Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
http://hdl.handle.net/1893/1205
Appears in Collections: | Psychology Journal Articles |
Peer Review Status: | Refereed |
Title: | A case study of a plant-animal relationship: Cola lizae and lowland gorillas in the Lope Reserve, Gabon |
Author(s): | Tutin, Caroline E G Williamson, Elizabeth A Rogers, M Elizabeth Fernandez, Michel |
Contact Email: | e.a.williamson@stir.ac.uk |
Keywords: | Gorilla gorilla seed dispersal Gorilla Social behavior in animals Animal nutrition Seeds Dispersal |
Issue Date: | May-1991 |
Date Deposited: | 19-May-2009 |
Citation: | Tutin CEG, Williamson EA, Rogers ME & Fernandez M (1991) A case study of a plant-animal relationship: Cola lizae and lowland gorillas in the Lope Reserve, Gabon. Journal of Tropical Ecology, 7 (2), pp. 181-199. http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=TRO; https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266467400005320 |
Abstract: | The fruits of Cola lizae, an endemic tree with a limited geographical distribution, have been a major food source for lowland gorillas in the Lope Reserve during part of each year over a six-year period. Faecal analysis indicated that 11,000- 18,000 Cola seeds km-2 were deposited by gorillas during the 4- month season in 1989. Gorillas are the only important dispersers of this species: other primates consume the succulent mesocarp, but do not swallow the large seed; elephants do not eat Cola fruits. Observations of Cola seeds in gorilla faeces showed a very high germination rate and, despite initial high mortality, 18% of seedlings still survived six months after deposition. Survival of seedlings was significantly better in faeces left at nest-sites than in other areas of the forest: 40% of seedlings were viable at nest- sites six months after deposition. This suggests that the open areas of forest, preferred by gorillas as nest-sites, are advantageous to the propagation of this species. |
URL: | http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=TRO |
DOI Link: | 10.1017/S0266467400005320 |
Rights: | Published in the Journal of Tropical Ecology. Copyright: Cambridge University Press / INTECOL and the ICSU Press. The Journal of Tropical Ecology is available online at: http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=TRO |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
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Tutin et al 1991 Cola lizae.pdf | Fulltext - Published Version | 883.05 kB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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