Seed dispersal by black-handed tamarins, Saguinus midas niger (Callitrichinae, Primates): implications for the regeneration of degraded forest habitats in eastern Amazonia

Abstract

The feeding behaviour of free-ranging black-handed tamarins, Saguinus midas niger, was monitored over 6 mo in a forest fragment in eastern Amazonia. The tamarins' diet included arthropods and plant exudates, but was predominantly frugivorous (87.5% of feeding records, 18 plant species) in all months. The seeds of at least six species were ingested whole and defecated intact. Ingested seeds were relatively large, but those with diameter > 1 cm or length > 2 cm were discarded. Seeds took 2–4 h to pass through the digestive tract, and more than half (50.6%) were dispersed to a habitat different from that in which they were ingested. A fifth (19.3%) of all seeds were dispersed from primary to secondary forest, indicating that S. m. niger may play an important rôle in forest regeneration, a rôle that will become increasingly important in the fragmented landscape of eastern Amazonia.

Seed Dispersal by Sympatric Tamarins, Saguinus mystax and Saguinus fuscicollis: Diversity and Characteristics of Plant Species

“…Nevertheless, particularly understorey and scandent tree species which produce indehiscent fruits almost exclusively consumed by tamarins even in non-hunted species-rich primate assemblages [Peres, 1993;Terborgh, 1983] may profit from the remarkable seed-swallowing capacities of tamarins in relation to their small body size [Peres, 2002]. Furthermore, tamarins may enter and survive in degraded habitats and may transport seeds into these areas [Oliveira and Ferrari, 2000; see also Kaplin and Lambert, 2002], thus potentially contributing to the regeneration of such habitats. Folia Primatol 2003;74:33-47 …”

Frugivory and seed dispersal of golden lion tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia (Linnaeus, 1766)) in a forest fragment in the Atlantic Forest, Brazil

“…Many studies show their importance as dispersers, partly due to the many ingested seeds that retain their viability after defecation (Chapman, 1989;Estrada et al, 1984;Estrada and CoatesEstrada, 1991;Figueiredo, 1993;Howe, 1980;Lieberman et al, 1979;McConkey, 2000;Nunes, 1995;Passos, 1997;Sanches and Pedroni, 1994;Zhang and Wang, 1995). They affect the structure and composition of the plants with which they interact (Chapman, 1995), and may play an important role in the regeneration of the fragmented areas where most of them occur (Oliveira and Ferrari, 2000).…”

Influences on Gum Feeding in Primates

“…The retention of the fluid portion of digesta, containing the complex polysaccharides from gums, has since been demonstrated in captive common marmosets (Caton et al 1996), although this ability to retain digesta may be lacking in non-specialist gummivores such as the tamarins, particularly since they often swallow large seeds that may impede retention of any part of the digesta (see Garber 1986, Garber andKitron 1997;Oliveira and Ferrari 2000;Knogge and Heymann 2003). In addition to benefits from consuming gums later in the day there are also potential costs of consuming them earlier.…”