广州大学城某校园地表水“三氮”浓度的时间变化特征及自净状态分析

氨氮(NH3-N)、亚硝酸盐氮(NO2-N)、硝酸盐氮(NO3-N)简称"三氮",是衡量水体毒理性和富营养化程度的重要指标.水中"三氮"污染主要来自含氮生活污水及工业废水排放和渗漏、农田施用氮肥等.水体"三氮"污染降低了水质,使水环境自净能力减弱,易造成水体富营养化.广州大学城位于番禺区小谷围岛,岛上以种植蔬菜和果树为主,没有工业,     

公路沿线土壤及蔬菜中多环芳烃的污染

本文介绍采用预分离—高效空心管柱(原称毛细管注)GC法—质谱法,测定公路沿线土壤和蔬菜中20多种PAHs的含量(从二个苯环—七个苯环)。其中,土壤中BaP浓度为79—3581μg/kg干重,蔬菜中为7—720μg/kg干重(下同);测定的约20种PAHs的总体最大含量为36mg/kg(土中)和8mg/kg(菜中)。在实验的基础上,初步讨论了公路交通污染与其它污染的比较;蔬菜污染与其它污染的比较以及可能对人的影响;污染土壤与蔬菜的关系;蔬菜不同部位的PAHs含量,并初步试验了不同清洗方式对蔬菜中PAHs的去除效果。     

湘中某工矿区农户菜园重金属污染分析与健康风险评价

为研究湘中某工矿区对周边农户菜园土壤和蔬菜的影响,采集矿区周边18个蔬菜样地15个品种计80个蔬菜样品,分析土壤及蔬菜中重金属Pb、Cd、Cu、Zn的含量,并采用污染指数法和健康风险评价模型对土壤和蔬菜重金属污染进行评价.研究表明,矿区蔬菜地土壤受到严重的重金属污染,Cd污染最为严重.从综合污染指数来看,蔬菜均受到中、重度污染,苋菜污染最严重.各元素在蔬菜中的富集能力大小为:Cd>Zn>Cu>Pb.重金属暴露接触对人体的风险评估结果表明,蔬菜可食部分Cd与Pb的危险度(HQ)均大于1,居民通过蔬菜途径摄入的Pb和Cd对人体健康存在较大的潜在风险.建议农户菜园在不能改制改种的情况下,种植根茎类蔬菜.     

广东省典型地区蔬菜硝酸盐与亚硝酸盐污染状况评价

研究了广东省西翼的湛江市、珠江三角洲地区的东莞市、惠州市、中山市、珠海市和佛山市顺德区等典型地区大型蔬菜生产基地中4种蔬菜148个样品中硝酸盐与亚硝酸盐的污染现状。采用国家标准(GB18406.1—2001)进行评价,在所检测的蔬菜样品中,有36.5%样品的硝酸盐含量超标,亚硝酸盐含量相对较低;以WHO/FAO规定的日允许摄入量换算得到的标准评价蔬菜的硝酸盐污染状况,污染程度严重的蔬菜样品占62.2%,中、重度污染的占16.9%,轻度污染的占20.9%。蔬菜中硝酸盐含量由高到低依次为叶菜类>瓜类>豆类>茄果类。因而有必要采取有效的污染防治措施控制该地区蔬菜中硝酸盐污染状况。     

重庆城区市售蔬菜重金属污染评价与健康风险评估

随着科技的发展,化学物质被广泛使用,重金属对蔬菜的污染与日俱增。为研究重庆城区市售蔬菜的重金属含量特征,在重庆市主城区多个农贸市场随机采集8类37种蔬菜,采用原子吸收光谱法测定其重金属Cd、Ni、Cr和Pb的含量并进行污染评价及健康风险评估,以期为重庆市的蔬菜安全生产提供参考依据和数据支撑。结果表明,蔬菜样品中Ni、Cr、Cd和Pb的平均质量分数分别为383.9、171.4、15.1和192.1μg·kg~(-1);其超标率分别为12.6%、3.9%、2.4%和51.2%,Pb超标率较严重。根据单项污染指数,蔬菜中Cd和Cr为优良状态,Ni为安全状态,而蔬菜受Pb污染的问题较为突出;其中,茎类蔬菜受到的Pb污染较为严重,属于中污染;块根类、鳞茎类、茄果类和瓜类蔬菜受Pb污染相对较轻,处于轻污染;芸薹类、豆类、叶菜类蔬菜均未受到Pb污染。通过目标危险系数(THQ)评价单一重金属产生的健康风险,结果表明,蔬菜中重金属Cd、Ni、Cr和Pb的THQ均表现为儿童中老年青壮年,4种重金属对儿童的危害较大。儿童、青壮年和中老年3类人群的总目标危险系数(TTHQ)分别为1.003、0.802和0.902,其中仅儿童的TTHQ大于1,说明儿童属于敏感人群,长期食用这些蔬菜可能带来较高的健康风险;中老年人群的TTHQ已接近风险值1,也应引起足够重视。     

