Abstract
AbstractMembers of the orderCarnivoraare a unique and important seed disperser who consume and deposit undamaged seeds while providing regular long‐distance seed dispersal opportunities. Some members ofCarnivora, such as coyotes (Canis latrans), are undergoing range expansions which may help the plant species they consume colonize new locations or replace dispersal services provided by recently extirpated species. In this study, we evaluated aspects of the seed dispersal effectiveness of coyotes and gut passage time to determine the potential dispersal distances for three commonly consumed and commonly occurring plant species (Amelanchier alnifolia, Celtis ehrenbergiana, andJuniperus osteosperma). We also investigated the potential effects of secondary dispersal of seeds away from scats by comparing seedling emergence from whole scats to those where seeds were first removed from scats. We found that seeds generally took between 4 and 24 h to pass through the digestive tract of coyotes, which could result in regular seed dispersal up to 7 km. Gut passage through coyotes had no effect on seed viability or emergence for any of the three plant species, including that gut passage forA. alnifoliaandJ. osteospermadoes not replace cold stratification for breaking physiological dormancy. By simulating secondary dispersal, we found that 22% (±8.2%) moreC. ehrenbergianaseedlings emerged when seeds were removed from scats and those seedlings emerged 7 d earlier (±5 d) compared to seeds that remained in the coyote scat. Coyotes are effective seed dispersers, with the potential for regular long‐distance dispersal services and for providing opportunities for secondary seed dispersal, which could aid in climate migration or serve to replace extirpated dispersal mutualists.
Highlights
Seed dispersal is necessary for sexually reproducing plant species to maintain gene flow and recruitment within a population and for migration and gene flow among populations (Levin et al 2003, Levine and Murrell 2003)
Of the 20 individual coyotes used in this study, between 10 and 12 individuals successfully participated in five of the six treatment diet combinations: 12 participated in the treatment of onethird seed-bearing body for J. osteosperma, 11 participated in both diet ratio treatments for A. alnifolia, and the one-third seed-bearing body treatment for C. ehrenbergiana, while only 10 participated in the two-thirds seed-bearing treatment for C. ehrenbergiana
Coyote range expansion and dietary breadth illustrate their potential for effective seed dispersal at both short and long distances
Summary
Seed dispersal is necessary for sexually reproducing plant species to maintain gene flow and recruitment within a population and for migration and gene flow among populations (Levin et al 2003, Levine and Murrell 2003). Dispersal aids in maintaining both plant community diversity and within-species genetic diversity, thereby improving community and species stability and persistence (Clobert et al 2012). Many species have adapted to utilize animals to increase the quantity of seeds transported in short- and long-distance dispersal through various mutualisms and commensalisms (Levin et al 2003). Understanding the efficacy of these dispersal strategies and their mutualist or commensalist relationships is crucial to understanding and modeling seed dispersal
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