Seed predation of Araucaria angustifolia by Sapajus nigritus

Abstract

n this study, we quantified seed predation of the Paraná Pine (Araucaria angustifolia) by black capuchin monkeys (Sapajus nigritus), in order to better understand their impact on forest regeneration. This study was conducted in an Araucaria forest fragment in the state of Paraná, Brazil. We marked 31 female Paraná pines and counted the seed cones, which ranged from 0 to 20 per tree (Mean = 5, SD ± 5.06). We recorded 88 predated cones, with an average of 2.35 ± 3.83 per tree. During the study period the monkeys only ate seeds from immature cones. The reason why the monkeys fed only on immature seeds may have been related to the scarcity of mature seeds and other resources. Comparing the seasons, we found a significant difference in the number of predation events between them. Cone predation on the top of each female Paraná pine was proportional to crop size, and totaled 57% of all cone production, which may have an impact on regeneration of this endan- gered gymnosperm. Thus, the ecological role played by the capuchin monkeys can be seen as going beyond seed dispersal, showing that this species may influence forest recruitment negatively through pre-dispersal seed predation.