Abstract
The impact of small scale disturbances on the early seedling performance components of Helleborus foetidus (Ranunculaceae) was studied through a transplant experiment. The aims of this study were: (i) to determine if the herbivory pattern depends on microsite disturbance, by the analysis of two of its components, seedling encounter (the probability of at least one seedling being harmed) and seedling exploitation (the proportion of seedling tissue removed once encountered); (ii) to test if seedlings of H. foetidus in disturbed microsites will survive in a greater proportion than seedlings in undisturbed microsites; (iii) to investigate if seedling survival is correlated with the degree of herbivory. Microsite disturbances had a large effect on the herbivory pattern. Seedlings growing in undisturbed vegetation had a 2-fold higher likelihood of being grazed and suffered 1.38-fold higher damage than those growing in disturbed plots. At the end of this experiment, after fourteen months, only 10.4% of the seedlings transplanted were still alive due to seedling desiccation, but no differences on seedling survival were found between disturbed and undisturbed plots. The effect of herbivory and the interactive effect of herbivory and disturbance on seedling survival only reached statistical significance dependent upon site. We concluded that although small scale disturbances had a large impact on herbivory patterns; they had only a minor role in the early seedling survival of H. foetidus. Only locally, small scale disturbances showed an effect on seedling survival through herbivory. Abiotic factors like summer drought and spatial variations determined the early survival of H. foetidus seedlings to a major extent.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
M.O. Aguilera W.K. Lauenroth (1993) ArticleTitleSeedling establishment in adult neighbourhoods – intraspecific constrains in the regeneration of the bunchgrass Bouteloua gracilis J. Ecol. 81 253–261
M.O. Aguilera W.K. Lauenroth (1995) ArticleTitleInfluence of gap disturbances and type of microsites on seedling establishment in Bouteloua gracilis J. Ecol. 83 87–97
C.C. Bennington W.V. Thayne (1994) ArticleTitleUse and misuse of mixed model analysis of variance in ecological studies Ecology 75 717–722
J.M. Bullock (2000) Gaps and seedling colonization M. Fenner (Eds) Seeds. The Ecology of Regeneration in Plant Communities, 2nd ed CABI Publishing Wallingford 375–395
J.M. Bullock B. Clear Hill J. Silverton M. Sutton (1995) ArticleTitleGap colonization as a source of grassland community change: effects of gap size and grazing on the rate and mode of colonization by different species Oikos 72 273–282
J.F. Cahill B.B. Casper (2002) ArticleTitleCanopy gaps are sites of reduced belowground plant competition in a productive old field Plant Ecol. 164 29–36 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1021228204599
D.F. Cipollini J. Bergelson (2001) ArticleTitlePlant density and nutrient availability constrain constitutive and wound-induced expression of trypsin inhibitors in Brassica napus L J. Chem. Ecol. 27 593–610 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1010384805014 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXksleitb4%3D Occurrence Handle11441448
D.F. Cipollini J. Bergelson (2002) ArticleTitleInterspecific competition affects growth and herbivore damage of Brassica napus in the field Plant Ecol. 162 227–231 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1020377627529
InstitutionalAuthorNameConsejería de Medio Ambiente (2001) Informe de Medio Ambiente en Andalucía 2000 Anexo I: Estadísticas Consejería de Medio AmbienteJunta de Andalucía SevillaSpain
InstitutionalAuthorNameConsejería de Medio Ambiente (2002) Informe de Medio Ambiente en Andalucía 2001 Anexo I: Estadísitcas Consejería de Medio AmbienteJunta de Andalucía SevillaSpain
J.S. Denslow (1987) ArticleTitleTropical rain forest gaps and tree species diversity Ann. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 18 431–451 Occurrence Handle10.1146/annurev.es.18.110187.002243
L. Dinan T. Savchenko P. Whiting (2002) ArticleTitleChemotaxonomic significance of ecdysteroid agonist and antagonist in the Ranunculaceae: phytoecdysteroids in the genera HelleborusHepatica Biochem. Syst. Ecol. 30 171–182 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0305-1978(01)00068-0 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38Xms1amsg%3D%3D
P.J. Edwards S.D. Wratten E.A. Parker (1992) ArticleTitleThe ecological significance of rapid wound-induced changes in plant: insect grazing and plant competition Oecologia 91 266–272 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00317795
J.M. Fedriani P.J. Rey J.L. Garrido J. Guitián C.M. Herrera M. Medrano A.M. Sánchez-Lafuente X. Cerdá (2004) ArticleTitleGeographical variation in the potential of mice to constrain an ant–seed dispersal mutualism Oikos 105 181–191 Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.0030-1299.2004.12782.x
Fenner M. 1987. Seedlings. New Phytol. 106(Suppl.): 35–47.
