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Research Paper

Significant seed disperser: Ungulates in point Claimere Wildlife Sanctuary, Southern India.

Accepted 19th February, 2020

ABSTRACT

Exotic woody weed plants are a very serious threat to seed dispersal by ungulate in the tropical forest of Asia. The ungulates in Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary (PCWS) play a significant role in native indigenous seed dispersal. The exotic woody weed tree Prosopis juliflora is distributed in the PCWS and might potentially alter the native medicinal plant species. The present study was conducted to assess seed dispersal by ungulates in PCWS from January to March 2017. Four different ungulate species were selected to understand their seed Govindaraju Chandru1, Jeganathan dispersal rate of different plant species in selected sanctuary. This investigation Pandiyan1, Kaliyamoorthy Krishnappa1*, was planned to confirm seed dispersal by ungulates of blackbuck, spotted deer, Kuppusamy Elumalai2 and wild boar and feral horse. Among the four different ungulates tested, maximum Vikramathithan Durga1 numbers of pellets were collected from blackbuck and no seed was found in their 1Department of Zoology and Wildlife pellets. The low quantities of pellets were collected from wild boar and this study Biology A.V.C. College (Autonomous), has recorded medium-sized ungulates which dispersed variety of plant. However, Mannampandal, Mayiladuthurai – the dispersal of the seed of medicinal plants were not considerably high and 609305, India. 2Department of Advanced Zoology and relatively moderate percentage of seeds dispersal occurred in medium-sized Biotechnology, Govt. Arts College ungulates such as wild boar and spotted deer. P. juliflora with 100% seed (Autonomous), Chennai – 600035, Tamil germination rate was observed from the faecal samples of wild boar and feral Nadu, India. horse. The control seed achieved maximum seedling rate than the ungulates seeds.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]. Key words: Ungulates, seed dispersal, germination test, Prosopis juliflora.

INTRODUCTION

Plants have limited mobility and consequently rely upon a performing long-distance distribution of seed dispersal and variety of seed dispersal highly influence through biotic accidentally these seeds are dispersed in uneven and vectors. The seeds are dispersed through animals digestive critically important flora filling wild and epizoochoary system, and are excreted which fall on the ground and grow (Gonzales et al., 2009; Chimera et al., 2010; naturally. The excreted seeds have higher chances to form Balasubramanian et al., 2011). Globally, in the past three new plants and it can be far away from the parent plant decades, forest fire has become major threat to wild (Jordano et al., 2010; Chapman et al., 2017; Susan ecosystem in various parts of the continents. As a result, Harrison, 2017; Chaves et al., 2018). Many birds also prefer most indigenous/ native plants species have become to eat fruits and they help to disperse seeds to other areas extinct or in endemic condition (Satendra and Kaushik, through their dropping. The animals perform seed 2014). These problems are highlighted by forest fire so that dispersal and play a major role towards the success and its incidents cause more distraction of floral population in wealth of the environment, as form majority in animal seed wild ecosystem and solved by migratory animal faecal dispersal (Ingle, 2003; Lozada et al., 2007; Pejchar et al., seeds. This may help the extinct of plant population in 2008; Patrick David et al., 2015). The avian fauna are various part of world (Andresen and Leney, 2004; Auffret

