Removal of acorns of the alien oak Quercus rubra on the ground by scatter-hoarding animals in Belgian forests

Description of the subject. Quercus rubra L. is considered an invasive species in several European countries. However, little is known about its dispersal in the introduced range. Objectives. We investigated the significance of animal dispersal of Q. rubra acorns on the ground by vertebrates in its introduced range, and identified the animal species involved. Method. During two consecutive autumns, the removal of acorns from Q. rubra and from a native oak was assessed weekly in forest sites in Belgium. We used automated detection camera traps to identify the animals that removed acorns. Result... Mehr ...

Verfasser: Merceron, NR.
De Langhe, A.
Dubois, H.
Garin, O.
Gerarts, F.
Jacquemin, F.
Balligand, B.
Otjacques, M.
Sabbe, T.
Servranckx, M.
Wautelet, S.
Kremer, A.
Porté, AJ.
Monty, A.
Dokumenttyp: Artikel
Erscheinungsdatum: 2017
Reihe/Periodikum: Biotechnologie, Agronomie, Société et Environnement, Vol 21, Iss 2, Pp 127-130 (2017)
Verlag/Hrsg.: Presses Agronomiques de Gembloux
Schlagwörter: Quercus rubra / Quercus robur / seed dispersal / Rodentia / invasive species / acorns / Belgium / Biotechnology / TP248.13-248.65 / Environmental sciences / GE1-350
Sprache: Englisch
Französisch
Permalink: https://search.fid-benelux.de/Record/base-26501316
Datenquelle: BASE; Originalkatalog
Powered By: BASE
Link(s) : https://doaj.org/article/97303671fc8e454c92f158973abaa528

Description of the subject. Quercus rubra L. is considered an invasive species in several European countries. However, little is known about its dispersal in the introduced range. Objectives. We investigated the significance of animal dispersal of Q. rubra acorns on the ground by vertebrates in its introduced range, and identified the animal species involved. Method. During two consecutive autumns, the removal of acorns from Q. rubra and from a native oak was assessed weekly in forest sites in Belgium. We used automated detection camera traps to identify the animals that removed acorns. Results. Quercus rubra acorns were removed by wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus L.), red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris L.), rats (Rattus sp.), and wild boars (Sus scrofa L.). The two former are scatter-hoarding rodents and can be considered potential dispersers. Conclusions. Dispersal of Q. rubra acorns in Western Europe by scatter-hoarding animals may help the species increasingly colonize forest ecosystems.