1
|
Carlo TA, Messeder JVS, Espíndola WD, Vizzachero BS, Boyer BW, Hernández-Mejía J, Torres-Páucar EA, Fontanella A, Pizo MA, Amico G, Salinas L, Arana C, Morán-López T, Morales JM. Negative density dependence characterizes mutualistic interactions between birds and fruiting plants across latitudes. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2024; 379:20230128. [PMID: 38913067 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2023.0128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Negative density dependence (NDD) in biotic interactions of interference such as plant-plant competition, granivory and herbivory are well-documented mechanisms that promote species' coexistence in diverse plant communities worldwide. Here, we investigated the generality of a novel type of NDD mechanism that operates through the mutualistic interactions of frugivory and seed dispersal among fruit-eating birds and plants. By sampling community-wide frugivory interactions at high spatial and temporal resolution in Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Peru, Brazil and Argentina, we evaluated whether interaction frequencies between birds and fruit resources occurred more often (selection), as expected, or below expectations (under-utilization) set by the relative fruit abundance of the fruit resources of each plant species. Our models considered the influence of temporal scales of fruit availability and bird phylogeny and diets, revealing that NDD characterizes frugivory across communities. Irrespective of taxa or dietary guild, birds tended to select fruits of plant species that were proportionally rare in their communities, or that became rare following phenological fluctuations, while they mostly under-utilized abundant fruit resources. Our results demonstrate that negative density-dependence in frugivore-plant interactions provides a strong equalizing mechanism for the dispersal processes of fleshy-fruited plant species in temperate and tropical communities, likely contributing to building and sustaining plant diversity. This article is part of the theme issue 'Diversitydependence of dispersal: interspecific interactions determine spatial dynamics'.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tomás A Carlo
- The Pennsylvania State University Biology Department & Ecology Program, University Park , State College, PA 16802, USA
| | - João Vitor S Messeder
- The Pennsylvania State University Biology Department & Ecology Program, University Park , State College, PA 16802, USA
| | - Wálter D Espíndola
- The Pennsylvania State University Biology Department & Ecology Program, University Park , State College, PA 16802, USA
- Museo de Historia Natural y Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos , Lima, Peru
| | - Benjamin S Vizzachero
- The Pennsylvania State University Biology Department & Ecology Program, University Park , State College, PA 16802, USA
| | - Brady W Boyer
- The Pennsylvania State University Biology Department & Ecology Program, University Park , State College, PA 16802, USA
| | - Jacqueline Hernández-Mejía
- Museo de Historia Natural y Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos , Lima, Peru
| | - E Adrián Torres-Páucar
- Museo de Historia Natural y Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos , Lima, Peru
| | - Antonio Fontanella
- Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Instituto de Biociências de Rio Claro , São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marco A Pizo
- Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Instituto de Biociências de Rio Claro , São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Guillermo Amico
- Grupo de Ecología Cuantitativa, INIBIOMA-CONICET, Universidad Nacional del Comahue,Quintral 1250, San Carlos De Bariloche , Rio Negro, Argentina
| | - Letty Salinas
- Museo de Historia Natural y Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos , Lima, Peru
| | - César Arana
- Museo de Historia Natural y Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos , Lima, Peru
| | - Teresa Morán-López
- Grupo de Ecología Cuantitativa, INIBIOMA-CONICET, Universidad Nacional del Comahue,Quintral 1250, San Carlos De Bariloche , Rio Negro, Argentina
- Departamento de Biología de Organismos y Sistemas, Universidad de Oviedo and Instituto Mixto de Investigación en Biodiversidad, Universidad de Oviedo-CSIC-Principado de Asturias , Oviedo y Mieres, Asturias, España
| | - Juan M Morales
- Grupo de Ecología Cuantitativa, INIBIOMA-CONICET, Universidad Nacional del Comahue,Quintral 1250, San Carlos De Bariloche , Rio Negro, Argentina
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, University Avenue , Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Chen Y, McConkey KR, Fan P. Sympatric primate seed dispersers and predators jointly contribute to plant diversity in a subtropical forest. Oecologia 2023; 202:715-727. [PMID: 37553533 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-023-05430-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
