@article{fdi:010068894,
  title = {{C}omparative effects of native frugivores and introduced rodents on seed germination in {N}ew-{C}aledonian rainforest plants},
  author = {{D}uron, {Q}. and {G}arcia-{I}riarte, {O}. and {B}rescia, {F}. and {V}idal, {E}ric},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{N}ative frugivores play an important role in native plant community dynamics by participating in seed dispersal. {T}oday many island forests are invaded by introduced omnivores, such as rats, but their role in dispersing native plants is still little known. {H}ere, we evaluated whether native seeds from {N}ew-{C}aledonian rainforests can germinate after passing through an invasive rat digestive tract and compared seed germinability and germination time between seeds ingested by invasive rats and native frugivores. {W}e offered native fruits of {F}icus racemigera and {F}reycinetia sulcata to the rats {R}attus rattus and {R}. exulans, three flying foxes {P}teropus spp. and the pigeon {D}ucula goliath. {O}ur results showed that seeds can germinate after passing through an invasive rat digestive tract, and suggest that rats can disperse seeds of both plant species. {H}owever, invasive rats may be less efficient than native frugivores, as more seeds were destroyed when passing through rat digestive tracts than through native frugivores, and because germinability was lower and germination time was longer for seeds passing through invasive rats than through native frugivores. {T}he reduced efficiency of rats may result from their generalized diet, the structure of their digestive tract, and/or their feeding behavior. {I}n {N}ew-{C}aledonian rainforests, dispersal services on both plant species are likely well fulfilled by flying foxes and {D}ucula pigeons, but rats do not seem to be as efficient dispersers. {C}onsequently, management measures to protect native frugivores should help to conserve seed dispersal services.},
  keywords = {{S}eed dispersal ; {S}eed destruction ; {R}attus ; {F}lying foxes ; {F}rugivorous ; pigeon ; {NOUVELLE} {CALEDONIE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{B}iological {I}nvasions},
  volume = {19},
  numero = {1},
  pages = {351--363},
  ISSN = {1387-3547},
  year = {2017},
  DOI = {10.1007/s10530-016-1284-1},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010068894},
}