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Endozoochorous seed dispersal potential of grey geese Anser spp. in Hortobágy National Park, Hungary

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Abstract

Recent studies found that endozoochorous seed dispersal by waterfowl is an important dispersal strategy for numerous plants. With a germination experiment, we evaluated the endozoochorous dispersal potential of the endangered Lesser White-fronted Goose (LWfG, Anser erythropus) and larger goose species (A. anser and A. albifrons) in their autumn and spring staging areas (Hortobágy, East Hungary). We tested the following hypotheses: (1) the amount and species composition of germinable seeds in the droppings of the habitat specialist LWfG and generalist larger goose species have a different species composition, (2) droppings contain less germinable seeds and less species in spring than in autumn, when most species disperse their seeds. We collected droppings of LWfG and larger goose species in their feeding habitats in spring and autumn staging areas. Droppings were concentrated and germinated on trays filled with steam-sterilised soil in a greenhouse. LWfG dispersed more species typical to alkali habitats and lower amounts of weeds compared to larger goose species, which confirmed our first hypothesis. We recorded higher total species numbers and species number of annuals, wetland species and weeds in autumn, which supported our second hypothesis. We found that the studied goose species used a wide range of feeding habitats; thus, they can play an important role in dispersing seeds between a range of habitats which they use for feeding. Based on the seed content of the droppings, LWfG is confined to natural habitats; thus, for the effective protection of this vulnerable species, it is crucial to preserve natural feeding habitats in their staging areas.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to colleagues of the Hortobágy National Park Directorate, J. Tar, T. Zalai and Z. Kun for their help in sample collection and providing information on the locality of the feeding habitats. We are thankful to B. Deák, T. Gábor, R. Horváth, A. Kelemen, P. Török and B. Tóthmérész for their useful advices. We are grateful to A. J. Green and an anonymous Reviewer for their constructive comments and improvements on the manuscript. This publication was partially supported by EU Life+ “Safeguarding the Lesser White-fronted Goose Fennoscandian population in key wintering and staging sites within the European flyway” (LIFE10 NAT/GR/000638). The publication was supported by OTKA PD 111807 and OTKA K 116639. O.V. was supported by the Bolyai János Research Fellowship from the Hungarian Academy of Sciences during manuscript preparation. The publication was supported by the SROP-4.2.2.B-15/1/KONV-2015-0001 project. The project has been supported by the European Union, co-financed by the European Social Fund.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary

    Katalin Tóth

  2. Hortobágy National Park Directorate, Sumen utca, 2, Debrecen, 4024, Hungary

    Dávid Bogyó

  3. MTA-DE Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Research Group, Egyetem tér 1, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary

    Orsolya Valkó

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  1. Katalin Tóth
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  2. Dávid Bogyó
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Correspondence to Orsolya Valkó.

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Communicated by Thomas Abeli.

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Tóth, K., Bogyó, D. & Valkó, O. Endozoochorous seed dispersal potential of grey geese Anser spp. in Hortobágy National Park, Hungary. Plant Ecol 217, 1015–1024 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-016-0627-4

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