Mutualistic and antagonistic plant-animal interactions differentially contribute to the maintenance of species diversity in ecological communities. Although both seed dispersal and predation by fruit-eating animals are recognized as important drivers of plant population dynamics, the mechanisms underlying how seed dispersers and predators jointly affect plant diversity remain largely unexplored. Based on mediating roles of seed size and species abundance, we investigated the effects of seed dispersal and predation by two sympatric primates (Nomascus concolor and Trachypithecus crepusculus) on local plant recruitment in a subtropical forest of China. Over a 26 month period, we confirmed that these primates were functionally distinct: gibbons were legitimate seed dispersers who dispersed seeds of 44 plant species, while langurs were primarily seed predators who destroyed seeds of 48 plant species. Gibbons dispersed medium-seeded species more effectively than small- and large-seeded species, and dispersed more seeds of rare species than common and dominant species. Langurs showed a similar predation rate across different sizes of seeds, but destroyed a large number of seeds from common species. Due to gut passage effects, gibbons significantly shortened the duration of seed germination for 58% of the dispersed species; however, for 54% of species, seed germination rates were reduced significantly. Our study underlined the contrasting contributions of two primate species to local plant recruitment processes. By dispersing rare species and destroying the seeds of common species, both primates might jointly maintain plant species diversity. To maintain healthy ecosystems, the conservation of mammals that play critical functional roles needs to receive further attention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
- School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
| | - Kim R McConkey
- School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences, University of Nottingham Malaysia, 43500, Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Pengfei Fan
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Blendinger PG, Rojas TN, Ramírez‐Mejía AF, Bender IMA, Lomáscolo S, Magro J, Núñez Montellano MG, Ruggera RA, Valoy M, Ordano M. Nutrient balance and energy‐acquisition effectiveness: do birds adjust their fruit diet to achieve intake targets? Funct Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.14164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Pedro G. Blendinger
- Instituto de Ecología Regional, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán & CONICET Tucumán Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán Tucumán Argentina
| | - Tobias N. Rojas
- Instituto de Ecología Regional, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán & CONICET Tucumán Argentina
| | | | - Irene M. A. Bender
- Instituto de Ecología Regional, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán & CONICET Tucumán Argentina
| | - Silvia Lomáscolo
- Instituto de Ecología Regional, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán & CONICET Tucumán Argentina
| | - Julieta Magro
- Instituto de Ecología Regional, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán & CONICET Tucumán Argentina
| | | | - Román A. Ruggera
- Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas, Universidad Nacional de Jujuy & CONICET Jujuy Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Jujuy Jujuy Argentina
| | | | - Mariano Ordano
- Instituto de Ecología Regional, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán & CONICET Tucumán Argentina
- Fundación Miguel Lillo Tucumán Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Affiliation(s)
- Juan Manuel Morales
- Grupo de Ecología Cuantitativa, INIBIOMA‐CONICET, Univ. Nacional del Comahue Bariloche Argentina
| | - Teresa Morán López
- Grupo de Ecología Cuantitativa, INIBIOMA‐CONICET, Univ. Nacional del Comahue Bariloche Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Camargo PHSA, Carlo TA, Brancalion PHS, Pizo MA. Frugivore diversity increases evenness in the seed rain on deforested tropical landscapes. OIKOS 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.08028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Paulo H. S. A. Camargo
- Univ. Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Inst. de Biociências Rio Claro SP Brasil
- Biology Dept, 208 Mueller Laboratory, The Pennsylvania State Univ. State College Pennsylvania USA
| | - Tomás A. Carlo
- Biology Dept, 208 Mueller Laboratory, The Pennsylvania State Univ. State College Pennsylvania USA
| | - Pedro H. S. Brancalion
- Dept of Forest Sciences, ‘Luiz de Queiroz' College of Agriculture, Univ. of São Paulo Piracicaba SP Brazil
| | - Marco A. Pizo
- Univ. Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Inst. de Biociências Rio Claro SP Brasil
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Fruit secondary metabolites shape seed dispersal effectiveness. Trends Ecol Evol 2021; 36:1113-1123. [PMID: 34509316 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2021.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) play a central role in seed dispersal and fruit defense, with potential for large impacts on plant fitness and demography. Yet because PSMs can have multiple interactive functions across seed dispersal stages, we must systematically study their effects to determine the net consequences for plant fitness. To tackle this issue, we integrate the role of fruit PSMs into the seed dispersal effectiveness (SDE) framework. We describe PSM effects on the quantity and quality of animal-mediated seed dispersal, both in pairwise interactions and diverse disperser communities, as well as trade-offs that occur across dispersal stages. By doing so, this review provides structure to a rapidly growing field and yields insights into a critical process shaping plant populations.
