Rodent seed predation on tree invader species in grassland habitats of the inland Pampa |
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Authors: | María Busch Carol Knight Cristina Noemí Mazía Karina Hodara Emiliano Muschetto Enrique Chaneton |
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Institution: | (1) Departamento de Ecolog?a, Gen?tica y Evoluci?n, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabell?n 2, Piso 4, CP C1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina;(2) CONICET, Rivadavia 1917, Buenos Aires, Argentina;(3) Departamento de Producci?n Vegetal, Facultad de Agronom?a, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. San Mart?n 4453, C1417DSE Buenos Aires, Argentina;(4) Departamento de M?todos Cuantitativos y Sistemas de Informaci?n, Facultad de Agronom?a, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. San Mart?n 4453, C1417DSE Buenos Aires, Argentina;(5) IFEVA-CONICET y Facultad de Agronom?a, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. San Mart?n 4453, C1417DSE Buenos Aires, Argentina |
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Abstract: | Woody plant invasion in grassland ecosystems is a worldwide phenomenon, and biotic interactions as competition and predation
have been invoked as a possible barrier to woody encroachment in many ecosystems. We evaluated the role of rodents as seed
predators in Pampean grasslands, and we assessed the differences in removal by rodents between one native species, Prosopis caldenia (Caldén) and one exotic species, Gleditisia triacanthos (Honey locust). The experiment was conducted at different phases of the rodent population cycle in two grassland communities,
a remnant of a native grassland and a post agriculture grassland (old field). The amount of seed loss caused by predation
was estimated by a bait-removal experiment in foraging stations. We estimated the frequency of foraging stations with consumption,
the overall amount of seed predation and the individual rate of seed predation. The total amount of seed removal and the individual
rate of seed removal were higher for P. caldenia than for G. triacanthos, in the native grassland than in the old field, and in autumn when rodent density was maximum. Overall, the role of rodents
on woody seed removal varied according to the plant species and depending on the local conditions that vary through time and
space. |
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