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Seed-size variation determines interspecific differential predation by mammals in a neotropical rain forest

2007; Wiley; Volume: 116; Issue: 11 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1111/j.2007.0030-1299.15878.x

1600-0706

Eduardo Mendoza, Rodolfo Dirzo,

Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies

OikosVolume 116, Issue 11 p. 1841-1852 Seed-size variation determines interspecific differential predation by mammals in a neotropical rain forest Eduardo Mendoza, Eduardo MendozaSearch for more papers by this authorRodolfo Dirzo, Rodolfo DirzoSearch for more papers by this author Eduardo Mendoza, Eduardo MendozaSearch for more papers by this authorRodolfo Dirzo, Rodolfo DirzoSearch for more papers by this author First published: 26 November 2007 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0030-1299.2007.15878.xCitations: 47 E. Mendoza ([email protected]), Depto de Ecología Evolutiva, Inst. de Ecología, UNAM, Apartado Postal 70-275, México 04510, Distrito Federal. R. Dirzo and present address for EM: Dept of Biological Sciences, Stanford Univ., CA 94305, USA. Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Abstract It has been suggested that the anthropogenically driven loss of herbivorous mammals might lead to changes in the recruitment patterns of tropical rain forest plants, but few studies have examined the explicit mechanisms that might account for this effect. Here we propose a conceptual model linking differential mammalian defaunation and differential plant recruitment. We posit that in the absence of medium/large herbivores but with small rodent granivores still present (i.e. differential defaunation), predation pressure will be greater on small-seeded species than on large-seeded species. We tested such differential predation hypothesis (DPH) by means of a series of experiments directed to assess: 1) seed consumption by small rodents in laboratory cages; 2) seed-removal rates in small rodent enclosures in the field and 3) removal of seeds placed on the forest floor and exposed to either the full complement of mammals or only small rodents. Seeds used in the experiments were arranged in pairs consisting of species from the same taxonomic family but with a contrasting size (large, small). We found: 1) a significantly greater consumption of smaller seeds (a 2.3- to 20.5-fold difference) in cages and 2) a significantly greater removal of small-seeded species (a 3.7- to 65-fold difference) in field enclosures. Results of seed removal experiments in free-access plots and selective exclosures were more complex, with a general absence of significant differences among treatments but we found that predation was in general concentrated on small-seeded species and small rodents were the predominant visitors to the plots. This, together with the overall short distance of dispersal among large seeds suggest that in differentially defaunated forests large-seeded species are more likely to escape predation. We posit that such size related differential predation may lead to the floristic impoverishment observed in some defaunated forests. References Adler, G. H.. 1995. Fruit and Seed exploitation by Central American spiny rats, (Proechymus semispinosus). Stud. Neotrop. Fauna 30: 237– 244. Adler, G. H. and Kestell, D. K.. 1998. Fates of Neotropical seeds influenced by spiny rats (Proechimys semispinosus). Biotropica 30: 677– 681. Asquith, N. M. et al. 1997. 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Citing Literature Volume116, Issue11November 2007Pages 1841-1852 ReferencesRelatedInformation