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Differential seed germination of a keystone palm (Euterpe edulis) dispersed by avian frugivores

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 November 2012

Abraão de Barros Leite
Affiliation:
Departamento de Ecologia, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), 13506-900 Rio Claro, SP, Brazil
Pedro H. S. Brancalion
Affiliation:
Universidade de São Paulo, Departamento de Ciências Florestais, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
Roger Guevara
Affiliation:
Instituto de Ecologia, A.C., Red de Biologia Evolutiva, Carretera Antigua a Coatepec 351, Congregación El Haya, Xalapa, Ver. 91070, México
Mauro Galetti*
Affiliation:
Departamento de Ecologia, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), 13506-900 Rio Claro, SP, Brazil
*
1Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]

Extract

The effectiveness of seed dispersal by vertebrates has been analysed by examining both quantitative and qualitative components (Jordano & Schupp 2000, Schupp et al. 2010). While the quantitative component is relatively easily assessed in the field (e.g. visitation rate, number of fruits eaten per visit), the qualitative component (e.g. fate of dispersed seeds, seed treatment in the digestive system of the disperser) is rarely studied under natural conditions, because it is difficult to measure the effects on seeds once ingested by the dispersers (Cortes et al. 2009).

Type
Short Communication
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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References

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