Seed Dispersal by Howler Monkeys: Current Knowledge, Conservation Implications, and Future Directions

ARROYO-RODRÍGUEZ, VÍCTOR; ANDRESEN, ELLEN; BRAVO, SUSANA P.; STEVENSON, PABLO

Howler Monkeys: Examining the Biology, Adaptive Radiation, and Behavioral Ecology of the Most Widely Distributed Genus of Neotropical Primate.

Springer

Año: 2014; p. 1 - 2

Primate seed dispersal is increasingly recognized to have a profound impact on plant demography and forest regeneration. Confirming and quantifying this impact, however, has proven to be an important challenge for primatologists, ecologists and conservation biologists. Different studies have investigated different primate species, in several study sites and habitats, and have focused on different aspects of primate seed dispersal (e.g. frugivory, seed-handling, gut-passage effects, seed deposition patterns, among others), by using a variety of sampling designs and analytical methods. Thus, establishing the effectiveness of primates as seed dispersers for individual plant species, as well as their impact in structuring plant communities, has been difficult. Here, we review the available literature on seed dispersal by howler monkeys (Alouatta spp.) throughout their geographical range, in both pristine and disturbed habitats. With this chapter we aim to (1) summarize the current information, (2) identify general patterns on the two components of dispersal effectiveness: quantity and quality of seed dispersal, (3) assess the impact of howler monkeys on forest regeneration, succession, and conservation, and (4) identify inconsistencies and gaps in the literature in order to highlight new directions for future research. When relevant, we include information of other primary seed dispersers (e.g. other primate species, other mammals, birds) for comparative purpose. We conclude this chapter by discussing potential conservation implications related to anthropogenic alterations of this primate?plant mutualism, and by assessing the potential importance of howler monkeys for restoring disturbed habitats.