Frugivory and Seed Dispersal Patterns of the Red-Ruffed Lemur, Varecia rubra, at a Forest Restoration Site in Masoala National Park, Madagascar

摘要: Frugivorous primates can play a critical role in the regeneration of degraded habitats by dispersing seeds their food plants. We studied diet and seed dispersal patterns 3 groups habituated red-ruffed lemurs (Varecia rubra) rain forest restoration site Masoala National Park, Madagascar, to assess species' effectiveness. Fruits accounted for 61% diet, with an average foraging time 10 min per fruit patch day. Seeds from 75% consumed species were recovered collected V. rubra feces. traced potential parent plants 20 dispersed-seed calculate gut passage range (63-423 min; mean = 225, n 35). The median distance plant was 48 m (mean 83 m, 0-568 194). home ranges 2 overlapped regenerating parcels. Although 92% fecal samples dispersed into undisturbed forest, fed on fruits non-native pioneer shrub Clidemia hirta, while also native