Fruit consumption and seed dispersal of Dimorphandra mollis Benth. (Leguminosae) by the lowland tapir in the Cerrado of Central Brazil



Document title: Fruit consumption and seed dispersal of Dimorphandra mollis Benth. (Leguminosae) by the lowland tapir in the Cerrado of Central Brazil
Journal: Brazilian journal of biology
Database: PERIÓDICA
System number: 000275884
ISSN: 1519-6984
Authors: 1

2
Institutions: 1Universidade de Brasilia, Centro Universitario de Brasilia, Brasilia, Distrito Federal. Brasil
2Universidade de Brasilia, Departamento de Zoologia, Brasilia, Distrito Federal. Brasil
Year:
Season: Ago
Volumen: 65
Number: 3
Pages: 407-413
Country: Brasil
Language: Inglés
Document type: Artículo
Approach: Analítico, descriptivo
English abstract Fruit phenology observations and consumption of Dimorphandra mollis (Leguminosae) were analyzed during seven months in an area of cerrado stricto sensu. We analysed 81 fecal samples collected at six different places of lowland tapirs (Tapirus terrestris) in central Brazilian cerrado. In addition, from the feces of five tapirs at the Brasília Zoo to which fruit had been offered, seeds were collected and used in germination tests. The results suggest that the tapir is an important fruit consumer and a potential seed disperser of D. mollis. In the field, however, fruit consumption was found to be very low, probably because of both fruit palatability and the low density of frugivores, especially tapirs. The possibility that the original dispersal agents of D. mollis seeds belonged to the South American Pleistocene megafauna is discussed
Portuguese abstract A frutificação de Dimorphandra mollis e o destino dos frutos foram analisados por 7 meses em uma área de cerrado stricto sensu no Distrito Federal. Analisamos 81 amostras de fezes de anta (Tapirus terrestris) coletadas em 6 áreas de cerrado no Brasil Central e oferecemos frutos a 5 antas no zoológico de Brasília. As fezes foram coletadas e as sementes usadas em testes de germinação. A anta é importante consumidor dos frutos e potencial dispersor das sementes. Contudo, o consumo de frutos no campo foi reduzido provavelmente em razão da palatabilidade dos frutos e da baixa densidade de frugívoros, especialmente antas. Discutimos a possibilidade de os dispersores originais pertencerem à megafauna extinta de mamíferos da América do Sul
Disciplines: Agrociencias,
Biología
Keyword: Leguminosas,
Ecología,
Mamíferos,
Dimorphandra mollis,
Tapirus terrestris,
Herbívoros,
Heces,
Brasil,
Palatabilidad,
Semillas,
Dispersión
Keyword: Agricultural sciences,
Biology,
Legumes,
Ecology,
Mammals,
Dimorphandra mollis,
Palatability,
Herbivorous,
Feces,
Brazil,
Tapirus terrestris,
Seeds,
Dispersion
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