First Report on the Movements Related to Feeding Behavior and Potential Importance as a Seed Disperser of the Masked Palm Civet Paguma larvata in Borneo

Abstract

We report the movements related to feeding behavior (using radio telemetry), and the contribution of gut passage to seed germination, of a male masked palm civet Paguma larvata in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. The 95% kernel and 95% minimum convex polygon (MCP) home-range sizes were 1.20 km2 and 2.85 km2, respectively, based on 39 telemetry fixes during 151 tracking days. We recorded six feeding sites consisting of fruiting Ficus trees. The civet repeatedly visited the same fruiting trees, indicating specific food resources may be limited within these forests. However, we observed the civet leaving ripe figs uneaten. Thus the total number of ripe fruits might not be the priority factor determining civet feeding behaviors. The tracked civet usually slept in places that were 0.5 km away from feeding sites and he visited several trees in one night. Gut passage enhanced seed germination of a hemi-epiphytic fig species, Ficus lawesii, and ingested seeds germinated much earlier than intact ones, indicating that gut passage may be essential for improving germination. The results suggest the possible contribution of this species to seed dispersal, especially in plants having epiphytic life forms. More studies are needed to evaluate the ecological role of this species in its ecosystem.