Ruminant-mediated Seed Dispersal of an Economically Valuable Tree in Indian Dry Forests

Prasad, Soumya and Krishnaswamy, Jagdish and Chellam, Ravi and Goya, SurendraPrakash (2006) Ruminant-mediated Seed Dispersal of an Economically Valuable Tree in Indian Dry Forests. In: Biotropica, 38 (5). pp. 679-682.

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Abstract

Ruminant-mediated seed dispersal, an understudied process in tropical forests, was examined via Phyllanthus emblica-Axis axis interaction. A captive Axis deer regurgitated intact P. emblica seeds after retaining them in the rumen for 7-27 h. At Rajaji National Park, a considerable fraction (22%) of deer-regurgitated P. emblica seeds germinated, although lower than unconsumed seeds (72%). The size and strength of seeds like P. emblica might ensure that ruminants regurgitate them intact instead of defecating them.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Additional Information:	Copyright of this article belongs to The Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation.
Keywords:	chital;deer;large seeds;Phyllanthus emblica;Rajaji National Park;regurgitation.
Department/Centre:	Division of Biological Sciences > Centre for Ecological Sciences
Date Deposited:	08 Apr 2009 07:38
Last Modified:	19 Sep 2010 04:58
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ernet.in/id/eprint/17798

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