Camel potentiality in survival and germination of wild pastoral species: The case of Fabaceae in Sahara rangelands of Algeria

Trabelsi H. Chehma A. Senoussi A. Faye B. Kherraze M.E.
September 2023 Academic Press

Journal of Arid Environments
2023 #216

Previous studies conducted in the Sahara desert have reported the consumption of wild native pastoral plants by camels. To test the hypothesis that camels may effectively break seed dormancy, we collected fresh faeces from different Saharan rangelands frequented by camels.Seeds were extracted from camel faeces and were quantified. Germination of extracted seeds was compared with that of freshly collected seeds under controlled conditions. Sixteen native pastoral species in 8 families and two unidentified species were quantified, with a high proportion of Fabaceae seeds recovered especially Astragalus ghysensis. The Digestive system of camels, effectively (1) broke seed physical dormancy exceptionally for Argyrolobium uniflorum, Astragalus cruciatus and Astragalus ghysensis there by promoting seed germination; (2) enhanced the percentage of germination of non-dormant seeds in Bassia muricata, Erodium glaucophyllum, Fagonia glutinosa and Plantago ciliata and (3) maintained viability but did not contribute to a prompt germination of Cornulaca monacantha seeds. Therefore, camels act as effective dispersers of these Fabaceae species by scattering seeds and promoting germination. We conclude that it is necessary to better understand the role of camels in the maintenance and conservation of the studied species by endozoochory.

Camel , Sahara rangeland , Seed dormancy , Seed germination , Wild plants

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Laboratoire de Bioressources sahariennes, Préservation et valorisation, Université Kasdi Merbah- Ouargla, Algeria
CIRAD-ES, UMR SEMET Campus international de Baillarguet, Montpellier, France
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Biotechnology department, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Scientiﬁc and Technical Research Center of Arid Areas (CRSTRA), Biophysical Station, Nezla, Touggourt, Algeria

Laboratoire de Bioressources sahariennes
CIRAD-ES
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University
Scientiﬁc and Technical Research Center of Arid Areas (CRSTRA)

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