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Fruit Laxatives and Seed Passage Rates in Frugivores: Consequences for Plant Reproductive Success
Author(s) -
Murray K. Greg,
Russell Susan,
Picone Christopher M.,
Winnett-Murray Kathy,
Sherwood Wendy,
Kuhlmann Mark L.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.2307/1939422
Subject(s) - frugivore , seed dispersal , biology , germination , biological dispersal , shrub , botany , malpighiaceae , ecology , population , demography , sociology , habitat
To explore how plants may influence dispersal of their own seeds by manipulating the behavior and physiology of their dispersers, we studied the effect of a soluble chemical (or chemicals) in the fruits of Witheringia solanacea (Solanaceae), a Costa Rican cloud forest shrub, on passage of its seeds through the guts of one of its major dispersers, the Black—faced Solitaire, Myadestes melanops (Muscicapidae: Turdinae). Using artificial fruits containing natural seeds, we found that the presence of a crude pulp extract reduced the median seed retention time by nearly 50%. Estimation of seed dispersal distance as a function of retention time suggested that more rapid seed passage results in shorter average dispersal distances, especially for seeds retained <20 min. At the same time, germination trials revealed that seeds voided rapidly were far more likely to germinate than those remaining longer in Myadestes guts. We propose that “laxative” chemical(s) in Witheringia fruits balance these positive and negative consequences of ingestion by Myadestes.