Effect of primate seed dispersal on the spatial genetic structure of a Neotropical tree species

本研究的主要目的是为了进一步了解虫栖种子传播对分散植物种群遗传结构的影响。具体来说，我们将研究(a)在植物种群的不同年龄阶段是否存在空间遗传结构（SGS）；(b) SGS的尺度可以与扩散矢量产生的扩散距离联系起来；(c)初始模板（种子阶段）的SGS转化为后续阶段；(d)传播媒介家乡范围的长期稳定导致植物种群的遗传亚结构；(e)单株性状（果实产量）影响传播媒介的访问率，以及这种影响是否转化为差异的种子传播。本研究选择了一个由两个同域灵长类物种——绢毛猴（Saguinus mystax）和黑绢毛猴（Saguinus nigrifrons）和毛猴（Leonia cymosa）组成的模型系统。这个系统是非常合适的，因为在秘鲁亚马逊地区东北部的研究地点，这种植物是绢毛猴的主要食物资源，而且绢毛猴是该地点唯一已知的聚毛猴种子传播者。

The principal objective of the proposed project is to make a contribution to the understanding of the effect of zoochorous seed dispersal on the genetic population structure of the dispersed plant species. Specifically, we address will examine whether(a) there is a spatial genetic structure (SGS) at different age stages of the plant population;(b) the scale of the SGS can be linked to the dispersal distances generated by the dispersal vectors;(c) the SGS of the initial template (seed stage) translates into subsequent stages;(d) the long-term stability of the home ranges of dispersal vectors results in genetic sub-structuring of the plant population;(e) individual plant traits (amount of fruit production) affect visitation rates by the dispersal vectors and whether this transfers into differential seed dispersal.For the study we select a model system that is constituted of two sympatric primate species, the tamarins Saguinus mystax and Saguinus nigrifrons, and the tree species Leonia cymosa. This system is highly appropriate because at the study site in north-eastern Peruvian Amazonia this plant species is a major food resource for the tamarins and the tamarins are the only known seed dispersers of L. cymosa at this site.