Endozoochorous seed dispersal by golden snub‐nosed monkeys in a temperate forest

Abstract

Seed dispersal is essential for plant recruitment and the maintenance of biodiversity. Colobine monkeys are primarily folivorous, but they also consume fruits and are often assumed to be seed predators. Although they are known to be epizoochorous seed dispersers, their role as endozoochorous seed dispersers needs reassessment. We examined potential endozoochory in golden snub‐nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana) at Dalongtan in Shennongjia National Park, central China, by assessing potential germination of ingested seeds (n = 1806, 9 species) from fecal samples. Intact seeds were in almost all fecal samples (ranging from 5–130 seeds), and ingested seeds were from small seeded species (seed width <4.5 mm). The 2 most abundant species were Actinidia arguta (73%) and Rosa caudata (15%). The fruits of A. arguta were unripe when ingested (i.e. effective seed predation) and the ingested seeds did not germinate in the trials. Therefore, ingestion of unripe seeds does not lead to effective seed dispersal. However, germination rates of defecated R. caudata (9%) were greater than control seeds (6% and 0%), demonstrating potential endozoochorous seed dispersal. Thus, colobine monkeys do indeed disperse mainly small‐seeded from multi‐seeded fruits through potential endozoochory and this process enhances the recruitment of seedlings.

Epizoochorous seed dispersal by an Afroalpine savanna primate

“…primate (Chen et al, 2018), in which free-ranging golden snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana) in the temperate forests of central China carried haired, hooked, or awned seeds on their fur derived primarily from three herbaceous plants (Geum aleppicum, Torilis japonica, and Agrimonia pilosa), which they did not consume (Chen et al, 2018;Yao et al, 2021). The relationship between geladas and A. melanantha seems distinctive in the extent to which geladas rely on A. melanantha as a food source and potentially exert both positive and negative fitness impacts on this plant species.…”