Effects of habitat fragmentation on the abortion and predation of seeds in Chaco Serrano = Efectos de la fragmentación sobre la aborción y depredación de semillas en el Chaco Serrano

Habitat fragmentation can have consequences on plant reproduction through several interactions with insects. We studied the effects of habitat fragmentation in die proportion of aborted, predated and undamaged seeds of Acacia aroma and Cercidium praecox. We performed this study in the Chaco Serrano of Argentina. We found that fragmentation effects differed between species. In small patches, the number of aborted seeds of A. aroma increased and the number of pre–dispersal predated seeds and undamaged seeds of C. praecox decreased and increased, respectively. However, higher numbers of aborted seeds in small patches did not lead to fewer available seeds for dispersion. For these species, seed predation by bruchids was about 35 percent and aborted seeds were around 7 percent. Because of the elevated levels of damage and the high specificity of bruchids, the changes caused by habitat fragmentation may be very important for the populations of these two species. Habitat fragmentation effects on pollination and pre–dispersal seed predation of these legumes may determine higher availability of seeds for dispersion in fragmented habitats