Reliability of macaques as seed dispersers

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Forestry
• Conservation Biology

Background:

• Seed dispersal is vital for forest regeneration and recruitment.
• Existing frameworks focus on seed dispersal effectiveness, neglecting disperser reliability across spatio-temporal scales.
• Disperser reliability assesses if a frugivore is effective across various regions, years, or seasons.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a practical framework for assessing the spatial reliability of frugivores as seed dispersers.
• To evaluate the spatial reliability of the primate genus Macaca (macaques) as seed dispersers across Asia.

Main Methods:

• Developed a framework defining a reliable disperser based on diet breadth, habitat consistency, and fruit preference.
• Reviewed frugivory by Macaca species across Asia using the proposed framework.
• Analyzed dietary data to assess fruit consumption patterns and preferences.

Main Results:

• Macaques were identified as reliable seed dispersers for 11 plant families and five plant genera, encompassing at least 82 species.
• Dietary variations among macaque groups were linked to habitat-specific plant community compositions.
• The study confirmed macaques' broad-scale seed dispersal capabilities across diverse Asian habitats.

Conclusions:

• Maintaining viable macaque populations and minimizing human intervention are crucial for continued reliable seed dispersal.
• The proposed framework can be applied to assess the spatial reliability of other frugivore taxa.
• Conserving macaques is essential for maintaining forest ecosystem functions in the Anthropocene.