鸟类对猪血木种子的散布及在其保护中的意义

观察了广东八甲地区鸟类对猪血木种子的散布过程,对散布效果及其在幼苗建立、种群恢复以及保护生物学中的意义进行了分析。结果表明,猪血木种子通过鸟类和重力散布,但以鸟类散布为主;猪血木种子萌发的关键是种子能否从浆果暴露出来;鸟类对猪血木种子散布的意义在于破碎果实,暴露种子。由于人类活动的干扰,散布区内许多土地已异质化,一些种子被散布到无法萌发的环境中,限制了鸟类散布的效果。由于鸟类散布在猪血木幼苗建立和分布区扩张方面具有重要意义,因此在对猪血木进行保护时,除保护生境外还必须注意对鸟类进行保护。     

环境因素对伞形科两种植物种子萌发的影响

种子萌发模式是植物生活史策略中的一个主要特征。研究了环境因素对伞形科濒危植物明党参 (Changium smyrnioidesWolff)和非濒危植物峨参 (Anthriscussylvestris Hoffm.)种子萌发特性的影响。结果表明 ,温度是影响明党参和峨参这类冬性植物种子萌发的主要因素。两物种的种子萌发温度范围是 5～ 15℃ ,明党参种子的最适萌发温度是 10℃ ,峨参是 5℃ ,两物种在15℃时萌发率均已受抑制 ,到 18℃时几乎不萌发。两种植物种子的萌发率与温度显著负相关。两种植物种子在光照和黑暗条件下萌发率差异很小 ,均是中性种子。明党参种子在干燥条件下比峨参种子更容易失去活力 ,其种子的适宜含水量 (5 .9%～6 .4 % )比峨参 (<3.7% )高。种子质量好、萌发率高但种子产量低也是濒危植物种群更新的一个薄弱环节。     

濒危植物明党参种子散布和种子库动态研究

对伞形科濒危植物明党参（Changium smyrnioides)的种子生产、散布和种子库动态进行了研究。明党参平均每株产生完好种子132粒,86.36%来自顶生花序,不同生境中个体产生的种子千粒重有差异;其平均1.06m高的花葶在种子散布过程中易倒伏,使种子远离母株;种子散布格局为聚集型;种子库密度随时间逐渐下降。明党参种子产量和不同时期种子库密度均低于同科非濒危植物峨参（Anthriscus sylvestris),2个种的种子库均为非持续型;明党参具有低种子数、大粒种子、种子散布远离母株以减少种内竞争的K对策,在受到人类大量采挖和生境干扰后种群不容易迅速恢复;而峨参采取高种子数、小粒种子、种子近母株密集分布和产生无性系的r对策,种群受干扰后易恢复。     

西双版纳热带季节雨林四种珍稀濒危树种种子萌发对脱水和光的响应

绒毛番龙眼(Pometia tomentosa)、琴叶风吹楠(Horsfieldia pandurifolia)、箭毒木(Antiaris toxicaria)和思茅木姜子(Litseapierrei var. szemois)是西双版纳热带季节雨林乔木层的优势树种,也属于珍稀濒危物种。实验研究了4个树种的种子在经过不同脱水水平、人工遮荫条件下的不同光照水平以及热带季节雨林之林下和林窗的萌发特性。结果显示:脱水对于种子萌发特征具有显著影响,绒毛番龙眼和琴叶风吹楠经48h的连续脱水后丧失了萌发能力;箭毒木和思茅木姜子具较强的脱水耐性,经96h的连续脱水后仍具有较高的种子含水量,且种子萌发率分别为15%和33%。干旱季散布的种子比雨季散布的种子具有更强的脱水耐性。遮荫及森林种子萌发试验中,除绒毛番龙眼外,其它3个树种的种子萌发率以及平均萌发周期在不同光水平或生境下差异显著。琴叶风吹楠和思茅木姜子在30%的光照以及林窗中心的萌发率要显著低于低光处理(10%和3.5%光照)和林下,而箭毒木在30%和10%光水平以及林窗中心获得较高萌发率。雨季传播的具有干燥敏感性的种子,可以减少种子由于干燥而引起的死亡。试验结果可以为4种珍稀濒危植物的保护和人工繁育提供一定理论依据。     

国家重点保护植物山红树濒危原因的研究

本研究从种子形态结构,种子贮藏与萌发、种子萌发与含水量、温度和光的关系等方面探讨了云南特有种、国家重点保护植物山红树(Pellacalyx yunnanensis Hu)濒危的原因。通过试验研究,阐明了山红树种子的成熟期及其种子生命力保持期与年周期性变化的气候条件的不协调性,种子萌发和幼苗生长要求严格的环境条件等是造成其衰落、稀有的重要因素。此外,还从地质历史的变迁论证了山红树既是自然稀有种,又是人为稀有种,并由此提出了对其有效保护的一些措施。     

