Escape in Space by Sterculia Apetala Seeds from the Bug Dysdercus Fasciatus in a Costa Rican Deciduous Forest

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<jats:p>When a seed of the large tree <jats:italic>Sterculia apetala</jats:italic> falls to the ground beneath the parent tree in a Costa Rican tropical deciduous forest, it is typically found and fed upon within a few minutes by cotton—stainer bugs (<jats:italic>Dysdercus fasciatus</jats:italic>). The rate of seed discovery by the bugs is highest where the seed fall is most intense and tapers off to zero between 30 and 60 m from the tree trunk. Seeds that fall beneath the parent appear to have no chance of survival under forest conditions. Seeds in open pasture are not found by the bugs, but probably die of desiccation. The bugs are not present under sterile <jats:italic>S. apetala</jats:italic> trees. Squirrels and monkeys appear to be the primary dispersal agents; after carrying the pods away from the parent, they appear to lose some seeds because of their face and hands being stuck by the hairs on the inner walls of the seed pods. The coevolution of the <jats:italic>Dysdercus—Sterculia</jats:italic>‐mammal interaction is discussed with respect to the effect of seed predators on the density of adult trees in the habitat.</jats:p>

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  • Ecology

    Ecology 53 (2), 350-361, 1972-03

    Wiley

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