The white lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari) as a seed predator and seed disperser in the Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica
The white lipped peccary, Tayassu pecari has been considered a seed predator, but few studies have demonstrated it. In Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica, white lipped peccaries are mainly frugivorous. They feed on a great variety of fruits and seeds. The species of plants preyed upon or dispersed by peccaries in this environment were studied through direct observation and by analysis of the content of peccary faeces. Seed samples were obtained from faeces and set to germinate to prove their viability. The same was done with seeds of fruit picked up from the ground, of the same species. White lipped peccaries were found to be predators of seeds of 30 species of trees, while seeds were dispersed through the faeces for only 2 species. Both species had seeds smaller than 3 mm diameter - Ficus sp. and Psidium guajava. A further 5 species of tree seeds may be dispersed by peccaries when they eat the pulp and spit the seed. The percentage germination of Ficus sp. seeds taken from the faeces was lower than the percentage germination of seeds taken from fruits collected from the ground. Even so, it is possible that peccaries are important terrestrial dispersers of this genus, since they eat a large amount of fruit and they travel long distances.
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | biblioteca |
| Published: |
1999
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| Subjects: | HABITOS ALIMENTARIOS, DISEMINACION DE SEMILLAS, GERMINACION, SEMILLAS, VIABILIDAD, DEPREDADORES, ANIMAL SALVAJE, COSTA RICA, |
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