and Plue, 2014). Ecological studies have pointed out that change are key factors thought to influence the probability the ungulate plays important role in seeds dispersal of invasion of weed plant (Pasiecznik et al., 2001). Seed (Cosyns et al., 2005a and b; Albert et al., 2015a). However, production is estimated at 630,000 to 980,000 seeds per only a few studies are available on the relative importance mature tree per year (Felker, 1979). Those seeds are most of endozoochorous seed dispersal by native ungulate likely to germinate when the sugary pods are consumed by species (Doucette et al., 2001; Bakker et al., 2007; Albert et domestic livestock, they get scoured while passing through al., 2015b). the animal’s digestive tract, and the scoured seeds drop into The large mammalian herbivores mostly preferred acacia moist faeces (Felker, 2003). The non-native shade tolerant plant species (P. juliflora). As a result, most of the wild ground cover plants can be particularly detrimental to regions disperse P. juliflora seed due to the mammalian native forest regeneration because they have the potential herbivores faecal sample having huge amount of acacia to alter forest structure, composition, and function (Wiser seeds than other seeds (Miller, 1996; Gidske Leknaes and Allen, 2006). Many from dense vegetative mats that Andersen et al., 2016). The animal faecal sample seeds smother native plant abundance and diversity (Schulz and dispersals are potential enough to germinate and grow on Thelen, 2000; Standish et al., 2001; Mc Alpine et al., 2015), both endo and epizoochoary. It plays an important role in potentially impede native plant regeneration and natural bio reforestation, regulates and maintains succession. The extent to which weed woody plant impacts indigenous valuable plants in both wild and urban region. vary with weed abundance is yet to be well understood. The indigenous or native vegetation provides food chain, PCWS is a famous Ramsar wetland forest in India, food web of both herbivorous and carnivorous in forest comprising a mix of salt swamps, mangroves, backwater, ecosystem (Howe and Miriti, 2004; Kremen et al., 2007). mudflats, grasslands, and tropical dry evergreen forest. So The magnitude and the quality of seed dispersal depend on far, 364 indigenous flowering plants have been identified as both the abundance and the richness of frugivorous animals herbs, climbers shrubs and trees. Nearly 198 plants are (Schupp, 1993; Jordano et al., 2010; García et al., 2013). used for medicinal properties and essential food source of More importantly, the resilience of seed dispersal are fruit-eating birds. Middle canopy is dominated by invasive affected by the heterogeneity among frugivores in their and exotic species of P. juliflora which are major food for ability to withstand anthropogenic disturbances (Martinez consumption of ungulate and seeds dispersal via move by et al., 2008; McConkey et al., 2012; Morales et al., 2013). ungulate faecal samples (Baskaran et al., 2016). The major Seed dispersal is an essential component of the plant problems highlighted for P. juliflora against natural colonization process. The animal can play an important role biodiversity are ecological balance, loss of habitat for water in the seed dispersal cycle, through the active/passive birds, scarcity of fresh water, scarcity of indigenous plant uptake of seeds (Rodriguez-Perez et al., 2012; Carlo and food for wild ungulates of black buck, spotted deer and wild Morales, 2008; Cousens et al., 2010). Many studies of seed boar, and also scarcity of grassland food (Pratiksha Patnaik, dispersal are carried out by farm ungulates but there is no et al., 2017; Walter and Armstrong, 2014; Becker et al., detailed study report available on the role of seed dispersal 2016). Point Calimere ungulates (Black buck, spotted deer, by wild ungulate of Ramsar area of the south coast India. wild boar, feral horse) consumed variety of food habitat, The ungulates faecal have the potential for seed dispersal in and feral horse is free-roaming which overlaps feeding wide range of forest area. Ecologist investigated seed niche with black buck, spotted deer and wild boar dispersal by ungulates such as white-tailed deer in eastern (Baskaran et al., 2016). North America and reported that it may play considerable role in invasive plant spread in 64% of species and 95% of all viable seed in deer pellets (Gill and Beardall, 2001; MATERIALS AND METHODS Myers et al., 2004). Numerous studies have emphasized the role of domesticated and wild ruminants and to a lesser Study area extent rabbits as seed dispersing agents for a wide range of plant species (Malo and Suarez, 1998; Pakeman, 2001). The present study was carried out in the PCWS, Tamil The exotic and indigenous weed plants are causing major Nadu, India. The Great Vedarnayam Swamp of the Point problem of both forest and wildlife. Invading P. juliflora Calimere (10°18’N, 79°51’E) is situated in the state of Tamil tends to form dense, impenetrable thickets, associated with Nadu in Nagapattinam District (Figure 1). The forests of unfavourable impacts on human economic activities. Thus, Point Calimere with an area of 24.17 km2 were declared as millions hectares of rangeland have already been invaded, PCWS in 1967. The new Sanctuary, with a total area of 377 and the process is still occurring in South Africa, Australia km2 bears the name Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird and coastal Asia (Pasiecznik, 1999). The major population Sanctuary. The random faecal samples of ungulate were of P. juliflora not only alter the fundamental important collected twice consequently from 10 transects during vegetation but also cause underground water scarcity in December 2016 to April 2017. The control seeds were also different part of wild and human settlements. Land-use collected separately to compare the seed germination test change, competitive ecological advantages, and climate between ungulate pellets and control seeds.

