Savanna Rodents’ Selective Removal of an Encroaching Plant’s Seeds Increased With Grass Biomass
In savannas across the planet, encroaching woody plants are altering ecosystem functions and reshaping communities. Seed predation by rodents may serve to slow the encroachment of woody plants in grasslands and savannas. Our goals for this study were to determine if rodents in an African savanna sel...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2021.676572/full |
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doaj-4841255669a2430c9bd7464c905aa9992021-06-15T05:38:46ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution2296-701X2021-06-01910.3389/fevo.2021.676572676572Savanna Rodents’ Selective Removal of an Encroaching Plant’s Seeds Increased With Grass BiomassSarah J. Teman0Nicola Stevens1Nicola Stevens2Ara Monadjem3Ara Monadjem4Robert J. Fletcher5James D. Austin6Robert McCleery7Robert McCleery8Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United StatesEnvironmental Change Institute, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford, United KingdomDepartment of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, South AfricaDepartment of Biological Sciences, University of Eswatini, Kwaluseni, EswatiniMammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, South AfricaDepartment of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United StatesDepartment of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United StatesDepartment of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United StatesMammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, South AfricaIn savannas across the planet, encroaching woody plants are altering ecosystem functions and reshaping communities. Seed predation by rodents may serve to slow the encroachment of woody plants in grasslands and savannas. Our goals for this study were to determine if rodents in an African savanna selectively removed seeds of an encroaching plant and if foraging activity was influenced by the local vegetation structure or by the landscape context. From trials with two species of seeds (encroacher = Dichrostachys cinerea, non-encroaching overstory tree = Senegalia nigrescens) at 64 seed stations, we recorded 1,065 foraging events by seven species of granivorous rodents. We found a strong positive relationship between rodent activity and the number of seeds removed during trials. Foraging events were dominated by rodent seed predators, with <10.6% of events involving a rodent with the potential for secondary dispersal. Rodents selectively removed the seeds of the encroaching species, removing 32.6% more D. cinerea seeds compared to S. nigrescens. Additionally, rodent activity and the number of seeds removed increased at sites with more grass biomass. Our results suggest a potential mechanistic role for rodents in mitigating the spread of woody plants in grass dominated savannas.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2021.676572/fullecosystem serviceEswatiniforagingDichrostachys cinereaSenegalia nigrescens |
| collection |
DOAJ |
| language |
English |
| format |
Article |
| sources |
DOAJ |
| author |
Sarah J. Teman Nicola Stevens Nicola Stevens Ara Monadjem Ara Monadjem Robert J. Fletcher James D. Austin Robert McCleery Robert McCleery |
| spellingShingle |
Sarah J. Teman Nicola Stevens Nicola Stevens Ara Monadjem Ara Monadjem Robert J. Fletcher James D. Austin Robert McCleery Robert McCleery Savanna Rodents’ Selective Removal of an Encroaching Plant’s Seeds Increased With Grass Biomass Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution ecosystem service Eswatini foraging Dichrostachys cinerea Senegalia nigrescens |
| author_facet |
Sarah J. Teman Nicola Stevens Nicola Stevens Ara Monadjem Ara Monadjem Robert J. Fletcher James D. Austin Robert McCleery Robert McCleery |
| author_sort |
Sarah J. Teman |
| title |
Savanna Rodents’ Selective Removal of an Encroaching Plant’s Seeds Increased With Grass Biomass |
| title_short |
Savanna Rodents’ Selective Removal of an Encroaching Plant’s Seeds Increased With Grass Biomass |
| title_full |
Savanna Rodents’ Selective Removal of an Encroaching Plant’s Seeds Increased With Grass Biomass |
| title_fullStr |
Savanna Rodents’ Selective Removal of an Encroaching Plant’s Seeds Increased With Grass Biomass |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Savanna Rodents’ Selective Removal of an Encroaching Plant’s Seeds Increased With Grass Biomass |
| title_sort |
savanna rodents’ selective removal of an encroaching plant’s seeds increased with grass biomass |
| publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
| series |
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| issn |
2296-701X |
| publishDate |
2021-06-01 |
| description |
In savannas across the planet, encroaching woody plants are altering ecosystem functions and reshaping communities. Seed predation by rodents may serve to slow the encroachment of woody plants in grasslands and savannas. Our goals for this study were to determine if rodents in an African savanna selectively removed seeds of an encroaching plant and if foraging activity was influenced by the local vegetation structure or by the landscape context. From trials with two species of seeds (encroacher = Dichrostachys cinerea, non-encroaching overstory tree = Senegalia nigrescens) at 64 seed stations, we recorded 1,065 foraging events by seven species of granivorous rodents. We found a strong positive relationship between rodent activity and the number of seeds removed during trials. Foraging events were dominated by rodent seed predators, with <10.6% of events involving a rodent with the potential for secondary dispersal. Rodents selectively removed the seeds of the encroaching species, removing 32.6% more D. cinerea seeds compared to S. nigrescens. Additionally, rodent activity and the number of seeds removed increased at sites with more grass biomass. Our results suggest a potential mechanistic role for rodents in mitigating the spread of woody plants in grass dominated savannas. |
| topic |
ecosystem service Eswatini foraging Dichrostachys cinerea Senegalia nigrescens |
| url |
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2021.676572/full |
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