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Waterfowl endozoochory: An overlooked long-distance dispersal mode for Cuscuta (dodder).
Costea, Mihai; Stefanovic, Sasa; García, Miguel A; De La Cruz, Susan; Casazza, Michael L; Green, Andy J.
Afiliación
  • Costea M; Department of Biology, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3C5, Canada mcostea@wlu.ca.
  • Stefanovic S; Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario L5L 1C6, Canada.
  • García MA; Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario L5L 1C6, Canada.
  • De La Cruz S; U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, San Francisco Bay Estuary Field Station, 505 Azuar Drive, Vallejo, California 94592 .SA.
  • Casazza ML; U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, 800 Business Park Drive, Dixon, California 95620 .SA.
  • Green AJ; Wetland Ecology Department, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Sevilla 41092 Spain.
Am J Bot ; 103(5): 957-62, 2016 05.
Article en En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27208362
PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Dispersal of parasitic Cuscuta species (dodders) worldwide has been assumed to be largely anthropomorphic because their seeds do not match any previously known dispersal syndrome and no natural dispersal vectors have been reliably documented. However, the genus has a subcosmopolitan distribution and recent phylogeographic results have indicated that at least18 historical cases of long-distance dispersal (LDD) have occurred during its evolution. The objective of this study is to report the first LDD biological vector for Cuscuta seeds. METHODS: Twelve northern pintails (Anas acuta) were collected from Suisun Marsh, California and the contents of their lowest part of the large intestine (rectum) were extracted and analyzed. Seed identification was done both morphologically and using a molecular approach. Extracted seeds were tested for germination and compared to seeds not subjected to gut passage to determine the extent of structural changes caused to the seed coat by passing through the digestive tract. KEY RESULTS: Four hundred and twenty dodder seeds were found in the rectum of four northern pintails. From these, 411 seeds were identified as Cuscuta campestris and nine as most likely C. pacifica. The germination rate of C. campestris seeds after gut passage was 55%. Structural changes caused by the gut passage in both species were similar to those caused by an acid scarification. CONCLUSIONS: Endozoochory by waterbirds may explain the historical LDD cases in the evolution of Cuscuta. This also suggests that current border quarantine measures may be insufficient to stopping spreading of dodder pests along migratory flyways.
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Texto completo: 1 Colección: 01-internacional Base de datos: MEDLINE Asunto principal: Aves de Corral / Cuscuta / Conducta Alimentaria / Dispersión de Semillas Tipo de estudio: Prognostic_studies Límite: Animals Idioma: En Revista: Am J Bot Año: 2016 Tipo del documento: Article País de afiliación: Canadá Pais de publicación: Estados Unidos
Texto completo
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Texto completo: 1 Colección: 01-internacional Base de datos: MEDLINE Asunto principal: Aves de Corral / Cuscuta / Conducta Alimentaria / Dispersión de Semillas Tipo de estudio: Prognostic_studies Límite: Animals Idioma: En Revista: Am J Bot Año: 2016 Tipo del documento: Article País de afiliación: Canadá Pais de publicación: Estados Unidos