Collapse
|
7
|
González‐Castro A, Morán‐López T, Nogales M, Traveset A. Changes in the structure of seed dispersal networks when including interaction outcomes from both plant and animal perspectives. OIKOS 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.08315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Aarón González‐Castro
- Canary Islands Ornithology and Natural History Group (GOHNIC) Tenerife Canary Islands Spain
- Island Ecology and Evolution Research Group (CSIC‐IPNA) Tenerife Canary Islands Spain
| | - Teresa Morán‐López
- Grupo de ecología cuantitativa, INIBIOMA‐CONICET San Carlos De Bariloche Rio Negro Argentina
| | - Manuel Nogales
- Island Ecology and Evolution Research Group (CSIC‐IPNA) Tenerife Canary Islands Spain
| | - Anna Traveset
- Global Change Research Group, Inst. Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats (CSIC‐UIB) Mallorca Balearic Islands Spain
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Rojas TN, Bruzzone OA, Zampini IC, Isla MI, Blendinger PG. A combination of rules govern fruit trait preference by frugivorous bat and bird species: nutrients, defence and size. Anim Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2021.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
|
9
|
Plant origin and fruit traits shape fruit removal patterns by native birds in invaded plant communities. Biol Invasions 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-020-02407-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
|
10
|
Stump SM, Marden JH, Beckman NG, Mangan SA, Comita LS. Resistance Genes Affect How Pathogens Maintain Plant Abundance and Diversity. Am Nat 2020; 196:472-486. [PMID: 32970465 DOI: 10.1086/710486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
AbstractSpecialized pathogens are thought to maintain plant community diversity; however, most ecological studies treat pathogens as a black box. Here we develop a theoretical model to test how the impact of specialized pathogens changes when plant resistance genes (R-genes) mediate susceptibility. This work synthesizes two major hypotheses: the gene-for-gene model of pathogen resistance and the Janzen-Connell hypothesis of pathogen-mediated coexistence. We examine three scenarios. First, R-genes do not affect seedling survival; in this case, pathogens promote diversity. Second, seedlings are protected from pathogens when their R-gene alleles and susceptibility differ from those of nearby conspecific adults, thereby reducing transmission. If resistance is not costly, pathogens are less able to promote diversity because populations with low R-gene diversity suffer higher mortality, putting those populations at a disadvantage and potentially causing their exclusion. R-gene diversity may also be reduced during population bottlenecks, creating a priority effect. Third, when R-genes affect survival but resistance is costly, populations can avoid extinction by losing resistance alleles, as they cease paying a cost that is unneeded. Thus, the impact pathogens can have on tree diversity depends on the mechanism of plant-pathogen interactions. Future empirical studies should examine which of these scenarios most closely reflects the real world.
Collapse
|
11
|
Morán-López T, Espíndola WD, Vizzachero BS, Fontanella A, Salinas L, Arana C, Amico G, Pizo MA, Carlo TA, Morales JM. Can network metrics predict vulnerability and species roles in bird-dispersed plant communities? Not without behaviour. Ecol Lett 2019; 23:348-358. [PMID: 31814305 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Revised: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Network metrics are widely used to infer the roles of mutualistic animals in plant communities and to predict the effect of species' loss. However, their empirical validation is scarce. Here we parameterized a joint species model of frugivory and seed dispersal with bird movement and foraging data from tropical and temperate communities. With this model, we investigate the effect of frugivore loss on seed rain, and compare our predictions to those of standard coextinction models and network metrics. Topological coextinction models underestimated species loss after the removal of highly linked frugivores with unique foraging behaviours. Network metrics informed about changes in seed rain quantity after frugivore loss. However, changes in seed rain composition were only predicted by partner diversity. Nestedness, closeness, and d' specialisation could not anticipate the effects of rearrangements in plant-frugivore communities following species loss. Accounting for behavioural differences among mutualists is critical to improve predictions from network models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Morán-López
- Grupo de Ecología Cuantitativa, INIBIOMA-CONICET, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Quintral, 1250, San Carlos De Bariloche, Rio Negro, Argentina
| | - Walter D Espíndola
- Biology Department & Ecology Program, Penn State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.,Museo de Historia Natural, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru
| | - Benjamin S Vizzachero
- Biology Department & Ecology Program, Penn State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Antonio Fontanella
- Dept. Zool. Rio Claro, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Inst Biociencias, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Letty Salinas
