Ringtails (Bassariscus astutus) as seed dispersers in an urban gradient under conditions of low human activity due to COVID-19
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22201/ib.20078706e.2024.95.5351Keywords:
Endozoochory, Mexico city, Opuntia, REPSA, ZoochoryAbstract
Seed dispersal by animals is a key ecosystemic process in many environments; however, it could be compromised
or increased in urban environments due to changes in the landscape, the introduction of exotic species, and human
activities. This article aims to evaluate the role of ringtails (Bassariscus astutus) as seed dispersers in an urban-natural gradient during low human activity due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ringtail feces were collected in 3 sampling sites with different levels of urbanization (ranging from 100 to 5% of natural vegetation), and the seeds germinated in germination chambers. Twenty species of plants were dispersed by ringtails, more than reported in previous studies. More seeds were dispersed in natural (7.1 seeds per g) than urbanized (3.2 seeds per g) areas, but diversity and richness were higher in urbanized areas. This suggests that urban environments have a greater diversity, and it could be attributed to the microenvironments created by urban infrastructure and the exotic plants that are established in the area.
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