Microsatellite analysis of the maternal origin of Myrica rubra seeds in the feces of Japanese macaques

Abstract

Identifying the maternal origin of dispersed seeds is a challenging task because it is impossible to directly track seed movement once an animal has ingested them. However, recent development of molecular techniques allows us to identify the maternal origin of dispersed seeds in natural plant populations. Here we analyzed the maternal origin of Myrica rubra seeds found in the feces of Yakushima macaques. We detected a high level of diversity among the dispersed seeds, with an average of 3.0 maternal origins (range 1-9) in each feces. The average dispersal distance was 270.0 m (range 20.4-634.0 m) and the average of distance between maternal trees of dispersed seeds in the same feces was 161.5 m (range 0-573.9 m). These results suggest that seed dispersal by macaques plays an important role in maintaining the genetic diversity of Myrica rubra populations.

Integrating frugivory and animal movement: a review of the evidence and implications for scaling seed dispersal

“…Visual tracking of animals' foraging and post-feeding movement until seeds are deposited requires that researchers have an initial estimate of average or maximum gut retention time for the disperser. But, if an animal consumes fruits from conspecifics within the gut retention timeframe, identification of the exact maternal tree is impossible, unless genetic maternity analysis is also employed (Terakawa et al, 2009). But, if an animal consumes fruits from conspecifics within the gut retention timeframe, identification of the exact maternal tree is impossible, unless genetic maternity analysis is also employed (Terakawa et al, 2009).…”

The role of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) as endozoochorous seed dispersers on Kinkazan Island, northern Japan

“…Previous studies of the role of Japanese macaques as endozoochorous seed dispersers have been conducted mainly in the warm temperate regions of Yakushima Island (hereafter Yakushima). These studies have compiled lists of intact seeds observed within faeces (Otani and Shibata 2000), estimated dispersal distance (Yumoto et al 1998;Terakawa et al 2009), and examined the effects of: dispersal on seed germination/seedling growth (Yumoto et al 1998); seed/fruit characteristics on seed destruction (Otani and Shibata 2000); and, foraging patterns on the topography of defecation sites (Tsujino and Yumoto 2009). …”

Endozoochorous seed dispersal by Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata): Effects of temporal variation in ranging and seed characteristics on seed shadows

“…Thus, macaques at higher latitudes should transport seeds longer distances via defecation. This prediction is supported by an intersite comparison: the endozoochorous seed dispersal distance of Japanese macaques on Kinkazan Island (northern Japan, 38°N; median: 431-478 m, maximum: 1,261 m) was much greater than that of the same species on Yakushima Island (southern Japan, 30°N; mean: 270.0 m, range: 20.4-634.0 m) [Terakawa et al, 2009], that of rhesus macaques (M. mulatta) in Buxa Tiger Reserve (northern India, 26°N…”

“…Seed shadows, the spatial distribution of seeds dispersed from an individual plant [Jordano & Schupp, 2002], have been generated for primates in many regions, and indicate that primates can transport seeds up to several hundreds of meters away from their feeding sites [Africa: Gautier-Hion et al, 1983;Madagascar: Moses & Semple, 2011;Asia: McConkey & Chivers, 2007;Terakawa et al, 2009;South America: Julliot, 1997;Stevenson, 2000], and that great apes sometimes dispersed seeds more than 1,000 m [Beaune et al, 2013;Tsuji et al, 2010a]. Depositing seeds across wide ranges enables the colonization of new sites by dispersing seeds far from the parent tree [Howe & Smallwood, 1982], and thus can contribute to maintaining plant populations and, ultimately, to forest structure [Chapman & Russo, 2007].…”