Seed dispersal and predation of Buchenavia tomentosa Eichler (Combretaceae) in a Cerrado sensu stricto, midwest Brazil

The ecology of seed dispersal is critical to understand the patterns of distribution and abundance of plant species. We investigated seed dispersal aspects associated with the high abundance of Buchenavia tomentosa in the Serra Azul State Park (PESA). We estimated fruit production and conducted frui...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Brazilian journal of biology 2015-11, Vol.75 (4 Suppl 1), p.S88-96
Main Authors: Farias, J, Sanchez, M, Abreu, M F, Pedroni, F
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amblycerus
Animals
Ants - physiology
Ara ararauna
Atta laevigata
Atta sexdens
BIOLOGY
Brazil
Buchenavia
Combretaceae
Combretaceae - physiology
exclusion experiments
Feeding Behavior
Food Chain
Formicidae
frugivory
fruit production
Germination
Grassland
Parrots - physiology
Perissodactyla - physiology
Seed Dispersal
seed germination
tapir dung
Tapirus terrestris
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Summary:The ecology of seed dispersal is critical to understand the patterns of distribution and abundance of plant species. We investigated seed dispersal aspects associated with the high abundance of Buchenavia tomentosa in the Serra Azul State Park (PESA). We estimated fruit production and conducted fruit removal experiments. We carried out diurnal and nocturnal observations on frugivory as well as germination tests. Fruiting occurred in the dry season and totaled 1,365,015 ± 762,670 fruits.ha-1. B. tomentosa fruits were utilized by eight animal species. The lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris) was considered the main seed disperser. Leafcutter ants (Atta laevigata and Atta sexdens) participated in the seed cleaning and occasionally dispersed seeds. The beetle Amblycerus insuturatus, blue-and-yellow macaw (Ara ararauna) and red-and-green macaw (Ara chloropterus) were considered pre-dispersal seed predators. The seeds manually cleaned presented higher germination rate (100%) and speed index (4.2 seeds.d-1) than that of seeds with pulp. Germination of seeds found in tapirs'feces was 40%, while for the seeds without pulp it was 25%. The high abundance of B. tomentosa in the cerrado of PESA may be due to massive fruit production, low rates of seed predation, and efficient seed dispersal by tapirs, occurring before the rains which promote germination and recruitment of this species.
ISSN:1519-6984
1678-4375
1678-4375
DOI:10.1590/1519-6984.06214