鸟类对山黄麻种子的传播及其生态作用

在云南西双版纳的勐宋和勐仑地区观察和研究了传统山黄麻种子的鸟类。在野外持网捕获摄食山黄麻果实的鸟类,称量后分别放在布袋内,让其自然排泄,然后标志释放,观察和网捕共记录到摄食山黄麻果实的鸟类36种,其中26种挂网捕获并从排泄物得到种子。用鸟类排泄物中的山黄麻种子、山黄麻树上采摘的成熟果实及人工分离山黄麻种子播种,进行萌发对比实验,实验结果表明,直接播种成熟果实,在阳光充足的空旷地、林冠下或用树叶覆盖遮光等条件下都未萌发,种子容易霉烂或被虫蚀;从山黄麻果肉中分离出来的种子具有萌发能力;而经鸟类摄食、消化后从果肉中分离的种子,具有较好的萌发活力。在不同条件下山黄麻种子萌发情况差异明显,林冠下条件对种子有抑制作用,阳光作用下种子显示出很好的萌发及成活率。鸟类排泄物种子放在林上或用树叶覆盖遮光,经过较长时间便可萌发,而人工分离种子不能萌发。鸟类摄食及消化过程对山黄麻种子的处理表现出很好的生态互惠关系,观察萌发后的山黄麻幼苗的生长情况还表明,幼苗生长也需要光照和较开阔的生境条件,鸟类取食山黄麻果实及其将种子远距离传播适宜生境,正好具有这样的生态作用。     

濒危植物明党参与非濒危种峨参种子休眠和萌发比较

研究了濒危植物明党参（Changium smyrnioides)与非濒危种峨参（Anthriscus sylvestris)种子贮存,打破休眠和萌发对水分和温度条件的要求。结果表明,在自然条件下,明党参种子有5个月的休眠期,人工低温（10℃左右）处理40天即可打破休眠;两种植物种子自然温度干燥处理不能打破休眠;两种植物的种子在自然温度变湿层积处理后萌发率最高,萌发持续时间也最长,其中明党参的萌发率地峨参,持续时间短于峨参;自然温度淹水处理大大降低了两种植物种子的萌发率,但明党参仍有7％的萌发率。明党参种子质量和发芽率不应是明党参濒危的直接原因,但因其具有种子产量低,幼苗数量少,存活率高的K－对策,当受到强烈干扰时,种群难以在短期内恢复,容易濒危。     

青藏高原东缘61种常见木本植物种子萌发特性及其与生活史的关联

为了评价亚高山地带木本植物种子萌发对策及其与生活史关联, 该文对青藏高原东缘61种常见木本植物的种子萌发特征以及种子萌发与种子大小、扩散方式、海拔及生境的关系进行了调查分析。结果表明: 1) 61种植物的种子萌发率呈现偏斜、双峰分布。6种植物(9.8%)的种子萌发率大于80%, 13种(21.3%)的萌发率在60%~80%之间, 9种(14.8%)的萌发率在40%~60%之间, 8种(13.1%)的萌发率在20%~40%之间, 25种(41%)的萌发率小于20%, 其中8种植物的种子萌发率为零, 显示了该生境中木本植物的种子以休眠、低萌发率或连续稳定的萌发对策占优势, 以避免不利的环境因素。2)种子扩散方式是决定61种木本植物种间萌发率变异(R² = 24.1%, p < 0.001) 和萌发开始时间变异(R ²= 21.3%, p < 0.01) 的主要因素; 种子大小、母体植株的海拔和生境对种子萌发率和萌发开始时间几乎没有影响(p > 0.05); 风扩散的种子比脊椎动物扩散和无助扩散的种子有更高的萌发率(F = 9.219, p < 0.001) 和较早的萌发开始时间(F = 6.772, p < 0.01)。说明植物生活史特征如种子萌发与扩散方式之间存在固有而紧密的联系, 扩散能力强的种子(如风扩散)由于能散布到较远而空旷的生境, 可能避免了各种有害因素或个体竞争, 因而种子以较强的萌发能力进行拓殖; 扩散能力弱的种子(如无助扩散)由于其散布距离较近, 种子以休眠或降低萌发的方式来避免个体或同胞竞争以及各种有害因素, 以获得最大的生态利益并确保物种延续。     

