From dropping to dropping: The contribution of a small primate to seed dispersal in Atlantic Forest

Author(s)

Gestich, Carla Cristina ^{[1, 2]} ; Nagy-Reis, Mariana B. ^{[3, 1]} ; Caselli, Christini Barbosa ^{[1, 4]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Campinas, Inst Biol, Dept Biol Anim, Rua Monteiro Lobato 255, Caixa Postal 6109, BR-13083862 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Ctr Ciencias Biol & Saude, Dept Genet & Evolucao, Rodovia Washington Luis Km 235, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Alberta, Dept Biol Sci, 116 St & 85 Ave, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3 - Canada

^[4] Univ Fed Rural Pernambuco, Dept Biol, Rua Dom Manoel de Medeiros S-N, BR-5217190 Recife, PE - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ACTA OECOLOGICA-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY; v. 100, OCT 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

The dynamic interaction between animals and plants through frugivory and seed dispersal is one of several ecological processes that modulates tropical biodiversity. Here we evaluated the potential role of a highly-frugivorous Neotropical primate, the black-fronted titi monkey (Callicebus nigrifrons), as seed disperser. We studied two titi monkey groups in semideciduous Atlantic Forest remnants. Each group fed on over 49 zoochorous plant species in about one year and ingested seeds from nearly a half of them, especially those with small seeds (< 0.5 cm). The groups of titi monkeys defecated a large number of seeds, reaching over 300 seeds per day (1-305). More than half of the total deposited seeds and seed species germinated after gut passage, however gut passage reduced germination success in three of five evaluated species. Feces were deposited in small clumps distributed across groups' home range. We suggest that the observed distribution pattern of feces may enhance plant reproductive fitness by increasing the probability of seeds being deposited far from parent plants, in novel and favorable sites. We concluded that the seed handling and deposition behavior of black-fronted titi monkey make this primate an important agent for Atlantic forest regeneration. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 09/12124-0 - Feeding ecology and behavior of Callicebus nigrifrons in an Atlantic Forest fragment of Sousas and Joaquim Egídio area, Campinas, SP.
• Grantee: Mariana Nagy Baldy dos Reis
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 08/05127-0 - Territorial behavior of Callicebus nigrifrons Spix, 1823 (Pitheciidae): Influence of fruits availability and distribution and possible functions of the duets.
• Grantee: Christini Barbosa Caselli
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 10/04034-9 - Thermoregulation influence on ecology and behavior from Callicebus nigrifrons (Primates: Pitheciidae)
• Grantee: Carla Cristina Gestich
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master