A CASE-STUDY OF A PLANT-ANIMAL RELATIONSHIP - COLA-LIZAE AND LOWLAND GORILLAS IN THE LOPE RESERVE, GABON

被引：77

作者：

TUTIN, CEG

WILLIAMSON, EA

ROGERS, ME

FERNANDEZ, M

机构：

[1] Centre International de Recherches Medicates de Franceville BP 769, Franceville

[2] C.I.R.M.F. and Department of Psychology, University of Stirling, Department of Psychology

[3] Department of Psychology, University of Stirling

[4] Department of Zoology, University of Edinburgh, Scotland

来源：

JOURNAL OF TROPICAL ECOLOGY | 1991年 / 7卷

关键词：

COLA; FRUGIVORY; GABON; LOWLAND GORILLA; GORILLA-G; GORILLA; PLANT-ANIMAL INTERACTIONS; SEED DISPERSAL; SEEDLING SURVIVAL;

D O I：

10.1017/S0266467400005320

中图分类号：

Q14 [生态学（生物生态学）];

学科分类号：

071012 ; 0713 ;

摘要：

The fruits of Cola lizae, an endemic tree with a limited geographical distribution, have been a major food source for lowland gorillas in the Lope Reserve during part of each year over a six-year period. Faecal analysis indicated that 11,000-18,000 Cola seeds km-2 were deposited by gorillas during the 4-month season in 1989. Gorillas are the only important dispersers of this species: other primates consume the succulent mesocarp, but do not swallow the large seed; elephants do not eat Cola fruits. Observations of Cola seeds in gorilla faeces showed a very high germination rate and, despite initial high mortality, 18% of seedlings still survived six months after deposition. Survival of seedlings was significantly better in faeces left at nest-sites than in other areas of the forest: 40% of seedlings were viable at nest-sites six months after deposition. This suggests that the open areas of forest, preferred by gorillas as nest-sites, are advantageous to the propagation of this species.

引用

页码：181 / 199

页数：19

共 24 条

[11]

JANSON C.H., Adaptation of fruit morphology to dispersal agents in a neotropical forest, Science, 219, pp. 187-189, (1983)

[12]

JANZEN D.H., Herbivores and the number of tree species in tropical forests, American Naturalist, 104, pp. 501-528, (1970)

[13]

JANZEN D.H., Seed and pollen dispersal by animals: convergence in the ecology of contamination and sloppy harvest, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 20, pp. 103-113, (1983)

[14]

LIEBERMAN D., HALL J.B., SWAINE M.D., LIEBERMAN M., Seed dispersal by baboons in the Shai Hills, Ghana, Ecology, 60, pp. 65-75, (1979)

[15]

LIEBERMAN M., LIEBERMAN D., An experimental study of seed ingestion and germination in a plant-animal assemblage in Ghana, Journal of Tropical Ecology, 2, pp. 113-126, (1986)

[16]

LIEBERMAN D., LIEBERMAN M., MARTIN C., Notes on seeds in elephant dung from Bia National Park, Ghana, Biolropica, 19, pp. 365-369, (1987)

[17]

MIEGE J., MIEGE M.N., RICHTI A., Etude biologique et biochimique du liquide contenu dans les fruits de deux especes de, Cola. Archives des Sciences, 23, pp. 151-195, (1970)

[18]

OGUTUGA D.B.A., 8, pp. 121-125, (1975)

[19]

ROGERS M.E., The feeding ecology of lowland gorillas in Gabon, Anthroquest, 39, pp. 12-14, (1989)

[20]

ROGERS M.E., WILLIAMSON E.A., TUTIN C.E.G., FERNANDEZ M., Effects of the dry season on gorilla diet in Gabon, Primate Report, 22, pp. 25-33, (1988)

← 1 2 3 →