DISPERSAL AND GERMINATION OF PROSOPIS-FLEXUOSA (FABACEAE) SEEDS BY DESERT MAMMALS IN ARGENTINA

The 'algarrobo' Prosopis flexuosa is an important food resource in the Monte Desert of Argentina. Native, domestic and exotic mammals consum e the fruit of this legume and disperse the seed through faeces. In th e present study we analyse the effect that different dispersal agents (cattle, horse, European wild boar, rodents, gray fox) have on seed da mage, viability and germination. Cattle increase germination at the ex pense of reduced viability, whereas horses maintain viability but do n ot contribute to a prompt germination response. Among native mammals, the gray fox maintains seed viability without increasing germination, whereas rodents affect seed viability but enhance germination rates. T he European wild boar, however, damages all of the seeds it consumes. (C) 1997 Academic Press Limited.