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Frugivory and seed dispersal in Cymbopetalum baillonii (Annonaceae) at Los Tuxtlas, Mexico

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

Rosamond Coates-Estrada  and
Alejandro Estrada
Rosamond Coates-Estrada
Affiliation:
Estación de Biología Los Tuxtlas, Instituto de Biología-UNAM, Apartado Postal 176, San Andrés Tuxtla, Veracruz, México
Alejandro Estrada
Affiliation:
Estación de Biología Los Tuxtlas, Instituto de Biología-UNAM, Apartado Postal 176, San Andrés Tuxtla, Veracruz, México
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Abstract

Fruit production, frugivore foraging activity and seed dispersal was studied at 10 Cymbopetalum baillonii (Annonaceae) trees during an entire fruiting season. Fruits dehisced during the first six months of the year offer to potential dispersal agents a package of 8–24 arillate seeds. Insects and fungi, however, killed up to 14% of the seeds potentially available for dispersal before fruit dehiscence. Visitation by 24 species of birds and one mammal to the trees closely followed the availability of arillate seeds. The foraging activity of Peromyscus and Heteromys rodents accounted for ≥ 80% mortality of the seeds deposited under the crown of the parent tree. Among those seedlings that became established under the crown mortality was ≥ 90% after 12 months. Seeds dispersed under conspecific fruiting trees experienced intense predation by vertebrates. Field experiments showed that seeds and seedlings planted ≥ 30 m away from adult trees survived significantly longer than those planted under the crown and at distances ≤ 30 m. An unequivocal advantage to dispersal away from the tree and under allospecific trees was evident from the data. A very narrow range of frugivores (N = 8 species) accounted for the quality component of dispersal services to the trees. The tree with the lowest animal visitation and fruit crop was the most efficient in the dispersal of its seeds.

Resumen

La producción de frutos, la actividad alimenticia de animales frugívoros y la dispersión de semillas por estos últimos fué estudiada en 10 árboles de Cymbopetalum baillonii (Annonaceae) durante una época completa de frutación. Las frutas capsuladas se abren durante los primeros seis meses del aão ofreciendo a los dispersores un paquete de 8–24 semillas ariladas. Sin embargo, los insectos y hongos matan hasta un 14% de las semillas potencialmente disponibles para la dispersión antes de la apertura de las cápsulas. La apertura de las cápsulas resultó en la visitación de veinte y dos especies de aves y de un mamífero que siguieron muy de cerca la distribución temporal de la disponibilidad de las semillas ariladas. Las semillas dispersadas bajo la copa del árbol progenitor y de árboles conespecíficos fueron intensamente depredadas por roedores de los géneros Peromyscus y Heteromys que causaron el 80% ó más de la mortalidad observada. Entre las plántulas que se establecieron en estos sitios la mortalidad fué igual ó mayor que el 90% después de 12 meses. Experimentos con semillas y plántulas mostraron que aquellas sembradas a 30 ó más metros del árbol progenitor y bajo árboles alospecíficos sobrevivieron significativamente más tiempo que las sembradas a distancias menores de 30 metros. Un grupo muy restringido de frugívoros (N = 8 especies) trasladaron las semillas a distancias mayores de 30 m aportando así un servicio de calidad en la dispersión. El árbol con el menor número de visitas por frugívoros y con una de las cosechas más bajas de frutos fué el individuo más eficiente en la dispersión de sus semillas.

Keywords

Cymbopetalum bailloniifrugivoryMexicoseed dispersalseed predationtropical rain forest
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 4 , Issue 2 , May 1988 , pp. 157 - 172
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1988

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