Premium
The specialist seed predator Bruchidius dorsalis (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) plays a crucial role in the seed germination of its host plant, Gleditsia japonica (Leguminosae)
Author(s) -
Takakura K.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
functional ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.272
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2435
pISSN - 0269-8463
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2435.2002.00619.x
Subject(s) - biology , germination , weevil , seed predation , generalist and specialist species , predation , predator , japonica , botany , host (biology) , horticulture , ecology , habitat , biological dispersal , population , demography , seed dispersal , sociology
Summary1 This paper describes the germination mechanism of hard seeds of a species of honey locust, Gleditsia japonica , which can germinate only when externally damaged, in relation to four germinating factors: feeding damage by two specialist seed predators, a bean weevil ( Bruchidius dorsalis ) and a cydid bug ( Adrisa magna ); feeding damage by a generalist seed predator, a wild mouse ( Apodemus speciosus ); and physical damage. 2 In laboratory experiments, both the bean weevil and physical damage facilitated germination, while damage by the cydid bug and wild mouse did not. 3 In contrast to laboratory findings, field censuses of G. japonica seed survival revealed that more than 99% were damaged either by B. dorsalis or A. magna . Therefore, less than 0·5% of the seeds remained intact, preventing formation of a seed bank. 4 In addition, all germinating seeds found in the field contained B. dorsalis larvae. 5 These results strongly suggest that damage by B. dorsalis is a prerequisite for G. japonica germination, in contrast to the conventional view that physical disturbance, possibly flooding, is the primary germinating factor for hard seeds.