Interaction Between Two Exotic Invading Species: Endozoochory of Acacia farnesiana Seeds by the European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

ABSTRACT

The question of how plant species foreign to a biological system can disperse and turn into an environmental problem is very important for the control of the invasive plant species, especially for insular ecosystems, which are more susceptible to biological invasions. We analyzed the role played by the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in the seed dispersal of the invasive scrub Acacia farnesiana in Gran Canaria (Canary Islands). The results indicated that A. farnesiana is a food resource that rabbits use all year long. We found a high percentage of undamaged seeds (9.77%) in rabbit’s pellets. Although the passage through the rabbit gut did not increase the germination rate of the seeds, it seems to increase their germination speed. We concluded that rabbits are able to disperse A. farnesiana seeds by endozoochory, making the invasion process faster and successful.

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