ROW/RPG: Seed Dispersal by Birds: Consequences for Reproductive Success of Plants

ROW/RPG：鸟类传播种子：对植物繁殖成功的后果

基本信息

批准号：
9110698
负责人：
Bette Loiselle
金额：
$ 1.51万
依托单位：
University of Missouri-Saint Louis
依托单位国家：
美国
项目类别：
Standard Grant
财政年份：
1991
资助国家：
美国
起止时间：
1991-06-01 至 1993-05-31
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9110698&HistoricalAwards=false
关键词：
ROW RPG Seed Dispersal Birds

项目摘要

The goal of this project is to determine consequences of seed dispersal by birds to composition and genetic structure of shrubs in a tropical rain forest. The research involves two phases. The first phase (planning activities) will determine plant species diversity, seed density, and genetic relatedness of seeds within droppings from five species of common fruit-eating birds. Seeds passed by these birds are identifiable and the relatedness of seeds within droppings can be estimated using starch gel electrophoresis. During phase two the consequences occurring with related or unrelated seeds to plant survival and growth will be examined through competition experiments using three light environments characteristic of tropical rain forests. In tropical rain forests, most seeds of understory plants are dispersed by birds. This study will be the first to examine relatedness of seeds in bird droppings and consequences to plants of having seeds eaten and dispersed by different birds. Information on genetic and species composition of seeds in droppings of birds (planning activities) and results from competition experiments (phase two) will be used to develop models that predict genetic structure and composition of rain forest shrubs. This research will contribute substantially to understanding tropical rain forests by testing ecological and evolutionary theories of plant-animal interactions.

该项目的目标是确定鸟类传播种子对热带雨林灌木的组成和遗传结构的影响。该研究分为两个阶段。第一阶段（规划活动）将确定植物物种多样性、种子密度以及五种常见水果鸟类粪便中种子的遗传相关性。这些鸟类传递的种子是可以识别的，并且可以使用淀粉凝胶电泳来估计粪便中种子的相关性。在第二阶段，将通过使用热带雨林特征的三种光环境的竞争实验来检查相关或不相关种子对植物生存和生长的影响。在热带雨林中，大多数林下植物的种子是由鸟类传播的。这项研究将首次研究鸟粪中种子的相关性，以及种子被不同鸟类吃掉和传播对植物的影响。鸟类粪便中种子的遗传和物种组成信息（规划活动）以及竞争实验（第二阶段）的结果将用于开发预测雨林灌木遗传结构和组成的模型。这项研究将通过测试动植物相互作用的生态和进化理论，为了解热带雨林做出重大贡献。