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

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

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.