The main role of fleshy ripe fruits is to facilitate seed dispersal by attracting consumers. However, many fruits contain secondary metabolites (SMs) in concentrations that deter consumption by animals (Tewksbury et al 2001). The directed-deterrence hypothesis states that SMs in ripe fruits are directed at seed predators but have little or no effect on seed dispersers (Cipollini et al 1997). Indeed, studies have demonstrated class-dependent deterrence where frugivorous birds were able to cope with fruit's SMs while granivorous rodents were deterred by them. Here we show the use of fruit chemistry in modifying the behavior of a predominant seed predating rodent at an ecological time scale.
展开▼
