Warum werden so wenige Waldpflanzenarten vom Schalenwild ausgebreitet?

Studies on epi- and endozoochorous dispersal of vascular plants by roe deer, fallow deer, red deer and wild boar in Central Europe showed that mainly non-forest species and species that occur in forests as well as in open landscapes are transported, while stenotopic forest species are dispersed only in low numbers. In this study we analysed the spectra of plant species that are dispersed by large wild ungulates regarding life form, strategy type, diaspore weight and persistence in the diaspores bank of the soil, and compared these spectra with those of typical forest plant species. The 4 ungulate species transported diaspores (seeds or fruits) of in total 208 plant species; wild boar alone transported 168 plant species. The spectrum of the dispersed plant species shows a considerable overlap. About two-fifth of all dispersed species were found with at least 2 of the 4 wild ungulates. There were no significant differences in the habitat preference of the dispersed plant species between the 4 ungulate species. A comparison of the life form spectrum of the plant species dispersed by the animals and the stenotopic forest species shows the largest differences for geophytes and therophytes. Only few geophyte species were dispersed, while therophytes were over-represented among the dispersed plant species when compared to the plant species growing mainly in closed forests The dispersed plant species have lower diaspores weight and higher persistence in the diaspores bank of the soil than the stenotopic forest species. Thus, zoochory by large wild ungulates can afford in many cases a basic approach for explanations in connection with the dispersal potential of forest plant species. Studies on epi- and endozoochorous dispersal of vascular plants by roe deer, fallow deer, red deer and wild boar in Central Europe showed that mainly non-forest species and species that occur in forests as well as in open landscapes are transported, while stenotopic forest species are dispersed only in low numbers. In this study we analysed the spectra of plant species that are dispersed by large wild ungulates regarding life form, strategy type, diaspore weight and persistence in the diaspores bank of the soil, and compared these spectra with those of typical forest plant species. The 4 ungulate species transported diaspores (seeds or fruits) of in total 208 plant species; wild boar alone transported 168 plant species. The spectrum of the dispersed plant species shows a considerable overlap. About two-fifth of all dispersed species were found with at least 2 of the 4 wild ungulates. There were no significant differences in the habitat preference of the dispersed plant species between the 4 ungulate species. A comparison of the life form spectrum of the plant species dispersed by the animals and the stenotopic forest species shows the largest differences for geophytes and therophytes. Only few geophyte species were dispersed, while therophytes were over-represented among the dispersed plant species when compared to the plant species growing mainly in closed forests The dispersed plant species have lower diaspores weight and higher persistence in the diaspores bank of the soil than the stenotopic forest species. Thus, zoochory by large wild ungulates can afford in many cases a basic approach for explanations in connection with the dispersal potential of forest plant species.