Spatial and Temporal Variation in the Antagonistic and Mutualistic Interactions among Seed Predator Arthropods, Seed-Dispersing Birds, and the Spanish Juniper.

ABSTRACT: Plants interact with both antagonistic and mutualistic animals during reproduction, with the outcomes of these interactions significantly influencing plant reproductive success, population dynamics, and the evolution of plant traits. Here, we investigated the spatial and temporal variations in the interactions between Juniperus thurifera, its seed-dispersing birds, and three specific arthropod species that attack the fleshy cones during the predispersal period. We assessed how plant traits affect levels of cone damage by arthropods and seed dispersal by birds, the occurrence of competition among arthropod species, and the impact of seed predators on the activity of frugivores. Plant traits, cone damage by arthropods, and seed dispersal by birds showed spatiotemporal variability. Flu

SUBMITTER: Mezquida ET 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11354789 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature