Dispersal of seeds of Hymenaea courbaril (Fabaceae) in a logged rain forest in the Peruvian Amazonian Dispersão de sementes de Hymenaea courbaril (Fabaceae) em uma floresta tropical úmida com exploração madeireira na Amazônia peruana

Seed dispersal of Hymenaea courbaril was studied by following the fate of 585 seeds embedded with small magnets and set in displays in and near a logged strip in rain forest in the Peruvian Amazonian. Mammals took fruits from all displays, which were located in the forest, edge, and cleared strip. Overall removal rates were low - a median of 8.1 fruits / month from displays maintained with 8-10 fruits - but were higher in August than in earlier months. Most fruits were dropped near the display or had their seeds eaten, but > 13% were successfully dispersed. Most of the dispersed seeds were buried, which increases probability of germination. Maximum dispersal distance of live seeds was 12.1 m (median 3.1 m), but other magnets were transported up to 34 m, indicating seeds were dispersed further, but then eaten. Acouchies (most likely Myoprocta pratti) and agoutis (Dasyprocta fuliginosa) were apparently the main dispersal agents. Dispersal of seeds from the forest into the logged strip was rare, suggesting that although rodents disperse H. courbaril, they cannot be relied on for the reseeding this and similar species in recent clearings.<br>Foi estudada a dispersão de sementes de Hymenaea courbaril, seguindo o destino de 585 sementes marcadas com imãs e expostas a potenciais dispersores, colocadas em agregados no interior e próximo de uma faixa de floresta cortada, na Amazónia peruana. Mamíferos retiraram frutos de todos os agregados, localizados no interior da floresta, na sua borda, e na clareira. As taxas de remoção foram baixas - mediana de 8.1 frutos/mês em agregados mantidos com 8-10 frutos - mas foram mais altas em agosto que nos primeiros meses do ano. A maior parte dos frutos foi abandonada próxima do agregado de origem ou as suas sementes foram consumidas, mas > 13% foram dispersos com sucesso. A maior parte das sementes dispersas foi enterrada, o que favorece a germinação. A distância máxima de dispersão de sementes vivas foi de 12.1 m (mediana 3.1 m), mas outros imãs foram transportados até 34 m, indicando que as sementes foram dispersas mais longe, mas foram consumidas depois. Cutiaras (muito provavelmente Myoprocta pratti) e cutias (Dasyprocta fuliginosa) parecem ter sido os principais agentes de dispersão. A dispersão de sementes da floresta para o interior da clareira foi rara, sugerindo que apesar de alguns roedores dispersarem H. courbaril, não se pode ficar dependente deles para o repovoamento desta e de outras espécies em clareiras recentes

Frugivoria em morcegos (Mammalia, Chiroptera) no Parque Estadual Intervales, sudeste do Brasil

<abstract language="eng">This study was carried out at the Intervales State Park, an Atlantic Rain Forest area in Southeastern Brazil. Bats were monthly mist netted over a full year, and fecal samples were collected for dietary analysis. The seeds found in each sample were identified in the laboratory under a stereoscopic microscope by comparison with seeds taken from ripe fruits collected in the study area. Three hundred and seventy one bats were collected, of which 316 (85.2%) were frugivorous. The total number of fecal samples with seeds and/or pulp was 121. Sturnira lilium (E. Geoffroy, 1810) was the most abundant species in the study area (n = 157 captures) and Solanaceae fruits accounted for 78.5% of the fecal samples with seeds (n = 56). Artibeus fimbriatus Gray, 1838 (n = 21 samples) fed mostly on Cecropiaceae (38%) and Moraceae fruits (24%), and Artibeus lituratus (Olfers, 1818) (n = 7 samples) on Cecropiaceae (57%) and Moraceae (29%). Carollia perspicillata (Linnaeus, 1758) (n = 16 samples) fed mostly on Piperaceae fruits (56,3%), but Solanaceae (31,3%) and Rosaceae seeds (12,5%) were also found in feces. Overall, seeds found in bat feces belong to eight plant families: Solanaceae (n = 67 samples); Cecropiaceae (n = 14); Piperaceae (n = 14); Moraceae (n = 8); Rosaceae (n = 3); Cucurbitaceae (n = 3); Cluseaceae (n = 1), and Araceae (n = 1). The close association of different bat species with fruits of certain plant families and genus may be related to a possible mechanism of resource partitioning that shapes the structure of the community