A subterranean ecosystem-engineering rodent influences plant emergence and reproductive strategy in a high-altitude cold desert
| Autor: | Natalia del Pilar Andino, Carlos E. Borghi, Alicia Rodríguez Navas |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2020 |
| Předmět: |
0106 biological sciences
Ecology biology Desert climate Asexual reproduction biology.organism_classification 010603 evolutionary biology 01 natural sciences 010601 ecology Altitude Disturbance (ecology) Seedling Abundance (ecology) Genetics Animal Science and Zoology Ecosystem Species richness Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics Nature and Landscape Conservation |
| Zdroj: | Journal of Mammalogy. 101:1601-1608 |
| ISSN: | 1545-1542 0022-2372 |
| DOI: | 10.1093/jmammal/gyaa118 |
| Popis: | Plant emergence from seed banks and from asexual reproduction could be strongly influenced by environmental and biological factors. Among environmental factors, animal disturbances deserve special consideration. In this study we test the hypothesis that disturbances resulting from the burrowing activity of Ctenomys affect plant emergence (sexual and asexual) in the south of the cold Puna desert. Richness and abundance of seedlings and sprouts growing in areas disturbed or undisturbed by Ctenomys were recorded at the beginning and at the end of the vegetative season. In general terms, the activity of Ctenomys does not affect richness of emerging species, but does have a significant influence on the type of emergence. Analyses between areas revealed that seedling emergence was significantly higher than sprout emergence in areas showing Ctenomys activity, whereas no significant differences were found between types of emergence in undisturbed areas. Although vegetative emergence was important, plant emergence from seeds appears to be relevant to the recolonization of areas disturbed by Ctenomys. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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