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Feeding ecology and seed dispersal of pigtail macaques (Macaca nemestrina) in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand
Latinne, Alice; Huynen, Marie-Claude; Savini, Tommaso
2008In Folia Primatologica: International Journal of Primatology, 79, p. 348-348
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Keywords :
Macaca nemestrina; seed dispersal; Khao Yai National Park; Thailand; ecology
Abstract :
[en] Seed dispersal has a profound influence on structure and diversity in tropical environment. Although all frugivorous primates disperse seeds, the contribution of dispersal by some species in forest regeneration is still discussed. For instance, baboons and macaques are controversially described as seed dispersers or as seed predators. We study the seed dispersal by a troop of pigtail macaques (Macaca nemestrina leonina) in the Khao Yai National Park (Thailand) in order to describe the mode of seed dispersal and the seed fate of each fruit species consumed by macaques, including the assessment of potential germination enhancement for dispersed seeds. Pigtail macaques disperse seeds either via feces, by swallowing seeds, or via cheekpouch storage, by spitting out seeds after processing the fruits in the mouth. Preliminary results of our study show that pigtail macaques in the study troop disperse the seeds of at least 15 fruits species. For some species (Nephelium melliferum, Baccaurea ramiflora), macaques use the 2 modes of seed dispersal simultaneously. If part of the seeds excreted are intact and viable, as shown by the cut test, some are destroyed during mastication and digestion, and therefore it seems that macaques are to be considered both as seed dispersers and predators. The size of dispersed seeds ranges from the largest defecated seed (Nephelium melliferum) of 22mm long and 13mm wide to the smallest (Dissocheta divaricata) less than 1mm long and 0.5mm wide. In the future, Tetrazolium test will also be used to assess seed viability, and the germination enhancement for seeds defecated or spat out will be assessed using germination test. Germination rate and germination delay will be compared for defecated, spat and control (seeds from non consumed fruits collected from trees foraged by the macaques) seeds.
Disciplines :
Zoology
Environmental sciences & ecology
Author, co-author :
Latinne, Alice ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences de la vie > Génétique
Huynen, Marie-Claude ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Biologie du comportement - Ethologie et psychologie animale
Savini, Tommaso ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Biologie du comportement - Ethologie et psychologie animale
Language :
English
Title :
Feeding ecology and seed dispersal of pigtail macaques (Macaca nemestrina) in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand
Publication date :
2008
Event name :
2nd Congress of the European Federation for Primatology
Event place :
Prague, Czechia
Event date :
3-7/09/2007
Audience :
International
Journal title :
Folia Primatologica: International Journal of Primatology
ISSN :
0015-5713
eISSN :
1421-9980
Publisher :
Karger, Basel, Switzerland
Volume :
79
Pages :
348-348
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Available on ORBi :
since 22 February 2012

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