scholarly journals Seed dispersal agents of two Ficus species in a disturbed tropical forest

2003 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelvin S.-H. Peh ◽  
Fong Lin Chong
Keyword(s):  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Tropical Forest ◽  
Dispersal Agents

scholarly journals Habitat fragmentation narrows the distribution of avian functional traits associated with seed dispersal in tropical forest

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 90-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex A.A. Bovo ◽  
Katia M.P.M.B. Ferraz ◽  
Marcelo Magioli ◽  
Eduardo R. Alexandrino ◽  
Érica Hasui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Fragmentation ◽  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Tropical Forest ◽  
Functional Traits

The role of great apes in seed dispersal of the tropical forest tree species Dacryodes normandii (Burseraceae) in Gabon

2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 395-402 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Haurez ◽  
Kasso Daïnou ◽  
Nikki Tagg ◽  
Charles-Albert Petre ◽  
Jean-Louis Doucet
Keyword(s):  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Tropical Forest ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Central Africa ◽  
Great Apes ◽  
Forest Tree ◽  
Sampling Effort ◽  
Predator Species ◽  
High Germination ◽  
Visit Duration

Abstract:The identification of seed dispersers and predators is essential to understand the effect of anthropogenic disturbances, and the associated defaunation process, on tropical forest dynamics in Central Africa. In this study, the animals involved in seed predation and dispersal of Dacryodes normandii (Burseraceae), an endozoochorously dispersed tree species endemic to Gabonese forests, were identified in a site in south-east Gabon using two complementary methods: direct observation and camera-trap monitoring of fruit piles. The combined sampling effort (172 h of direct observations and 796 d of camera trapping) led to the identification of six disperser and eight predator species of D. normandii seeds. With high frequency of consumption (88% and 57% of their visits, respectively) and long visit duration (83 and 23 min, respectively), the western lowland gorilla and central chimpanzee were identified as the main dispersers of this species. Seeds passed through the gorilla gut exhibited high germination success (68%). Rodents were identified as predators of D. normandii seeds, potentially displaying rare secondary dispersal through scatter-hoarding. The results of this study highlight the importance of great apes in the seed dispersal of this tree species.

scholarly journals Endozoochory of Chrysobalanus icaco (Cocoplum) by Gopherus polyphemus (Gopher Tortoise) facilitates rapid germination and colonization in a suburban nature preserve

AoB Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolyn J Hanish ◽  
Sebastian Velez ◽  
Jon A Moore ◽  
Corey Devin Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Treatment Time ◽  
Spatial Density ◽  
Event Analysis ◽  
Gopher Tortoise ◽  
Gopherus Polyphemus ◽  
Nature Preserve ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Dispersal Agents

Abstract Some large-seeded plants lack effective seed dispersal agents when they are introduced as ornamental plants to new areas, but can rapidly colonize a landscape if seed dispersal functions are restored. We examined whether Gopherus polyphemus (Gopher Tortoise) facilitated the spread of Chrysobalanus icaco (Cocoplum; Chrysobalanaceae) over a 14-year period in a suburban nature preserve (in Jupiter, FL, USA) by: (i) comparing germination patterns among gut-passed, hand-depulped and whole fruit treatments, and (ii) testing hypotheses about environmental predictors of the spatial distribution of C. icaco, including information about G. polyphemus movement pathways and burrow locations. While we did not find a significant difference in the total proportion of C. icaco seeds that germinated in each treatment, time to event analysis revealed that seeds that were found in faeces germinated significantly earlier than seeds that were hand-depulped or that were planted as whole fruits, supporting a lone scarification effect. Point process modeling revealed that the density of C. icaco bushes was higher near G. polyphemus movement pathways and was lower inside Serenoa repens (Saw Palmetto) patches, supporting a positive effect of tortoise movement patterns on plant distributions. The density of C. icaco increased from west to east, consistent with westward dispersal from the four founder bushes on the east side of the study area. After removal of outliers, we also detected a negative association between C. icaco spatial density and G. polyphemus burrow density that was presumably explained by the fact that seeds defecated deep within burrows were unlikely to germinate and establish without secondary movement. The results suggest that G. polyphemus contributed to the rapid dispersal of C. icaco by scatter dispersal of seeds (via faeces) in areas where tortoises were active and that movement pathways provided suitable conditions for colonization. The spread of C. icaco by G. polyphemus over a relatively short period of time provides a valuable window into the earliest stages of the colonization process and further supports the role of Chelonians as effective seed dispersal agents for large-seeded plants.

