Dispersal of Camellia japonica seeds by Apodemus speciosus revealed by maternity analysis of plants and behavioral observation of animal vectors

摘要: Seed dispersal determines a plant’s reproductive success, range expansion, and population genetic structures. Camellia japonica, common evergreen tree in Japan, has been the subject of recent studies structure, but its mode seed assumed, without detailed study, to be barochory. The morphological physiological features C. japonica seeds, which are large nutritious, suggest zoochorous dispersal, however. We compared actual distances between mother trees seedlings with attributable gravity dispersion only, test zoochory hypothesis japonica. animals that transport seeds for caching were identified experimentally. also examined extent is affected by behavior animal vectors. Apodemus speciosus was confirmed taking photographs consuming experimentally deposited on ground. hoarded rodents under litter or soil protected from drying. On basis microsatellite analysis maternal tissue coat, 28 identified. Maternity revealed average seed-dispersal distance 5.8 m±6.0 SD, greater than initial alone. These results indicate species dispersed A. speciosus. Fifty percent occurred mature forests dwarf bamboo thickets. This directional would contribute expansion Home sizes 0.85 ha at most covered different types vegetation, grassland. low specificity their microhabitat use might enhance vegetation.