RESUMO
The influence of the golden lion tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia) as a seed disperser was studied by monitoring two groups of tamarins from December 1998 to December 2000 (871.9 hours of observations) in a forest fragment in south-east Brazil. The tamarins consumed fruits of 57 species from at least 17 families. They ingested the seeds of 39 species, and 23 of these were put to germinate in the laboratory and/or in the field. L. rosalia is a legitimate seed disperser because the seeds of all species tested germinated after ingestion, albeit some in low percentages. These primates do not show a consistent effect in final seed germination, because they benefit some species while damaging others. Feces were examined for seeds that had been preyed upon or digested.
Assuntos
Dieta/veterinária , Germinação , Leontopithecus/fisiologia , Magnoliopsida/classificação , Animais , Brasil , Fezes , Frutas , Magnoliopsida/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Sementes , ÁrvoresRESUMO
The influence of the golden lion tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia) as a seed disperser was studied by monitoring two groups of tamarins from December 1998 to December 2000 (871.9 hours of observations) in a forest fragment in south-east Brazil. The tamarins consumed fruits of 57 species from at least 17 families. They ingested the seeds of 39 species, and 23 of these were put to germinate in the laboratory and/or in the field. L. rosalia is a legitimate seed disperser because the seeds of all species tested germinated after ingestion, albeit some in low percentages. These primates do not show a consistent effect in final seed germination, because they benefit some species while damaging others. Feces were examined for seeds that had been preyed upon or digested.
A influência do mico-leão-dourado (Leontopithecus rosalia) como dispersor de sementes foi estudada através do monitoramento de dois grupos de micos de dezembro de 1998 a dezembro de 2000 (871,9 horas de observações) em um fragmento florestal no Sudeste do Brasil. Os micos consumiram frutos de 57 espécies de pelo menos 17 famílias. Eles ingeriram sementes de 39 espécies, e 23 destas foram colocadas para germinar no laboratório e/ou no campo. L. rosalia é um dispersor de sementes legítimo porque sementes de todas as espécies testadas germinaram após a ingestão, mesmo que em baixas porcentagens. Esses primatas não apresentam um efeito consistente na germinação final de sementes, porque beneficiam algumas espécies enquanto prejudicam outras. Sementes predadas ou digeridas foram procuradas nas fezes.
