J 2017

The porcupine as “Little Thumbling”: The role of Hystrix cristata in the spread of Helianthus tuberosus

MORI, Emiliano, Giuseppe MAZZA, Andrea GALIMBERTI, Claudia ANGIOLINI, Gianmaria BONARI et. al.

Basic information

Original name

The porcupine as “Little Thumbling”: The role of Hystrix cristata in the spread of Helianthus tuberosus

Authors

MORI, Emiliano (380 Italy), Giuseppe MAZZA (380 Italy), Andrea GALIMBERTI (380 Italy), Claudia ANGIOLINI (380 Italy) and Gianmaria BONARI (380 Italy, guarantor, belonging to the institution)

Edition

Biologia, Berlin, WALTER DE GRUYTER GMBH, 2017, 0006-3088

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

10600 1.6 Biological sciences

Country of publisher

Germany

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

Impact factor

Impact factor: 0.696

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14310/17:00098854

Organization unit

Faculty of Science

DOI

UT WoS

000416046200013

Keywords in English

alien species; barcoding; crested porcupine; dispersal; endozoochory; Jerusalem artichoke

Tags

Tags

International impact, Reviewed
Změněno: 12/4/2018 14:39, Ing. Nicole Zrilić

Abstract

V originále

The spread of alien invasive plants deserves strong and applied attention by conservation biologists, because it is regarded as one of the main causes of loss of native biodiversity. Herbivore species may be involved in the dispersal of invasive plants through zoochory. The Jerusalem artichoke Helianthus tuberosus is an invasive species in Europe, which has been introduced from North America and has shown a rapid spread in newly colonized areas. Crested porcupine Hystrix cristata mainly feed on this species (seeds and tubers) during its flowering period (i.e., late summer, early autumn) and it is suggested to be responsible for its spread through endozoochory. In this paper, the germination rate of the Jerusalem artichoke from faecal pellets of crested porcupines was analysed. Faecal pellets, collected between September and November 2016, were left to germinate at environmental conditions in sterile potting soil. After two weeks, germinated seedlings were genetically identified through DNA barcoding analyses. We reported the first case of endozoochory by the crested porcupine. The results showed a low germination rate (i.e., 16.7% out of 12 excrements), possibly because the digestive tract of crested porcupines affects the propagule viability. Despite this, the Jerusalem artichoke is showing a rapid and alarming increasing trend in our study area, suggesting that a potential role by wildlife may have been occurred. Given the high invasive potential of this plant species, further researches are required to assess and quantify the potential role of herbivores as dispersal agents.