Artibeus planirostris as seed disperser and germination inductor in an area of Pantanal do Negro, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil

Abstract

Taking the importance of the bats as dispersers of seeds into consideration, the aim of this work was to value the induction of germination of two arboreal species (Cecropia pachystachya and Ficus guaranitica) through a kind of fruit-eating bat (Artibeus planirostris). Bats were captured and fecal samples were collected and submitted to four treatments: (1) Group Control Ficus; (2) Group Control Cecropia; (3) Group Gastrointestinal tract Ficus; (4) Group Gastrointestinal Cecropia. Artibeus planirostris can be considered an important frugivorous seed disperser. However it cannot be considered a germination inducer, since the statistical results show no significant differences between germinated seeds from fresh fruits and after passageway through the gastrointestinal tract.