Seed fall, seed predation, twigging and litter fall of Cascabela thevetia (L.) Lippold
Faiz F. Bebawi A C , Shane D. Campbell A and Robert J. Mayer B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Biosecurity Queensland, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Tropical Weeds Research Centre, PO Box 187, Charters Towers, Qld 4820, Australia.
B Agri-Science Queensland, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Maroochy Research Station, Mayers Road, Nambour, Qld 4560, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: Faiz.Bebawi@daf.qld.gov.au
The Rangeland Journal 38(6) 569-577 https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ16021
Submitted: 14 March 2016 Accepted: 27 October 2016 Published: 14 December 2016
Abstract
Cascabela thevetia (L.) Lippold is a garden ornamental in northern Australia and two biotypes, the peach and the yellow, are recognised. In some areas it has naturalised and now has environmental and economic effects. As part of a broader research program into the ecology of C. thevetia, a field study was undertaken in northern Queensland to quantify seed fall and seed predation (by avian wildlife) of the peach biotype. The amount of twigging caused by birds while they fed on the seeds and the level of litter production were also recorded. Seed fall, seed predation, twigging and litter production occurred in all months of the year. Seed fall increased slowly over late spring and summer before peaking in mid- to late autumn (April–May) and then declining until October. Mean (± s.e.m.) estimated total annual seed fall was 19 140 ± 2880 and 17 030 ± 2930 seeds ha–1 in the first and second years respectively. Seed predation by birds was substantial, with 57% of all seeds predated. Birds also chewed an average of 600 twigs ha–1 year–1. Litter production varied from 430 to 950 kg dry weight (DW) ha–1 month–1. In total, 7900 ± 640 and 7390 ± 1420 kg (DW) litter was produced during the first and second years respectively. Although seed production of C. thevetia is less than a lot of other rangeland weeds, seed predation by birds further reduces the number of seeds entering the soil seed bank. The stem damage that occurred in conjunction with seed predation contributed to overall litter production and warrants further investigation in terms of its effect on plant growth.
Additional keywords: Captain Cook tree, litter production, predispersal predation, seed production, yellow oleander.
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