학술논문
Dispersal and predation of araticum seeds in the Cerrado of Mato Grosso, Brazil/ Dispersao e predacao de sementes de araticum no Cerrado de Mato Grosso, Brasil
Document Type
Academic Journal
Source
Ciencia Rural. January 1, 2011, Vol. 41 Issue 1, p101, 7 p.
Subject
Language
Spanish; Castilian
ISSN
0103-8478
Abstract
INTRODUCAO Os vertebrados sao responsaveis por 50 a 90% da dispersao de plantas lenhosas em florestas tropicas (HOWE & SMALLWOOD, 1982; JORDANO, 2000). No Pantanal, 74% dos frutos carnosos estao [...]
This study aimed to characterize araticum (Annona crassiflora) plants and fruits, and evaluate the frequency of consumption, predation and dispersal of the seeds by animals and its effect on germination, in Cerrado vegetation area, between February 2007 and June 2008. Using track traps installed on araticum plants, the frequency of visitation (FV) and the fruit consumption by the animals was assessed, as well as, the action of insects in fallen fruits under the trees was registered. Sample of tapirs excrement Tapirus terrestris were analyzed to verify the occurrence frequency (FO) and the damage caused on the seeds by tapirs and insects. To analyze the dispersal by tapirs, colored beads were inserted in fallen mature fruits under the parent trees. Then, the distance between the location of the excrements with beads to the parent tree in the specific color of the bead was measured. Germination test was performed with excrement samples and unbroken fruit seeds. Among the animals that fed on fruits, tapirs contributed with the largest frequency of visitation and consumption of araticum fruits, representing 54% of the frequency occurrence in excrement samples, and the seeds were not damaged significantly. Dung beetles (Scarabaeidae) fed the pulp of the fruit and buried araticum seeds next to the parent tree. Curculionid and eurytomid insects predated the araticum seeds on the fruits. The damage caused by these insects in the seeds was significantly higher than those caused by tapirs. Two excrements with beads were found at 1,7 and 1,8km distant from the parent trees, respectively. The seeds had low germinability in this period of study, however the tapirs can protect the seeds of predator insects, defecating the intact seeds for long distances. Thus, T. terrestris is a possible disperser of seeds, whereas curculionids and eurytomids can be considered predators of araticum seeds. These relations probably contribute with the control of araticum population in the Brazilian Cerrado. Key words: Annona crassiflora Mart. (Annonaceae), Tapirus terrestris, dispersers, predators, Cerrado. Este estudo objetivou caracterizar plantas e frutos de araticum (Annona crassiflora), avaliar a frequencia de consumo, predacao e dispersao de suas sementes por animais e seus efeitos na germinacao, em area de Cerrado, entre fevereiro de 2007 a junho de 2008. Baseado em armadilhas de pegadas, registrou-se a frequencia de visitacao (FV) e o consumo de frutos por animais, alem da acao de insetos em frutos caidos no solo, sob as plantas. Estrumes de antas, Tapirus terrestris, foram amostrados para verificar a frequencia de ocorrencia (FO) e os danos causados por elas e por insetos. Para analisar a dispersao por antas, foram inseridas micangas coloridas em frutos maduros caidos sob plantas-mae. Posteriormente, foi medida a distancia entre o local das fezes com micanga ate a planta-mae da cor especifica da micanga. Realizou-se teste de germinacao com sementes de amostras fecais e de frutos intactos. Dentre os animais que se alimentaram dos frutos, antas contribuiram com maior frequencia de visitacao e consumo de frutos de araticum, o qual representou 54% de frequencia de ocorrencia nas amostras fecais e as sementes nao foram significativamente danificadas. Besouros (Scarabaeidae) se alimentaram da polpa de frutos e enterraram sementes de araticum proximo da planta-mae. Insetos curculionideos e euritomideos predaram as sementes de araticum nos frutos. Os danos causados nas sementes por esses insetos foram significativamente maiores que aqueles provocados pelas antas. Foram encontradas duas fezes com micangas distantes 1,7km e 1,8km das plantas-mae, respectivamente. A germinacao das sementes foi baixa neste periodo de estudo, no entanto, as antas podem proteger as sementes de insetos predadores, defecando-as intactas para longas distancias. Assim, T terrestris e um possivel dispersor, enquanto que curculionideos e euritomideos sao possiveis predadores de sementes de araticum. Essas relacoes provavelmente contribuem para o controle da populacao de araticum no Cerrado brasileiro. Palavras-chave: Annona crassiflora Mart. (Annonaceae), Tapirus terrestris, dispersores, predadores, Cerrado.
