An experimental evaluation of the arctic fox (Alopex lagopus) as a seed disperser

• Published in: Quaternary International
• Main Authors: Graae, Bente Jessen, Pagh, Sussi, Bruun, Hans Henrik
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research 2004
• Subjects: Ecology; seed dispersal; endozoochory; Arctic; Alopex lagopus; Antarctic and Alpine Research; Arctic Fox; greenlandic; Oxyria digyna; Papaver radicatum; Polygonum viviparum; Ranunculus hyperboreus; Saxifraga cernua; Sibbaldia procumbens; Silene acaulis; Stellaria longipes
• Online Access: https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/137784; https://doi.org/10.1657/1523-0430(2004)036[0468:AEEOTA]2.0.CO;2; https://portal.research.lu.se/files/2721828/624707.pdf

Arctic foxes are evaluated as seed dispersal vectors for Greenlandic plant species through a feeding experiment with subsequent scat analysis and germination test. Seeds of 22 common species with different morphology were tested. Passage time ranged between 4 and 48 hours. No significant differences was detected in passage time for seeds with different morphology. Cerastium alpinum and Stellaria longipes had higher germination after passage through the fox’ digestive tract as compared to controls. Sibbaldia procumbens, Oxyria digyna and Silene acaulis were favoured by passage when shorter than 10 hours. Salix glauca ssp. callicarpaea, Veronica alpina, Gnaphalium norvegicum, Papaver radicatum, Ranunculus hyperboreus, Chamaenerion latifolium, Luzula parviflora and bulbils of Polygonum viviparum and Saxifraga cernua were inhibited by passage, whereas the remaining species had too low germination percentage to allow for evaluation. Species with adaptations to wind dispersal seemed particularly vulnerable to gut pasage. Arctic foxes are able to provide long-distances dispersal of seeds lacking morphological adaptations to dispersal, but for most species seeds need to be defecated within 12 hours to remain viable.