Habitat fragmentation alters the distance of abiotic seed dispersal through edge effects and direction of dispersal

Warneke, Christopher R.; Caughlin, T. Trevor; Damschen, Ellen I.; Haddad, Nick M.; Levey, Douglas J.; Brudvig, Lars A.

doi:10.1002/ecy.3586

Habitat fragmentation alters the distance of abiotic seed dispersal through edge effects and direction of dispersal

Journal Article · Fri Nov 12 00:00:00 EST 2021 · Ecology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.3586· OSTI ID:1976327

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Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI (United States); OSTI
Boise State University, ID (United States)
University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States)
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI (United States)
National Science Foundation, Alexandria, VA (United States)

Habitat loss and fragmentation are leading causes of species declines, driven in part by reduced dispersal. Isolating the effects of fragmentation on dispersal, however, is daunting because the consequences of fragmentation are typically intertwined, such as reduced connectivity and increased prevalence of edge effects. We used a large-scale landscape experiment to separate consequences of fragmentation on seed dispersal, considering both distance and direction of local dispersal. We evaluated seed dispersal for five wind- or gravity-dispersed, herbaceous plant species that were planted at different distances from habitat edges, within fragments that varied in their connectivity and shape (edge-to-area ratio). Dispersal distance was affected by proximity and direction relative to the nearest edge. For four of five species, dispersal distances were greater further from habitat edges and when seeds dispersed in the direction of the nearest edge. Connectivity and patch edge-to-area ratio had minimal effects on local dispersal. Here our findings illustrate how some, but not all, landscape changes associated with fragmentation can affect the key population process of seed dispersal.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: USDA Forest Service, Savannah River, New Ellenton, SC (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE; USDOE Office of Science (SC)

Grant/Contract Number:: AI09-00SR22188

OSTI ID:: 1976327

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1997054

Journal Information:: Ecology, Journal Name: Ecology Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 103; ISSN 0012-9658

Publisher:: WileyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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