McConkey K R
Wildlife Research Group, Department of Anatomy, University of Cambridge, UK.
Am J Primatol. 2000 Sep;52(1):13-29. doi: 10.1002/1098-2345(200009)52:1<13::AID-AJP2>3.0.CO;2-Y.
Gibbons are one of the main frugivores in the forests of Southeast Asia, and consequently have long been considered to be good seed dispersers. This is the first study in which the primary seed shadow they create by their ranging and foraging activities is evaluated in detail. I studied two gibbon groups over 12 months in lowland dipterocarp forest in central Borneo. The gibbons dispersed up to 81% of the species they consumed and destroyed the seeds of only 12%. Fruit with elongated seeds (up to 20 mm wide) were more likely to be dispersed than round seeds. Considering that the survival rate of seeds in the forest to one year was 8%, the gibbons effectively dispersed 13 seedlings ha(-1) group(-1) year(-1). Their effect on germination was very variable, although most species did eventually germinate. Most seeds were deposited along their major ranging routes and close to or under feeding trees.
长臂猿是东南亚森林中的主要食果动物之一，因此长期以来一直被认为是很好的种子传播者。这是第一项详细评估它们通过活动范围和觅食活动所形成的主要种子传播范围的研究。我在婆罗洲中部的低地龙脑香林中对两个长臂猿群体进行了为期12个月的研究。长臂猿传播了它们所食用物种的81%，仅破坏了12%的种子。与圆形种子相比，长形种子（宽度达20毫米）的果实更有可能被传播。考虑到森林中种子一年后的存活率为8%，长臂猿每年每公顷有效地传播了13株幼苗。它们对种子萌发的影响差异很大，尽管大多数物种最终都能发芽。大多数种子被放置在它们的主要活动路线上以及靠近取食树或树下。
