Ecological role of the Eurasian otter, Lutra lutra (Mustelidae, Carnivora) as a seed dispersal species for riparian vegetation in Iberian fresh waters

IF 16.4 1区化学 Q1 CHEMISTRY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Accounts of Chemical Research Pub Date : 2022-09-07 DOI:10.25225/jvb.22037

D. Latorre, Raquel Merino-Aguirre, A. Cruz, E. Lantero, Alejandra M. Arroyo, D. Fletcher, D. Almeida

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Abstract

Abstract. Endozoochory is a mutualistic interaction between plants and animals. Such a relationship has rarely been examined in the Eurasian otter Lutra lutra. This study aimed to assess the use and electivity of fruit by this carnivore, along with the viability of ingested seeds. Otter spraints and fruit were collected from the River Bullaque (Guadiana River basin, central Spain) in June and September 2018-2019. A high occurrence of fruit (> 40%) was found in spraints during September. Otters ingested fruit in June from only one plant species: Iberian bushweed Flueggea tinctoria (Phyllanthaceae); whereas seeds ingested in September belonged to four plant species: apple mint Mentha suaveolens (Lamiaceae), common hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, dog rose Rosa canina and elmleaf blackberry Rubus ulmifolius (three Rosaceae species). According to the environmental availability, otters displayed avoidance for mint and rose, neutral selection for hawthorn and preference for blackberry. Germination was unsuccessful for mint seeds, whereas germination was the highest for blackberry (37%; 49% for blackbird Turdus merula, a well-known frugivorous species). Otters appear to display an ecological role as seed dispersers for riparian vegetation in Iberian fresh waters. These findings provide insights into this endozoochorous co-evolution between plants and Carnivora.

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欧亚水獭Lutra Lutra（鼬科，食肉动物）作为伊比利亚淡水河岸植被种子传播物种的生态作用

摘要内生是植物和动物之间的相互作用。这种关系很少在欧亚水獭Lutra Lutra身上被研究过。本研究旨在评估这种食肉动物对果实的利用和选择性，以及摄入种子的活力。于2018-2019年6月和9月在西班牙中部瓜迪亚纳河流域的布拉克河(River Bullaque)收集了水獭的肌肉和水果。在9月份发现了高发生率的果实(bbb40 %)。水獭在6月只吃一种植物的果实:伊比利亚灌木草(叶子科);而9月份摄入的种子属于4种植物:苹果薄荷(薄荷科)、普通山楂(山楂)、狗玫瑰(Rosa canina)和榆叶黑莓(Rubus ulmifolius)(蔷薇科)。根据环境可得性，水獭对薄荷和玫瑰表现出回避，对山楂表现出中性选择，对黑莓表现出偏好。薄荷种子萌发不成功，而黑莓种子萌发率最高(37%;49%的黑鹂(Turdus merula，一种著名的果食性物种)。在伊比利亚淡水中，水獭似乎表现出作为河岸植被种子传播者的生态作用。这些发现为了解植物和食肉动物之间的这种内源性共同进化提供了见解。

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来源期刊

Accounts of Chemical Research 化学-化学综合

CiteScore

31.40

自引率

1.10%

发文量

312

审稿时长

2 months

期刊介绍： Accounts of Chemical Research presents short, concise and critical articles offering easy-to-read overviews of basic research and applications in all areas of chemistry and biochemistry. These short reviews focus on research from the author’s own laboratory and are designed to teach the reader about a research project. In addition, Accounts of Chemical Research publishes commentaries that give an informed opinion on a current research problem. Special Issues online are devoted to a single topic of unusual activity and significance. Accounts of Chemical Research replaces the traditional article abstract with an article "Conspectus." These entries synopsize the research affording the reader a closer look at the content and significance of an article. Through this provision of a more detailed description of the article contents, the Conspectus enhances the article's discoverability by search engines and the exposure for the research.