<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Animals deliver an important ecosystem service by dispersing plant seeds. Seed dispersers have different effects on the germination success of seeds. This study aimed at examining the effect of seed processing by the patas monkey (<italic>Erythrocebus patas</italic>) and two flying foxes (<italic>Micropteropus pusillus</italic> and <italic>Epomophorus gambianus</italic>) on the germination success of African ebony (<italic>Diospyros mespiliformis</italic>). Flying foxes and patas monkeys were kept in cages and fed <italic>ad libitum</italic> with African ebony fruits. Seeds processed were collected, measured, and germinated. Seeds processed by monkeys and flying foxes were compared to control seeds which were removed by hand from fruits. Our results showed that the patas monkey and flying foxes preferably processed smaller seeds. Flying foxes improved the germination success from 6.67 to 72.5%. They also reduced the mean germination time up to 5 days. The patas monkey also improved the germination success from 6.67 to 52.5% and reduced the mean germination time up to 4 days. The effect of flying foxes and the patas monkey on the seed germination and its implication for the African ebony plantation dynamic should be explained to communities for their conservation.</p>
</abstract>

Animals deliver an important ecosystem service by dispersing plant seeds. Seed dispersers have different effects on the germination success of seeds. This study aimed at examining the effect of seed processing by the patas monkey (Erythrocebus patas) and two flying foxes (Micropteropus pusillus and Epomophorus gambianus) on the germination success of African ebony (Diospyros mespiliformis). Flying foxes and patas monkeys were kept in cages and fed ad libitum with African ebony fruits. Seeds processed were collected, measured, and germinated. Seeds processed by monkeys and flying foxes were compared to control seeds which were removed by hand from fruits. Our results showed that the patas monkey and flying foxes preferably processed smaller seeds. Flying foxes improved the germination success from 6.67 to 72.5%. They also reduced the mean germination time up to 5 days. The patas monkey also improved the germination success from 6.67 to 52.5% and reduced the mean germination time up to 4 days. The effect of flying foxes and the patas monkey on the seed germination and its implication for the African ebony plantation dynamic should be explained to communities for their conservation.

Effect of Seed Processing by Flying Foxes and the Patas Monkey on the Germination Success of the African Ebony (<italic>Diospyros mespiliformis</italic>)

Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi

Laboratory of Forestry and Conservation of Bioresources (LaFCBio), School of Tropical Forestry

Ekológia (Bratislava)

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Effect of Seed Processing by Flying Foxes and the Patas Monkey on the Germination Success of the African Ebony ()

Animals deliver an important ecosystem service by dispersing plant seeds. Seed dispersers have different effects on the germination success of seeds. This...

Effect of Seed Processing by Flying Foxes and the Patas Monkey on the Germination Success of the African Ebony (Diospyros mespiliformis)

Publié en ligne: 30 juin 2023

Pages: 173 - 178

Reçu: 02 janv. 2023

Accepté: 23 mars 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/eko-2023-0020

Mots clés
seed viability, primates, fruit bats, seed dispersal,

© 2023 Hermann Cyr Toni et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Effect of Seed Processing by Flying Foxes and the Patas Monkey on the Germination Success of the African Ebony (Diospyros mespiliformis)

Publié en ligne: 30 juin 2023

Pages: 173 - 178

Reçu: 02 janv. 2023

Accepté: 23 mars 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/eko-2023-0020

Mots clésseed viability, primates, fruit bats, seed dispersal,

© 2023 Hermann Cyr Toni et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Mots clés
seed viability, primates, fruit bats, seed dispersal,