不同品种蔬菜重金属污染评价和富集特征研究

运用单因子污染指数法和综合污染指数法,并通过因子分析和变异系数分析对17种不同的蔬菜品种进行了重金属污染评价和富集特征研究,以期在保证蔬菜安全生产的前提下为耕地资源的充分利用提供合理的建议。重金属污染评价结果表明,17个蔬菜品种中,污染程度处于安全的有4种:水东红灯笼脆甜芥菜(Brassica juncea(L.)Czern.et Coss.)、大坪铺大肉包心芥菜(Brassica juncea(L.)Czern.et Coss)、大坪铺中迟熟包心芥菜(Brassica juncea(L.)Czern.et Coss.)、南畔洲迟萝卜(Raphanus sativus);警戒线的有8种:四九31号油青甜菜心(Brassica campestris L.ssp.chinensis var.utilis Tsen et Lee)、70d油菜心(Brassica campestris L.ssp.chinensis var.utilis Tsen et Lee)、31号甜菜心(Brassica campestris L.ssp.chinensis var.utilis Tsen et Lee)、玉兔5号青梗小白菜(Brassica pekinensis Rupr.),如意快菜(Brassica pekinensis Rupr.)、北京小杂56(Brassica pekinensis Rupr.)、荷兰豆(Pisum sativum)、短叶13号白萝卜(Raphanus sativus);轻度污染的有2种:60 d油菜心(Brassica campestris L.ssp.chinensis var.utilis Tsen et Lee)、毛豆(Glycine max);中度污染的有2种:全年抗热油麦菜(Lactuca sativa var longifoliaf Lam.)、特选青梗莙荙菜(Beta vulgaris L.),重度污染的有1种:芫荽(Coriandrum sativum L.)。处于安全范围内的4种蔬菜品种可以作为该农田蔬菜安全生产的优选品种。因子分析表明,Cd是造成该批蔬菜重金属污染的主要因子。通过对该批蔬菜富集特征进行研究:不同品种蔬菜对Cr的富集差异较大,Cd次之,Pb、Hg和As则相对较小。17种蔬菜品种中,对Cr、Cd、Pb的富集系数最小的是萝卜1(南畔洲迟萝卜);对As富集系数最小的是芥菜1(精选水东红灯笼脆甜芥菜);对Hg富集系数最小的则有多种蔬菜,包括2种豆类(荷兰豆、毛豆)和2种萝卜(南畔迟萝卜、短叶13号白萝卜)。以上结果可以作为重金属低积累型蔬菜品种筛选的一个依据。     

镉污染土壤上偏施氮磷钾肥对蕹菜产量及镉积累的影响

为了研究偏施化肥对Cd污染区蔬菜产量和Cd含量的影响,取韶关矿区典型Cd污染菜地土壤和蔬菜品种蕹菜(Ipomoea aquatic),通过盆栽试验,在Cd1(4.0 mg·kg-1)和Cd2(8.0 mg·kg-1)2种土壤Cd污染水平下,设置CK、单倍(NPK)、双倍N(2NKP)、双倍P(N2PK)和双倍K(NP2K)共5种处理,研究偏施氮磷钾肥对土壤p H值、土壤有效态Cd含量、蔬菜产量、Cd含量及其积累量的影响。结果表明:与不施肥相比,在2种土壤Cd水平下,上述4种施肥处理均极显著(P0.01)降低土壤p H值、提高蔬菜Cd含量及其积累量和富集系数;在Cd1水平下,施双倍N和双倍P处理蔬菜产量极显著(P0.01)低于不施肥、单倍NPK和双倍K处理,幅度分别达到32.0%、25.6%、22.1%和30.8%、24.4%、20.8%。在Cd2水平下,施双倍N的蔬菜产量极显著(P0.01)低于不施肥处理22.0%,显著(P0.05)低于单倍NPK、双倍P和双倍K 16.1%、12.2%和14.5%;在5种处理下,Cd2水平的蔬菜产量均显著(P0.05)或极显著(P0.01)低于Cd1水平的。在Cd1水平下,4个施肥处理分别较不施肥处理极显著(P0.01)增加了蔬菜体内Cd含量66.7%、74.5%、56.8%和72.5%,其中以双倍N处理蔬菜Cd含量最高,但4个施肥处理间差异不显著。在Cd2水平下,4个施肥处理分别较不施肥处理极显著(P0.01)增加了蔬菜体内Cd含量72.8%、104.9%、88.9%和66.7%。4个施肥处理中以双倍N蔬菜Cd含量最高,极显著高于单倍NPK和双倍K处理18.6%和23.0%。Cd2水平中5种处理的蔬菜Cd含量均极显著(P0.01)高于Cd1水平的。由此说明,土壤Cd污染水平和施肥水平均会显著影响蔬菜产量及其Cd含量,在Cd污染的土壤应慎重施用NPK肥,特别在高Cd污染土壤上,不能偏施N肥,否则不仅会降低蔬菜产量,还会加大蔬菜Cd污染风险。     