五蕊寄生种子萌发特性

采用室内与野外实验相结合的方法,对五蕊寄生（Dendrophthoe pentandra）种子萌发特性以及鸟类消化过程对其种子萌发的影响进行研究。结果表明：五蕊寄生种子对温度和光照较敏感,与黑暗条件相比,光照能显著提高种子的萌发率;20℃为种子萌发的最适温度,萌发率达53.8%,高温35℃及低温10℃均不利于种子萌发。研究发现纯色啄花鸟（Dicaeum concolor）是该植物的主要食果者,种子外的果肉不是限制种子萌发的关键因素,人为去除果肉并不能提高种子的萌发率,但可缩短种子萌发的时间,果实通过纯色啄花鸟类肠道消化后,随着粪便排出的种子萌发率显著提高（达69%）,暗示纯色啄花鸟在五蕊寄生的种子萌发过程中具有重要的作用。     

弥勒苣苔种子的休眠萌发特性（英文）

弥勒苣苔为中国特有的濒危植物,一度被认为灭绝后又被重新发现,引起了学界及公众的广泛关注。种子库是保护珍稀濒危物种的一种有效手段,对物种开展种子保存需要较为深入的了解其种子休眠及萌发特性;但对于弥勒苣苔,现有资料十分有限,本研究系统地探讨了弥勒苣苔种子的休眠状态及萌发习性。在对其种子进行X光透视后,发现其种子的胚发育完全,且基本充满整个种子,因此认为该种子不具有形态休眠。在多个变温及恒温条件下对新鲜种子进行萌发测试,发现在较高温度(高于20℃)下萌发率很高且萌发迅速,赤霉素及低温层积处理能够显著提高种子在较低温度下(低于20℃)的萌发率,因此可以判定其种子存在浅的生理休眠。种子在恒温下的萌发率比相应的变温下萌发率要高,可能是其对所处荫蔽环境的一种适应。硝酸钾对种子萌发有显著的促进作用,在野外环境下,硝酸钾有对生境空窗及较少竞争的指示作用。     

Seeds in droppings of tropical fruit-eating birds: importance of considering seed composition

Summary The probability of interspecific seedling competition from bird droppings is high because fruit-eating birds, on average, deposit more than two species in a single dropping. Moreover, birds vary both in the number of plant species they deposit in a given dropping and in the seed composition of those droppings. In a preliminary experiment, I examined effects of interspecific seedling competition from seeds found in bird droppings. Certain plant species were competitively superior in pairwise growth experiments using six common second-growth species. The survival of certain shrubs depended on which species it was disseminated with in bird droppings. Rapid germination time may promote competitive superiority in some cases. Birds affect plant fitness not only because of their behavior following dispersal, but also because they deposit seeds in different densities and combinations.     

R.M. Cowling,D.M. Richardson & S.M. Pierce (eds.) 1977. Vegetation of Southern Africa.

We determined the role of bird dispersal in seed and seedling dynamics of the tree Kalopanax pictus from 7 years of observing seed rain and seedling emergence in a broad-leaved deciduous forest in central Japan. We also performed an experiment on the influence of seed pulp on germination of seeds of K. pictus. Seeds of this species can lie dormant for several years, and this causes rather constant yearly seedling emergence in spite of irregular seed production. The spatial distribution of the seedlings that emerged each year (maximum distance from nearest conspecific seed-bearing tree of 90 m) was wider than that of gravity-dispersed seeds (max. distance of 37 m), suggesting seed dispersal by birds in winter. Emerged seedling densities at sites over 20 m from the nearest conspecific seed-bearing tree were highest in the spring of 1991, about half a year after the largest seed fall of the observation period. However, emerged seedling densities within 20 m from seed-bearing trees were highest in 1992, 1.5 years after the largest seed fall. These field observations may be explained by the experimental results on the effects of seed pulp on germination. Intact seeds germinate slowly at low germination rates, while seeds without seed pulp germinate quickly at high germination rates. Fallen seeds with seed pulp thus appear to form a seed bank near seed sources (temporal dispersal), while seeds scattered by birds appear to increase the possibility of reaching the present safe sites in distant areas with quick germination (spatial dispersal).     

