Photos from the Field: Seed dispersal by gibbons and macaques

McConkey, K. R., Brockelman, W. Y. and Saralamba, C. (2014), Mammalian Frugivores With Different Foraging Behavior Can Show Similar Seed Dispersal Effectiveness. Biotropica, 46: 647–651. doi: 10.1111/btp.12156

Frugivores with disparate foraging behavior are considered to vary in their seed dispersal effectiveness (SDE). Measured SDEs for gibbons and macaques for a ‘primate-fruit’ were comparable despite the different foraging and movement behavior of the primates. This could help facilitate fruit trait convergence in diverse fruit–frugivore networks.

Seasonal evergreen forest in the Mo Singo Forest Dynamics Plot. Photo by Kulpat Saralamba.

The fruit of the liana Salacia chinensis. Photo by Chanpen Saralamba

Lar gibbons (Hylobates lar) are one of the main dispersers of S. chinensis seeds. Photo by Kulpat Saralamba

Pig-tailed macaques are also common dispersers of S. chinensis seeds. Photo by Kulpat Saralamba.

Morning view of the forest in Khao Yai National Park. Photo by Kulpat Saralamba.