The role of dung beetles as secondary seed dispersers and their effect on plant regeneration in tropical rainforests.

Abstract

This paper reviews the current knowledge on secondary seed dispersal by dung beetles and its effect on plant regeneration in tropical rain forests. In the first section, the intrinsic factors affecting the outcome of the seed-beetle interaction, emphasizing both the beetle's and the plant's perspective are presented. In the second section, some of the extrinsic factors that indirectly affect the outcome of the interaction are highlighted. Both sections emphasize little-known aspects of the effects of dung beetles on plant regeneration, pointing out new avenues for future research.