Non-redundancy in seed dispersal and germination by native and introduced frugivorous birds: implications of invasive bird impact on native plant communities

Seed dispersal by vertebrate animals is important for the establishment of many fleshy-fruited plant species. Different frugivorous species can provide different seed dispersal services according to their specific dietary preferences as well as behaviour and body traits (e.g. body size and beak size of birds). Our aim was to study redundancies and complementarities in seed dispersal and germination between the two main native seed disperser birds and the introduced silver pheasant Lophura nycthemera in the temperate Patagonian forests. For this, we collected fresh droppings from the studied species and analyzed seed content. We conducted germination trials for four plant species common in bird droppings; two native species (Aristotelia chilensis and Rhaphithamnus spinosus) and two invasive non-native species (Rubus ulmifolius and Rosa rubiginosa). Both native frugivorous birds and the silver pheasant dispersed fruits of non- native fleshy-fruited plants, but their roles were non-redundant in terms of species dispersed and effect on seed germination. The silver pheasant dispersed a proportionally high number of non-native seeds, while native birds dispersed a high number of native seeds. In addition, the effect of gut treatment in seed germination differed between seed dispersers. Native birds promoted the germination for the two native plant species studied, while the silver pheasant promoted the germination of one non-native plant. This suggests that seed dispersal by the silver pheasant may contribute to the spread of some invasive fleshy-fruited plants in the ecosystems that otherwise would not be dispersed by any other bird. The understanding of redundancies and complementarities on seed dispersal and germination between native and introduced birds will allow improving the management of fleshy-fruited non-native plants.     

Incorporating dispersal distance into the disperser effectiveness framework: frugivorous birds provide complementary dispersal to plants in a patchy environment

Fleshy-fruited plants are usually dispersed by an array of frugivores, differing in the effectiveness of the dispersal service they provide to the plant. Body size differences among frugivores are hypothesized to affect seed dispersal distances and consequently their effectiveness as dispersers. We tested this hypothesis by comparing the effectiveness of two passerine birds, grackles ( Onychognathus tristramii ) and bulbuls ( Pycnonotus xanthopygos ), dispersing the desert shrub Ochradenus baccatus . Laboratory experiments, quantifying gut retention time and the effect on germination, were combined with field observations quantifying bird movements and fruit consumption rates. An empirically parameterized mechanistic model showed that the two dispersers switch roles as a function of spatial-scale: while most seeds within the local habitat were dispersed by bulbuls, the larger grackles were exclusively responsible for between-patches, long-distance dispersal. We suggest that distance-related differences are common and important to plant fitness, and thus should explicitly be considered in studies of disperser effectiveness.     

Decreased frugivory and seed germination rate do not reduce seedling recruitment rates of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aristotelia chilensis</Emphasis> in a fragmented forest

Habitat fragmentation reduces frugivorous bird abundance. Such a reduction may lead to a reduction in seed dispersal, thereby compromising seedling recruitment rate with far reaching consequences for plant population persistence. We assessed frugivory, seed germination, and seedling recruitment rates in a fragmented forest of central Chile by comparing a continuous forest with four forest fragments surrounded by pine plantations. Frugivory was 2.4 times higher in continuous forest than in forest fragments. Seeds eaten by birds germinated 1.7 and 3.7 times higher than non-eaten seeds from continuous forest and fragments respectively. Non-eaten seeds from continuous forest germinated 2.2 times higher than those from forest fragments, suggesting inbreeding depression. However, seedling recruitment rates at forest fragments were far higher than in continuous forest where no seedling recruited in the five years analysed. Therefore, despite forest fragmentation negatively affected frugivory, it did not translate into a decreased fitness of plants, thus highlighting the importance of considering the overall processes leading the reproductive success of plants following anthropogenic disturbances.     

Germination of Cistus ladanifer seeds in relation to parent material

Variability in seed germination behaviour of Cistus ladanifer L. (rockrose), a Cistaceous species widely distributed in the Mediterranean Basin, was studied in a central Spanish population under controlled conditions. No correlation between seed moisture content and germination was found. Great variability in germination was found among seeds of the population studied, not only between seeds belonging to different mother plants, but also between those collected from different capsules on the same plant. In most cases, seeds preheated at 100 °C for 30 minutes showed a significant increase in germination. This germination behaviour is related to fire regimes as this plant is a typical shrubby element of the mediterranean shrublands. Percent germination did not vary significantly after several months of seed storage at room temperature. In the same way, no difference was found in final germination percentage of seeds stored under room temperature vs. seeds stored under cold conditions.     

Potential role of frugivorous birds (Passeriformes) on seed dispersal of six plant species in a restinga habitat, southeastern Brazil

