Frugivory of carnivores and seed dispersal of fleshy fruits in cool-temperate deciduous forests

Abstract

Five members of the order Carnivora in the cool-temperate deciduous forests of Japan consume the fruits of trees, and they are potential dispersers of the seeds of fleshy-fruited plants. We studied the frugivory of the Asiatic black bear, Japanese marten, badger, red fox, and raccoon dog in cool-temperate deciduous forest of central Japan. From May 2003 to April 2005, a total of 377 fecal samples of the five carnivores (bears, 91; martens, 158; badgers, 45; foxes, 36; and raccoon dogs, 47) were sampled to determine the presence and frequency of occurrence of seeds. Seeds from 17 plant species, representing about 50% of the fleshy-fruited plants occurring in the study forest, were recovered from the carnivore fecal samples. Large numbers (9-10,256) of seeds were present in those feces. Almost all the seeds of fleshy fruits retrieved from the fecal samples were undamaged whereas no intact acorns or nuts were recovered. These findings suggest that all five carnivores can act as seed dispersers for some fleshy-fruited plants in cool-temperate deciduous forest.

Relationships Between the Fruiting Phenology of Prunus jamasakura and Timing of Visits by Mammals - Estimation of the Feeding Period Using Camera Traps

“…Previous studies indicate carnivores such as bears, martens foxes, and civets can act as seed disperses for some fleshy-fruited plants (Koike et al, 2008b;Nakashima et al, 2010 ). This paper clarifies these mammals are not seed eaters in that they don't eat fruit with immature seeds.…”

“…The larger ones include Asiatic black bear, Sika deer (Cervus nippon), Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus), wild boar (Sus scrofa), Japanese macaque, red fox, Japanese marten, Japanese badger, masked palm civet, and raccoon dog (Tokyo Environmental Office, 2010). Most of these mammals are carnivores (bears, martens, badgers, foxes, and raccoon dogs); macaques have been recognized as seed dispersers and have been studied in Tokyo (e.g., Koike et al, 2008b;Tsuji 2011). …”

“…Some studies have shown carnivores have features which make them effective seed dispersers. For instance, the sectorial or bunodont cheek teeth of carnivores minimize the damage to seeds (Koike et al, 2008a(Koike et al, , 2008b. Also, carnivores disperse seeds longer distances than other animals .…”

“…Basic data on the number of seeds per fecal sample, which serves as an index of the quantitative effectiveness of seed dispersal (Schupp, 1993), as well as basic information on the physical damage to seeds that pass through a mammal's gastrointestinal tract, which is an index of qualitative effectiveness of seed disperal, are known in Japan for carnivores (Koike et al, 2008b) and macaques (Tsuji et al, 2011a). Koike et al, (2008b) studied five carnivores in the Okutama Mountains (Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus), Japanese marten (Martes melampus), Japanese badger (Meles meles), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), and raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides)) and recovered seeds from 17 plant species, representing about 50% of the fleshy-fruited plants occurring in the same study forest, from the carnivore fecal samples.…”

“…Koike et al, (2008b) studied five carnivores in the Okutama Mountains (Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus), Japanese marten (Martes melampus), Japanese badger (Meles meles), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), and raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides)) and recovered seeds from 17 plant species, representing about 50% of the fleshy-fruited plants occurring in the same study forest, from the carnivore fecal samples. Large numbers (nine to 10,256) of seeds were present in those fecal samples.…”