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Seed Predation on Oil-Polluted and Unpolluted Vachellia (Acacia) Trees in a Hyper-Arid Desert Ecosystem

2020-09Journal article Open access
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dc.contributor.authorFerrante, Marco
dc.contributor.authorMöller, Daniella M.
dc.contributor.authorMöller, Gabriella M.
dc.contributor.authorLubin, Yael
dc.contributor.authorSegoli, Michal
dc.date.accessioned2021-03-10T17:23:01Z
dc.date.available2021-03-10T17:23:01Z
dc.date.issued2020-09
dc.description.abstractAcacia trees are keystone species in many arid environments, supporting high levels of plant and animal diversity. In Israel, the populations of Vachellia (formerly Acacia) tortilis (Forssk.) and V. raddiana (Savi) are declining at an alarming rate. Severe infestations by bruchid beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) are among the major causes of seed mortality, but additional environmental stressors can reduce the defence level of the seeds, exacerbating their susceptibility to predators. In a hyper-arid desert ecosystem affected by two major oil spills (in 1975 and 2014), we quantified seed predation rates caused by insect granivores before and after the pods dropped to the ground. We recorded predation rates of up to 84% for both tree species, and higher predation rates at the ground level than in the canopy, suggesting that repeated infestations occur. These results reinforce the call to protect the populations of large ungulates such as gazelles, which kill the bruchids by feeding upon the pods, and promote seed germination and dispersion. We found no clear evidence of a negative effect of the oil spill on seed predation, indicating that oil pollution did not increase the vulnerability of the seeds to granivores even in trees affected by the recent oil spill.en
dc.description.sponsorshipJacob Blaustein Center for Scientific Cooperationpt_PT
dc.description.versioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionpt_PT
dc.identifier.citationFerrante, M., Möller, D.M., Möller, G.M., Lubin, Y., Segoli, M. (2020) Seed predation on oil-polluted and unpolluted Vachellia (Acacia) trees in a hyper-arid desert ecosystem. Insects, 11(10), 665. DOI:10.3390/insects11100665en
dc.identifier.doi10.3390/insects11100665pt_PT
dc.identifier.issn2075-4450
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10400.3/5776
dc.identifier.wos000585294100001
dc.language.isoengpt_PT
dc.peerreviewedyespt_PT
dc.publisherMDPIpt_PT
dc.relation.publisherversionhttps://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/11/10/665pt_PT
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/pt_PT
dc.subjectBruchidpt_PT
dc.subjectEcological Functionsen
dc.subjectEvrona Nature Reserveen
dc.subjectGerminationen
dc.subjectOil Spillen
dc.titleSeed Predation on Oil-Polluted and Unpolluted Vachellia (Acacia) Trees in a Hyper-Arid Desert Ecosystemen
dc.typejournal article
dspace.entity.typePublication
oaire.citation.conferencePlaceSwitzerlanden
oaire.citation.endPage9pt_PT
oaire.citation.issue(10)pt_PT
oaire.citation.startPage1pt_PT
oaire.citation.titleInsectspt_PT
oaire.citation.volume11pt_PT
person.familyNameFerrante
person.familyNameMöller
person.familyNameMöller
person.givenNameMarco
person.givenNameDaniella
person.givenNameGabriella M.
person.identifier.ciencia-id8916-9616-590E
person.identifier.orcid0000-0003-2421-396X
person.identifier.orcid0000-0003-4045-7497
person.identifier.orcid0000-0003-2364-8996
rcaap.rightsopenAccesspt_PT
rcaap.typearticlept_PT
relation.isAuthorOfPublication218af93d-de46-43d4-9391-b85b0d47e58c
relation.isAuthorOfPublication10c1fd36-d5ed-41ce-9d4a-c8f0dba1f6d7
relation.isAuthorOfPublicationaae9a35b-109d-4d6d-affe-8602aaead516
relation.isAuthorOfPublication.latestForDiscoveryaae9a35b-109d-4d6d-affe-8602aaead516

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