The ecology of attraction: Fruit traits and frugivore diversity in neotropical Piper

Abstract Fruit traits can benefit plant reproduction by enhancing seed dispersal by mutualistic frugivores (e.g. seed dispersal syndromes), but identifying the role of specific fruit traits in mediating frugivory is challenging because these traits can serve multiple functions, and plant–frugivore interactions can vary spatially and are rarely exclusive. We use a community of neotropical Piper to test the hypothesis that fruit trait differences between ecotypes (forest, gap) either augment or constrain the diversity of interacting frugivores, with the broader goal of contributing to an understanding of how fruit trait variation is influenced by habitat, phylogeny, and ecological interactions. Since bats are the primary seed dispersers of Piper in the community studied, we map the traits of Piper species consumed by bats and discuss how these may align with bat sensory modes and abilities to capture and consume fruit. We find differences in fruit traits between Piper ecotypes that are consistent with accessibility by different communities of frugivores. Gap Piper , which exhibit greater frugivore diversity (bats, birds, insects), have significantly longer fruiting periods and their ripe fruits have a more chemically diverse fruit scent bouquet. Conversely, forest Piper are consumed only by bats, generally produce fruits in short peaks, and their fruits have a less diverse scent bouquet. Additionally, gap Piper fruits tend to be greener, softer, erect and have smaller seeds, whereas forest Piper fruits span a wider range of colours, are harder and either erect or pendulous, and have larger seeds; however, these differences did not emerge as statistically significant in our analyses. Piper species present in bat diets are characterized by having longer fruiting phenologies, greener fruits, and volatile organic compounds in their fruit scent that have been previously demonstrated to be preferred by Piper specialist bats. Our results suggest that fruit traits in Piper may facilitate or constrain interactions with different frugivore communities across habitats. As most of the Piper species studied produce fruits that are visually inconspicuous, chemically complex, and consumed by bats, this system merits further study at a broader taxonomic scale to evaluate the possibility of a dispersal syndrome. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.