台灣獼猴(Macaca cyclopis)頰囊傳播對福山試驗林三種樟科植物種子分布模式與命運的影響

The goals of this research was to study the seed dispersal patterns and seed fates of three Lauraceae trees affected by cheek pouch of Formosan macaques (Macaca cyclopis) at Fushan experimental forest. Results indicated that macaques carried most seeds of the fruits they consumed away from feeding trees with cheek pouched. 90% of those seeds were deposited in clumps at macaques’ first resting site where they stayed for more than 10 minutes after leaving feeding trees. The longest distance that macaques could carry seeds away from feeding trees was up to 400 meters. And distance of seed dispersed by macaques away from feeding trees through check pouches were correlated with the spatial distribution of fruiting trees. Macaques carried seeds farther as the distances between fruiting trees increase. Seeds of trees with clumped distribution were usually deposited near these trees. Seed predation rates were compared between seeds placed in forest versus grasslands and under versus away from fruiting trees. Results showed no significant difference in seed predation rates of two Lauraceae species under versus away from fruiting trees. Germination rates of seeds and seedling survival rates were monitored in forest versus grassland, under versus away from fruiting trees, and with different densities of seeds and seedlings. Results showed that more seeds germinated in forests than in grassland in the first month. However seedling survival rates were lower in forest versus grassland. No significant difference in seedling survival could be found between any treatment groups after 6 months.