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Functional traits and phylogenetic effects drive germination of lemur-passed seeds

Published Article

Africa

Publication date: February 4, 2025

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Frugivore‑mediated seed dispersal is central to tropical forest functioning, yet the mechanisms shaping germination remain poorly understood. Germination experiments across ten lemur species show that gut passage—especially seed priming—significantly increases germination success and reduces time‑to‑germination. Outcomes vary with disperser species, seed size, plant phylogeny and even lemur sex, with male‑passed seeds 40% more likely to germinate. Results differ between captive and wild settings, underscoring ecological complexity. These findings reveal how biological, ecological and evolutionary factors jointly determine seed dispersal outcomes.

Subject Tags

  • Wildlife
  • Forest
  • Biodiversity

Abstract

Frugivore-mediated seed dispersal drives ecological functioning across tropical forests. The biological mechanisms affecting seed dispersal outcomes, as well as the role of specific functional traits in plants and their dispersers, is still not well understood. To address this gap, we conducted germination experiments in eight species of captive and two species of wild lemurs, which disperse different plant species. We (1) quantified the effects of pulp removal, seed priming, and feces effects (nutrient/microbial fertilization) through gut passage as mechanisms, (2) determined the effect of frugivore species on germination and (3) assessed how individual plant and animal traits affected two seed germination outcomes: success rates and time-to-germination. Accounting for phylogenetic non-independence of plants and estimating phylogenetic signal, we evaluated the effects of lemur gut passage and functional traits in a Bayesian framework. Seed priming during gut passage was the primary mechanism through which lemurs improved germination rates and decreased time-to-germination. Gut passage influenced the effect of seed length on germination probability but not time-to germination. Germination outcomes varied by disperser species and seed size. Furthermore, seeds passed by male lemurs were 40% more likely to germinate than those passed by female lemurs. Germination probability was more similar for closely related plant species compared to those that were more distantly related, while the plant phylogenetic effects on time-to-germination were weaker. Moreover, germination depended on experimental setting; for example, lemur gut passage decreased time-to-germination in captive, but not wild settings. Our results highlight the complexity of biological mechanisms determining seed dispersal outcomes; ecological and evolutionary factors were important drivers of germination. Considering a diversity of potential effects is critical for advancing a mechanistic understanding of species interactions and their outcomes.

Citation

DeSisto, C. M., Zandry, Z., Feno, T., Zareiesafandabadi, B., Randrianasy, J., Tiamanana, J., ... & Poulsen, J. R. (2025). Functional Traits and Phylogenetic Effects Drive Germination of Lemur‐Passed Seeds. Ecology and Evolution, 15(2), e70881. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70881

TNC Authors

  • John R. Poulsen
    Global Director of Science Capacity/Deputy Director of One Conservancy Science
    The Nature Conservancy
    Email: john.poulsen@tnc.org