Frugivore-mediated seed dispersal in fragmented landscapes: Compositional and functional turnover from forest to matrix

  1. González-Varo, Juan P. 1
  2. Albrecht, Jörg 2
  3. Arroyo, Juan M. 3
  4. Bueno, Rafael S. 4
  5. Burgos, Tamara 5
  6. Escribano-Ávila, Gema 6
  7. Farwig, Nina 7
  8. García, Daniel 8
  9. Illera, Juan C. 8
  10. Jordano, Pedro 3
  11. Kurek, Przemysław 9
  12. Rösner, Sascha 7
  13. Virgós, Emilio 5
  14. Sutherland, William J. 10
  1. 1 Universidad de Cádiz
    info

    Universidad de Cádiz

    Cádiz, España

    ROR https://ror.org/04mxxkb11

  2. 2 Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre
  3. 3 Estación Biológica de Doñana
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    Estación Biológica de Doñana

    Sevilla, España

    ROR https://ror.org/006gw6z14

  4. 4 University of Palermo
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    University of Palermo

    Palermo, Italia

    ROR https://ror.org/044k9ta02

  5. 5 Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
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    Universidad Rey Juan Carlos

    Madrid, España

    ROR https://ror.org/01v5cv687

  6. 6 Universidad Complutense de Madrid
    info

    Universidad Complutense de Madrid

    Madrid, España

    ROR https://ror.org/02p0gd045

  7. 7 Philipps University of Marburg
  8. 8 Universidad de Oviedo
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    Universidad de Oviedo

    Oviedo, España

    ROR https://ror.org/006gksa02

  9. 9 Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań
    info

    Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

    Posnania, Polonia

    ROR https://ror.org/04g6bbq64

  10. 10 University of Cambridge
    info

    University of Cambridge

    Cambridge, Reino Unido

    ROR https://ror.org/013meh722

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Editor: Dryad

Year of publication: 2023

Type: Dataset

CC0 1.0

DOI: 10.5061/DRYAD.1C59ZW427 lock_openOpen access editor

Abstract

Seed dispersal by frugivores is a fundamental function for plant community dynamics in fragmented landscapes, where forest remnants are typically embedded in a matrix of anthropogenic habitats. Frugivores can mediate both connectivity among forest remnants and plant colonization of the matrix. However, it remains poorly understood how frugivore communities change from forest to matrix due to the loss or replacement of species with traits that are less advantageous in open habitats, and whether such changes ultimately influence the composition and traits of dispersed plants via species interactions. Here, we close this gap by using a unique dataset of seed-dispersal networks that were sampled in forest patches and adjacent matrix habitats of seven fragmented landscapes across Europe. We found a similar diversity of frugivores, plants and interactions contributing to seed dispersal in forest and matrix, but a high turnover (replacement) in all these components. The turnover of dispersed seeds was smaller than that of frugivore communities because different frugivore species provided complementary seed dispersal in forest and matrix. Importantly, the turnover involved functional changes towards larger and more mobile frugivores in the matrix, which dispersed taller, larger-seeded plants with later fruiting periods. Our study provides a trait-based understanding of frugivore-mediated seed dispersal through fragmented landscapes, uncovering non-random shifts that can have cascading consequences for the composition of regenerating plant communities. Our findings also highlight the importance of forest remnants and frugivore faunas for ecosystem resilience, demonstrating a high potential for passive forest restoration of unmanaged lands in the matrix.