Tamarind tree seed dispersal by ring-tailed lemurs |
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Authors: | Anne S Mertl-Millhollen Kathryn Blumenfeld-Jones Sahoby Marin Raharison Donald Raymond Tsaramanana Hantanirina Rasamimanana |
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Institution: | 1.Department of Anthropology,University of Oregon,Eugene,USA;2.School of Human Evolution and Social Change,Arizona State University,Tempe,USA;3.école Normale Supérieur,Université d’Antananarivo,Antananarivo 101,Madagascar |
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Abstract: | In Madagascar, the gallery forests of the south are among the most endangered. Tamarind trees (Tamarindus indica) dominate these riverine forests and are a keystone food resource for ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta). At Berenty Reserve, the presence of tamarind trees is declining, and there is little recruitment of young trees. Because
mature tamarinds inhibit growth under their crowns, seeds must be dispersed away from adult trees if tree recruitment is to
occur. Ring-tailed lemurs are likely seed dispersers; however, because they spend much of their feeding, siesta, and sleeping
time in tamarinds, they may defecate a majority of the tamarind seeds under tamarind trees. To determine whether they disperse
tamarind seeds away from overhanging tamarind tree crowns, we observed two troops for 10 days each, noted the locations of
feeding and defecation, and collected seeds from feces and fruit for germination. We also collected additional data on tamarind
seedling recruitment under natural conditions, in which seedling germination was abundant after extensive rain, including
under the canopy. However, seedling survival to 1 year was lower when growing under mature tamarind tree crowns than when
growing away from an overhanging crown. Despite low fruit abundance averaging two fruits/m3 in tamarind crowns, lemurs fed on tamarind fruit for 32% of their feeding samples. Daily path lengths averaged 1,266 m, and
lemurs deposited seeds throughout their ranges. Fifty-eight percent of the 417 recorded lemur defecations were on the ground
away from overhanging tamarind tree crowns. Tamarind seeds collected from both fruit and feces germinated. Because lemurs
deposited viable seeds on the ground away from overhanging mature tamarind tree crowns, we conclude that ring-tailed lemurs
provide tamarind tree seed dispersal services. |
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