Seed Predation on Brazil Nuts (Bertholletia excelsa) by Macaws (Psittacidae) in Madre de Dios, Peru1

Abstract

We investigated the impact of seed predation by large macaws (Ara spp.) on Brazil nut, the seed of Bertholletia excelsa (Lecythidaceae). Counts of macaw-damaged fruit below 50 focal trees in a Peruvian Brazil nut harvesting concession indicated that macaws destroyed about 10 percent of the concession's crop. We compared this impact to other sources of variation in profits from harvesting and suggest methods to compensate harvesters while encouraging them to conserve macaws in their concessions.