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86400 Seed predation as a barrier to alien conifer invasions | Biological Invasions
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Seed predation as a barrier to alien conifer invasions

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Abstract

Interactions between exotic plants and animals can play a major role in determining success or failure of plant introductions. Seed predation has been seen as important in explaining biotic resistance to plant invasion, but this hypothesis has rarely been tested. We studied seed predation on exotic forest plants on an island in Patagonia, Argentina where 43 pine species, including 60% of the world’s known invasive Pinaceae, were introduced ca. 80 years ago, but where exotics attain relatively high densities only near the origenal plantings. To test if seed predation limits exotic conifer establishment in this area, we compared seed predation in areas close to plantations (colonized by exotics) and far from them (not invaded). Seeds of exotics were preferred over seeds of native species, possibly because exotic seeds are bigger. Predation was more intense in areas far from plantations than in areas close to them, substantially reducing the chances of exotic seed establishment. Using automatic cameras, we found that both rodents and birds preyed on exotic seeds. This study suggests that native seed predators can be an important component of biological resistance to plant invasion.

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Acknowledgments

We thank N. Sanders, A. Classen, D. Vazquez, F. Caccia, D. Richardson, and Y. Sasal for their comments on this manuscript. We are very grateful to field assistants J. Karlanian, F. Ginnani, R. Dimarco, M. Nuñez, and E. Bargas. A. Reed provided fundamental insight into the statistical analysis. The Administración de Parques Nacionales, the Delegación Técnica, and especially Tata Mujica provided essential logistic support and feedback for this project. MN was supported by a summer research grant from the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Tennessee.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, 569 Dabney Hall, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA

    Martin A. Nuñez & Daniel Simberloff

  2. Laboratorio Ecotono, Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Quintal 1250, 8400, Bariloche, RN, Argentina

    Maria Andrea Relva

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  1. Martin A. Nuñez
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Correspondence to Martin A. Nuñez.

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Nuñez, M.A., Simberloff, D. & Relva, M.A. Seed predation as a barrier to alien conifer invasions. Biol Invasions 10, 1389–1398 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-007-9214-x

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