González-Di Pierro Ana María, Benítez-Malvido Julieta, Lombera Rafael
Instituto de Investigaciones sobre los Recursos Naturales, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Av. San Juanito Itzícuaro s/n, Morelia, Michoacán, CP 58330, Mexico.
Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro No. 8701, Ex-Hacienda de San José de la Huerta, Morelia, Michoacán, CP 58090, Mexico.
Am J Bot. 2021 Sep;108(9):1625-1634. doi: 10.1002/ajb2.1730. Epub 2021 Sep 20.
Primates are important seed dispersers, especially for large-seeded (>1 cm long) tropical species in continuous and fragmented rainforests.
In three forest fragments within the Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve, southern Mexico, we investigated the effect of seed passage through the gut of howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra) on the germination rate and maximum germination (%) of native, large-seeded species. One group of howler monkeys, per fragment, was followed and fresh feces collected. Large seeds were removed to compare their germination success with non-ingested seeds of the same species collected underneath parent plants.
Feces contained large seeds from seven tree species (Ampelocera hottlei, Castilla elastica, Dialium guianense, Garcinia intermedia, Pourouma bicolor, Spondias mombin, Trophis racemosa) and one liana species (Abuta panamensis). Except for G. intermedia, ingested seeds germinated significantly faster than non-ingested seeds, which had negligible germination. Ingested seeds of D. guianense, P. bicolor, S. mombin, T. racemosa, and A. panamensis had significantly greater germination, while G. intermedia had significantly lower germination and seed ingestion had no apparent effect for A. hottlei and C. elastica.
In general, seed ingestion by howler monkeys confers faster germination compared with non-ingested seeds. Faster germination reduces predation probabilities and increases seedling establishment in forest fragments. Primate dispersal services contribute to germination heterogeneity within plant populations of old-growth forest species and to their persistence in forest fragments.
灵长类动物是重要的种子传播者，尤其是对于连续和碎片化雨林中的大型种子（长度>1厘米）热带物种。
在墨西哥南部蒙特斯阿祖莱斯生物圈保护区内的三个森林碎片中，我们研究了吼猴（Alouatta pigra）肠道对本地大型种子物种的种子萌发率和最大发芽率（%）的影响。每个碎片跟踪一组吼猴并收集新鲜粪便。去除大种子以比较它们与在母树下收集的同一物种未摄入种子的发芽成功率。
粪便中含有来自七种树木物种（Ampelocera hottlei、Castilla elastica、Dialium guianense、Garcinia intermedia、Pourouma bicolor、Spondias mombin、Trophis racemosa）和一种藤本植物物种（Abuta panamensis）的大种子。除中间藤黄外，摄入的种子发芽速度明显快于未摄入的种子，后者发芽率可忽略不计。摄入的圭亚那猴欢喜、双色波罗蜜、海滨腰果、总序柄果木和巴拿马阿buta的种子发芽率显著更高，而中间藤黄的发芽率显著更低，种子摄入对A. hottlei和C. elastica没有明显影响。
一般来说，与未摄入的种子相比，吼猴摄入种子能使发芽更快。更快的发芽降低了被捕食的概率，并增加了森林碎片中幼苗的建立。灵长类动物的传播服务有助于老龄森林物种植物种群内的发芽异质性及其在森林碎片中的持久性。
