Seed dispersal by macaws shapes the landscape of an Amazonian ecosystem
Abstract Seed dispersal is one of the most studied plant–animal mutualisms. It has been proposed that the dispersal of many large-seeded plants from Neotropical forests was primarily conducted by extinct megafauna, and currently by livestock. Parrots can transport large fruits using their beaks, but...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2017-08-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-07697-5 |
| _version_ | 1818681373382148096 |
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| author | Adrián Baños-Villalba Guillermo Blanco José A. Díaz-Luque Francisco V. Dénes Fernando Hiraldo José L. Tella |
| author_facet | Adrián Baños-Villalba Guillermo Blanco José A. Díaz-Luque Francisco V. Dénes Fernando Hiraldo José L. Tella |
| author_sort | Adrián Baños-Villalba |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Seed dispersal is one of the most studied plant–animal mutualisms. It has been proposed that the dispersal of many large-seeded plants from Neotropical forests was primarily conducted by extinct megafauna, and currently by livestock. Parrots can transport large fruits using their beaks, but have been overlooked as seed dispersers. We demonstrate that three macaws (Ara ararauna, A. glaucogularis and A. severus) are the main dispersers of the large-seeded motacú palm Attalea princeps, which is the biomass-dominant tree in the Bolivian Amazonian savannas. Macaws dispersed fruits at high rates (75–100% of fruits) to distant (up to 1200 m) perching trees, where they consumed the pulp and discarded entire seeds, contributing to forest regeneration and connectivity between distant forests islands. The spatial distribution of immature palms was positively associated to the proximity to macaws’ perching trees and negatively to the proximity to cattle paths. The disperser role of livestock, presumably a substitute for extinct megafauna, had little effect due to soil compaction, trampling and herbivory. Our results underscore the importance of macaws as legitimate, primary dispersers of large-seeded plants at long distances and, specifically, their key role in shaping the landscape structure and functioning of this Amazonian biome. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T10:01:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f2385566a1584b83b8256f2565d7a8d0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T10:01:55Z |
| publishDate | 2017-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-f2385566a1584b83b8256f2565d7a8d02022-12-21T21:53:16ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222017-08-017111210.1038/s41598-017-07697-5Seed dispersal by macaws shapes the landscape of an Amazonian ecosystemAdrián Baños-Villalba0Guillermo Blanco1José A. Díaz-Luque2Francisco V. Dénes3Fernando Hiraldo4José L. Tella5Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemical Engineering, University Pablo de Olavide CtraDepartment of Evolutionary Ecology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias NaturalesBolivian Parrots Research and Conservation Foundation (CLB)Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de DoñanaDepartment of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de DoñanaDepartment of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de DoñanaAbstract Seed dispersal is one of the most studied plant–animal mutualisms. It has been proposed that the dispersal of many large-seeded plants from Neotropical forests was primarily conducted by extinct megafauna, and currently by livestock. Parrots can transport large fruits using their beaks, but have been overlooked as seed dispersers. We demonstrate that three macaws (Ara ararauna, A. glaucogularis and A. severus) are the main dispersers of the large-seeded motacú palm Attalea princeps, which is the biomass-dominant tree in the Bolivian Amazonian savannas. Macaws dispersed fruits at high rates (75–100% of fruits) to distant (up to 1200 m) perching trees, where they consumed the pulp and discarded entire seeds, contributing to forest regeneration and connectivity between distant forests islands. The spatial distribution of immature palms was positively associated to the proximity to macaws’ perching trees and negatively to the proximity to cattle paths. The disperser role of livestock, presumably a substitute for extinct megafauna, had little effect due to soil compaction, trampling and herbivory. Our results underscore the importance of macaws as legitimate, primary dispersers of large-seeded plants at long distances and, specifically, their key role in shaping the landscape structure and functioning of this Amazonian biome.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-07697-5 |
| spellingShingle | Adrián Baños-Villalba Guillermo Blanco José A. Díaz-Luque Francisco V. Dénes Fernando Hiraldo José L. Tella Seed dispersal by macaws shapes the landscape of an Amazonian ecosystem Scientific Reports |
| title | Seed dispersal by macaws shapes the landscape of an Amazonian ecosystem |
| title_full | Seed dispersal by macaws shapes the landscape of an Amazonian ecosystem |
| title_fullStr | Seed dispersal by macaws shapes the landscape of an Amazonian ecosystem |
| title_full_unstemmed | Seed dispersal by macaws shapes the landscape of an Amazonian ecosystem |
| title_short | Seed dispersal by macaws shapes the landscape of an Amazonian ecosystem |
| title_sort | seed dispersal by macaws shapes the landscape of an amazonian ecosystem |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-07697-5 |
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