Endozoochory by Goats of Two Invasive Weeds with Contrasted Propagule Traits

Ahmed M. Abbas, Mohammed Al-Kahtani, Mohamed Abdelazeem Mousa, Mohammed O. Badry, Ahmed S.A. Hassaneen, Ahmed Ezzat-Ahmed, Juan Manuel Mancilla-Leytón and Jesús M. Castillo
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Ahmed M. Abbas: Department of Biology, College of Science, King Khalid University, 61413, Abha 62529, Saudi Arabia
Mohammed Al-Kahtani: Department of Biology, College of Science, King Khalid University, 61413, Abha 62529, Saudi Arabia
Mohamed Abdelazeem Mousa: Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, South Valley University, 83523 Qena, Egypt
Mohammed O. Badry: Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, South Valley University, 83523 Qena, Egypt
Ahmed S.A. Hassaneen: Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, South Valley University, 83523 Qena, Egypt
Ahmed Ezzat-Ahmed: Department of Biology, College of Science, King Khalid University, 61413, Abha 62529, Saudi Arabia
Juan Manuel Mancilla-Leytón: Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, C.P. 41080, 41004 Sevilla, Spain
Jesús M. Castillo: Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, C.P. 41080, 41004 Sevilla, Spain

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 13, 1-11

Abstract: Invasive plants have very important ecological and socioeconomic impacts. Producing and dispersing many viable seeds are key plant functional traits for invaders. Ungulate grazing plays an important role in the endozoochorous seed dispersal within grasslands and rangelands. Grazing can be applied as a practical and economical control method for plant invasions. We analyzed the effects of seed passage through the goat digestive system on the germination and viability for Sorghum halepense and Malva parviflora , common invasive species with contrasted propagules and seed traits. Both studied species produced seeds able to survive, in a small percentages (c. 0.80–1.70%), after being eaten by goats. Most of the seeds (c. 40–55%) of both species were retrieved between 24–48 h after ingestion. Goat passage provoked a decrease (> 60%) in the germination percentage and seed viability of S. halepense that was higher with longer gut retention times. In M. parviflora , the goat gut passage did not break its primary physical dormancy, since no retrieved seed germinated with similar viability as the uneaten seeds (c. 90%). In view of our results, goat grazing can be applied as a useful method to control S. halepense and M. parviflora invasions. Goats should be kept in corrals for at least 4 days after grazing to prevent transferring viable seeds to uninfected areas.

Keywords: alien species; germination; gut passage; herbivory; Mediterranean climate; seed viability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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