湘中某工矿区土壤及作物砷污染特征及其健康风险评价

为研究湘中某工矿区土壤及作物砷污染特征及健康风险,采集稻田和菜园土壤及对应的糙米和蔬菜样品,测定其砷含量,评价土壤和作物砷污染特征与人类健康风险.研究结果表明,66个稻田土壤样品中,砷含量均值为91.91 mg·kg-1;18个菜园土壤样品中,均值为69.06 mg·kg-1.对应的66个糙米样品中,砷(以无机砷计)均值为0.45 mg·kg-1;61个叶菜类蔬菜样品中,砷含量均值为4.89 mg·kg-1,8个根茎类蔬菜样品中,砷含量均值为1.03 mg·kg-1.单因子污染评价结果表明,稻田土壤样品中砷轻、中、重度污染的比例分别为36.36%、15.15%、28.79%;菜园土壤为:45.45%、39.39%、15.15%;糙米为:38.89%、22.22%、33.33%.蔬菜为:8.70%、18.83%、66.67%.人类健康风险评价结果表明,糙米、叶菜类蔬菜和根茎类蔬菜的日均暴露剂量(ADD)分别为:8.57×10-4、5.43×10-4、0.28×10-4mg·kg-1·d-1,其中糙米和叶菜类蔬菜超过了美国环境保护局(USEPA)和世界卫生组织(WHO)制定的成人砷允许摄入量3×10-4mg·kg-1·d-1.糙米的危险度(HQ)为2.86,叶菜类蔬菜为1.81,根茎类蔬菜为0.09.该工矿区土壤、水稻和蔬菜均存在不同程度的砷污染,对人体健康存在较大的潜在风险.     

Cd、Pb污染对几种叶类蔬菜生长的影响及其毒害症状

通过生物盆栽试验,研究了重金属Cd、Pb污染对3种叶类蔬菜(青菜、白菜、菠菜)生长的影响.结果表明,1)重金属污染对叶类蔬菜生长的影响及毒害症状因重金属种类和蔬菜品种而异.其中青菜对Pb污染敏感性最低,仅在高浓度污染时才表现出生长抑制作用.较低浓度Cd、Pb对蔬菜生长还具有一定促进作用.青菜、白菜和菠菜体内Cd累积量与土壤中Cd投加量呈显著线性关系(r2分别为0.995、0.992、0.958);2)蔬菜在不同重金属污染浓度下的吸收和富集能力存在差异.青菜和白菜在300mg·kg-1Cd投加量时表现出最大的富集能力(p<0.05).Pb处理下,白菜Pb富集系数始终低于青菜和菠菜,青菜的最大Pb富集系数出现在Pb投加量为2900mg·kg-1时;而菠菜则在Pb投加量1500mg·kg-1时表现出最强的Pb富集能力.     

