Influence of population recovery of Japanese macaque populations on biological interactions in cool-temperate forests

生活在雪域的日本猕猴种群在日本东部的几个地区局部灭绝。近年来，残存种群逐渐恢复。为了预测当前种群恢复对当地生物相互作用的影响，本研究评估了与猕猴进食相关的放牧和碎屑食物链。目前的结果表明，猕猴在支持当地植物多样性方面发挥着关键作用。特别是，猕猴可以加强种子传播过程，因为他们直接运输种子作为初级传播者和他们的粪便加强的生物量的蜣螂组合，这是作为次级种子传播者。

Japanese macaque populations living in snowy areas became locally extinct in several regions of eastern Japan. In recent years, the remnant populations have gradually recovered. To predict the influence of the current population recovery on local biological interactions, this study evaluated the grazing and detritus food chains associated with macaque feeding. The current results suggest that macaques have a key role to support the local plant diversity. In particular, macaques could strengthen the seed dispersal process because they directly transport seeds as primary dispersers and their feces enforce the biomass of dung beetle assemblages which are act as secondary seed dispersers.