We studied plant‐animal interactions and vegetation structure in two geographically close tropical Bolivian forests subjected to different hunting intensities. We hypothesized that reduction of mammals openface> 1 kg in an “intensively hunted forest,” compared with an “occasionally hunted forest,” should correlate with decreased seed predation and seedling trampling, increased seedling survival and density, and decreased tree‐species diversity at the seedling stage in relation to the adult stage. The occasionally hunted forest held 1.7 times as many mammalian species as the intensively hunted forest. As predicted, predation of Astrocaryum murumuru seeds was 34.2% lower in the intensively hunted forest. Similarly, trampling of model seedlings was 5.4 times lower and seedling survival was 1.15 times greater in the intensively hunted forest than that in the occasionally hunted forest. But the intensively hunted forest displayed lower seedling densities and a higher ratio of seedling diversity to tree diversity than did the occasionally hunted forest. Reduction of peccaries from the intensively hunted forest may explain much of the between‐site differences in seed predation, trampling, and seedling survival. Lack of consistent differences in seedling density and diversity could mean that reduced granivory and trampling may be counteracted by reduced seed dispersal. The reduction of mammalian populations may produce a complex mosaic of forest patches with distinct degrees of structural change, depending on the intensity of defaunation.

At the Beni Biological Station, Bolivia, we compared the fate of seeds of the palm Attalea phalerata dispersed by tapirs to a latrine with that of non‐dispersed seeds. Survival of seeds that had passed through tapir guts did not differ significantly from that of unconsumed seeds, demonstrating that tapirs are legitimate seed dispersers of A. phalerata. Experimental and observational studies showed that tapir dispersal can contribute to escape from seed predation by bruchid beetles such as Pachymerus cardo. Nevertheless, the major contribution of the dispersal process may simply be the mechanical barrier to bruchid attack represented by the fecal material covering seeds. Furthermore, total absence of seedlings and adults from the tapir latrine studied suggests that seasonally flooded tapir latrines are not safe sites for A. phalerata. RESUMES En la Estación Biologica del Beni, Bolivia, comparamos el destino de las semillas de la palmera Attalea phalerata dispersadas por tapires a su letrina con aquel de las semillas no dispersadas. La sobrevivencia de las semillas que pasaron por el tracto digestive de tapires no difirió significativamente de aquellas no consumidas, mostrando que los tapires son legítimos dispersores de semillas de A. phalerata. Estudios experimentales y observacionales mostraron que la dispersión de semillas por tapir puede ayudar al escape de los depredadores de semillas como el bruquido Pachymerus cardo. Sin embargo, la principal contribución del proceso de dispersión puede ser simplemente la barrera mecánica al ataque por brúquidos representada por la materia fecal que cubre a las semillas. Ademas, la ausencia total de plántulas y adultos en la letrina estudiada sugiere que las letrinas de tapir que se inunden estacionalmente no son sitios seguros para la germinación y sobrevivencia de A. phalerata.