蓬莱仙界园区土壤-蔬菜系统重金属形态解析及关联特征

为了解贵阳市蓬莱仙界生态园区土壤-蔬菜系统中重金属的赋存形态及其内在的关联特征,采用Nemero综合污染指数和综合质量影响指数IICQ分析了番茄(Lycopersicon esculentum)、甘蓝(Brassica oleracea)、红油菜(Brassica napus)、豌豆(Pisum sativum)、白菜(Spinacia oleracea)、胭脂萝卜(Raphanus sativus)地土壤-蔬菜系统重金属Pb、Cr、Cd、Hg、As的综合污染状况,并依据重金属生物有效性、形态解析和富集系数对土壤-蔬菜系统中重金属的关联特征进行了表征。结果表明:土壤重金属综合污染指数为番茄地(2.98)甘蓝地(2.90)红油菜地(2.36)豌豆地(2.33)白菜地(2.18)胭脂萝卜地(1.85),番茄土壤和甘蓝土壤属于中度污染,胭脂萝卜土壤污染最轻,土壤中Hg的单因子污染指数最大,其含量高于贵州省背景值2~3倍。BCR连续分级提取结果表明:研究区Pb、Cr、Cd和As以残渣态为主,Cr、Hg和As的形态分布相似,Cd的酸可提取态占总量的比例最大,为14.81%,活性态比例大小顺序为:Hg(48.98%)Cd(44.44%)Pb(39.40%)Cr(10.37%)As(1.18%),同种元素的不同形态所占比例不同,其中,Hg、Cd和Pb的活性态含量较高,潜在危害较大。土壤-蔬菜系统重金属IICQ指数大小顺序为:番茄(3.92)红油菜(3.37)白菜(3.33)胭脂萝卜(3.32)甘蓝(3.25)豌豆(2.74),除土壤-豌豆系统属轻度污染外,其余属中度污染;蔬菜综合质量影响指数表明,番茄的IICQ_v最大,为2.50,污染最严重。番茄叶和白菜叶对Hg的富集系数均高于其他蔬菜的叶组织,不同蔬菜和不同组织部位对Pb、Cr、Cd、Hg和As的富集能力差异明显,番茄根和胭脂萝卜根对Pb的富集能力远高于茎叶,Pb主要累积在豌豆和甘蓝的茎部,其次为根部,红油菜叶和白菜叶对Pb的富集系数高于其根茎;甘蓝、白菜和红油菜富集Cd能力较高,豌豆对Cd的富集能力最弱、IICQ_V最小,受污染最轻,抵抗重金属能力最强。     

Pre-dispersal seed predation: the role of fruit abortion and selective oviposition

Oviposition sites of phytophagous insects should correlate with plant traits that maximize survival of the progeny. Plants, on the other hand, should benefit from traits and developmental patterns that complicate oviposition decisions. In the antagonistic interaction between plant and pre-dispersal seed predator the time lag between egg laying and seed development may allow for abortion of fruits in plants, potentially reducing fitness loss through predation. We studied the perennial herb Lathvrus vernus and the beetle pre-dispersal seed predator Bruchus atomarius in Sweden to determine the fitness consequences of nonrandom fruit abortion in the plant and oviposition patterns of the beetle. The beetle had a sophisticated ability to locate fruits with high probability of retention, partly by fruit position and phenology but also by some additional unidentified cue. Mortality of eggs was density dependent, but still the egg-laying pattern was clumped. We found no defensive strategy in the plant; instead the predictable fruit abortion pattern was associated with decreased plant fitness. We discuss how interactions may pose simultaneous selection pressures on plant and insect traits and how life history traits and other selective forces may shape the adaptive outcome of the interaction in plant and insect, respectively.     

Habitat patch shape, not corridors, determines herbivory and fruit production of an annual plant

Habitat corridors confer many conservation benefits by increasing movement of organisms between habitat patches, but the benefits for some species may exact costs for others. For example, corridors may increase the abundance of consumers in a habitat to the detriment of the species they consume. In this study we assessed the impact of corridors on insect herbivory of a native plant, Solanum americanum, in large-scale, experimentally fragmented landscapes. We quantified leaf herbivory and assessed fruit production as a proxy for plant fitness. We also conducted field surveys of grasshoppers (Orthoptera), a group of abundant, generalist herbivores that feed on S. americanum, and we used exclosure cages to explicitly link grasshopper herbivory to fruit production of individual S. americanum. The presence of corridors did not increase herbivory or decrease plant fruit production. Likewise, corridors did not increase grasshopper abundance. Instead, patches in our landscapes with the least amount of edge habitat and the greatest amount of warmer "core" area had the highest levels of herbivory, the largest cost to plant fruit production as a result of herbivory, and the most grasshoppers. Thus habitat quality, governed by patch shape, can be more important than connectivity for determining levels of herbivory and the impact of herbivory on plant fitness in fragmented landscapes.     

