Monkey Dispersal and Waste of a Neotropical Fruit

摘要: Foraging birds and mammals were observed at a Panamanian rain forest tree Tetra- gastris panamensis (Burseraceae) in order to determine (1) relative importance of different dispersal agents (2) the relationship between fruit production dispersal. The system is interest because fruits provide little but sugar, are not depleted by animals (i.e., superabundant), visited variety vertebrates with effects on seed dissemination. Three (Alouatta palliata, Cebus capucinus, Nasua narica) account for 97% all seeds removed from trees; howler monkey (Alouatta) alone responsible 74% removed. Seeds feces these fully viable. In addition, two diurnal mammals, three nocturnal nine ingest disperse small numbers seeds, species numerically insignificant. Two parrots (Amazona farinosa A. autumnalis) im- portant thieves predators, while additional kill or drop near parent trees. Assemblage richness increases markedly crop size, most 25 visitors significance plant. Use monkeys closely reflects their abundance; abundance coatimundi (Nasua) unknown. This characterized enormous waste. Of >430,000 produced 19 study trees 1978, <4% had even remote chance establishment. remainder killed (6%), dropped spontaneously fell under (66%), doomed intense competition fecal clumps (24%). primary indirectly caused seedling mortality dropping crown leaving them clumps, precluding survival any fraction seedlings. Crop size ranged 165 100,000 arillate per season, appeared superabundant Numbers dispersed increased dramatically proportion was highest plants crops intermediate size. Dispropor- tionate seedlings high densities adult indicated density-dependent among juveniles. Wide geographical ranges this members frugivore assemblage, use other food resources common foragers, variation visitation individual trees, irregular annual production, obvious "inefficiency" dominant perspective plant suggest that Tetragastris has generalized strategy coevolved particular frugivores. A expected tree, such as one, produces sugary incapable providing balanced diet.