Interspecific synchrony and asynchrony in the fruiting phenologies of congeneric bird-dispersed plants in Panama

1999 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 213-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brigitte Poulin ◽  
S. Joseph Wright ◽  
Gaëtan Lefebvre ◽  
Osvaldo Calderón
Keyword(s):  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Null Model ◽  
High Potential ◽  
Faecal Samples ◽  
Critical Resource ◽  
Resident Populations ◽  
Dispersal Agents ◽  
Central Panama ◽  
Temporal Overlap

Plants potentially compete for seed dispersal. Selection may favour temporally segregated fruiting phenologies to minimize this competition and also to maintain resident populations of dispersal agents. Alternatively, selection may favour temporally aggregated fruiting phenologies when the effectiveness of seed dispersal agents varies seasonally or when large, synchronous fruit displays enhance dispersal. These evolutionary scenarios assume that plants share seed dispersal agents. This assumption and temporal overlap in fruiting phenologies were evaluated for the Miconia and Psychotria of central Panama. These two genera accounted for 18 and 27%, respectively, of 1096 fleshy fruits found in regurgitation or faecal samples taken from 2054 birds of 103 species netted in the forest understorey. Two species of manakins accounted for 62% (123/200) of all Miconia fruit taken. Three species of manakins and three species of migratory thrushes accounted for 97% (282/292) of all Psychotria fruits taken. There is a high potential for intrageneric competition for seed dispersal for both plant genera. Null model analyses showed that the fruiting phenologies of Miconia (14 species) are segregated in time, while fruiting of Psychotria (21 species) is highly aggregated. The Miconia were found in up to 24% of the diet samples for the two manakin species, suggesting that Miconia may be a critical resource for both species. The Psychotria fruited when the diversity of understorey fruits was greatest, suggesting a high potential for both intra- and extrageneric competition. The abundance and nomadism of the six bird species that consumed most Psychotria fruit peaked when the Psychotria fruited, supporting the enhancement hypothesis.

Propagating framework tree species to restore seasonally dry tropical forest: implications of seasonal seed dispersal and dormancy

2002 ◽  
Vol 164 (1-3) ◽  
pp. 31-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Blakesley ◽  
Stephen Elliott ◽  
Cherdsak Kuarak ◽  
Puttipong Navakitbumrung ◽  
Sudarat Zangkum ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Tropical Forest ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest ◽  
Dry Tropical Forest ◽  
Seasonally Dry

Evidence of frugivory and seed dispersal in Oligocene tortoises from South Dakota

2013 ◽  
Vol 150 (6) ◽  
pp. 1143-1149 ◽  
Author(s):  
ALAN O. MARRON ◽  
JASON R. MOORE
Keyword(s):  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
South Dakota ◽  
Correct Placement ◽  
Reliable Evidence ◽  
Dispersal Agents

AbstractFossilized hackberry (Celtis) seeds were found within the shells of twoStylemysindividuals excavated from Oligocene sediments from South Dakota. The presence ofin situskeletal elements indicates that the tortoises were buried without extensive disarticulation. Abiotic transport of the seeds into the carcasses is unlikely given the anatomically correct placement of both skeletal elements and seeds and the comparative settling velocities of the encasing sediment versus modernCeltisseeds. Ecological evidence from modernCeltisandStylemysanalogues suggests that tortoises are commonly seed dispersal agents. The fossils are therefore interpreted as enterolites, providing the oldest reliable evidence of tortoise frugivory.

Interhabitat variation in diplochory: Seed dispersal effectiveness by birds and ants differs between tropical forest and savanna

2019 ◽  
Vol 38 ◽  
pp. 48-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulo H.S.A. Camargo ◽  
Suelen B.M. Rodrigues ◽  
Augusto J. Piratelli ◽  
Paulo S. Oliveira ◽  
Alexander V. Christianini
Keyword(s):  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Tropical Forest ◽  
Seed Dispersal Effectiveness ◽  
Dispersal Effectiveness
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