Ecological correlates of trophic status and frugivory in neotropical primates

摘要: Primates are among the most observable and best studied vertebrate order in tropical forest regions, with widespread attention dedicated to feeding ecology of wild populations. In particular, primates play a key role as frugivores seed-dispersal agents for myriad plants. Sampling effort by primatologists, however, has been unequally distributed, hampering quantitative comparisons primate diets. We provide first systematic review diets, an emphasis on frugivory, using comprehensive compilation 290 unique dietary studies from 164 localities 17 countries across entire Neotropical realm. account sampling (standardised hours) comparing richness fruiting plants recorded relative contribution frugivory overall diet relation life-history traits, such body mass. find strong support long-held hypothesis, based Kay's Threshold, that size imposes upper limit insectivory lower folivory, therefore is important at intermediate sizes. However, mass extant neotropical primates, truncated post-Pleistocene megafaunal overkill, implications extent frugivory-folivory continuum extinct lineages. Contemporary threats faced largest serve further warning all remain severely undersampled regard composition fruits consumed. Indeed, frugivorous expected have species-rich plant diets amongst those poorly sampled, exposing our current understanding primate-plant interaction networks.