Uncovering mechanisms of bird seed dispersal in semiarid environments to help to restore them

Martínez-López, Vicente; Zapata, Víctor; De la Rúa, Pilar; Robledano Aymerich, Francisco

Publication:
Uncovering mechanisms of bird seed dispersal in semiarid environments to help to restore them

dc.contributor.author	Martínez-López, Vicente
dc.contributor.author	Zapata, Víctor
dc.contributor.author	De la Rúa, Pilar
dc.contributor.author	Robledano Aymerich, Francisco
dc.contributor.department	Ecología e Hidrología
dc.coverage.spatial	Mediterráneo	es
dc.coverage.temporal	Siglo XXI	es
dc.date.accessioned	2021-03-17T13:46:28Z
dc.date.available	2021-03-17T13:46:28Z
dc.date.issued	2019-04-18
dc.description.abstract	Mediterranean semiarid areas are suffering a growing process of agricultural abandonment that represents a challenge for restoration. Limited seed arrival, drought, and scarce suitable microhabitats in oldfields make plant colonization difficult. Restoration through ecological succession can take advantage of increased seed dispersal through animal vectors, but precise knowledge of the factors involved (e.g., seed disperser behavior, rate of effective recruitment of dispersed seeds, and effectiveness of the applied restoration structures) is critical. Otherwise, efforts to foster the processes of interest may be misdirected. We propose and test a methodological approach based on the combination of ecological (bird censuses and camera trapping) and genetic tools (DNA barcoding), to assess seed dispersal of fleshy-fruited shrub species by birds toward oldfields in one of the driest areas of southeastern Spain. We assisted natural restoration with artificial bird attractors (perches and water troughs) in two abandoned areas with different ages. Furthermore, we provided microenvironments (rocks) and prevented herbivory (by fencing) to enhance plant recruitment. Results revealed strong differences among assessment techniques in the characterization of dispersal interactions. While bird censuses only informed about frugivores occurrence, camera trapping and barcoding enabled the quantification of species responses. Attractors proved to be effective in triggering a quantifiable seed arrival, but no subsequent plant establishment occurred. We highlight the importance of implementing different techniques to characterize and assess avian seed disperser performance. Water provision increased seed arrival, but our design failed to enhance plant recruitment. The next logical step in the restoration of Mediterranean oldfields is the optimization of conditions for seed germination and successful plant establishment.	es
dc.format	application/pdf	es
dc.format.extent	13	es
dc.identifier.citation	Ecosphere 10(4): e02673 (2019)
dc.identifier.doi	https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.2673
dc.identifier.issn	2150-8925
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10201/105101
dc.language	eng	es
dc.publisher	Ecological Society of America	es
dc.relation	Ámbito del proyecto (Europeo, nacional o regional): Regional Agencia/entidad financiadora: Fundación SÉNECA Convocatoria: Ayudas para la realización de proyectos de investigación 2010 Nombre del proyecto: “Consecuencias ecogeomorfológicas del abandono de campos de cultivo en la Región de Murcia” Código: 15233/PI/10	es
dc.relation.publisherversion	https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/21508925	es
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess	es
dc.rights	Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 Internacional	*
dc.rights.uri	http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/	*
dc.subject	bird censuses	es
dc.subject	camera trapping	es
dc.subject	DNA barcoding	es
dc.subject	frugivorous birds	es
dc.subject	oldfield restoration	es
dc.subject.other	CDU::5 - Ciencias puras y naturales::57 - Biología::574 - Ecología general y biodiversidad	es
dc.title	Uncovering mechanisms of bird seed dispersal in semiarid environments to help to restore them	es
dc.type	info:eu-repo/semantics/article	es
dspace.entity.type	Publication	es