INIBIOMA   20415
INSTITUTO DE INVESTIGACIONES EN BIODIVERSIDAD Y MEDIOAMBIENTE
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
artículos
Título:
Asiatic Callosciurus squirrels as seed disperser of exotic plants in the Pampas
Autor/es:
BOBADILLA SY; GUICHÓN ML; BENITEZ VV
Revista:
Current Zoology
Editorial:
Oxford University Press
Referencias:
Año: 2016 vol. 62 p. 215 - 219
ISSN:
1674-5507
Resumen:
Seed dispersal by exotic mammals exemplifies mutualistic interactions that can modify the habitat by facilitating the establishment of certain species. We examined the potential for endozoochoric dispersal of exotic plants by Callosciurus erythraeus introduced in the Pampas Region of Argentina. We identified and characterised entire and damaged seeds found in squirrel faeces and evaluated the germination capacity and viability of entire seeds in laboratory assays. We collected 120 samples of squirrel faeces that contained 883 pellets in seasonal surveys conducted between July 2011 and June 2012 at three study sites within the main invasion focus of C. erythraeus in Argentina. We found 226 entire seeds in 21% of the samples belonging to four species of exotic trees and shrubs. Germination in laboratory assays was recorded forMorus alba and Casuarina sp., however, germination percentage and rate was higher for seeds obtained from the fruits than for seeds obtained from the faeces. The largest size of entire seeds found in the faeces was 4.2 x 4.0 mm whereas the damaged seeds had at least one dimension ≥ 4.7 mm. Our results indicated that C. erythraeus can disperse viable seeds of at least two species of exotic trees. C. erythraeus predated seeds of other naturalized species in the region.The morphometric description suggested a restriction on the maximum size for the passage of entire seeds through the digestive tract of squirrels, which provides useful information to predict its role as a potential disperser or predator of other species in other invaded communities.