BackgroundSeed loss to predators is a common phenomenon across plant communities and an important determinant of plant recruitment. Although seed predators commonly destroy the entire seed, partial seed consumption has been reported for many species; however, the degree to which seed mass loss affects germination dynamics and survival of new individuals has been poorly documented. We simulated seed damage in natural conditions to examine how different levels of cotyledonary reserve removal affect germination dynamics and seedling performance of Myrcianthes coquimbensis (Myrtaceae), a threatened Atacama Desert shrub. The experiment combined two levels of seed maturity with three levels of seed mass loss.ResultsRemoval of the cotyledon reserves and seed maturity negatively affected the odds and the temporality of seedling emergence; nonetheless, seedlings were able to emerge from seed fragments, of either mature or immature seeds, that lost up to 75% of their original mass. Removal of cotyledonary reserves had negative effects on seedling size but no effect on root:shoot ratios.ConclusionsOur findings indicate that the loss of cotyledonary reserves in M. coquimbensis seeds is not necessarily lethal. Moreover, we posit that tolerance to partial seed consumption is likely a key reproductive strategy, which enables recruitment in this species.

中文翻译：

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受威胁的阿塔卡马沙漠灌木模拟部分种子捕食后的发芽、幼苗性能和根生产

背景捕食者的种子损失是植物群落中的普遍现象，也是植物补充的重要决定因素。尽管种子捕食者通常会破坏整个种子，但据报道许多物种会部分食用种子；然而，种子质量损失对萌发动态和新个体存活的影响程度的记录很少。我们模拟了自然条件下的种子损伤，以研究不同水平的子叶储备去除如何影响桃金娘科（Myrcianthes coquimbensis）（一种受威胁的阿塔卡马沙漠灌木）的发芽动态和幼苗性能。试验将种子成熟的两个水平与种子质量损失的三个水平结合起来。结果子叶储备和种子成熟的去除对幼苗出苗的几率和时间产生负面影响；尽管如此，幼苗能够从成熟或未成熟种子的种子碎片中长出，这些碎片损失了其原始质量的 75%。去除子叶储备对幼苗大小有负面影响，但对根：芽比没有影响。结论我们的研究结果表明，M. coquimbensis 种子中子叶储备的损失不一定是致命的。此外，我们假设对部分种子消耗的耐受性可能是一个关键的繁殖策略，它可以在该物种中进行补充。coquimbensis 种子不一定是致命的。此外，我们假设对部分种子消耗的耐受性可能是一个关键的繁殖策略，它可以在该物种中进行补充。coquimbensis 种子不一定是致命的。此外，我们假设对部分种子消耗的耐受性可能是一个关键的繁殖策略，它可以在该物种中进行补充。