Pre-dispersal seed loss in two Prosopis species (Fabacea: Mimosoidea) from the Monte Desert, Argentina
Pre-dispersal flters imposed on the seed stage can alter the likelihood of seed dispersal. We evaluate pre-dispersal seed loss due to predation by insects and abortion in Prosopis flexuosa and P. chilensis. This study was conducted in two protected areas in the Monte Desert. We collected P. flexuosa...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Asociación Argentina de Ecología
2018-07-01
|
| Series: | Ecología Austral |
| Online Access: | https://ojs.ecologiaaustral.com.ar/index.php/Ecologia_Austral/article/view/576 |
| _version_ | 1797629197465681920 |
|---|---|
| author | Silvina Velez Natacha P. Chacoff Claudia M. Campos |
| author_facet | Silvina Velez Natacha P. Chacoff Claudia M. Campos |
| author_sort | Silvina Velez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Pre-dispersal flters imposed on the seed stage can alter the likelihood of seed dispersal. We evaluate pre-dispersal seed loss due to predation by insects and abortion in Prosopis flexuosa and P. chilensis. This study was conducted in two protected areas in the Monte Desert. We collected P. flexuosa and P. chilensis fruits from different trees, from two plots and two years. Samples were maintained for 50 days in translucent PVC boles stored in a laboratory under stable temperature (25 °C) and natural photoperiod, awaiting the emergence of insects. Then we opened the fruits and individually examined all seeds to determine their condition. We found that total pre-dispersal seed loss was 32% in P. flexuosa and 21% in P. chilensis. Seed predation by insects was the major source of pre dispersal seed loss (19% in P. flexuosa and 14% in P. chilensis). The main seed predator was the apionid weevil (Brentidae: Apioninae) in P. flexuosa, and bruchid beetles (Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) in P. chilensis. Some bruchid beetles prey upon seeds, completing their life cycle, whereas others remain inside seeds (41% in P. flexuosa and 49% in P. chilensis, of total seed damaged by bruchid beetles). Seed abortion was another important source of seed loss, especially for P. flexuosa, but its cause still remains unknown. We show and discuss the extent of a proposed methodology to account for pre-dispersal seed predation that includes the immature stages of non-emergent bruchid. Pre-dispersal seed loss by insects and abortion represent an ecological flter that limits the amount of seeds available for dispersal and establishment of these species. Understanding seed loss process may contribute to know and predict Prosopis population dynamics, revealing the natural regeneration mechanisms to forest recovery.
https://doi.org/10.25260/EA.18.28.2.0.576
|
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T10:50:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-45497e4c7e864cc5b992f0a8f234b61b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0327-5477 1667-782X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T10:50:54Z |
| publishDate | 2018-07-01 |
| publisher | Asociación Argentina de Ecología |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecología Austral |
| spelling | doaj.art-45497e4c7e864cc5b992f0a8f234b61b2023-11-13T18:33:53ZengAsociación Argentina de EcologíaEcología Austral0327-54771667-782X2018-07-0128210.25260/EA.18.28.2.0.576Pre-dispersal seed loss in two Prosopis species (Fabacea: Mimosoidea) from the Monte Desert, ArgentinaSilvina Velez0Natacha P. Chacoff1Claudia M. Campos2Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas (CONICET - UNCuyo. Gobierno de Mendoza). Mendoza, Argentina.Instituto de Ecología Regional (CONICET - Universidad Nacional de Tucumán). Tucumán, Argentina. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Tucumán, Argentina.Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas (CONICET - UNCuyo. Gobierno de Mendoza). Mendoza, Argentina.Pre-dispersal flters imposed on the seed stage can alter the likelihood of seed dispersal. We evaluate pre-dispersal seed loss due to predation by insects and abortion in Prosopis flexuosa and P. chilensis. This study was conducted in two protected areas in the Monte Desert. We collected P. flexuosa and P. chilensis fruits from different trees, from two plots and two years. Samples were maintained for 50 days in translucent PVC boles stored in a laboratory under stable temperature (25 °C) and natural photoperiod, awaiting the emergence of insects. Then we opened the fruits and individually examined all seeds to determine their condition. We found that total pre-dispersal seed loss was 32% in P. flexuosa and 21% in P. chilensis. Seed predation by insects was the major source of pre dispersal seed loss (19% in P. flexuosa and 14% in P. chilensis). The main seed predator was the apionid weevil (Brentidae: Apioninae) in P. flexuosa, and bruchid beetles (Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) in P. chilensis. Some bruchid beetles prey upon seeds, completing their life cycle, whereas others remain inside seeds (41% in P. flexuosa and 49% in P. chilensis, of total seed damaged by bruchid beetles). Seed abortion was another important source of seed loss, especially for P. flexuosa, but its cause still remains unknown. We show and discuss the extent of a proposed methodology to account for pre-dispersal seed predation that includes the immature stages of non-emergent bruchid. Pre-dispersal seed loss by insects and abortion represent an ecological flter that limits the amount of seeds available for dispersal and establishment of these species. Understanding seed loss process may contribute to know and predict Prosopis population dynamics, revealing the natural regeneration mechanisms to forest recovery. https://doi.org/10.25260/EA.18.28.2.0.576 https://ojs.ecologiaaustral.com.ar/index.php/Ecologia_Austral/article/view/576 |
| spellingShingle | Silvina Velez Natacha P. Chacoff Claudia M. Campos Pre-dispersal seed loss in two Prosopis species (Fabacea: Mimosoidea) from the Monte Desert, Argentina Ecología Austral |
| title | Pre-dispersal seed loss in two Prosopis species (Fabacea: Mimosoidea) from the Monte Desert, Argentina |
| title_full | Pre-dispersal seed loss in two Prosopis species (Fabacea: Mimosoidea) from the Monte Desert, Argentina |
| title_fullStr | Pre-dispersal seed loss in two Prosopis species (Fabacea: Mimosoidea) from the Monte Desert, Argentina |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pre-dispersal seed loss in two Prosopis species (Fabacea: Mimosoidea) from the Monte Desert, Argentina |
| title_short | Pre-dispersal seed loss in two Prosopis species (Fabacea: Mimosoidea) from the Monte Desert, Argentina |
| title_sort | pre dispersal seed loss in two prosopis species fabacea mimosoidea from the monte desert argentina |
| url | https://ojs.ecologiaaustral.com.ar/index.php/Ecologia_Austral/article/view/576 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT silvinavelez predispersalseedlossintwoprosopisspeciesfabaceamimosoideafromthemontedesertargentina AT natachapchacoff predispersalseedlossintwoprosopisspeciesfabaceamimosoideafromthemontedesertargentina AT claudiamcampos predispersalseedlossintwoprosopisspeciesfabaceamimosoideafromthemontedesertargentina |