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62 results for “Seed ecology”
Ecological impacts of pesticide seed treatments on arthropod communities in a grain crop rotation
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Seed Production Survey, 1988-2009, Adirondack Long-Term Ecological Monitoring Program Project No. 26 by Adirondack Ecological Center of the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Newcomb, New York, USA
The purpose of this project is to 1) estimate number of seeds per unit area in a mature northern hardwood/mixed conifer forest stand and 2) document changes over time in selected tree and shrub seed production. Permanent seed traps were established in 1988 in two forest types. Seed traps (13.9 L [5 gal] capacity buckets) are installed 0.5 m off the ground on two metal stakes in the center of each forested plot. Buckets are open to the tree canopy and have small (< 2cm) holes near the bottom edges for drainage. Fifty collection buckets are placed approximately 30 m (100 feet) apart and distributed along painted grid lines in the Huntington Wildlife Forest Natural Area. Twenty-five plots are northern hardwood upland forest (dominated by sugar maple, American beech and yellow birch with some conifers) and 25 plots are in the mixed hardwood/conifer lakeshore forest type (dominated by red maple, yellow birch, red spruce and eastern hemlock). Tree and shrub seeds are collected annually during two periods: July to November (Fall) and November to July (Spring). The spring and autumn collections are based on tree species’ seed phenology. If a bucket was tipped over due to disturbance by a bear or some other factor, it was censored from the survey for that year. Mice or other seed predators that were physically found/present in buckets also resulted in sample censoring. Animal scat or partly-consumed seeds are not censored, as these may have fallen from the tree canopy during seed predators’ normal activities.
Data from: Do neophobia and dietary wariness explain ecological flexibility? An analysis with two seed-eating birds of contrasting habits
The neophobia threshold hypothesis (NTH) suggests that the acquisition and maintenance of a high behavioral and ecological flexibility in the evolutionary and adaptive history of a species is the consequence of lower levels of neophobia towards new micro-habitats and of dietary wariness of novel foods. To test this idea we assessed the degree of neophobia and dietary wariness in two seed-eating bird species with contrasting degrees of ecological flexibility that inhabit the central Monte desert (Argentina): a grass-seed specialist, the many-colored chaco-finch, and a generalist feeder, the rufous-collared sparrow. We expected that both species would exhibit neophobia and wariness when faced with new foraging opportunities but that the rufous-collared sparrow would be less neophobic and less wary than the specialized many-colored chaco-finch. Experimental indicators of neophobia and dietary wariness included willingness to eat near novel objects and willingness to eat novel seeds, respectively. Both species showed similar levels of reluctance to novelty, although the sparrow could be slightly more reluctant than the finch. Contrary to our predictions, the sparrow was neither less hesitant nor faster or greedier than the finch. This experimental evidence does not support a negative relationship between neophobia/wariness and ecological flexibility in these two seed-eating birds and it coincides with the growing evidence that challenges the NTH. Some of our results provide support for the dangerous niche hypothesis, especially as the rufous-collared sparrow, that feeds on more diverse and potentially dangerous food, showed higher levels of neophobia in some cases. Although the idea of neophobia and wariness being plausible causes of ecological specialization sounds attractive, the current situation calls for further research so that the causes of ecological flexibility in granivorous birds can be better understood.
Data from: Does origin always matter? Evaluating the influence of nonlocal seed provenances for ecological restoration purposes in a widespread and outcrossing plant species
For restoration purposes, nature conservation generally enforces the use of local seed material based on the "local-is-best" (LIB) approach. However, in some cases recommendations to refrain from this approach have been made. Here we test if a common widespread species with no obvious signs of local adaptation may be a candidate species for abandoning LIB during restoration. Using 10 microsatellite markers we compared population genetic patterns of the generalist species Daucus carota in indigenous and formerly restored sites (nonlocal seed provenances). Gene diversity overall ranged between He = 0.67 and 0.86 and showed no significant differences between the two groups. Hierarchical AMOVA and principal component analysis revealed very high genetic population admixture and negligible differentiation between indigenous and restored sites (FCT = 0.002). Moreover, differentiation between groups was caused by only one outlier population, where inbreeding effects are presumed. We therefore conclude that the introduction of nonlocal seed provenances in the course of landscape restoration did not jeopardize regional species persistence by contributing to inbreeding or outbreeding depressions, or any measurable adverse population genetic effect. On the basis of these results, we see no obvious objections to the current practice to use the 10-fold cheaper, nonlocal seed material of D. carota for restoration projects.
