Resource dilution effect rather than resource concentration hypothesis explains the patterns of pre-dispersal seed predation of an African cycad along an elevational gradient in South Africa.

ABSTRACT: The genus Encephalartos is entirely endemic to Africa, and like most cycad species, the genus is at risk of extinction. One of the threats jeopardising the future of the genus is reproduction failure, a failure that is still poorly understood. Our objective was to investigate what predisposes Encephalartos species to seed damages through predation, a potential cause of reproduction failure. We collected functional traits of 430 individuals of Encephalartos villosus, as well as data on pre-dispersal seed predation, habitat type and elevation in the Origi Gorge Nature Reserve, South Africa. Then, we analysed our data by fitting a structural equation model. We found that plants tend to be taller when moving from open to close habitat, whereas plant height tends to increas

SUBMITTER: Sadiki KG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11347868 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature