Seed dispersal by howler monkeys: Current knowledge, conservation implications, and future directions

Primate seed dispersal has been increasingly recognized as having a potentially profound impact on tropical forest regeneration and plant species composition. Confirming and quantifying this impact, however, has proven to be an important challenge. We review the literature on seed dispersal by howle...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor principal: Bravo, Susana Patricia
Publicado: 2015
Materias:
Forest regeneration
Seed dispersal effectiveness
Seed-dispersing animals
Acceso en línea:https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_97814939_v_n_p111_ArroyoRodriguez
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_97814939_v_n_p111_ArroyoRodriguez
Aporte de:
Biblioteca Digital - Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (UBA) de Universidad de Buenos Aires
id paper:paper_97814939_v_n_p111_ArroyoRodriguez
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spelling paper:paper_97814939_v_n_p111_ArroyoRodriguez2023-06-08T16:37:51Z Seed dispersal by howler monkeys: Current knowledge, conservation implications, and future directions Bravo, Susana Patricia Forest regeneration Seed dispersal effectiveness Seed-dispersing animals Primate seed dispersal has been increasingly recognized as having a potentially profound impact on tropical forest regeneration and plant species composition. Confirming and quantifying this impact, however, has proven to be an important challenge. We review the literature on seed dispersal by howler monkeys (Alouatta spp.) throughout their geographical range and assess the impact for plant populations and communities. Howler monkeys spend ca. 50 % of their feeding time eating fruits from many plant species and different life forms. For some plant species they are probably the only or primary dispersal agent (e.g., fruits with large seeds and/or with hard indehiscent husks), especially in anthropogenically disturbed forests, where other large-bodied frugivores tend to be absent or are locally extinct. In this regard, howlers contribute to secondary succession, aiding in the restoration of degraded habitats. Alouatta spp. swallow most (>90 %) of the seeds they handle, defecating them undamaged. Studies indicate that passage through the howler gut has a positive effect on rates of seed germination. In addition, studies of secondary dispersal indicate that seeds voided in howler dung attract secondary seed dispersers such as rodents and dung beetles. Also, nutrients in the dung may enhance seedling establishment. Although certain components of howler seed dispersal such as seed shadows, post-dispersal seed fate, and seeds/seedlings survival need to be better studied, current information suggests that howler monkeys are effective seed dispersers for many plant species, with important consequences for plant communities and forest regeneration. © Springer Science+Business Media New York 2015. Fil:Bravo, S.P. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. 2015 https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_97814939_v_n_p111_ArroyoRodriguez http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_97814939_v_n_p111_ArroyoRodriguez
institution Universidad de Buenos Aires
institution_str I-28
repository_str R-134
collection Biblioteca Digital - Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (UBA)
topic Forest regeneration
Seed dispersal effectiveness
Seed-dispersing animals
spellingShingle Forest regeneration
Seed dispersal effectiveness
Seed-dispersing animals
Bravo, Susana Patricia
Seed dispersal by howler monkeys: Current knowledge, conservation implications, and future directions
topic_facet Forest regeneration
Seed dispersal effectiveness
Seed-dispersing animals
description Primate seed dispersal has been increasingly recognized as having a potentially profound impact on tropical forest regeneration and plant species composition. Confirming and quantifying this impact, however, has proven to be an important challenge. We review the literature on seed dispersal by howler monkeys (Alouatta spp.) throughout their geographical range and assess the impact for plant populations and communities. Howler monkeys spend ca. 50 % of their feeding time eating fruits from many plant species and different life forms. For some plant species they are probably the only or primary dispersal agent (e.g., fruits with large seeds and/or with hard indehiscent husks), especially in anthropogenically disturbed forests, where other large-bodied frugivores tend to be absent or are locally extinct. In this regard, howlers contribute to secondary succession, aiding in the restoration of degraded habitats. Alouatta spp. swallow most (>90 %) of the seeds they handle, defecating them undamaged. Studies indicate that passage through the howler gut has a positive effect on rates of seed germination. In addition, studies of secondary dispersal indicate that seeds voided in howler dung attract secondary seed dispersers such as rodents and dung beetles. Also, nutrients in the dung may enhance seedling establishment. Although certain components of howler seed dispersal such as seed shadows, post-dispersal seed fate, and seeds/seedlings survival need to be better studied, current information suggests that howler monkeys are effective seed dispersers for many plant species, with important consequences for plant communities and forest regeneration. © Springer Science+Business Media New York 2015.
author Bravo, Susana Patricia
author_facet Bravo, Susana Patricia
author_sort Bravo, Susana Patricia
title Seed dispersal by howler monkeys: Current knowledge, conservation implications, and future directions
title_short Seed dispersal by howler monkeys: Current knowledge, conservation implications, and future directions
title_full Seed dispersal by howler monkeys: Current knowledge, conservation implications, and future directions
title_fullStr Seed dispersal by howler monkeys: Current knowledge, conservation implications, and future directions
title_full_unstemmed Seed dispersal by howler monkeys: Current knowledge, conservation implications, and future directions
title_sort seed dispersal by howler monkeys: current knowledge, conservation implications, and future directions
publishDate 2015
url https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_97814939_v_n_p111_ArroyoRodriguez
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_97814939_v_n_p111_ArroyoRodriguez
work_keys_str_mv AT bravosusanapatricia seeddispersalbyhowlermonkeyscurrentknowledgeconservationimplicationsandfuturedirections
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