Seed dispersal and predation of Buchenavia tomentosa Eichler (Combretaceae) in a Cerrado sensu stricto, midwest Brazil/Dispersão e predação de sementes de Buchenavia tomentosa Eichler (Combretaceae) em Cerrado sentido restrito, centro-oeste do Brasil

• Published in: Brazilian journal of biology 2015-11, Vol.75 (4), p.88
• Main Authors: Farias, J, Sanchez, M, Abreu, M F, Pedroni, F
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Dispersal; Flowers & plants; Fruits; Fungi; Mortality; Parks & recreation areas; Seeds; Trees
• ISSN: 1519-6984; 1678-4375
• DOI: 10.1590/1519-6984.06214

The ecology of seed dispersal is critical to understand the patterns of distribution and abundance of plant species. The authors investigated seed dispersal aspects associated with the high abundance of Buchenavia tomentosa in the Serra Azul State Park (PESA). They carried out diurnal and nocturnal observations on frugivory as well as germination tests. 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. 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.