Data from: Genetic differentiation within multiple common grassland plants supports seed transfer zones for ecological restoration
Ecological restoration of grasslands is increasingly based on regional seeds derived from predefined seed transfer zones. However, the degree and spatial pattern of genetic differentiation among provenances of different seed transfer zones is largely unknown. We assessed the genetic differentiation among eight out of 22 German seed transfer zones for seven common grassland species (Arrhenatherum elatius, Centaurea jacea, Daucus carota, Galium album, Hypochaeris radicata, Knautia arvensis and Lychnis flos-cuculi) using AFLP markers. We analysed genetic population structure with AMOVA and Bayesian cluster analysis and tested for isolation by distance and isolation by environment. In all of the investigated species, almost all pairs of provenances were genetically differentiated. Bayesian cluster analysis revealed species-specific numbers and spatial patterns of gene pools, with between two (Arrhenatherum) and eight clusters (Lychnis). Most investigated seed transfer zones represented a unique gene pool in the majority of the species. We found isolation by distance in four species, isolation by environment, driven by climatic seasonality, in three species, and a lack of both in three species. Thus, the observed genetic differentiation appears to be caused by both neutral and adaptive processes. Synthesis and applications. Our study shows that grassland plants are indeed strongly genetically differentiated across Germany supporting the strategy of seed transfer zones for ecological restoration. Although the predefined seed transfer zones are unlikely to match the exact genetic structure of many species, they serve their purpose by capturing a substantial amount of intraspecific genetic variation across species.
Data from: How are the phenologies of ripening and seed release affected by species' ecology and evolution?
The phenology of seed ripening and release are important for dispersal, reproductive success and survival of plants. Most phenological studies, however, consider early phenological phases. Here, we examined the ecological and evolutionary basis of ripening and seed release phenology. We monitored single flower phenology for 104 plant species from 30 families and three life forms from central Europe. Further, we undertook an associate monitoring study along an elevational gradient over two years. We calculated temperature demands (as growing degree days) for ripening and seed release and examined them with respect to the species' seed mass, life form, dispersal mode and phylogeny. We found a strong correlation between species' seed mass and temperature demands for ripening. For both variables seed mass and temperature demands for seed ripening, we found a strong effect of the species phylogeny. These phylogenetic signals strongly indicate that the evolutionary history of the species' lineage affects its seed mass and the temperature demands for seed ripening. Among the studied life forms, shrub species showed the most efficient ripening process. Anemochorous species showed lower relative humidity during seed release than epizoochorous species. For anemochorous species, the synchronisation of release timing with periods that show favourable environmental conditions for wind dispersal could be interpreted as a phenological adaptation to increase dispersal distances. According to the monitoring along the elevational gradient, individuals from higher altitudes showed lower temperature demands for ripening than individuals from lower altitudes. This might tentatively indicate physiological adaptations to lower temperature demands for locations with a shorter growing season. Our study provides basic insights into the ecological, environmental and evolutionary constraints that shape the ripening and seed release phenology of plants. We introduce data that can be used to advance existing models of ripening phenology, seed release and plant spread.
