Frugivory and Seed Dispersal by Terrestrial Mammals

Abstract

Fruit is a major food resource for vertebrates inhabiting Neotropical rainforests (Terborgh 1986, Dubost 1987, Janson & Emmons 1990). Once on the ground after natural fall, or having been dropped by flying or arboreal vertebrates beneath fruiting trees as well as away, fruits and seeds are also dispersed and eaten by ground-dwelling vertebrates. Terrestrial mammalian frugivores comprise some of the most species-rich vertebrate groups (e.g. rodents) and one of the most important groups in term of biomass (e.g. ungulates) in this bioregion. These mammalian groups contain many species typical of the tropical lowland forest of South America.