Adaptation of Fruit Morphology to Dispersal Agents in a Neotropical Forest

Janson, Charles H.

doi:10.1126/science.219.4581.187

Cited by 448 publications

(393 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Furthermore, we did not consider seeds < 5 mm in length, which are known to be dispersed by a wider variety of seed dispersers, including small-to-medium terrestrial mammals, bats and birds (Janson 1983, Stoner et al 2007, whereas seeds ≥ 5 mm in length are frequently dispersed by primates (Arroyo-Rodríguez et al 2015, Chaves et al 2011, González-Zamora et al 2014). …”

Section: Seed-rain Patternsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sleeping-tree fidelity of the spider monkey shapes community-level seed-rain patterns in continuous and fragmented rain forests

et al. 2015

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Repeated use of sleeping trees (STs) by frugivores promotes the deposition and aggregation of copious amounts of seed, thus having key implications for seed dispersal and forest regeneration. Seed-rain patterns produced by this behaviour likely depend on the frequency of use of these sites, yet this hypothesis has been poorly tested. We evaluated communitylevel seed-rain patterns produced by the spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi) over 13 mo in latrines located beneath 60 STs in the Lacandona rain forest, Mexico. Because this primate is increasingly 'forced' to inhabit fragmented landscapes, we tested whether sleeping-tree fidelity (STF) differed among sites and between continuous and fragmented forests. We also tested whether seed-rain patterns were associated with STF within each site and forest type. STF was highly variable among STs (average = 7 mo, range = 1-12 mo), but did not differ among study sites or forest types. STF was positively associated with seed abundance, species diversity and species turnover. Nevertheless, STF tended to be negatively related to seed community evenness. These results are likely due to the most frequently used STs being in areas with greater food density. Our results demonstrate that site fidelity shapes community-level seed-rain patterns and thus has key ecological implications.

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Section: Seed-rain Patternsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sleeping-tree fidelity of the spider monkey shapes community-level seed-rain patterns in continuous and fragmented rain forests

et al. 2015

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“…Consequently, many Sapotaceae species are almost exclusively dispersed by arboreal mammals, which have the biting and manipulative abilities to open such fruits (Janson 1983, Julliot 1996, Roosmalen 1985. In the study region Sapotaceae can be very important in the diets of arboreal mammals (Spironello 1999).…”

Section: Plant Species and Primary Dispersersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of dung presence, dung amount and secondary dispersal by dung beetles on the fate of Micropholis guyanensis (Sapotaceae) seeds in Central Amazonia

Andresen

2001

J. Trop. Ecol.

101

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ABSTRACT. The study of seed fate is crucial for understanding fruit-frugivore interactions. One factor that can greatly influence the fate of seeds dispersed through mammal defecation, is the dung that accompanies the seeds. Dung attracts dung beetles and rodents; the former eat and bury dung, the latter feed on seeds. In this study the fate of Micropholis guyanensis subsp. guyanensis seeds surrounded by no dung and by 5, 10 and 25 g of howler monkey dung was followed until seedling establishment. The depths at which dung beetles bury the seeds were measured, and the effect of burial depth on seedling emergence was determined. Although initial seed fates differed among treatments, the same percentage of seedlings established from seeds without faecal material, and from seeds with 5, 10 and 25 g of dung. However, a significantly higher proportion of seedlings established from buried seeds when compared to seeds that remained on the surface. The percentage of seedlings establishing in a controlled germination experiment decreased significantly with increasing burial depth. The effect of dung beetle activity should be taken into consideration when assessing the role that mammal endozoochory plays on seed dispersal ecology of tropical plants. These results provide further evidence for the emerging realization that the study of secondary seed dispersal and post-dispersal events is crucial for a more complete understanding of plant regeneration.

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“…So far, studies on fruit colouration have often categorised colours according to human vision (e.g. Janson 1983;Gautier-Hion et al 1985), or quantified fruit colouration according to primate vision Mollon 2000a, 2000b;Regan et al 2001). Both approaches may be inadequate for non-primate seed dispersers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The disperser syndrome hypothesis posits that fruit traits converge to syndromes that are reliably associated with specific seed disperser types (van der Pijil 1972;Janson 1983). This hypothesis has been criticised as few animals tend to specialise on particular fruits and many fruit traits are strongly determined by phylogeny (Herrera 1985;Fischer and Chapman 1993;see Waser et al 1996; Johnson and Steiner 2000 for pollination syndromes).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geographic patterns in fruit colour diversity: do leaves constrain the colour of fleshy fruits?

et al. 2008

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We tested for geographic patterns in fruit colour diversity. Fruit colours are thought to promote detection by seed dispersers. Because seed dispersers differ in their spectral sensitivities, we predicted that fruit colour diversity would be higher in regions with higher seed disperser diversity (i.e. the tropics). We collected reflectance data on 232 fruiting plant species and their natural backgrounds in seven localities in Europe, North and South America, and analysed fruit colour diversity according to the visual system of birds-the primary consumer types of these fruits. We found no evidence that fruit colours are either more conspicuous or more diverse in tropical areas characterised by higher seed disperser diversity. Instead, fruit colour diversity was lowest in central Brazil, suggesting that fruit colours may be more diverse in temperate regions. Although we found little evidence for geographic variation in fruit hues, the spectral properties of fruits were positively associated with the spectral properties of backgrounds. This result implies that fruit colours may be influenced by selection on the reflectance properties of leaves, thus constraining the evolution of fruit colour. Overall, the results suggest that fruit colours in the tropics are neither more diverse nor more conspicuous than temperate fruits, and that fruit colours may be influenced by correlated selection on leaf reflectance properties.

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Adaptation of Fruit Morphology to Dispersal Agents in a Neotropical Forest

Cited by 448 publications

References 8 publications

Sleeping-tree fidelity of the spider monkey shapes community-level seed-rain patterns in continuous and fragmented rain forests

Sleeping-tree fidelity of the spider monkey shapes community-level seed-rain patterns in continuous and fragmented rain forests

Effects of dung presence, dung amount and secondary dispersal by dung beetles on the fate of Micropholis guyanensis (Sapotaceae) seeds in Central Amazonia

Geographic patterns in fruit colour diversity: do leaves constrain the colour of fleshy fruits?

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