RT journal article
T1 Invasive Buttonweed Cotula coronopifolia (Asteraceae) Is Halotolerant and Has High Potential for Dispersal by Endozoochory
A1 Sánchez-García, Raúl
A1 Green, Andy J.
A1 Tomasson, Lina
A1 Hortas Rodríguez-Pascual, Francisco
A1 Ortiz, María A.
A2 Biología
K1 endozoochory
K1 dry-fruited seeds
K1 dispersal syndromes
K1 salinity
K1 gut passage
K1 non-indigenous species
AB Buttonweed (Cotula coronopifolia) is native to South Africa but invasive in wetlands inEurope, North America, and Australasia, where it excludes native plants. Despite being dry-fruited,field studies suggest migratory waterbirds can disperse its seeds via gut passage (endozoochory),aiding its expansion. To explore the potential for endozoochory in different regions and habitats,we collected seeds from six populations in Spain, Sweden, and the UK. Germination was testedunder different salinity levels (0, 5, 10, 15 g/L) and simulated gut passage treatments: scarification,acidification, or both. No germination occurred at 15 g/L. Higher salinity reduced and delayedgermination, but full gut passage treatment (i.e., both scarification and acidification) increased germinabilityand accelerated germination. Scarification or acid treatment alone resulted in intermediategermination patterns. There were significant salinity × population and gut passage × populationinteractions on germinability. The acceleration effect of gut passage on germination was strongerat 5–10 g/L than at 0 g/L. This study highlights how migratory birds can facilitate the spreadof alien plants introduced by humans. Endozoochory by waterbirds is an understudied mechanismfor the long-distance dispersal of dry-fruited alien plants. Further research on C. coronopifolia,including population genetics, is necessary to understand dispersal mechanisms and facilitatemanagement strategies.
PB MDPI
SN 2223-7747
YR 2024
FD 2024-08-10
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10498/35974
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10498/35974
LA eng
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Cádiz
RD 22-sep-2026