Use and Misuse of Forest-harvested Fruits in the Iquitos Area

Abstract: Of 193 fruit species observed to be regularly consumed in the region surrounding Iquitos, Peru, 120 species are exclusively wild-harvested and 19 more originate from both wild and cultivated sources. The wild-harvested fruits of 57 species belonging to 24 different plant families are sold in the Iquitos market and are very important in the economy and diets of the area Nearly half of the Iquitos fruit vendors sell wild-harvested fruits (if fruits used as vegetables or starch sources are excluded), and over half of the fruit species sold are wild-harvested Many fruit species consumed at Iquitos differ from those consumed in other parts of Amazonia Although some native fruit species are beginning to be grown as crops, the wild populations of these high-potential species are being rapidly depleted by destructive harvesting techniques as market pressure begins to build In the last few years, the availability of several of the most popular fruit species has decreased markedly. If nondestructive sustained yield harvesting of resources such as wild-harvested fruits is to play its suggested important role in tropical forest conservation, much stronger efforts will be needed to prevent destructive overharvesting of these potentially significant resources.     

Linking fruit traits to variation in predispersal vertebrate seed predation, insect seed predation, and pathogen attack

The importance of vertebrates, invertebrates, and pathogens for plant communities has long been recognized, but their absolute and relative importance in early recruitment of multiple coexisting tropical plant species has not been quantified. Further, little is known about the relationship of fruit traits to seed mortality due to natural enemies in tropical plants. To investigate the influences of vertebrates, invertebrates, and pathogens on reproduction of seven canopy plant species varying in fruit traits, we quantified reductions in fruit development and seed germination due to vertebrates, invertebrates, and fungal pathogens through experimental removal of these enemies using canopy exclosures, insecticide, and fungicide, respectively. We also measured morphological fruit traits hypothesized to mediate interactions of plants with natural enemies of seeds. Vertebrates, invertebrates, and fungi differentially affected predispersal seed mortality depending on the plant species. Fruit morphology explained some variation among species; species with larger fruit and less physical protection surrounding seeds exhibited greater negative effects of fungi on fruit development and germination and experienced reduced seed survival integrated over fruit development and germination in response to vertebrates. Within species, variation in seed size also contributed to variation in natural enemy effects on seed viability. Further, seedling growth was higher for seeds that developed in vertebrate exclosures for Anacardium excelsum and under the fungicide treatment for Castilla elastica, suggesting that predispersal effects of natural enemies may carry through to the seedling stage. This is the first experimental test of the relative effects of vertebrates, invertebrates, and pathogens on seed survival in the canopy. This study motivates further investigation to determine the generality of our results for plant communities. If there is strong variation in natural enemy attack among species related to differences in fruit morphology, then quantification of fruit traits will aid in predicting the outcomes of interactions between plants and their natural enemies. This is particularly important in tropical forests, where high species diversity makes it logistically impossible to study every plant life history stage of every species.     

余甘子资源植物的研究与开发进展

从开发天然功能保健食(药)品的角度,总结了分布于我国南方各省的资源植物余甘子(滇橄榄,Phyllanthus emblica)的生物学、植物地理学、传统草药学、药理学、植物化学等的研究与开发进展,包括作者实验室近年开展的有关余甘子果汁澄清和果酒"去沉淀"的微生物酶法加工技术部分内容,以及引人关注的余甘子果植物多酚提取物及其在美白护肤品新用途的开发,讨论了金沙江干热河谷地域余甘子农业栽培的可行性.最后展望了余甘子这种药食两用资源植物的应用前景及研究与开发趋势.     

Trait-mediated effects on flowers: artificial spiders deceive pollinators and decrease plant fitness

Although predators can affect foraging behaviors of floral visitors, rarely is it known if these top-down effects of predators may cascade to plant fitness through trait-mediated interactions. In this study we manipulated artificial crab spiders on flowers of Rubus rosifolius to test the effects of predation risk on flower-visiting insects and strength of trait-mediated indirect effects to plant fitness. In addition, we tested which predator traits (e.g., forelimbs, abdomen) are recognized and avoided by pollinators. Total visitation rate was higher for control flowers than for flowers with an artificial crab spider. In addition, flowers with a sphere (simulating a spider abdomen) were more frequently visited than those with forelimbs or the entire spider model. Furthermore, the presence of artificial spiders decreased individual seed set by 42% and fruit biomass by 50%. Our findings indicate that pollinators, mostly bees, recognize and avoid flowers with predation risk; forelimbs seem to be the predator trait recognized and avoided by hymenopterans. Additionally, predator avoidance by pollinators resulted in pollen limitation, thereby affecting some components of plant fitness (fruit biomass and seed number). Because most pollinator species that recognized predation risk visited many other plant species, trait-mediated indirect effects of spiders cascading down to plant fitness may be a common phenomenon in the Atlantic rainforest ecosystem.     

