A GERMINATION TEST IN SEEDS DISPERSED BY SPIDER MONKEYS AT MARACA, RORAIMA, BRAZIL

Spider monkeys pray an important role in seed dispersion due to their huge consumption of mainly ripe fruits throughout the year. The seeds eaten pass the guts undamaged and are carried over distances up to 2 k m before they are dropped. To test germination success of dispersed se eds, 10 plant species were compared. Samples were made both from faeca l material and fallen fruits and were checked weekly. A small sample o f focal trees belonging to two species tested, was also monitored to e stimate seed germination and early seedling mortality in situ. All res ults indicate higher rates of ger mination and reduction of the period of germination for the seeds dispersed.