Effect of passage through the digestive tract of the Black Iguana on the seed coat, germination and viability of two tree species of the low deciduous forest

Osman Obed Reyes-Rojas, Juan Manuel Villa-Hernández, José Luis Arcos-García, Juana Laura Rivera-Nava, Roberto López-Pozos, Héctor Santiago-Romero

Abstract


Background. Seed dispersal and establishment are key processes for tropical forest regeneration; however, little is known about them in tropical deciduous forests. Ctenosaura pectinata disperses seeds, but it is unknown whether it scarifies them during this process. Objective. To evaluate the effect of passage through the digestive tract of C. pectinata on the seed coat, germination, and seedling establishment of Diospyros salicifolia and Pithecellobium dulce, two tree species from the tropical dry forest of the Oaxacan coast. Methodology. Sixty-six specimens were fed ad libitum with ripe fruits of both species. Feces were collected, seeds were recovered, and their length, width, thickness, as well as the width of the raphe, hilum, and fissure line were measured. The final germination percentage, average germination time, germination rate coefficient, and seedling growth parameters were evaluated. Uningested seeds were used as a control. Data were analyzed using Student's t-tests (p<0.05). Results. Passage through the digestive tract caused scarification (p<0.05) of the seed coat. In D. salicifolia, it increased the width of the raphe (82.5%) and the hilum, while in P. dulce, it increased the opening of the fissure line (0.21 mm). However, it reduced final germination (D. salicifolia: 54% vs. 83%; P. dulce: 12.2% vs. 80%) and viability (43% vs. 56%). P. dulce showed accelerated germination (germination rate coefficient: 44.2% vs. 28.8%) and a shorter average germination time. Seedling establishment was not affected (p>0.05); however, an increase in root diameter was observed in D. salicifolia seedlings grown from seed that had passed through the digestive tract. C. pectinata acts as an effective seed disperser by scarifying seeds; its role is species-dependent: it promotes germination rate in P. dulce but reduces final germination in both species. Implications. The consumption of D. salicifolia by adult C. pectinata is reported for the first time. Conclusion. The passage of seeds through the digestive tract of the black iguana scarifies the seed coat and modifies the germination parameters of both tree species, highlighting its ecological role in seed dispersal.

Keywords


Ctenosaura pectinata; Diospyros salicifolia; Pithecellobium dulce; seed coat; seed dispersal

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References


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URN: http://www.revista.ccba.uady.mx/urn:ISSN:1870-0462-tsaes.v29i3.68562

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.56369/tsaes.6856

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