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
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On 31 Aug, 2020
On 20 Jul, 2020
Received 12 Jun, 2020
Received 09 Jun, 2020
On 19 May, 2020
Invitations sent on 18 May, 2020
On 18 May, 2020
On 14 May, 2020
On 13 May, 2020
On 13 May, 2020
Posted 30 Sep, 2019
On 05 Feb, 2020
Received 31 Jan, 2020
Received 30 Jan, 2020
Received 24 Jan, 2020
On 17 Jan, 2020
On 15 Jan, 2020
On 15 Jan, 2020
Received 21 Nov, 2019
On 04 Nov, 2019
Invitations sent on 01 Nov, 2019
On 25 Sep, 2019
On 22 Sep, 2019
On 21 Sep, 2019
On 20 Sep, 2019
On 31 Aug, 2020
On 20 Jul, 2020
Received 12 Jun, 2020
Received 09 Jun, 2020
On 19 May, 2020
Invitations sent on 18 May, 2020
On 18 May, 2020
On 14 May, 2020
On 13 May, 2020
On 13 May, 2020
Posted 30 Sep, 2019
On 05 Feb, 2020
Received 31 Jan, 2020
Received 30 Jan, 2020
Received 24 Jan, 2020
On 17 Jan, 2020
On 15 Jan, 2020
On 15 Jan, 2020
Received 21 Nov, 2019
On 04 Nov, 2019
Invitations sent on 01 Nov, 2019
On 25 Sep, 2019
On 22 Sep, 2019
On 21 Sep, 2019
On 20 Sep, 2019
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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