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Scale dependence shapes how plant traits differentially affect levels of pre- and post-dispersal seed predation in Scots pine

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Abstract

To understand the demographic consequences of seed predation, it is essential to scale-up losses over space and time. We tested how individual tree characteristics, forest attributes, and the local environment affected rates of both pre- and post-dispersal seed predation in Scots pine Pinus sylvestris, in Scotland’s ancient native pinewoods. The sampling strategy was hierarchical, allowing assessment of how the influence of these factors differed with spatial scale. This approach revealed that the fate of a tree’s seeds depended on many factors, at multiple scales. Levels of seed predation were highly variable over space and time. Seed predation by local post-dispersal seed predators (invertebrates and small mammals) varied at the finest spatial scales, whereas mobile avian pre-dispersal seed predators discriminated among seeds at every spatial scale. Tree crown shape affected removal of seed by all seed predators; both crossbills Loxia spp. and generalist avian granivores selected trees with broad crowns. However, trees with narrow crowns were selected by red squirrels Sciurus vulgaris, and the associated tall understory vegetation supported the highest levels of post-dispersal seed predation. Seed chemistry was an effective seed defence that reduced seed loss to all seed predators. In contrast, increases in physical cone defence were ineffective at reducing seed loss and showed a potential trade-off with investment in seed viability. Large seeds carried a survival cost, being preferentially consumed by squirrels and post-dispersal seed predators. All post-dispersal seed predators consumed a higher proportion of seeds at the times and locations where seed fall was greatest.

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Acknowledgements

Mick Marquiss and Richard Law made valuable contributions throughout this study. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds permitted fieldwork at Abernethy, provided accommodation, and many staff gave useful advice. Scottish Natural Heritage permitted fieldwork at Mar Lodge and provided accommodation. Ron Summers and Robert Proctor provided additional data on cone counts for Abernethy Forest. Statistical advice was provided by David Elston. This research was funded by a Natural Environment Research Council studentship to FRW (Grant No. NER/S/A/2002/11035) and while writing by a Yunnan Provincial Post-doctoral Grant to FRW.

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  1. Centre for Mountain Ecosystem Studies, Kunming Institute of Botany, Kunming, Yunnan, China

    Fiona R. Worthy

  2. The Bio-Protection Centre, Lincoln University, P.O. Box 85084, Canterbury, New Zealand

    Philip E. Hulme

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Map of study sites (PDF 450 kb)

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Forest structure (PDF 178 kb)

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Timeline of seed development and seed predation (PDF 119 kb)

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Sectors marked for cone collection (XLSX 20 kb)

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Supplementary methods (PDF 122 kb)

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Common factor analysis (PDF 204 kb)

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Supplementary results (PDF 210 kb)

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Worthy, F.R., Hulme, P.E. Scale dependence shapes how plant traits differentially affect levels of pre- and post-dispersal seed predation in Scots pine. Eur J Forest Res 138, 653–672 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-019-01198-y

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