Long-term consistency in spatial patterns of primate seed dispersal

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Tropical Biology
• Conservation Science

Background:

• Seed dispersal is crucial for tropical forest plant reproduction, population dynamics, and carbon storage.
• Spatial patterns of seed dispersal shape plant recruitment and influence forest structure.
• Understanding the long-term consistency of these patterns is vital for predicting forest regeneration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the long-term consistency of spatial seed dispersal patterns.
• To investigate seed dispersal by two neotropical primate species: *Leontocebus nigrifrons* and *Saguinus mystax*.
• To determine if dispersal patterns align with the spatial-genetic structure of plant species.

Main Methods:

• Utilized spatially explicit seed dispersal data from four independent studies (1994-2013).
• Analyzed dispersal probability distributions, cumulative dispersal distances, and kernel density estimates.
• Compared dispersal patterns with the spatial-genetic structure of the legume *Parkia panurensis*.

Main Results:

• Spatial patterns of seed dispersal by the studied primates are highly consistent over the 20-year period.
• Dispersal patterns for *Parkia panurensis* align with its spatial-genetic structure at juvenile (300m) and adult (100m) stages.
• This study provides the first evidence of long-term consistency in seed dispersal patterns by tropical frugivores.

Conclusions:

• Consistent seed dispersal patterns by tropical frugivores can lead to predictable regeneration niches.
• Long-term stability in dispersal influences plant population dynamics and forest spatial structure.
• These findings have implications for understanding and managing tropical forest ecosystems.