Frugivory and Seed Dispersal by Large Herbivores of Asia

Abstract

Seed dispersal is a key ecological process with ~50–80 % of all tropical plants depending on animals to provide this service. Wide-ranging and large-bodied species are believed to play a disproportionately important role in the seed dispersal process. Although mounting evidence demonstrates a strong role for large herbivores in seed dispersal, our broad knowledge of this interaction remains surprisingly rudimentary. In this chapter, we partially bridge this knowledge gap for South and Southeast Asia (SSEA). We start by synthesizing known information on how the sensory ecology of these animals aid in locating fruit. Next, we review the fruits consumed and dispersed by distinct large herbivore groups, and the influence of their digestive physiology on seed dispersal patterns. We collated more than 300 records of frugivory and/or seed dispersal for 27 species of large herbivores. The data suggests that smaller species of large herbivores may be constrained in the size of fruits they can consume while larger species are not. An assessment of overlap in the traits of fruits consumed indicates much more dissimilarity between groups of large herbivores than previously thought. Finally, we examine the implications of this interaction both from a historical perspective and for the future. Despite the broad-scale synthesis achieved, we conclude that information on seed dispersal services provided by large herbivores in SSEA remains largely incomplete.