Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Ecology
Publication Date
9-2011
Volume
92
Issue
9
Disciplines
Biology | Life Sciences
Abstract
Escape from specialist natural enemies is frequently invoked to explain exotic plant invasions, but little attention has been paid to how generalist consumers in the recipient range may influence invasion. We examined how seed preferences of the widespread generalist granivore Peromyscus maniculatus related to recruitment of the strongly invasive exotic Centaurea stoebe and several weakly invasive exotics and natives by conducting laboratory feeding trials and seed addition experiments in the field. Laboratory feeding trials showed that P. maniculatus avoided consuming seeds of C. stoebe relative to the 12 other species tested, even when seeds of alternative species were 53–94% smaller than those of C. stoebe. Seed addition experiments conducted in and out of rodent exclosures revealed that weakly invasive exotics experienced relatively greater release from seed predation than C. stoebe, although this was not the case for natives. Seed mass explained 81% of the variation in recruitment associated with rodent exclusion for natives and weak invaders, with larger-seeded species benefiting most from protection from granivores. However, recruitment of C. stoebe was unaffected by rodent exclusion, even though the regression model predicted seeds of correspondingly large mass should experience substantial predation. These combined laboratory and field results suggest that generalist granivores can be an important biological filter in plant communities and that species-specific seed attributes that determine seed predation may help to explain variation in native plant recruitment and the success of exotic species invasions.
DOI
10.1890/11-0164.1
Rights
Copyright 2011 by the Ecological Society of America. Dean E. Pearson, Ragan M. Callaway, and John L. Maron 2011. Biotic resistance via granivory: establishment by invasive, naturalized, and native asters reflects generalist preference. Ecology 92:1748–1757. http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/11-0164.1.
Recommended Citation
Pearson, Dean E.; Callaway, Ragan M.; and Maron, John L., "Biotic Resistance Via Granivory: Establishment by Invasive, Naturalized, and Native Asters Reflects Generalist Preference" (2011). Biological Sciences Faculty Publications. 249.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/biosci_pubs/249
Comments
Copyright 2011 by the Ecological Society of America. Dean E. Pearson, Ragan M. Callaway, and John L. Maron 2011. Biotic resistance via granivory: establishment by invasive, naturalized, and native asters reflects generalist preference. Ecology 92:1748–1757. http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/11-0164.1.