Data from: Seed dispersal by ungulates as an ecological filter: a trait-based meta-analysis
Plant communities are often dispersal-limited and zoochory can be an efficient mechanism for plants to colonize new patches of potentially suitable habitat. We predicted that seed dispersal by ungulates acts as an ecological filter – which differentially affects individuals according to their characteristics and shapes species assemblages – and that the filter varies according to the dispersal mechanism (endozoochory, fur-epizoochory and hoof-epizoochory). We conducted two-step individual participant data meta-analyses of 52 studies on plant dispersal by ungulates in fragmented landscapes, comparing eight plant traits and two habitat indicators between dispersed and non-dispersed plants. We found that ungulates dispersed at least 44% of the available plant species. Moreover, some plant traits and habitat indicators increased the likelihood for plant of being dispersed. Persistent or nitrophilous plant species from open habitats or bearing dry or elongated diaspores were more likely to be dispersed by ungulates, whatever the dispersal mechanism. In addition, endozoochory was more likely for diaspores bearing elongated appendages whereas epizoochory was more likely for diaspores released relatively high in vegetation. Hoof-epizoochory was more likely for light diaspores without hooked appendages. Fur-epizoochory was more likely for diaspores with appendages, particularly elongated or hooked ones. We thus observed a gradient of filtering effect among the three dispersal mechanisms. Endozoochory had an effect of rather weak intensity (impacting six plant characteristics with variations between ungulate-dispersed and non-dispersed plant species mostly below 25%), whereas hoof-epizoochory had a stronger effect (eight characteristics included five ones with above 75% variation), and fur-epizoochory an even stronger one (nine characteristics included six ones with above 75% variation). Our results demonstrate that seed dispersal by ungulates is an ecological filter whose intensity varies according to the dispersal mechanism considered. Ungulates can thus play a key role in plant community dynamics and have implications for plant spatial distribution patterns at multiple scales.
Figs. 1–5. 1 in Ecological Description of Two Seed-Feeding Weevils of the GenusMononychusGermar (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) onIris ibericaHoffmann andIris spuriaL. in Northeastern Turkey
Figs. 1–5. 1) Iris iberica; 2) An example of I. iberica habitat under agricultural pressure; 3) Infested seed capsule of I. iberica with oviposition and feeding holes; 4) Larvae of Mononychus schoenherrii feeding in a seed capsule; 5) Young adult of M. schoenherrii newly emergent from a seed capsule.
Fig. 2 in Ecology Of Amblycerus Crassipunctatus Ribeiro-Costa (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) In Seeds Of Humiriaceae, A New Host Family For Bruchids, With An Ecological Comparision To Other Species Of Amblycerus
Fig. 2. Cross section through fruit of Vantanea minor showing seed cavities filled with frass (F) produced by Amblycerus crassipunctatus.
Fig. 3 in Ecology Of Amblycerus Crassipunctatus Ribeiro-Costa (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) In Seeds Of Humiriaceae, A New Host Family For Bruchids, With An Ecological Comparision To Other Species Of Amblycerus
Fig. 3. Fruit of Vantanea minor with eggs (E) and adult (A) in exit hole of Amblycerus crassipunctatus.
Data files for «Wood warbler population dynamics in response to mast seeding regimes in Europe», Journal: Ecology
<p><strong>Abstract</strong></p><p>Mast seeding is the episodic, massive production of plant seeds synchronized over large areas. The resulting superabundance of seeds represents a resource pulse that can profoundly affect animal populations across trophic levels. Following years of high seed production, abundances of both seed consumers and their predators increase. Higher predator abundance leads to increased predation pressure across the trophic web, impacting non-seed consumers such as the wood warbler <i>Phylloscopus sibilatrix</i> through increased nest predation after tree mast years. Over the past 30 years, the frequency of tree seed masts has increased while wood warbler populations have declined in several regions of Europe. We hypothesised that increasing mast frequencies may have contributed to the observed population declines by creating suboptimal breeding conditions in years after masting. We measured reproductive output in four study areas in central Europe, which was between 0.61 and 1.24 fledglings lower in years following masting than non-masting. For each study area, we used matrix population models to predict population trends based on the estimated reproductive output and the local mast frequencies. We then compared the predicted with the observed population trends to assess if the frequency of mast years contributed to the population dynamics. In Wielkopolska National Park (PL) and Hessen (DE), masting occurred on average only every 4 years and populations were stable or nearly so, whereas in Jura (CH) and Białowieża National Park (PL), masting occurred every 2 and 2.5 years, respectively, and populations were declining. The simple matrix population models predicted the relative difference among local population trends over the past 10-20 years well, suggesting that the masting frequency may partly explain regional variation in population trends. Simulations suggest that further increases in mast frequency will lead to further declines in wood warbler populations. We show that changes in a natural process, such as mast seeding, may contribute to the declines of animal populations through cascading effects.</p>
