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Distribution patterns of acorns after primary dispersion in a fragmented oak forest and their consequences on predators and dispersers

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Abstract

Forest fragmentation affects seed production, but little is known about how seeds are distributed in fragmented forests after primary dispersion and how this affects their interactions with other organisms. This study addressed these issues in a fragmented oak forest of Quercus laeta where four habitat types were recognized: interior and edge of patches, deforested matrix around patches, and an abandoned field. Areas and distances to the abandoned field were measured for 40 patches, and acorns were sampled in all habitats. Only samples from the interior and edge of patches had acorns, which were classified as aborted, viable, and parasitized by insects or fungi. Acorns in all these classes were regressed against patch area and distance to the abandoned field. Field experiments were also conducted to determine whether acorn removal rates varied across habitats. Aborted acorns within patches were not related to area or distance, but they decreased with increasing values of both variables at patch edges. Within patches, viable acorns were positively related to increases in area and distance, while the converse occurred for insect-damaged acorns; fungal-infested acorns were not related to patch variables in this habitat. Complex interactions between area and distance explained how acorns in these classes were distributed across patch edges. Acorn removal was higher within patches and their edges when compared to human-disturbed habitats; both mice and birds were identified as potential acorn dispersers. These results suggest that forest fragmentation affects acorn-mediated processes and that this may influence the recovery of patch connectivity in the landscape.

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Acknowledgments

We especially thank to Eduarda Muñoz and her family for the support they provided us during the development of this study. Juan Pablo Rodas, Claudia González and Omar Samour are acknowledged by their collaboration in the field work. We also acknowledge the comments of two anonymous reviewers that helped to improve the earlier version of this manuscript. This was partially founded by IPICYT and project PROMEP/103.5/11/3671 to JAFC.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. División de Ciencias Ambientales, Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica, Camino a la Presa San José 2055, Colonia Lomas 4ta Sección, C.P. 78216, San Luis Potosí, SLP, Mexico

    Carlos Renato Ramos-Palacios, Ernesto I. Badano & Joel Flores

  2. Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Km. 14.5 Carretera San Luis-Matehuala, Apdo. Postal 32, Soledad de Graciano Sánchez, C.P. 78321, San Luis Potosí, SLP, Mexico

    Jorge A. Flores-Cano

  3. Instituto de Investigación de Zonas Desérticas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Altair 200, Fraccionamiento del Llano, C.P. 78377, San Luis Potosí, SLP, Mexico

    José L. Flores-Flores

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  1. Carlos Renato Ramos-Palacios
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  2. Ernesto I. Badano
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  3. Joel Flores
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  4. Jorge A. Flores-Cano
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Correspondence to Carlos Renato Ramos-Palacios.

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Communicated by J. Müller.

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Ramos-Palacios, C.R., Badano, E.I., Flores, J. et al. Distribution patterns of acorns after primary dispersion in a fragmented oak forest and their consequences on predators and dispersers. Eur J Forest Res 133, 391–404 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-013-0771-5

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