The latrine effect: impact of howler monkeys on the distribution of small seeds in a tropical rain-forest soil

Sandrine Pouvelle (1) , Sylvie Jouard (1) , François Feer (1) , Thomas Tully (2) , Jean-François Ponge (1)

1 MAOAC - Mécanismes adaptatifs : des organismes aux communautés
2 ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris

We studied the impact of dung deposition by the red howler monkey (Alouatta seniculus). Mid subsequent burial by dung beetles and other biotic and abiotic processes, on the distribution of small seeds in the soil seed bank (Nouragues Reserve, French Guiana). Seeds were collected from 54 soil samples taken under three sleeping sites and adjoining control sites. at three positions according to a fixed grid and at three different depths (0-2, 2-4 and 4-6 cm). Despite large differences between the three sites, defecation areas (latrines) were found to contain more seeds and higher sued diversity than control areas. Seed density decreased with depth ill the top 6 cm ill two sites but not ill the third. Shannon diversity decreased with depth in both defecation and control areas. Differences in the distribution of seeds of different species were found according to size and growth habits (pioneer vs non-pioneer species). The viability of seeds, ascertained from toughness and integrity of the seed coal, varied according to depth, site and defecation. Seed viability was oil average higher in defecation areas compared with control areas.

Mots clés: Alouatta seniculus; Forest regeneration; French Guiana; Rain forest; Seed dispersal; Soil seed bank

Domaines: Science des sols

Sandrine Pouvelle, Sylvie Jouard, François Feer, Thomas Tully, Jean-François Ponge. The latrine effect: impact of howler monkeys on the distribution of small seeds in a tropical rain-forest soil. Journal of Tropical Ecology, 2009, 25 (3), pp.239-248. ⟨10.1017/s0266467409005987⟩. ⟨hal-00494630⟩