You have full text access to this OnlineOpen article

Ecological correlates of endozoochory by herbivores

  1. R. J. Pakeman1,*,
  2. G. Digneffe2,
  3. J. L. Small1

Article first published online: 19 JUN 2002

DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2435.2002.00625.x

Issue

Functional Ecology

Functional Ecology

Volume 16, Issue 3, pages 296–304, June 2002

Additional Information

How to Cite

Pakeman, R. J., Digneffe, G. and Small, J. L. (2002), Ecological correlates of endozoochory by herbivores. Functional Ecology, 16: 296–304. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2435.2002.00625.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, UK, and

  2. 2

    Department Industrieel Ingenieur en Biotechnologie, Campus HiKempen Geel, Katholike Hogeschool Kempen, Kleinhoefstraat 4, B-2440 Geel, Belgium

* †Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: r.pakeman@macaulay.ac.uk

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 19 JUN 2002
  2. Article first published online: 19 JUN 2002
  3. Received 14 August 2001;revised 9 November 2001;accepted 6 December 2001

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (112K)

Keywords:

  • animal dispersal;
  • discriminant function analysis;
  • gut survival;
  • plant attributes;
  • seed dispersal

Summary

1. Many plant species germinate from herbivore dung. However, there has been little assessment of how widespread this dispersal mechanism is.

2. A survey of the germinable seed in rabbit and sheep dung from 10 sites in the UK was used to identify the characteristics of species dispersed internally by animals.

3. A wide range of species germinated; the commonest species being ‘weeds’ of grazed communities.

4. Species that did germinate were characterized by small seed size and the capability of forming a persistent seedbank.

5. A substantial quantity and range of seeds are dispersed by herbivores in grazed ecosystems, and this could have a significant effect on the dynamics and species richness of these systems.

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (112K)