Figure 1: Study area: Point Calimere Wildlife sanctuary (10°18’N, 79°51’E), Tamil Nadu, India.

Transects selection and pellet collection growth rate (Hitchcock and Cronquist, 1973).

Transects (1000 X 3 meter) was laid and walked fortnightly, searching for ungulates pellet. Every pellet RESULTS AND DISCUSSION found in transects was identified to species level. For herbivores, all pellet clumps separated by at least 2 m were The present study provides the first hand information on considered as different pellets. The number of different seed dispersal from ungulates in the PCWS at Nagapattinam woody plant seeds found in each species of ungulate and District, Southern India. It was shown that the plant species the seed-dispersing ungulate species were counted (Lopez are more in seed dispersals by ungulates in PCWS. The and Gonzalez, 2011). study was carried out from December 2016 to April 2017. Four different ungulate species were selected to understand the seed dispersal rate of the different plant Assessment of seed dispersal species in the sanctuary. This study did not find any seed from the blackbuck among the four ungulate species, but Ungulate pellets/dung was collected using a belt transect the other three species showed the presence of seeds. method (1000 x 3 meter) from various habitats of the study area. Collected pellets were kept in the oven-dried at 300C for 1 week and, before analysis, washed in a 0.5 mm × 0.5 Ungulates pellets collection mm fine-meshed sieve. All undamaged seeds were counted and identified to species level with the help of a seed Randomly ten sites were selected for pellets collection from reference collection from the study area. Plants species ungulates in the Sanctuary. Maximum pellets were collected whose seeds identified were listed to understand the from the blackbuck than the other ungulates (Figures 2 and woody plants dispersed by ungulates in the study area 10). On the other hand, least pellets were collected from the (Lopez and Gonzalez, 2011). wild boar. But in the Ramarpatham, MPCA, Chemplast, Nandupallam and Muniyappan Lake, the study did not record pellets of Black buck. Similarly, the collection and Evaluation of germination and growth rate analysis of faecal samples from blackbuck at Sathya Mangalam reserve forest at Erode District, showed very A sample of various wood plant seeds segregated from low, and the study revealed that certain regions did not faecal samples of ungulates (Treated seeds) and a sample of record any pellets (Chandru, 1998). In general, the current various woody plants seeds collected from parent plants study reported that the blackbuck pellets did not show any (Control seeds) was tested in green-house for germination plant species which was recorded during the study. It is and growth rate on a weekly interval. Also, seeds samples emphasized that the blackbuck did not consume these of various woody plants along with various ungulate pellets plants in the sanctuary but we need to conduct further was also placed under germination trail to find out the study to understand why the blackbuck did not show influence of ungulate faecal sample on germination and interest or consume the plant species. The low quantity of

No. of pellets collection collection pellets of No. 0 Kaththanodai to Thambursamy Mattu munian Peralam Alavari to Beach Muniappan Lake Ramarpatham MPCA Cheplast Nandupallam Watchtower illam to Ciththar Temple Temple Name of the transects Black buck Spotted deer Feral horse Wild boar

Figure 2: The pellets collected from the different transects in the PCWS.

Figure 10: Different Ungulate pellets at PCWS. A: Spotted deer (Axis axis); B: Black buck (Antilope cervicapra); C: Wild boar (Sus scrofa); D: Feral horse (Equus caballus).

faecal sample defecated in wild boar might be due to the horse can consume heavy diet of variety of vegetation; thus, fact that the wild boar is one of the random dispersal the PCWS feral horse is an introduced species, regarded as defecated habits of animal and in addition to the nature of semi-wild animal and can create major problem of diet the animals being small special group of herds. Similar overlapping animals (Baskaran et al., 2016). The present finding on temporal and spatial pattern of defecation in study showed that the feral horse ungulate only disperses wild boar has been reported (Ferretti et al., 2014). the unwanted and exotic plant species P. juliflora into the sanctuary, as the entire sanctuary is threatened by that weed and at present by huge management issues. The high Seeds in ungulates pellet samples rate of seed dispersal was recorded by small and medium- sized ungulates (Miller, 1996; Bartuszevige and Endress, Seven different plant species were found in the faecal 2008; Polak et al., 2014; Albert et al., 2015a and b). The samples of different ungulates (Figures 3 – 5 and 11) in small ungulates animal plays essential role in seed which the percentage of P. juliflora seed was maximum in dispersal including variety of indigenous medicinal plants. feral horse, followed by wild boar. It could be clearly seen The small ungulate in India is four types of antelope species that the feral horse is free-roaming ungulate and it could such as blackbuck, Nilgai, Chowsingha, Chinkara. The above have over dietary behaviour than the other ungulates. fact of previous study on antelope mediated seed dispersal Similarly, previous researchers reported that the feral has brought us closer to the goal seed fate pathways of

