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Research article
Mahmoud-Reza Hemami
Isfahan University of Technology
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8321-6776
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This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published article at BMC Ecology.
Background: Among other factors, feeding regimes of different mammals affect their roles as endozoochorous seed dispersal vectors. We thus conducted a cross-species comparative approach involving two herbivores, red and roe deer; and two omnivores and opportunistic frugivores, wild boar and brown bear, which occupy the forest and prairie-forest ecotone habitats of the south-eastern Caspian region. To compare their potential and realised endozoochorous seed dispersal, we used two different seed germination methods: controlled greenhouse and natural conditions. Results: Of the 136 plant taxa (3078 seedlings) recorded from the 445 paired dung sub-samples of both methods, only 36 taxa (336 seedlings) were recorded under natural conditions, among which five taxa showed no emergence in the greenhouse. Graminoids and forbs composed 91% of the seedlings in greenhouse but shrub species were more abundant under natural conditions (55% of emerged seedlings). Considering greenhouse condition, red deer and then wild boar dispersed more species than the other animals, while in natural condition brown bear was the most effective vector. We observed remarkably higher species richness and seedling abundance in the controlled greenhouse method than natural condition (P≤0.001). This difference may be related to dung sample preparation method or meteorological conditions in the field during our experiment. Conclusions: The studied sympatric vectors were shown to provide different seed dispersal services and may, therefore, be regarded as complementary. Our results provide evidence for the potential positive bias arising when only considering germination under controlled greenhouse conditions. Relativising the potential versus the realised endozoochorous dispersal of seeds by different mammals would help determine management options to maintain plant biodiversity. Keywords : Different germination methods, Mammal functional groups, Potential endozoochory, Realised endozoochory
Keywords
Different germination methods, Mammal functional groups, Potential endozoochory, Realised endozoochory
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CURRENT STATUS: Published
Published
On 31 Aug, 2020
No community comments so far
Editorial decision: Accept
On 20 Jul, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 12 Jun, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 09 Jun, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 19 May, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 18 May, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 18 May, 2020
Editor assigned
On 14 May, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 13 May, 2020
Editor invited
On 13 May, 2020
Version 1
Posted 30 Sep, 2019
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 05 Feb, 2020
Review #3 received
Received 31 Jan, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 30 Jan, 2020
Review #4 received
Received 24 Jan, 2020
Reviewer #4 agreed
On 17 Jan, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 15 Jan, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 15 Jan, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 21 Nov, 2019
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 04 Nov, 2019
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 01 Nov, 2019
Submission checks complete
On 25 Sep, 2019
Editor assigned
On 22 Sep, 2019
Editor invited
On 21 Sep, 2019
First submitted
On 20 Sep, 2019
Metrics
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Subject Areas
Terrestrial Ecology
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This preprint is under consideration at BMC Ecology. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research article
Mahmoud-Reza Hemami
Isfahan University of Technology
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8321-6776
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Published
Published
On 31 Aug, 2020
No community comments so far
Editorial decision: Accept
On 20 Jul, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 12 Jun, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 09 Jun, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 19 May, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 18 May, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 18 May, 2020
Editor assigned
On 14 May, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 13 May, 2020
Editor invited
On 13 May, 2020
Version 1
Posted 30 Sep, 2019
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 05 Feb, 2020
Review #3 received
Received 31 Jan, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 30 Jan, 2020
Review #4 received
Received 24 Jan, 2020
Reviewer #4 agreed
On 17 Jan, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 15 Jan, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 15 Jan, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 21 Nov, 2019
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 04 Nov, 2019
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 01 Nov, 2019
Submission checks complete
On 25 Sep, 2019
Editor assigned
On 22 Sep, 2019
Editor invited
On 21 Sep, 2019
First submitted
On 20 Sep, 2019
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Terrestrial Ecology
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published article at BMC Ecology.
Background: Among other factors, feeding regimes of different mammals affect their roles as endozoochorous seed dispersal vectors. We thus conducted a cross-species comparative approach involving two herbivores, red and roe deer; and two omnivores and opportunistic frugivores, wild boar and brown bear, which occupy the forest and prairie-forest ecotone habitats of the south-eastern Caspian region. To compare their potential and realised endozoochorous seed dispersal, we used two different seed germination methods: controlled greenhouse and natural conditions. Results: Of the 136 plant taxa (3078 seedlings) recorded from the 445 paired dung sub-samples of both methods, only 36 taxa (336 seedlings) were recorded under natural conditions, among which five taxa showed no emergence in the greenhouse. Graminoids and forbs composed 91% of the seedlings in greenhouse but shrub species were more abundant under natural conditions (55% of emerged seedlings). Considering greenhouse condition, red deer and then wild boar dispersed more species than the other animals, while in natural condition brown bear was the most effective vector. We observed remarkably higher species richness and seedling abundance in the controlled greenhouse method than natural condition (P≤0.001). This difference may be related to dung sample preparation method or meteorological conditions in the field during our experiment. Conclusions: The studied sympatric vectors were shown to provide different seed dispersal services and may, therefore, be regarded as complementary. Our results provide evidence for the potential positive bias arising when only considering germination under controlled greenhouse conditions. Relativising the potential versus the realised endozoochorous dispersal of seeds by different mammals would help determine management options to maintain plant biodiversity. Keywords : Different germination methods, Mammal functional groups, Potential endozoochory, Realised endozoochory
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
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