Plant–animal relationships, such as endozoochory, are crucial for ecosystem dynamics as they improve seed dispersal as well as enhance plant reproductive success. This study investigated the ecological role of camels in seed dispersal and in breaking physical dormancy of three wild perennial Fabaceae species (Retama raetam, Vachellia tortilis subsp. raddiana, and Genista saharae) dominant in Algerian Saharan rangelands. Feeding trials were conducted with four adult female camels (Camelus dromedarius). Each animal received 1500 manually extracted seeds per species in three doses mixed with the regular ration, and feces were collected for 24 days to recover seeds. Untreated control seeds were kept under identical environmental conditions. The results showed that camels contribute to seed dispersal and influence germination differently among species. Seeds of Retama raetam were rapidly excreted, favoring local dispersal and increasing germination from 8% to 32%. Genista saharae seeds showed early excretion and longer retention, promoting wider dispersal and increasing germination from 16% to 52%. Vachellia tortilis subsp. raddiana showed an intermediate pattern, with germination rising from 39% to 70%. Gut passage affected seed size in Genista saharae and Vachellia tortilis subsp. raddiana, while no change occurred in Retama raetam. These findings highlight the camel’s ecological role as a biological vector improving seed viability and supporting regeneration.
Kouadri et al. (2026) studied this question.