Journal article
Scatter-hoarding of Cape Proteaceae nuts by rodents
Evolutionary Ecology Research, Vol.4, pp.623-626
2002
Abstract
Most large-seeded shrubs and trees from Mediterranean shrublands are either serotinous (canopy stored seeds) or myrmecochorous (ant-buried). It has been hypothesized that these traits evolved to prevent access to the seeds by rodents. Here we present the first field evidence of a third guild, scatter-hoarding of nuts in the genus Leucadendron (Proteaceae) from the south-west Cape. The rodent concerned is Acomys subspinosus, a small (< 20 g) south-west Cape endemic murid. Seeds are typically buried singly, less than 2 cm deep and at distances of up to 5 m from seed depots. This finding has implications for the understanding of the evolution of myrmecochory and serotiny in shrublands. It extends the evolution of cached-nuts to a new family and is one of the first records of scatter-hoarding, outside of forests, in the southern hemisphere.
Details
- Title
- Scatter-hoarding of Cape Proteaceae nuts by rodents
- Authors/Creators
- J. Midgley (Author/Creator)B. Anderson (Author/Creator)A. Bok (Author/Creator)T. Fleming (Author/Creator)
- Publication Details
- Evolutionary Ecology Research, Vol.4, pp.623-626
- Publisher
- Evolutionary Ecology Ltd
- Identifiers
- 991005545386507891
- Copyright
- The authors
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Murdoch University
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publisher URL
- http://www.evolutionary-ecology.com/v1.html
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