Data for: Fruit trait clustering supports a megafaunal seed dispersal syndrome in an African tropical forest

Résumé fourni par la source

Data for Fruit trait clustering supports a megafaunal seed dispersal syndrome in an African tropical forest. Species interactions shape ecological and evolutionary processes in communities. For example, interactions between fruiting plants and fruit-eating animals have been hypothesized to drive clustering of plant phenotypic traits, known as dispersal syndromes, that attract particular groups of frugivores. A wide variety of dispersal syndromes have been proposed, usually based on frugivore diet preferences, but often without directly examining whether fruit traits themselves form distinct clusters. Moreover, it remains unclear how the many hypothesized syndromes describe interactions among particular sets of frugivores and fruiting plants. Using cluster analysis, we show that trees in Loango National Park, Gabon, cluster according to their dispersal-related traits, primarily fruit and seed size. Statistical associations between these trait clusters and animal feeding data indicate that a cluster of nine tree species with large fruits and seeds is disproportionately linked to consumption by elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis) and gorillas (Gorilla gorilla). These results are consistent with distinct ‘megafaunal’ versus ‘non-megafaunal’ dispersal syndromes, despite some overlap in feeding across clusters. Our findings suggest that trait-based approaches can help reveal and predict plant–frugivore interactions, offering a scalable framework for understanding how changes in frugivore communities may reshape ecological communities and ultimately impact forest regeneration.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.