FRUGIVORY AND DISPERSAL OF SPONDIAS-PURPUREA (ANACARDIACEAE) IN A TROPICAL DECIDUOUS FOREST IN MEXICO

Fruits of the tree Spondias purpurea L. are an attractive resource for large animals of the tropical deciduous forest in Jalisco, Mexico. Ei ght species of the mammals, two birds, one reptile and one ant consume the fruits; only two of these species are normally frugivorous. The f ruits are moist and mature between May and June when heat stress and w ater scarcity are greatest. The density of adults was estimated at 7.5 +/- 2.4 (SD) trees/ha; about 50% were reproductive females. Only 38% of these bore more than 500 fruits. The mean mass of the fresh fruit w as 7.5 +/- 1.9 g. Fruit production was estimated at 14.9 +/- 4.8 kg/ha . Seed packaging varied within and between trees; trees differed in nu mber of carpells per flower and fruit weight but had a similar number of seeds per endocarp (1.2 +/- 0.4). The animals differ qualitatively and quantitatively as seed dispersers. Odocoileus virginianus (white-t ailed deer) takes the largest quantity, and the groups of endocarps re gurgitated found far than the mother tree had a modal size between 15 and 62 fruits. Ortalis poliocephala (chachalaca) and Ctenosaura pectin ata (iguana) leave the large, multi-seeded endocarps more distant from each other. Germination is greater from endocarps dispersed by deer ( 72%) than by iguana (35%). Undispersed endocarps showed an intermediat e success (63%).