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The domestic goat as a potential seed disperser of Mimosa luisana (Leguminosae, Mimosoideae) in the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley, Mexico

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 October 2014

Luca Giordani ,
Elena Baraza ,
Sara Lucía Camargo-Ricalde  and
Stein R. Moe
Luca Giordani*
Affiliation:
Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432 Ås, Norway
Elena Baraza
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Ctr Valldemossa, Km 7.5 Palma 07120, España
Sara Lucía Camargo-Ricalde
Affiliation:
Departamento de Biología, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Apdo. Postal 55–535, México, D.F.
Stein R. Moe
Affiliation:
Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432 Ås, Norway
*
1Corresponding author. Present address: 1100 N. Western Avenue, 98801-1230 Wenatchee WA, USA. Email: luca.giordani@wsu.edu
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Abstract:

Mimosa luisana is functionally important in the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley, Mexico, since it is able to create favourable microsites for the establishment of other plant species. The endozoochory of M. luisana seeds by goats was evaluated in terms of excrement deposition pattern, seed survival and germination. The excrement deposition pattern was evaluated by collecting pellets in four plots of 25 × 2 m randomly placed in a grazing area and recording the microhabitat where pellets were found. Seed survival and germination were evaluated by feeding the goats with seeds and collecting dung pellets at 8-h intervals for 80 h. Seeds from goat pellets (treatment) and seeds collected from pods (control) were placed in a germination chamber for 24 d. Goats mainly deposited M. luisana seeds in viable sites (open areas) for growth. Mimosa luisana seeds survived the goat digestive treatment (5.91% ± 2.86%) and most of them (67% ± 25.9%) were recovered 8–32 h after ingestion. Goat gut treatment increased M. luisana final germination (47.5% ingested, 5.83% control) and shortened initial and mean time of germination. Our results indicate that goats may be an efficient disperser of M. luisana seeds.

Keywords

drylandsendozoochorygerminationlong-distance seed dispersalplant-animal interactionsruminantsseed dispersalseed predation
Type
Short Communication
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 31 , Issue 1 , January 2015 , pp. 91 - 94
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

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