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list of figures - Terry Sunderland

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Table 11. Effects on seed survival (and potential dispersal) <strong>of</strong> feeding selected rattan fruits to<br />

captive primates.<br />

Rattan genus (& fruit<br />

characteristics)<br />

Laccosperma (seed<br />

“c<strong>of</strong>fee-bean” like, 1cm<br />

long x 0.6cm wide with<br />

thin fleshy mesocarp)<br />

n = 150<br />

Eremospatha (seed,<br />

flattened, 2-3cm long, 1-<br />

2cm wide, thick fleshy<br />

meoscarp) n = 80<br />

Oncocalamus (seed<br />

globose 1.5cm in dia.,<br />

wide medium fleshy<br />

mesocarp) n = 120<br />

Chimpanzee<br />

(Pan troglodytes)<br />

n = 15<br />

Mesocarp<br />

removed & eaten;<br />

seed swallowed<br />

whole (100%)<br />

Mesocarp<br />

removed and<br />

eaten; seed<br />

discarded (100%)<br />

Mesocarp<br />

discarded; seed<br />

chewed before<br />

swallowing<br />

(100%)<br />

Gorilla (Gorilla<br />

gorilla gorilla)<br />

n = 6<br />

Mesocarp<br />

removed & eaten;<br />

seed swallowed<br />

whole (100%)<br />

Mesocarp<br />

removed and<br />

eaten; seed<br />

discarded (100%)<br />

Mesocarp<br />

discarded; seed<br />

chewed before<br />

swallowing<br />

(100%)<br />

200<br />

Drill (Mandrillus<br />

leucophaeus)<br />

n = 9<br />

Mesocarp<br />

removed & eaten;<br />

seed chewed<br />

(85%) before<br />

swallowing or<br />

seed discarded<br />

(15%)<br />

Mesocarp<br />

removed and<br />

eaten; seed<br />

discarded (100%)<br />

Mesocarp<br />

discarded; seed<br />

chewed before<br />

swallowing<br />

(100%)<br />

Notes<br />

Good chance <strong>of</strong><br />

seed survival, and<br />

excellent dispersal<br />

from parent<br />

Excellent chance<br />

<strong>of</strong> seed survival,<br />

although poor<br />

dispersal from<br />

parent<br />

No chance <strong>of</strong> seed<br />

survival; poor<br />

dispersal<br />

The striking aspect <strong>of</strong> this experiment is the fact that amongst the members <strong>of</strong> the<br />

primates represented the feeding behaviour and response to each fruit type was<br />

significantly uniform. Although the seed survival rates were highest amongst the<br />

species <strong>of</strong> Eremospatha, the fact that the seeds are immediately discarded suggests<br />

that dispersal from the parent is relatively short in terms <strong>of</strong> distance. As many species<br />

experience high rates <strong>of</strong> mortality beneath parents (Chapman and Chapman, 1995),<br />

primates as a dispersal mechanism for Eremospatha would be relatively ineffective.<br />

The fruits <strong>of</strong> Oncocalamus seem to be more highly prized for their endosperm than<br />

their fleshy mesocarp and all the seeds <strong>of</strong> this genus were destroyed by the primate<br />

“dispersers”. Only members <strong>of</strong> the genus Laccosperma were swallowed whole,<br />

probably due to their relatively small size. These seeds pass through the intestinal tract<br />

undamaged and, as such, are able to travel long distances in their host ensuring<br />

widespread dispersal.<br />

A number <strong>of</strong> species <strong>of</strong> hornbill are well known as being important dispersal agents <strong>of</strong><br />

rattans (White and Abernethy, 1997; Whitney et al., 1998). In particular, species <strong>of</strong>

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