Within-Species Trait Variation Can Lead to Size Limitations in Seed Dispersal of Small-Fruited Plants

The inability of small-gaped animals to consume very large fruits may limit seed dispersal the respective plants. This has often been shown for large-fruited plant species that remain poorly dispersed when large-gaped animal are lost due anthropogenic pressure. Little is known about whether gape-size limitations similarly influence small-fruited can show a variation in fruit size within species. In this study, sizes 15 were compared with gape their 41 dispersers temperate, old-growth Bia?owie?a Forest, Poland. effect on consumption was assessed at level, and subset nine species, also individual subindividual level (i.e., same individual). addition, subset, fruit-seed trait relationships investigated determine restricted access results fewer or smaller seeds per fruit. Fruit widely varied among (74.2%), considerably (17.1%), smallest extent individuals (8.7%). Key disperser should be able all (except those largest-fruited species), even if they only 28-55% available fruits. traits positively correlated eight out indicating will result 49% (in one) 16–21% three species) by than main dispersers, respectively. Our characteristic increases connectedness frugivores plants individuals. Simultaneously, however, leads induce selective pressures become extinct. study emphasizes mechanisms which limitation shape plant-frugivore interactions co-evolution