Seed dispersal by vertebrates promotes invasion risk in the southern African grassland biome.

ABSTRACT: Vertebrate-mediated seed dispersal plays a crucial role in enabling the spread of invasive alien plants that threaten biodiversity in ecosystems such as the southern African grassland biome. Understanding the dynamics of the seed dispersal process by animals is important for assessing invasion risk and designing management interventions. This study investigated whether the southern African grassland biome is vulnerable to future plant invasions facilitated by frugivorous vertebrates in two known plant invasion hotspots in the Free State province: Boshof, dominated by Opuntia engelmannii (Cactaceae), and Fouriesburg, invaded by Pyracantha angustifolia (Rosaceae). We (1) monitored, documented, and compared the diversity of dispersal vector species in sites invaded by non-native woody and cac

SUBMITTER: Vukeya LR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12449334 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature