View in EDS

Endozoochory by Black Rhinoceroses Enhances Germination of a Key Arid Savanna Tree Species.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Endozoochory by Black Rhinoceroses Enhances Germination of a Key Arid Savanna Tree Species.
Authors: Jones, O. E.1 (AUTHOR) oliviajones@sun.ac.za, Beckett, H.1 (AUTHOR), Abraham, A. J.2,3 (AUTHOR), Makunga, N. P.4 (AUTHOR), Midgley, G. F.1 (AUTHOR)
Source: Ecology & Evolution (20457758). Sep2025, Vol. 15 Issue 9, p1-16. 16p.
Subject Terms: *Germination, *Savannas, Seed dispersal, Mutualism (Biology), Megafauna, Rhinoceroses, Acacia
Abstract: Megaherbivores are typically regarded as agents of top‐down control, limiting woody encroachment through destructive foraging. Yet they also possess traits and engage in behaviours that facilitate plant success. For example, megaherbivores can act as effective endozoochorous seed dispersers. However, studies on facilitative roles are heavily biased towards the African savanna elephant (Loxodonta africana), with little attention paid to other species or to effects beyond germination, across early ontogenic stages. The African black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis), an obligate browser that exhibits frugivory and defecates in fixed dung middens, may offer ecologically distinct dispersal services. We conducted controlled experiments to test whether black rhino interactions with Vachellia erioloba, a leguminous tree of ecological importance in arid savannas, enhance germination, early seedling development or seedling resilience to herbivory. Germination was compared among dung‐derived seeds, untreated controls and chemically scarified seeds. Seedling growth was assessed in dung versus sand and under simulated black rhino herbivory. Dung‐derived seeds germinated most steadily and produced the highest cumulative germination (+40%) over the longest period (+13 days). Growth trials revealed that dung substrates did not enhance initial growth. Rather, seedlings being older conferred greater resilience to biomass loss than exposure to different substrate conditions. Our results provide the first experimental evidence of an apparent mutualism between black rhino and V. erioloba. This relationship is not driven by enhanced seedling development through legacy effects of gut passage, nor by dung conditions, as expected. Instead, it stems from gut passage effects on germination. In addition to increasing total germination, gut passage accelerates germination and extends the germination period, producing a seedling cohort with both older individuals and greater age variation—a population structure that may enhance persistence beyond the germination bottleneck. This research supports a more nuanced view of megaherbivores as both disturbance agents and mutualists in arid ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Ecology & Evolution (20457758) is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: GreenFILE
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: 8gh
DbLabel: GreenFILE
An: 188234248
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Endozoochory by Black Rhinoceroses Enhances Germination of a Key Arid Savanna Tree Species.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jones%2C+O%2E+E%2E%22">Jones, O. E.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> oliviajones@sun.ac.za</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Beckett%2C+H%2E%22">Beckett, H.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Abraham%2C+A%2E+J%2E%22">Abraham, A. J.</searchLink><relatesTo>2,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Makunga%2C+N%2E+P%2E%22">Makunga, N. P.</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Midgley%2C+G%2E+F%2E%22">Midgley, G. F.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Ecology+%26+Evolution+%2820457758%29%22">Ecology & Evolution (20457758)</searchLink>. Sep2025, Vol. 15 Issue 9, p1-16. 16p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subject Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Germination%22">Germination</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Savannas%22">Savannas</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Seed+dispersal%22">Seed dispersal</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mutualism+%28Biology%29%22">Mutualism (Biology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Megafauna%22">Megafauna</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Rhinoceroses%22">Rhinoceroses</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Acacia%22">Acacia</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Megaherbivores are typically regarded as agents of top‐down control, limiting woody encroachment through destructive foraging. Yet they also possess traits and engage in behaviours that facilitate plant success. For example, megaherbivores can act as effective endozoochorous seed dispersers. However, studies on facilitative roles are heavily biased towards the African savanna elephant (Loxodonta africana), with little attention paid to other species or to effects beyond germination, across early ontogenic stages. The African black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis), an obligate browser that exhibits frugivory and defecates in fixed dung middens, may offer ecologically distinct dispersal services. We conducted controlled experiments to test whether black rhino interactions with Vachellia erioloba, a leguminous tree of ecological importance in arid savannas, enhance germination, early seedling development or seedling resilience to herbivory. Germination was compared among dung‐derived seeds, untreated controls and chemically scarified seeds. Seedling growth was assessed in dung versus sand and under simulated black rhino herbivory. Dung‐derived seeds germinated most steadily and produced the highest cumulative germination (+40%) over the longest period (+13 days). Growth trials revealed that dung substrates did not enhance initial growth. Rather, seedlings being older conferred greater resilience to biomass loss than exposure to different substrate conditions. Our results provide the first experimental evidence of an apparent mutualism between black rhino and V. erioloba. This relationship is not driven by enhanced seedling development through legacy effects of gut passage, nor by dung conditions, as expected. Instead, it stems from gut passage effects on germination. In addition to increasing total germination, gut passage accelerates germination and extends the germination period, producing a seedling cohort with both older individuals and greater age variation—a population structure that may enhance persistence beyond the germination bottleneck. This research supports a more nuanced view of megaherbivores as both disturbance agents and mutualists in arid ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Ecology & Evolution (20457758) is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=8gh&AN=188234248
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1002/ece3.71951
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 16
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Germination
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Savannas
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Seed dispersal
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mutualism (Biology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Megafauna
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Rhinoceroses
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Acacia
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Endozoochory by Black Rhinoceroses Enhances Germination of a Key Arid Savanna Tree Species.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Jones, O. E.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Beckett, H.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Abraham, A. J.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Makunga, N. P.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Midgley, G. F.
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 09
              Text: Sep2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 20457758
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 15
            – Type: issue
              Value: 9
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Ecology & Evolution (20457758)
              Type: main
ResultId 1