FSD 2010 - Gross-Camp

5th International Symposium-Workshop on Frugivores and Seed Dispersal (1985-2010)

Nicole Gross-Camp

University of East Anglia, Overseas Development Group

(Photo : Nicole Gross-Camp and staff in the field at Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda. © Pierre-Michel Forget)

Abstract

Differential seed handling by two African primates affects seed fate and establishment of large-seeded trees

By Nicole Gross-Camp and Beth A. Kaplin

We examined the influence of seed handling of two African primates, chimpanzees and mountain monkeys, on the fate of large seeded tree species in an afromontane forest in Rwanda. Primates exhibited different oral processing techniques with chimpanzees discarding large quantities of seeds in wadges and mountain monkeys spitting single seeds cleaned of fruit pulp. The first two components of a PCA of eight microhabitat characteristics describing the site where primates deposited seeds explained 46.7% of the variance. When plotted, microhabitat characteristics of defecations and spit seeds have little overlap suggesting that seed handling influences the deposition site. We monitored a total of 552 primate seed dispersal samples through time at their site of deposition for seed persistence, germination, and establishment. Defecations were deposited significantly farther from an adult conspecific where they experienced the greatest persistence but poorest establishment. In contrast, spit seeds were deposited closest to an adult conspecific but experienced the highest seed establishment rates. Experimental plot results revealed a significant difference in seed handling and fate, with undispersed seeds in whole fruits experiencing the lowest establishment rates. Our results highlight the importance of primate seed handling on the deposition site and seed fate, and may be helpful in the development of models to predict seed shadows and recruitment patterns of large seeded trees.

(Photos: Chimpanzee (top), Lhoesti Mountain monkey (middle, left) © Simon Camp, and Nicole analysing chimp dung (lright) and chimp dung (bottom) © Pierre-Michel Forget)

References

Gross-Camp, N., M. Masozera, and B. A. Kaplin. Chimpanzee seed dispersal in a tropical montane forest of Rwanda. American Journal of Primatology 71 :901-11.

Gross-Camp, N., F. Mulindahabi, and B. A. Kaplin. 2009. Comparing the dispersal of large-seeded tree species by frugivore assemblages in tropical montane forest. Biotropica 41: 442-451.

Gross-Camp, N. and B.A. Kaplin. 2005. Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) Seed Dispersal in an Afromontane Forest: An Examination of Microhabitat Influences on the Post-dispersal Fate of Large Seeds. Biotropica 37: 641-649.

Gross-Camp, N., N. Barakabuye, F. Bizimungu, M. Masozera and B.A. Kaplin. 2007. Linking research with education outreach programs to improve conservation efforts in protected areas. The Informal Learning Review, July-August, pp. 11-13. pdf