Seed Dispersal by Baboons in the Shai Hills, Ghana

Abstract

Baboon dung was collected in the Shai Hills, Ghana at 4—wk intervals from November 1975 to January 1977, and was planted in sterilized soil in order to estimate the viable seed content of the dung. A total of 6,465 seedlings germinated, belonging to 59 species, although 70% of the seedlings belonged to 2 fleshy—fruited species. The species composition varied from month to month as did the relative importance of dry fruits. Germination of ingested seeds (removed from dung) was significantly improved over that of fresh seeds in 3 of 4 species tested (Securinega virosa, Azadirachta indica, and Nauclea latifolia). The 4th species, Diospyros mespiliformis, showed no significant improvement.