Limited influence of experimentally induced predation risk on granivory in a tropical forest

Seed predation by rodents can strongly influence plant recruitment and establishment. The extent to which predation risk indirectly alters plant survival in tropical forests via impacts on granivory is unclear, making it difficult to assess the cascading impacts of widespread predator loss on tree r...

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Main Authors: Alys Granados, Henry Bernard, Jedediah F. Brodie
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2022
Subjects:
Online Access:https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/33494/1/Limited%20influence%20of%20experimentally%20induced%20predation%20risk%20on%20granivory%20in%20a%20tropical%20forest.pdf
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author Alys Granados
Henry Bernard
Jedediah F. Brodie
author_facet Alys Granados
Henry Bernard
Jedediah F. Brodie
author_sort Alys Granados
collection UMS
description Seed predation by rodents can strongly influence plant recruitment and establishment. The extent to which predation risk indirectly alters plant survival in tropical forests via impacts on granivory is unclear, making it difficult to assess the cascading impacts of widespread predator loss on tree recruitment and species composition. Experimental field studies that manipulate predation risk can help address these knowledge gaps and reveal whether antipredator responses among small mammals influence plant survival. We used camera traps and seed predation experiments to test the effects of perceived predation risk (via predator urine gel) on foraging behaviour of and seed removal by murid rodents in an unlogged and unhunched rainforest in Malaysian Borneo. We also explored the influence of seed traits (e.g., seed size) on removal by granivores and assessed whether granivore preferences for particular species were affected by predator urine. Murid visits to seed plots were positively related to overall seed removal but were not affected by predator scent. Granivory was the lowest for the largest seeded (>6 g) plant in our study but was not influenced by predation risk. Predator urine significantly affected removal of one seed taxon (Dimoocarpus, ∼0.8 g), suggesting that removal by granivores may be affected by predation risk for some seed species but not others. This could have implications for plant species composition but may not affect the overall level of granivory.
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spelling ums.eprints-334942022-07-25T01:01:07Z https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/33494/ Limited influence of experimentally induced predation risk on granivory in a tropical forest Alys Granados Henry Bernard Jedediah F. Brodie QK900-989 Plant ecology Seed predation by rodents can strongly influence plant recruitment and establishment. The extent to which predation risk indirectly alters plant survival in tropical forests via impacts on granivory is unclear, making it difficult to assess the cascading impacts of widespread predator loss on tree recruitment and species composition. Experimental field studies that manipulate predation risk can help address these knowledge gaps and reveal whether antipredator responses among small mammals influence plant survival. We used camera traps and seed predation experiments to test the effects of perceived predation risk (via predator urine gel) on foraging behaviour of and seed removal by murid rodents in an unlogged and unhunched rainforest in Malaysian Borneo. We also explored the influence of seed traits (e.g., seed size) on removal by granivores and assessed whether granivore preferences for particular species were affected by predator urine. Murid visits to seed plots were positively related to overall seed removal but were not affected by predator scent. Granivory was the lowest for the largest seeded (>6 g) plant in our study but was not influenced by predation risk. Predator urine significantly affected removal of one seed taxon (Dimoocarpus, ∼0.8 g), suggesting that removal by granivores may be affected by predation risk for some seed species but not others. This could have implications for plant species composition but may not affect the overall level of granivory. Cambridge University Press 2022 Article PeerReviewed text en https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/33494/1/Limited%20influence%20of%20experimentally%20induced%20predation%20risk%20on%20granivory%20in%20a%20tropical%20forest.pdf Alys Granados and Henry Bernard and Jedediah F. Brodie (2022) Limited influence of experimentally induced predation risk on granivory in a tropical forest. Journal of Tropical Ecology, 38. pp. 194-198. ISSN 0266-4674 https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-tropical-ecology/article/abs/limited-influence-of-experimentally-induced-predation-risk-on-granivory-in-a-tropical-forest/43DCE6806E996F9635B1E72216A70B48 https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266467422000050 https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266467422000050
spellingShingle QK900-989 Plant ecology
Alys Granados
Henry Bernard
Jedediah F. Brodie
Limited influence of experimentally induced predation risk on granivory in a tropical forest
title Limited influence of experimentally induced predation risk on granivory in a tropical forest
title_full Limited influence of experimentally induced predation risk on granivory in a tropical forest
title_fullStr Limited influence of experimentally induced predation risk on granivory in a tropical forest
title_full_unstemmed Limited influence of experimentally induced predation risk on granivory in a tropical forest
title_short Limited influence of experimentally induced predation risk on granivory in a tropical forest
title_sort limited influence of experimentally induced predation risk on granivory in a tropical forest
topic QK900-989 Plant ecology
url https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/33494/1/Limited%20influence%20of%20experimentally%20induced%20predation%20risk%20on%20granivory%20in%20a%20tropical%20forest.pdf
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