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Role of small rodents in the seed dispersal process: M icrocavia australis consuming P rosopis flexuosa fruits
Author(s) -
Campos Claudia M.,
Campos Valeria E.,
Giani Stella M.,
Rodríguez Daniela,
Albanese Soledad,
Cona Mónica I.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
austral ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.688
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1442-9993
pISSN - 1442-9985
DOI - 10.1111/aec.12406
Subject(s) - seed dispersal , biology , frugivore , biological dispersal , rodent , ecology , seed dispersal syndrome , botany , habitat , population , demography , sociology
Understanding the functional role of animal species in seed dispersal is central to determining how biotic interactions could be affected by anthropogenic drivers. In the M onte D esert, mammals play different functional roles in P rosopis flexuosa seed dispersal, acting as opportunistic frugivores (endozoochorous medium‐sized and large mammals) or seed hoarders (some small sigmodontine rodents). Our objective was assessing the functional role of M icrocavia australis , a small hystricognathi rodent, in the fruit removal and seed deposition stages of P . flexuosa seed dispersal, compared to sympatric sigmodontine rodents. In situ , we quantified fruit removal by small rodents during non‐fruiting and fruiting periods, and determined the distance seeds were transported, particularly by M . australis . In laboratory experiments, we analysed how M . australis stores seeds (through scatter‐ or larder‐hoarding) and how many seeds are left in caches as living seeds, relative to previous data on sigmodontine rodents. To conduct field studies, we established sampling stations under randomly chosen P . flexuosa trees at the Ñ acuñán M an and B iosphere R eserve. We analysed fruit removal by small rodents and seed dispersal distance by M . australis using camera traps focused on P . flexuosa fruits covered with wire screen, which only allowed entry of small animals. In laboratory trials, we provided animals with a known number of fruits and assessed seed conditions after removal. Small rodents removed 75.7% of fruit supplied during the non‐fruiting period and 53.2% during the fruiting period. M icrocavia australis and G raomys griseoflavus were the main fruit removers. M icrocavia australis transported seeds to a mean distance of 462 cm and cached seeds mainly in scatter‐hoards, similarly as E ligmodontia typus . All transported seeds were left in fruit segments or covered only by the endocarp, never as predated seeds. M icrocavia australis disperses P . flexuosa seeds by carrying fruits away from a source to consume them and then by scatter‐hoarding fruits and seeds.