The role of wild canids in the seed dispersal of Washingtonia robusta (Arecaceae) in Sonoran Desert oases

The canids gray fox Urocyon cinereoargenteus and coyote Canis latrans consume the fruits of Mexican fan palm, Washingtonia robusta, endemic to the oases of the Sonoran Desert. We analyzed biotic covariates (consumption, dispersal, and germination of palm seeds and abundance of gray foxes and coyote...

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Main Authors: Lucila Armenta-Méndez, Juan P. Gallo-Reynoso, Benjamin T. Wilder, Alfonso A. Gardea, María M. Ortega-Nieblas, Isai Barba-Acuña
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México 2020-05-01
Series:Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad
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Online Access:https://revista.ib.unam.mx/index.php/bio/article/view/3129
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author Lucila Armenta-Méndez
Juan P. Gallo-Reynoso
Benjamin T. Wilder
Alfonso A. Gardea
María M. Ortega-Nieblas
Isai Barba-Acuña
author_facet Lucila Armenta-Méndez
Juan P. Gallo-Reynoso
Benjamin T. Wilder
Alfonso A. Gardea
María M. Ortega-Nieblas
Isai Barba-Acuña
author_sort Lucila Armenta-Méndez
collection DOAJ
description The canids gray fox Urocyon cinereoargenteus and coyote Canis latrans consume the fruits of Mexican fan palm, Washingtonia robusta, endemic to the oases of the Sonoran Desert. We analyzed biotic covariates (consumption, dispersal, and germination of palm seeds and abundance of gray foxes and coyotes) and organic matter in soils between different exposures in Barajitas Canyon, to better understand palm establishment. Mexican fan palm seeds found in feces had a greater germination rate (94%) than those dispersed directly from mother plants (55%). According to the results for palm establishment, the habitat can provide likely locations for successful colonization that did not significantly differ among sampling sites (α = 0.05, F = 1.104). The canyon is a dynamic habitat in which the reproductive season of these 2 mammals coincides with palm reproductive phenology. Our data suggest that the consumption and dispersal of W. robusta seeds by gray fox and coyote represent a positive interaction that plays a significant role in the establishment of this oasis species.
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spelling doaj-art-bcabe1d578624a32ad4f6f1dbf32636b2025-08-20T02:31:17ZengUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoRevista Mexicana de Biodiversidad1870-34532007-87062020-05-019110.22201/ib.20078706e.2020.91.3129The role of wild canids in the seed dispersal of Washingtonia robusta (Arecaceae) in Sonoran Desert oasesLucila Armenta-Méndez0Juan P. Gallo-Reynoso1Benjamin T. Wilder2Alfonso A. Gardea3María M. Ortega-Nieblas4Isai Barba-Acuña5Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C.Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C.University of ArizonaCentro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C.Universidad de SonoraCentro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C. The canids gray fox Urocyon cinereoargenteus and coyote Canis latrans consume the fruits of Mexican fan palm, Washingtonia robusta, endemic to the oases of the Sonoran Desert. We analyzed biotic covariates (consumption, dispersal, and germination of palm seeds and abundance of gray foxes and coyotes) and organic matter in soils between different exposures in Barajitas Canyon, to better understand palm establishment. Mexican fan palm seeds found in feces had a greater germination rate (94%) than those dispersed directly from mother plants (55%). According to the results for palm establishment, the habitat can provide likely locations for successful colonization that did not significantly differ among sampling sites (α = 0.05, F = 1.104). The canyon is a dynamic habitat in which the reproductive season of these 2 mammals coincides with palm reproductive phenology. Our data suggest that the consumption and dispersal of W. robusta seeds by gray fox and coyote represent a positive interaction that plays a significant role in the establishment of this oasis species. https://revista.ib.unam.mx/index.php/bio/article/view/3129Arroyoscanyonsfrugivorymutualismsoasespalms
spellingShingle Lucila Armenta-Méndez
Juan P. Gallo-Reynoso
Benjamin T. Wilder
Alfonso A. Gardea
María M. Ortega-Nieblas
Isai Barba-Acuña
The role of wild canids in the seed dispersal of Washingtonia robusta (Arecaceae) in Sonoran Desert oases
Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad
Arroyos
canyons
frugivory
mutualisms
oases
palms
title The role of wild canids in the seed dispersal of Washingtonia robusta (Arecaceae) in Sonoran Desert oases
title_full The role of wild canids in the seed dispersal of Washingtonia robusta (Arecaceae) in Sonoran Desert oases
title_fullStr The role of wild canids in the seed dispersal of Washingtonia robusta (Arecaceae) in Sonoran Desert oases
title_full_unstemmed The role of wild canids in the seed dispersal of Washingtonia robusta (Arecaceae) in Sonoran Desert oases
title_short The role of wild canids in the seed dispersal of Washingtonia robusta (Arecaceae) in Sonoran Desert oases
title_sort role of wild canids in the seed dispersal of washingtonia robusta arecaceae in sonoran desert oases
topic Arroyos
canyons
frugivory
mutualisms
oases
palms
url https://revista.ib.unam.mx/index.php/bio/article/view/3129
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