700

600

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No. of seeds collection from pellets pellets seeds offrom collection No. 100

0 Prosopis juliflora Cassia auriculatta Manikara hexandra Plant species

Figure 3: Seeds collected from the pellets of feral horse in PCWS.

Figure 4: Seeds collected from the pellets of wild boar in PCWS.

Figure 5: Seeds collected from the pellets of spotted deer in PCWS.

Figure 11: Different seeds Collection from different ungulate pellets at PCWS. A: Cassia auriculata; B: Carissa spinarum; C: Prosopis Juliflora; D: Dichrostachys cinerea; E: Manikara hexandra; F: Zizyphus oenoplia; G: Solanum melongena var insanum.

Figure 6: Seeds and its germination rate of different species of seedlings in feral horse in PCWS.

antelope bitterbrush (Vander Wall, 1994). The PCWS There was no seed found in the faecal samples of blackbuck. blackbuck is one of endemic species and plays a major role Generally, the blackbuck has browsing behaviour and they in dispersal of medicinal seeds from the sanctuary. are living near sea shore boundary of PCWS. This is the major reason for not finding any seed in pellet / faecal samples of blackbuck as well as the few indigenous native Significant role of seed dispersal by small ungulates herbs in the shoreline or blackbuck living area, but the exotic species of P. juliflora was more abundant in and The present investigation recorded medium-sized ungulate around sanctuary. The endemic herbs of Cassia auriculata, dispersed variety of plants species (Dichrostachys cinerea, Zizypus, Carissa spinarum, Dichrostachys cinerea and Zizypus, Carissa spinarum, Solanum melongena var insanum Manikara hexandra were found in endo zoochoary zone. and Cassia auriculatta) at PCWS. However, the seeds The problem of exotic woody weed plant could alter the dispersals of medium-sized spotted deer and wild boar endemic herbal population at PCWS. As a result, the forest ungulate were relatively in moderate percentage of department implements the destruction of exotic woody medicinal plants. The major reasons for indigenous native weed trees (P. juliflora) from the blackbuck living zone. The medicinal plants availability relatively are very less in major reasons are that majority of endemic herbs are blackbuck existing area of Sanctuary. Actively medicinal grazed and over diet consumed by feral horse and this gives plants germination is caused by major occupation of P. competition between the small and large ungulates juliflora and it is scattered over the entire region of including feral horse. Similarly, Baskaran et al. (2016) sanctuary. The major roles of P. juliflora dispersion have reported dietary competition, significance of exotic species been done by large size of semi-wild ungulate feral horse. and overlap among the ungulates in PCWS. Some earlier Many studies have been conducted on the scenario of exotic reports support that the blackbuck can consume and and widespread, multi-branched tree of P. juliflora in Banni disperse P. juliflora in a grassland ecosystem (Shivani et al., grassland of Kachchh desert of Gujarat, India (Karthik et al., 2013). Another similar study reported that the blackbuck 2009). In India, most of the epizoochory areas were mostly is a dominant ungulate antelope species of many semi-arid occupied with many weeds of herbs, shrubs and trees grassland across India (Ranjithshinh, 1989) but not which are dispersed by various modes of wind, avian reported as dominant dispersal of P. julifolora. We observed groups and mammals. 100% germination rate of P. juliflora in faecal samples of Therefore, the natural habitat declined drastically in exo spotted deer, wild boar and feral horse (Figures 6 - 9). P. and endo zoochoary of PCWS and these problems are juliflora have unique characters which can suppress other extending to all biospheres of both protected and plant growth, as well as considerably significant effects unprotected area of India and Indian subcontinents. The against sanctuary which is as emerging nuisance to the above reasons were discussed by several researchers and protected areas. Walter and Armstrong (2014) reported the exotic plants are significantly causing native ecosystem that the weed seeds have faster germination, nuisance to which is spreading drastically in across the landscape. It is wild animals, fastest growth rate, suppress endemic plants pertinent to conserve native ecosystem (Kumari and species and spreading tropical forest of the world. On the Choudhary, 2016; Baskaran et al., 2016; Junaedi et al., other hand, Carissa spinarum had maximum germination, 2018). The present investigation showed the rate of seed high consumption and maximum level dispersed by spotted germination test examined by faecal samples of ungulates. deer at PCWS. Farwig et al. (2007) suggested that the

