INDIRECT SEED DISPERSAL BY THE FERAL CATS FELIS-CATUS IN ISLAND ECOSYSTEMS (CANARY-ISLANDS)

In this paper we present an unusual incidence of an introduced Carnivo ra Felis catus as indirect seed disperser of plants that produce flesh y fruits in different ecosystems in the Canary Islands. Four hundred a nd twenty six seeds from at least 8 fleshy fruit plant species have be en identified in the analysis of 1047 seat groups, the majority of the m being found in the lower habitats (<600 m a.s.l.) of the Canary arch ipelago. Seeds from two plant species were significantly matched with the presence of lizard prey, and fruits of Juniperus phoenicea, Neocha maelea pulverulenta and Withania aristata were directly consumed by th e cats. Passing through the gut of the Galiotia galloti (Lacertidae) a nd Felis catus apparently does not damage the seeds. Al the moment, th e phenomenon studied in this paper does not seem to have a great quant itative importance in the natural regeneration of the plants if we com pare the direct vs indirect seed dispersal.