Trophic interactions between Japanese mock orange Pittosporum tobira and autochthonous frugivorous birds in a town in Catalonia
Year: 2019
Type: article
Abstract: Estévanez 1Invasive species are one of the most serious anthropic disturbances threatening the preservation of our ecosystems.One such example are plant invasions, especially those linked to the ornamental plant and gardening industries.Trophic interactions between the seeds of allochthonous plants and native frugivorous species are of special interest as they could represent a key element in the dispersion of invasive plants into nearby ecosystems.In this note we provide a brief compilation of trophic interactions between native frugivorous bird species and the seeds of the Japanese mock orange Pittosporum tobira in an urban environment that were noted during the Spanish COVID-19 outbreak.Our observations reveal the possibility that the seeds of this plant are dispersed by the native birds that ingest its seeds whole.In addition, we report that European Blackbirds and Blackcaps were the most frequently observed species and highlight the ease with which these birds are able to exploit a non-native trophic resource.
Author: Bracho Estévane, Claudio Açaí
Language: English
Topic: Plant and animal studies
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Life on land
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4391241404