Abstract
Seed dispersal is a key component of the interactions between plants and animals. There is little research on the effects of lizard seed dispersal, which is more common on islands than elsewhere. In this study, the effects of the passage of Capparis spinosa seeds through Teratoscincus roborowskii lizard digestive tracts on the seed coats, water uptake rates and germination rates were investigated. In addition, the spatial patterns of fecal deposition by lizards in various microhabitats were assessed. Our results showed that the mean retention time (MRT) of mealworms was significantly longer than that of C. spinosa seeds in both adult and juvenile lizards. The defecation rate of C. spinosa tended to be lower than that of mealworms, which might be beneficial for seed dispersal. It was determined that the longer MRT of C. spinosa seeds enhanced the permeability of the seed coats, which promoted fast water uptake, broke seed dormancy and increased the seed germination rate. Furthermore, the seeds that passed through the digestive tracts of lizards were deposited in favorable germination microhabitats. By enhancing seed germination and depositing intact and viable seeds in safe potential recruitment sites, the lizard T. roborowskii acts, at least qualitatively, as an effective disperser of C. spinosa.
Highlights
Seed dispersal is a key component of the interactions between plants and animals [1,2]
C. spinosa remained in the lizard gut for a range of 42 h to 348 h, and the retention times of mealworms were 42 h to 336 h
No significant difference in seed viability was found among the four groups. These results suggested that passage through the guts of lizards may enhance the success of C. spinosa seed germination and exert no effect on seed viability
Summary
Seed dispersal is a key component of the interactions between plants and animals [1,2]. The study of frugivorous behavior in animals and of plant interactions has been critical in the development of both ecological and evolutionary theories. The dispersal of many plants depends on transport by seed-dispersing animals [3]. A growing body of research has reported seed dispersal mediated by fish [4], birds [5], primates [6], turtles [7] and lizards [8], which are potential seed dispersers. There is little research on the effects of seed dispersal by lizards, which is more common on islands than elsewhere [10]
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