This study aimed to characterize araticum (Annona crassiflora) plants and fruits, and evaluate the frequency of consumption, predation and dispersal of the seeds by animals and its effect on germination, in Cerrado vegetation area, between February 2007 and June 2008. Using track traps installed on araticum plants, the frequency of visitation (FV) and the fruit consumption by the animals was assessed, as well as, the action of insects in fallen fruits under the trees was registered. Sample of tapirs excrement Tapirus terrestris were analyzed to verify the occurrence frequency (FO) and the damage caused on the seeds by tapirs and insects. To analyze the dispersal by tapirs, colored beads were inserted in fallen mature fruits under the parent trees. Then, the distance between the location of the excrements with beads to the parent tree in the specific color of the bead was measured. Germination test was performed with excrement samples and unbroken fruit seeds. Among the animals that fed on fruits, tapirs contributed with the largest frequency of visitation and consumption of araticum fruits, representing 54% of the frequency occurrence in excrement samples, and the seeds were not damaged significantly. Dung beetles (Scarabaeidae) fed the pulp of the fruit and buried araticum seeds next to the parent tree. Curculionid and eurytomid insects predated the araticum seeds on the fruits. The damage caused by these insects in the seeds was significantly higher than those caused by tapirs. Two excrements with beads were found at 1,7 and 1,8km distant from the parent trees, respectively. The seeds had low germinability in this period of study, however the tapirs can protect the seeds of predator insects, defecating the intact seeds for long distances. Thus, T. terrestris is a possible disperser of seeds, whereas curculionids and eurytomids can be considered predators of araticum seeds. These relations probably contribute with the control of araticum population in the Brazilian Cerrado. Key words: Annona crassiflora Mart. (Annonaceae), Tapirus terrestris, dispersers, predators, Cerrado. Este estudo objetivou caracterizar plantas e frutos de araticum (Annona crassiflora), avaliar a frequencia de consumo, predacao e dispersao de suas sementes por animais e seus efeitos na germinacao, em area de Cerrado, entre fevereiro de 2007 a junho de 2008. Baseado em armadilhas de pegadas, registrou-se a frequencia de visitacao (FV) e o consumo de frutos por animais, alem da acao de insetos em frutos caidos no solo, sob as plantas. Estrumes de antas, Tapirus terrestris, foram amostrados para verificar a frequencia de ocorrencia (FO) e os danos causados por elas e por insetos. Para analisar a dispersao por antas, foram inseridas micangas coloridas em frutos maduros caidos sob plantas-mae. Posteriormente, foi medida a distancia entre o local das fezes com micanga ate a planta-mae da cor especifica da micanga. Realizou-se teste de germinacao com sementes de amostras fecais e de frutos intactos. Dentre os animais que se alimentaram dos frutos, antas contribuiram com maior frequencia de visitacao e consumo de frutos de araticum, o qual representou 54% de frequencia de ocorrencia nas amostras fecais e as sementes nao foram significativamente danificadas. Besouros (Scarabaeidae) se alimentaram da polpa de frutos e enterraram sementes de araticum proximo da planta-mae. Insetos curculionideos e euritomideos predaram as sementes de araticum nos frutos. Os danos causados nas sementes por esses insetos foram significativamente maiores que aqueles provocados pelas antas. Foram encontradas duas fezes com micangas distantes 1,7km e 1,8km das plantas-mae, respectivamente. A germinacao das sementes foi baixa neste periodo de estudo, no entanto, as antas podem proteger as sementes de insetos predadores, defecando-as intactas para longas distancias. Assim, T terrestris e um possivel dispersor, enquanto que curculionideos e euritomideos sao possiveis predadores de sementes de araticum. Essas relacoes provavelmente contribuem para o controle da populacao de araticum no Cerrado brasileiro. Palavras-chave: Annona crassiflora Mart. (Annonaceae), Tapirus terrestris, dispersores, predadores, Cerrado.