scholarly journals Interspecific Difference in Seed Dispersal Characteristics between Japanese Macaques (Macaca fuscata) and Sympatric Japanese Martens (Martes melampus)

2020 ◽  
Vol 91 (6) ◽  
pp. 711-720
Author(s):  
Yamato Tsuji ◽  
Risma Yanti ◽  
Atsushi Takizawa ◽  
Toshio Hagiwara
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Macaca Fuscata ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Japanese Macaques ◽  
Interspecific Difference ◽  
Herbaceous Plant ◽  
Plant Seeds ◽  
Faecal Samples ◽  
Martes Melampus

We compared the characteristics of seeds within faeces between semi-terrestrial Japanese macaques (<i>Macaca fuscata</i>) and sympatric arboreal Japanese martens (<i>Martes melampus</i>) in Shiga Heights, central Japan. We collected faecal samples of the two mammalian species for 1 year (<i>n</i> = 229 for macaques and <i>n</i> = 22 for martens). We then compared the proportion of seed occurrence, life-form composition, number of seeds and species richness within single faecal samples, and the seed intact ratio between the two mammalian species. We detected seeds from 20 and 7 species from macaque and marten faeces, respectively. Macaque faeces contained seeds of multiple strata, while marten faeces contained no herbaceous plant seeds. Seed sizes within faeces showed no interspecific difference. For macaques, seeds were found within faecal samples collected in late spring to late fall, while for martens, seeds were found between summer and winter. The proportion of seed occurrence was greater in summer (both species) and fall (macaques), which implied that the seed dispersal roles of macaques and martens was greater in these seasons. The mean seed number (across species), intact ratio of seeds (high for both species) and seed species richness within single faecal samples of macaques and martens showed no significant differences, but for several species, martens defecated more seeds than macaques and showed higher intact ratio. Our study indicates that sympatric mammals in the temperate regions of Japan contribute differently to seed dispersal in forest ecosystems.

scholarly journals Endozoochory by mallard in New Zealand: what seeds are dispersed and how far?

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e4811 ◽  
Author(s):  
Riley D. Bartel ◽  
Jennifer L. Sheppard ◽  
Ádám Lovas-Kiss ◽  
Andy J. Green
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Dispersal Distance ◽  
Terrestrial Plants ◽  
Indigenous Status ◽  
Plant Seeds ◽  
Faecal Samples ◽  
Viable Seeds ◽  
Study Sites

In Europe and North America waterfowl are major dispersers of aquatic and terrestrial plants, but in New Zealand their role has yet to be investigated. Mallards were introduced to New Zealand in the late 1800s, and today they are the most abundant and widespread waterfowl in the country. To assess seed dispersal, we radiomarked 284 female mallards from two study sites during the pre-breeding (June–August) and breeding (August–December) periods in 2014–2015, and examined movements that occurred within 24, 48 or 72 h when seed dispersal by endozoochory is considered likely. During June and July 2015, we collected 29 faecal samples from individual female mallards during radiomarking and 24 samples from mallard flocks. We recovered 69 intact seeds from the faecal samples and identified 12 plant taxa. Of the plant seeds identified and dispersed by mallards in this study, 40% were members of the Asteraceae family, nine plant species were alien to New Zealand, and the indigenous-status of three unidentified taxa could not be determined. Two taxa (and 9% of seeds) were germinated following gut passage: an unidentified Asteraceae andSolanum nigrum. During the pre-breeding and breeding periods, movement of females within 24 h averaged 394 m (SD = 706 m) and 222 m (SD = 605 m) respectively, with maximum distances of 3,970 m and 8,028 m. Maxima extended to 19,230 m within 48 h. Most plant species recorded are generally assumed to be self-dispersed or dispersed by water; mechanisms that provide a much lower maximum dispersal distance than mallards. The ability of mallards to disperse viable seeds up to 19 km within 48 h suggests they have an important and previously overlooked role as vectors for a variety of wetland or grassland plant species in New Zealand.

scholarly journals Low mammalian species richness is associated with Kyasanur forest disease outbreak risk in deforested landscapes in the Western Ghats, India

One Health ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 100299
Author(s):  
Michael G. Walsh ◽  
Rashmi Bhat ◽  
Venkatesh Nagarajan-Radha ◽  
Prakash Narayanan ◽  
Navya Vyas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Disease Outbreak ◽  
Forest Disease ◽  
Kyasanur Forest Disease ◽  
The Western Ghats

Species Richness and Seed Dispersal to Secondary Woods in Southern Poland

1992 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zbigniew Dzwonko ◽  
Stefania Loster
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Southern Poland

TOLERATED CO-FEEDING IN RELATION TO DEGREE OF KINSHIP IN JAPANESE MACAQUES

Behaviour ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 138 (4) ◽  
pp. 487-509 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernard Chapais ◽  
Patrick Belisle
Keyword(s):  
Macaca Fuscata ◽  
Japanese Macaques ◽  
Preferential Treatment ◽  
Feeding Rates ◽  
Dominance Relationship ◽  
Mothers And Daughters ◽  
Dominant Female ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Access To Food

AbstractWe analyzed co-feeding in relation to degree of kinship in Japanese macaques Macaca fuscata), testing experimentally five categories of matrilineal kin dyads: mother-daughter, grandmother-granddaughter, sisters, aunt-niece and nonkin. In each test, two adult females with a clear dominance relationship had access to a box containing a limited quantity of highly prized food. The dominant female could easily prevent the subordinate from eating so that food was easily monopolizable, hence the use of the expression tolerated co-feeding. Rates of tolerated co-feeding increased steeply with degree of kinship. The aggression levels of dominant females towards subordinate females decreased with increasing degree of kinship and this effect was most apparent between mothers and daughters. The confidence level of subordinate females increased with degree of kinship and this effect became apparent above the aunt-niece kin class. Prior access to food by the subordinate female was a significant means of access to food, mostly beyond the grandmother-granddaughter kin category. The results point to a relatedness threshold for the preferential treatment of kin at r = 0.25 (grandmother-granddaughter and sister dyads), beyond which (r = 0.125: aunt-niece dyads), levels of tolerated co-feeding were comparable to those of nonkin females. The identity of this threshold with that found in previous studies on the same group for two different types of interactions suggests the existence of a generalized relatedness threshold for kin favoritism in Japanese macaques. Assuming that the costs of food defense by the dominant females were negligible and that tolerated co-feeding was altruistic, our results support the role of kin selection in the evolution of altruism in primates beyond the mother-offspring bond.

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