Trophic interactions between Japanese mock orange Pittosporum tobira and autochthonous frugivorous birds in a town in Catalonia

  1. Claudio Açaí Bracho Estévanez
Revue:
Revista catalana d'ornitologia = Catalan journal of ornithology

ISSN: 1697-4697

Année de publication: 2020

Número: 36

Pages: 74-78

Type: Article

DOI: 10.2436/20.8100.01.24 DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openAccès ouvert editor

D'autres publications dans: Revista catalana d'ornitologia = Catalan journal of ornithology

Résumé

Invasive species are one of the most serious anthropic disturbances threatening the preservation of our ecosystems. One such example are plant invasions, especially those linked to the ornamental plant and gardening industries. Trophic interactions between the seeds of allochthonous plants and native frugivorous species are of special interest as they could represent a key element in the dispersion of invasive plants into nearby ecosystems. In this note we provide a brief compilation of trophic interactions between native frugivorous bird species and the seeds of the Japanese mock orange Pittosporum tobira in an urban environment that were noted during the Spanish COVID-19 outbreak. Our observations reveal the possibility that the seeds of this plant are dispersed by the native birds that ingest its seeds whole. In addition, we report that European Blackbirds and Blackcaps were the most frequently observed species and highlight the ease with which these birds are able to exploit a non-native trophic resource.

Références bibliographiques

  • Andreu, J. & Vilà, M. 2010. Risk analysis of potential invasive plants in Spain. J. Nat. Conserv. 18: 34–44.
  • Bartuszevige, A.M. & Gorchov, D.L. 2006. Avian seed dispersal of an invasive shrub. Biol. Invasions 8: 1013–1022.
  • Costa-Cruz, J., Albino, R.J., da Silva, L.P., Tenreiro, P.Q. & Huttel, H.R. 2013. Seed dispersal networks in an urban novel ecosystem. Eur. J. For. Res. 132: 887–897.
  • Cowie, R.H. & Holland, B.S. 2006. Dispersal is fundamental to biogeography and the evolution of biodiversity on oceanic islands. J. Biogeogr. 33(2): 193–198.
  • Debussche, M. & Isenmann, P. 1990. Introduced and cultivated fleshy-fruited plants: consequences of a mutualistic Mediterranean plant-bird System. In di Castri, F., Hansen, A.J. & Debussche, M. (eds.): Biological invasions in Europe and the Mediterranean basin. Monographiae Biologicae, vol 65. Dordrecht: Springer.
  • Erskine-Ogden, J., Grotkopp, E. & Rejmánek, M. 2016. Mediterranean, invasive, woody species grow larger than their less-invasive counterparts under potential global environmental change. Botany 103 (4): 613–624.
  • Ferrero, M.F. & Donat-Torres, M. 2011. Invasive plants in the coastal vegetal communties in Valencia (Spain). Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca 39 (1): 9–17.
  • Gleadow, R.M. 1982. Invasion by Pittosporum undula tum of the Forests of Central Victoria. II. Dispersal, germination and establishment. Aust. J. Bot. 30 (2): 185–198
  • Hart, L., Johnson, S.D. & Downs, C.T. 2011. The role of avian frugívores in germination of seeds of fleshy-fruited invasive alien plants. Biol. Invasions 13: 1917–1930.
  • Herrera, C.M. 1995. Plant-vertebrate seed dispersal systems in the mediterranean: ecological, evolutionary, and historical determinants. Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 26: 705–727.
  • Herrera, C.M. 2001. Dispersión de semillas por animales en el Mediterráneo: ecologia y evolución. In Zamora, R. & Pugnaire, F.I. (eds.): Ecosistemas mediterráneos. Análisis funcional. Granada: CSIC-AEET.
  • Idžojtić, M. 2019. Dendrology: cones, flowers, fruits and seeds. First edition. London: Academic Press.
  • Keller, R.P., Geist, J., Jeschke, J.M. & Kühn, I. 2011. Invasive species in Europe: ecology, status, and policy. Environ. Sci. Eur. 23: 23.
  • Kolar, C.S. & Lodge, D.M. 2001. Progress in invasion biology: predicting invaders. Trends Ecol. Evol. 16: 199–204.
  • LaFleur, N., Rubega, M. & Parent, J. 2009. Does frugivory by European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) facilitate germination in invasive plants? The J.Torrey Bot. Soc. 136: 332–341.
  • Lambdon, P.W., Pysek, P., Basnou, C., Hejda, M. Arianoutsou, M., Essl, F., Jarosik, V., Pergl, J., Winter, M., Anastasiu, P., Andriopoulos, P., Bazos, I., Brundu, G., Celesti-Grapow, L., Chassot, P., Delipetrou, P., Josefsson, M., Kark, S., Klotz, S., Kokkoris, Y., Kühn, I., Marchante, H., Perglova, I., Pino, J., Vilà, M., Zikos, A., Roy, D. & Hulme, P.E. 2008. Alien flora of Europe: species diversity, temporal trends, geographical paterns and research needs. Preslia 80: 101–149.
  • Niemiera, A.X. & Holle, B.V. 2009. Invasive Plant Species and the Ornamental Horticulture Industry. In Inderjit (eds.): Management of invasive weeds. Invading Nature - Springer Series in Invasion Ecology, vol 5. Dordrecht: Springer.
  • Padullés, C.J., Vila, S.J. & Barriocanal, L.C. 2015. Propagule pressure from invasive plant species in gardens in low-density suburban areas of the Costa Brava (Spain). Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 14 (4): 941–951.
  • Parejo, S.H., Ceia, R.S., Ramos, J.A., Sampaio, H.L. & Heleno, R.H. 2014. Tiptoeing between restoration and invasion: seed rain into natural gaps within a highly invaded relic forest in the Azores. Eur. J. For. Res. 133: 383–390.
  • Renne, I.J., Barrow, W.C., R a n d a l l , L.A.J. & Bridges, W.C. 2002. Generalized avian dispersal syndrome contributes to Chinese tallow tree (Sapium sebiferum, Euphorbiaceae) invasiveness. Divers. Distrib. 8: 285–295.
  • Richardson, D.M., Allsopp, N., D’Antonio, C.M. & Milton, S.J. 2000. Plant invasions – the role of mutualisms. Biol. Rev. 75 (1): 65–93.
  • Svensson, L., Mularney, K. & Zetterström, D. 2009. Collins Bird Guide. Second edition. London: Collins.
  • Traveset, A. & Richardson, D.M. 2006. Biological invasions as disruptors of plant reproductive mutualisms. Trends Ecol. Evol. 21 (4): 208–216.
  • Traveset, A. & Santamaría, L. 2004. Alteración de mutualismos planta-animal debido a la introducción de especies exóticas en ecosistemas insulares. In Fernández-Palacios, J.M. & Morici, C. (eds.): Ecología Insular / Island Ecology. La Palma: Asociación Española de Ecología Terrestre (AEET), Cabildo Insular de La Palma.
  • Weber, E. 2017. Invasive plant species of the world: a reference guide to environmental weed. Biodiversity Research. Potsdam: University of Potsdam.
  • Werner, P. 2011. The ecology of urban areas and their functions for species diversity. Landscape Ecol. Eng. 7: 231–240.
  • Wu, Z.H.Y., Raven, P.H. & Hong, D.Y. (eds.). 1994. Flora of China. 25 vols. St. Louis: Science Press, Beijing & Missouri Botanical Garden Press.
La source de données: Dialnet