The dual role of red deer in yellow rockrose seed dispersal and predation in Mediterranean Spain.

ABSTRACT: Endozoochory, seed dispersal after animal ingestion, is a mutualistic plant-animal interaction that often involves substantial costs (e.g. ingested seed destruction). However, few studies have simultaneously comprehensively assessed the costs and benefits. We investigated the interaction between overabundant ungulates and the Mediterranean shrub Cistus halimifolius in Doñana National Park. We evaluated frequency of ungulate visits to fruiting C. halimifolius individuals using camera traps. We then assessed seed occurrence and germination success via faecal analysis and germination experiments. Camera traps revealed that the red deer, Cervus elaphus, were the principal consumer of C. halimifolius fruits (85.7% of 333 ungulate visits). Although red deer frequently visited C. halimifolius, on

SUBMITTER: Fernandez-Fuerte R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12631517 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature