The timing of frugivore-mediated seed dispersal effectiveness.

ABSTRACT: The seed dispersal effectiveness framework allows assessing mutualistic services from frugivorous animals in terms of quantity and quality. Quantity accounts for the number of seeds dispersed and quality for the probability of recruitment of dispersed seeds. Research on this topic has largely focused on the spatial patterns of seed deposition because seed fates often vary between microhabitats due to differences in biotic and abiotic factors. However, the temporal dimension has remained completely overlooked despite these factors-and even local disperser assemblages-can change dramatically during long fruiting periods. Here, we test timing effects on seed dispersal effectiveness, using as study case a keystone shrub species dispersed by frugivorous birds and with a fruiting period of 9 mon

SUBMITTER: Gonzalez-Varo JP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6905405 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature