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Ontogenetic effects on seed germination in Brycon falcatus and predation mechanisms in Brycon cephalus
Click on the Name to Meet the Member: Lucélia Nobre Carvalho , João Batista Santos , Sandra Correa Bibiana
The interaction between fish and forest is the focus of this project, which evaluates 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, which probably influences dormancy, germination time and/or future seedling growth. The effects of gut passage on seed germination have been extensively investigated in frugivorous birds and mammals; however, few investigations have focused on frugivorous fish. We are investigating the consumption of fruits/seeds by a frugivorous fish widely distributed in the Amazon, Brycon falcatus , and the ontogenetic effects of gut passage on the probability and speed of seed germination. Another ongoing line of research 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 our knowledge of the mechanisms involved in frugivory as a feeding habit among fish and in the mutualism between fruits and fish.
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