Literaturdatenbank
Literaturdatenbank |
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Gibbs, J. P., Sterling, E. J., & Zabala, J. F. (2009). Giant tortoises as ecological engineers: a long-term quasi-experiment in the galápagos islands. Biotropica, (early View).
Added by: Admin (28 Dec 2009 19:57:01 UTC) |
| Resource type: Journal Article BibTeX citation key: Gibbs2009 View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Chelonoidis, Chelonoidis nigra, Habitat = habitat, Mittelamerika = Central America, Schildkröten = turtles + tortoises, Testudinidae Creators: Gibbs, Sterling, Zabala Collection: Biotropica |
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| Abstract |
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Testudinidae Geochelone nigra Giant tortoises were once a megafaunal element widespread in tropical and subtropical ecosystems. The role of giant tortoises as herbivores and seed dispersers, however, is poorly known. We evaluated tortoise impacts on Opuntia cactus (Cactaceae) in the Galápagos Islands, one of the last areas where giant tortoises remain extant, where the cactus is a keystone resource for many animals. We contrasted cactus populations immediately inside and outside natural habitats where tortoises had been held captive for several decades. Through browsing primarily and trampling secondarily tortoises strongly reduced densities of small (0.5–1.5 m high) cacti, especially near adult cacti, and thereby reduced densities of cacti in larger size classes. Tortoises also caused a shift from vegetative to sexual modes of reproduction in cacti. We conclude that giant tortoises promote a sparse and scattered distribution in Opuntia cactus and its associated biota in the Galápagos Islands.
Added by: Admin |