Are post-dispersed seeds of <i>Eucalyptus globulus</i> predated in the introduced range? Evidence from an experiment in Portugal
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Published:2018-04-26
Issue:1
Volume:18
Page:67-79
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ISSN:1399-1183
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Container-title:Web Ecology
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language:en
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Short-container-title:Web Ecol.
Author:
Deus Ernesto,Silva Joaquim S.,Marchante Hélia,Marchante Elizabete,Félix Catarina
Abstract
Abstract. Plantations of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. have been
expanding rapidly worldwide. The species is considered invasive in several
regions. While in the native range, post-dispersal seed predation is known to
severely limit eucalypt recruitment, there is no experimental evidence of
seed predation in the introduced range. We hypothesised that
E. globulus seeds largely escape predation in Portugal, which may
explain its prolific recruitment in some locations. We tested this hypothesis
in central Portugal by exposing E. globulus seeds to the local
fauna. For comparison purposes, we also used seeds from locally common
species: Acacia dealbata Link (alien, larger, elaiosome-bearing
seeds) and Cistus salviifolius L. (native, similarly sized seeds). We
installed 30 feeding stations across three study sites, each one dominated
by one study species. Each feeding station featured four feeders with
different animal-access treatments: invertebrates; vertebrates; full access;
no access (control). We placed five seeds of each plant species every day in
each feeder and registered the number of seeds missing, eaten and
elaiosome detached over 9 summer days. Eucalyptus globulus seeds were highly attractive to fauna in the
three sites. Nearly half of E. globulus seeds were predated or
removed, thus contradicting our hypothesis. Surprisingly,
E. globulus and A. dealbata seeds were used by animals in
similar proportions and C. salviifolius seeds were the least
preferred. Vertebrates were the predominant seed predators and preferred the
alien seeds. Invertebrates used all seed species in similar proportions. We
found spatial variation regarding the predominant type of seed predators and
the levels of seed predation according to the following patterns:
predominance of vertebrates; predominance of invertebrates; negligible seed
predator activity. Locations with negligible seed predation were abundant and
scattered across the study area. Such spatial variation may help to explain
the heterogeneous recruitment patterns of E. globulus seedlings
found in previous studies.
Funder
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Publisher
Copernicus GmbH
Subject
Ecology,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
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