Restingas are considered stressful habitats associated with the Brazilian Atlantic forest, and their ecological interactions are poorly known. The goal of the present study was to determine the potential role of frugivorous birds as seed dispersers in a restinga habitat. Data were collected in Parque Nacional da Restinga de Jurubatiba, southeastern Brazil, where the main physiognomy (Open Clusia Formation) is characterized by the presence of patches of vegetation covering 20 to 48 % of the sandy soil and reaching a height of 5 m. Birds were captured with mist nets (12 x 2.5 m; 36 mm mesh; 1,680 net-hrs) and had their fecal and regurgitate samples inspected for seeds. Six plant species found in these bird samples were studied. The germination of seeds obtained from plants was compared to those from the birds. Both groups of seeds were set on Petri dishes at room temperature and washed when infected with fungi. In general, there was no effect on germination rate, and the effect on germination speed was negative. Germination of seeds from Pilosocereus arrabidae treated by the birds seemed to be influenced by storage of defecated seeds, while few Miconia cinnamomifolia seeds both from plants and from birds germinated. Ocotea notata presented a great variation in time to the onset of germination, perhaps an advantage against dissecation. Aechmea nudicaulis, Clusia hilariana and Erythroxylum subsessile probably take advantage of the arrival to favorable microhabitats, not by the gut effect on the seeds. All plant species studied are numerically important for the community and some of them are main actors in the succession of vegetation patches. Among the birds, Mimus gilvus is an important resident species, endemic to restingas in Brazil, while Turdus amaurochalinus is a visitor and may be important for plants that fructify during its passage by the study site. Although the effect of pulp removal was only tested for one species (Achmea nudicaulis) in the present study, we confirmed that the tested effect of restinga frugivorous birds on seed germination was generally null. Although there is a need for more detailed studies on specific animal-plant interactions on this habitat, the overall effect of the birds on seed dispersal in restinga is probably positive.     

食果鸟白头鹎与接骨草的分布

作为种子的传播者 ,以果实为生的动物在所食植物的繁殖周期中起着关键作用。尽管动植物相互作用的研究自达尔文开始就引起了进化生物学家和生态学家的关注 ,但和传粉者与植物的相互作用的研究相比 ,种子传播者与植物相互作用的研究在 2 0世纪 70年代后才真正开始[1] 。植物学家     

Effects of seed dispersal on Juniperus communis recruitment on a Mediterranean mountain

Abstract. The recruitment of the relict shrub Juniperus communis on a mountain in SE Spain was studied during the period 1994–1998. The main objective was to determine both the quantitative and qualitative effects of bird dispersal on seedling establishment. Seed removal by birds, seed rain, post‐dispersal seed predation, germination, and seedling emergence and survival were analysed in different microhabitats. Birds removed 53 ‐ 89% of the seeds produced by plants. Seed rain was spatially irregular as most seeds accumulated near stones used by birds as perches and below mother plants while a few seeds were dropped in wet meadows and open ground areas. Post‐dispersal seed predation by rodents affected < 10% of dispersed seeds but varied significantly among microhabitats. Only 3.6 ‐ 5.5% of dispersed seeds appeared viable, as many seeds had aborted or showed wasp damage. Seeds germinated in the second and third springs after sowing, reaching a germination percentage of 36%. Seedling emergence was concentrated in wet meadows. Seedling mortality was high (75–80%), but significantly lower in wet meadows, the only microhabitat where seedlings could escape from summer drought, the main mortality cause. Seed abortion, germination and seedling mortality proved to be the main regeneration constraints of J. communis on Mediterranean mountains. Birds exerted a strong demographic effect, although their qualitative effect was limited by abiotic factors which caused the pattern of seed rain to differ from the final pattern of recruitment between microhabitats.     

Seed Dispersal by a Frugivore Pycnonotus sinensis and the Distribution of Sambucus chinensis

Frugivorous birds play an important role in the distribution of those plants on whose fruits they feed and affect species composition of plant communities. The fruiting phenology of Sambucus chinensis Lindl. in Wuhan area ranges from July to November, while abundant fruits are available in July and August. Although other seven species of frugivores were found in the study area, only Pycnonotus sinensis (Gmelin), a resident bird endemic to China, was observed foraging in the fruits of this plant for the field. Pycnonotus sinensis shifts from eating fruits of Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) Vent. to those of S. chinensis from July to August. Identification of seeds in a total of 658 feces disseminated by P. sinensis which were collected in the field showed that most of the seeds came from S. chinensis and B. papyrifera. Seeds in those feces collected at the end of August were all of S. chinensis. Field investigation of the associations of S. chinensis shows that its frequent companion species are B. papyrifera, Cinnamomum camphora, Ligustrum lucidum and Rubus biflorus, whose fruits are also preferred by this frugivore in different seasons. The distribution of Pycnonotus sinensis is limited to the south of Qinling Mountain in China. The distribution of S. chinensis is basically consistent with that of Pycnonotus sinensis. The result indicates that seed dispersal of S. chinensis depends on the foraging of this frugivore. Likewise, the fruits of S. chinensis are the primary food for this frugivore in autumn. As the result suggests, conservationists and restoration biologists should highlight the study of plant-disperser mutualism in the future work.