Behavior of tamarins, tanagers and manakins foraging in a strangler fig (Ficus sp.) in Suriname, South America: implications for seed dispersal

Abstract

The behavior of foragers can directly affect the dispersal of seeds. Strangler figs are keystone resources throughout the tropics and are important resources for both primates and birds. We examined the foraging behavior of golden-handed tamarins and four bird species in a strangler fig to see how these behaviors might affect the dispersal of fig seeds. Tamarins removed fruit at a faster rate than did any of the bird species examined. Additionally, tamarins tended to swallow figs whole whereas birds tended to drop figs once they were processed. Tamarins visiting fig trees ingest large quantities of fig seeds that may be deposited throughout the forest. Birds on the other hand tended to slowly process fruits near the fig tree and drop processed fruit containing large quantities of seeds. Future studies need to be conducted to ascertain differences in post dispersal seed fate.