples ◽

European Roller ◽

Migrant Bird

Despite the continuously growing number of known avian picornaviruses (family Picornaviridae), knowledge of their genetic diversity in wild birds, especially in long-distance migrant species is very limited. In this study, we report the presence of a novel picornavirus identified from one of 18 analysed faecal samples of an Afro-Palearctic migrant bird, the European roller (Coracias garrulus L., 1758), which is distantly related to the marine-mammal-infecting seal aquamavirus A1 (genus Aquamavirus). The phylogenetic analyses and the low sequence identity (P1 26.3 %, P2 25.8 % and P3 28.4 %) suggest that this picornavirus could be the founding member of a novel picornavirus genus that we have provisionally named ‘Kunsagivirus’, with ‘Greplavirus A’ (strain roller/SZAL6-KuV/2011/HUN, GenBank accession no. KC935379) as the candidate type species.

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