天然沸石对土壤镉及番茄生物量的影响

为了探索沸石对轻度镉污染土壤的修复效果及对番茄生长的影响,利用盆栽试验研究了不同沸石添加量及不同沸石粒级等因素对不同生长时期番茄(Solanum lycopersicum)植株生物量、果实产量和土壤镉质量分数的影响。结果表明,添加沸石均不同程度地提高不同生长期番茄地上部生物量和果实产量;每千克土壤添加10 g的大粒级(MX)沸石使得土壤全镉和有效镉增加最多,同时也使番茄果实增产最多,每千克土壤添加18 g的小粒级(MN)沸石使得土壤全镉质量分数有所降低,土壤有效镉质量分数增加最少,同时也可使番茄果实增产42.9%以上。小粒级(MN)沸石为削减土壤重金属镉的最佳沸石粒级,18 g.kg-1为削减土壤重金属镉的最佳沸石添加量。     

The effects of compost prepared from waste material of banana on the growth, yield and quality properties of banana plants

Three doses (15-30-45 kg plant(-1)) of the compost prepared from the clone of Dwarf cavendish banana were compared with farmyard manure (50 kg plant(-1)), mineral fertilizers (180 g N+ 150 g P +335 g K plant(-1)) and farmyard manure+ mineral fertilizers (25 kg FM+ 180 g N+ 150 g P +335 g K plant(-1)) which determined positive effects on the growth, yield and fruit quality characteristics of banana plants. The banana plants were grown under a heated glasshouse and in a soil with physical and chemical properties are suitable for banana growing. The contents of N, P, K and Mg in compost and in farmyard manure were found to be similar. Farmyard manure, farmyard manure + mineral fertilizers and 45 kg plant(-1) of compost increased growth, yield and fruit quality characteristics. According to obtained results, 45 kg plant(-1) of compost was determined more suitable in terms of economical production and organic farming than the other fertilizer types.     

The effects of compost prepared from waste material of banana plants on the nutrient contents of banana leaves

In this study, the possible utilization of removed shoots and plant parts of banana as compost after fruit harvest were investigated. Three doses (15-30-45 kg plan(-1)) of the compost prepared from the clone of Dwarf Cavendish banana were compared with Farmyard manure (50 kg plant(-1), Mineral fertilizers (180 g N + 150 g P + 335 g K plant(-1)) and Farmyard manure + Mineral fertilizers (25 kg FM + 180 g N + 150 g P + 335 g K plant(-1)) which determined positive effects on the nutrient contents of banana leaves. The banana plants were grown under a heated glasshouse and in a soil with physical and chemical properties suitable for banana growing. The contents of N, P, K and Mg in compost and in farmyard manure were found to be similar. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium contents of leaves in all applications except control, and Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu contents in all applications were determined between optimum levels of reference values. There were positive correlations among some nutrient contents of leaves, growth, yield and fruit quality characteristics. Farmyard manure, Farmyard manure + Mineral fertilizers and 45 kg plant(-1) of compost increased the nutrient contents of banana leaves. According to obtained results, 45 kg plant(-1) of compost was determined more suitable in terms of economical production and organic farming than the other fertiliser types.     

Neighborhood effects on seed dispersal by frugivores: testing theory with a mistletoe-marsupial system in Patagonia

The outcome of the dispersal process in zoochorous plants is largely determined by the behavior of frugivorous animals. Recent simulation studies have found that fruit removal rates and mean dispersal distances are strongly affected by fruiting plant neighborhoods. We empirically tested the effects of conspecific fruiting plant neighborhoods, crop sizes, and plant accessibility on fruit removal rates and seed dispersal distances of a mistletoe species exclusively dispersed by an arboreal marsupial in Northern Patagonia. Moreover, in this study, we overcome technical limitations in the empirical estimation of seed dispersal by using a novel 15N stable isotope enrichment technique together with Bayesian mixing models that allowed us to identify dispersed seeds from focal plants without the need of extensive genotyping. We found that, as predicted by theory, plants in denser neighborhoods had greater fruit removal and shorter mean dispersal distances than more isolated plants. Furthermore, the probability of dispersing seeds farther away decreased with neighborhood density. Larger crop sizes resulted in larger fruit removal rates and smaller probabilities of longer distance dispersal. The interplay between frugivore behavioral decisions and the spatial distribution of plants could have important consequences for plant spatial dynamics.