An experimental evaluation of the arctic fox (Alopex lagopus) as a seed disperser
(2004) In Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine Research 36(4). p.468-473- Abstract
- Arctic foxes are evaluated as seed dispersal vectors for Greenlandic plant species through a feeding experiment with subsequent scat analysis and germination test. Seeds of 22 common species with different morphology were tested. Passage time ranged between 4 and 48 hours. No significant differences was detected in passage time for seeds with different morphology. Cerastium alpinum and Stellaria longipes had higher germination after passage through the fox’ digestive tract as compared to controls. Sibbaldia procumbens, Oxyria digyna and Silene acaulis were favoured by passage when shorter than 10 hours. Salix glauca ssp. callicarpaea, Veronica alpina, Gnaphalium norvegicum, Papaver radicatum, Ranunculus hyperboreus, Chamaenerion... (More)
- Arctic foxes are evaluated as seed dispersal vectors for Greenlandic plant species through a feeding experiment with subsequent scat analysis and germination test. Seeds of 22 common species with different morphology were tested. Passage time ranged between 4 and 48 hours. No significant differences was detected in passage time for seeds with different morphology. Cerastium alpinum and Stellaria longipes had higher germination after passage through the fox’ digestive tract as compared to controls. Sibbaldia procumbens, Oxyria digyna and Silene acaulis were favoured by passage when shorter than 10 hours. Salix glauca ssp. callicarpaea, Veronica alpina, Gnaphalium norvegicum, Papaver radicatum, Ranunculus hyperboreus, Chamaenerion latifolium, Luzula parviflora and bulbils of Polygonum viviparum and Saxifraga cernua were inhibited by passage, whereas the remaining species had too low germination percentage to allow for evaluation. Species with adaptations to wind dispersal seemed particularly vulnerable to gut pasage. Arctic foxes are able to provide long-distances dispersal of seeds lacking morphological adaptations to dispersal, but for most species seeds need to be defecated within 12 hours to remain viable. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/137784
- author
- Graae, Bente Jessen ; Pagh, Sussi and Bruun, Hans Henrik LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2004
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- seed dispersal, endozoochory
- in
- Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine Research
- volume
- 36
- issue
- 4
- pages
- 468 - 473
- publisher
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:13944259719
- ISSN
- 1938-4246
- DOI
- 10.1657/1523-0430(2004)036[0468:AEEOTA]2.0.CO;2
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Plant Ecology and Systematics (Closed 2011) (011004000)
- id
- 6263acee-b59b-401b-a75c-64159f4be732 (old id 137784)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 11:57:48
- date last changed
- 2022-04-05 07:39:35
@article{6263acee-b59b-401b-a75c-64159f4be732,
abstract = {{Arctic foxes are evaluated as seed dispersal vectors for Greenlandic plant species through a feeding experiment with subsequent scat analysis and germination test. Seeds of 22 common species with different morphology were tested. Passage time ranged between 4 and 48 hours. No significant differences was detected in passage time for seeds with different morphology. Cerastium alpinum and Stellaria longipes had higher germination after passage through the fox’ digestive tract as compared to controls. Sibbaldia procumbens, Oxyria digyna and Silene acaulis were favoured by passage when shorter than 10 hours. Salix glauca ssp. callicarpaea, Veronica alpina, Gnaphalium norvegicum, Papaver radicatum, Ranunculus hyperboreus, Chamaenerion latifolium, Luzula parviflora and bulbils of Polygonum viviparum and Saxifraga cernua were inhibited by passage, whereas the remaining species had too low germination percentage to allow for evaluation. Species with adaptations to wind dispersal seemed particularly vulnerable to gut pasage. Arctic foxes are able to provide long-distances dispersal of seeds lacking morphological adaptations to dispersal, but for most species seeds need to be defecated within 12 hours to remain viable.}},
author = {{Graae, Bente Jessen and Pagh, Sussi and Bruun, Hans Henrik}},
issn = {{1938-4246}},
keywords = {{seed dispersal; endozoochory}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{4}},
pages = {{468--473}},
publisher = {{Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research}},
series = {{Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine Research}},
title = {{An experimental evaluation of the arctic fox (Alopex lagopus) as a seed disperser}},
url = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/2721828/624707.pdf}},
doi = {{10.1657/1523-0430(2004)036[0468:AEEOTA]2.0.CO;2}},
volume = {{36}},
year = {{2004}},
}