Abstract

GARCIA RUIZ, Miriam et al. Preliminar data of white tailed-deer Odocoileus Virginianus (Artiodactyla: Cervidae) as seed disperser. Acta Zool. Mex [online]. 2019, vol.35, e3502200.  Epub Nov 29, 2019. ISSN 2448-8445.  https://doi.org/10.21829/azm.2019.3502200.

The role of white-tailed deer in endozoochorus seed dispersal was evaluated by estimating the number of seeds and seed species found in fecal samples and assessing the effect of gut passage on germination percentage and speed for a focal seed species (Acacia schaffneri). A total of 369 seeds were found in 98 pellet groups. Most seeds appeared to be damaged or immature, and only 67 seeds (31 morphospecies) germinated. Germination percentage of defecated seeds of A. schaffneri tended to be higher than germination of control seeds. In our study site white-tailed deer appears to be acting mainly as a seed predator for ingested seeds, and occasionally as a seed disperser. Nevertheless, our results using captive animals suggest that white-tailed deer may improve seed germination of particular plant species.

Keywords : White-tailed deer; La Primavera Forest; endozoochorous seed dispersal.