Ecology of fear and its effect on seed dispersal by a neotropical rodent by Dumas Gálvez and Marisol Hernández
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Predators exert negative effects on prey, besides the act of killing, generating behavioral and physiological costs, a concept known as the ecology of fear. Studies in scatterhoarding rodents in temperate zones suggests that prey use habitat structure to perceive predation risk. Less is known about how tropical forest rodents perceive predation risk. Here, we investigated whether the Central American agouti perceive predation risk by ocelots through olfactory cues and whether it influences the foraging behavior for Attalea butyracea seeds, one of its main food sources. By monitoring tagged seeds, we found that seed dispersal and pilferage was lower in sites with high density of ocelots, in line with the predictions of ecology of fear proposing that scared animals eat less. We also found that pilferage rates in high ocelot density sites seem to be lower during the rainy - transition period but not during dry season when food availability is generally low. However, we did not find evidence that agoutis adjust their cache spacing behavior in response to ocelot density. In an additional experiment to corroborate that agoutis' responses were caused by ocelots' cues, we found lower dispersal rates for seeds placed next to samples of urine and feces of ocelots as compared to controls, during the first seven days. Moreover, agoutis spent less time handling the seeds with ocelots' cues. Here, we discuss potential cascading effects linked to the behavior of agoutis towards predation risk.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
Fig. 5 in Comparative Analysis of the Ecological Functions of Dung Removal and Seed Dispersal among Two Telecoprid and Two Paracoprid Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae)
Fig. 5. Box plots of the median, first, and third quartile, and lower and upper limits of dung removal by standardized 1-g biomass of Canthon rutilans cyanescens, Deltochilum multicolor, Dichotomius sericeus, and Phanaeus splendidulus exposed to dog feces for two and seven days. Plots with the same letter are not significantly different (Tukey test, P> 0.05).
Fig. 4 in Comparative Analysis of the Ecological Functions of Dung Removal and Seed Dispersal among Two Telecoprid and Two Paracoprid Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae)
Fig. 4. Comparative analysis of dung removal and secondary dispersal of small and large seeds by single male/ female pair of Canthon rutilans cyanescens (Cr), Deltochilum multicolor (Dm), Dichotomius sericeus (Ds), and Phanaeus splendidulus (Ps) exposed to dog feces for two and seven days. Squares with the same letter and color are not significantly different (Tukey test, P> 0.05).
Fig. 3 in Comparative Analysis of the Ecological Functions of Dung Removal and Seed Dispersal among Two Telecoprid and Two Paracoprid Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae)
Fig. 3. Box plots of the median, first, and third quartile, and lower and upper limits of dung removal and secondary seed dispersal by two paracoprid dung beetles as single male/female pair and three male/female pairs exposed to dog feces for two, seven, and 21 days. A) Dung removal capacity, B) Small seed dispersal, and C) Large seed dispersal by Dichotomius sericeus. D) Dung removal capacity, E) Small seed dispersal, and F) Large seed dispersal by Phanaeus splendidulus. Plots with the same letter are not significantly different (Tukey test, P> 0.05).
Fig. 1 in Comparative Analysis of the Ecological Functions of Dung Removal and Seed Dispersal among Two Telecoprid and Two Paracoprid Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae)
Fig. 1. Arenas for the study of dung removal and secondary seed dispersal by dung beetles. A) Arena for telecoprids with 30 g of dyed feces divided into three portions of 10 g each with a variable number of artificial seeds, B) Closed arena covered with veil-type fabric, C) Arena protected from rain. D, E, and F show the same sequence for the arenas for paracoprids.
Fig. 2 in Comparative Analysis of the Ecological Functions of Dung Removal and Seed Dispersal among Two Telecoprid and Two Paracoprid Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae)
Fig. 2. Box plots of the median, first, and third quartile, and lower and upper limits of dung removal and secondary seed dispersal by two telecoprid dung beetles as single male/female pair and three male/female pairs exposed to dog feces for two, seven, and 21 days. A) Dung removal capacity, B) Small seed dispersal, and C) Large seed dispersal by Canthon rutilans cyanescens. D) Dung removal capacity, E) Small seed dispersal, and F) Large seed dispersal by Deltochilum multicolor. Plots with the same letter are not significantly different (Tukey test, P> 0.05).
Data from: Ecological niche and phylogeny explain distribution of seed mass in the Central European flora
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Data from: Assessment of spatial discordance of primary and effective seed dispersal of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) by ecological and genetic methods
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Data from: How are the phenologies of ripening and seed release affected by species' ecology and evolution?
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