- Museo de Historia Natural, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru
| | - César Arana
- Museo de Historia Natural, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru
| | - Guillermo Amico
- Grupo de Ecología Cuantitativa, INIBIOMA-CONICET, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Quintral, 1250, San Carlos De Bariloche, Rio Negro, Argentina
| | - Marco A Pizo
- Dept. Zool. Rio Claro, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Inst Biociencias, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Tomás A Carlo
- Biology Department & Ecology Program, Penn State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.,Museo de Historia Natural, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru
| | - Juan M Morales
- Grupo de Ecología Cuantitativa, INIBIOMA-CONICET, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Quintral, 1250, San Carlos De Bariloche, Rio Negro, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Schupp EW, Zwolak R, Jones LR, Snell RS, Beckman NG, Aslan C, Cavazos BR, Effiom E, Fricke EC, Montaño-Centellas F, Poulsen J, Razafindratsima OH, Sandor ME, Shea K. Intrinsic and extrinsic drivers of intraspecific variation in seed dispersal are diverse and pervasive. AOB PLANTS 2019; 11:plz067. [PMID: 31857875 PMCID: PMC6914678 DOI: 10.1093/aobpla/plz067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
There is growing realization that intraspecific variation in seed dispersal can have important ecological and evolutionary consequences. However, we do not have a good understanding of the drivers or causes of intraspecific variation in dispersal, how strong an effect these drivers have, and how widespread they are across dispersal modes. As a first step to developing a better understanding, we present a broad, but not exhaustive, review of what is known about the drivers of intraspecific variation in seed dispersal, and what remains uncertain. We start by decomposing 'drivers of intraspecific variation in seed dispersal' into intrinsic drivers (i.e. variation in traits of individual plants) and extrinsic drivers (i.e. variation in ecological context). For intrinsic traits, we further decompose intraspecific variation into variation among individuals and variation of trait values within individuals. We then review our understanding of the major intrinsic and extrinsic drivers of intraspecific variation in seed dispersal, with an emphasis on variation among individuals. Crop size is the best-supported and best-understood intrinsic driver of variation across dispersal modes; overall, more seeds are dispersed as more seeds are produced, even in cases where per seed dispersal rates decline. Fruit/seed size is the second most widely studied intrinsic driver, and is also relevant to a broad range of seed dispersal modes. Remaining intrinsic drivers are poorly understood, and range from effects that are probably widespread, such as plant height, to drivers that are most likely sporadic, such as fruit or seed colour polymorphism. Primary extrinsic drivers of variation in seed dispersal include local environmental conditions and habitat structure. Finally, we present a selection of outstanding questions as a starting point to advance our understanding of individual variation in seed dispersal.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eugene W Schupp
- Department of Wildland Resources and Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA
| | - Rafal Zwolak
- Department of Systematic Zoology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Landon R Jones
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Rebecca S Snell
- Environmental and Plant Biology, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
| | - Noelle G Beckman
- Department of Biology and Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA
| | - Clare Aslan
- Landscape Conservation Initiative, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - Brittany R Cavazos
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Edu Effiom
- REDD & Biodiversity Unit, Cross River State Forestry Commission, Calabar, Nigeria
| | - Evan C Fricke
- National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center, University of Maryland, Annapolis, MD, USA
| | | | - John Poulsen
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Onja H Razafindratsima
- Department of Natural Resource Management, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, USA
| | - Manette E Sandor
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Interspecific competition for frugivores: population-level seed dispersal in contrasting fruiting communities. Oecologia 2019; 190:605-617. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-019-04434-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
|
14
|
González‐Castro A, Yang S, Carlo TA. How does avian seed dispersal shape the structure of early successional tropical forests? Funct Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Aarón González‐Castro
- Department of Biology & Ecology Program The Pennsylvania State University University Park Pennsylvania
| | - Suann Yang
- Department of Biology & Ecology Program The Pennsylvania State University University Park Pennsylvania
| | - Tomás A. Carlo
- Department of Biology & Ecology Program The Pennsylvania State University University Park Pennsylvania
| |
Collapse
|