J. Fernández Casas R. Gamarra (1991) ArticleTitleAsientos para un Atlas Corológico de la Flora Occidental Fontqueria 31 219–284
P. García-Fayos M. Verdú (1998) ArticleTitleSoil seed bank, factors controlling germination and establishment of a Mediterranean shurb: Pistacia lentiscus L Acta Oecol. 19 357–366 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S1146-609X(98)80040-4
J.L. Garrido (2003) Semillas y plántulas de Helleborus foetidus L. (Ranunculaceae): Variación geográficaecología y evolución Universidad de Jaén Jaén
J.L. Garrido P.J. Rey X. Cerdá C.M. Herrera (2002) ArticleTitleGeographical variation in diaspore traits of an ant-dispersed plant (Helleborus foetidus): are ant community composition and diaspore traits correlated? J. Ecol. 90 446–455 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1365-2745.2002.00675.x
P.A. Hambäck A.P. Beckerman (2003) ArticleTitleHerbivory and plant resource competition: a review of two interacting interactions Oikos 101 26–37 Occurrence Handle10.1034/j.1600-0706.2003.12568.x
M.E. Hanley M. Fenner P.J. Edwards (1996) ArticleTitleThe effect of mollusc grazing on seedling recruitment in artificially created grassland gaps Oecologia 106 240–246 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00328604
J. Herrera (1997) ArticleTitleEffects of disturbances on the reproductive potential of Lavandula stoechasa Mediterranean sclerophyllous shurb Ecography 20 88–95
C.M. Herrera (2000) ArticleTitleIndividual differences in progeny viability in Lavandula latifolia: a long-term field study Ecology 81 3036–3047
C.M. Herrera (2002a) ArticleTitleCensusing natural microgametophyte population: variable spatial mosaics and extreme fine-graininess in winter-flowering Helleborus foetidus (Ranunculaceae) Am. J. Bot. 89 1570–1578
C.M. Herrera (2002b) ArticleTitleTopsoil properties and seedling recruitment in Lavandula latifolia: stage-dependence and spatial decoupling of influential parameters Oikos 97 260–270 Occurrence Handle10.1034/j.1600-0706.2002.970212.x
C.M. Herrera X. Cerdá M.B. García J. Guitián M. Medrano P. Rey A.M. Sánchez-Lafuente (2002a) ArticleTitleFloral integration, phenotypic covariance structure and pollinator variation in bumblebee-pollinated Helleborus foetidus J. Evolut. Biol. 15 108–121 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1420-9101.2002.00365.x
C.M. Herrera P. Jordano L. López-Soria J.A. Amat (1994) ArticleTitleRecruitment of a mast-fruiting, bird-dispersed tree: bridging frugivore activity and seedling establishment Ecol. Monogr. 64 315–344
C.M. Herrera M. Medrano P.J. Rey A. Sánchez-Lafuente M.B. Garcia J. Guitián A.J. Manzaneda (2002b) ArticleTitleInteractions of pollinators and herbivores on plant fitness suggest a pathway for correlated evolution of mutualism- and antagonism-related traits Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 99 16823–16828 Occurrence Handle10.1073/pnas.252362799 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXhvV2gsA%3D%3D
C.M. Herrera A. Sánchez-Lafuente M. Medrano J. Guitián X. Cerdá P. Rey (2001) ArticleTitleGeographical variation in autonomous self-pollination levels unrelated to pollinator service in Helleborus foetidus (Ranunculaceae) Am. J. Bot. 88 1025–1032 Occurrence Handle11410466
J. Hjalten K. Danell L. Ericson (1993) ArticleTitleEffect of simulated herbivory and intraspecific competition on the compensatory ability of juvenile birches Ecology 74 1136–1142
H.F. Howe (1990) ArticleTitleSurvival and growth of juvenile Virola surinamensis in Panama: effects of herbivory and canopy closure J. Trop. Ecol. 6 259–280
P. Huante E. Ricon M. Gabito (1992) ArticleTitleRoot system analysis of seedling of seven tree species from a tropical dry forest in Mexico Trees – Struct. Funct. 6 77–82
P.E. Hulme (1994) ArticleTitleSeedling herbivory in grassland: relative impact of vertebrate and invertebrate herbivores J. Ecol. 82 873–880
K. Kitajima M. Fenner (2000) Ecology of seedling regeneration M. Fenner (Eds) Seeds. The Ecology of Regeneration in Plant Communities, 2nd ed CABI Publishing Wallingford 331–359
G. Laska (2001) ArticleTitleThe disturbance and vegetation dynamics: a review and alternative framework Plant Ecol. 157 77–99 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1013760320805
