Open AccessIndirect seed dispersal by the feral cats Felis catus in island ecosystems (Canary Islands)
Author(s) -
Nogales Manuel,
Medina Félix M.,
Valido Alfredo
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
ecography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.973
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1600-0587
pISSN - 0906-7590
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0587.1996.tb00149.x
Subject(s) - seed dispersal , biological dispersal , biology , archipelago , ecology , habitat , seed dispersal syndrome , feral cat , predation , felis catus , population , demography , sociology
In this paper we present an unusual incidence of an introduced Camivora Felis catus as indirect seed disperser of plants that produce fleshy fruits in different ecosystems in the Canary Islands. Four hundred and twenty six seeds from at least 8 fleshy fruit plant species have been identified in the analysis of 1047 scat groups, the majority of them being found in the lower habitats (<600 m a.s.l.) of the Canary archipelago. Seeds from two plant species were significantly matched with the presence of lizard prey, and fruits of Juniperus phoenicea, Neochamaelea pulverulenta and Withania aristata were directly consumed by the cats. Passing through the gut of the Gallotia galloti (Lacertidae) and Felis catus apparently does not damage the seeds. At the moment, the phenomenon studied in this paper does not seem to have a great quantitative importance in the natural regeneration of the plants if we compare the direct vs indirect seed dispersal.