Revealing secondary seed removers: results from camera trapping

Abstract

This paper reports the results of the first study on secondary seed removal of seeds dispersed by Sykes’ monkeys (Cercopithecus albogularis) using camera traps in Africa. Patterns of primary seed dispersal are often superimposed by secondary conveyance, emphasising the need to study these secondary processes carefully. As the agents and mechanisms of seed dispersal are often concealed, being carried out by cryptic or nocturnal animals in dense vegetation, camera trapping was deemed a viable means to investigate secondary removal of seeds disseminated by C. albogularis in the Western Soutpansberg, South Africa. Camera traps were established at preferred feeding trees of the focal Sykes’ monkey group to identify animal species that remove seeds and fruits spat and dropped to the forest floor and seed removal observations were carried out. This method proved to be effective in identifying seed removers and also allowed to get indications about the quantities of seeds removed. Ten animal species were recorded visiting the trees, of which eight were observed removing seeds and fruits. Overall seed and fruit removal rates were high, indicating that the foraging behaviour of C. albogularis attracts many terrestrial frugivores.

Evidence for Seed Dispersal by Rodents in Tropical Montane Forest in Africa

“…Cricetomys spp. have mostly been considered as seed predators rather than seed dispersers (Guedje et al 2003, Kankam & Oduro 2009, Seufert et al 2010, but results of this study confirm previous findings in which giant-pouched rat stored seeds of Carapa procera and Detarium microcarpum in their burrows (Debroux 1998, Bationo et al 2002.…”

Spit it out: Monkeys disperse the unorthodox and toxic seeds of Clivia miniata (Amaryllidaceae)

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Bush pig (Potamochoerus porcus) seed predation of bush mango (Irvingia gabonensis) and other plant species in Democratic Republic of Congo

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