S. Lavorel (1999) ArticleTitleEcological diversity and resilience of Mediterranean vegetation to disturbance Diver. Distribut. 5 3–13 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1472-4642.1999.00033.x
S. Lavorel J. Lepart M. Debussche J. Lebreton J. Beffy (1994) ArticleTitleSmall scale disturbances and the maintenance of species diversity in Mediterranean old fields Oikos 70 455–473
P. Legendre (1993) ArticleTitleSpatial autocorrelation: trouble or new paradigm? Ecology 74 1659–1673
P. Legendre L. Legendre (1998) Numerical Ecology Elsevier Science B.V. Amsterdam
R.C. Littell G.A. Milliken W.W. Stroup R.D. Wolfinger (1996) SAS System for Mixed Model SAS Institute Cary, North CarolinaUSA
J.L. Maron (1997) ArticleTitleInterspecific competition and insect herbivory reduce bush lupine (Lupinus arboreus) seedling survival Oecologia 110 284–290 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s004420050161
J.N. Mills (1983) ArticleTitleHerbivory and seedlings establishment in post-fire southern California chaparral Oecologia 60 267–270 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00379531
T.G. O’Connor (1996) ArticleTitleHierarchical control over seedling recruitment of the bunch-grass Themeda triandra in a semi-arid savanna J. Appl. Ecol. 33 1094–1106
S.T.A Pickett P.S. White (1985) The Ecology of Natural Disturbance and Patch Dynamics Academic Press New York
R.J. Reader (1992) ArticleTitleHerbivory as a confounding factor in an experiment measuring competition among plants Ecology 73 373–376
M. Rees V.K. Brown (1992) ArticleTitleInteractions between invertebrate herbivores and plant competition J. Ecol. 80 353–360
P.J. Rey J.M. Alcántara (2000) ArticleTitleRecruitment dynamics of a fleshy-fruited plant (Oleae europaea): connecting patterns of seed dispersal to seedling establishment J. Ecol. 88 622–633 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1365-2745.2000.00472.x
J.M. Rey Benayas A. López-Pintor C. García N. La Cámara R. Strasser A. Gómez Sal (2002) ArticleTitleEarly establishment of planted Retama sphaerocarpa seedlings under different levels of lightwater and weed competition Plant Ecol. 159 201–209 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1015562623751
K.J. Rice (1987) ArticleTitleInteraction of disturbance patch size and herbivory in Erodium colonization Ecology 68 1113–1115
O. Rousset J. Lepart (2002) ArticleTitleNeighbourhood effects on the risk of an unpalatable plant being grazed Plant Ecol. 165 197–206 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1022259905649
P. Ryser (1993) ArticleTitleInfluence of neighbouring plants on seedling establishment in limestone grassland J. Vegetat. Sci. 4 195–202
J. Silvertown J. Bullock (2003) ArticleTitleDo seedlings in gaps interact? A field test of assumptions in ESS seed size models Oikos 101 499–504 Occurrence Handle10.1034/j.1600-0706.2003.12247.x
J. Silvertown B. Smith (1988) ArticleTitleGaps in the canopy: the missing dimension in vegetation dynamics Vegetation 77 56–60 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00045750
C. Thébaud A.C. Finzi L. Affre M. Debussche J. Escarre (1996) ArticleTitleAssessing why two introduced Conyza differ in their ability to invade Mediterranean old fields Ecology 77 791–804
E.M. Veenendaal M.D. Swaine V.K. Agyeman D. Blay I.K. Avebresse C.E. Mullins (1996) ArticleTitleDifferences in plant and soil water relations in and around a forest gap in West Africa during the dry season may influence seedling establishment and survival J. Ecol. 84 83–90
K. Werner F. Ebel (1994) ArticleTitleZur Lebensgeschichte der Gattung Helleborus L. (Ranunculaceae) Flora 189 97–130
J.L. Yela C.M. Herrera (1993) ArticleTitleSeasonality and life cycles of woody plant-feeding noctuid moths (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Mediterranean habitats Ecol. Entomol. 18 259–269
M.A. Zavala J.M. Espelta J. Retana (2000) ArticleTitleConstraints and trade-offs in the Mediterranean plant communities: the case of holm-oak–aleppo pine forest Bot. Rev. 66 119–149
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Manzaneda, A.J., Sperens, U. & García, M.B. Effects of microsite disturbances and herbivory on seedling performance in the perennial herb Helleborus foetidus (Ranunculaceae). Plant Ecol 179, 73–82 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-004-5799-7
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-004-5799-7