Seed dispersal syndromes in mountain cloud forest communities, in the central region of Veracruz, México

  • Tania Lizbeth Velázquez-Escamilla Universidad Veracruzana
  • Cecilia Díaz-Castelazo Instituto de Ecología A. C.
  • Betsabé Ruiz-Guerra Instituto de Ecología A. C.
  • Noé Velázquez-Rosas Universidad Veracruzana http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7768-2279
keywords: dispersal agents, frugivory, ornitochory, sinzoochory, vegetation structure

Abstract

Background: Seed dispersal syndromes allow obtaining patterns potential dispersers between communities, environments and contrasting taxa, helping to understand the influence of dispersers on the composition, structure and dynamics of plant communities. This information is very limited in mountain cloud forests.

Questions: How is the frequency of seed dispersal syndromes modified according to the composition woody species and strata of plant communities? The seed dispersal syndromes are useful to describe potential dispersers in mountain cloud forests?

Study sites and dates: The study was carried out during 2014 in three mountain cloud forests communities in central Veracruz.

Methods: Seed dispersal syndromes of 64 different species plants were determined in the three study sites, based on the morphological characteristics of the diasporas and with bibliographic support. The frequency of the syndromes between communities and strata (understory and canopy) was compared.

Results:  The frequencies of the seed dispersal syndromes did not change between communities, but they did within each community. Ornitochory was the most relevant syndrome, its importance changes depending on the density of the plants and the strata. With the help of bibliographic information, it was verified that 75 % of the plants identified with ornithochory syndrome are dispersed by birds.

Conclusions: Ornitochory was the most relevant syndrome, although its importance was modified according to the composition and structure of the community. It is necessary to explore the influence of birds on the patterns of distribution and recruitment of the plants of these forests.

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Author Biographies

Tania Lizbeth Velázquez-Escamilla, Universidad Veracruzana
Centro de Investigaciones Tropicales
Cecilia Díaz-Castelazo, Instituto de Ecología A. C.
Red de Interacciones Multitróficas
Betsabé Ruiz-Guerra, Instituto de Ecología A. C.
Red de Interacciones Multitróficas
Seed dispersal syndromes in mountain cloud forest communities, in the central region of Veracruz, México

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Published
2019-12-19
How to Cite
Velázquez-Escamilla, T. L., Díaz-Castelazo, C., Ruiz-Guerra, B., & Velázquez-Rosas, N. (2019). Seed dispersal syndromes in mountain cloud forest communities, in the central region of Veracruz, México. Botanical Sciences, 97(4), 568-578. https://doi.org/10.17129/botsci.2095