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RESUMENEl acopio esparcido ha recibido singular atención en las últimas décadas, y muchos estudios se han centrado en semillas de palmeras dispersadas por Dasyprocta. Nuestro objetivo fue identificar las especies consumidoras de frutos de Mauritia flexuosa, evaluar la importancia relativa de esas especies y el destino de las semillas dispersadas. Utilizamos experimentos de campo para evaluar el destino de las semillas removidas por frugívoros, en la Reserva de la Biosfera Pilón Lajas, Bolivia. Predijimos que las semillas enterradas por Dasyprocta tendrían menor mortalidad que las no enterradas. Colocamos 6-16 estaciones de frutos, con 15-50 frutos cada una, en cinco periodos de muestreo cubriendo un año. Los principales dispersores de M. flexuosa fueron D. punctata y Cuniculus paca, que transportan las semillas un máximo de 12.63 m y 14.1 m, respectivamente. Los dispersores removieron 7.5% de los frutos de las estaciones. Todas las semillas dispersadas en cuatro de los muestreos fueron depredadas o se pudrieron; solamente el 0.5% de las semillas dispersadas en febrero germinaron. De las semillas colocadas sobre y debajo del suelo en época seca y húmeda, solamente sobrevivieron aquellas enterradas en la época húmeda; el resto fueron depredadas o se pudrieron. Ninguna de las 84 semillas removidas por D. punctata fue enterrada, lo cual difiere de casi todos los reportes sobre el comportamiento de Dasyprocta. Discutimos este resultado en relación al posible efecto de la humedad del suelo y el tamaño de las semillas, y postulamos que la elevada abundancia del recurso haría innecesario acopiar semillas bajo suelo. PALABRAS CLAVE: Scatterhoarding, Dasyprocta, Cuniculus, palmeras, Pilón Lajas Seed dispersal of Mauritia flexuosa (Arecaceae) by terretrial frugivores in Laguna Azul, Beni, Bolivia ABSTRACT Scatterhoarding has received special attention for the last couple of decades, and several studies focused on palms whose seeds are dispersed by Dasyprocta. Our objective was to know the species that consume fruits of Mauritia flexuosa, to evaluate the relative importance of consumer species, and also to assess the fate of dispersed seeds. Using field experiments we evaluated the fate of seeds removed by frugivores at the Pilón Lajas Biosphere Reserve, Bolivia. We predicted that seeds buried by Dasyprocta would present lower mortality that those left unburied. We placed 6-16 fruit stations, with 15-50 fruits each, in five sampling periods along a year. The main seed dispersers of M. flexuosa were D. punctata and Cuniculus paca, which transported seeds a maximum of 12.63 m, and 14.1, respectively. Dispersers removed 7.5% of the fruits from the stations. All seeds removed during four out of the five sampling periods were either predated, or rotted; only 0.5% of the seeds dispersed in February germinated. From the total of seeds we buried in the dry and wet season only survived those buried in the wet season, the remaining were predated or rotted off. None of the 84 seeds removed by D. punctata were buried, which differs fro...

Comparamos dos tipos de recorridos guiados en el Museo Nacional de Historia Natural (La Paz, Bolivia) en relación a seis variables de respuesta medidas en grupos de estudiantes de 4º a 6º de primaria. Uno de los recorridos (GT) incluye una metodología tradicional de transmisión del conocimiento del guía al visitante. El otro recorrido (SI) utiliza la metodología de Senderos de Indagación, basado en la construcción del conocimiento por parte del visitante, facilitada por el guía. En los recorridos SI registramos mayor porcentaje de estudiantes atentos, que participaron de manera reflexiva sobre lo observado y que participaron reflexionando sobre su entorno en relación a lo observado. No encontramos diferencias entre los recorridos en el porcentaje de estudiantes que participaron en relación a lo observado. No encontramos diferencias cuantitativas, pero sí cualitativas, en el número de respuestas sobre aprendizajes nuevos y sobre cambios que podrían hacer en su entorno. Concluimos que la metodología de los SI es más apropiada para generar cambios de actitud en los visitantes en relación a la conservación de la naturaleza.Palabras clave: Educación para la conservación de la naturaleza; Museos; Métodos de guiaje; Senderos de indagación. Comparison of traditionally and indagatory guided visits to the Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, La Paz -BoliviaWe compared two types of guided visits to short trails at the Museo Nacional de Historia Natural (La Paz, Bolivia), in relation to six response variables measured in groups of 4 th to 6 th grade children. One of the trails followed the traditional way of guidance with knowledge transmission from the guide to the visitor (GT). The other one used the Trails of Inquiry methodology, based on the knowledge building by the visitor, eased by the guide (SI). A larger percentage of attentive children, children that reflexively participated of the observations, and those that made reflexive comments about what they observed in relation to their own close environment. There was no difference between groups in the percentage of children participating in relation to the observations. Furthermore, there was no quantitative difference in the number of answers about either newly acquired knowledge, or changes that children could do for their own environment, but there was a qualitative difference. We conclude that the SI trails is more appropriate if we want to generate changes in attitudes in the visitors, in relation to nature conservation.