The role of lizards as seed dispersers in New Zealand

ABSTRACTThere is growing awareness globally of the role lizards play as seed dispersers. In New Zealand, it has been suggested that lizards are effective dispersers, and white–blue fruits and divaricating shrubs are adapted to lizard dispersal. We present new data and review the lizard seed dispersal literature. Lizards eat fruits of at least 23 native species, five of which are divaricating. Birds also eat fruits of divaricating species. Lizards prefer white-blue fruits to red fruits, and eat white–blue-fruited species more frequently than expected given their occurrence in the flora. White–blue fruits are associated with divaricating shrubs and open habitats. Seeds in lizard scats have germination percentages ≤ control seeds in four species tested. Lizards generally disperse seeds < 20 m, but allow seeds to escape parent plants and reach safe establishment sites. Lizards can be important seed dispersers even at reduced densities on the mainland, where they may disperse a larger fraction of seeds than pr...