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Quantification of four different post-dispersal seed deposition patterns after dung beetle activity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 November 2017

R. F. Braga ,
R. Carvalho ,
E. Andresen ,
D. V. Anjos ,
E. Alves-Silva  and
J. Louzada
R. F. Braga
Affiliation:
Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação de Invertebrados, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras, MG. Brazil Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais, Divinópolis, MG. Brazil
R. Carvalho*
Affiliation:
Laboratório de Ecologia de Insetos Sociais, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG. Brazil
E. Andresen
Affiliation:
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia, Michoacán. Mexico
D. V. Anjos
Affiliation:
Programa de Pós Graduação em Entomologia, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP. Brazil
E. Alves-Silva
Affiliation:
Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso, Nova Xavantina, MT. Brazil
J. Louzada
Affiliation:
Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação de Invertebrados, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras, MG. Brazil
*
*Corresponding author. E-mail: raqueluly@gmail.com
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Abstract:

Primary seed dispersal of many rain-forest seeds occurs through defecation by mammals. Dung beetles are attracted to the defecations and through their dung-processing behaviour these insects change the initial pattern of seed deposition. Final seed deposition patterns, i.e. where and how seeds are deposited after dung beetle activity has taken place, may strongly depend on seed size. In this study we addressed the following question: Do different sizes of seeds have different deposition patterns following dung beetle processing? We conducted a field experiment in lowland Amazonian rain forest in Brazil using 200-g dung-piles containing seed mimics of three sizes: 3.5, 8.6 and 15.5 mm long. Seed deposition condition after dung beetle activity was dependent on seed size. Small seeds were more often buried in beetle tunnels, while medium and large seeds more often remained on the soil surface, either clean or still covered by dung. A low proportion of seeds of all sizes remained on the soil surface covered by loose soil excavated by dung beetles. We speculate that the latter deposition pattern, though not very frequent, might be highly favourable for both seed survival and seedling establishment.

Keywords

biotic interactionsecological functionpost-dispersal seed fateScarabaeinaesecondary seed dispersal
Type
Short Communication
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 33 , Issue 6 , November 2017 , pp. 407 - 410
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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