Figure 7: Seeds and its germination rate of different species of seedlings in wild boar in PCWS.

Figure 8: Seeds and its germination rate of different species of seedlings in feral horse in PCWS.

Figure 9: Seeds and its germination rate of different species of seedlings in the control of PCWS.

ungulates have seed predation and seeds dispersals, a control seedling as the rate of growth was different among significant process for conservation management of the species. The control plant has achieved maximum threatened plant species. growth than ungulates seeds (Tables 1 - 3). In cause of control Zizypus seed did not have germination because native seeds are easily digested in rumen cattle, as Seedling growth rate compared with exotic seeds which are smaller and likely damaged in cattle remnant (Wisdom, 2005). In addition, The seed dispersal was mainly done by medium-sized according to previous record, the larger domestic/ native ungulates which play significant role for dispersing ungulates have the potential to disperse the larger medicinal plants at PCWS. The results were compared with quantities of exotic seeds which are more responsible for

Table 1: Seedlings growth rate recorded in the different ungulates faecal samples in PCWS.

S/N Ungulates Seedling growth rate 1. Feral horse (Equus caballus) 1.96±0.332b 2. Wild boar (Sus scrofa) 2.02±0.496c 3. Spotted deer (Axis axis) 2.05±0.428d 4. Control seeds 1.00±0.200a

Values represent mean±S.D. and different alphabets in the column are statistically significant at p<0.05. (MANOVA; LSD -Tukey’s Test). Control seeds: A fresh woody plants parent seeds. Treated seeds: A fresh seeds segregated from faecal samples of ungulates.

Table 2: The growth rate variation in seedlings among the ungulate species pellets in PCWS.

Sources Sum of squares df Mean square F Sig Plant growth* (Ungulates between groups) 627.114 3 209.038 173.827 0.000 Within groups 4160.879 3460 1.203 Total 4787.993 3463

The growth rate variation of seedlings assessed among the ungulate species pellets, different statistical analysis like Sum of squares, degrees of freedom, Mean square, frequency and significance were calculated by IBM SPSS Statistics 25 version.

Table 3: Different plant seedlings growth rate of different ungulates seeds in PCWS.

S/N Ungulates Plant specied Germination growth 1. Feral horse Prosopis juliflora 1.87±0.381b Cassia auriculatta 2.37±0.906c Manikara hexandra 1.92±0.859b

2. Wild boar Prosopis juliflora 2.02±0.496c

3. Spotted deer Prosopis juliflora 2.08±0.601c Carissa spinarum 2.63±0.103c Zizyphus oenoplia 2.64±0.108c Dichrostachys cinerea 1.61±0.955b Solanum melongena 0.84±0.376a

4. Control Prosopis juliflora 0.99±0.412a Cassia auriculatta 1.04±0.535b Manikara hexandra 0.88±0.379a Carissa spinarum 1.31±0.661b Dichrostachys cinerea 1.45±0.135b Solanum melongena var insanum 0.82±0.324a

threatening flora in protected and unprotected zones ungulates at PCWS. It is one of the important Ramsar (Bogoni et al., 2018). This study showed that there were wetland site in India which has plenty of medicinal plants significant variations between the rate of seedling growth with values. Some of them are extinct due to habitat of plant species among the ungulate pellets (Table 2; destruction of overgrazing by exotic semi-wild ungulates of P<0.001). feral horse that is over diet consuming between the block buck, spotted deer and wild boar. In the PCWS, another one

CONCLUSION major problems is the exotic woody plant P. juliflora. Here, the weed tree P. Juliflora is a major threat to native plants The present study aims to evaluate plant-seed dispersed by species. The majority of P. juliflora seeds are found in

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