Variation of predator satiation and seed abortion as seed defense mechanisms across an altitudinal range |
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| Affiliation: | 1. CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193, Catalonia, Spain;2. FAREM, National Autonomous University of Nicaragua/Managua, Barrio 14 Abril, Estelí, Nicaragua;3. IREC (Instituto de Recursos Cinegéticos, CSIC-UCLM), Ronda de Toledo s/n, E-13071 Ciudad Real, Spain;1. Institute of Biology Leiden, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9505, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands;2. Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Birjand, P.O. Box 97175/376, Birjand, Iran;1. Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe 657-8501, Japan;2. Organization of Advanced Science and Technology, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe 657-8501, Japan;3. Biomass Engineering Program, RIKEN, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan;4. Department of Food Bioscience and Technology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 136-713, Republic of Korea;1. Departamento de Botânica, Laboratório de Fenologia, Grupo de Fenologia e Dispersão de Sementes, UNESP – Univ Estadual Paulista, Avenida 24A 1515, CEP 13506-900, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil;2. Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rodovia Jorge Amado km 16, CEP 45662-900, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil;3. Department of Evolutionary Biology and Animal Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Hauptstr. 1, 79104 Freiburg, Germany;1. Division Forest, Nature and Landscape, KU Leuven , Celestijnenlaan 200E-2411, BE-3001 Leuven, Belgium;2. Division of Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity Conservation, Biology Department, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31-2435, BE-3001 Leuven, Belgium;3. Department of Botany, National Museums of Kenya, Museum Hill Road, P.O. Box 40658-00100, Nairobi, Kenya;4. Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 64, 00014 Helsinki, Finland;5. Biology Department, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium;6. Terrestrial Ecology Unit, Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Ghent, Belgium;1. Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Avda. Diagonal s/n, 08028 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain;2. Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain;3. Institute of Aquatic Ecology and Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, Campus Montilivi, 17071 Girona, Spain |
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| Abstract: | Predator satiation and seed abortion have been reported as effective mechanisms reducing pre-dispersal seed predation, however, whether they may act simultaneously and whether their contribution to seed defense may spatially vary has been barely addressed. Across the altitudinal range of the dry tropical tree Acacia pennatula we investigated the importance of seed production and seed abortion as defense mechanisms against its pre-dispersal seed predators (Mimosestes spp.). Additionally, we measured the potential relationship between the number of seeds that escaped predation and plant recruitment. Predator satiation was effective since greater fruit production was associated with a lower proportion of predated seeds, while high seed abortion rates were related to increases in larval mortality. Although both mechanisms were present simultaneously, their relative contribution varied considerably across the altitudinal range: predator satiation was favored in the middle parts of the range, where seed production is much higher, whereas seed abortion was particularly relevant at the peripheral sites and especially high at the upper margin. The number of seeds that escaped predation was related to seedling density at plot level, indicating the demographic significance of these defense mechanisms against pre-dispersal seed predation. Overall, these results highlight the importance of considering spatial variability when analyzing seed defense traits and they also suggest considering predator satiation and seed abortion as two complementary mechanisms to reduce seed loss. |
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| Keywords: | Acacia Bruchinae Neotropics Seed predation Tropical dry forests |
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