| We investigated whether introduced European rabbit on Robinson Crusoe Island, Chile, has the potential to spread the seeds of the exotic Papaver somniferum (opium poppy) via endozoochory. A total of 1320 rabbit droppings were collected during early autumn in the study area and analyzed in laboratory with binocular magnifying glass. Seeds from six different species were found in the droppings: Papaver somniferum (Papaveraceae), Centaurea melitensis (Asteraceae), Amaranthus sp. (Amarantaceae), Melilotus indicus (Fabaceae), Rumex acetosella (Polygonaceae), and one unidentified species. Poppy seeds were dominant. Most seeds (82%) were destroyed during ingestion, but some of the intact seeds found in pellets remained viable. Germination rate of ingested seeds... |
