Chronic disturbance alters seed dispersal traits and frugivores resources in a dry tropical forest
Abstract Chronic disturbance is a major driver of biodiversity loss in seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTFs). However, its consequences on the functional dimension of diversity, particularly dispersal traits, remain unclear. We evaluated the effects of chronic disturbance on the functional traits...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95319-w |
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| author | Carlos Iván Espinosa Andrea Jara-Guerrero Judith Castillo-Escobar Jorge Cueva-Ortiz Elizabeth Gusmán-Montalván Bernd Stimm Patrick Hildebrandt Adrián Escudero |
| author_facet | Carlos Iván Espinosa Andrea Jara-Guerrero Judith Castillo-Escobar Jorge Cueva-Ortiz Elizabeth Gusmán-Montalván Bernd Stimm Patrick Hildebrandt Adrián Escudero |
| author_sort | Carlos Iván Espinosa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Chronic disturbance is a major driver of biodiversity loss in seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTFs). However, its consequences on the functional dimension of diversity, particularly dispersal traits, remain unclear. We evaluated the effects of chronic disturbance on the functional traits of woody plant community and its potential effects for frugivores. We characterized eight traits related to seed dispersal and calculated the community weighted means and functional diversities for trees and whole woody community. We used GLMs to evaluate the effects of the chronic disturbance on these functional metrics, including the abundance and diversity of fruits as resources for frugivorous group. Chronic disturbance filtered traits related to dispersal, reducing the proportion of species with fleshy and heavier fruits, and producing more seeds per fruit. Functional richness and dispersion declined with disturbance. We found a general pattern of reduction in the availability and richness of fruits. Our results suggest that the changes in species richness and abundance are not random but result from environmental filtering on traits related to dispersal costs and stress tolerance. Changes in vegetation directly affected resources availability for frugivorous group, which in the medium term can affect the woody species persistence and catalyze the woody species loss. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1fac1c73ddc042578dc33d02b712a55d |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| spelling | doaj-art-1fac1c73ddc042578dc33d02b712a55d2025-08-20T02:10:23ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-03-0115111510.1038/s41598-025-95319-wChronic disturbance alters seed dispersal traits and frugivores resources in a dry tropical forestCarlos Iván Espinosa0Andrea Jara-Guerrero1Judith Castillo-Escobar2Jorge Cueva-Ortiz3Elizabeth Gusmán-Montalván4Bernd Stimm5Patrick Hildebrandt6Adrián Escudero7EcoSs_Lab, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad Técnica Particular de LojaEcoSs_Lab, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad Técnica Particular de LojaMaestría de Biología de la Conservación y Ecología Tropical, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad Técnica Particular de LojaDepartment of Life Science Systems, Technical University of MunichEcoSs_Lab, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad Técnica Particular de LojaDepartment of Life Science Systems, Technical University of MunichDepartment of Life Science Systems, Technical University of MunichÁrea de Biodiversidad y Conservación. Dep. de Biología, Instituto de Investigación en Cambio Global (IICG-URJC), Geología y Física Aplicada. ESCET URJCAbstract Chronic disturbance is a major driver of biodiversity loss in seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTFs). However, its consequences on the functional dimension of diversity, particularly dispersal traits, remain unclear. We evaluated the effects of chronic disturbance on the functional traits of woody plant community and its potential effects for frugivores. We characterized eight traits related to seed dispersal and calculated the community weighted means and functional diversities for trees and whole woody community. We used GLMs to evaluate the effects of the chronic disturbance on these functional metrics, including the abundance and diversity of fruits as resources for frugivorous group. Chronic disturbance filtered traits related to dispersal, reducing the proportion of species with fleshy and heavier fruits, and producing more seeds per fruit. Functional richness and dispersion declined with disturbance. We found a general pattern of reduction in the availability and richness of fruits. Our results suggest that the changes in species richness and abundance are not random but result from environmental filtering on traits related to dispersal costs and stress tolerance. Changes in vegetation directly affected resources availability for frugivorous group, which in the medium term can affect the woody species persistence and catalyze the woody species loss.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95319-wDrylandsFunctional diversityFrugivorySeed dispersalDispersal syndrome |
| spellingShingle | Carlos Iván Espinosa Andrea Jara-Guerrero Judith Castillo-Escobar Jorge Cueva-Ortiz Elizabeth Gusmán-Montalván Bernd Stimm Patrick Hildebrandt Adrián Escudero Chronic disturbance alters seed dispersal traits and frugivores resources in a dry tropical forest Scientific Reports Drylands Functional diversity Frugivory Seed dispersal Dispersal syndrome |
| title | Chronic disturbance alters seed dispersal traits and frugivores resources in a dry tropical forest |
| title_full | Chronic disturbance alters seed dispersal traits and frugivores resources in a dry tropical forest |
| title_fullStr | Chronic disturbance alters seed dispersal traits and frugivores resources in a dry tropical forest |
| title_full_unstemmed | Chronic disturbance alters seed dispersal traits and frugivores resources in a dry tropical forest |
| title_short | Chronic disturbance alters seed dispersal traits and frugivores resources in a dry tropical forest |
| title_sort | chronic disturbance alters seed dispersal traits and frugivores resources in a dry tropical forest |
| topic | Drylands Functional diversity Frugivory Seed dispersal Dispersal syndrome |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95319-w |
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