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Seed Dispersal By Pulp Consumers, Not ‘‘Legitimate’’ Seed Dispersers, Increases Guettarda Viburnoides Population Growth, Andrea P. Loayza, Tiffany M. Knight
Seed Dispersal By Pulp Consumers, Not ‘‘Legitimate’’ Seed Dispersers, Increases Guettarda Viburnoides Population Growth, Andrea P. Loayza, Tiffany M. Knight
Biology Faculty Publications & Presentations
We examined the effect of seed dispersal by Purplish Jays (Cyanocorax cyanomelas; pulp consumers) and the Chestnut-eared Araçari (Pteroglossus castanotis; "legitimate" seed dispersers) on population growth of the small tree Guettarda viburnoides (Rubiaceae) in northeastern Bolivian savannas. Because each bird species differs with respect to feeding and post-feeding behavior, we hypothesized that seed dispersal by each species will contribute differently to the rate of increase of G. viburnoides, but that seed dispersal by either species will increase population growth when compared to a scenario with no seed dispersal. To examine the effects of individual dispersers on the future population size …