Seed dispersal and ingestion of insect-infested seeds by black howler monkeys in flooded forests of the parana river, Argentina

All howler monkey species (Alouatta spp.) have a folivorous-frugivorous diet. Howler monkeys are reported to be seed dispersers in several areas, including black howlers (Alouatta caraya), which are important seed dispersers in northern Argentinean forests. The goal of this work was to study the thr...

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Autor principal: Bravo, S.P.
Formato: JOUR
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Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_00063606_v40_n4_p471_Bravo
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spelling todo:paper_00063606_v40_n4_p471_Bravo2023-10-03T14:05:12Z Seed dispersal and ingestion of insect-infested seeds by black howler monkeys in flooded forests of the parana river, Argentina Bravo, S.P. Alouatta caraya Insect consumption Insect seed predation Three-way interaction diet digestion frugivory germination ingestion rate primate seed dispersal Argentina Parana River South America Alouatta Alouatta caraya Banara Hexapoda Ocotea All howler monkey species (Alouatta spp.) have a folivorous-frugivorous diet. Howler monkeys are reported to be seed dispersers in several areas, including black howlers (Alouatta caraya), which are important seed dispersers in northern Argentinean forests. The goal of this work was to study the three-way interaction between insects, seeds, and black howlers, and assess the functional significance of this tri-trophic interaction for seed dispersal. I determined through direct observation that fruits of species with a high proportion of insect infestation were important components of howler monkey diet. Ocotea diospyrifolia seeds from fresh faeces of black howlers contained dead larvae, but seeds were still able to germinate. Seeds in which larvae had reached an advanced stage of development did not germinate. Larvae of infested Eugenia punicifolia fruits were killed by digestion when they occurred in the pulp early in the fruiting season, but were dispersed alive with seeds later in the season. Banara arguta fruits contained both healthy and infested seeds; infested seeds were destroyed during digestion, while healthy seeds were dispersed. Black howlers' ingestion of infested fruits could result in the: (1) killing of larvae and dispersion of healthy seeds; (2) spread of larvae; or (3) destruction of infested seeds. This will depend on the relationship between the time at which fruit is consumed by black howlers, the time at which insect infestation occurs, and also probably on the hardness of the seed coat and the seed-insect size ratio. Journal compilation © 2008 by The Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation. Fil:Bravo, S.P. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. JOUR info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/ar http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_00063606_v40_n4_p471_Bravo
institution Universidad de Buenos Aires
institution_str I-28
repository_str R-134
collection Biblioteca Digital - Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (UBA)
topic Alouatta caraya
Insect consumption
Insect seed predation
Three-way interaction
diet
digestion
frugivory
germination
ingestion rate
primate
seed dispersal
Argentina
Parana River
South America
Alouatta
Alouatta caraya
Banara
Hexapoda
Ocotea
spellingShingle Alouatta caraya
Insect consumption
Insect seed predation
Three-way interaction
diet
digestion
frugivory
germination
ingestion rate
primate
seed dispersal
Argentina
Parana River
South America
Alouatta
Alouatta caraya
Banara
Hexapoda
Ocotea
Bravo, S.P.
Seed dispersal and ingestion of insect-infested seeds by black howler monkeys in flooded forests of the parana river, Argentina
topic_facet Alouatta caraya
Insect consumption
Insect seed predation
Three-way interaction
diet
digestion
frugivory
germination
ingestion rate
primate
seed dispersal
Argentina
Parana River
South America
Alouatta
Alouatta caraya
Banara
Hexapoda
Ocotea
description All howler monkey species (Alouatta spp.) have a folivorous-frugivorous diet. Howler monkeys are reported to be seed dispersers in several areas, including black howlers (Alouatta caraya), which are important seed dispersers in northern Argentinean forests. The goal of this work was to study the three-way interaction between insects, seeds, and black howlers, and assess the functional significance of this tri-trophic interaction for seed dispersal. I determined through direct observation that fruits of species with a high proportion of insect infestation were important components of howler monkey diet. Ocotea diospyrifolia seeds from fresh faeces of black howlers contained dead larvae, but seeds were still able to germinate. Seeds in which larvae had reached an advanced stage of development did not germinate. Larvae of infested Eugenia punicifolia fruits were killed by digestion when they occurred in the pulp early in the fruiting season, but were dispersed alive with seeds later in the season. Banara arguta fruits contained both healthy and infested seeds; infested seeds were destroyed during digestion, while healthy seeds were dispersed. Black howlers' ingestion of infested fruits could result in the: (1) killing of larvae and dispersion of healthy seeds; (2) spread of larvae; or (3) destruction of infested seeds. This will depend on the relationship between the time at which fruit is consumed by black howlers, the time at which insect infestation occurs, and also probably on the hardness of the seed coat and the seed-insect size ratio. Journal compilation © 2008 by The Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation.
format JOUR
author Bravo, S.P.
author_facet Bravo, S.P.
author_sort Bravo, S.P.
title Seed dispersal and ingestion of insect-infested seeds by black howler monkeys in flooded forests of the parana river, Argentina
title_short Seed dispersal and ingestion of insect-infested seeds by black howler monkeys in flooded forests of the parana river, Argentina
title_full Seed dispersal and ingestion of insect-infested seeds by black howler monkeys in flooded forests of the parana river, Argentina
title_fullStr Seed dispersal and ingestion of insect-infested seeds by black howler monkeys in flooded forests of the parana river, Argentina
title_full_unstemmed Seed dispersal and ingestion of insect-infested seeds by black howler monkeys in flooded forests of the parana river, Argentina
title_sort seed dispersal and ingestion of insect-infested seeds by black howler monkeys in flooded forests of the parana river, argentina
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_00063606_v40_n4_p471_Bravo
work_keys_str_mv AT bravosp seeddispersalandingestionofinsectinfestedseedsbyblackhowlermonkeysinfloodedforestsoftheparanariverargentina
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