Francis Merlo , Ramiro Aguilar , Ana A. Calviño , Ricardo Torres
{"title":"Black-legged seriema (Chunga burmeisteri): A new unsuspected tree disperser in the Dry Chaco","authors":"Francis Merlo , Ramiro Aguilar , Ana A. Calviño , Ricardo Torres","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2024.105134","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><span>The study was conducted in the Dry Chaco of central Argentina, assessing the seed dispersal role of Black-legged seriemas (</span><em>Chunga burmeisteri</em>). We collected 42 faeces of <em>C. burmeisteri</em><span> and found that all of them contained seeds from at least three woody plant species: algarrobo dulce (</span><em>Neltuma flexuosa</em>), tintitaco (<em>Strombocarpa torquata</em>) and mistol (<em>Sarcomphalus mistol</em>). We were able to compare the germination rates of seeds found in the faeces of <em>C. burmeisteri</em> with control seeds that did not undergo endozoochory only for <em>N. flexuosa.</em> The percentage of germinated seeds was slightly higher in the seeds that were ingested by <em>C. burmeisteri</em> compared to the control group. This study provides the first evidence of <em>C. burmeisteri</em> ‘s role as a seed disperser for dominant trees in the Dry Chaco forest. The discovery is surprising because <em>C. burmeisteri</em> was previously known only for its predatory behaviour. These findings highlight the need for further research on tree dispersal by vertebrates in the Chaco region, considering that dry forests, like the Chaco, are among the most threatened ecosystems worldwide.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.6000,"publicationDate":"2024-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Arid Environments","FirstCategoryId":"93","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196324000144","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"ECOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The study was conducted in the Dry Chaco of central Argentina, assessing the seed dispersal role of Black-legged seriemas (Chunga burmeisteri). We collected 42 faeces of C. burmeisteri and found that all of them contained seeds from at least three woody plant species: algarrobo dulce (Neltuma flexuosa), tintitaco (Strombocarpa torquata) and mistol (Sarcomphalus mistol). We were able to compare the germination rates of seeds found in the faeces of C. burmeisteri with control seeds that did not undergo endozoochory only for N. flexuosa. The percentage of germinated seeds was slightly higher in the seeds that were ingested by C. burmeisteri compared to the control group. This study provides the first evidence of C. burmeisteri ‘s role as a seed disperser for dominant trees in the Dry Chaco forest. The discovery is surprising because C. burmeisteri was previously known only for its predatory behaviour. These findings highlight the need for further research on tree dispersal by vertebrates in the Chaco region, considering that dry forests, like the Chaco, are among the most threatened ecosystems worldwide.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Arid Environments is an international journal publishing original scientific and technical research articles on physical, biological and cultural aspects of arid, semi-arid, and desert environments. As a forum of multi-disciplinary and interdisciplinary dialogue it addresses research on all aspects of arid environments and their past, present and future use.