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食果鸟类及黄臀鹎取食对先锋灌木马桑种子萌发的影响

Effects of feeding by frugivorous birds and Pycnonotus xanthorrhous on seed germination of the pioneer shrub Coriaria nepalensis Wall.

  • 摘要: 马桑(Coriaria nepalensis Wall.)具有强大的生态修复能力,是荒山荒地和矿区的先锋树种。本研究通过调查不同区域(半自然生境、植物园、磷矿复垦区)中马桑的食果鸟类组成,分析优势传播者黄臀鹎的取食行为,验证其消化道传播对马桑种子萌发的促进作用。通过野外观察、室内饲喂及萌发实验,评估不同处理,包括:鸟消化后排泄的种子、人工去除果肉后的种子、酸处理(模拟胃酸软化种皮)、机械处理(模拟砂囊摩擦)、自然对照(完整成熟黑果、红果、绿果)对种子萌发的影响。结果显示,主要传播者黄臀鹎消化道处理显著提高种子萌发率(最高达97.5%),食果鸟类与马桑的互作促进了种群的扩散与生态的修复。鸟类对有毒瘦果的取食能够促进这类果实的散布,通过食果鸟类消化道的马桑种子萌发率显著提高。研究结果表明,食果鸟类和先锋植物马桑的相互作用能促进后者的自然更新,有助于其生态修复功能的发挥。

     

    Abstract: Coriaria nepalensis Wall. exhibits remarkable ecological restoration capacity and functions as a pioneer woody species in barren hills and post-mining landscapes. This study investigated the composition of frugivorous birds associated with C. nepalensis across three habitat types—semi-natural environments, botanical gardens, and phosphorus mine reclamation sites—and examined the feeding behavior of the dominant disperser, Pycnonotus xanthorrhous. Field observations, controlled feeding trials, and germination assays were conducted to assess the influence of different treatments on seed germination, including seeds excreted after bird digestion, seeds with manually removed pulp, acid treatment (to simulate stomach acid softening), mechanical abrasion (to simulate gizzard grinding), and untreated natural fruits of varying maturity (intact ripe black, red, and green fruits). Results identified P. xanthorrhous as the principal disperser of C. nepalensis, and passage through its digestive tract markedly enhanced germination, achieving rates up to 97.5%, thereby promoting population expansion and ecological restoration. Furthermore, frugivorous birds tolerated the toxic metabolites of C. nepalensis achenes and played a critical role in effective fruit dispersal. Seeds that passed through avian digestion exhibited substantially higher germination rates compared to other treatments. Overall, the findings demonstrated a strong mutualistic relationship between frugivorous birds and C. nepalensis, highlighting an ecologically significant mechanism through which avian-mediated seed dispersal supports natural regeneration and accelerates ecosystem recovery in degraded habitats.

     

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