Frugivory by carnivores: Black‐backed jackals are key dispersers of seeds of the scented !nara melon in the Namib Desert
S. D. Shikesho,
J. J. Midgley,
E. Marais
et al.
Abstract:Carnivorous mammals have been reported to feed on fleshy fruits and disperse seeds, but these interactions are seldom observed and are poorly understood in hyper‐arid regions. Scent may play a key role in these interactions, given that most carnivores have sensitive olfactory systems and dichromatic vision. The !nara (Acanthosicyos horridus: Cucurbitaceae) in the Namib Desert produces large (10–20 cm diameter) melons that remain green while undergoing increased volatile emissions with a changing chemical profi… Show more
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