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Fish and forest: Interactions between frugivorous fish and the fruits of the riparian forest on the Teles Pires River
Click on the Name to Meet the Member: Lucélia Nobre Carvalho , João Batista Santos , Sandra Correa Bibiana
The interaction between forest fish is the focus of this project that assesses the feeding behavior of frugivorous species, as well as the effects and dynamics of this relationship. We are currently testing the passage of seeds through the digestive tract of frugivorous fish that are likely to influence dormancy, germination time and / or future seedling growth. The effects of gut passage on seed germination have been extensively investigated among birds and fruit-eating mammals; however, few investigations have focused on fruit-eating fish. We are investigating the fruit / seed consumption by a frugivorous fish widely distributed in the Amazon, Brycon falcatus and its ontogenic effects of intestinal passage on the probability and speed of seed germination. Another line of investigation underway is the effect of body size on the predation of Brycon cephalus seeds from fish farms through a controlled experiment in captivity. At the end of these projects we hope to advance in the knowledge of the mechanisms involved in frugivory as a food habit among fish and in mutualism between fruits and fish.
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