Antelope ingestion enhances germination of the marula (Sclerocarya birrea), an important African savannah tree

The marula (Sclerocarya birrea Hochst.) is an important forage and fruit tree in African savannahs. This study compared germination rate (days to germination) and success (percentage of stones that produced seedlings) among an intact control and four treatments, where fruits were (i) ingested by antelope (Cephalophinae and Neotragini), (ii) manually depulped, (iii) manually depulped and burnt and (iv) burnt intact. Measurements on three unrelated trees showed that whilst stone size differed significantly, germination success was comparable. Antelope regurgitated and expelled stones during rumination, within 16 h of ingestion. Seedling emergence commenced approximately 6 months after fruit drop when ambient temperature increased. Removal of fruit pulp increased germination rate and germination success, but moderate exposure to fire inhibited germination, especially following depulping. Germinated seeds were from significantly smaller stones than ungerminated seeds, suggesting that thicker‐walled endocarps inhibited seedling emergence. However, germination of the second seed in a stone was from larger stones in the germinated subset, possibly due to larger seed size. That antelope ingestion significantly enhanced germination over other treatments suggests that endozoochory is an important mode of seed dispersal in marulas. Appropriate fire management is therefore required in savannahs, as high‐intensity fires may limit germination and recruitment of marulas.