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Ruminant‐mediated Seed Dispersal of an Economically Valuable Tree in Indian Dry Forests 1
Author(s) -
Prasad Soumya,
Krishnaswamy Jagdish,
Chellam Ravi,
Goyal Surendra Prakash
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
biotropica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.813
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1744-7429
pISSN - 0006-3606
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7429.2006.00182.x
Subject(s) - phyllanthus emblica , ruminant , seed dispersal , biology , biological dispersal , germination , rumen , botany , dry matter , agronomy , agroforestry , food science , traditional medicine , pasture , medicine , population , environmental health , fermentation
Ruminant‐mediated seed dispersal, an understudied process in tropical forests, was examined via Phyllanthus emblica–Axis axis interaction. A captive Axis deer regurgitated intact P. emblica seeds after retaining them in the rumen for 7–27 h. At Rajaji National Park, a considerable fraction (22%) of deer‐regurgitated P. emblica seeds germinated, although lower than unconsumed seeds (72%). The size and strength of seeds like P. emblica might ensure that ruminants regurgitate them intact instead of defecating them.